KC and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
Kansas City, MO adopted the 2012 IECC (with certain exceptions) along with many other metropolitan area cities. The 2012 code requires more insulation, a building leakage test, duct leakage test, energy efficient windows, and more efficient lighting. Important to note: every new home will need to be tested with a blower door along with requiring a strategy to stop thermal bridging through the studs. Kansas City, however, has made certain exceptions and revisions that are less stringent. Find the KC code here:
http://kcmo.gov/planning/building-rehab-code/
Here is a summary of the impact of the code:
Kansas City, MO adopted the 2012 IECC (with certain exceptions) along with many other metropolitan area cities. The 2012 code requires more insulation, a building leakage test, duct leakage test, energy efficient windows, and more efficient lighting. Important to note: every new home will need to be tested with a blower door along with requiring a strategy to stop thermal bridging through the studs. Kansas City, however, has made certain exceptions and revisions that are less stringent. Find the KC code here:
http://kcmo.gov/planning/building-rehab-code/
Here is a summary of the impact of the code:
- 75% of lighting fixtures in a new home to be so-called “high-efficacy” fixtures (fixtures using a CFLs or equivalent)
- Duct tightness requirements have become more stringent.
- Blower-door testing requirements have become mandatory and more stringent; 5 ach50 for climate zones 1 and 2, and 3 ach50 for homes in all other zones. (ACH50=air changes per hour at 50kPa pressure)
- All homes in zones 3 through 8, and some homes in zones 1 and 2, will be required to have a whole-house mechanical ventilation system.
- In many climate zones, window glazing U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) requirements have been changed.
- Wall insulation requirements have become more stringent in climate zones 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8; for the first time, builders in climate zones 6, 7, and 8 will be required to install exterior rigid foam insulation (or to use some other comparable wall insulation strategy).
Check back frequently as more information about metro area city codes is added.