Building Code Board of Appeals Agenda and Packet 2024 03 20

Home Browse Search

SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. _, SERIES 2024 DATE: MARCH 19, 2024 PAGE 2 OF 3 - Updates furnace efficiency standards to match product availability. - Allows an exception to meeting Appendix RC, Zero Energy Residential Building Provisions if a home is certified through the Passive House Institute US, Inc. (PHIUS) program. - Allows a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) in lieu of the Energy Rating Index (ERI) specified in the code. - Removes the requirement to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure for commercial development when parking spaces are added or reconfigured if not part of a new building or building addition. BACKGROUND: On October 29, 2021, the City Council adopted the 2021 IECC with amendments, including the adoption of Appendix RC, which provides net -zero development standards for new residential development. The 2021 IECC provides minimum energy efficiency standards found in the International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC). The ordinance also included minimum electric vehicle (EV) charging standards for all new development. Ordinance No. 1816, Series 2021 and the minutes from the adoption hearing are included as Attachment Nos. 2 and 3. On December 20, 2022, the City Council adopted further amendments to the 2021 IECC specific to commercial development. This included the adoption of all -electric standards for commercial space and domestic water heating, with exemptions for commercial kitchens and a broad range of commercial, industrial and institutional processes. The ordinance also included a new appendix that requires certain commercial uses, including office, multi -family residential development, and warehouse development, to meet minimum energy use performance targets that is more stringent than the base IECC or IBC codes. As part of the development of this code, the City hired Group 14 Engineering and Lotus Engineering and Sustainability to conduct a study and gather community input on options to strengthen the City's commercial energy code standards. This included an analysis of a net -zero commercial code option vs an energy use standard as an alternative to a full net -zero code. The final report and recommendations from Group 14/Lotus are included as Attachment No. 4 Ordinance 1845, Series 2022 and the minutes from the adoption hearing are included as Attachment Nos. 5 and 6. Following the adoption of Ordinance No. 1845, Series 2022, City Council asked that staff conduct outreach on the adopted codes after hearing concerns over the feasibility and stringency of some of the code standards. In August of 2023 City staff and a City consultant with Shums Coda Associates held a public open house to gather feedback on the adopted codes. Staff received feedback from residents, business owners, land owners, developers and their design consultants on specific issues of concern. The feedback received at the open house is the basis for several of the proposed updates to the code. City staff has also identified several code provisions as part of implementing CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 12