October 6 Hearing on Proposed Alabama Energy Code

The Alabama Residential and Energy Codes Board has approved proposals for Alabama’s first mandatory statewide energy code. On January 25, the Board signed off on a new commercial code based on the 2009 IECC. On April 12, it accepted a recommendation to adopt a new residential energy code based on the 2009 IRC with strengthening amendments that would make it equivalent to the 2009 IECC.

In August, the Board’s proposals (Rule 305-2-4) were published in the state administrative journal. A public comment hearing will be held on October 6 in Montgomery. The rule then goes before a legislative review committee for 35 days. If approved, the new code is expected to be effective in October or November 2011.

Legislation passed in March 2010 the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes (AERC) Board the authority to adopt mandatory residential and commercial energy codes for the entire state and residential building codes for jurisdictions that had not implemented a residential building code prior to March 2010. The state has previously adopted the Residential Energy Code for Alabama (RECA 2004) – based on the 2000 IECC – as a voluntary code for residential construction. Since December 2008, the 2006 IECC has been encouraged for private commercial construction. The Alabama Building Commission enforces ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 for all state building construction.

More Information:  Oct. 6 Hearing Notice | Rule 305-2-4 | SB 315 | ADECA Building Energy Efficiency | ADECA Building Energy Codes

****

BCAP Alabama Code Status