How to Design and Construct Concrete and Masonry to Comply with New Energy Codes-Complying with the Energy Codes (PDF)

Complying with the Energy Codes (PDF)

Pdf Summary

The course "Energy Code Compliance" focuses on understanding and applying the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) in building construction, with a specific emphasis on masonry assemblies. The course outlines compliance methods such as prescriptive, trade-off, and performance-based approaches, aiming to achieve energy-efficient building designs. 

The IECC has evolved to become more stringent over the years, improving energy efficiency significantly from earlier editions. The code's requirements have made it increasingly challenging to achieve compliance, particularly with prescriptive measures that dictate specific R-value insulation standards for building components like walls, roofs, and doors. 

Various compliance options are available under IECC: 

1. <strong>Prescriptive Compliance</strong>: This involves meeting the exact R-values or U-factors specified in the code for different building elements. While straightforward, it's the least flexible option, often resulting in over-designed and cost-ineffective structures.

2. <strong>Trade-off Compliance (COMcheck)</strong>: This method allows for flexibility by enabling trade-offs between different energy elements of the building. By using tools like COMcheck, designers can compensate for deficiencies by improving other components, such as increasing roof insulation to offset lower wall insulation.

3. <strong>Whole Building Performance</strong>: This involves a comprehensive analysis of the building's energy usage, contrasting it with standard energy cost models, allowing designers to meet energy efficiency targets more flexibly.

Despite the prescriptive standards, the IECC allows alternatives like the trade-off method, which can be particularly useful for complex or repetitive constructions, such as chain store designs. Resources like the COMcheck software facilitate the design process by highlighting and adjusting under- or over-designed elements.

Overall, this course highlights the importance of selecting appropriate compliance methods and utilizing available tools to optimize insulation strategies and achieve energy code compliance efficiently.

Keywords

Energy Code Compliance

2015 IECC

masonry assemblies

prescriptive compliance

trade-off compliance

performance-based approach

energy-efficient design

R-value insulation

COMcheck software

building energy analysis