Current through Register Vol. 6, March 22, 2024
(1) The department
adopts and incorporates by reference the International Code Council's
International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 edition, referred to as the
International Energy Conservation Code, unless another edition is specifically
stated, together with the following Appendix and amendments:
(a) Subsections C103.1 and R103.1, General,
are deleted and replaced with the following: "With each application for a
building permit, and when required by the building official, plans and
specifications shall be submitted. The building official may require plans and
specifications be prepared by an engineer or architect licensed to practice by
the state, except for owner-occupied, single-family dwelling houses."
(i) Exception:
"The code official is authorized to waive the requirements
for construction documents or other supporting data if the code official
determines they are not necessary to confirm compliance with this
code.".
(b)
Subsections C105.2 and R105.2, Required Inspections, are deleted in their
entirety when the code is used by the department. It remains undeleted and
available for use for certified local governments using the code.
(c) Table R402.1.2, INSULATION AND
FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENT, is amending requirements for Climate
Zone 6 as WOOD FRAMED WALL R-VALUE 'R-21 or R-20 + R-5ci or R-13 + R-10ci or
R-15ci.'
(d) Table R402.1.4,
EQUIVALENT
U-FACTORS, is amending requirements as shown below
in the table:
Climate Zone
|
Fenes-tration
U-Factor
|
Sky-light
U-Factor
|
Ceiling
U-Factor
|
Frame Wall
U-Factor
|
Mass Wall
U-Factor
|
Floor
U-Factor
|
Base-ment Wall
U-Factor
|
Crawl Space Wall
U-Factor
|
6
|
0.30
|
0.55
|
0.026
|
0.045
|
0.060
|
0.033
|
0.050
|
0.055
|
(e)
Subsection R402.2.2, Ceilings Without Attics, is deleted and replaced with the
following: "Where Table R402.1.3 would require insulation levels above R-30 and
the design of the roof/ceiling assembly does not allow sufficient space for the
required insulation, the minimum required insulation for such roof/ceiling
assemblies shall be R-30. This reduction of insulation from the requirements of
Table R402.1.3, shall be limited to 250 square feet or ten percent of the total
insulated ceiling area, whichever is less. This reduction shall not apply to
the U-factor alternative approach in Section R402.1.4, and the
total UA alternative in Section R402.1.5."
(f) Subsection R402.2.10, Crawl Space Walls,
is deleted and replaced with the following: "As an alternative to insulating
floors over crawl spaces, crawl space walls shall be permitted to be insulated
when the crawl space is not vented to the outside. Temporary crawl space vent
openings are allowed during construction for crawl spaces that have insulated
crawl space walls. These temporary crawl space vent openings shall be closed,
sealed, and insulated to the same R-value of the surrounding crawl space wall
insulation once construction is complete and prior to the time that the final
building inspection would occur. Crawl space wall insulation shall be
permanently fastened to the wall and shall extend downward from the floor, the
entire height of the crawl space wall. Exposed earth in unvented crawl space
foundations shall be covered with a continuous Class I vapor retarder. All
joints of the vapor retarder shall overlap six inches and be sealed or taped.
The edges of the vapor retarder shall extend at least six inches up the stem
wall and shall be attached and sealed to the stem wall."
(g) Subsection R402.4.1.2, Testing, is
deleted and replaced with the following: The building or dwelling unit shall be
tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding four air
changes per hour in Climate Zone 6. Testing shall be conducted with a blower
door at a pressure of 0.2 inches w.g. (50 Pascals). Where required by the code
official, testing shall be conducted by an approved party. A written report of
the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and
provided to the code official. Testing shall be performed at any time after
creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope. During testing:
" (i) exterior windows and doors, fireplace
and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed;
"
(ii) dampers shall be closed, but not sealed,
including exhaust, intake, makeup air, back draft and flue dampers;
"(iii) interior doors shall be open;
" (iv) exterior openings for
continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be closed
and sealed;
" (v) heating and
cooling system(s) shall be turned off;
"
(vi) "B" or "L" vents, combustion air vents, and dryer
vents shall be sealed; and
" (vii)
supply and return registers, where installed at the time of test, shall by
fully open.
(h)
Subsection R402.4.1.3, Leakage Rate, is amended as follows: "When complying
with Subsection R401.2.1, the building or dwelling unit shall have an air
leakage rate not exceeding 4.0 air changes per hour in Climate Zone 6, when
tested in accordance with Subsection R402.4.1.2."
(i) Subsection R403.3.7, Exception: Building
framing cavities may be used for return ducts if there is no atmospherically
vented furnace, boiler, or water heater located in the house outside of a
sealed and insulated room that is isolated from inside the thermal envelope and
if the duct system has been tested as having a maximum total leakage not
greater than 4 cfm/SF. The room walls, floor, and ceilings shall be insulated
in accordance with the basement wall requirements of Table R402.1.3. A duct air
leakage test shall not be required where the ducts and air handlers are located
entirely within the building thermal envelope.
(j) Subsection R403.4, Mechanical System
Piping Insulation, is deleted and replaced with "Mechanical system piping shall
be insulated in accordance with subsections 610.11 and L 501.2 of the Uniform
Plumbing Code (UPC) 2021 edition."
(k) Subsection R403.5, Service Hot Water
Systems, is deleted and replaced with "Service hot water systems shall be
insulated in accordance with subsection L 503.3.3 of the Uniform Plumbing Code
(UPC) 2021 edition."
(l) Subsection
R403.5.2, Hot Water Pipe Insulation, is deleted and replaced with "Hot water
pipe insulation shall be insulated in accordance with subsections 610.11 and L
501.2 of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 2021 edition."
(m) Appendix CB, Solar-Ready Zone -
Commercial. Appendix CB may be adopted by a certified city, county, or town
building code jurisdiction. The department shall not apply or enforce Appendix
CB.
(n) Appendix CC, Zero Energy
Commercial Building Provisions. Appendix CC may be adopted by a certified city,
county, or town building code jurisdiction. The department shall not apply or
enforce Appendix CC.
(o) Appendix
RB, Solar-Ready Provisions-Detached One- and Two-Family Dwellings and
Townhouses. Appendix RB may be adopted by a certified city, county, or town
building code jurisdiction. The department shall not apply or enforce Appendix
RB.
(2) The purpose of
the International Energy Conservation Code is to provide minimum requirements
for the design of new buildings and structures and additions to existing
buildings, regulating their exterior envelopes and selection of their heating,
ventilating, air conditioning, service water heating, electrical distribution
and illuminating systems, and equipment for effective use of energy.
(a) The department encourages owners, design
professionals, and builders to voluntarily implement greater levels of energy
efficiency in building design and construction than those required by the
International Energy Conservation Code. Information regarding voluntary
building standards for greater levels of energy efficiency can be obtained from
the department by contacting the Department of Labor and Industry, Building
Codes Program, P.O. Box 200517, Helena, MT 59620-0517, by telephone at
406-841-2056, or at the department's web site,
http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits.
(3) The International Energy
Conservation Code is a nationally recognized model code for energy efficient
construction of buildings. A copy of the International Energy Conservation Code
may be obtained from the International Code Council at
www.ICCsafe.org.
AUTH:
50-60-203,
50-60-803,
MCA IMP:
50-60-201,
50-60-203,
50-60-803,
MCA.