Chapter 10-7: Energy Conservation and Insulation Code31
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by encouraging the conservation of scarce energy resources through the regulation of building construction standards to minimize energy consumption for heating, cooling, lighting and ventilating structures in the City and to encourage building design utilizing green building techniques.
Ordinance No. 7566 (2007)
10-7-2 Energy Conservation Code.
(a) Council adopts by reference the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code of the International Code Council with the amendments specified below. This chapter shall be administered in accordance with and as part of chapter 10-5, "Building Code," B.R.C. 1981.
(b) Section 101.4.3 Additions, alterations, renovations and repairs. A new subsection is added previous to the exceptions to read as follows:
101.4.3.1 All permit applications involving demolition, new construction and remodels and/or additions of residential buildings greater than 500 square feet shall meet the requirements of this code and Chapter 10-7-5 "Green Points", B.R.C. 1981, as applicable.
(c) Exception 3 of section 141.4.3 is repealed and reenacted as follows:
3.1 For an interior remodel of a residential structure, where the work authorized by a building permit under Chapter 10-5, "Building Code," B.R.C. 1981, does not alter more than 500 square feet of the existing conditioned space, existing ceiling, wall, or floor cavities exposed during construction are exempt from meeting the provisions for new construction provided that exposed wall framing cavities are insulated to their fullest depth, but no less than R-14, and attics and exposed or accessible floor/ceiling assemblies separating conditioned spaces from unconditioned spaces are insulated to their fullest depth, but no less than R-38 wherever possible. All replacement fenestration shall meet the prescriptive requirements of Table 402.1.1 or 402.1.3. Portions of basements and crawlspaces separating conditioned spaces from unconditioned spaces shall meet the prescriptive requirements of Table 402.1.1 or 402.1.3 for climate zone 5 wherever possible. The provisions of section 402.2 shall apply.
3.2 For additions to residential structures where the work authorized by a building permit under Chapter 10-5, "Building Code," B.R.C. 1981, does not add more than 500 square feet, building envelope components shall meet the provisions of Table 402.1.1 or 402.1.3, and applicable portions of Chapter 10-7-5 "Green Points", B.R.C. 1981. The provisions of section 402.2 shall apply.
3.3 Remodels of non-residential structures where the work authorized by a building permit under Chapter 10-5, "Building Code," B.R.C. 1981, does not alter more than 500 square feet.
(d) Section 103.1.1 is repealed and reenacted as follows:
Section 103.1.1 Above Code Programs. Except for those residential structures and portions of structures exempt from this code, the requirements of Chapter 10-7-5 "Green Points", B.R.C. 1981, shall be used to demonstrate compliance with the energy efficiency components of this code.
(e) Section 104.1 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
104.2 General. Construction documents and other supporting data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit. The construction documents and designs submitted under the provisions of this chapter shall be prepared by and bear the stamp of a Colorado licensed professional engineer or architect. Documents submitted for the purposes of section 404 and 506 shall be submitted by a Colorado licensed engineer, architect or a professional who demonstrates the knowledge and experience to perform such calculations. Where special conditions exist, the code official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a licensed professional.
Exceptions:
1. The code official may waive the submission of construction documents and other supporting data if the official finds that the nature of the work does not require review of the documents or data to obtain compliance. This waiver authority does not apply to documents required to be prepared by a licensed architect or engineer.
(f) Section 105.3, "Final Inspection," is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:
The applicant must provide at time of final inspection of a commercial building written verification which bears the stamp of a licensed architect or engineer or special inspector as described in section 109.3.7, International Building Code that the structure conforms with the provisions of Chapter 5.
(g) Section 202, the definition of "Code official" is repealed and reenacted to read:
Code official is the city manager.
(h) Section 501.1 is repealed and reenacted to read:
Section 501.1 Scope. The requirements contained in this chapter are applicable to new commercial buildings and additions to or remodels of commercial buildings. Commercial buildings shall exceed the energy efficiency requirements of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 Energy Standard for Building Except for Low-Rise Residential Buildings by at least 30 percent or other approved equivalent design criteria.
501.1.1 Alternative approaches for compliance. The following methods of compliance may be used in place of the approach described in section 501.1 above:
1. Buildings of 20,000 square feet or less may be designed to a prescriptive standard as detailed in this chapter or through other measures that result in a building that is at least 30 percent more energy efficient than the 2006 IECC.
2. Commercial core and shell buildings that have 50 percent or less finished floor area may divide the 30 percent energy efficiency requirement between the core and shell building design and the future interior tenant finish design. The energy efficiency savings percentages assigned to each element of the building shall be designated at the time of the submittal of the building permit for the core and shell permit.
3. The construction documents for remodeling an existing commercial envelope, mechanical and lighting systems shall demonstrate compliance with this section in one of the following ways described below. The construction documents shall include compliance documentation that demonstrates that:
A. The altered building area or systems will meet the requirements of section 506, "Total Building Performance" 2006 IECC and the resulting compliance package shows an altered building area or system that is 30 percent more energy efficient than the 2006 IECC;
B. The remodel area will meet an approved set of prescriptive requirements that are at least 30 percent more efficient than the 2006 IECC. An applicant may use the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides for such prescriptive requirements, or equivalent method that is approved by the city manager; or
C. The remodel area meets the 2006 IECC requirements and is submitted with an energy efficiency implementation plan prepared by a licensed architect or registered professional engineer which shows how the process will contribute to future energy efficiency improvements to bring the building up to 30 percent above the 2006 IECC.
Ordinance Nos. 7172 (2001); 7566 (2007); 7620 (2008)
31 Adopted by Ordinance No. 4636. Amended by Ordinance Nos. 4984, 5850, 7233. Derived from Ordinance Nos. 4236, 4503. Repealed and reenacted by Ordinance No. 7141.