The electronic balloting of the International Code Council for the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) has been completed and the ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 380 and 301 have been incorporated into the IECC. RESNET submitted three proposals for the 2018 cycle of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC): RE83 – Basing the ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 380 standard for the 2018 IECC requirement for performing air leakage testing. RE104 – Basing the ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 380 standard for the 2018 IECC requirement for performing duct leakage testing. RE166 – Defined the ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard in the 2018 IECC for calculating the Energy Rating Index RE83 and RE166 were adopted in the ICC voting. RE104, however, failed to meet the 2/3rds vote requirement and will have to be addressed in the next IECC code cycle. Another significant action was the passage of RE173. RE173 was the compromise proposal championed by the Leading Builders of America and the insulation industry that raises the ERI numbers from the current (51-55) to (57-62). The proposal also addressed the use of onsite power in the Energy Rating Index path by requiring that when onsite power is used in calculating the Energy Rating Index score, the minimum envelope levels of the 2015 IECC are met. This action will serve to increase the demand for builders for the Energy Rating Index option and resolve the code onsite power controversy. The 2018 IECC represents a significant accomplishment. It took a team effort to achieve this remarkable feat. First, RESNET was ably guided by Eric Makela through this complicated and treacherous code development process. Special recognition should also go to the Leading Builders of America, the North American Insulation Manufactures Association, the American Chemistry Council and NRDC for crafting the compromise that made RE173 possible. Finally a special shout out is due to RESNET Board President Roy Honican, Nate Kleist of Energy Diagnostics, Steven Carr of TopBuild and Robby Schwarz of EnergyLogic for their testimony at the Louisville and Kansas City code hearings and all of you who contacted your code officials. This has truly been a team effort.
