2023 -- H 6101

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LC002210

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Casimiro, Kislak, Cortvriend, Messier, and
Bennett

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2023

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled

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"State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-27.3-100.1.5.4. State energy conservation code.

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     (a) The state building code standards committee ("committee") shall adopt, an energy

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conservation code, which shall be based on appropriate nationally and internationally recognized

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models, and shall promulgate and administer the energy conservation code. The energy

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conservation code shall contain provisions pertaining to, but not limited to, the construction of

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buildings, the use of renewable energy resources in buildings, the efficient use of energy within

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buildings, and the orientation of buildings on their sites. The state energy conservation code shall

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at a minimum:

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     (1) For residential buildings, meet or exceed the most recently published International

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Energy Conservation Code (IECC), or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings. The state

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building code standards committee shall revise the state energy conservation code to comply with

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this requirement within one year of any update to the International Energy Conservation Code;

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provided, however, that the 2021 IECC published by the International Code Council shall be

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adopted no later than September 1, 2023, and shall require one hundred percent (100%) compliance

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for all new and renovated residential building space.

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     (2) For commercial buildings, meet or exceed the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESN A Standard 90.1-

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2007, or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings; provided, however, that the 2021 IECC

 

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published by the International Code Council shall be adopted no later than September 1, 2023, and

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shall require one hundred percent (100%) compliance for all new and renovated commercial

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building space.

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     (b) The state building code standards committee shall develop a plan no later than

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September 1, 2023, to achieve compliance with the building code(s) described in subdivisions (1)

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and (2) no later than February 17, 2017 in at least ninety percent (90%) of new and renovated

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residential and commercial building space in the state. Such plan shall include active training and

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enforcement programs and measurement of the rate of compliance each year, and shall include

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provisions to adopt the 2024 IECC for both residential and commercial buildings with a

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requirement of one hundred percent (100%) compliance to be adopted no later than one year after

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its publication.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

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     This act would require the state building code standards committee to adopt the 2021

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International Energy Conservation Code ("IECC") provisions no later than September 1, 2023. One

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hundred percent (100%) compliance would be required. This act would also require the commission

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to develop a plan to adopt the 2024 IECC within one year of its publication.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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