INTERNATIONAL GREEN CONSTRUCTION CODE

Chapter 1
• The scope of the IgCC was revised to exclude Group R-2 and R-4 occupancies three stories or less in height above grade plane and all Group R-3 occupancies.
• Section 102.1.2, Innovative Approaches, was deleted as it was redundant with IgCC provisions for alternative materials and methods.
• Action was taken to make ASHRAE 189.1 an optional compliance path that would replace IgCC Chapters 4-10 where selected by the designer. However, as a scoping issue, this action is subject to review by the Code Council Board of Directors. Review is expected this month.
• Code officials were empowered to (a) deem a national, state or local green or sustainable building program to meet or exceed the IgCC and (b) approve alternate tools as compliant with specific sections or chapters of the IgCC.

Chapter 3
• Information related to project electives in all chapters were moved to a single new appendix. The determination of whether project electives will be applicable in a jurisdiction, however, will remain a jurisdictional choice in Table 302.1.
• The whole building life cycle analysis provisions of Chapter 3 now essentially function as an option to the material selection requirements of Section 503 and are no longer a project elective.

Chapter 4
• Protected areas (floodplains, wetlands, conservation areas, agricultural lands and greenfields) were refined to provide exceptions and options for compliance. Each requires the jurisdiction to add these to the mandatory requirements.
• Stormwater management requirements were refined and changed to be a minimum mandatory provision.
• The prohibition of using potable water for landscaping and outdoor water features was relaxed; use of non-potable water remains the first priority.
• While the specific limits on the use of turfgrass in landscaping was eliminated, a new provision requires 75 percent of new landscape areas to be planted with native species.
• The chapter was completely reorganized.

Chapter 5
• Mandatory requirements related to service life were deleted. Project electives related to service life, however, remain, though they will be located in the new project elective appendix.
• Straw bale requirements have been deleted.
• A project elective was added to address design for deconstruction and building reuse. (Project electives has been moved to a new appendix.)
• The chapter has been reorganized.

Chapter 6
• The chapter for energy conservation was reorganized.
• The number of compliance paths for energy conservation have been reduced from four to two: Prescriptive compliance path and Performance compliance path. The outcome-based compliance path was removed by a specific action. In PV 2.0 there were essentially two performance compliance paths, one utilizing the concept of Zero Performance Index (zEPI) and the other using Energy Use Intensity (EUI). The zEPI was retained.
• Detailed air leakage requirements were removed and requirements are now based on the International Energy Conservation Code.
• Air curtains are now allowed as an alternative to vestibules.

Chapter 7
• The jurisdictional option for selecting tiers for reduced water usage was eliminated because the coordinating sections in the code for calculating such reductions were eliminated in favor of a simple table having reduced fixture flows and flush volumes. The flows and flush volumes required by the code are the best (most reduced) that is currently available.
• Dwelling unit and guest room showers are limited to a maximum of 2 gallons per minute flow for every 2,600 square inches (or portion thereof). In other words, not more than one showerhead (at 2 gpm) can be flowing at any given time for most typical sizes of dwelling unit and guest room shower compartments. Multiple showerheads (at 2 gpm each) flowing simultaneously are prohibited unless the shower compartment is greater than 2,600 square inches. Where the compartment is greater than 2,600 square inches (but less than 5,200 square inches), then only 2 showerheads (at 2 gpm each) are allowed to be flowing simultaneously.
• Municipal reclaimed water must be used for water closet flushing, urinal flushing and floor drain trap primers where such source is within 150 percent of the distance that the potable water supply (water main) is to the building.
• Onsite reclaimed water treatment systems including graywater treatment and wastewater treatment systems must be listed and labeled to NSF 50.

Chapter 8
• Requirements for acoustics were removed from mandatory requirements to jurisdictional electives.

Chapter 9
• Requirements for a building owner education manual were removed.

Chapter 10
• The sale of existing buildings no longer triggers the application of the requirements of Chapter 10 for existing buildings.
• Provisions that facilitated the evaluation of existing buildings for compliance with the provisions of all chapters for new buildings on a voluntary basis were removed.
• A table has been added the requires between 0 and 20 percent of the cost of alterations, as related to building square footage, be devoted to improvements related to the IgCC.
• Provisions related to re-locatable buildings and relocated existing buildings have been added.
The chapter was reorganized.

Appendices B and C
• Appendix B, Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Existing Buildings, and Appendix C, Sustainability Measures (additional measures for existing buildings) were deleted.

INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING POOL AND SPA CODE

• Suction fittings for all aquatic vessels must be in accordance with APSP 16. APSP 16 was adopted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as the successor standard to ASME A112.19.8. Previously, suction fittings needed to comply with ASME A112.19.8 as required by federal law (Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act). As of September 6, 2011, APSP 16 is the federal law requirement and not the A112.19.8, so the ISPSC is in alignment with federal law.
• The occupant load for decks around waterpark aquatic vessels was increased from 1 person per 50 square feet to 1 person per 15 square feet. Operator experience indicates that deck areas in these types of facilities are often very crowded, which leads to concerns about egress problems during an emergency condition. The code change increased the safety of those facilities.