Building Codes Assistance Project

The American Society of Heating and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is the organization that creates standards for building engineers. Commercial building energy codes are based on ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, jointly developed by ASHRAE and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). ASHRAE Standard 90.1 applies to all buildings except residential buildings less than three stories and provides minimum requirements for the design of energy efficient buildings. EPCA requires states to adopt the most recent version of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has determined will save energy. Alternatively, states can follow the commercial building provisions of the IECC.

There are several versions to ASHRAE Standard 90.1. The first edition of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 was published in 1975 and revisions were approved in 1980, 1989, 1999, 2001, and 2004, as the most current version (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004). Currently, version 90.1-2007 is under revision.

For more information please see http://www.ashrae.org.