Home

Tennessee to Hold Series of Hearings on Prospective New Energy Code

September 30, 2009 - 12:25pm — Paul.Karrer

After the passage of legislation in June updating the state's energy codes, the Tennessee Fire Marshal's office will be holding public hearings (schedule below) throughout the state on the prospective regulations. Written public comments will be accepted until Thursday, October 15. A key proposed change up for debate:

  • The state Fire Marshal's office will adopt the new state commercial and residential energy codes, which will be based on a combination of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and either the International Building Code (IBC, commercial) or International Residential Code (IRC, residential).  This combination will be chosen from either the 2006 or 2009 code series. 

Other provisions of the new codes that are not debatable at the hearings include:

  • In local jurisdictions that have already adopted codes equivalent to or exceeding the 2006 IECC, the new state codes are not required to be adopted.
  • The state will enforce the IECC for residential and commercial buildings in jurisdictions that do not have inspection programs, but only in those that do not choose to opt out of the state code with a two-thirds vote of the local governing body.
  • Jurisdictions that do have their own inspection program may adopt any edition of the IRC within 7 years of the latest published edition of the IRC. They can enforce any edition of the IECC that is within 7 years of the latest published edition or enforce Chapter 11 (energy efficiency) of an edition of the IRC that is within 7 years of the latest published edition of the IRC.
  • The provisions of the new state code will sunset in 2014.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE:

Knoxville: October 8 at 1:00pm ET
University of TN Conference Center, 4th Floor dining Room
600 Henley Street (MAP)

Chattanooga: October 9 at 9:00am ET
Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center Ballroom H/I/J
Two Carter Plaza (MAP)

Jackson: October 13 at 1:00pm CT
West Tennessee Ag Research and Education Center, Room 150
605 Airways Boulevard (MAP)

Nashville: October 15 at 1:00pm CT
Davy Crockett Tower, Room 160
500 James Robertson Parkway (MAP)

****

BCAP Tennessee Code Status Page