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Code Status: Pennsylvania

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Pennsylvania. Information for all 50 States is also available. Pennsylvania Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: 2006 IECC or 2006 IRC (Chapter 11) or 2006 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) may be used (see below); mandatory statewide. Can use REScheck to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: 2006 IECC with reference to ASHRAE 90.1-2004, mandatory statewide. Can use COMcheck to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: Generally reviewed at least every three years with the publication of the new editions of the model codes. Most recent code update effective December 31, 2006.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has the authority to promulgate and upgrade the state energy codes. Legislation requires that by December 31st of the year in which is issued "a new triennial BOCA National Building Code, or its successor building code", and/or "a new triennial ICC International One and Two Family Dwelling Code, or its successor building code", the department promulgate regulations adopting the new codes.

Modifications to the code are through a series of public meetings and hearings. Any work done under a design or construction contract executed before December 31, 2006 should have complied with the 2003 I-code requirements.

State Code History: Enforcement of the 2003 Uniform Construction Code (UCC) began in April 2004. The codes currently in use under the UCC are the 2006 International Codes issued by the International Code Council. No supplements to the 2006 codes will be adopted for use. The next code changes will occur by December 31, 2009 (when the next triennial versions of the I-Codes are adopted by regulation).

The UCC allows builders and design professionals the choice between several compliance paths for residential construction. Builders may choose the 2006 IECC, 2006 IRC (Chapter 11), or the 2006 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt). The PA-Alt is intended to be easier to use, an alternative to the 2006 IRC, and equivalent to the 2006 IECC. Previous versions of the PA-Alt were written in 2000 and 2003.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2005, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 999.5 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 716.6 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 1,716.1 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 12,281,054
  • Total Housing Units2: 5,328,251
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 48,214
    • 1 unit: 40,562
    • 2 units: 772
    • 3 and 4 units: 1,062
    • 5+ units: 5,818
    • structures of 5+ units: 352

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
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Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

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