Renovating with IECC and ASHRAE 90.1
Commercial buildings, which include multifamily residential buildings and those 4 stories or greater in height above grade, follow commercial provisions of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.”
Whether the work is for insurance purposes or building restoration, compliance assessment is primarily tied to the limits of the new work only, with certain exceptions. However, the scope of the work is just as important. Accordingly, we have put together some example for you to consider.
In general, we begin in the Administrative provisions of energy codes and standards with four fundamental tenets:
- Any building or structure that is listed as a National, State or Local Register of Historic Places (so designated under local or state certification, law or survey) is considered exempt from the energy code or standard. Be careful because the historic designation of building interiors may be designated separately from building exteriors.
- Additions, alterations, renovations or repairs to an existing building, building system or portion thereof shall conform to the provisions of this code as they relate to new construction without requiring the unaltered portion(s) of the existing building or building system to comply with the energy code or standard. Unaltered portion(s) of the existing building or building system(s) need not comply.
- Unconditioned spaces altered to become conditioned spaces are to be brought into full compliance with the energy code or standard.
- Spaces undergoing a change in occupancy (factory/industrial to business) that result in an increase in demand for fossil fuel or electrical energy are to comply with the code or standard.
Additions and Adaptive Reuse
- Basic addition: An addition is “deemed to comply” with this code where the addition alone complies or where the existing building and addition—considered together—comply with the code or standard as a single building.
- Change of use or occupancy: If an insurance agent’s office (IBC, Group ‘B’) undergoing a renovation and change in occupancy to retail (IBC, Group ‘M’), such as a jewelry store, it is likely the Group M occupancy will have an increased demand for electrical energy due to the “close-work” and examination required for purchasing or crafting fine jewelry and watches. The code official will often require the new lighting system to be evaluated to the lighting power and controls provisions of the energy code.
- Adaptive reuse of existing structure: In the judgment of the authority having jurisdiction, the facility, possibly used for storage at one time, will undergo a change in occupancy or use. When a building undergoes a change of occupancy, the energy-using systems (thermal envelope, HVAC, service water heating, lighting and lighting controls) must be evaluated to determine the effect such change in occupancy or use has on energy use. For example, if a mercantile occupancy (IBC, Group ‘M’ classification) is converted to a restaurant (Group ‘A’ classification), additional ventilation would be required for the public (increased occupant load) and makeup air for the kitchen exhaust hood(s). Depending on the nature of the previous occupancy, changing a building’s occupancy classification could result in a change to the HVAC, service water heating, electrical or lighting system, or any combination thereof. A determination in this regard is at the discretion of the code official.
Retrofitting Interiors
- Wall covering/texture replacement: Such alterations are deemed ornamental and decorative in nature, and thereby beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.
- Painting and caulking: Classified ornamental and decorative in nature, and thereby beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.
- Carpet, marble and tile installation: Classified ornamental and decorative in nature, and thereby beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.
- Custom millwork and trim: Classified ornamental and decorative in nature, and thereby beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.
- Electrical and lighting: Where the scope of the work includes lighting system retrofit, relocation or replacement, and less than 50 percent of the luminaires (lamps and housing) are replaced, the lighting alterations (alone) are exempt, provided that the lighting alterations (alone) do not increase interior connected lighting power beyond the former level of connected lighting power for the altered space(s). Lighting controls as direct replacements for existing lighting controls are subject to the bi-level illumination, occupancy-vacancy sensing requirements of the code or standard.
- Electrical and fire-alarm systems: Electrical systems other than lighting controls are considered beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.
- Plumbing and fire sprinklers: Fire sprinkler systems are considered beyond the scope of an energy code or standard. Plumbing associated with the supply or return of service hot water (showers, hot tubs, swimming pools, clothes washing and dishwashing) are subject to piping insulation, temperature and pump controls.
- Granite/synthetic vanity top and tub-surround installation: The removal/installation of tub and shower surrounds along exterior walls require the installation of insulation in exterior walls and the surround to be separated from the exterior wall cavities with an air barrier.
- Framing, drywall and acoustical ceilings; Any alterations to walls considered part of the building thermal envelope and revealing or creating uninsulated cavities (created by studs, hat-channels or furring strips) require those cavities to be filled with insulation having a density of at least R-3 per inch.
- Furniture installations and changes: Beyond the scope of an energy code or standard.