The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) first began being enforced in April 2004. Fourteen years later, Act 35 of 2017 updated the code requirements to the 2015 International Codes. Application of this new standard began for all projects without a signed construction contract on October 1, 2018. The grace period for permit application for projects with a signed construction contract extended to March 31, 2019.
This change ushered in many changes from the previously adopted 2009 version of the Codes, some with the 2012 version and some with the 2015 version. In fact, some items were added in 2012 and subsequently removed in 2015. This is an indication of the fluidity that is present in our industry. With new construction methods, materials and technologies, designers, contractors, and code authorities alike must adapt.
Only time will tell which of the major and minor changes adopted will take hold and become the new standard, and which ones will be omitted in the future versions. However, now that all projects moving forward will have to comply with this new standard, there are several major changes in mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire protection that not only effect the design but can have significant effects on the bottom line. Understanding how to best navigate these changes while not succumbing to the latest trends is paramount in providing the lowest total cost of ownership to our clients.
Some of the key changes are outlined in the sections below:
- Mechanical Code Changes
- Plumbing and Energy Conservation Code Changes
- Electrical Code Changes
- Lighting Code Changes
Mechanical Code Changes 2009 vs 2015 IECC/IMC
The change from the 2009 International Codes to the 2015 International codes in Pennsylvania (PA UCC Code), except for the City of Philadelphia, ushered in many substantial changes when it comes to mechanical system design, construction and operation.
Similar to other code updates, the hike toward sustainable design and operation continues in these common areas: increased equipment efficiency requirements, tighter buildings and better control. However, there are several significant changes that not only affect how systems are designed and built but may require significant capital investments where they weren’t required before.
Below, we outline some major changes taking place and what you can expect in upcoming projects.
Window Area Limitations
With some notable exceptions, the maximum amount of window area allowed is 30% of the exterior wall area for most building designs. This may seem contradictory to the LEED requirement of daylighting and views, but the industry is still searching for the balance of thermal envelope efficiency and the benefits of daylight. While there are exceptions that allow up to 40% external glazing, there’s no free lunch. Those exceptions, which are generally for multi-story buildings, require an investment in daylighting controls and have strict guidelines for glass performance, which some owners may find too costly for the standard facility.
HVAC Controls
As lighting efficiencies continue to drastically improve when compared to the days of 40-watt fluorescent tubes and 100-watt incandescent bulbs, and as computer equipment moves from 250-watt desktop computers to 20-watt laptops, a significant shift has occurred in the building energy usage toward the HVAC systems. Electricity usage is increasingly dominated by ventilation load incurred on the heating and cooling systems when compared to other building systems, and as such, the codes are now requiring smarter controls to attempt to bring the air conditioning systems better in line with the efficiencies gained in other building systems. Changes in requirements include:
- Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems are now required for most commercial systems.
- Economizers are required to have Fault Detection Diagnostics (FDD) to be able to self-diagnose operational issues.
- Boiler controls now require setback based on outside air conditions.
- Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) requirements have increased.
HVAC Design and Installation
There have also been significant changes that affect design and installation of HVAC systems, some of the most significant include:
- Parking garage contaminant control is required unless the garage is smaller than 25,000 sq. ft., or the fan is more efficient than 1125 cfm/hp.
- Energy recovery is now required on systems with more than 1,200 cfm of outside air, but with notable exceptions.
- Ducts are generally seal class A, which means longitudinal and transverse seams are sealed.
- Ducts and pipes have significant insulation requirement changes, in some cases up to 5” of insulation on steam piping systems. This will result in tighter coordination tolerances, and potentially larger plenum and chase area requirements.
- Commercial refrigeration systems are now required to meet set efficiency levels.
Commissioning is now a requirement for all systems over 40 tons cooling and a combined space and service water heating exceeding 600,000 btu/hr.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the changes in mechanical code requirements, but it illustrates the level of consideration required when applying the new code system. Similar updates extend into plumbing and energy conservation requirements, where changes to water supply, hot water systems, and system efficiency introduce another set of design considerations.
Plumbing Code Changes 2009 vs 2015 IECC/IPC
Change. Whether good, bad, or somewhere in between, we must accept change and constantly adapt in order to move forward, grow and even improve. Changes in the International Plumbing and Energy Conservation Codes are no exception. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, except for the City of Philadelphia, adopted the 2015 International Codes the past October, superseding the 2009 international Codes that were previously in place.
Below are a few noteworthy changes between the 2009 and 2015 International Plumbing and Energy Conservation Codes.
Plumbing Code
Lead Content in Water Supply Piping
Both the 2009 and 2015 codes specifically require that piping, joints, valves, fittings and faucets contain at most 8% lead. However, the 2015 code now requires these components used to supply water for drinking and cooking to be limited to a weighted average of 0.25% or less. Thus, we recommend that any plumbing system having domestic water outlets that supply water for consumption by either drinking or cooking should comply with the latter throughout the system from water service inlet to the remotest device or fixture.
Hot Water Supply
The thermostat on a water heater is not acceptable as the means for limiting the maximum allowable water temperature to fixtures. In other words, thermostatic mixing valves are now required between the hot water system supply and all end-use fixtures to adequately protect building occupants from accidental scalding.
If they developed the length of hot water supply piping from the farthest plumbing fixture to the hot water source exceeds 50 feet, a recirculation (or heat-traced) piping system is required to maintain tempered piping in the system. The 2009 code allowed up to 100 feet.
Dedicated circulator pumps that circulate water between a water heater and a storage tank must be de-energized within five minutes after the heating cycle is completed. This was not referenced in the 2009 code, allowing these circulator pumps to run indefinitely.
Demand controls for recirculation systems are now required. The control system must energize the pump upon use of the system by either sensing occupancy by users at fixtures or by sensing the flow of hot water to fixtures in the system. The control system must also limit the temperature of the recirculated water entering the cold-water system to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Energy Conservation Code
Domestic Hot Water Systems
Central water heating systems 1,000 MBH or greater must be at least 90% efficient and pool heaters must now be at least 82% efficient.
Piping insulation thickness must now comply with the same requirements as building space heating and cooling requirements with thickness increasing as pipe sizes increase.
The maximum allowable piping length from the heated water source (water heater or circulated piping system) is limited by volume. Water supply to public lavatories is the most affected, with uncirculated lengths of piping ½” and larger being limited to a range of 6 to 24 inches. In order to practically achieve this requirement, hot water recirculation piping must be extended from the fixture behind the wall and back to the return system.
As with the Plumbing Code, pumped circulation systems are required (gravity recirculation systems are no longer permitted) and circulator pump starts must be based on demand rather than by occupancy alone. In addition to the Plumbing Code requirement for demand control, the Energy Conservation Code requires that circulator pumps be de-energized when temperature limits are satisfied.
This is not an exhaustive list of the recent changes, but we have highlighted a few of the significant ones. The International Code Council publishes summaries of significant changes in the codes as compared to the version that immediately precedes it. A summary of changes in both the 2012 and 2015 codes are available for immediate download at www.icc.org.
The code update extends beyond mechanical and plumbing systems. Revised building codes and referenced standards brought several changes to electrical system design, fire alarm requirements, system reliability, and equipment installation.
Electrical Code Changes to the IBC and NEC
Along with Pennsylvania’s update from the 2009 International Codes to the 2015 International Codes came revisions contained in the International Codes themselves and updated references to other standards, including the 2014 National Electrical Code (previously 2008), the 2013 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (previously 2007), and the 2015 Life Safety Code (previously 2009).
These changes impact electrical system design and include several significant provisions in the International Building Code and National Electrical Code.
International Building Code (IBC)
Looking at building electrical systems, the most significant changes seen in the 2015 IBC surround fire alarm system requirements, including:
- Revised requirements for voice evacuation systems in Group A occupancies.
- All Group E facilities with over 100 occupants are now required to have a voice evacuation fire alarm system.
- Expanded requirements for carbon monoxide detection in Group I, R, and E occupancies.
National Electrical Code (NEC)
The changes seen in the 2014 NEC cover a broad range of technical topics, but can generally be grouped into the following recurring themes:
- Emphasis on “accessibility” of devices and equipment
- New requirements to bring devices and circuits up to current codes when performing one-for-one device replacements
- Additional labeling, documentation, and reporting requirements
- Added emphasis on electrical system reliability
Significant technical changes in the 2014 NEC include, but are not limited to:
- Selective Coordination: Probably the most impactful changes, from a design and potentially cost standpoint, brought about by the adoption of the 2014 NEC are changes to selective coordination requirements.
- The requirement for selective coordination has been expanded to all potential ranges of currents and time, whereas previously the lower time limit was loosely defined. Coordination down to zero seconds is challenging and has a direct impact on distribution system design and device selection.
- Selective coordination is required for all supply-side protective devices, including normal-side distribution, not just emergency-side distribution as required by previous code iterations. Changes to existing normal-side distribution equipment and devices may be required to meet this requirement when adding or modifying an emergency system.
- Selective coordination of the distribution system must be designed and documented by a licensed professional engineer.
- Labeling: Added new requirements for labeling of maximum available fault current on service equipment and SCCR ratings on mechanical equipment nameplates.
- Personnel Doors: All rooms containing any equipment rated at over 800A must swing out with listed panic hardware. Previous code versions triggered this requirement at 1200A with additional dimensional provisions.
- Shared Neutrals: Shared neutral conductors are now prohibited for most applications.
- Device Replacement: New code provisions require GFI, AFCI, and tamper resistant devices be installed in code-required locations any time an existing device is replaced.
- GFI and AFCI Devices: GFI and AFCI protection requirements and locations have been greatly expanded.
- Emergency Systems: All emergency switchboards and panelboards are now required to have a listed surge protection device.
- New Sections: New code requirements governing the design and installation of photovoltaic and wind-powered generating systems.
Normally, with any code update, there are growing pains as engineers try to determine how to apply new regulations, inspectors try to figure out what to look for, and owners try to get a feeling for how the changes impact project and maintenance costs. Luckily, while these codes are newly adopted in our state, they have been used in other jurisdictions for years, and we have the benefit of hindsight: publications, interpretations, and construction cost data that early adopting jurisdictions did not.
Another significant area affected by Pennsylvania’s code update is lighting, where the 2015 IECC introduced new requirements for energy use, controls, and commissioning.
Lighting Code Changes 2009 vs 2015 IECC
“Hearing can be deceiving, seeing is believing, but feeling – that’s the naked truth” is a phrase which can be applied to many highly anticipated events in life. For the building industry, Pennsylvania’s long-awaited jump to the 2015 (2018 in Philadelphia) ICC International Codes last October was one of these greatly anticipated events. Historically, anticipation has run high before each code update since significant impacts to the current cost of both design and construction seem to follow.
One code in particular – the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which establishes energy utilization criteria for new buildings as well as additions and renovations to existing – has been one of the more highly anticipated code updates. With heightened global concern for establishing more stringent requirements directed at energy-savings, the 2015 IECC aims to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, provide much-needed relief to an aging utility infrastructure, and respond to the steady rise in cost of energy. In doing so, the 2015 IECC looks to save Commercial Building Owners upwards of 25-30% more energy than the 2009 version of the code.
Lighting is one obvious focus when it comes to minimizing energy use in buildings. Since the early 1900s, the mass production of inefficient light sources and lack of mandatory lighting control requirements has allowed lighting to remain as the single largest consumer of electricity in commercial buildings. However, with continued technological advancements in energy-efficient LED lighting and more robust automated lighting control systems, now more than ever the building industry has the tools ready to support the goals of the IECC 2015 code.
The new code targets aspects of both lighting and its control systems design in the following ways:
Lower Maximum Allowances for Total Lighting Power Consumption in Buildings
The tables defining the maximum allowance for total lighting power consumption in each space and building type have been revised to much lower values requiring the use of more efficient light sources to meet code.
Increased Requirements for Automatic Shutoff, Dimming, and Daylight-Responsive Controls
With few exceptions, automatic shutoff control is now required for all commercial buildings, even those that are smaller than 5,000 sq. ft. Implementation of automatic shutoff control devices (occupancy sensors, elapsed-time switches, and astronomic timeclock) is defined in detail for each space type. Another significant change is that spaces with occupancy sensing controls are no longer exempt from needing dimming controls. Increased control requirements for daylit areas of a building are also prominent in the new code. In past code versions, manual on/off controls were permitted for controlling electric lighting in daylit zones. Now daylight-responsive automatic controls that offer continuous dimming of electric lighting in daylit zones are required in many applications.
Mandated Commissioning
To ensure the design meets code and performs as intended, lighting and lighting controls have now been added to the list of systems that are required to be commissioned. Upon completion of construction, these systems must be functionally tested, and the results reported to and approved by the Design Professional. Documentation of system commissioning must then be turned over to the Owner for their records within 90 days of occupancy.
Overall, the positive environmental impacts generated by the 2015 IECC are anticipated to greatly outweigh the potential increase in cost of construction to implement the energy efficient strategies outlined above. But, as many building owners know, only time will tell.
Taken together, these mechanical, plumbing, energy conservation, electrical, and lighting updates illustrate the broad impact Pennsylvania’s adoption of the newer International Codes can have on building design, construction, system operation, and project costs. Reviewing code requirements early in the planning and design process can help project teams account for these changes and make informed decisions before they affect construction.
For more information about these code changes, visit the International Code Council (ICC) website or contact us to understand how these requirements may apply to your project.