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Does green building seem to be at odds with the code?

Please encourage your building inspector to come here and participate in this Code Q&A; in the meantime, jump in with your experiences -- both positive and negative.

2 Answers

Our condo complex recently had a major repair to one of the buildings due to water damage within an exterior wall. This required removing the brick and replacing the material behind it. The builder said he could not re-install the existing window because it was not up to current code. Can anyone confirm this as a code requirement?

Asked By Gregory Dorsey | Jun 16 13
1 Answer

Hi,

I am an owner builder and I have a humble question related to vapor retarders for the experts, nerds and a like on this forum. I have been reading about vapor retarders, sealing air leaks and ventilation here, building science website and elsewhere for a while and I have talked with the village building inspector about them.

Asked By Heidi Herttuainen | Jun 7 13
0 Answers

Article 38 requires you to filter incoming air to residential units close to the highway and high traffic areas with MERV 13 filtration. That said, the building has electric heat due to the climate. The engineer spec'd fantech inline fans with custom MERV 13 box filters intercepting the supply duct, then dumping into the apartments. I worry that this will be too inefficient, dumping cool air into the apartment at night and keeping the temperatures low, forcing tenants to use the electric heating. That said, I would propose a spot ERV with MERV 13 filtration.

Asked By Zac Shore | Jun 5 13
7 Answers

Comparing the two equations is confusing. If you compare the IECC 2012 requirement for 3ACH50 in zone 4 with the MVR equation for a 2000 sq ft home with 8 ft ceilings and 4 beds in zone 4 with the climate N value of 24.5 the IECC cfm is 32.6 while the MVR cfm is 57.5. The MVR is larger than the IECC leakage level. Am I missing something?

MVR=0.01(2000)+7.5(5)= 57.5cfm natural

3ACH50= 48000 cu ft/24.5=1959ACHn/60=32.6cfm natural

Asked By paul scrivens | Apr 23 13
4 Answers

I have a flat roof and my contractor built a cedar board floating deck. the area is 16'x20' range and he made into 4 section, 16'x5' each. the boards are tight fit(no space) and also tight fit to the edge wood board( the wood board sit on top is metal capping). the nails are all sunken under the wood surface. One winter with snow/rain, I had to shelve the snow off the roof since the ice/water sit on the cedar boards. there was a leak(this roof did not have leak before the new deck). I tried to find out where the leak was, but the boards were all frozen together, like a big ice block.

Asked By Julia Ko | Apr 16 13
2 Answers

Where I'm planning on building the code requires design for 75 PSF snow load.
The best rating for load that I've found in PV panels is 40 PSF. In the unlikely event that an actual maximum snow load were to occur some of the panels may fail but no other structural damage would occur. Could such a situation be approved?

Asked By Jerry Liebler | Mar 28 13
2 Answers

When installing rigid foam in an unfinished crawlspace, what is needed to have it comply with the fire code? Foam board to be installed on inside of foundation wall and on the underside of joists?

Asked By Dennis Dipswitch | Mar 31 13
1 Answer

Does anyone know if a toilet can be installed in New York City on land located in a floodplain (designated Zone A by FEMA)? What about a composting toilet? Please cite codes and/or case studies. Thanks.

Asked By C. Leigh | Mar 28 13
4 Answers

I am researching energy efficiency objectives in codes and regulations, in Canada and the US. The first Canadian residential insulation value tables appeared in the (provincial) 1975 Ontario Building Code. I know that California's 1978 "Title 24" introduced even broader energy conservation measures. However, I do not know what US jurisdiction (state or city) was the first to publish insulation value tables for new homes, in a building code. I would appreciate your suggestions ...

Asked By Marshall Leslie | Mar 27 13
3 Answers

I am installing rigid foam and am considering fire barriers.

Based on this chart, it appears the following are currently accepted fire barriers in occupied space:

http://www.foam-tech.com/theory/firebarriers.htm

Wood Panel / Particle Board / Plywood - 15/32"
Drywall - 1/2"
Steel Base Metal - .016 (?)
Aluminum Base Metal - .032 (?)
Mineral Fiber Insulation - 2"

Thermax insulation is also apparently an approved barrier in attics and crawl spaces, but not occupied spaces, so perhaps it is not as good as the other options.

Asked By Erich Riesenberg | Mar 19 13
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