Oregon Building Code Updates

July 2011

Summer arrived today; in time to celebrate the 4^th of July. Gratitude to the fire services everywhere for being on hand for when the celebrations take a sharp turn in a different direction. The Weather Channel seems to indicate that summer might stay for a while. Of course, predicting Oregon weather is much like investing in the stock market.          

Also arriving:

2011 Reach Code

Effective dates:     July 1, 2011 - Commercial Provisions

October 1, 2011 - Residential Provisions (Chapter 13)

In 2009, the Oregon Legislature with the approval of Senate Bill 79, directed the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) to increase energy efficiency in buildings that are newly constructed, reconstructed, altered or repaired. In addition to increasing efficiency in the statewide mandatory energy code, Senate Bill 79 established a new code called the Reach Code. The Reach Code is a set of statewide optional construction standards for energy efficiency that exceed the requirements of the state's mandatory codes. Builders will have an optional path for high performance construction and jurisdictions can be assured the innovative construction methods are sound. The Reach Code covers a variety of topics including: mechanical systems, lighting designs, overall building design (both residential and commercial), plumbing practices and products. The Division is working to align the code with federal, state, and local financial incentives.

          The State’s webpage for the Reach Code is found at:

http://www.oregonbcd.org/programs/reach.html

The webpage also includes a link for downloading the draft version of the Code. At this point in time, the Draft version includes a lot of RESERVED sections, and a lot of strikethroughs; so the Code is still being written. It appears that there will be provisions for the use of graywater and collected rainwater for irrigation; the use of recycled and used materials for construction; and the use of alternative building methods.  

With the coming of of summer comes a brief break in my Code Updates. Back in the Fall.