2021 Code changes under review.
This is the response from the council regarding I-2066.
https://sbcc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Motion.pdf
Motion - SBCC is endeavoring to comply with I 2066, the existing state statute, and federal EPCA law. - SBCC has existing responsibilities that were not changed by 2066 to continue to update the 2024 Energy Code with limited staff, TAG and Council resources and time to meet them. - In that context, we intend to make a good faith effort, through our established process, to achieve the complex and entangled goals with which we have been asked to comply, while minimizing uncertainty in regulation and disruption for the construction industry. - To that end, we direct the Energy Code TAG to continue to advance the 2024 Energy codes and bring forward off cycle recommendations to update the 2021 Energy Codes if needed(Res and commercial), so as to: o Comply with federal EPCA standards. o Meet the existing statutory requirements, including but not limited to, incrementally increase energy efficiency with each update towards a 70% improvement in energy efficiency. o Recommend rules that may be required to meet the 2066 provision that gas not be penalized, prohibited or discouraged relative to other energy sources. o Does not provide any artificial advantage in meeting energy efficiency standards to gas energy sources or appliances. - And directs SBCC staff to proactively communicate this process, including keeping existing 2021 energy code in effect until by this process or directed otherwise by a court; as well as any incremental steps in pending adjudication to local governments required to implement the standards.
WSU Disclosurehttps://www.energy.wsu.edu/BuildingEfficiency/EnergyCode/disclaimer.aspx
Disclosure
Due to recent changes brought by Initiative - 2066, aspects of the 2021 Washington State Energy Code (WESC-R) may no longer comply with the updated regulations. We are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting clear guidance on the new legal requirements.
In the meantime, we want to assure you that we remain committed to supporting our clients. Our team will continue to provide technical support for the current construction code while working to understand and align with the updated legal framework.
We will continue to monitor and update forms as new guidance becomes available through the SBCC. In the meantime, we are providing tools consistent with the existing SBCC guidance, although some of these resources may be ineffective or unenforceable after Initiative 2066. Our tools are optional, and may be used or not as you choose.
Disclaimer
Any mention of trade names, commercialized products, and organizations in our educations and/or materials, or utilized in our code support documentation and tools, does not imply endorsement by Washington State University’s Energy Program (WSUEP). The WSUEP and its collaborators make no warranties, whether expressed or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the contents of this publication, or any portion thereof, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights.
Further, the WSUEP cannot be held liable for construction defects or deficiencies resulting from the proper or improper application of the content of this education. Our WSEC-Residential technical support team is not an affiliate of, nor do we speak for, the Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC). Official opinions of WSEC intent are made only by the SBCC in response to official inquiries submitted to the SBCC by authorities having jurisdiction. While we try to stay aligned with the SBCC, the technical support we provide is advisory only and non-binding on authorities having jurisdiction, builders, designers, and the building trades personnel involved with construction and remodeling of residential structures.
https://www.energy.wsu.edu/BuildingEfficiency/EnergyCode/AdditionalResources.aspx#New
Link to 2021 residential Code: https://sbcc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-4/2021_WSEC_R_1stPrint-1_042623.pdf
Link to 2021 commercial Code: https://sbcc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2021_WSEC_C_2ndPrint_0518023.pdf
ADVANCED BLOWER DOOR TEST COMPANY
425-870-1837
How A Blower Door Works
As you can see in the photo the blower door is installed in an exterior doorway. The equipment consists of variable speed fan, fan speed controller, adjustable door frame for sealing the opening and a set of manometers to measure the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the house.
With this we can then calibrate the equipment and set if to the standard pressure of 50 pascals so that we can determine an ACH50 rating. ACH refers to Air Changes Per Hour.
Once our pressure is set the diagnostic measuring equipment is able to measure the volume of air being pushed through the fan at the desired pressure. This is used to calculate the air exchanges per hour at a given pressure and hence our ACH50 value. Preparing for the test takes about an hour, but the test only takes about 10 minutes once everything is set up.