State Adopts an Improved Building Code

(April 2010)  The Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has adopted new energy code provisions that could make new homes 15% to 20% more energy efficient than the current code requires.

Montana’s code previously followed the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standards. After input from MEIC and others, DLI has adopted a code based on the 2009 IECC standards with several cost-effective, energy-saving amendments. The most significant amendment requires that basements be insulated prior to occupancy.  Other amendments improve insulation requirements for attics and crawlspaces, and tighten standards to reduce air leakage.

While a stronger energy code is a good first step, implementation of the code is very spotty because there is no effective statewide enforcement mechanism.  Outside of cities that have their own building standards, inspection and certification for energy code compliance is voluntary. This voluntary process has led to inconsistent implementation of the standards.

According to the Department of Environmental Quality, which tracks building code implementation, approximately 50% of new homes built in the state are not actually inspected for energy code compliance. Many of these new homes are built in rural areas. Now that the state has adopted a stronger energy code it is time for the legislature to pass legislation to ensure that the code is enforced. 

A strong energy code coupled with better enforcement could significantly decrease energy use, increase the value of homes, save Montanans thousands of dollars on their energy bills, and reduce the need for costly retrofits and repairs in the future.

The State of Montana currently operates under the International Code Council’s International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which is published triennially.  The International Code Council is a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention.  It develops codes that can be used to regulate the construction of residential and commercial buildings, including schools.  Most U.S. cities, counties, and states that adopt codes choose the ones developed by the International Code Council.