Building Codes Assistance Project

[Updated July 9, 2009]

On January 28, a bill (HB 6284) was introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly to establish a new state building energy code and green buildings for certain construction projects.  After the adoption of an amendment, the bill now requires the State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee to revise the State Building Code to incorporate the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) within 18 months of its publication for commercial and residential buildings.

A new provision would be applicable to new construction or a major alteration of a residential or nonresidential building begun after July 1, 2010 that is above a specified minimum size as determined by the State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee. The Inspector and the Committee will develop provisions to revise the State Building Code that will require such construction to meet or exceed optimum cost-effective building construction standards that can include the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED-NC rating system, the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes USA design program, the National Association of Homebuilders' National Green Building Standard, or an equivalent rating system. Third-party certification will be allowed.

HB 6284 also repealed a previous statute passed in 2007 requiring the State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee to revise the State Building Code to include provisions that require certain construction -- new buildings constructed after January 1, 2009 projected to cost at least $5 million and building renovation projects started after January 1, 2010 projected to cost at least $2 million -- to achieve a LEED-NC Silver rating, a two-globe rating from the Green Globes USA design program, or an equivalent standard.

[Previously, the state energy code referenced the 2003 IECC, although the 2009 Amendment to the 2005 State Building Code would update the energy code for residential and commercial buildings to the 2006 IECC. The final proposed draft of the State Building Code 2009 Amendment has been approved through the regulatory adoption process. This code became effective on August 1, 2009.]

STATUS: On May 26, the House passed the bill as amended 145-0. On June 2, the Senate approved the bill as amended 36-0. On July 8, the bill that was enrolled as Public Act 09-192 was signed by Governor M. Jodi Rell.

More information on HB 6284: Bill Home Page | Text (as passed by legislature) | Bill Analysis

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