Building Codes Assistance Project

On February 17, legislation (HB 3550) was introduced in the South Carolina State Legislature that would mandate the 2006 IECC for all new and renovated buildings effective July 1, 2009. Local building officials would be required to enforce the new standards, and alternate enforcers would be provided in areas that do not have building code officials.

The legislation also calls for the South Carolina Building Codes Council (BCC) to adopt by reference and amend the latest editions of the I-Codes published by the International Code Council. Most importantly, the bill removes a residential compliance option which weakens the energy savings achievable through the 2006 IECC by allowing homes to meet state code through four prescriptive R-values (the energy efficiency of such homes is comparable to those built using the 1992 Model Energy Code, or MEC).

Original language calling for adoption of the "current edition" of the IECC was amended during the committee process to the "2006" IECC.

STATUS: The House approved HB 3550 on April 29. On May 7, the bill was passed favorably by the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry. On May 14, the bill was read for the third time in the Senate and ordered enrolled for action by Gov. Mark Sanford.

On June 2, Governor signed HB 3550 into law.

**On June 30, the SCBCC announced moratoria on certain provisions (duct insulation, SHGC) of the new code until January 1, 2010.

More information on HB 3550: Bill Home | Text (as amended in House)

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BCAP South Carolina Code Status Page