Code Status: Oregon

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Oregon. Information for all 50 States is also available. Oregon Code News.

Current State Codes
Code Adoption & Change Process
Energy Consumption Estimates
Construction Activity
Web Links
State Energy Code Contacts

Current State Codes

Residential Code: 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) for 1-2 family residential dwellings, based off the 2006 International Residential Code. Chapter 11 for energy efficiency is as stringent as the 2006 IECC and 15% more efficient that the 2005 ORSC. State-developed CodeComp software may be used to show compliance.
Commercial Code: 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) for non-residential buildings, based off the 2006 International Building Code, is mandatory statewide. Chapter 13 for energy efficiency is certified by the USGBC and is 1-2% more stringent than 90.1-2004. State-developed CodeComp software may be used to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle: It begins every three years with the availability of new editions of or supplements to the International Code Council model codes.

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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: Changes to the energy conservation requirements are submitted on code change forms to the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD). The Residential Structures Board reviews proposed changes that are applicable to residential code. The Building Codes Structures Board reviews changes that are applicable to the structures code. The BCD administrator, under delegated authority from the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, makes a final determination about acceptance of the proposal. Once the administrator accepts a proposal, rulemaking begins.

State Code History: Oregon adopted a state-promulgated non-residential energy code applying only to the building envelope in 1978; this was expanded to include HVAC systems in 1980. A complete non-residential energy code was first adopted in 1996. In 1998, slight revisions were made, and in 1999 a high glazing path was added with significantly improved window requirements so that overall thermal integrity was not compromised. Equipment efficiency tables were updated in 2001 to reflect ASHRAE 90.1-1999 but using 90.1-2001 values.

Oregon's Low Rise Residential Dwelling Code (Low Rise Code) was created by passage of Senate Bill 906 (SB 906) in the 2003 Oregon Legislature and was codified in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 455.040. This bill created the Residential Structures Board and assigned it purview of the Low Rise Code. Its successor, the 2005 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), followed in October 2005.

Effective April 1, 2007, non-residential buildings are subject to the 2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC). Chapter 13, covering building energy efficiency, has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and is 1-2% more stringent than ASHRAE 90.1-2004.

In 2006, Governor Ted Kulongoski mandated that the state of Oregon improve energy performance in new residential construction by 15% by the year 2015. In March of 2008, the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) gave final approval to the 2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, effective July 1, 2008 after a three month interim period. The energy requirements in Chapter 11 reduce energy consumption in new homes by 15% verses the previous ORSC edition. Many, but not all, of the measures of the 2008 ORSC were drawn from the 2004 Northwest ENERGY STAR specifications.

With the adoption of the 2008 ORSC, it was decided to move the respective Low Rise Code requirements into the adopted model codes with which they most closely align. This allows Oregon's published codes to be consistent with the scope of the nationally promulgated codes and assists in the scope of inspector/plan review certifications and certain licensing requirements. The Oregon BCD Enforcement Program works with local jurisdictions so they can emphasize proper compliance with permits. It has implemented pilot enforcement programs across the state to test different enforcement models and has expanded the division's enforcement presence in local communities.

For more details on Oregon's energy codes, visit the websites of the Oregon Department of Energy (ORSC and OSSC) and the Oregon Building Codes Division.

Oregon Code Chronology
Enactment Date	Effective Date	Description
1978		Code addressed non-residential building envelopes only
1980		HVAC coverage added to code (1979 UBC)
1996		Major non-residential code established.
1998		Non-residential code update with limited changes. No changes to envelope or lighting components.
1999		Added 40% window path, energy neutral
Oct 2001		Updated equipment standards from ASHRAE 90.1-1999 (using 90.1-2001 values)
Nov 2003		Low Rise Residential Dwelling Code (Low Rise Code): Changes in all areas including lighting LPD and equipment efficiency tables
Mar 2004	Oct 2004	2004 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC): Slight revisions with significant change to the Air Transport Factor requirement and calculations. Slight revisions with significant increases in deemed to comply with window traits for window wall components
Oct 2004	Oct 2005	2005 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC): for 1-2 family residential dwellings, based off 2003 International Residential Code
2006	Apr 2007	2007 Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) for non-residential buildings, based off 2006 International Building Code. Chapter 13 for energy efficiency is certified by the USGBC and is 1-2% more stringent than 90.1-2004
Mar 2008	July 2008	2008 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) for 1-2 family residential dwellings, based off 2006 International Residential Code. Chapter 11 for energy efficiency is as stringent as the 2006 IECC and 15% more efficient than the 2005 ORSC

Sources: Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (2008), Oregon Building Codes Division (2008), and Oregon Department of Energy - Conservation Division (2008)

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Residential Sector: 270.1 Trillion BTU
Commercial Sector: 209.2 Trillion BTU
Total Energy Consumption: 479.3 Trillion BTU

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Construction Activity

Residential:

Population (2000 US Census)¹: 3,421,399
Total Housing Units²: 1,495,582
2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)³:
- total units: 28,396
- 1 unit: 21,933
- 2 units: 936
- 3 and 4 units: 890
- 5+ units: 4,637
- structures of 5+ units: 278

References:

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Green Building Initiatives

111 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Buildings
ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Market Index between 3% and 11%
85 ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings and Plants

Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for Oregon's allocated amount and updated information.