Home

Code Status: Pennsylvania

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

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: The 2009 Uniform Construction Code is based on the 2009 IECC. It also offers alternate compliance paths through the 2009 IRC (Chapter 11) and the 2009 Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) (see below). The residential code applies to 1- and 2-family detached homes and townhouses and is mandatory statewide. REScheck may be used to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: The 2009 Uniform Construction Code is based on the 2009 IECC with reference to ASHRAE 90.1-2007. The commercial code applies to nonresidential buildings and is mandatory statewide. COMcheck may be used to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: Generally reviewed every three years with the publication of the new editions of the International Code Council's series of model codes. Most recent code update effective December 31, 2009.
top

Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has the authority to promulgate and upgrade the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Legislation requires that by December 31 of the year in which is issued "a new triennial BOCA National Building Code, or its successor building code", and/or "a new triennial ICC International One and Two Family Dwelling Code, or its successor building code", the department promulgate regulations adopting the new codes. Modifications to the code are reviewed through a series of public meetings and hearings.

On October 10, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell signed into law Act 106 of 2008. The legislation, House Bill 1096 (P.N. 4527), amends the UCC by establishing the Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council. The council of 19 members, appointed by the Governor from various construction industry trades and professions as well as local government, is charged with making recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly and the Department of Labor & Industry regarding proposed changes to Act 45 (The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act) and changes that appear in the International Codes enforceable under this act.

The 19 members of the Council were appointed by Governor Rendell on Feb. 10, 2009. 

State Code History: In November 1999, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed Act 45, the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code of 1999 (since amended in 2004), mandating a statewide building code across Pennsylvania. The legislation requires the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of the legislation and, in addition, to consider the development of alternative prescriptive methods for energy conservation that account for the various climatic regions within the Commonwealth. In deriving these energy standards, the DLI was to seek to balance energy savings with initial construction costs.

The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) developed the Pennsylvania Alternative Residential Energy Provisions (PA-Alt) for consideration by DLI to meet their legislated mandate. The PA-Alt was developed with the intent of being:

  • simpler to build to and easier to enforce;
  • more rational and flexible;
  • focused on Pennsylvania in terms of climatic and other conditions;
  • equivalent to the provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

The PA-Alt is an alternative to Chapter 11 of the International Residential Code (IRC). It is intended to supplement the IRC and, to the extent possible, to be consistent in format and general intent. The scope and definitions used in the IRC apply. It is important to note that a choice needs to be made by the builder or design professional between the PA-Alt, the IRC, and the IECC.

The initial version of the PA-Alt was developed in 2000 and was based on the 2000 IECC and IRC. The second version was updated in 2003 and was based on the 2003 IECC and IRC. The third version was updated in 2006 and was based on the 2006 IECC and IRC. The 2009 PA-Alt is the fourth iteration of the PA-Alt and is equivalent to the 2009 IECC and IRC.

Enforcement of the 2003 UCC began in April 2004. Its successor edition, the 2006 UCC, became effective on December 31, 2006. The current code, the 2009 UCC, became effective December 31, 2009.

Given the International Code Council's stated intentions to publish the 2012 International Code series (including the 2012 IECC) in January 2011, the next Pennsylvania code change process is expected to occur sometime in late 2011, with a tentative effective date of December 31, 2011.

Enforcement: Over 90% of Pennsylvania's 2,563 municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the UCC locally, using their own employees or via certified third party agencies (private code enforcement agencies) that they have retained. In these municipalities, the Department has no code enforcement authority, except where the municipality lacks the services of a person certified as an "Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner."

If a municipality has "opted out," the Department is responsible for all commercial code enforcement in that municipality. The Department also has sole jurisdiction for all elevators and all state-owned buildings, no matter where they are located.

Certified third party agencies hired by property owners (or their contractors) enforce the residential requirements of the UCC in all opt-out municipalities. Detailed information about these agencies and a listing of the choices of the state's municipalities can be accessed at the website of the Department of Labor and Industry.

top

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: 912.6 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 687.8 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 1,600.4 Trillion BTU
top

Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 12,281,054
  • Total Housing Units2: 5,328,251
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 48,214
    • 1 unit: 40,562
    • 2 units: 772
    • 3 and 4 units: 1,062
    • 5+ units: 5,818
    • structures of 5+ units: 352

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
top

Green Building Initiatives

 

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 Pennsylvania's allocated amount and updated information. 

Web Links

top

State Energy Code Contacts

Dave Althoff
Director, Bureau of Energy Innovations and Technology Deployment
PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

Tel: (717) 783-0542
Fax: (717) 783-2703

Email: dalthoff@state.pa.us

top