Code Status: South Carolina

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of South Carolina. Information for all 50 States is also available. South Carolina 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: 2006 IECC mandatory in all jurisdictions across the state. REScheck can be used to show compliance.
Commercial Code: 2006 IECC mandatory in all jurisdictions across the state. COMcheck can be used to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle: No set schedule. Last updated code was effective July 1, 2008.

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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The South Carolina Building Codes Council (BCC) is charged with adopting and amending the statewide building codes. Adoption of the latest version of the national model codes is done through the publication of a notice of intent in the state register, followed by a comment period and at least one public hearing. A study committee may be convened to consider public feedback, and once promulgated, the code becomes effective on the first day of January or July which is more than six months from the effective day of the regulation (See the supporting documents below for more detailed information on the process).

State Code History: The South Carolina Building Energy Efficiency Standard Act was first enacted in 1979. The Act referenced the Southern Building Code Congress, International (SBCCI) Standard Building Code for energy provisions. The Governor signed a statewide building code bill in the summer of 1997.

Prior to June 13, 1997, local jurisdictions that desired to adopt building codes were permitted to do so by local ordinance. If a jurisdiction did adopt building codes, it was required to adopt only the codes authorized by the Building Codes Act. Once adopted, the jurisdiction was obligated to continue adoption of each new edition within one year after it was made available by the publisher. The implementation date for enforcement was established by the local jurisdiction.

Starting July 13, 1997, all local jurisdictions that did not legally "opt out" of the mandatory building code program were required to adopt building codes by local ordinance, after they were authorized by the Council. The Council was also required to establish the date of implementation for each of the adopted codes. Starting July 2, 2003, the Council was charged with the responsibility for adopting all mandatory building codes and establishing the date of implementation for the local jurisdictions.

Previous adoptions of energy codes in South Carolina were the 2000 IECC on May 24, 2000 (effective July 1, 2001) and the 2003 IECC on May 26, 2004 (effective January 1, 2005).

On November 28, 2007, the South Carolina Building Code Council (BCC) formally adopted the 2006 IECC for non-residential buildings. Due to the statuary process for code adoption, the 2006 IECC was officially implemented in South Carolina on July 1, 2008.

On June 2, 2009, Gov. Mark Sanford signed legislation (HB 3550) which mandatse the 2006 IECC for all new and renovated buildings effective July 1, 2009. Local building officials are 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 (see below) 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.

**Residential requirements prior to July 1, 2009: These were addressed in the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 6, Chapter 10 (the Building Energy Efficiency Standard Act). Section 6-10-30 references the current edition of Appendix J (Code for Energy Conservation in new building construction) to the Standard Building Code of the Southern Building Code Congress International, which prohibits the Building Code Council from adopting energy code requirements for residential buildings other than those listed in the statute. The BCC cannot apply the energy efficiency chapter of the IRC (Chapter 11), and it has been deleted in the version of the 2003 IRC with state-specific modifications that South Carolina adopted. Appendix J provides only prescriptive R-values and is most comparable to the 1992 Model Energy Code (MEC) in stringency. Among the regulations from section 6-10-30:

In one and two family dwellings, double pane or storm windows must be used for window glass and in the case of ceilings, exterior walls, floors with crawl space, and heating and air conditioning duct work, the determination of the minimum thermal resistance ratings (R-value) must be:

R-30 for ceilings, except for ceiling/roof combinations, which must be R-19;
R-13 for exterior walls;
R-19 for floors with crawl space;
R-6, or the installed equivalent, for heating and air conditioning duct-work not located in conditioned space

Nothing in this subsection may be construed to inhibit utilization of higher minimum thermal ratings.

To facilitate the affordability of purchases of housing, minimum thermal resistance ratings of R-19 for ceilings and R-11 for floors may be used provided the builder discloses the insulation levels to the buyer. The certificate of disclosure of non-compliance must be on a form available from the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission and a copy must be submitted to the commission which must keep it for thirteen years.

South Carolina Code Chronology
Enactment Date	Effective Date	Description
Before June 1997		Local jurisdictions that desired to adopt building codes were permitted to do so by local ordinance. If a jurisdiction did adopt building codes, it was required to adopt only the codes authorized by the Building Codes Act
June 1997	July 1997	All local jurisdictions that did not legally "opt out" of the mandatory building code program were required to adopt building codes by local ordinance, after they were authorized by the Council
May 2000	July 2001	2000 IECC for non-residential buildings
May 2004	Jan 2005	2003 IECC for non-residential buildings
Nov 2007	July 2008	2006 IECC for non-residential buildings

Source: South Carolina Building Codes Council

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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: 349.1 Trillion BTU
Commercial Sector: 256.8 Trillion BTU
Total Energy Consumption: 605.9 Trillion BTU

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Construction Activity

Residential:

Population (2000 US Census)¹: 4,012,012
Total Housing Units²: 1,825,531
2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)³:
- total units: 43,059
- 1 unit: 36,160
- 2 units: 278
- 3 and 4 units: 577
- 5+ units: 6,044
- structures of 5+ units: 440

References:

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Green Building Initiatives

27 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Buildings
ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Market Index less than 3%
84 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 South Carolina's allocated amount and updated information.