ICC Building Safety Association of Vermont
Working to improve public health and safety throughout Vermont -
An ICC Professional Chapter Since March 2009
RETROFITTING HISTORIC BUILDINGS: Accessibility, NFPA 101 - Chapter 43, and Energy Codes
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Hotel Coolidge, White River Junction, VT
8:00am - 3:30pm
See information page and REGISTRATION CLOSED
2023 Fire Safety Calendar - September
Firefighters are Heroes, Don't Fear Firefighters in Gear
2021 IBC - Think About it... are you providing the right roof access?
IBC Requirements for Roof Access
Roof access requirements are found in the 2021 IBC section 1011.12 Stairway to Roof:
In buildings of four or more stories above grade plane, one stairway shall extend to the roof surfaces unless the roof has a slope steeper than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33 percent slope)
IBC Section 1011.12.2 Roof access:
When a stairway is provided to a roof, access to the roof shall be provided through a penthouse complying with Section 1510.2
There are exceptions to this rule but do you comply with those? Are you a leader in your industry or just following the basics?
2015 VT Fire and Building Safety Code Effective October 10, 2016
See the Division of Fire Safety - Codes & Standards Page for more information!
Where can I get information on Vermont Codes?
Visit our Summary Page of Vermont Codes. It includes a listing of applicable residential and commercial codes and links to the responsible state or municipal organization for each.
Energy Code Books Available
Need a copy of the 2015 Vermont Commercial and/or Residential Building Energy Standard (CBES or RBES)?
Contact the
Energy Code Assistance Center
(at Efficiency Vermont) at
855-887-0673
for your free copy of either the commercial code book
or the residential handbook
2015 Energy Codes Update
2015 updated versions of the VT Residential Building Energy Standards (RBES) and the VT Commercial Building Energy Standards (CBES) are now adopted and became effective March 1, 2015.
An RBES "Stretch" Code (see below) is also adopted and became effective December 1, 2015.
Background
On June 17, 2013, the Vermont legislature adopted Act 89, which clarifies the applicability of Vermont’s residential and commercial building energy codes to mixed-use buildings and includes various amendments to promote compliance with those codes, such as using existing State and local permit processes to encourage compliance.
Vermont’s First Stretch Code
Act 89 also amends the RBES statute to authorize the Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) to adopt a “stretch” code for residential buildings to achieve greater energy savings than the baseline RBES. Additionally, the DPS has developed a “stretch” guideline for commercial buildings to achieve greater energy savings than the baseline CBES. The Natural Resources Board(NRB) now allows (essentially requires) the stretch standards to serve as a compliance path for meeting the Energy Conservation criterion 9(F) of Act 250. Municipalities will have the option to adopt either or both stretch codes as part of their land use bylaws.
More Information
For complete information about both the Residential and Commercial energy codes, including the most recent documents in pdf form, visit the Department of Public Service web pages here-RBES and here-CBES.
And for further details and training materials on the 2015 update, visit:
Note to BSA-VT Members:
Please share your news with your Association! Starting a new project? New hiring efforts? Have an issue that you would like to know more about?
Let us know by emailing admin@buildsafevt.org. The Board of Directors will review your input and incorporate it into new programs, newsletters or website content. How can we help you?