New Hampshire - The Building Codes Assistance Project

Current Commercial Code

2009 IECC with references to ASHRAE 90.1-2007
Passed 12/11/2009, effective 4/1/2010

Current Residential Code

2009 IECC with New Hampshire amendments
Passed 12/11/2009, effective 4/1/2010

Local jurisdictions can amend the adopted state code but have no authority to adopt another code.

The New Hampshire state building codes statutes are contained in Title XII, Chapter 155-A.

Climate Zones: 5A, 6A

Code Adoption and Change Process

Code Change Process

Regulatory: The New Hampshire Building Code Review Board has the authority to change the standards within the code. The procedure consists of public hearings held by the board followed by the public adoption or rejection of proposed amendments. The NH State Legislature must ratify any amendments adopted by the board within two years of their effective date; otherwise, the code reverts back to the previous version.

Code Change Cycle

No set schedule

Next Code Update

In early 2016, the New Hampshire House voted down HB 1282, which would have adopted a (significantly weakened) version of the 2015 IECC.

History

August 14, 2015	The New Hampshire State Building Code Review Board (BCRB) holds a public hearing on possible revisions to the 2015 IECC.
June 13, 2014	The BCRB develops six subcommittees of Board members to begin review of the 2015 International Codes.
January 24, 2011	The Town Council of Durham, New Hampshire approves legislation (Ordinance #2011-02), making the town of 15,000 one of the first jurisdictions to adopt the 2012 IECC. The ordinance specifies compliance with the 2012 IECC’s requirements for Climate Zone 6.
June 18, 2012	New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch signs a bill (HB 137) into law ratifying a December 2009 rule promulgated by the New Hampshire State Building Code Review Board updating the New Hampshire State Building Code. Since April 1, 2010, this state code has included the 2009 IECC. State law requires the New Hampshire Legislature to ratify regulatory agency rules within two years.
July 1, 2010	Senate Bill 409 is signed into law, requiring new or renovated buildings greater than 5,000 square feet using state funding for more than 5% of the project cost to achieve LEED Silver certification. See New Hampshire Building Code Section 155-A:13.
January 6, 2010	A bill (SB 409) was introduced in the New Hampshire General Court that would create a high performance standard for new construction and renovations of certain state buildings. The bill charges the Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Administrative Services to develop a “high performance, energy efficient, sustainable design standard” for state buildings shown to achieve a 10-year payback period for the incremental construction costs. State buildings exempt from the standard include: those less than 25,000 square feet, renovations estimated to cost less than $1 million, public schools, and the university system of New Hampshire.
April 1, 2010	The New Hampshire State Building Code is amended to reference the 2009 IECC [NOTE: the 2009 IRC requirements for automatic sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses does NOT take affect until April 1, 2012 unless required by local ordinance]. The residential portion is based on Chapter 4 of the 2009 IECC with NH Amendments. The commercial portion is based Chapter 5 of the 2009 IECC and its reference to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. This code is mandatory statewide. Consultation with local code officials is recommended because local rules may be adopted that are stricter than the New Hampshire State Building Code. Any structure three stories or less above grade plane in height and less than 4,000 ft² (372 m²) in gross floor area is permitted to show compliance based on Chapter 4 of the 2009 IECC.
December 11, 2009	After adopting the 2009 IECC and other 2009 I-Codes in May, the New Hampshire State Building Code Review Board finalizes the adoption process as it reviews several proposed amendments, rejecting most but approving an exemption for log homes. The current state code is still based on the 2006 IECC.
July 31, 2007	The New Hampshire Code For Energy Conservation In New Building Construction, based on the 2006 IECC, becomes effective. Senate Bill 81, an act relative to the state building code, was signed into law earlier in the summer of 2007.
March 18, 2002	New Hampshire passes HB 285, an act relative to the adoption of a state building code: The general court finds that a multiplicity of construction codes and standards currently exist in this state. The general court further finds that the model codes of the International Building Code 2000, the International Plumbing Code 2000, the International Mechanical Code 2000, the International Energy Conservation Code 2000, and the National Electric Code 1999, are recognized construction codes whose uniform adoption as the state building code pursuant to this act will insure that the state has a uniform, modern construction code which will protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

Contacts

Rick Minard
Deputy Director, Administrator of Energy Programs
Office of Energy and Planning
Email: richard.minardjr@nh.gov

Karen Cramton
Director
Public Utilities Commission
Sustainable Energy Division
Email: Karen.Cramton@puc.nh.gov

Carolyn Sarno Goldthwaite
Senior Program Manager
High Performance Buildings
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)
Email: cgoldthwaite@neep.org

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