The Ohio Board of Building Standards adopts the rule changes identified as Amendments Group 92. These rule amendments include those to OBC Chapter 13, pertaining to energy efficiency. These changes go into effect on January 1, 2017.

The 2013 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) becomes effective for new and renovated residential construction.

The BBS updates the RCO to reference the 2009 IECC with two state-developed alternative compliance paths. Prior to this, Ohio has not updated its residential building energy code since 2009, and the previous code was based on the 2006 IECC with substantially weaker alternative compliance paths.

Among the changes, the new code will:

• Raise the minimum insulation for exterior walls from R-13 to R-20, or R-13 plus a layer of insulating sheathing
• Raise the minimum R-value of basement walls from R-5 to R-10
• Require that at least 75 percent of light bulbs in new homes be high-efficiency, such as compact fluorescent bulbs
• Mandate that homes meet an air-tightness standard, which can be shown using a blower-door test, as required by one of the three compliance paths (not effective until January 2014)
• Increase the efficiency of windows by reducing the maximum U-value from .40 to .35

The BBS convenes for a public hearing to solicit testimony on proposed rules affecting the residential building code. The proposal plans to adopt the 2009 IECC for residential buildings while also offering an alternative compliance path offered by the Ohio Home Builder Association. Additionally, the rules are proposed to comply with the five year rule review and to replace the current Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) with a new residential code that is based upon the 2009 IRC. Should BBS approve the proposals, the recommendations will go before Ohio legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR).

Updates to the Ohio Building Code, Ohio Mechanical Code and the Ohio Plumbing Code become effective. BBS updates the Ohio Building Code (OBC) for nonresidential construction to reference the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 as compliance paths.

The Residential Codes Advisory Committee (RCAC) gives final approval to the OHBA Residential Alternative Energy Code as an alternative compliance path to the 2009 IECC to be referenced in the next edition of the Ohio Residential Code (ORC). While containing several amendments to the base model code, some advocates believe the proposal will achieve energy savings equivalent to the 2009 IECC and at a cost less than that of the 2006 IECC in some parts of the state. An RCAC energy subcommittee initially approved the proposal on March 22, and the OHBA and MEEA worked to convert the proposal into actual code language.

The Ohio legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) approves a January 21 BBS recommendation to update the state’s nonresidential energy standards. The Ohio BBS sets a November 1, 2011 effective date for the code updates to the Ohio Building Code, Ohio Mechanical Code and the Ohio Plumbing Code.

The Ohio BBS approves a set of amendments to update the state’s construction codes. Part D would update the Ohio Building Code (OBC) to incorporate the 2009 International Building Code (IBC), including its references to the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 as compliance paths for energy efficiency for non-residential buildings. The OBC currently references the 2006 IBC.

A bill (HB 7) is introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives that would establish green building labeling and energy use standards for any building or structure constructed using any state capital budget money, including money from the education facilities trust fund. This bill eventually dies in the House.

BBS adopts the 2006 IECC for the second time and adds an additional prescriptive option for demonstrating energy code compliance for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings. Compliance can be demonstrated by the requirements of the 2006 IECC, OR meeting the requirements of sections 1101-1103 of Chapter 11 of the Residential Code of Ohio, OR by meeting the state code’s new Prescriptive Energy Requirements (section 1104).

The Ohio Board of Building Standards makes a request to the Governor’s Office for an executive order to authorize the filing of emergency rules. On March 31, 2008, the Governor signs Executive Order 2008-06S authorizing the BBS to file the emergency rules. BBS files the emergency rules the same day; after March 31, construction documents for all residential one-, two-, and three-family dwelling projects are required to only meet or exceed the 2003 IECC and the 2005 NEC to comply with the Residential Code of Ohio (RCO). Non-residential construction would continue to use 2008 OBC, referencing the 2006 IECC and the 2008 NEC for compliance throughout this time period.

After a review of the 2006 IECC by a specially appointed Ad-Hoc committee consisting of several home builders, staff from the Ohio Energy Office, an energy rater, and BBS staff, the committee makes a recommendation to propose re-adoption of the 2006 IECC with the addition of a unique Ohio prescriptive path that offers another method of compliance for one-, two-, and three-family dwellings. A public hearing is held on November 7, 2008 to receive public comments.

The 2008 Ohio Building Code (OBC) goes into effect. This code is based on the 2006 IBC, referencing the 2006 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2004 as compliance paths. It is mandatory statewide, and COMcheck can be used to show compliance. This code is no longer effective after November 1, 2011.

The 2003 IECC goes into effect.

The 1995 MEC is adopted and becomes effective.

The 1993 MEC and ASHRAE 90.1-1989 go into effect.

The Board of Building Standards adopts a rule, effective July 1, 1979, repealing most of the existing Ohio Building Code. The resulting collection of model code sections and superseding Ohio provisions, together with the CABO Model Energy Code (MEC), among others, comprises the OBBC.

Prior to July 1, 1979, the rules of the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS) were compiled in a document known as the Ohio Building Code.