American Samoa

Chapter 10 – Uniform Building Code

“The lighting, equipment, and thermal efficiency standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc., known as ASHRAE Standard 90-75, are adopted and shall be construed as part of the building code as adopted by 26.0501 A.S.C.A., and such other building codes as may be adopted in the territory. These lighting, equipment, and thermal efficiency standards shall be applied to the design and construction of new public buildings. Thermal efficiency standards shall be applied to any modifications of existing or new public buildings, except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. These standards shall have the full force and effect of law.” A.S.A.C. § 26.0504

American Samoa does not currently have an energy code for private sector construction.

Guam

Current Code: 2009 IBC with reference to 2009 IECC (commercial buildings), 2009 IRC (residential buildings)

2014 Guam Tropical Energy Code (draft)

Previous Code: Guam Building Energy Code

“New buildings shall comply with either the provisions of § 4 through § 7 of this code or the energy cost budget method in Section 13 of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-1989.”

The Guam Building Energy Code is part of a Universal Building Code that sets cost-effective energy requirements for all new construction. Commercial code meets or exceeds ASHRAE 90.1-1989 standards, and residential code is an adoption of the 1992 MEC. REScheck and COMcheck can be used to show compliance.

Date passed: 5/1/2000
Date effective: 11/15/2000

Code Change Process:
Regulatory: The Department of Public Works is responsible for updating and changing the building energy codes. It is also responsible for administering the latest edition of the code, and notifying all affected parties of any changes.

Code Change Cycle:
No set schedule

History:
The UBC was first adopted in 1979 by the 14th Guam Legislature. Public Law 14-112 adopted Parts II through XII and appendices of the latest edition of the UBC and added these sections to the Guam Building Law. The Guam Building Law was enacted in 1952 but only incorporated administrative provisions of the building code. In 1980 Public Law 17-76 revised the building law and stated that whenever the UBC is updated, the Department of Public Works will automatically recognize the latest edition as the standard for design and construction.

The Guam Building Energy Code, a cost-effective building energy code for Guam that meets or exceeds ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1989 for commercial buildings and the 1992 Model Energy Code for residential buildings was adopted in May 2000, with enforcement commencing that November.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

Current Code: The Tropical Model Energy Code, which is equivalent to the 2003 IECC

The Tropical Model Energy Code, which CNMI adopted in late 2009, is based on the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) for residential and commercial buildings, including the code’s energy provisions.
According to the Department of Public Works, the new building code qualifies CNMI for $18.6 million in State Energy Program (SEP) economic stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that could be used to enhance energy efficiency.

The Uniform Building Code does not include an energy code, but the building safety official may adopt other national and uniform codes and standards, including those covering energy conservation, as deemed appropriate for the Northern Mariana Islands.

Puerto Rico

Current Code: 2011 Puerto Rico Building Code

In February 2011, Puerto Rico adopted the 2011 Puerto Rico Building Code (PRBC), which references nine 2009 International Code Council model codes, including the 2009 IECC with local amendments. The 2011 PRBC also includes the 2009 International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Existing Building Codes with local amendments.

Code Change Process:
Regulatory: The Energy Affairs Administration is responsible for updating and changing the building energy codes. It was established by legislation.

Code Change Cycle:
Unknown

History:
In 1979 the Code for Energy Conservation in Puerto Rico was adopted as part of the Building Codes administered by the Permits and Regulations Administration. Legislation has been enacted that assigns the Energy Affairs Administration responsibility for updating the energy code. The energy code applies to all new and remodeled buildings that have to comply with the Permits and Regulations Administration. A certification by the professional who signs the plans is required. No field inspections are made unless requested for special reasons. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico implements the code. All code revisions apply to all the entire island of Puerto Rico. (Source: DSIRE).

As an ICC code user, Puerto Rico will benefit from the ICC code development process, which offers a forum for building professionals to discuss performance and prescriptive code requirements. The Code Council will work with Puerto Rico’s recently created Office of Permit Management (OGPE) and its partners to provide building code programs for design and construction professionals. ICC also will assist the PRBC.

U.S. Virgin Islands

Current Code: The 2009 IECC has been adopted as the mandatory code for residential and commercial new construction. Prior to this, the Virgin Islands Energy Building Code, which meets 2003 IECC standards for residential and commercial construction, was in effect. This code was drafted by the Virgin Islands Energy Office.

Code Change Process:
Legislative: All drafts and updates of the Virgin Islands Energy Building Code has to be adopted through the legislative process.

Code Change Cycle:
No set schedule

History:
The Virgin Islands building code was first enacted on April 1, 1964, but did not address energy conservation in new building construction and/or major renovations. The building code was adopted pursuant to Chapter 5, Title 29, of the Virgin Island Code. It adopted by reference the ICBO 1994 Uniform Building Code and subsequent amendments for buildings except one- and two-family dwellings. Chapter 13 on energy conservation was not adopted. For one- and two-family dwellings, the one- and two-family dwelling code and subsequent amendments were adopted. Appendix E on energy conservation was not adopted.

In 1990 the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) initiated a review of the Draft Virgin Islands Code for Energy Conservation in New Building Construction. This proposed code partially adopted ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1989 for commercial construction and ASHRAE/IESNA 90.2 for residential construction and eliminated the heating requirements within those documents. That draft code was never adopted as part of the building code.

In 1995 the Virgin Islands Energy Office requested technical and financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy to review the draft energy code. A technical team reviewed the draft code and determined that it was lengthy, confusing, and not user-friendly. The team then composed a more user-friendly residential and commercial code based on the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) Model Energy Code (MEC) and ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-1989. The current draft, the Virgin Island Energy Building Code, addresses ventilation, shading, and cooling in residential homes. The commercial provisions address cooling, lighting, insulation, and water heating. This draft has not been finalized and adopted.