Sample Ordinance Eases Adoption Of Sustainable Construction Code

As states and municipalities seek to adopt ordinances that require or sustainable construction, code officials at every level of government are scrambling

CP STAFF

As states and municipalities seek to adopt ordinances that require green or sustainable construction, code officials at every level of government are scrambling to include appropriate practices and language. To assist local bodies in implementing green building codes, Portland Cement Association has developed a free sample ordinance, High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability, that amends the International Code Council International Building Code (IBC) to address high-performance and sustainable buildings. The sample can be found at www.cement.org/codes.

The ordinance is organized by chapter and section consistent with the IBC format and is intentionally limited to issues typically within building code, zoning or land use officials’ purview. No requirements for sole-source certification are included, nor fees that increase initial project design cost. PCA has aligned the provisions with Whole Building Design Guide and High Performance Building Council concepts. Enacting and enforcing these provisions provides the basis for designers and owners to obtain U.S. Green Building Council LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC) certification. The PCA ordinance also provides requirements for increased resistance to natural disasters with the goal of reducing the number of destroyed buildings, while protecting property and saving lives.