IBHS, PCA Push For Sustainable Construction Building Codes

While more than $35 billion in property losses are caused by natural disasters in the United States each year, states and municipalities seeking to adopt ordinances that require "green" or "sustainable" construction are often overlooking disaster-resistance construction, according to industry reports.

To allow local governments to adopt green building codes that address high performance as well as conventional sustainable features, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) said they have developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability 2.0. The criteria are written in mandatory language that amends and appends the International Code Council International Building Code (IBC).

The document includes the concepts in most other sustainability or green standards like energy, water and material resource conservation, and indoor air quality while enhancing disaster resistance and setting more stringent durability requirements.

"Using these requirements will give forward-thinking communities not just more efficient buildings but more sustainable communities that have the ability to resist and recover from disasters when they occur," Wanda D. Edwards, director of IBHS building code development, said in a statement.

PCA and IBHS said they have aligned the provisions with the concepts of both the Whole Building Design Guide (wbdg.org) and High Performance Building Council. Enforcing these provisions provides the basis for designers and owners to obtain certification under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC).

The criteria are organized by chapter and section consistent with the IBC format and are intentionally limited to issues typically within the purview of the building code and zoning and land use officials. There are no requirements for sole source certification or fees that increase the initial project design cost.

"A sustainable building with a higher degree of durability can decrease the amount of materials going to landfills and use of community resources when disasters occur," said Steve Szoke, PCA director of codes and standards. "After Hurricane Katrina, more than 44 million cubic yards of building materials and contents were disposed of in landfills. The PCA/IHBS ordinance provides mandatory requirements for increased resistance to natural disasters with the goal of reducing the number of destroyed buildings and protecting property, and saving human life."