Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Building Energy Code

Program Overview


Category:
Regulatory Policy
Program Type:
Building Energy Code
Implementing Sector:
State
State:
Rhode Island
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Website:
http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/rhode-island
Residential Code:
2012 IECC with amendments, mandatory statewide; may use REScheck to show compliance
Commercial Code:
2012 IECC, ASHRAE 90.1-2010, mandatory statewide; may use COMcheck to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle:
Three-year code review/change cycle concurrent with publication of new editions of model codes. Most recent update effective: July 1, 2010.
Jurisdictions:
Mandatory Statewide
Applicable Sectors:
Commercial, Residential
Last Updated:
06/10/2020

Summary

NOTE: Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The Rhode Island Building Code Standards Committee adopts, promulgates and administers the state building code. Compliance is determined through the building permit and inspection process by local building code officials and the State Building Commission. The local code official enforces the state building code. The State Building Commissioner enforces the code for all state buildings and buildings built on state-owned property.

2012 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2010 are the current standard for building codes in the State. The code was voted and appoved with minor amendments on a public hearing on May 15, 2013, and was adopted on July 1st, 2013. 

History

HB 5986, signed in May 2009, directed the Rhode Island State Building Commission to update the state building code to include the 2009 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 and to develop a plan to achieve compliance in 90 percent of new and renovated building space by February 2017. The new codes went before the State Legislature's Legislative Oversight Committee for final approval in early 2010. After a period for training of code officials and other stakeholders, the 2009 edition of the State Energy Conservation Code took effect July 1, 2010.