Court Hears Arguments in Case to Strike Down the Department of Energy’s Residential Gas Furnace and Commercial Gas Water Heater Rules.

Last week’s BECS Committee update provided information on the gas industry legal challenge of the DOE Final Rule requiring a minimum efficiency condensing requirement for consumer gas furnaces, commercial gas storage water heaters and re-establishing separate product classes for non-condensing and condensing gas vented products. The court oral hearing was held yesterday.  Attached is today’s AGA Press Release, “Court Hears Arguments in Case to Strike Down DOE Furnace Rule” that provides a summary of the gas industry’s arguments made at the court oral hearing. We will provide the court’s decision on the challenge when available.  

International Code Council (ICC) Now Accepting Proposals for the 2027 Group B International Codes® – Submission Deadline January 10, 2025.

The ICC is now accepting proposed changes to the 2027 Group B International Codes, with the submission deadline set for 11:59 p.m. PT on January 10, 2025. The Group B International Codes include the International Building Code (IBC) , The International Existing Building Code (IEBC), the International Green Conservation Code (IgCC), International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), the International Residential Code (IRC) building provisions and the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) and International Zoning Code (IZC).   Click here to learn more.  BECS Committee members are requested to provide any suggested changes to us by December 20 on the Group B codes that they believe need to be submitted. AGA staff is also reviewing the Group B Codes and will provide the Committee of any suggested revisions by December20th.  Code change proposals will be heard at the Group B Committee Action Hearing #1 from April 27-May 6, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

State Codes Activity Update.

Attached is a weekly feature of the “Friday Update” covering state code calendar activities as presented by the online utility “Fiscal Note,” which is sponsored by APGA and AGA Code and Standards. Please review the update and determine if there are state code activities that impact your service territory or organization.