Update on the International Code Council (ICC) Proposal Splitting the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) into Two Documents to Eliminate Controversial Provisions in the Code.

As a reminder, in the January 16^th update, we reported that the ICC issued a call for comments in a Notice of Building Safety Journal (BSJ) article relating to the 2030 and beyond IECC / IECCX strategy. According to the announcement, the “ ICC Board has established a new framework for developing the 2030 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC®) that moves its content into two documents, the IECC and IECC Expanded. This split ensures that ICC continues to develop energy codes that meet the varied needs of jurisdictions in the U.S. and around the globe. The intent of the IECC is to establish minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of buildings, focused on initial construction costs and the operational energy performance of the building. The intent of the IECC Expanded (IECCX) is to provide additive requirements that provide market-driven, enforceable requirements that achieve a reasonable level of energy efficiency that is safe, technologically feasible, and life cycle cost effective, considering economic feasibility, including potential costs and savings for consumers, and building owners, and return on investment. The IECC Expanded may include optional or mandatory provisions incorporating additional energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction resources and provisions that lead to achievement of zero energy buildings. The IECC Expanded will provide reasonable compliance options for all energy sources in common use, while allowing requirements to reflect evolving technologies and practices.”  To view the proposed 2030 IECC/IRC Chapter 11/IECC Expanded (IECCX) Scope and Intent draft document, click here.  The ICC is requesting comments by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on February 15, 2026.

AGA BECS staff has received feedback from some committee members on an AGA response to the proposal that are outlined below:

• There needs to be transparency in the development of draft IECCX that provides all public comments submitted to the draft and responses to the draft.  
• The current IECC includes provisions both mandatory and non-mandatory that are being used to address issues that are not related to energy conservation or energy efficiency, including electric ready, electric vehicle charging, grid stability, reduced water usage, and demand-side management.  AGA supports the proposal that removes these provisions out of the IECC, and it appears that some of them are to be moved into the International Energy Conservation Code – Expanded (IECCX). We are however concerned that identifying the new document as an IECCX will result in confusion with the IECC and at a minimum, should not be identified as an IECC code. We suggest that the new document be named without any reference to the IECC. This is to avoid the state or jurisdiction adoption confusion and perhaps those non-energy usage provisions should be proposed for inclusion into the existing ICC International Green Construction Code (IgCC).  Besides reducing the confusion, this would eliminate the need for developing a separate document and the assignment of a new committee to oversee it.
• While the Intent provisions in the IECC includes the inclusion of direct, unambiguous language related to fuel neutrality,  additional guidance from the ICC Board is still needed to ensure that committees actions are aligned with the Intent.  Policies or regulations should be established to ensure that committees identify proposals that indirectly impact selection of equipment or fuel source.  In particular, the consensus committees should be required to generate “reason statements” that address concerns raised by proponents of code change proposals or public comments, particularly as they relate to fuel neutrality, restrictions on appliance selection, or cost effectiveness.
• We support the inclusion of a required cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to the IECC and IECCX development process.  The requirement of a CBA, and specifically the inclusion of maintenance costs in that analysis, will provide invaluable data related to the cost of construction and the cost of homeownership.  However, we do have concerns about the implementation of the analysis and the proposed payback periods. The language regarding the use of the maximum payback period “when determining the viability of a proposed energy solution within a respective category” is not strong enough, particularly in light of the proposed Scope and Intent statement provided for the IECCX.

These items are only an outline of the draft comments that will be expanded for submittal. BECS Committee members are requested to review and provide comments on the outline and any other suggested comments that should be considered for submittal on the proposal.

Note: Why the IECC is important to the natural gas industry.  DOE is required by the Energy Conservation and Production Act (ECPA), as amended, to review published editions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and issue a determination as to whether the updated edition will improve energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings. DOE is provided for 12 months to conduct its review and publish its determination in the Federal Register after the updated model code is published. ECPA also requires States to review and/or update their energy codes following the publication of an affirmative DOE determination.

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.

2026 – 2027 BECS Committee Meeting Schedule

May 13-14, 2026, Portland, Maine Hotel TBD
September 16 -17, 2026, Wilmington, NC Hotel TBD
January 15-16, 2027, Austin, Texas Hotel TBD