NYS fire prevention and building codes updated for Efficiency, Electrification, Energy Savings, Fire Safety, and Refrigerant GHGs.

• 2025 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State

• 2025 Fire Code of New York State

• 2025 Existing Building Code of New York State

  In 1978, the State Legislature added Article 11 to the Energy Law to provide for a comprehensive energy conservation construction code applicable to all public and private buildings in New York State (including buildings located in the City of New York). Article 11, consisting of sections 11-101 through 11-110 of the Energy Law, sets forth the process by which the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (“Energy Code”) is to be developed, maintained, administered, and enforced for the conservation of energy in buildings in New York State. Both State government and local governments are participants in this process.

  In 1981, the New York State Legislature enacted legislation directing the development and implementation of an integrated, Statewide building and fire prevention code. Prior to the adoption of this legislation, the decision as to whether to adopt and enforce a building and/or fire prevention code was left to the discretion of local governments in New York State. Many municipalities, primar- ily in the more developed and densely populated areas of the State, had adopted building and/or fire prevention codes. However, there were also many communities, mostly rural in nature, where no building or fire prevention code was in effect.

  In light of the perils posed by fire and inadequate building construction, the State Legislature adopted a new Article 18 of the Executive Law to provide for an integrated and comprehensive building and fire prevention code. Article 18, consisting of sections 370 through 383 of the Executive Law, sets forth the process by which the code is to be developed, maintained, administered, and enforced for the protection of all New Yorkers. Both State government and local governments are participants in this process. The code, called the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (“Uniform Code”), took effect January 1, 1984 and prescribed minimum standards for both fire prevention and building construction. It is applicable in every municipality of the State except the City of New York, which was permitted to retain its own code.

  Although the Uniform Code took effect in 1984, its antecedents are much older. Beginning in the late 1940’s, New York State began developing a code known as the State Building Construction Code, which provided standards for the construction of buildings and the installation of equipment therein. Developing and maintaining the State Building Construction Code eventually became the responsibility of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). In the 1960’s, DHCR began developing a second code, the State Building Conservation and Fire Prevention Code, to address fire safety practices in buildings. Both of these codes were applicable in a municipality only when affirmatively adopted by the governing body. The State Building Construction Code and the State Building Conservation and Fire Prevention Code were repealed effective January 1, 1984 when they were replaced by the Uniform Code.

  ddd

• State Environmental Quality Review Act

  A summary of significant changes from the Uniform Code and Energy Code that coincides with the list in the Final Scope and the Regulatory Impact Statements
  (RIS) for the Uniform Code and Energy Code;
  o Uniform Code significant changes:

  •  Residential sprinklers
     Temporary use of buildings in emergencies
     Powered micromobility devices
     Inflatable amusement devices
     Coordinating pool and hot tub provisions with industry standards
    and specific provisions from the ICC’s International Swimming
    Pool and Spa Code
     NYS Department of Environmental Conservation flood provisions
     A2L refrigerant safety standards
     Mass timber
     Accessible building feature language updates, including updated
    reference and coordination with ICC A117.1 to the 2017 version
     Lithium batteries
     Energy storage systems
     Occupiable roofs
     Adult changing stations
     Shipping container construction
• o Energy Code significant changes:
  •  Fossil-fuel equipment and building systems prohibition in new
    buildings (with corresponding provisions set forth in the Uniform
    Code)
     More restrictive building thermal envelope requirements
     Eight counties that were previously in Climate Zone 6 are now in
    Climate Zone 5
     Additional efficiency credits for new buildings and existing
    buildings following the prescriptive compliance path
     Limits on the use of electric resistance space heating
     Renewable energy for commercial buildings
     Thermal bridge mitigation and documentation of energy loss
    associated with thermal bridges in commercial buildings
     Increased minimum efficiency requirements for gas-fired water
    heaters, hot-water boilers, air conditioning, and refrigeration
    equipment as mandated by federal standards
     Increased equipment efficiency for elevators
     Energy recovery ventilation required for residential buildings in
    Climate Zone 6
     Separate electric metering for low-rise multi-family dwellings

I LOVE NY!

Go Team!