The International Green Construction Code (IGCC) is a set of guidelines that aim to improve the sustainability and environmental performance of buildings during their design, construction, and operation. It was introduced by the International Code Council (ICC), a non-profit organization that provides building safety and fire prevention codes for the United States and other countries. It is a model code designed to be mandatory where it is implemented. The IgCC is the first of its kind, a national green code that builds upon pre-existing codes such as the IBC, IECC and other 'I-Codes' by adding extra green provisions.
History The International Code Council (ICC) developed the IgCC in 2009 (Public Version 1.0). Since then, there have been five editions of the code, with the most recent being the 2021 IgCC. The 2018 version of the code was co-developed by the ICC and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Chapter 1 of the code is handled by the ICC and the remaining technical content is based on standards developed by ASHRAE in ANSI/ASHRAE/ICC/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1. The IGCC initiative began in 2009 with cooperating sponsors American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International. The AIA has been involved with green initiatives and sustainability movements before, including its 2030 carbon neutrality challenge. ASTM's involvement with the IGCC is an attempt to ensure that the code will use certain voluntary consensus standards recognized by the industry. The release of Public Version 1.0 was announced by the International Code Council on March 11, 2010. Public Version 2.0 was released on November 19, 2010.
Goals The IGCC was developed in response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly buildings, as well as the need for consistent standards across the construction industry. The code was designed to be flexible, allowing for local adaptation and customization to meet the specific needs of different regions. It includes measures that promote better indoor air quality, conserve natural resources, enhance connections between buildings and their surrounding communities, and encourage walkability. The IgCC was designed to be used alongside other codes and standards, such as the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1, and is the result of a partnership between the public and private sectors. It is intended to provide a uniform green code that can be adopted by governments without the need for them to incur the cost of developing their own code. Green building strategies ensure the health and safety of people, as well as provide resilience to natural disasters, climate change, and resource consumption and management. Furthermore, these strategies can reduce service interruptions due to unexpected events, providing an extra layer of protection. The goal of the IGCC is to decrease energy usage and carbon footprints along with several other issues.
The code addresses site development and land use, including the preservation of natural and material resources as part of the process. Enforcement of the code will improve indoor air quality and support the use of energy-efficient appliances, renewable energy systems, water resource conservation, rainwater collection and distribution systems, and the recovery of used water, also known as greywater. The IGCC emphasizes building performance, including features such as a requirement for building system performance verification along with building owner education, to ensure the best energy-efficient practices are being carried out. A key feature of the new code is a section devoted to "jurisdictional electives", which will allow customization of the code beyond its baseline provisions to address local priorities and conditions.
Scope In the 2018 version, the code applies to the following types of projects:
New buildings and their systems New portions of buildings New systems and equipment in existing buildings Relocated buildings The code does not apply to:
Single-family homes Multi-family buildings of three or less stories Mobile homes Modular homes Building projects that do not use any of the following: Electricity Fossil Fuels Water
Chapters The most widely implemented version of the IgCC - the 2012 version - contains 12 chapters. Each chapter focuses on different requirements, as outlined below:
Chapter 1 “Administration” Chapter 1 of the IgCC sets forth the administrative criteria for the code, which is applicable to all occupancies except low-rise residential occupancies. It references the IBC for establishing and operating administrative functions, such as enforcement and appeals and establishes the rights and privileges of the design professional, contractor, and property owner.
Chapter 2 “Definitions” Chapter 2 of the IgCC provides definitions of terms specific to the code, which are shown in italics whenever they appear. The meaning of some of these terms may differ from their usual interpretation, so users should consult Chapter 2 regularly to ensure they interpret them correctly.
Chapter 3 “Jurisdictional Requirements and Life Cycle Assessment” The IgCC code is designed to be flexible in order to allow communities to customize the code to their unique environmental and regional goals. Table 302.1 provides a list of optional, enhanced performance features that become enforceable in the jurisdiction when adopted. The design team can select a minimum number of criteria from a list of options with the agreement of the owner. Certain requirements listed in Table 302.1 may not be appropriate for all jurisdictions, which is why they were not included in the baseline requirements of the IgCC. The following requirement choices are outlined in the table:
Scope Option to require the code to be applied to certain residential buildings
Site Development and Land use Flood hazard area preservation Surface water protection Conservation area Agricultural land Greenfield sites High-occupancy parking Low-emission and hybrid vehicle parking Light pollution control
Material Resource Conservation and Efficiency Minimum percentage of waste diverted from landfills (option to choose from 50% to 75%)
Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and CO2 Emission Reduction Requirement for enhanced energy performance, indicating a zEPI of 46 or less Automated demand response infrastructure
Water Resource Conservation, Quality, and Comfort Municipal reclaimed water
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