Board approves drafting fixes: 'tiny houses' term, slab-insulation exception, and limited electric resistance allowance

The board approved several targeted residential drafting changes and a limited technical exception during the meeting.

Language change: the board replaced the phrase "tiny homes" with "tiny houses" to match the IRC Appendix BB terminology and reduce ambiguity. Members noted Colorado Division of Housing regulation uses both terms depending on context, and the change aligns the draft with IRC language.

Slab exception: board members approved clarifying an exception in the slab-insulation section so that an unheated slab may be omitted from the insulated slab calculation where the remainder of the thermal envelope meets the prescribed insulation requirements; the vote was 16 yes, 1 no.

Limited electric-resistance exception: the board approved a narrowly tailored exception allowing permanently installed electric-resistance space heating in detached dwellings up to a cumulative total (per dwelling unit) of 1 kilowatt, provided the unit has thermostat control and fans where applicable. The change was proposed to accommodate model-office spaces, heated garages, small sunrooms and accessory workshops where a dedicated separate system may not be practical. Board members discussed risks of proliferation and asked staff to ensure the allowance is per-dwelling-unit and not per building. The vote passed (14 yes, 2 no, 0 abstain).

Why it matters: these are drafting clarifications and a narrowly scoped technical exception that affect plan reviewers and contractors. The electric-resistance exception is intentionally small and requires thermostat control to avoid unregulated continuous loads.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the changes and confirm the exception's per-dwelling-unit language in the final draft.