Washington residential energy TAG keeps several 2021 state requirements, rejects some 2024 IECC changes

The Washington State Residential Energy Code technical advisory group met virtually to review the integrated draft that will form the baseline for 2024 code proposals and to vote on whether to carry forward specific 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) provisions or keep the Washington 2021 state language.

The TAG, chaired by Kjell Anderson of the Washington State Building Code Council, spent the meeting reviewing the integrated draft — staff’s mash-up of the 2021 Washington State Energy Code and the 2024 IECC — and taking motions on draft wording and several substantive technical items that will affect the baseline document released by the Building Code Council for public proposals.

Why it matters: the integrated draft becomes the base document on which code-change proposals will be filed. Retaining 2021 state language — rather than adopting corresponding 2024 IECC language — preserves the existing baseline that local code officials, builders and utilities use. That choice changes which proposals are needed to achieve tighter energy performance or to allow trade-offs.

Key outcomes

- The TAG approved its meeting agenda and proceeded to a line-by-line review of the integrated draft.

- The group voted to revert the R101.3 intent language to the 2021 Washington State Energy Code wording rather than adopt the IECC intent language (motion by Kim Barker; passed). TAG members argued the IECC intent text could conflict with state…