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House adopts updated construction and fire codes after contested energy-code debate
Summary
House Bill 203, which codifies portions of the 2009 state construction and fire codes, passed the House 58–12 after floor debate and amendments addressing water-storage and energy-testing provisions and a failed amendment to remove certain 2009 energy-code lines.
The Utah House passed House Bill 203, the codification of state construction and fire codes, 58–12 following extended floor debate on amendments that address fire-suppression water storage and energy-code testing.
Sponsor Representative Morley described HB 203 as the product of interim vetting and said the bill adopts parts of the 2009 code that stakeholders agreed were appropriate for Utah. "HB203 is a bill that deals with the building and fire codes," Morley said in his presentation.
Representative Frower introduced Amendment 5 to limit instances where state fire officials could require very large private water-supply storage for fire suppression. Frower said some property owners were being faced with requirements to provide "as much as 180,000 gallons of water storage" for single-family permits in older, remote subdivisions and that the amendment allows use of existing cold-water storage (15,000–30,000 gallons) for many such cases while preserving the fire marshal's authority where necessary.
Floor debate then turned to energy-code provisions. Members sparred over whether to adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) provisions (which some argued produce significant lifetime energy savings) or to retain the 2006 energy standard. Proponents said the 2009 code delivers long-term savings and provides consumer protections such as blower-door and duct testing; Representative Wiley argued the code would save homeowners "about an average of $175 a year" and help create energy-related jobs. Opponents, including the bill sponsor in committee and industry representatives, questioned cost assumptions and payback periods; one floor speaker cited home builders' estimates that complying with some 2009 provisions could cost several thousand dollars and said payback on structural items could be more than a decade.
The House adopted several amendments during debate, rejected an amendment to delete specific 2009 energy-code lines, and ultimately passed the amended HB 203. The House recorded the vote as "HB 203, having received 58 yes votes and 12 no votes," and the bill will be referred to the Senate for its consideration.
Background: Sponsors said the measure was intended to adopt the consensus elements of the 2009 code and to leave other contested items for separate bills and further study.
