Effective August 12, 2016
On June 14, 2016, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (“Board”) held a public hearing on proposed amendments to the current, Eighth Edition of 780 CMR (the building code) concerning energy standards. Specifically, the Board solicited feedback and took testimony on amendments to 780 CMR 13 (commercial energy efficiency standards), section 11 of 780 CMR 51 (residential energy standards), and 780 CMR 115 Appendix AA (Stretch Energy Code). The Board and Department of Public Safety (“Department”) also took feedback from the public and stakeholders in writing until June 28, 2016.
Following the public comment period, the Board reviewed that feedback at its regular meeting on July 19, 2016. On that date, the Board voted recommended changes to the three energy chapters and approved the amendments for publication.
The approved amendments were filed with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Regulations Division, on July 28, 2016. The effective date of the new energy provisions in 780 CMR is therefore August 12, 2016.
Please note that the energy amendments to each of the amended 780 CMR chapters contain a “concurrency” provision. Please refer to the text of the concurrency provision in each of the amended chapters for the official code language, but in summary, the concurrency period (beginning August 12, 2016, and going through but not after January 1, 2017) allows persons seeking building permits to submit plans and other required documents that conform to either the energy provisions in effect prior to August 12, 2016, or the amended energy provisions effective August 12, 2016, but not a combination of the two. Beginning January 2, 2017, all building permits and submitted documents must conform to the amended energy provisions only.
The documents below are copies of the Department’s filings with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Regulations Division, concerning the energy provisions. They are not, however, and must not be treated in place of, the officially published versions of 780 CMR put into effect by the Regulations Division. There may be minor variations between the draft filings included on this page and the final, official printed versions published in the Massachusetts Register. The below documents are therefore for reference only and may not substitute for the official published version of 780 CMR.
What is with TAXachusetts……..stop making added regulation…….it only adds MORE COST to constructing new housing and and keeps working Americans from the American Dream.
You dimwitted bureaucrats just do not get it. And you wonder why TAXachusetts is such a high cost state to live in………..
I have been in the building, renovating and management business for over 35 years.
Why does such a common sense idea (increased energy efficiency) have to be so overly regulated to the point of creating disincentive for the creation of more affordable housing choices.
More unnecessary regulation …. good job bureaucrats, keep going the middle class will never be able to buy a house….. You really think your helping us.
Someone got a HUGE bonus when they conned MA into accepting the IBC.