DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

 

DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

 

CONSTRUCTION CODE

 

Filed with the secretary of state on

 

These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a.  Rules adopted under these sections become effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.

 

(By authority conferred on the director of the department of licensing and regulatory affairs by section 4 of the Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act, 1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1504, and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 2003-1, and 2008-4, and 2011-4, MCL 445.2011, 445.2025, and 445.2030)  

 

R 408.31059 of the Michigan Administrative Code is amended, and R 408.31060c, R 408.31060e, R 408.31061, R 408.31062, R 408.31063, R 408.31063a, R 408.301064, R 408.31065, R 408.31069, R 408.31070, and R 408.31071a of the Michigan Administrative Code are rescinded, as follows:  

 
 

PART 10. MICHIGAN UNIFORM ENERGY CODE  

 
 

R 408.31059  Applicable code.

  Rule 1059.  The residential provisions of the international energy conservation code, 2015 2021 edition, except for sections R104.2 to R104.5, R107.2 to R107.5, R301.2, R301.3, R402.3.2, and Table R303.1.3(3), R109.1 to R109.4, and R110.1 to R110.4, govern the energy efficiency for the design and construction of residential buildings, and, with exceptions noted, the international energy conservation code is adopted by reference in these rules.  All references to the international building code, international residential code, international energy conservation code, international electrical code, international existing building code, international mechanical code, and international plumbing code mean the Michigan building code, Michigan residential code, Michigan energy code, Michigan electrical code, Michigan rehabilitation code for existing buildings, Michigan mechanical code, and Michigan plumbing code, respectively.  The Michigan energy code is available for inspection or purchase at the Okemos office of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes, 2501 Woodlake Circle, Okemos,  611 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933 48864, at a cost as of the time of adoption of these rules of $52.00. or may be purchased from the International Code Council, 500 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001. The code may be purchased from the International Code Council, through the bureau’s website at www.michigan.gov/bcc, at a cost as of the time of adoption of these rules of $52.00.  

 
R 408.31060c Board of appeals.  Rescinded.
 Rule 1060c. Section 109.1 and 109.3 of the code are amended to read as follows: 
 109.1 Means of appeal. (1) An interested person may appeal a decision of the enforcing agency to the board of appeals in accordance with the act. An application for appeal shall be based on both of the following: 
  (a) A claim that the true intent of the code or the rules governing construction have been incorrectly interpreted. 
  (b) The provisions of the code do not apply, or equal or better form of construction is proposed. 
  (2) The decision of a local board of appeals may be appealed to the construction code in accordance with the act and time frames. 
  Exceptions: Requests for barrier free design exception shall e in accordance with 1966 PA 1, MCL 125.1352 to 125.1356.
109.3 Qualifications. The board of appeals shall consist of members who are qualified in accordance with the act. 
 
R 408.31060e  Climate Zones. Rescinded. 
  Rule 1060e.  Section 301.1 and Tables 301.1 and 301.3(2) of  the  code  are amended and Figure 301.1a is added to the code to read as follows:
  301.1  General.  Climate zones from figures 301.1, 301.1a  or  table  301.1 shall be used in determining the applicable requirements of this code.
 
 
Editor's Note: An obvious error in  R  408.31060e  was  corrected  at   the   request of the promulgating agency, pursuant to Section 56 of 1969 PA 306, as amended by 2000 PA 262, MCL 24.256.  The  rule  containing  the  error  was   published  in Michigan Register, 2010 MR 21.  The memorandum requesting the   correction  was published in Michigan Register, 2011 MR 5. 
 
R 408.31061  Certificate. Rescinded. 
  Rule 1061.  Section 401.3 of the code is amended to read as follows:
  401.3  Certificate.  A permanent certificate shall be posted on or  in  the electrical distribution panel, and shall meet all of the following:  
  (a)  Be affixed or attached so it does not cover or obstruct the visibility of the circuit directory label, service disconnect label, or  other  required labels.  
  (b)  Be completed by the builder or registered design professional.  
  (c)  List the  predominant  R-values  of  insulation  installed  in  or  on ceiling/roof, walls, foundation (slab, basement wall, crawlspace wall  and/or floor) and ducts outside conditioned spaces and U-factors for fenestration.   If there is more than 1 value for each component, then the certificate  shall list the value covering the largest area.  
  (d)  List the types and efficiencies of heating, cooling and service  water heating equipment. 
  (e)  If a gas-fired unvented room heater, electric  furnace,  or  baseboard electric heater is installed in the residence,  then  the  certificate  shall list "gas-fired unvented room heater," as appropriate.  An  efficiency  shall not be listed for gas-fired unvented  room  heaters,  electric  furnaces,  or electric baseboard heaters.
 
R 408.31062  Fenestration product rating. Rescinded. 
  Rule 1062.  Section303.1.3 of the code is amended to read as follows:
  303.1.3.  Fenestration product rating.  U-factors of fenestration  products (windows, doors and skylights) shall be determined in  accordance  with  NFRC 100 by an accredited, independent laboratory, and labeled  and  certified  by the manufacturer.  Products lacking such a labeled U-factor shall be assigned a default U-factor from Table 303.1.3(1) or 303.1.3(2).
  Exception:  Computer simulations by independent NFRC certified laboratories or approval under section 21 of 1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1521 are  considered  in compliance with this section.

 

R 408.31063  Insulation and fenestration criteria. Rescinded.

  Rule 1063.  Insulation and fenestration criteria.  Table R402.1.1 of the code is amended to read as follows:

 

TABLE R 402.1.1

INSULATION AND FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENTa

CLIMATE ZONE

FENESTRATION U-FACTOR

SKYLIGHTb

U-FACTOR

CEILING R-Value

WOOD FRAME WALL R-VALUE

MASS WALL R- VALUEg

FLOOR

R-VALUE

BASEMENTc WALL R-VALUE

SLAB d

R-VALUE AND DEPTH

CRAWL SPACEc

WALL

R-VALUE

5A

0.32

0.55

38

20 or

13 + 5f

13/17

30e

10/13

10, 2ft

15/19

6A

0.32

0.55

49

20 or 13 + 5f

15/20

30e

15/19

10, 4ft

15/19

7

0.32

0.55

49

20 or 13 + 5f

19/21

38e

15/19

10, 4ft

15/19

a.  R-values are minimums.  U-factors are maximums.  When insulation is installed in a cavity that is less than the label or design thickness of the insulation, the installed R-value of the insulation shall not be less than the R-values specified in the table.

b.  The fenestration U-factor column excludes skylights. 

c.  “15/19” means R-15 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-19 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall.  “15/19” may be met with R-13 cavity insulation on the interior of the basement wall plus R-5 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home.  “10/13” means R-10 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-13 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall.

d.  R-5 shall be added to the required slab edge R-values for heated slabs. 

e.  Or insulation sufficient to fill the framing cavity, R-19 minimum.

f.  First value is cavity insulation, second is continuous insulation or insulated siding, so “13 + 5” means R-13 cavity insulation plus R-5 continuous insulation or insulated siding.  If structural sheathing covers 40 % or less of the exterior, continuous insulation R-value may be reduced by no more than R-3 in the locations where structural sheathing is used – to maintain a consistent total sheathing thickness.

g.  The second R-value applies when more than half the insulation is on the interior of the mass wall.

 

R 408.31063a  Specific insulation requirements (prescriptive). Rescinded.

  Rule 1063a  Section R402.2.12 of the code is amended to read as follows.

  R402.2.12.  Thermally isolated sunroom insulation.  The minimum ceiling insulation R-values shall be R-24 in zones 5 to 7.  The minimum wall R-value shall be R-13 in all zones.  New wall or walls separating a sunroom from conditioned space shall meet the building thermal envelope requirements.

 

 
R 408.301064  Fenestration.  Rescinded. 
  Rule 1064.  Sections 402.3.3 and 402.3.6 of the code are amended to read as follows:
  402.3.3  Glazed fenestration exemption.  Up to 15 square  feet  (1.4m2)  of glazed fenestration per dwelling unit shall be permitted to  be  exempt  from U-factor requirements in section 402.1.1.  This exemption shall not apply  to the U-factor alternative  approach  in  section  402.1.3  and  the  total  UA alternative in section 402.1.4.
  402.3.6.  Replacement fenestration.  Where  some  or  all  of  an  existing fenestration unit is replaced with new fenestration product,  including  sash and glazing, the replacement fenestration  unit  shall  meet  the  applicable requirements for U-factor in table 402.1.1. Where some or all of an  existing fenestration unit is replaced with a new fenestration product, including sash and glazing, the replacement fenestration  unit  shall  meet  the  applicable requirements for U-factor in Table 402.1.1.
 
R 408.31065  Equivalent U-Factors. Rescinded.

  Rule 1065.  Section R402.1.4 and table R402.1.3 of the code are amended to read as follows:

 

Table R402.1.3

Equivalent U-Factorsa

Climate  Zone

Fenestration

U-Factor

Skylight U- Factor

Ceiling U-Factor

Frame Wall U-Factor

Mass wall U-Factor b

Floor

U-Factor

BasementWall

U-Factor

Crawl Space

Wall

U-Factor

5A

0.32

0.55

0.030

0.057

0.082

0.033

0.059

0.055

6A

0.32

0.55

0.026

0.057

0.060

0.033

0.050

0.055

7

0.32

0.55

0.026

0.057

0.057

0.028

0.050

0.055

 

a.  Nonfenestration U-factors shall be obtained from measurement, calculation, or an approved source.

b.  When more than half the insulation is on the interior, the mass wall U-factors shall be a maximum of 0.065 in zone 5 and marine 4, and 0.057 in zones 6 and 7.

  R402.1.4  Total UA alternative.  If the total building thermal envelope UA (sum of U-factor times assembly area) is less than or equal to the total UA resulting from using the U-factors in Table R402.1.3 (multiplied by the same assembly area as in the proposed building), the building shall be considered in compliance with Table R402.1.1.  The UA calculation shall be done using a method consistent with the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals and shall include the thermal bridging effects of framing materials.

 

R 408.31069  Air leakage.  Rescinded.

  Rule 1069.  Sections R402.4, R402.4.1, R402.4.1.1, R402.4.1.2, R402.4.2, R402.4.3, R402.4.4, and Table R402.4.1.1 of the code are amended to read as follows:

  R402.4  Air leakage.  The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections R402.4.1 through R402.4.4.

  R402.4.1.  Building thermal envelope.  The building thermal envelope shall comply with Sections R402.4.1.1 and R402.4.1.2.

  R402.4.1.1.  Installation (mandatory).  The components of the building thermal envelope as listed in Table R402.4.1.1 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the criteria listed in Table R402.4.1.1, as applicable to the method of construction.  The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.

  R402.4.1.2.  Testing (prescriptive).  The building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate of not exceeding 4 air changes per hour.  Testing shall be conducted with a blower door at a pressure of 0.2 inches (5.08 mm) w.g. (50 pascals).  Where required by the code official, testing shall be conducted by a certified independent third party.  Certification programs shall be approved by the state construction code commission.  A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code official.  Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope. 

All of the following apply during testing:

  1.  Exterior windows, doors, and fireplace and stove doors shall be closed, but not sealed, beyond the intended weatherstripping or other infiltration control measures.

  2.  Dampers including exhaust, intake, makeup air, backdraft, and flue dampers shall be closed, but not sealed beyond intended infiltration control measures.

  3.  Interior doors, installed at the time of the test, shall be open.

  4.  Exterior doors for continuous ventilation systems and heat recovery ventilators shall be closed and sealed.

  5.  Heating and cooling systems, if installed at the time of the test, shall be turned off.

  6.  Supply and return registers, if installed at the time of the test, shall be fully open.

  R402.4.2.  Fireplaces (mandatory).  New wood-burning masonry fireplaces shall have tight-fitting flue dampers and outdoor combustion air.

  R402.4.3.  Fenestration air leakage (mandatory).  Windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors shall have an air infiltration rate of no more than 0.3 cfm per square foot (1.5 L/s/m2), and swinging doors no more than 0.5 cfm per square foot (2.6 L/s/m2), when tested according to NFRC 400 or AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 by an accredited, independent laboratory and listed and labeled by the manufacturer.

  Exception:  Site-built windows, skylights, and doors.

  R402.4.4.  Recessed lighting (mandatory).  Recessed luminaires installed in the building thermal envelope shall be sealed to limit air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.  All recessed luminaires shall be IC-rated and labeled as having an air leakage rate not more than 2.0 cfm (0.944 L/s) when tested in accordance with ASTM E 283 at a 1.57 psf (75 Pa) pressure differential.  All recessed luminaires shall be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the housing and the interior wall or ceiling covering.

 

TABLE R402.4.1.1

AIR BARRIER AND INSULATION INSTALLATION

 

COMPONENT

CRITERIAa

Air barrier and thermal barrier

A continuous air barrier shall be installed in the building envelope.  

Exterior thermal envelope contains a continuous air barrier.

Breaks or joints in the air barrier shall be sealed.

Air-permeable insulation shall not be used as a sealing material.

Ceiling/attic

The air barrier in any dropped ceiling/soffit shall be aligned with the insulation and any gaps in the air barrier sealed.

Access openings, drop down stair, or knee wall doors to unconditioned attic spaces shall be sealed.

Walls

Corners and headers shall be insulated and the junction of the foundation and sill plate shall be sealed.

The junction of the top plate and top of exterior walls shall be sealed.

Exterior thermal envelope insulation for framed walls shall be installed in substantial contact and continuous alignment with the air barrier.

Knee walls shall be sealed.

Windows, skylights and doors

The space between window/door jambs and framing and skylights and framing shall be sealed.

Rim joists

Rim joists shall be insulated and include the air barrier.

Floors

(including above-garage, and cantilevered floors)

Insulation shall be installed to maintain permanent contact with underside of subfloor decking.

The air barrier shall be installed at any exposed edge of insulation.

Crawl space walls

Where provided in lieu of floor insulation, insulation shall be permanently attached to the crawlspace walls.

Exposed earth in unvented crawl spaces shall be covered with a Class I vapor retarder with overlapping joints taped.

Shafts, penetrations

Duct shafts, utility penetrations, and flue shafts opening to exterior or unconditioned space shall be sealed.

Narrow cavities

Batts in narrow cavities shall be cut to fit, or narrow cavities shall be filled by insulation that on installation readily conforms to the available cavity space.

Garage separation

Air sealing shall be provided between the garage and conditioned spaces.

Recessed lighting

Recessed light fixtures installed in the building thermal envelope shall be air tight, IC rated, and sealed to the drywall.

Plumbing and wiring

Batt insulation shall be cut neatly to fit around wiring and plumbing in exterior walls, or insulation that on installation readily conforms to available space shall extend behind piping and wiring.

Shower/tub on exterior wall

Exterior walls adjacent to showers and tubs shall be insulated and the air barrier installed separating them from the showers and tubs.

Electrical/phone box on exterior walls

The air barrier shall be installed behind electrical or communication boxes or air-sealed boxes shall be installed.

HVAC register boots

HVAC register boots that penetrate building thermal envelope shall be sealed to the subfloor or drywall.

Fireplace

An air barrier shall be installed on fireplace walls.

a.  In addition, inspection of log walls shall be in accordance with the provisions of ICC-400.

 

R 408.31070  Steel-frame ceilings, walls, and floors. Rescinded.

  Rule 1070.  Section R402.2.6 of the code are amended to read as follows:

  R402.2.6.  Steel-frame ceilings, walls, and floors.  Steel-frame ceilings, walls, and floors shall meet the insulation requirements of table R402.2.6 or shall meet the U-factor requirements in table R402.1.3.  The calculation of the U-factor for a steel-frame envelope assembly shall use a series-parallel path calculation method.

 

R 408.31071a.  Energy rating index compliance alternative.  Rescinded.

 Rule 1071a.  Sections R406.1, R406.2, R406.3, R406.3.1, R406.4, R406.5, R406.6, R406.6.1, R406.6.2, R406.6.3, R406.7, R406.7.1, R406.7.2, R406.7.3, and table R406.4 of the code are added to read as follows:

  R406.1.  Scope.  This section establishes criteria for compliance using an energy rating index (ERI) analysis.

  R406.2.  Mandatory requirements.  Compliance with this section requires that the mandatory provisions identified in sections R401.2 and R403.4.2 be met.  The building thermal envelope shall be greater than or equal to levels of efficiency and solar heat gain coefficient in table R402.1.2 or R402.1.4 of the 2009 international energy conservation code.

  Exception:  Supply and return ducts not completely inside the building thermal envelope shall be insulated to a minimum of R-6.

  R406.3.  Energy rating index.  The energy rating index (ERI) shall be a numerical integer value that is based on a linear scale constructed such that the ERI reference design has an index value of 100 and a residential building that uses no net purchased energy has an index value of 0.  Each integer value on the scale shall represent a 1 percent change in the total energy use of the rated design relative to the total energy use of the ERI reference design.  The ERI shall consider all energy used in the residential building.

 R406.3.1.  ERI reference design.  The ERI reference design shall be configured such that it meets the minimum requirements of the 2006 international energy conservation code prescriptive requirements.

  The proposed residential building shall be shown to have an annual total normalized modified load less than or equal to the annual total loads of the ERI reference design.

  R406.4.  ERI-based compliance.  Compliance based on an ERI analysis requires that the rated design be shown to have an ERI less than or equal to the appropriate value listed in table R406.4 when compared to the ERI reference design.

  R406.5.  Verification by approved agency.  Verification of compliance with section R406 shall be completed by an approved third party.

  R406.6.  Documentation.  Documentation of the software used to determine the ERI and the parameters for the residential building shall be in accordance with sections R406.6.1 through R406.6.3.

  R406.6.1.  Compliance software tools.  Documentation verifying that the methods and accuracy of the compliance software tools conform to the provisions of this section shall be provided to the code official.

  R406.6.2.  Compliance report.  Compliance software tools shall generate a report that documents that the ERI of the rated design complies with sections R406.3 and R406.4.  The compliance documentation shall include the following information:

  1.  Address or other identification of the residential building.

  2.  An inspection checklist documenting the building component characteristics of the rated design.  The inspection checklist shall show results for both the ERI reference design and the rated design, and shall document all inputs entered by the user necessary to reproduce the results.

  3.  Name of individual completing the compliance report.

  4.  Name and version of the compliance software tool.

  Exception:  Multiple orientations.  Where an otherwise identical building model is offered in multiple orientations, compliance for any orientation shall be permitted by documenting that the building meets the performance requirements in each of the 4 (north, east, south and west) cardinal orientations.

  R406.6.3.  Additional documentation.  The code official may require the following documents:

  1.  Documentation of the building component characteristics of the ERI reference design.

  2.  A certification signed by the builder providing the building component characteristics of the rated design.

  3.  Documentation of the actual values used in the software calculations for the rated design.

  R406.7.  Calculation software tools.  Calculation software, where used, shall be in accordance with sections R406.7.1 through R406.7.3.

  R406.7.1.  Minimum capabilities.  Calculation procedures used to comply with this section shall be software tools capable of calculating the ERI as described in section R406.3, and shall include the following capabilities:

  1.  Computer generation of the ERI reference design using only the input for the rated design.

  The calculation procedure shall not allow the user to directly modify the building component characteristics of the ERI reference design.

  2.  Calculation of whole-building, as single zone, sizing for the heating and cooling equipment in the ERI reference design residence in accordance with section R403.7.

  3.  Calculations that account for the effects of indoor and outdoor temperatures and part-load ratios on the performance of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment based on climate and equipment sizing.

  4.  Printed code official inspection checklist listing each of the rated design component characteristics determined by the analysis to provide compliance, along with their respective performance ratings.

  R406.7.2.  Specific approval.  Performance analysis tools meeting the applicable sections of section R406 shall be approved.  Tools may be approved based on meeting a specified threshold for a jurisdiction.  The code official shall approve tools for a specified application or limited scope.

 R406.7.3.  Input values.  When calculations require input values not specified by sections R402, R403, R404, and R405, those input values shall be taken from an approved source.

 

Table R406.4

Maximum Energy Rating Index

Climate Zone

Energy Rating Index

1

52

2

52

3

51

4

54

5

55

6

54

7

53

8

53