Energy Building Envelope

IECC c402.5.7 – 9/1/2011  

Which doors are considered entrance doors that necessitate the use of a vestibule?

DSPS will apply the provisions requiring the inclusion of a vestibule to a doorway, set of doors, or other forms of portal that are ordinarily used to gain access or egress to the building or space by the public or employees. This excludes doors that are not used for access and are typically only for emergency or limited use.  Examples under this exclusion include emergency exit doors and doors discharging from an exit stairway. There may be situations where more than one entrance/exit or a building or space would be required to include a vestibule. Examples of multiple main entrances/exits would be a shopping mall, a strip shopping mall or “big box” store.  This clarification does not preempt any of the vestibule exceptions under IECC c402.5.7.

SPS 363.0303(1)

What edition of the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals should be used to determine information on thermal properties, performance of building envelope sections and components, and heat transfer?

In accordance with SPS 361.03(4), DSPS authority to interpret the adopted codes and standards, and in keeping with generally accepted good engineering practice, when a specific edition of a standard is not referenced the design professional should utilize the most recent edition of the standard in effect at the time of publication of the adopted 2015 IECC, which in this case is the 2013 edition.

This is also reflected in the fine print Note following SPS 363.0303(1).

SPS 363.0502(3) and (4) and SPS 363.0503(3) and (4) 

Why do these WI amendments substitute 2009 residential air leakage and air barrier requirements for commercial air leakage and air barrier requirements which seems inconsistent with the requirements for new commercial construction and generally inconsistent with the layout and approach to the energy code requirements?

DSPS amended the 2015 IECC prescriptive requirements for residential new construction and substituted the 2009 IECC requirements for opaque envelope assemblies, air leakage and air barrier requirements.  DSPS also amended the 2015 IECC prescriptive requirements for commercial new construction and substituted the 2009 requirements for opaque envelope assemblies but not for air leakage and air barrier requirements (italics added for emphasis). It was not DSPS’s intent to have different air leakage and air barrier requirements apply to additions and alterations to commercial existing buildings than to commercial new buildings.  Given DSPS’s intent, and authority to interpret department rules, the provisions of SPS 363.0502(3) and (4) and SPS 363.0503(3) and (4) will not be enforced.  DSPS will enforce the air leakage and air barrier requirements for commercial new construction in 2015 IECC s. C402.5 for additions and alterations to commercial existing construction as applicable in 2015 IECC Chapter 5 [CE] Existing Buildings.