CAL Green - California Building Standards Code
The California Building Standards Commission has announced the adoption of the 2013 California Building Standards Code. This includes the 2013 version of the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen). The new code will be published on July 1, 2013 and the public will be given 180 days to review the code before it goes into effect on January 1, 2014. This schedule reflects the state’s triennial code adoption and publication process. Updates are issued during an eighteen month intervening cycle.
The code is Part 11 of the California Building Standards Code in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and is also known as the CALGreen Code. In short, the code is established to reduce construction waste, make buildings more efficient in the use of materials and energy, and reduce environmental impact during and after construction.
There are a number of important updates in the 2013 code, such as:
- An extensive update of California`s Energy Code
- Division of the State Architect`s adoption of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act standards with California amendments
- Updated California Green Building Code-CALGreen-requirements for nonresidential building alterations and additions
- New plumbing code provisions pertaining to grey water and rainwater catchments
California’s building codes are published by the following three entities. The 2013 Code may be purchased now from:
- International Code Council (ICC) publishes Parts 1, 2 (includes 8 and 10), 2.5, 6, 9, 11 and 12 of Title 24, the Administrative, Building with Historical and Existing Buildings, Residential, Energy, Fire, Green and Referenced Standards Codes. For order information go to www.iccsafe.org, or call (800) 786-4452;
- International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) publishes Parts 4 and 5 of Title 24, the California Mechanical and Plumbing Codes. For order information go to www.iapmo.org, or call (909) 472-4208; and
- BNi Building News publishes Part 3 of Title 24, the California Electrical Code. For order information go to www.bnibooks.com or call (888) 264-2665.
California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24, also known as the California Building Standards Code, is a compilation of three types of building criteria from three different origins:
- Building standards that have been adopted by state agencies without change from building standards contained in national model codes;
- Building standards that have been adopted and adapted from the national model code standards to meet California conditions; and
- Building standards, authorized by the California legislature, that constitute extensive additions not covered by the model codes that have been adopted to address particular California concerns
Notwithstanding, the national model code standards adopted into Title 24 apply to all occupants in California except for modifications adopted by state agencies and local governing bodies. To learn more go to Guide to Title 24.
Starting in 1989, the BSC has published triennial editions of Title 24 in their entirety every three years. Title 24 is available for purchase or to the public at no cost through depository libraries. The 2007, 2010, and 2013 triennial editions have been published in their entirety and may be viewed electronically using the links above.
Other sources of information and training may include the following organizations:
- Department of Housing and Community Development (http://www.hcd.ca.gov/codes/)
- Division of the State Architect (http://www.dsa.dgs.ca.gov/default.htm)
- Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/)
- CALBO- California Building Officials (http://www.calbo.org)
- International Code Council, local chapters (http://www.iccsafe.org)
- Green Technology (http://www.green-technology.org/)
- California Building Industry Association (http://www.cbia.org/go/cbia/)
- American Institute of Architects (http://www.aia.org/index.htm)
- Click on link to review the Guide to Non-residential CALGreen Code.pdf
- Click on link to review the Guide to Non-residential Commissioning for CALGreen Code.pdf
To learn more about CALGreen, please visit: CALGreen.com
Contact Green Project Marketing
To discuss how your company and project can benefit from our services as well if there are representation opportunities, please contact Michel (Michael) Stevens, President, at (800) 260-6008 ext. 301 PST or mstevens[at]greenprojectmarketing[dot]com. Skype ID: GreenProjMktg.