Past Feature Articles
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 Oregon Reach Code (ORC)
In 2009, the Oregon Legislature with the approval of Senate Bill 79, directed the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) to increase energy efficiency in buildings that are newly constructed, reconstructed, altered or repaired. In addition to increasing efficiency in the statewide mandatory energy code, Senate Bill 79 required the establishment of a new code called the Reach Code.
The Reach Code is a set of statewide optional construction standards for energy efficiency that exceed the requirements of the state's mandatory codes. The Reach Code covers a variety of topics including: mechanical systems, lighting designs, overall building design (both residential and commercial), plumbing practices, and product approval. Builders will have an optional path for high performance construction and jurisdictions can be assured the innovative construction methods are sound. The Division is working to align the code with federal, state, and local financial incentives.
Please visit the Reach Code web page to view the draft code and information pertaining to the code.
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 Web-based training is growing at the Building Codes Division
Specific practices and standards apply when buildings and structures are located in FEMA-mapped special flood hazard areas. In this presentation Christine Shirley, the National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator for the State of Oregon, will review FEMA’s terminology and regulations and show where in the Oregon building codes FEMA’s flood hazard zone regulations are reflected. She will talk about the relationship between Oregon building codes and local flood damage prevention municipal code. The session will close with a review of the consequences of flood hazard zone violations. Links to valuable resource material will be provided throughout the presentation.
Register for this Brown Bag Lunch session today.
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Web-based training is growing at the Building Codes Division
BCD
looks forward to providing several new opportunities to learn about building
codes, energy efficiency, rainwater collection, and more; all online. The
Brown Bag Lunch training series is continuing in 2011. We have several
classes scheduled and two are available for registration. You can find
all the information you need on these one hour mini-trainings at our new
Brown Bag Lunch website.
We also have created an online version of the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code (OEESC) Code-Change training. The class is made up of a series of videos and questions after each of the video segments. The whole course takes between 3 and 4 hours to complete. The participant is able to take the course in segments if they can’t complete the whole class in one sitting. You do need speakers or headphones to be able to listen to the audio portion of the training.
Keep an eye out on our web page for other online courses which will become available in the near future. Sign up and then all you have to do is sit back, put your headphones on, and gain all sorts of new knowledge. |
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 Brown Bag Lunch Series
BCD
recently began a series of "Brown Bag Lunch" online seminars that
took place at noon on designated dates and lasted for one hour. The first
in our series was an informative hour on the alternate method concerning
rainwater harvesting and its uses in commercial construction; the second in our series covered water conservation. We were lucky
to have Jon Gray from Interface Engineering and Lisa Petterson from SERA
to talk about projects they have been involved in that use these alternate
methods.
If you have suggestions of topics for future "Brown Bag Lunch"
sessions and/or presenters please email us at training.bcd@state.or.us
with the information.
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 Learn More About Complying With The New Energy Code
COMcheck
is Oregon's new method of compliance for the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency
Specialty Code (OEESC). COMcheck was developed to clarify and simplify
commercial building energy code compliance. The materials focus on Oregon
specific code requirements that apply to all commercial buildings and offer
a streamlined process for demonstrating code-equivalent levels of energy
efficiency. Contractors and designers who use COMcheck can save time and
effort in documenting code compliance.
COMcheck offers an easy-to-understand process
for demonstrating compliance with all commercial energy code requirements
for envelope, interior and exterior lighting, and mechanical systems. It
eliminates calculation tasks other than determining square footages and
requires no specialized technical knowledge of commercial codes. When applied
to simple buildings, it is self-contained, requiring no additional resources
or reference books. Finally, COMcheck uses terminology familiar to the
design, construction and enforcement communities.
To learn more about using the COMcheck software
consider taking the Web based class scheduled for August 19. Register
today to better understand this new OEESC compliance method.
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 Code Change Training on the 2010 OEESC at No
Cost In
preparation for the July 1 adoption of the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency
Specialty Code (OEESC), BCD has
scheduled several free four-hour energy code change trainings during
June and July 2010. This course is required code change training for inspectors
performing inspections under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code. The
training will focus on 'what's changed and what's stayed the same' in the
transition to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) format.
Participants will get an overview of what is new in the OEESC. You can
register
online for one of the seven classes being offered around the state.
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 Presentation on R703.1 available - February 2010
In
conjunction with recent code changes to ORSC section R703.1 addressing
a means of draining water from exterior wall assemblies, the Oregon Building
Codes Division partnered with the Oregon Home Builders Association (OHBA)
in the development of live training classes. These classes were underwritten
in part with funds from BCD's 1% Training program and have been made available
to both industry and government employees. In an effort to expand opportunities
for training, OHBA has agreed to make a free Web
based presentation based on the training available through their website.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain
an understanding of the scope and application of these new provisions as
your schedule allows.
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 Local
building department directory is here - July 2009
Your handy Local
Building Department Directory (LBDD) is now available to help you locate the right
building department to ask your permitting questions. This efficient new directory
is simple to use; you just enter the city and zip code or select the jurisdiction for
the address and the directory delivers a page full of information for your specified
location. It provides you with building department phone numbers and addresses, as
well as staff contact information, any permit services available online for the address,
and much more. Try it and see what you think!
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Oregon Smart Guides - March 2009
In its ongoing effort to help consumers understand their options when building and
renovating, the Building Codes Division has released the first two guides in a series.
Called "Oregon Smart Guides," the first two focus on the promotion of green building
in Oregon, giving information on rainwater harvesting and
water conservation systems.
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method allowing rainwater collection from roofs to be used for gardens, flushing toilets,
washing clothes, and in heating and air conditioning units. The water conservation systems
guide explains the method for reusing wastewater (often known as gray water) for flushing
toilets. |
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Oregon-ePermitting.info - December 2008
With the emergence of a new statewide ePermitting system on the horizon, the information
Web site for the Building Codes Division’s ePermitting program has been given
a new look. There are all sorts of new and interesting pages available.
The Web site is divided into three different sections: Local Building Departments,
Property Owners, and Contractors. Each segment has its own “home page,” which
has all the links pertinent to the group highlighted. What a great bookmark for your
one-stop shopping in ePermitting! Please check out the new look and let us know what
you think. www.Oregon-ePermitting.info
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Greening the building codes - August 2008
The division has approved two
new statewide alternate methods that allow homeowners to harvest rainwater and
reuse wastewater. The first method involves reusing certain wastewater in homes when
the owner installs water conservation systems. The water conservation systems treat
water drained from bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, and laundry
tubs, and then stores the water for use in flushing toilets. The second method gives
both homes and commercial buildings the ability to collect rainwater from roofs to
be used for gardens, flushing toilets, washing clothes, and in heating and air conditioning
units.
BCD has also been working toward more energy-efficient buildings through upgrading
the energy code provisions (chapter 11) of the 2008
Oregon Residential Specialty Code. The upgrades, which took effect April 1, 2008,
require certain components be put in a building, including new upgrades to building
insulation and an increase in the thermal efficiency rating for windows. Also, there
is a new feature in which builders choose at least one of nine energy efficiency options
to include in the structure.
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