To promote the widespread use of its energy standard,ASHRAE(Atlanta) is working with several organizations to encourage its adoption in model energy codes. ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2001, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, which provides the minimum requirements for the design of energy efficient buildings, incorporates 34 new addenda. The standard is written in mandatory language and is intended for code use.

"ASHRAE's policy is to work on a non-exclusive basis with all recognized code organizations to have ASHRAE standards used as widely as possible," Bruce Hunn, ASHRAE's director of technology, said. Standard 90.1-2001 is expected to be referenced in the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). At the April 2002 code change hearings of the International Code Council (ICC), ASHRAE's proposal that the IECC update its reference from Standard 90.1-1999 to the 2001 standard was approved by the IECC Code Development Committee. Final action on this proposed change will take place at ICC this fall.

The IECC is a model code that may be adopted by code jurisdictions either in the United States or internationally. ASHRAE also has asked that wording in the "Design by Acceptable Practice For Commercial Buildings" chapter of the IECC be consistent with the 2001 standard.

In addition to IECC, ASHRAE is working with other organizations to encourage and facilitate the adoption of the 2001 standard into model energy codes. Earlier standards have been referenced for years in the CABO Model Energy Code (now known as IECC) and have been adopted by reference by many code jurisdictions.

ASHRAE recently signed a partnering agreement with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to incorporate Standard 90.1 in the NFPA consensus code set. Along with ASHRAE Standard 90.2-2001, Energy-Efficient Design of Low-Rise Residential Buildings, these standards will comprise the energy code portion of the NFPA code set. ASHRAE will work with NFPA to develop procedures for handling interpretations requests and for the incorporation of Standard 90.1 and 90.2 updates into the code set. Further development of these standards will continue under ASHRAE/IESNA continuous maintenance procedures, through the committees overseeing Standards 90.1 and 90.2.

"Standard 90.1 is the only commercial building energy standard or code developed under American National Standard Institute consensus procedures," Hunn said. "It also is established as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes under the federal Energy Policy Act of 1992." The DOE currently is evaluating whether to adopt Standard 90.1-1999 as the reference for state energy code stringency. Standard 90.1-1989 is the current reference standard. In addition to supporting the adoption of its energy standards in model energy codes, ASHRAE urges the direct adoption, by reference, of these standards by state and local code jurisdictions.