Comm Check Questions

[Renoman]

I am turning a previous residential property into an office/showroom for my company. I have to meet the new energy requirements for the building.

I am really struggling (as are others in the area) with meeting the new energy code. My code officials tell me that I am probably going to have to use CommCheck (the commercial version of Rescheck).

There are two areas giving me problems. I want to do a sealed crawlspace. I have never done one and I would rather get the experience on my own project. Also I need to have all I can get to trade off to offset my ceilings that they want R-42 on. I will still insulate the floor to R-19even though I have a sealed crawl.

I cannot find how to accout for a sealed crawlspace in CommCheck. Does anyone know how to put this into the program?

On the walls they want R-13+R-7.5 continuous. I was going to use Zipwall but can only get R6.6 with the 1.5". The current walls are old plank sheathing so I need something good and flat to put my on my cement board. Just had a thought. I wonder if I can count the plank sheathing and cement board to get the additional R-1.4. I wonder if they would count the planking as continuous because there would be voids in it. I am not worried about the voids air sealing wise, because the zip wall would take care of that aspect.

Thanks for any advice

Mark

[James Eggert]

I need a location, at least the state??

Then I also suggest you review the requirements of the IEBC(International Existing Building Code) although you may have to change the scope of work established when you took out your permit. The IEBC many times has methods which comply when doing a Change of Occupancy, as you are!

Although I am not in love with the IEBC as a Code Official, there are times it is a practical approach. Many time the AHJ doesn't mention the IEBC because it is up to the applicant to specify which code they are building under. Its one code or the other, you cannot pick sections out of each one to achieve compliance.

[Mark C]

Sorry, I should have mentioned Hickory, NC as the location.

Is the IEBC the same as the rehab code? I was told that the extent that I have to go for this remodel, the rehab code doesn't really offer me anything.

Thanks,

Mark