Apartment Industry Releases New Building Code Toolkits

By NMHC -

October 29, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 29, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association released a new series of building code toolkits to help the multifamily industry meet the unprecedented demand for apartment living. The toolkits are part of a wider effort to expand resources for codes and standards as the industry ramps up apartment construction.

The three new toolkits are:

National Model Building Codes and Standards: Apartment Issues Tracking
Summarizes the priority issues NMHC/NAA are following in the current codes and standards development cycles, including the International Building Code (IBC), the NFPA 13R Sprinkler Standard and the ASHRAE 90.1 and ASHRAE 90.2 energy standards.
2012 International Green Construction Code Adoption Toolkit
Guidance designed to assist code officials and apartment industry representatives as jurisdictions consider adoption of green building guidelines, including specific recommendations for the adoption of the 2012 IgCC to accommodate the unique characteristics of multifamily properties.
2012 International Energy Conservation Code Adoption Toolkit
Suggested amendments for local jurisdictions adopting the 2012 IECC to accommodate the unique characteristics of multifamily properties.

The toolkits add to recent NMHC/NAA efforts, including a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy outlining two dozen proposed changes to the 2015 national model energy code that would be problematic to the multifamily industry due to cost, technology and implementation considerations. In addition NMHC/NAA developed a new building code portal for the apartment industry located at www.nmhc.org/goto/ICC-Codes.

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For more than 20 years, the National Apartment Association (NAA) and the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) have partnered on behalf of America’s apartment industry. Drawing on the knowledge and policy expertise of staff in Washington, D.C., as well as the advocacy power of 170 NAA state and local affiliated associations, NAA and NMHC provide a single voice for developers, owners and operators of multifamily rental housing. One-third of Americans rent their housing, and more than 14 percent of all U.S. households live in an apartment home. For more information, contact:

NMHC at 202/974-2300 or or www.nmhc.org.