Press Release
New Building Code Expected to Impact
Housing Prices
Albany, Or. - The 2008 International Residential Code will be
implemented and enforced beginning in June 2008. The updated
code contains many changes that will impact the cost of housing in
Oregon.
The most costly changes deal with energy efficiency. Increased
insulation amounts will be required in the floor and ceilings of all
new homes. Greater window efficiency will also be required. In
addition, builders will have to pick one energy efficiency upgrade
from a menu of items that will include upgrading HVAC system to
higher efficiency products, higher efficiency duct sealing, higher
efficiency building envelope, upgrade levels of insulation,
increased use of compact fluorescent lights, more efficient windows,
solar photovoltaic power generation, or solar water heating.
In addition to the energy efficiency changes, there are changes to
structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing portions of the
code. Highlights of the structural changes specify a maximum
moisture content in the framing lumber of nineteen percent (19%)
before insulation and sheetrock can be completed. Changes to the
mechanical code require new sound ratings for bath fans and
new ventilation rates. Electrical and plumbing changes require
tamper resistant receptacles in dwellings and revised requirements
for GFCI and AFCI receptacles, and new provisions for instantaneous
hot water heaters.
"We are already doing many of the things required under the new,
updated building code," said Greg Conser, Manager of Conser Design
and Construction. "Our experience with the Energy Star and Earth
Advantage programs have given us a head start with many of these
changes. We already provide high efficiency duct sealing and
building shell sealing as a standard on our homes, and we wouldn't
even think of covering the framing at the 19% moisture content
required by the new code; we aim for a 14% to 16% range before we
cover. There is no doubt the code will have an impact on the cost
of housing, but the increased energy efficiency will provide long
term dividends to our home owners and to the community in general,"
he added.
Conser Design and Construction is a division of Conser Homes, Inc.
Conser Homes, Inc. is a diverse company that offers new homes,
developments, residential and commercial real estate sales and
listings, and rental housing. Conser Homes, Inc. is located at 1010
Airport Rd. SE, Albany, OR 97322. Their phone number is (541)
791-4223 and they are located on the web at www.conserhomes.com.
