by Brianna Crandall — November 21, 2016 — The International Code Council (ICC) and Calidad and Sustentabilidad en la Edificacion A.C. (CASEDI) [Building Quality and Sustainability] recently announced the publication of the first energy efficiency code for Mexico. The new Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings is based on ICC’s International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the most widely adopted energy code in the United States.
The code contains the requirements for nonresidential buildings (including mixed occupancies) as well as three-story, or less, residential buildings. These requirements are presented separately in their respective sections and chapters. Both parts contain Administrative and Application, Definition, General Requirements and Energy Efficiency Requirements sections applicable to buildings for each of the scopes.
This is a comprehensive code that establishes minimum requirements for energy-efficient buildings for the entire country and allows the use of prescriptive and performance provisions. This code also permits the use of new energy-efficiency designs and materials.
This code represents the cumulative efforts on behalf of CASEDI, Mexico’s National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE), the Secretaria de Energia (SENER) [Department of Energy], ICC and input from other interested parties from both the public and private sector.
Working closely with local authorities in selected municipalities, CONUEE is assisting with the challenge of adapting, adopting and implementing the Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings. Plans are underway to significantly expand these outreach efforts in the months ahead, so construction and facilities managers will soon begin to see their effects.
The parties recognize the mutual benefit to be gained from working together. Moving forward, the organizations will continue to identify additional areas of mutual interest for possible future cooperative programs or joint activities.
The Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings is available for public access from the ICC Web site.
