The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has announced that ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2011, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, now serves as a compliance option with the newly published 2012 International Green Construction Code.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recently approved two American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) standards addressing fall protection. The standards are part of the Z359 Fall Protection Code.

Local municipalities may not require residents to install HVAC equipment that exceeds federally preempted standards. That is the message Judge Martha Vazquez, of the Federal District Court for the District of New Mexico, shared in her Jan. 25 ruling in AHRI v. City of Albuquerque.

The National Research Council (NRC) is offering complimentary online presentations on the 2011 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB).

Delmar, part of Cengage Learning, has announced the creation of seven eBooks from the codes published by the International Code Council (ICC). Referred to as the I-Codes, they are a set of comprehensive, coordinated building safety and fire prevention codes.

The future of bypass ducts in zoned California heating and cooling systems appears very bleak. The California Energy Commission (CEC) recently proposed a code change that would prohibit the use of bypass ducts in zoned heating and cooling systems, and eliminate existing Title 24 zonal performance compliance credits.

The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) has added air curtains to its code, recognizing them as alternatives to vestibules.

ASHRAE and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) have entered into a memorandum of understanding specifically detailing ways in which the two organizations can work together to advance and promote mutual interests in built environment codes and standards.

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) recently invited stakeholders to comment on proposed changes to the 2010 National Building Code (NBC). Even though the review period has concluded, industry members may wish to note proposed changes include a requirement for venting that outlines minimum separation distances to vent products of combustion.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) detailing ways in which the organizations can work together to advance and promote built environment codes and standards.