The Inspector Game: Decking Dos and Don'ts
9 Design Ideas & Tips for Concrete Countertops
7 Small Bathroom Floorplan Layouts
Fine Homebuilding: The Digital Issues
Meet the Fine Homebuilding Project House!
Complete Kitchen and Bath Guide
7 Solutions for Kitchen Layout and Design
Painting Ideas, Tips, and Techniques for a Professional Finish
15 Coffered Ceiling Design Ideas and Tips
Energy-Smart Details
2012 HOUSES Awards
12 Remodeling Secrets Revealed
Guide to Paperless Drywall
13 Door Design and Installation Tips
Outdoor Kitchen Design Inspiration
How it Works
10 Basement-Remodeling Tips and Techniques
Buyer's Guide to Decking
Roofing articles, videos, tools, and materials
Deck Design & Construction Showcase

Free 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Download

comments (2) October 5th, 2010 in Blogs

Mike Guertin, editorial advisor

22 users recommend

2009 International Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC)

Add Comment
Print

Code books are required reading for building pros nowadays so you can't beat a free code book. The US Dept of Energy (DOE) provided funding for the International Code Council (ICC) to furnish free digital copies of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (2009 IECC). Many states and code jurisdictions agreed to adopt the 2009 IECC when they accepted funds from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). My state adopted the IECC last July and I suspect other states will be doing so over the next year. So this is one code that will be implemented at some level from coast to coast to coast.

It takes about 2 minutes to fill out the form. You provide your name, address, industry, trade and other usual information. There's an "Opt In" box so you can choose to receive additional info from the ICC - or not. Once I clicked the continue button at the bottom of the form, the browser choked for a couple minutes "Waiting for www.iccsafe.org" Perhaps so many others were downloading their free IECC copies that we overwhelmed the system. The 3 minute wait landed me on a download link and presented me with my unique serial number. At the same moment, my email bell rang with a note containing the same registration and download instructions message.

The download dumps a zipped version into your browser's target folder that you have to unzip. The unzip process initiated an typical install senario where I had to accept the license agreement and okay creation of a new Program File folder named 'ICC'. There was no automatic desktop icon or program in the start menu so I had to navigate to the new folder where 4 files resided - 3 pdfs: 'instructions_support', 'welcome' and '09iecc-doe' along with a text doc: 'support.'

The 'Welcom'e file just opens up the '2009IECC' file (which you can do directly) and the 'Instruction' file is just that. Make sure you're computer is connected to the internet and open either the '2009IECC' or 'Welcome' file. On the first page there will be a white box in the center-right area to paste your serial number into. Click "Online Unlock" button and let java do its thing.

I tried printing a page from the code figuring that copyright security wouldn't permit me to do so. The page printed just fine. So I suppose if you want to print a hard copy of the 97-page 2009 IECC for your own use, you can.

I bought a hard copy of the 2009 IECC back in spring of 2009 for $35 when it was first released so I didn't really need the digital version. Still, it's nice to know I can access the code right from my computer. Now if they'd just offer the 2009 IECC Commentary for free, I could decipher my new free code book.

posted in: Blogs, building code, Energy Code, 2009 IECC, International Energy Conservation Code

Add Comment Print