[MassHistPres] ONE ANSWER TO THIS IECC, Mass adoption of the stretch code, and historic buildings

[Burks, Sarah]

I agree with this entirely. My only other suggestion would be to go one of the two supervisors in the Building Division in Boston to address the question (and show the documentation about the exemption in the base code) before going to the trouble of appealing to the state building code appeal board.  See links below.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Building%20Division%20contact%20numbers_11-6_tcm3-33974.pdf
http://www.cityofboston.gov/isd/building/process.asp
http://www.mass.gov/eopss/consumer-prot-and-bus-lic/license-type/state-building-code-appeals-board.html
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/stretch-code-qa-feb10-2011.pdf  See #12


_______________________________________
Sarah L. Burks, Preservation Planner
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Ave., 2nd Fl.
Cambridge, MA  02139
ph 617-349-4687; fax 617-349-3116; TTY 617-349-6112
http://www2.cambridgema.gov/Historic/



From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Marisa Morra
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 4:07 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu listserve
Subject: [MassHistPres] ONE ANSWER TO THIS IECC, Mass adoption of the stretch code, and historic buildings

My husband Roy  is a HERS rater and works for Sustainable Energy Analytics in Lexington MA
He tests houses every day and advises on insulation needs. Here is his answer.
Marisa Morra
Weston Historic Commission

Begin forwarded message:


From: Roy Chatalbash <roy.chatalbash at gmail.com<mailto:roy.chatalbash at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: DO YO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS? IECC, Mass adoption of the stretch code, and historic buildings
Date: January 27, 2014 11:56:30 AM EST
To: Roy Chatalbash <marisa-ah at comcast.net<mailto:marisa-ah at comcast.net>>



This is a typical problem. If a building inspector decides on some arbitrary code requirement even though the code says otherwise, his word stands unless it's appealed.

Stretch code doesn't replace base code except for a few specific  provisions. It doesn't mention historic buildings, so guidance reverts to base code, which exempts buildings recognized as historic.

Roy Chatalbash
On Jan 27, 2014 10:43 AM, "Marisa Morra" <marisa-ah at comcast.net<mailto:marisa-ah at comcast.net>> wrote:


Begin forwarded message:


From: "Ward Hamilton at Olde Mohawk Historic Preservation" <ward at wardhamilton.com<mailto:ward at wardhamilton.com>>
Subject: [MassHistPres] IECC, Mass adoption of the stretch code, and historic buildings
Date: January 26, 2014 10:11:35 AM EST
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>

I am assisting a client in Boston who is renovating the interior of an
historic residential building in both the South End District and South End
Landmark District.  In the course of applying for the permit he was told
by ISD that the new framing in front of the exterior brick masonry walls
need to be insulated to meet energy code requirements.  He cited an
exemption under IECC (2009)101.4.2 which states:

"Historic buildings. Any building or structure that is listed in the State
or National Register of Historic Places; designated as a historic property
under local or state designation law or survey; certified as a
contributing resource with a National Register listed or locally
designated historic district; or with an opinion or certification that the
property is eligible to be listed on the National or State Registers of
Historic Places either individually or as a contributing building to a
historic district by the State Historic Preservation Officer or the Keeper
of the National Register of Historic Places, are exempt from this code."

Apparently the ISD inspector stated that Boston had adopted the
Massachusetts stretch code and that that exemption no longer applied.  Yet
I found this on Mass.gov<http://Mass.gov/>:

12. Does the stretch code apply to historic buildings?

"Both the stretch code and the base energy code exempt historic buildings
listed in state or national registers, or designated as a historic
property under local or state designation law or survey, or with an
opinion or certification that the property is eligible to be listed."

Source:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/stretch-code-qa-feb10-2011.pdf


The inspector supposedly advised my client to design a wall system with a
vapor barrier against the inside of the brick masonry wall and closed foam
insulation between the studs.  He allegedly also stated that that's what
they (ISD) are looking for.  Has anyone else run into this with Boston ISD
or anywhere else?  And by "this" I mean ISD ignoring the language of the
code and forcing compliance where exemption is clearly granted.  Thoughts
and input greatly appreciated.


Ward Hamilton

OLDE MOHAWK HISTORIC PRESERVATION INC
877.622.8973<tel:877.622.8973> online at OldeMohawk.com<http://OldeMohawk.com>
Slate Roofing | Masonry | Restoration

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