Building Energy Code (Tennessee)

Last modified on February 12, 2015.

Rules Regulations Policies Program

Place	Tennessee
Name	Building Energy Code
Incentive Type	Building Energy Code
Applicable Sector	Commercial, Residential, State Government
Eligible Technologies	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Active Incentive	Yes
Implementing Sector	State/Territory
Energy Category	Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Code Change Cycle	No set schedule. Most recent update effective January 1, 2009.
Commercial Code	2006 IECC mandatory statewide. Jurisdictions can adopt a more stringent code.
Residential Code	2006 IECC mandatory statewide. Jurisdictions can adopt a more stringent code.
Website	http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/tennessee
Date added to DSIRE	2006-06-30
Last DSIRE Review	2012-11-20
References	DSIRE

Summary

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

Tennessee is a "home rule" state which leaves adoption of codes up to the local codes jurisdictions. State energy codes are passed through the legislature, apply to all construction and must be adopted locally before they are enforced. In May 2008 SB 116 was enacted, mandating state-wide use of the 2003 IECC beginning January 1, 2009. This code was later updated to 2006 IECC effective July 1, 2010.

SB 2300, signed in June 2009, made changes to the state's building code policy and granted the State Fire Marshal authority to select the specific ICC code edition to be implemented. The bill does not reference the IECC, instead establishing the IRC and IBC as adopted codes. The bill includes a sunset provision and includes a mechanism through which local legislative bodies can "opt out" their communities with a two-thirds vote.

For new construction and additions to state buildings, the energy efficiency provisions (Chapter 13) of the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) will be replaced by ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007

Incentive Contact

Department	Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Division	Energy Division
Address	312 8th Avenue, North, 10th Floor
Place	Nashville, Tennessee
Zip/Postal Code	37243-0405
Website	http://www.tn.gov/ecd/

Contact Name	Chris Bainbridge
Department	Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Division	State Fire Marshall's Office
Address	500 James Robertson Pkwy.
Place	Nashville, Tennessee
Zip/Postal Code	37243
Phone	(615) 741-6246
Email	christopher.bainbridge@tn.gov

Authorities (Please contact the if there are any file problems.)

Authority 1:	Tenn. Code § 4-3-734
Date Effective	2009-01-01
Date Enacted	2008-05-14

• Incentive and policy data are reviewed and approved by the N.C. Solar Center's DSIRE project staff.