MBMA provides unique training to improve energy code knowledge

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Over 70 people attended An Energy Code Compliance Toolkit for Metal Building Systems, a unique program developed by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA). The program was held in Irving, TX on January 16 and 17.

“Because the Department of Energy is pushing for greater compliance and more and more regulations are being enacted coast-to-coast, changes are happening rapidly,” says Charles Praeger, assistant general manager of MBMA. “Change orders and permit denials cost time and money. They can make or break the success of a building project.
Those who don’t know the codes can make big mistakes that waste customer resources and potentially bring frustration and embarrassment to a business.”

Energy codes and standards affect various aspects of the metal building envelope for both conditioned and semi-heated spaces, such as roof solar reflectance and thermal emittance (a.k.a. cool roofs), insulation, doors, fenestration (windows and daylighting), air leakage and infiltration around building components and the whole building.

The primary focus of the training involved practical application of COMcheck, a U.S. Department of Energy software product designed to streamline the energy code compliance and approval process. It addresses the enforceable provisions in commercial building energy codes. (These codes include: IECC: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006 and
2009 and ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1: 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010, as well as various state-developed energy codes.)

Used for commercial and high-rise residential building projects, COMcheck provides an energy report that calculates building elements, such as the building envelope, lighting, HVAC and water heating requirements.

Builders and those involved in the metal building system industry can learn more about saving money through energy code and standard knowledge by contacting mbma@mbma.com.