Building Energy Code

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.

In March 2006, SB 459 was enacted to promote renewable energy and update the state's building energy codes.

The law required the former Department of Commerce (COMM) to create codes for energy conservation in public buildings and places of employment and to review that code. In conducting the review, the Dept. of Commerce (now the Dept. of Safety & Professional Services) must consider incorporating into the Energy Conservation Code design requirements from the most current national energy efficiency design standards that are generally acceptable and used by engineers and the construction industry. Unlike the previous law, SB 459 refers to the International Energy Conservation Code instead of the 1989 version of a standard adopted by ASHRAE. The bill also changes the five-year revision requirement to a three-year requirement. 

SPS 322  of the state-developed Uniform Dwelling Code (UDC) is applicable to 1 & 2 family dwellings and incorporates the 2006 IECC with state amendments. (REScheck may be used when the code assignment is indicated to be "Wisconsin" in REScheck). Multi-family dwellings also comply with these codes in addition to specific changes from the SPS 363 guidelines based on 2009 IECC implemented on September 1, 2011. 

On December 1st, 2016, Wisconsin adopted the 2009 IECC with amendments for residential buildings. On March 16th, 2018, Wisconsin adopted the 2015 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2013 with amendments for commercial buildings. Both codes are mandatory statewide,