Codes they are a-changin'

If you haven’t heard the news, let us be the first to break it to you! The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia have updated their construction codes. Not only will this effect code compliance across the city and state, but it will also affect how projects are administered and developed in their respective pipelines. The Universal Construction Code (UCC) as Pennsylvania calls it, has been revised to closely follow the national standard, known as I-Codes or International Codes if you’re a stickler for details. These I-Codes were adopted in 2015.

The most significant changes are targeted at creating healthier buildings by reducing energy use and carbon emissions without sacrificing durability for owners and occupants. In laymen’s terms, this will result in higher upfront building costs for insulation, HVAC, lighting and electrical infrastructure equipment. On the back-end, owner’s and occupiers can expect cost savings as a result of reduced consumption.

Construction professionals will have the option to choose which code to have their drawings reviewed under (old vs. new) for permit applications within Philadelphia submitted between Oct. 1, 2018 and April 1, 2019. Outside of Philadelphia, the path of compliance will depend on the effective date of the construction contract. Permits for contracts executed before Oct. 1, 2018 may be reviewed under the old codes. All plans after Oct. 1, 2018 must be in compliance with current code. You can find more information here: