SKOKIE, Ill.—While states and municipalities are seeking to adopt ordinances that require “green” or “sustainable” construction, code officials are scrambling for appropriate practices and language to include.

To help local governments implement green building codes, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) has developed High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability, a sample ordinance written in mandatory language that amends and appends the International Code Council International Building Code (IBC) to address high performance and sustainable buildings. It is available as a free PDF download.

The PCA requirements include the concepts in most other sustainability or green standards that are within the purview of the building code department while enhancing disaster resistance and setting more stringent durability requirements. 

A sustainable building with a higher degree of durability can decrease the amount of materials going to landfills and use of community resources when disasters occur.   After Hurricane Katrina, more than 44 million cubic yards of building materials and contents were disposed of in landfills.  The PCA ordinance provides mandatory requirements for increased resistance to natural disasters with the goal of reducing the number of destroyed buildings while protecting property and saving lives.

PCA has aligned the provisions with the concepts of both the Whole Building Design Guide (www.wbdg.org) and High Performance Building Council.  Enacting and enforcing these provisions provides the basis for designers and owners to obtain certification as a US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED-NC).

The ordinance is organized by chapter and section consistent with the IBC format and is intentionally limited to issues typically within the purview of the building code and zoning and land use officials. There are no requirements for sole source certification or fees that increase the initial project design cost.

To download a free copy of High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability, visit www.cement.org/codes.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

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