How Codes Get Made with Gayathri Vijayakumar

Featuring

Gayathri Vijayakumar, Director, Residential Energy Services, Steven Winter Associates, Inc. 

For 15 years, Gayathri Vijayakumar has specialized in evaluating residential and multifamily buildings with an emphasis on high-performance construction and renewable energy systems. Gayathri is a Director for Residential Energy Services at SWA, supporting team members on their energy efficiency, research, and product development projects. She also provides consulting to federal, state, and local agencies, codes, and programs to develop emerging standards and procedures that involve energy efficiency requirements.

Gayathri currently is a member of the ASHRAE 62.2 Multifamily Working Group, Chair of RESNET’s Standards Development Committee, SDC300, and a voting member of ASHRAE’s Residential Buildings Committee.

Curious about how building performance standards are decided upon?

The IECC, or “model code”, establishes the minimum requirements for building energy efficiency by specifying the performance levels for the building envelope, mechanical systems, lighting systems, and service water heating systems in homes and commercial businesses. This model code is updated every three years, and within those three years there is a LOT of behind-the-scenes work going on to determine the changes for the next version. In this episode, we learn all about the long and lengthy code development process from SWA’s own Gayathri Vijayakumar.

Episode Information & Resources

International Code Council (ICC) Code Development Process website

The Making of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – written by Gayathri Vijayakumar

Testimony Videos from the Committee Action Hearing (April 2019, Albuquerque, NM):

• RE88 Video (Proposed change to R402.4 for air leakage testing under residential code)

Testimony Videos from the Public Comment Hearing (October 2019, Las Vegas):

• CE44 Video (Proposed change to commercial provisions to allow MF to use the R406 ERI Path)
• CE96 Video (Proposed change to C402. 5 for air leakage testing for MF under commercial code)
• CE97 Video (Proposed change to C402.5 for air leakage testing for non-MF under commercial code)

*While not mentioned during the podcast, Gayathri wanted to acknowledge Robby Schwarz, Reid Hart, Mike Moore, New Buildings Institute, the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition, the National Multifamily Housing Council, Ryan Meres, members from NY Department of State, and Joe Lstiburek, for their support and collaboration on many of the above proposals and at the hearings.

We Want to Hear From You!

Send your feedback and questions to podcast@swinter.com

About Buildings and Beyond

Buildings and Beyond is the podcast that explores how we can create a more sustainable built environment by focusing on efficiency, accessibility, and health.

Buildings and Beyond is a production of Steven Winter Associates. We provide energy, green building, and accessibility consulting services to improve the built environment. For more information, visit swinter.com.

Hosts: Robb Aldrich | Kelly Westby

Production Team: Heather Breslin | Alex Mirabile | Dylan Martello | Jayd Alvarez

Episode Transcript