The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) has released an e-book titled, Energy Code Compliance: A Guide for Metal Building Contractors. This e-book is filled with information to help contractors understand the energy code and insulation requirements for low-rise commercial buildings, with a focus on metal buildings. A copy can be downloaded by clicking on the Free Energy Code Guide icon on the home page.
“This guide provides information that contractors need to know and will help contractors to provide metal buildings that are energy-efficient and code compliant,” says Dan Walker, PE, MBMA general manager. “It will save builders time in research and planning and will help simplify this sometimes complicated but necessary aspect of their daily jobs.”
Most state and local governments have adopted either the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ASHRAE 90.1, or both. While the MBMA e-book on this subject provides a resource for contractors, there is an energy design guide available in both hard copy and electronic formats at www.mbmamanual.com. The guide is written for architects and engineers and covers more subject matter. The e-book focuses on things contractors need to know and omits the complex design sections.
Energy Code Compliance: A Guide for Metal Building Contractors is broken out into six chapters. The guide introduces basic responsibilities and energy code fundamentals before exploring IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 compliance. There are also sections on insulating metal building systems and an introduction to the COMcheck energy code compliance software. While designed for metal buildings and those who work with them, much of this information is useful to anyone interested in creating energy-efficient buildings.
In addition to the e-book, the MBMA website has an array of other information for the metal building industry that is available to download, as well as additional manuals and publications at www.mbmamanual.com.