A new illustrated guide, co-published by the International Code Council (ICC) and APA—The Engineered Wood Association, provides tips and recommendations that help builders construct energy code-compliant wood walls using continuous wood structural panel wall sheathing. IECC Compliance Options for Wood-Frame Wall Assemblies, available as a free download, describes how energy performance is measured in exterior wood wall assemblies and how to improve wall thermal performance to meet energy code requirements.

The 20-page publication details several wall assemblies that comply with the R-20 and R-13+5 prescriptive requirements for many of the climate zones included in the 2009, 2012, and 2015 editions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Also provided are recommendations for reducing material costs by increasing use of lower-cost cavity insulation, optimizing material usage with easy-to-apply advanced framing techniques, and boosting thermal performance with insulated headers and siding.

“Meeting more energy efficient codes is now a priority for residential builders and designers,” said Mark Halverson, APA Field Services Manager. “This brochure will provide them with costeffective options using 2x6 wood-framed walls to meet prescriptive energy code requirements. Incorporating advanced framing techniques, insulated headers, or insulated siding into the wall construction can allow builders to user lower-cost wall cavity insulation, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per house.”

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe and sustainable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build, and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

Based in Tacoma, Washington, APA is a nonprofit trade association representing North American manufacturers of plywood, oriented strand board, glulam timber, wood I-joists, Rim Board, structural composite lumber, and other structural engineered wood products. Its primary functions are product certification and testing, applied research, quality auditing, and market support and development.

IECC Compliance Options for Wood-Frame Wall Assemblies is available for free download in PDF format or purchase in print format from the ICC online store at www.shop.iccsafe.org or from the APA Publications Library at www.apawood.org.

Source: APA