Iecc Vs. Ashrae 90.1

[gmbon]

Whenever we do hospital designs, I have always been a proponent of using ASHRAE 90.1 instead of IECC ( Commercial section)for my energy compliance. Electrically, I think ASHRAE is more tuned in for hospital applications, as far as indoor controls and exemptions and thus offer an easier compliance path than IECC.

For those who are doing hospital designs or constructions, do you agree with this design philisophy? Or have I failed to consider the advantages of using IECC for my hospital applications?

Thanks for any input.

 

[bwyllie]

i would say you need to use whatever code has been adopted for that area.

 

[gmbon]

IECC offers ASHRAE 90.1 as an alternative compliance path (Chpater 8 for the IECC 2003, Chapter 5 for the IECC 2004 suplement, and Chapter 5 for the IECC 2006). That means, I have a choice between IECC and ASHRAE 90.1

 

[mdshunk]

There's often a push-pull on the customer's behalf between low operating costs and low construction costs. One generally seems to be more important than the other to the customer, and it varies from project to project. I suspect very much that 90.1 provides lower construction costs, and the IECC provides lower operating costs. I suppose it would often depend on which one seems more important to the customer.