| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to certain energy efficiency performance standards for |
|
|
residential construction. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 388, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 388.0045 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 388.0045. RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY |
|
|
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR ATTIC AND RAFTER ASSEMBLIES. (a) This |
|
|
section applies only to residential construction. |
|
|
(b) Notwithstanding any requirement contained in an energy |
|
|
code adopted under Section 388.003(a) or (b), or a local amendment |
|
|
adopted under Section 388.003(d), pertaining to the insulation of |
|
|
unvented attic or unvented enclosed rafter assemblies, a local |
|
|
jurisdiction shall consider an unvented attic or unvented enclosed |
|
|
rafter assembly to be in compliance with the requirements of the |
|
|
portion of the energy code administered and enforced by that local |
|
|
jurisdiction pertaining to the insulation of unvented attic or |
|
|
unvented enclosed rafter assemblies if: |
|
|
(1) the attic or rafter assembly is insulated and air |
|
|
sealed with air impermeable insulation to an R-value of at least: |
|
|
(A) 20 if the attic or rafter assembly is located |
|
|
in climate zone 2 or 3; or |
|
|
(B) 26 if the attic or rafter assembly is located |
|
|
in climate zone 4; and |
|
|
(2) the building in which the attic or rafter assembly |
|
|
is located: |
|
|
(A) attains a blower door test result of less |
|
|
than 3.0 ACH50; |
|
|
(B) has a mechanical ventilation system that does |
|
|
not rely solely on a negative pressure strategy; |
|
|
(C) if insulation is installed below the roof |
|
|
deck and the exposed portion of the roof rafters is not already |
|
|
covered by air impermeable insulation to an R-value of at least 20 |
|
|
or 26, as applicable, has the exposed portion of the roof rafters |
|
|
wrapped in insulation to an R-value of at least 3, except that the |
|
|
rafters are not required to be covered by insulation if: |
|
|
(i) the rafters are directly covered by |
|
|
drywall or finished ceiling; or |
|
|
(ii) continuous insulation is installed |
|
|
above the roof deck; and |
|
|
(D) contains inside the building's thermal |
|
|
envelope the building's indoor heating, cooling, and ventilation |
|
|
equipment, including ductwork. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |