Maryland and Illinois have moved up to the tougher 2012 already. I wrote above that temperature is the parameter, but that's not a full description, of course. While most of the IBC deals with life-safety and fire protection of buildings and structures, it also addresses wind load design requirements for both buildings and components attached to them. Winters can be moderate and normally spring comes sooner and fall stays longer. Based on the 1990 USDA Hardiness Zone Map, this interactive version covers the state of Virginia which ranges from USDA Zone 5b to USDA Zone 7b. Put plastic between the drywall and framing of your exterior walls in Ottawa, and it can help control vapor drive from the interior air and its associated moisture problems (rare except in extremely cold climates). Table R402.1.2 - Change CZ4 ceiling insulation levels to R-38 and CZ4 wood frame wall requirement to R-15 or R-13+R-1. Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Deputy Director, Division of Building and Fire Regulation. IBC® 2015 International Building Code . The table above (click for enlarged version) shows how the IECC uses the number of cooling degree days for climate zones 1 through 4 and the number of heating degree days for climate zones 3 through 8. Box 400123 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4123 climate@virginia.edu 434-924-0548: Virginia adopted the USBC in 1973, a statewide building code based on the BOCA Basic Codes. A type of climate defined in the ASHRAE 169-2006 standard consisting of Climate Zone Number 5 and Climate Zone Subtype A. Prior to 1973, local government was free to adopt codes. R406.4 – ERI table – Sets requirements for ERI at 62 for CZ4. Table C402.2 - fenestration table reverted format to the 2012 IECC fenestration table which does not include specific requirements for SEW and N facing fenestration as in the 2018 IECC. A climate zone is called warm-humid if the wet bulb temperature is: Wherever you read building science, you're likely to run into someone talking about climate zones, and if you don't know the exact definitions, it can be a bit confusing. Then, match the color of that location to the legend to the right. I'm looking at ventilating dehumidifiers, knowing that I'll have to learn everything I can in order to teach my contractor & HVAC guy. By looking up heating degree days on degreedays.net, I found the following: Climate Zone 4C - Vancouver; CZ 5A - Toronto; CZ 6A - Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec; CZ 7B - Calgary. The current USBC adopts by reference the 2000 IECC for energy efficiency criteria, effective October 1, 2003. Virginia Climate was founded in 2004 and is a locally-owned and operated company in Richmond, Virginia. Amendments made by that organization will then be considered for inclusion in future editions of the USBC. (Click on the map to see an enlarged version.) The change exempts low-voltage landscape lighting from the exterior lighting requirements. At the time I had no idea what that big black line was when we drove over it, but now it's clear. So if you live in zone 5a, plant anything rated for zones 1 through 5. Pls help. (A great source of data for degree days is the degreedays.net website. The climate in Virginia Beach is warm and temperate. The climate zone definitions are the same in both versions. My friend and former colleague Mike Barcik likes to say that the color of the zone shows what color your skin turns in winter. July is the hottest month for Virginia with an average high temperature of 86.6°, which ranks it as about average compared to other states. Tables of statistics, such as the Historical Climate Summaries for Virginia, can be useful even though hard to read. Atlanta has about 3000 HDD (in 'those annoying imperial units')  and is in climate zone 3. This is the USDA Virginia planting zone map. Climate is the average of weather over time. Notice that the IECC map also shows how moisture impacts the climate zones. It's not just how cold or how hot the place gets. Amendments / Additional State Code Information: Virginia DOE Determination Letter, May 31, 2013, Board of Housing and Community Development, State Building Code Technical Review Board, Virginia State Building Codes and Regulations, Virgina Board of Housing and Community Development. Most Canadians probably live in climate zones 5 and 6. We are committed to serving Central Virginia and we pride ourselves on getting 90% of our business from customer referrals. Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 371-7089 cindy.davis@dhcd.virginia.gov. The zone is characterized by average minimum temperatures ranging from 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. When they're not, problems can ensue. This location is classified as Cfa by Köppen and Geiger. The map above, from Building Science Corporation, is one that seems to be in a lot of the curricula for home energy rater and other energy auditor classes. The IBC has been updated every three Climate is the average of weather over time. The monthly climate summary for Fredericksburg, using data from 1930-1997, shows how precipitation (including snow) and temperature normally vary between November and February: In southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, January temperatures average about 40 °F (4 °C); July temperatures average in the upper 70s F (about 26 °C). You can also view the Guide to Determining Climate Regions by County. List of Hardiness Zones for Virginia Cities and Locations; Virginia Location USDA Hardiness Zone(s) Abingdon: Zone 6b: Accomac: Zone 8a: Adwolf: Zone 6b: Alberta: Zone 7a, 7b: Alexandria: Zone 7a, 7b: Allisonia: Zone 6b: Altavista: Zone 7a: Amelia Court House: Zone 7a: Amherst: Zone 7a: Annandale: Zone 7a: Appalachia: Zone 6b: Apple Mountain Lake: Zone 7a: Appomattox: Zone 7a: Aquia Harbour: … Your source of knowledge about the world of building science, home energy efficiency, green jobs and more. Check it out.). There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Virginia Beach. Zone 8a includes Virginia's southeastern coastal towns including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. In order to find your USDA planting zone, simply look at the map and locate where you live. University of Virginia Climatology Office Department of Environmental Sciences 291 McCormick Road P.O. The local governing body may charge fees to defray the costs of enforcement and appeals arising from the application of the code. Just kidding. The IBC applies to all occupancies, including one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses that are not within the scope of the IRC. One of the fundamental principles of building science is that buildings must be suited to their climate. R402.4.1.3- Requires 5 ACH50 for air sealing. Richmond, the capital, and Arlington, both in the Piedmont region, have average temperatures in the 28°F (-2.2°C) to 47°F (8.3°C) range. View the Virginia DHCD Calendar of Events for more information about these meetings. For heating and cooling, you add up the total number of HDD or CDD for the whole year, and that tells you how hot, cold, or mild the climate is. How do we convince HVAC contractors that a 40-50k furnace (smallest you can buy) is sufficient to heat just about any house in climate zone 1, 2, or 3? 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