Frequently Asked Questions

BIAW is the voice of the housing industry and the state’s largest trade association with over 8,200 member companies employing approximately 265,000 people. Members join BIAW through our network of 14 local home building associations (HBAs) across Washington. Your membership dues provide you access to the 3-in-1 membership which includes benefits, advocacy and networking at the local, state and national level.

When you join your local home builders' association, you automatically become a member of BIAW and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). BIAW, NAHB, and your local home builders association create a powerful, united front that helps members make the most of their membership investment at the local, state and national level. It’s three memberships in one with benefits like:

• Marketing opportunities
• Networking opportunities
• Daily, weekly and monthly communications on important industry issues
• Industry-specific continuing education and professional growth options
• Leading industry insights and advocacy for the home building industry
• Industry voice in the courts
• Workforce development insights and connections
• Access to Washington-specific contract subscription service for builders

For a complete listing of BIAW membership benefits, view the Membership Benefits Brochure

When you join your local home builders' association, you automatically become a member of BIAW and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This 3-in-1 membership allows you to enjoy a vast array of benefits while leveraging the collective power of our industry, not just locally, but statewide and across the nation.

NAHB, BIAW and your local home builders association serve the entire home building, development and remodeling industry.  About one-third of our members are “Builders,” including home builders, multifamily developers and/or remodelers. The remaining two-thirds are “Associates,” working in closely related fields such as mortgage financing, real estate, subcontracting and building products. Affiliates are the employees of Builder and Associate members who reap the rewards of NAHB membership at a fraction of the cost. Not every HBA offers affiliate memberships, so please check with your local association for availability.

Membership dues vary by association. Contact your local home builders' association for more information. The state and national portion of your dues is bundled in the annual membership cost.

Contact your local home builders' association to cancel or modify your membership. 

Your local building department should be your first-stop in navigating the new codes.

If your planning department hasn’t fully answered your question and/or they too have questions still, please direct those questions to SBCC@des.wa.gov.

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The legislature has codified the vested rights doctrine as applied to:

• Building permit applications (RCW 19.27.095):
  
• A valid and fully complete building permit application for a structure, that is permitted under the zoning or other land use control ordinances in effect on the date of the application shall be considered under the building permit ordinance in effect at the time of application, and the zoning or other land use control ordinances in effect on the date of application.
• Subdivision applications (RCW 58.17.033):
  
• A proposed division of land, as defined in RCW 58.17.020, shall be considered under the subdivision or short subdivision ordinance, and zoning or other land use control ordinances, in effect on the land at the time a fully completed application for preliminary plat approval of the subdivision, or short plat approval of the short subdivision, has been submitted to the appropriate county, city, or town official.
• Development agreements (RCW 36.70B.180):
  
• A development agreement and the development standards in the agreement govern during the term of the agreement, or for all or that part of the build-out period specified in the agreement, and may not be subject to an amendment to a zoning ordinance or development standard or regulation or a new zoning ordinance or development standard or regulation adopted after the effective date of the agreement.

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Yes, if you’re following the prescriptive requirements. However, if you opt to earn points in R406.3 (options 1.1 – 1.4) and meet or surpass the reduction percentages for total UA, there’s potential to forgo using continuous insulation. To use this option and prove the reduction, you will need to use the C3 calculator published by WSU Energy. Since 2009, the C3 calculator has been a state endorsed compliance tool.

Below is hierarchical code language illustrating the two options for builders/designers: prescriptive OR the Total UA Alternative. Pursuing the Total UA Alternative helps you achieve credits toward the overall required credit thresholds.

1. Efficient Building Envelope Options – Only one option from Items 1.1 through 1.4 may be selected in this category.
2. Compliance with the conductive UA targets is demonstrated using Section R402.1.5, Total UA alternative, where [1-(Proposed UA/Target UA)] > the required %UA reduction.
3. 1.5 Total UA alternative.If the proposed building thermal envelope UA is less than or equal to the target UA, the building shall be considered in compliance with Table R402.1.2. The proposed UA shall be calculated in accordance with Equation 2. The target UA shall be calculated in accordance with Equation 1. U-factors shall be determined as specified in Section R402.1.6. In addition to UA compliance, the maximum fenestration U-factors of Section R402.5 shall be met.
4. TABLE R402.1.2  Above-Grade Wall U-Factor – 0.056
5. Option 1.2 Prescriptive compliance is based on Table R402.1.3 with the following modifications:
   Vertical fenestration U = 0.25
   Floor R-38
   Slab on grade R-10 perimeter and under entire slab
   Below grade slab R-10 perimeter and under entire slab
   or
   Compliance based on Section R402.1.5: Reduce the Total conductive UA by 15%.

Download the C3* Calculator and Permit Forms at this link

Please note: C3 requires Excel for Windows installed on your computer (not web-based) and is not available for Mac computers.

Disclaimer: Results from the C3 assume that all data is entered correctly and completely. Results do not constitute an official decision. Your analysis should be reviewed by your building official/authority having jurisdiction.

*C3 means code compliance calculator.

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All information, content, and materials regarding pathways for energy code compliance are for general informational purposes only, and do not constitute a formal recommendation from the Building Industry Association of WA (BIAW). No reader or user of this information should act or refrain from acting on the basis of this information without consulting the appropriate professionals. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the information provided are hereby expressly disclaimed.

Medium Dwelling Unit = 8 credits needed

R406.2 Energy Equalization Credits
Ductless Mini-Split: Type 4 = 3 credits

R406.3 Energy Credits

1. Option 1.2 = 1 credit
2. Option 3.7 = 2 credits
3. Option 5.6 = 2 credits

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BIAW has compiled the credit options, and required pairings of credits, for use by our members.

To view, click the “See the Board” button below.

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The new codes only apply to new HVAC systems that are included in new builds and/or replacements of HVAC equipment in existing homes that are being upsizing.

You may use natural gas if you’re renovating and/or doing an HVAC like-for-like system swap. This means you’re not able to increase the size of your existing natural gas furnace even if it doesn’t deliver enough heat for the square footage of your existing home.

Example: if you’re not satisfied with the level of heating produced by your current system so you want to upgrade to a more powerful unit, you would potentially have to utilize an electric alternative.

We are aware this is an interstate commerce issue. To raise the prominence of the issue, please contact your congressperson.

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Certainly! View our fact sheet

WSU Energy has compiled a list of resources to help with compliance > click to be redirected

BIAW has assembled a worksheet as well to help you plan with costs in mind > view worksheet

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BIAW Significant Code Changes – FULL VERSION

Click the links to be redirected to each code:

• Residential Code with Washington Amendments > view
• Residential Energy Code > view
• Plumbing Code > view
• Electrical Code > view
  • To go into effect April 1, 2024 per L&I

Looking for another code? click here

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