Act No. 264

Public Acts of 2012

Approved by the Governor

June 25, 2012

Filed with the Secretary of State

July 3, 2012

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 3, 2012

STATE OF MICHIGAN

96TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2012

Introduced by Senator Green

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 570

AN ACT to amend 1972 PA 230, entitled “An act to create a construction code commission and prescribe its functions; to authorize the director to promulgate rules with recommendations from each affected board relating to the construction, alteration, demolition, occupancy, and use of buildings and structures; to prescribe energy conservation standards for the construction of certain buildings; to provide for statewide approval of premanufactured units; to provide for the testing of new devices, materials, and techniques for the construction of buildings and structures; to define the classes of buildings and structures affected by the act; to provide for administration and enforcement of the act; to create a state construction code fund; to prohibit certain conduct; to establish penalties, remedies, and sanctions for violations of the act; to repeal acts and parts of acts; and to provide an appropriation,” (MCL 125.1501 to 125.1531) by adding section 13f.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 13f. Log walls are permitted in residential buildings if all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The log walls have a minimum average wall thickness of 5 inches or greater.

(b) The log walls comply with the international code council standard on the design and construction of log structures, ICC 400-2007, or other successor standard that the department may specify by rule.

(c) The area weighted average U-factor for fenestration products in the log walls is a maximum of 0.31.

(d) All energy efficiency requirements of this act and rules promulgated under this act applicable to components other than log walls are met.

(e) The building heating equipment is qualified under the energy star program jointly operated by the United States department of energy and the United States environmental protection agency as provided for in 10 CFR part 430 or the building heating equipment meets or exceeds the following United States department of energy ratings:

(i) For a gas furnace, an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 90.

(ii) For an oil furnace, an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 85.

(iii) For a boiler, an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 85.

(iv) For a split system air source heat pump, an 8.2 heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF).

(v) For a closed loop water-to-air geothermal heat pump, an energy efficiency rating of 14.1 and a coefficient of performance of 3.3.

(vi) For an open loop water-to-air geothermal heat pump, an energy efficiency rating of 16.2 and a coefficient of performance of 3.6.

(vii) For a closed loop water-to-water geothermal heat pump, an energy efficiency rating of 15.1 and a coefficient of performance of 3.0.

(viii) For an open loop water-to-water geothermal heat pump, an energy efficiency rating of 19.1 and a coefficient of performance of 3.4.

(ix) For a direct geothermal exchange, an energy efficiency rating of 15.0 and a coefficient of performance of 3.5.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor