Update to California Energy Code – Title 24

By Anna Lockhart.  

Title 24 outlines a set of sustainability-focused requirements for building standards in the state of California.  

Title 24 – California's energy code – is designed to take action in reducing excessive energy consumption and waste during and post building construction. Every three years the California Energy Commission gathers and refines these standards to ensure that the state is efficiently curbing wasteful energy use. As of January 2023, the energy code has been updated to reflect stricter building material requirements and restrictions to further curb energy waste.  

Of the latest provisions, roofing manufacturer Johns Manville shares on their website that California contractors and property owners should note: there has been an increase in the minimum roof insulation required in new buildings and in any roof alterations going forward.  

The new standards for insulation require that all roof replacements and recovers must abide by the new standards regardless of the measurements and condition of existing insulation located above or below the roof deck.  

The minimum requirements for roof alterations are R-17 or R-23 with the use of continuous insulation. U-0.042 or U-0.037 can also be used if the insulation is a combination of continuous or cavity insulation. If insulated with cavity insulation, there is a required minimum of R-10ci installed above the roof deck. The determination of which is required depends on the climate zone of the building.  

With these new requirements are also exceptions that can be made. Roof recovers, for instance, are not required to meet the full R-17/23 or U-0.037/0.042 requirements if it is at least R-10ci of brand-new insulation installed above the roof deck. Like the exception for roof recovers, there is also an exception for equipment curbs and flashing heights that allows the maximum amount of insulation or R-10ci to be installed where flashing heights associated with HVAC equipment present limiting conditions.  

With these new standards amended to the energy code, the California Energy Commission hopes to prevent further and future energy waste. To learn more about other new standards that have been included in the January 2023 update of Title 24, visit the Johns Manville website.  

Learn more about Johns Manville on their Coffee Shop Directory or at jm.com.