Short of calling the town is there any other way to figure that out.

I am sure there, approval of new code by city/town/county is a matter of public record. You can spend hours researching, or just 3 minute call. The choice is yours.

I find it best to get information from the source. Call the Manilas building department and ask them.

Check the website first, then call.

Thank you. It looks like the the energy code gets more stringent on Oct 6. Our plans would be approved and permits issued before that but I would like the builder to meet whatever is in the new code that might make the house more energy efficient and comfortable - mainly air sealing and insulation. That being my goal, am I right that this is the document that I want to focus on? 2016 Supplement to Energy Conservation Code. And that the meat of the changes that apply to residential homes start on page page 47? I cant make sense of all the references to other codes but I do see that a blower door test will be required and that it would need to show 3ACH or less. Is there anything else in here or in the documents that are included by reference that I should focus on if my concern is insulation and air sealing? Thanks a lot.

You can choose to apply for a permit under the new code before the change date.

I don't understand why you are focusing on the changes. The residential energy code is in Chapter 4 of the 2015 IECC and the 2016 Supplement only revises certain parts of it so it cannot be used alone.

To create a useable document, buy a copy of the 2015 IECC and make notes in the margin of Chapter 4 regarding the relevant revisions from the Supplement.

Fortunately, many of these revisions will not apply to your house so you might be able to make the notes on a separate sheet but I always put the notes in the book to avoid making costly mistakes.

If you are designing the house, responsibility for code compliance is yours not that of the builder or the building official although they might provide assistance.

Thank you JDS. I dont know why I was focused on just the changes either. I have never tried to understand building codes before so this is new to me. You suggestion makes sense. I tried to print chapter 4 off the web and it wont - which I assume is a way for them to get you to pay for it. I'm not going to do that because I am getting too deep into the weeds as it is. This is a tract home and I dont want to be the customer who shows up every day with a dog eared copy of the building code. I do however want to know enough about what is required and what is above and beyond so that I can have an intelligent conversation with the builder about what is important to me including those things that I might be willing to spend money on.

Am I reading the current code to say that builders have to do blower door tests and show 3 ACH or less? (402.4.1.2) If so, my approach should probably be to specify that I would like to see a lower number - something that is achievable with typical materials and maybe a more conscientious attention to detail. Does that make sense? Thanks again

I suggest you not try to understand the IECC; its difficult even for professionals.

There are different compliance paths allowed by the IECC. It might be to your advantage to choose the HERS rating compliance path. That would require you to hire a HERS rater who would explain the best ways to achieve your goals and comply with the code.

While you are at it, you might as well do Energy Star certification as most of the cost is tied into the HERS rating and the diagnostic testing that comes along with it: blower door test, exhaust vent cfm verification and duct blaster if applicable.

This is probably the easiest way to get what you are after. 3 ACH@50 is pretty leaky compared to what many builders are achieving. You would be doing much better to cut that air leakage rate in half. If you insist on Energy Star certified, it should get you to the minimum levels of energy performance that current international codes are calling for.

"A typical new house in Ontario will have an airtightness of around 2 ACH@50," points out building scientist Dr. John Straube of the University of Waterloo, Ontario.*

In your similar climate, that should be your minimum target.

If you want your home built to higher than NYS minimum standards, enter a contract that requires the builder to meet those specific standards as mentioned by the two previous posters. Expect to pay more.

Another method would be to start building and someone will show-up and tell you about building code requirements you should have followed. I do not recommend this method.

All of the OP's comments have been about meeting or exceeded building code requirements so I don't understand why anyone would suggest construction might begin without a permit.

I second the idea of a HERS rater - they can also work as a bit of a de facto consultant and I also assume your builder is familiar with Energy Star too.

Timely release of this article IMO:

http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-building-science-HERS-BPI

I second hiring an energy rater.

if you want to built tightly enough to require a make up air source,

your rater should be able to point you to what is required for

your area. plus the advantage of having efficiency upgrades

specific to your home.

your energy rater will also be able to make inspections during

the building process.

having an inspection once insulation in walls are installed, but

prior to sheetrock is critical. at this time your heating system

& ducts would be in place, and rater could get information &

inspection in a timely manner.

plus this inspection would allow for any mistakes to be

corrected in the building process.

best of luck