The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994 as a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a single set of broad and coordinated national construction codes. The three founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). Because construction codes varied too much from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, there was a need to make all jurisdictional codes similar for the safety of the public. So, the nation’s three code groups created the International Code Council and the International Codes or I-Codes without regional limitations.

The publications included:
-         The International Building Code (IBC)
-         International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
-         International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
-         International Fire Code (IFC)
-         International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
-         International Mechanical Code (IMC)
-         International Plumbing Code (IPC)
-         International Private Sewage Disposal Code (IPSDC)
-         International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)
-         International Residential Code (IRC)
-         International Wild land Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)
-         International Zoning Code (IZC)
-         ICC Performance Code

The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by ICC, are to protect the health, safety and welfare of people by creating safe buildings and communities. The I-Codes are a complete set of comprehensive, coordinated building safety and fire prevention codes. Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level. Federal agencies including the Architect of the Capitol, General Services Administration, National Park Service, Department of State, U.S. Forest Service and the Veterans Administration also enforce the I-Codes. The Department of Defense references the International Building Code for constructing military facilities, including those that house U.S. troops, domestically and abroad. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands enforce one or more of the I-Codes.

In 1998, the ICC released the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), followed by a 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2009 version. The IECC is a model energy code that covers lighting in addition to other energy using building systems. Every year the building industry gains more knowledge and technology that helps reduce the building energy consumptions. So in turn, the ICC makes changes that reflect those technological advances in new updated codes. Currently most jurisdictions are changing from the 2006 to the 2009 IECC. Below is a list of the code changes that require design changes in commercial applications.

505.2.2.3. Daylight zone control. Daylight zones, as defined by this code, shall be provided with individual controls that control the lights independent of general area lighting. Contiguous daylight zones adjacent to vertical fenestration are allowed to be controlled by a single controlling device provided that they do not include zones facing more than two adjacent cardinal orientations (i.e., north, east, south, and west). Daylight zones under skylights more than 15 ft. from the perimeter shall be controlled separately from daylight zones adjacent to vertical fenestration.

Exception: Daylight spaces enclosed by walls or ceiling height partitions and containing two or fewer light fixtures are not required to have a separate switch for general area lighting.

505.2.4 Exterior lighting controls. Lighting not designated for dusk-to-dawn operation shall be controlled by either a combination of a photo-sensor and a time switch, or an astronomical time switch. Lighting designated for dusk-to-dawn operation shall be controlled by an astronomical time switch or photo-sensor. All time switches shall be capable of retaining programming and the time setting during loss of power for a period of at least 10 hours.

505.5.1 Total connected interior lighting power. The total connected interior lighting power (watts) shall be the sum of the watts of all interior lighting equipment as determined in accordance with Sections 505.5.1.1 through 505.5.1.4.

Exceptions:
1. The connected power associated with the following lighting equipment is not included in calculating total connected lighting power.
1.1 Professional sports arena playing field lighting.
1.2 Sleeping unit lighting in hotels, motels, boarding houses or similar buildings.
1.3 Emergency lighting automatically off during normal business operation.
1.4 Lighting in spaces specifically designed for use by occupants with special lighting needs including the visually impaired visual impairment and other medical and age related issues.
1.5 Lighting in interior spaces that have been specifically designated as a registered interior historic landmark.
1.6 Casino gaming areas.
2. Lighting equipment used for the following shall be exempt provided that it is in addition to general lighting and is controlled by an independent control device:
2.1. Task lighting for medical and dental purposes.
2.2. Display lighting for exhibits in galleries, museums and monuments.
3. Lighting for theatrical purposes, including performance, stage, film production and video production.
4. Lighting for photographic processes.
5. Lighting integral to equipment or instrumentation and is installed by the manufacturer.
6. Task lighting for plant growth or maintenance.
7. Advertising signage or directional signage.
8. In restaurant buildings and areas, lighting for food warming or integral to food reparation equipment.
9. Lighting equipment that is for sale.
10. Lighting demonstration equipment in lighting education facilities.
11. Lighting approved because of safety or emergency considerations, inclusive of exit lights.
12. Lighting integral to both open and glass-enclosed refrigerator and freezer cases.
13. Lighting in retail display windows, provided the display area is enclosed by ceiling- eight partitions.
14. Furniture mounted supplemental task lighting that is controlled by automatic shutoff.

505.5.1.4 Line-voltage lighting track and plug-in busway. The wattage shall be:
1. The specified wattage of the luminaires included in the system with a minimum of 30 W/lin ft. (98 W/lin. M);
2. The wattage limit of the system’s circuit breaker; or
3. The wattage limit of other permanent current limiting device(s) on the system.

Interior Lighting Power Allowances. Where lighting equipment is specified to be installed to highlight specific merchandise in addition to lighting equipment specified for general lighting and is switched or dimmed on circuits different from the circuits for general lighting, the smaller of the actual wattage of the lighting equipment installed specifically for merchandise, or additional lighting power as determined below shall be added to the interior lighting power determined in accordance with this line item. Calculate the additional lighting power as follows:

Additional interior Lighting Power Allowance = 1000 watts + (Retail Area 1x 0.6 W/ft2 ) + (Retail Area 2x 0.6W/ft2) + (Retail Area 3x 1.4W/ft2) + (Retail Area 4x 2.5W/ft2).

Where:
Retail Area 1 = The floor area for all products not listed in Retail Area 2, 3, or 4.
Retail Area 2 = The floor area used for the sale of vehicles, sporting goods and small electronics.
Retail Area 3 = The floor area used for the sale of furniture, clothing, cosmetics and artwork.
Retail Area 4 = The floor area used for the sale of jewelry, crystal and china.

Exception: Other merchandise categories are permitted to be included in Retail Areas 2 through 4 above, provided that justification documenting the need for additional lighting power based on visual inspection, contrast, or other critical display is approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

505.6.2 Exterior building lighting power. The total exterior lighting power allowance for all exterior building applications is the sum of the base site allowance plus the individual allowances for areas that are to be illuminated and are permitted in Table 505.6.2.(2) for the applicable lighting zone. Tradeoffs are allowed only among exterior lighting applications listed in Table 505.6.2(2), Tradable Surfaces section. The lighting zone for the building exterior is determined from Table 505.6.2(1) unless otherwise specified by the local jurisdiction. Exterior lighting for all applications (except those included in the exceptions to Section 505.6.2) shall comply with the requirements of Section 505.6.1.

Exceptions: Lighting used for the following exterior applications is exempt when equipped with a control device independent of the control of the nonexempt lighting:
1. Specialized signal, directional, and marker lighting associated with transportation;
2. Advertising signage or directional signage;
3. Integral to equipment or instrumentation and is installed by its manufacturer;
4. Theatrical purposes, including performance, stage, film production and video production;
5. Athletic playing areas;
6. Temporary lighting;
7. Industrial production, material handling, transportation sites, and associated storage areas;
8. Theme elements in theme/amusement parks; and
9. Used to highlight features of public monuments and registered historic landmark structures or buildings.