Several years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Arthur Firstenberg and others during discussions surrounding revisions to the Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code.
At the time, there was interest in exploring whether additional electrical design and wiring practices could be incorporated into the code to address concerns about electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in residential buildings.
The document below contains draft language that was proposed for consideration during that process.
Much of the proposed language was not adopted into the final version of the code.
Why This Document May Be Interesting
What I find most interesting about this document is not whether every proposal should or should not have been adopted. Rather, it illustrates how building standards are developed and how ideas move from concerns and observations to specific design requirements. One of the challenges in building science is translating broad goals into practical actions.
For example:
- What does a "healthy home" mean?
- What should be required versus optional?
- How should competing objectives be balanced?
- What level of evidence is sufficient before a practice becomes part of a building standard?
These are not always easy questions to answer.
The proposed language attempted to address concerns related to electrical design, wiring practices, grounding, shielding, and homeowner education.
Some recommendations were already based on practices found within the National Electrical Code. Others went beyond standard construction practices and were not incorporated into the final code.
My Involvement
My role was to assist in developing and reviewing portions of the proposed language and supporting discussions related to practical implementation. The effort was intended to be educational and exploratory in nature. As with many code-development processes, not all participants agreed on every interpretation, recommendation, or conclusion.
Looking Back
Building science continues to evolve. Many of the questions being discussed then are still being discussed today. Whether the topic is mold, moisture, ventilation, chemicals, indoor air quality, or EMFs, I continue to find value in examining the assumptions behind proposed solutions and asking:
- What problem are we trying to solve?
- What evidence supports the proposed solution?
- How would we know if it worked?
Original Draft Document
The following document is provided for historical and educational purposes.
Document Information
Document Title:
Draft Additions Proposed to the Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code
Date:
July 2008
Prepared By:
Daniel Stih and Arthur Firstenberg
Context:
Prepared for consideration during discussions related to the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code.
Participants and Stakeholders:
The proposal was presented and discussed among members of the Santa Fe Green Building Code Work Group (also referred to in municipal records as the Green Building Code Task Force), including local builders, technical contributors, and city stakeholders involved in developing the Residential Green Building Code.
Participants included Faren Dancer, a local builder and contributor to the City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code.
Status:
Proposed draft. Not adopted in full.
Purpose:
The document proposed additions related to electrical design, wiring practices, and homeowner education intended to reduce unnecessary electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure through building design and construction practices.