On December 1, 2010, all cities and towns in the State of Maine, including Saco began implementation of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code. The City of Saco had been operating under a locally adopted building code very similar to the one that has been adopted State wide. The new Code, known as MUBEC, was developed by State of Maine Technical Building Codes & Standards Advisory Board over the past 2 years and blends several model codes published by the International Code Council (ICC) with Standards developed and published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

At the heart of the code are the two standards dealing with construction and one dealing with Energy. Construction standards found in the International Building Code and the International Residential Code have been in use here in Saco since 2003 and are simply updated versions. The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code is the code that will change the way homes are constructed in the State. This code requires that new construction be more energy efficient and sealed against air infiltration. With oil prices climbing above the $3 a gallon mark, this code will see immediate payback to homeowners on the additional investment required for insulation and sealing.

The Code Enforcement Department, in conjunction with the Kennebunk Code Enforcement Department and Deering Lumber has presented two classes on the new codes last March. We are planning to make additional presentations soon. Look for further announcements here and on the City of Saco web page.