Phoenix International Building Code

The City of Phoenix adopted the 2018 International Building Code which includes specifications for cool roofs under the prescriptive energy compliance requires. Although the majority of submittals tend to follow the Performance Based Approach (which bypasses the cool roof requirements) the code language does provide for the appropriate language for cool roofs which will be explored for potential use in the future.

The existing IBC requirements for commercially owned flat roofs requires an SRI of 64, meaning that more of the sun’s heat is required to reflect instead of absorb than previously required by prior IBC iterations. The lighter color of the roof means a higher index number. The Urban Heat Island and Tree and Shade Subcommittee produced recommendations to improve the city’s cool roof policy. Memo is found here: https://www.phoenix.gov/oepsite/Documents/UHITS%20Cool%20Roofs%20Memorandum%2012.8.21%20.pdf