Relating to certain regulations adopted by governmental entities for the construction or alteration of residential or commercial buildings.

Contracts

• Change in Law Clauses: Update "Applicable Law" definitions in Master Service Agreements (MSAs) to account for the mandatory 9-month enforcement lag. You must specify which code applies to projects straddling the adoption date.
• Escalation Clauses: For fixed-price contracts extending into 2027, insert price escalation clauses triggered by SECO code adoption to cover mandated increases in insulation R-values or HVAC SEER ratings.

Hiring/Training

• Design Standards: Architects and engineers must update internal master specifications. Ensure design teams do not specify future code requirements before the 9-month buffer period expires.
• Regulatory Liaison: Designate a team member to monitor SECO. Active participation in the rulemaking process is now a business necessity, not optional advocacy.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Cost Data Retention: Maintain granular records of current material costs (insulation, glazing, lighting) and energy performance data. This internal data is required to challenge SECO's "payback period" calculations during the mandatory comment period.

Fees & Costs

• Construction Hard Costs: While there are no new state fees, future code adoptions will increase material costs.
• Cycle Planning: For residential builders, adjust long-term cost projections to reflect a six-year stability cycle, as SECO is prohibited from updating single-family codes more frequently.