November 18, 2022

As you are aware, PA’s UCC blower door testing requirements have become more restrictive with the last code adoption. The 2018 UCC adoption in PA changed the ACH allowable from 5.0 to 3.0. While many larger homes are able to meet this requirement, smaller footprint homes without basements are routinely failing. PBA has created a private page on our website to collect blower door testing data from our members - this information will only be used internally to ascertain the scope of this issue and to provide the data necessary to advocate for a possible legislative fix. 

PBA needs this information to create a pathway for compliance for its members. It is very important that PBA be able to prove that these smaller homes cannot pass without a huge impact to housing affordability.

Issue at Hand: As of August 14, 2022, the PA UCC energy code now requires a blower door test result of 3.0 ACH or less. While this requirement is possible to achieve for larger homes with basements, we remain concerned that smaller homes built on slab or crawlspaces will not be able to meet the new more restrictive requirement. The costs associated with bringing smaller homes into compliance greatly outweighs the minimal energy savings provided by the change of ACH from 5.0 to 3.0 in the building code. Increases in construction costs and subsequent price increases will make these new homes even less affordable and shift customers to less energy efficient older housing stock. 

PBA is interested in hearing from our members on the results of their blower door tests. We have created a web-based form for members to input their blower door testing information. We are asking members to complete this form so we can compile data on passage rates for all homes being built under the new ACH requirement. The information will only be used internally by the PBA UCC Special Committee in an effort to ascertain: 1. How many members are having a significant problem meeting the new requirement in smaller footprint homes, and 2. To create a legislative fix for these types of homes within the PA UCC.  

Please use the following link to add your testing results to PBA’s database: ACH Blower Door Test Results Submission Form

You do not need to be an HBA Member to participate in collecting data.

Harrisburg HBA to Collect Donations

at the Installation & Holiday Party

We will once again be collecting donations for the Shalom House in Harrisburg at our Installation Ceremony and Holiday Party on December 13th. We will be collecting both supplies and monetary donations. A list of needed supplies can be found here: https://shalomhouse.net/involved

Shalom House is a shelter for women and children located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is their mission to create a pathway to lasting independence for women and children through collaboration and community.

Please contact Andreja with any questions, or to arrange a drop off time if you cannot attend the Installation Ceremony and Holiday Party (but we hope to see you there).

COST & VALUE – Spend Less & Get More

Every business owner wants to feel confident that their retirement plan is working the way they expect and that they’re seeing value for money spent. A plan checkup is the most important tool for uncovering cost savings in your retirement plan—it shows you a complete picture of fees and expenses; it helps you compare value to money spent; and it can reveal when it’s time to explore a change to a more cost-effective option. 

We Make it Easy

As a HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg member, we’ll do the heavy lifting for you through our partnership with Lincoln Financial Group so you can discover whether a 401(k) program may be a good fit.

SERVICE - Save Time & Maximize Resources

The HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg 401(k) program is designed to take advantage of the power of the group. In a group program, many of the tasks that come with running a retirement plan—ones you’d typically handle on your own by sponsoring an individual plan—are gathered together to be managed by a third party on behalf of the businesses that join.  Administrative duties, operational tasks, and fiduciary responsibilities are taken care of for you.

The advantage is clear—You get time back in your day so you and your employees can spend time where it counts: focusing on your business. 

Why it Matters

Joining the HBA 401(k) program and taking much of the work off your plate has two main advantages: it lessens your responsibility without cutting benefits and puts time back in your day.

THE RIGHT PARTNER - Trust. Expertise. Reliability

As an HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg member, you open the door to people, expertise, services and resources that help make doing business easier and bring meaningful benefits to the table. The HBA 401(k) program brought to you by Lincoln Financial is one more great example of this. 

The Value of the Right Partner 

When you join the HBA of Metropolitan Harrisburg 401(k) program, here’s how Lincoln proves they’re a provider worth sticking with: they share your goals; they take time to understand your objectives, work through your challenges and find solutions that encourage the best possible outcomes; they proactively collaborate with financial professionals, third party administrators, and others to put their combined expertise to work for you; they deliver a level of service, guidance, and expertise that proves you and your employees come first—even in a group structure.

Remember, as a benefit of membership, the Member News and Member Marketplace are available to you!

Please send in your submissions (and photos) by Wednesday every week to andreja@harrisburgbuilders.com