For any commercial building owner in California, Title 24 isn’t just a government regulation—it’s the core standard that dictates your building’s energy efficiency, operating costs, and environmental impact. Understanding it is the key to accessing grants and making smart, cost-saving upgrades.
The Basics: Title 24, Part 6
Title 24 is the California Building Standards Code. It’s a comprehensive set of regulations, but when dealing with building efficiency and roofing, we focus specifically on Part 6: The Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code).
| What It Is | Who Created It | Primary Goal |
| A Mandate: A state law setting minimum energy standards for construction, additions, and alterations. | The California Energy Commission (CEC). | To reduce California’s energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and stabilize the power grid. |
The standards are updated every three years to reflect advancements in energy technology, with the latest major update effective in January 2023.
The Direct Impact: Title 24 and Your Commercial Roof
Title 24 is directly related to your mission because it mandates the use of Cool Roof technology for most commercial roof replacements or alterations in specific climate zones.
Cool Roof Requirements
The code’s goal is to force buildings to reflect sunlight and release absorbed heat, mitigating the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. To be compliant, a roofing material must meet minimum standards for:
- Solar Reflectance (SR): The fraction of solar energy that is reflected by the roof. A higher number means less heat absorbed.
- Thermal Emittance (TE): The relative ability of the roof surface to radiate (release) absorbed heat.
- Solar Reflectance Index (SRI): A combined calculation of SR and TE that determines the overall coolness rating.
When Does Title 24 Apply to Your Roof?
For non-residential buildings, the cool roof requirements are typically triggered when one of the following occurs:
- Reroofing/Alterations: When 50% or more of the existing roof area, or more than 2,000 square feet, is being replaced or recovered over conditioned space.
- New Construction: All new commercial construction must comply.
Note: The exact requirement values (SR, TE, SRI) vary depending on your building’s location within California’s 16 climate zones and the slope of your roof.
Title 24 Compliance is Your Gateway to Grants
The greatest benefit of focusing on Title 24 isn’t just legal compliance; it’s the financial opportunity it unlocks.
Programs like the California Heat Island Mitigation Program (CHIMP) are specifically designed to help building owners achieve these state-mandated energy goals.
By using our free thermal imaging service, you gain the following advantages:
- Pinpoint Data: Our report provides the diagnostic proof of your building’s thermal inefficiency, which is often needed to justify grant applications.
- Code-Aligned Solution: The cool roofing solutions funded by CHIMP grants are inherently designed to exceed Title 24 requirements, future-proofing your building against upcoming code changes.
- Maximum Savings: You meet a state mandate while potentially cutting your installation costs by up to 50%.
Don’t let Title 24 be a complex hurdle! Use it as the blueprint for saving money and creating a highly energy-efficient commercial property.