Saratoga County Airport (Milton, NY)

New Terminal & Aircraft Hangar

Construction of the new terminal building at Saratoga County Airport is now underway. Designed by Fennick McCredie Architecture, the new terminal will take the place of an existing hangar and will include a variety of modern amenities. Serving as a vital transportation link for local technology businesses, cultural events, and seasonal tourism, the new terminal will play a crucial role in the region's economy. 

The building features a two-bay aircraft hangar, a double-height open entry lobby, spacious passenger waiting areas, multimedia conference room, pilot lounge, staff space, and shell space for fit-out by a future dining tenant. The project also includes an outdoor courtyard and greenery space for travelers. 

AKF's code consulting team provided code analysis and plan review services for the project. Our code experts helped navigate options for code compliance of the aircraft hangar as well as required separations between the hangar and terminal. AKF's code team continues to support the project team during the construction phase. 

Refrigerants: Transitions and Code Implications



The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a rule requiring heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to begin utilizing refrigerants with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) beginning January 1, 2025. As a result, many current refrigerant systems cannot be manufactured after January 1, 2025 and any systems purchased during 2024 must be installed no later than the end of 2025 (with some exceptions). 

While many manufacturers are currently working to make the switch to lower GWP refrigerants, some mechanical codes have yet to catch up to the required changes. The lower GWP refrigerants required by the EPA rule are part of a new, A2L sub-class from the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This sub-class identifies refrigerants with lower flammability than traditional A2-classified refrigerants. The 2022 edition of ASHRAE 15, Safety Standard for Refrigerant Systems, includes design standards for systems utilizing A2L refrigerants. 

However, the majority of jurisdictions throughout the United States have adopted a version of the International Mechanical Code (IMC), which also specifies requirements for refrigerant systems. The IMC did not begin recognizing specific design requirements for the A2L refrigerants until the 2021 edition of the IMC. Even in the 2021 IMC, A2L refrigerant piping requires fire-resistance rated shaft enclosures, which conflicts with ASHRAE 15. ASHRAE 15 also includes additional protection measures not specified by the IMC.  

As a result, many current and future projects are facing challenges navigating the allowances and requirements for necessary HVAC systems. In many instances, special approval, interpretations, or interim amendments may be necessary from local jurisdictions until later editions of the IMC are updated and adopted to harmonize requirements for A2L refrigerants. 

Have questions? Reach out to our code consulting and mechanical teams for guidance. More information on the transition to A2L refrigerants can also be found on the ICC's website. 

We are excited to announce that AKF is joining WSP, one of the largest professional services firms in the world! AKF’s teams are looking forward to continuing to work on projects with you and provide unparalleled engineering and client service. The combination of AKF’s award-winning expertise and WSP’s impressive world-class platform will create greater value for our clients. Together, we will be ideally positioned to tackle challenges around climate change and society’s evolving needs. Here’s to the future!

Congratulations to Lauren Foster and Mariah Seaboldt who were both named to Consulting-Specifying Engineer's 2024 40 Under 40 list! Candidates were judged by a panel of industry experts based on nine areas. Read more about two of AKF's exceptional engineers and learn why they were selected for this honor!

Another hearty congrats goes to Lance Brown, newly installed as the 2024-2025 President of the ASHRAE Boston Chapter. Thank you for your commitment to the AEC industry and for representing AKF in this capacity!

Tracking Recent Changes to Building & Fire Codes

Connecticut:

2025 CT Building and Fire Codes expected fall of 2025 with a 3-month grace period.

Maine:

2021 ICC Codes under review. Adoption anticipated late 2024.

Massachusetts:

MA Plumbing Code (248 CMR 10.00) updated December 8, 2023.

MA Building Code (10th Edition 780 CMR) effective January 1, 2025 with a concurrency period.

Minnesota:

2024 MN Commercial Energy Code (ASHRAE 90.1-2019) effective January 5, 2024.

New Hampshire:

NH Building and Fire Codes expected to adopt the 2021 ICC Codes late summer 2024 with a 6-month concurrency period.

New York State: 

2024 NYS Uniform Codes anticipated late 2024 or early 2025 with a 6-month concurrency period.

North Carolina: 

2024 NC Building Codes anticipated January 1, 2025 based on the 2021 ICC Codes.

Rhode Island: 

2021 NFPA 1, 2021 NFPA 101, and 2022 NFPA 72 under review for upcoming adoption. No proposed effective date at this time. 

2024 IECC anticipated to be adopted mid-2024.

Vermont: 

2024 Building Energy Standards became effective July 1, 2024. 2021 ICC Codes and NFPA 1 & 101 under review with potential adoption late summer 2024.

Virginia: 

2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code based on the 2021 ICC Codes became effective January 18, 2024.

AKF values continuous learning opportunities as they fuel our knowledge of industry trends and stimulate our creativity for providing the best engineering solutions for our projects. We look forward to connecting with clients and colleagues at the following conferences:

7x24 Exchange Regional WiMCO Tech Summit:

The Woodlands, TX - July 16-18

NYAPPA Summer Conference:

Poughkeepsie, NY - Vipin Dahiya & Brendan McGrath present "Exploring the Benefits of Monitoring-based Commissioning in Higher Ed Facilities" - July 17

Decarb NY:

New York, NY - Charlie Marino, panelist, "Geothermal and Thermal Energy Networks Project Updates" - July 18

BISNOW Data Center Investment Conference & Expo (DICE) Northeast:

New York, NY - Stephen Copeland, panelist, "Design, Construction, and Engineering: Building to Meet Today's Demands and Dynamic Needs" - July 18

SCUP Annual Conference:

Philadelphia, PA - July 21-23

NCHEA Annual Conference:

Wilmington, NC - Aug. 6-9

BISNOW International Life Sciences & Biotech Conference:

Rockville, MD - Sept. 11-12

Stay tuned for upcoming events and speaking engagements; we are excited to connect with you!

Interested in hearing from our experts? Check out the Upcoming Events section above for upcoming events and conferences we'll be attending. You can also schedule a presentation for AIA or PDH credits from one of our experienced teams. Available presentations include:

• 2021 IBC Changes with State Amendments

• 2022 CT State Building Code

• 2022 NYC Building Code

• Draft 10th Edition MA State Building Code

• Mass Timber Construction

• Designing Dynamic Senior Living

• Means of Egress

• Fire-resistant Construction

... and many more! To learn more about the upcoming changes to the 2021 International Building Code, read our overview. To set up a presentation to go over the changes and state amendments, please contact one of our Code Consulting experts!