Michigan’s New Commercial Building Energy Code: Are You Ready
SME® | Published on April 27, 2026
Staying ahead of evolving building energy codes is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a critical project risk management strategy. Recent updates to the Michigan Commercial Building Energy Code place greater emphasis on building enclosure performance, with code compliance now requiring performance verification of the air barrier. Projects must demonstrate compliance through either whole-building air leakage testing or approved design and installation reviews with supporting documentation. Both compliance options require informed decision-making early in design and through construction.
That was the focus of a recent Lunch + Learn led by Jessica Thiebout, SME’s go-to expert on building enclosure performance and air barrier energy code compliance.
What The Latest Energy Code Changes Mean For your Project
In her presentation, Jessica walked project teams through practical implications of the current Michigan Energy Code, including whole-building air leakage testing, alternate compliance paths, and coordination challenges between architectural and mechanical documents. Drawing on real project examples and code-specific guidance, she emphasized how early alignment, starting in schematic design, can avoid costly redesigns, schedule impacts, and compliance surprises later in construction.
Jessica’s approach connects technical requirements to project realities, helping owners, architects, and contractors understand not just what the code requires, but how to plan for compliance in a way that protects budget and schedule.
Why Building Energy Code and Third-Party Observations Go Hand-In-Hand
As building enclosure requirements become more stringent, verification is just as important as design intent. That’s where Third-Party Observation plays a critical role.
SME’s Third-Party Observation services help project teams confirm that energy-code-related construction details, such as air barriers, insulation, and assemblies, are installed correctly and perform as intended. Independent observation reinforces accountability in the field and supports both regulatory compliance and discretionary quality assurance.
When paired with energy code expertise early in the project, Third-Party Observation becomes a proactive tool, not a last-minute check, to reduce rework and improve performance and test outcomes.
You can read more about how this approach elevates construction quality and owner confidence, here.
Meet The Expert: Jessica Thiebout
Jessica Thiebout brings deep experience in building enclosure systems, energy code analysis, and performance verification. She regularly advises project teams on compliance strategies, testing requirements, and coordination across disciplines, and she is a frequent presenter on building enclosure and energy code topics.
Whether you’re navigating a new code cycle, evaluating testing options, or looking to strengthen quality assurance through Third-Party Observation, Jessica helps teams translate code requirements into clear, actionable project strategies.
If you’d like to discuss how building energy code requirements or Third-Party Observation may impact your next project, connect with Jessica Thiebout. Early conversations can make a measurable difference in performance, compliance, and long-term value.