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13.105 - Energy Efficiency

Above Green
  • Updated

13.105.1 - Building thermal envelope insulation

The non-residential portion of the building must comply with the insulation requirements of Sections C402.1 through C402.3 of the ICC IECC as applicable, and Section 105.1.1. A UA tradeoff shall be allowed for sections 105.1 and 105.2 is equal to or less than the IECC UA.

Required Documentation

REQUIRED FOR CORE & SHELL. COMcheck analysis.

Maximum UA. For IECC residential, the total building UA is less than or equal to the total maximum UA as computed by 2015 IECC Section R02.1.5. For IECC commercial, the total UA is less than or equal to the sum of the UA for 2015 IECC Tables C402.1.4 and C402.4, including the U-factor times the area and C-factor or F-factor times the perimeter. The total UA proposed and baseline calculations are documented. REScheck or COMcheck is deemed to provide UA calculation documentation.

Required Documentation

REScheck or COMcheck output, for either full building or commercial space.

  1. Insulation installation. Insulation installed in the thermal envelope shall be visually inspected for compliance with Grade I installation. Grade II insulation is only permitted where exterior continuous insulation is installed. Grade III insulation installation is not permitted.

  2. Building thermal envelope fenestration. The non-residential portion of the building shall be in accordance with the requirements of Section C402.4 of the International Energy Conservation Code as applicable.

    1. Required Documentation:

      REQUIRED FOR CORE & SHELL. COMcheck or other equivalent analysis method demonstrating compliance.

  3. Building thermal envelope air sealing. The building thermal envelope is durably sealed to limit infiltration. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials allow for differential expansion and contraction. The following are caulked, gasketed, weather-stripped or otherwise sealed with an air barrier material, suitable film, or solid material:

    1. All joints, seams and penetrations

    2. Site-built windows, doors and skylights

    3. Openings between window and door assemblies and their respective jambs and framing

    4. Utility penetrations

    5. Dropped ceilings or chases adjacent to the thermal envelope

    6. Knee walls

    7. Walls and ceilings separating the garage from conditioned spaces

    8. Behind tubs and showers on exterior walls

    9. Cantilevers

    10. Attic access openings

    11. Rim joists junction

    12. Other sources of infiltration

      1. Required Documentation:

        REQUIRED FOR CORE & SHELL. Drawing, specifications, scopes of work detailing air sealing that is not readily inspected during the rough inspection.

      2. Air barrier verification. If not previously verified, the air barrier shall be visually inspected to demonstrate compliance with Table 701.4.3.2(2) and shall comply with the requirements of IECC C402.5.

  4. Energy metering. Energy metering shall be provided for each tenant individually for the non-residential portions of the building.

    Exception: non-residential spaces under 10,000 square feet.

    1. Required Documentation: 

      Plan review.

  5. Efficiency of HVAC equipment. HVAC equipment shall meet the minimum efficiency requirements listed in Tables C403.3.2(1) through C403.3.2(7) of the International Energy Conservation Code.

    1. Required Documentation:

      Plan review and manufacturer’s literature.

  6. Efficiency of Service Water Heating equipment. Service Water Heating equipment shall meet the minimum efficiency requirements listed in ICC IECC Table C404.2.

    1. Required Documentation:

      Plan review.

  7. Lighting. The total interior lighting power allowance shall be less than the total lighting power allowance in accordance with Section C405.3.2 of the International Energy Conservation Code.

    1. Required Documentation:

      Plan review.

  8. Commissioning

    1. Mechanical and service water heating systems. Mechanical and service water heating systems shall comply with ICC IECC Section C408.2.

      1. Required Documentation:

        Plan review.

  9. Calculation of heating and cooling loads. Design loads associated with heating, ventilating and air conditioning of the building shall be determined in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 183 or by an approved equivalent computational procedure and using the design parameters specified in Chapter 3 of the ICC IECC. Heating and cooling loads shall be adjusted to account for load reductions that are achieved where energy recovery systems are utilized in the HVAC system in accordance with the ASHRAE HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook or an approved equivalent computational procedure.

    1. Required Documentation:

      Software output report for this building.

  10. Duct air sealing. Ductwork shall be constructed in accordance with the ICC IMC.

    1. Required Documentation:

      REQUIRED FOR CORE & SHELL. Plan review.

  11. Heated-water circulation and temperature maintenance. Where installed, heated- water circulation systems shall be in accordance with Section 105.11.1. Heat trace temperature maintenance systems shall be in accordance with Section 105.11.2. Controls for hot water storage shall be in accordance with Section 105.11.3.  Automatic controls, temperature sensors, and pumps shall be in a location that is accessible. Manual controls shall be in a location with ready access.

    1. Circulation systems. Heated-water circulation systems shall be provided with a circulation pump. The system return pipe shall be a dedicated return pipe, or a cold water supply pipe. Gravity and thermos-syphon circulation systems shall be prohibited. Controls for circulation hot water system pumps shall start the pump based on the identification of a demand for hot water. The controls shall automatically turn off the pump when the water in the circulation loop is at the desired temperature and when there is not a demand for hot water. Requires: Plan review.

    2. Heat trace systems. Electric heat trace systems shall comply with IECC 505.1. Controls for such systems shall be able to automatically adjust the energy input to the heat tracing to maintain the desired water temperature in the piping in accordance with the times when heated water is used in the occupancy. Heat trace shall be arranged to be turned off automatically when there is not a demand for hot water. Requires: Plan review.

    3. Controls for hot water storage. The controls on pumps that circulate water between a water heater and a heated water storage tank shall limit the operation of the pump from the heating cycle startup to not greater than 5 minutes are the end of the cycle. Requires: Plan review.

  12. Energy options. Non-residential portions of the building shall comply with one of the three options below:

    1. Energy requirements shall be met if modeling in accordance with C407 shows a 10% reduction in energy from the IECC.

      1. Required Documentation:

        Energy performance report showing energy savings levels above ICC IECC. See Energy Efficiency Modeling Policy in VRG Part I for details on eligible software and accepted approaches. This can be submitted as an Excel table or another file format. The 2018 IECC must be the basis for this analysis.

    2. Energy requirements shall be met if modeling in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G shows a 10% reduction in energy cost from the prescribed levels.

      1. Required Documentation:

        Energy performance report showing energy savings levels.

    3. Energy requirements shall be met if at least two options in IECC Section C406 are met.

      1. Required Documentation:

        Plan review.

         

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