City of Arlington Residential Energy Code July 11, 2002

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City of ArlingtonResidential Energy CodeJuly
11, 2002
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Agenda

• 1. Introductions
• 2. Paths to Compliance
• 3. Details, Details, Details
• 4. Questions Answers
• 5. Adjourn

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Why Energy Codes?

• EPA mandate to State of Texas
• Senate Bill 5 mandates adoption of energy codes
  for all cities in Texas
• Deadline for adoption and implementation is
  September 1, 2002
• Bill adopts IECC as it existed on May 1, 2001

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Why Energy Codes?

• Inspectors that perform energy inspections must
  be certified
• NCTCOG has submitted amendments to ESL for review
  and approval
• All cities in NCTCOG region adopt same provisions

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So what do we do now?

• Energy codes are new to everyone involved.
• We may not have all the answers but we are
  trying.
• We always invite your feedback and suggestions.
• This is an evolving process!

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Todays Focus

• Chapter 11 of the International Residential Code
• Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the International
  Energy Conservation Code
• Both as amended by the North Central Texas
  Council of Governments
• Both are residential only- 1 2 family dwellings
  and apartments that are 3 or less stories tall

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Terms to Know

• Building Envelope
• Conditioned Space
• Fenestrations
• Glazing Area
• Heat Traps
• NFRC labels

• R-values
• SEERs
• SHGC values
• SHGC area weighted average
• U-factors

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Basic Code Requirements

• Sealing of the building envelope to prevent
  uncontrolled air leakage
• Limited glazing area and double insulated Low E
  glass
• Minimum specifications for doors
• Minimum insulation requirements
• Minimum efficiency ratings for mechanical and hot
  water equipment

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4 Ways to Comply

• 1. Chapter 6 of the IECC
• 2. Chapter 11 of the IRC
• 3. Chapter 4 of the IECC Systems Analysis
• 4. Chapter 5 of the IECC Performance Approach

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Paths to Compliance contd

• 1. Chapter 6 of the IECC
• Max 15 glazing area
• Min R-30 ceiling (May use R-22 if vertical height
  of ceiling/roof is max 24), R- 13wall, R-11
  floors
• Glazing max U-0.65, max SHGC 0.40 (may use area
  weighted average)
• Min SEER 10.0 split system 9.7 package system

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Paths to Compliance contd

• 2. Chapter 11of the IRC
• Option of Max 15, 20, or 25 glazing area
• Min R-38 ceiling/attic, R-22 ceiling/roof (area
  of ceiling roof is limited to 1/3 of total
  ceiling area), R- 13wall, R-19 floors
• Glazing max U-0.65, max SHGC 0.40 (may use area
  weighted average)
• Option Min SEER 10.0, 12.0 or 14.0 (based on
  glazing percentage)

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Paths to Compliance contd

• 3. Chapter 4 of the IECC Above Code Programs
  Currently accepting Energy Star
• Will require work up by private vendor
• Will require plan submittal
• Will require insulation inspection
• Will require letter of compliance at final
  inspection
• Not approved as yet by ESL

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Paths to Compliance contd

• 4. Chapter 5 of the IECC Performance Approach
  Currently accepting MECcheck
• Will require work up
• MECcheck Compliance reports and field
  inspection check sheets required for application
• Will require plan submittal
• Will require insulation inspection

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What is required to submit for a permit?

• 1. Building Permit Application (as usual)
• 2. Site plans (as usual)
• 3. Foundation letter (as usual)
• 4. Energy Code Worksheet (New requirement)
• 5. 2 Floor Plans (New requirement)
• 4. 2 Elevations (New requirement)
• 5. Window (including skylights) and door
  schedule (New requirement)
• 6. Energy Star or MECcheck workups as applicable
  (New requirement)

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When permit is approved

• Approved plans will be available for pick up at
  City Hall after permit approval
• Approved plans must be on the job when inspector
  does seconds, insulation and final inspections

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Changes in Field Inspections

• 1. Some energy items will be inspected for at
  the seconds stage
• 2. The insulation inspection is a new inspection
  and cannot not be requested until the seconds is
  approved
• 3. The final inspection also will include some
  energy items

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Details, details, details!

• INSULATION
• Shall not be compressed
• Must be cut around pipes, wires and boxes
• Must fit tight against bottom of floors to
  eliminate air space between insulation and floor
• Must maintain 1 airspace for ventilation in
  ceiling/roof assemblies
• Insulation baffles must be installed to permit
  airspace for ventilation
• Provide markers in attic 1 per every 300 square
  feet

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Insulation Installation

• Dont do this
• Insulation is compressed
• Insulation must fill cavity (stud space)
• No air space is permitted between insulation and
  conditioned space
• Face nailing not required as long as insulation
  is held firmly in place w/o compressing

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Insulation Installation

• Dont do this
• Conditioned space over a garage
• Insulation must be installed against the bottom
  of the floor above
• No air space permitted between the insulation and
  the conditioned space

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Insulation Installation

• Dont do this
• Insulation is compressed
• Must be cut around boxes
• Must be cut around wires

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Insulation Installation

• Insulation Baffles
• Install at least 2-3 at every soffit vent
  location
• Install at plate line where insulation is to be
  blown
• Install at the tops of ceiling/roofs (vaulted)
  where insulation is to be blown between each
  rafter

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Details, details, details!

• INSULATION
• For attic HVAC walkways, batt insulation must be
  installed under walkways and work platforms where
  cannot be blown
• For attic areas that are decked for storage, full
  thickness insulation required

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Insulation Installation

• Area under AC unit is decked
• Install batt insulation
• Do not compress
• Must fill cavity between framing members

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Insulation Installation

• Vaulted Ceiling-Roof systems
• Rafter framing must be deep enough to install
  insulation at full thickness and allow for 1 air
  space
• R-22 ranges from 6.5 to 7.5
• Framing must be minimum 2 x 10 (min 8 ½ in clear)

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Details, details, details!

• INSULATION
• Flex duct insulation is required to be min R-6 in
  attics (After February 1, 2003 must be R-8)
• Refrigerant piping insulation must be min ¾ inch
• If more than 4 feet of refrigerant piping is
  exposed to outside air, add extra ½ inch of
  insulation

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Duct Insulation

• This is bad duct installation
• Must use mastic or approved tapes
• Roll back outer insulation to expose seal
• No duct tape
• No duct tape

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Details, details, details!

• BUILDING ENVELOPE
• Must be sealed to prevent uncontrolled air
  leakage
• Exterior sheathing seams must be taped, gasketed
  or sealed unless.
• Entire envelope is wrapped with approved air
  barrier
• Penetrations (plumbing, refrigeration lines,
  electrical wires) in sheathing must be sealed
• Recessed light cans must be sealed or installed
  in sealed boxes
• Framing voids around doors and window must be
  sealed

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Envelope Sealing

• all seams and penetrations in exterior
  sheathing must be caulked, gasketed, or otherwise
  sealed to prevent uncontrolled air leakage.
• Note that vertical seam in sheathing is sealed w/
  sealant prior to fastening to framing members.

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Envelope Sealing

• Penetrations must be sealed

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Envelope Sealing

• Dont do this
• Penetrations must be sealed
• This type of tape is similar to duct tape and
  will deteriorate in time
• Not a good seal will allow air leakage

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Envelope Sealing

• Dont forget not so obvious places
• 2 story house w/ brick on 1st floor only
• Envelope is vertical and horizontal in order to
  continue to the second floor

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Envelope Sealing

• All penetrations for pipes and wires must be
  sealed

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Envelope Sealing

• Dont do this
• Recessed cans must be
• Type IC rated w/ no penetrations between the
  inside of the fixture and ceiling cavity and
  gasketed
• Type IC rated or non-IC rated and installed in a
  sealed box
• Type IC rated per ASTM E 283 (max 2.0 cfm air
  leakage)

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Envelope Sealing

• All voids in framing for door and window
  installations must be sealed
• Dont partially fill voids
• Dont use insulation to stop air leaks

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Details, details, details!

• BUILDING ENVELOPE contd
• All windows must have NFRC labels at seconds
  inspection
• 1 of glazing is exempted from U factor
  requirement
• Attach labels for skylights to wall stud under
  skylight
• One opaque door is exempted from U factor
  requirement

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NFRC Window Labels

• Labels must be left on windows until after
  seconds inspection is approved
• Skylight labels must be attached to stud under
  skylight

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Final Inspection

• Energy items to be inspected at final
• All doors including attic access doors in
  envelope- must be weather stripped
• A/C equipment SEER values must be verified
  outdoor unit must now be installed
• Attic insulation certification must be posted at
  attic access check installed depth w/ attic
  markers
• Energy Star only provide certification letter

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Final Inspection

• Verify A/C SEER ratings
• Outdoor unit must be installed
• Labels must remain or verify model numbers

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Final Inspection

• Attic insulation
• Verify proper R-value
• Verify proper installed thickness per certificate
• And

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Final Inspection

• Attic insulation
• Verify thickness w/ installed attic markers
• Remember install markers at seconds

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Tips for a better job

• Use framing techniques that eliminate voids in
  exterior walls
• Use multiple layers of insulation boards cut to
  fit in joist cavity to insulate under attic
  walkways
• Seal/caulk A/C boots before installing grills

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Working together

• Help us educate your subcontractors
• Calculation of gross wall area, glazing area will
  help us process your permit
• Plan sizes of 11 x 17 is appreciated
• Walk your jobs and help eliminate not ready
  type inspections
• Do not make changes to your jobs w/o getting
  changes approved energy inspections are based
  approved plans

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Resources Information

• To purchase code books
• www.bocai.org - Building Officials Code
  Administrators
• www.icbo.org - International Conference of
  Building Officials
• www.sbcci.org - Southern Building Code Congress
  International
• Down load MECcheck free from www.energycodes.gov
• Additional Energy Code info from North Central
  Texas Council of Governments www.dfwcodes.com
• Energy Efficient Building Association, Inc,
  www.eeba.org

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Questions Answers

• ? ? ?
• Yes, no, maybe!!