This section goes over the requirements for:
1. Industry certification thresholds before acceptance test technician and employer certification requirements go into effect;
2. Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider (ATTCP) qualifications and approval;
3. Training and Certification procedures for Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers;
4. Provider Accountability; and
5. Interim Approval.
13.11.1 Nonresidential Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Training and Certification
1. Industry Certification Thresholds
Field Technicians can complete acceptance tests for lighting controls found in Section 130.4 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards) without being a certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician until the following ATTCP requirements are met:
a. A minimum of 300 Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians have been trained and certified to complete the acceptance tests of Section 130.4 by ATTCP(s) approved by the Energy Commission; and
b. ATTCP(s) provide reasonable access, determined by the Energy Commission, for the training and certification for the majority of professions qualified to complete the work of lighting control field technicians. These professions include: electrical contractors, certified general electricians, professional engineers, controls installation and start-up contractors and certified commissioning professionals who have verifiable training, experience and expertise in lighting controls and electrical systems. The Energy Commission will consider, in its determination of “reasonable access,” factors such as certification costs commensurate with the complexity of the training being provided, prequalification criteria, curriculum and, class availability throughout the state.
After the above ATTCP requirements are met all Field Technicians must be a certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician employed by a certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Employer to be able to complete any of the acceptance tests of Section 130.4|topic=SECTION 130.4 –LIGHTING CONTROL ACCEPTANCE AND INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS.
2. Provider Qualifications
ATTCPs shall submit a written application to the Energy Commission with a summary and the related background documents to explain how the following criteria and procedures have been met:
A. Organizational Structure
ATTCPs written explanations shall include information of the organization type, by-laws, and ownership structure, how their certification program meets the qualification requirements of Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103-A (c), and how their organizational structure and procedures include independent oversight, quality assurance, supervision and support of the acceptance test training and certification processes. These requirements are necessary to ensure, at a minimum, that the organizations providing certification services to the building industry have a business structure that will effectively train and certify Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians. This will improve compliance with the Standards by providing certification services that will produce Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians better qualified to perform the acceptance tests required in the Standards.
B. Training and Certification Procedures
ATTCPs are required to provide both hands-on experience and theoretical training such that Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians demonstrate their ability to complete the acceptance tests of Section 130.4 of the Standards, as well as, all documentation requirements. ATTCPs are also required to provide training that covers the scope and process of the acceptance tests of Section 130.4 to Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employers.
Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians
ATTCPs training curricula for Lighting Control Acceptance Test Technicians shall include, but not be limited to, the analysis, theory, and practical application of the following:
a) Lamp and ballast systems;
b) Line voltage switching controls;
c) Low voltage switching controls;
d) Dimming controls;
e) Occupant sensors;
f) Photosensors;
g) Demand responsive signal inputs to lighting control systems;
h) Building Energy Efficiency Standards required lighting control systems;
i) Building Energy Efficiency Standards required lighting control system specific analytical/problem solving skills;
j) Integration of mechanical and electrical systems for Building Energy Efficiency Standards required lighting control installation and commissioning;
k) Safety procedures for low-voltage retrofits (<50 volts) to control line voltage systems (120 to 480 volts);
l) Accurate and effective tuning, calibration, and programming of Building Energy Efficiency Standards required lighting control systems;
m) Measurement of illuminance according to the Illuminating Engineering Society’s measurement procedures as provided in the IESNA Lighting Handbook, 10th Edition, 2011, which are incorporated by reference;
n) Building Energy Efficiency Standards lighting controls acceptance testing procedures; and
o) Building Energy Efficiency Standards acceptance testing compliance documentation for lighting controls.
To be able to participate in the technician certification program Field Technicians must have at least three years of verifiable professional experience and expertise in lighting controls and electrical systems as determined by the Lighting Controls ATTCPs, to demonstrate their ability to understand and apply the Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician certification training. ATTCPs shall clarify in writing the process that will be used to make their determination of qualified professional experience to the Energy Commission.
ATTCPs must have a sufficient number of instructors to effectively train the amount of participants in both classroom and laboratory work. ATTCPs shall clarify in writing in their application to the Energy Commission how they will have a sufficient number of instructors to meet the demand of potential Field Technicians.
The hands-on training provided by ATTCPs gives Field Technicians the opportunity to practice performing the actual acceptance tests of Section 130.4 of the Standards.
All participants will have to take both a written and practical test to demonstrate the participant’s competence in all specified subjects to become a certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician. ATTCPs are required to retain all results of these tests for five years from the date the test was taken.
Recertification will be required of all Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians each time the Standards are updated with substantially new and/or modified acceptance test requirements.
Each Provider may establish an Energy Commission‐approved challenge test that evaluates competence in each area addressed by the Provider’s training program. If a Field Technician applicant successfully passes this challenge test, the Provider may waive the classroom training requirement and the written and practical test requirements for that applicant. An applicant who passes this challenge test shall also successfully meet the requirements specified in Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103-A(c).
ii. Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employers
ATTCPs must provide certification and oversight of Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employers to ensure quality control and appropriate supervision and support for Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians.
Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employers need to participate in a single class or webinar for a minimum of at least four hours of instruction that covers the scope and process of the acceptance tests in Section 130.4.of the Standards,
c. Provider Accountability
ATTCPs are required to have procedures for accepting and addressing complaints regarding the performance of any certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician and/or Employer, and must have a clear explanation on how building departments and the public can complete these procedures.
ATTCPs have the authority to decertify Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers based upon poor quality or ineffective work, failure to perform acceptance tests, falsification of documents, failure to comply with the documentation requirements of these regulations or other specified actions that justify decertification.
ATTCPs must include quality assurance, independent oversight and accountability measures, such as, independent oversight of the certification processes and procedures, visits to building sites where certified technicians are completing acceptance tests, certification process evaluations, building department surveys to determine acceptance testing effectiveness, and expert review of the training curricula developed for Standards, Section 130.4. Independent oversight may be demonstrated by accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard.
Once a Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician becomes certified, the ATTCP will issue a unique certification identification number to the Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician. ATTCPs shall maintain an accurate record of the certification status for all Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians that the ATTCP has certified. ATTCPs shall provide verification of current Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians’ certification status upon request to authorized document Registration Provider personnel or enforcement agency personnel to determine the Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians’ eligibility to sign Certificate of Acceptance documentation according to all applicable requirements in Sections 10-103-A, 10-102, 10-103(a)4, and the Reference Joint Appendix JA7. Standards compliance will also be facilitated by requiring the Lighting Controls Acceptance Testing Technician to include their assigned certification number on the compliance documentation, thereby allowing the enforcement agency and the Energy Commission to track the effectiveness of this certification program.
ATTCPs shall provide annual reports to the Energy Commission documenting the training and certification activity during that year, what adjustments have been made to the training curricula, if any, to address changes to the Standards Lighting Controls Acceptance Testing requirements, adopted updates to the Standards or to ensure training is reflective of the variety of lighting controls that are currently encountered in the field. The ATTCP Annual Report shall and include the total number of Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers certified by the ATTCP (a) during the reporting period and (b) to date. The annual report will also include any administrative actions taken by the ATTCP to correct problems with Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician field performance. The Energy Commission will use these annual reports to review the performance of ATTCPs as part of its oversight responsibilities for these regulations. All required reports shall contain a signed certification that the ATTCP has met all requirements for this program. These requirements are necessary to receive timely information to appropriately regulate the program and for the Energy Commission to effectively implement the training and certification of Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians for lighting controls acceptance testing, as specified in Title 24, Part 6.
3. Interim Approval
To ensure statewide energy efficiency goals are met and that building owners are receiving the economic benefits of efficient lighting systems, the CALCTP shall be approved as an authorized Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider subject to the below conditions:
Interim approval is conditioned upon submittal of an application that contains the information required above including documentation demonstrating that the CALCTP certification includes training and testing on the Standards lighting control acceptance testing procedures and acceptance testing compliance documentation for lighting control systems.
Technicians who have been certified by CALCTP prior to the inclusion of training on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation shall qualify as Lighting Control Acceptance Test Technicians upon successful completion of a class or webinar with at least four hours of instruction on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation.
Employers who have been certified by CALCTP prior to the inclusion of training on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation shall qualify as Lighting Control Acceptance Test Employers upon successful completion of a class or webinar with at least four hours of instruction on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation.
Interim approval for all ATTCPs shall end on the later date of July 1, 2014 or six months after the effective date of the 2013 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The Energy Commission may extend the interim approval period for up to six additional months total, if it determines the threshold requirements in Section 10-103-A(b) have not been met for the certification requirements to take effect. If the Energy Commission determines that an extension is necessary, its determination shall be approved at a publicly noticed meeting.
During the interim approval period, including any possible extensions to this interim period, the Energy Commission may approve additional ATTCP providers meeting the requirements of 10-103-A(c).
Interim approval of CALCTP certified technicians and employers does not mean that the threshold criteria for Field Technicians needing ATTCP certification has been met, postponed or negated in any way. CALTCP certified technicians will count toward the 300 certified technicians in threshold criteria 1.A. above, however both threshold criterions must still be determined by the Energy Commission to be met before Field Technicians are required to be certified to complete the acceptance testing and documentation requirements of Section 130.4.
Nonresidential Mechanical Acceptance Test Training and Certification
1. Industry Certification Thresholds
Field Technicians can complete acceptance tests for mechanical found in Section 120.5 of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Standards) without being a certified Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician until the following ATTCP requirements are met:
A. A minimum of 300 Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians have been trained and certified to complete the acceptance tests of Section 120.5 by ATTCP(s) approved by the Energy Commission; and
If there are less than 300 trained and certified Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians than there shall be at least 300 Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians certified to complete the following tests:
(i) NA7.5.1 Outdoor Air Ventilation Systems
(ii) NA7.5.2 Constant Volume, Single Zone Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
(iii) NA7.5.4 Air Economizer Controls
(iv) NA7.5.5 Demand Control Ventilation Systems
(v) NA 7.5.6 Supply Fan Variable Flow Controls
(vi) NA7.5.7, NA7.5.9 Hydronic System Variable Flow Controls
(vii) NA7.5.10 Automatic Demand Shed Controls
B. ATTCPs provide reasonable access, determined by the Energy Commission, for the training and certification for the majority of professions qualified to complete the work of mechanical field technicians. These professions include: Professional engineers, HVAC installers, mechanical contractors, TABB certified technicians, controls installation and startup contractors and certified commissioning professionals who have verifiable training, experience and expertise in HVAC systems. The Energy Commission will consider, in its determination of “reasonable access,” factors such as certification costs commensurate with the complexity of the training being provided, prequalification criteria, curriculum and, class availability throughout the state.
After the above ATTCP requirements are met all Field Technicians must be a certified Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician employed by a certified Mechanical Acceptance Employer to be able to complete any of the acceptance tests of Section 120.5.
2. Provider Qualifications
ATTCPs shall submit a written application to the Energy Commission with a summary and the necessary background documents to explain how the following criteria and procedures have been met:
A. Organizational Structure
ATTCPs written explanations shall include information of the organization type, by-laws, and ownership structure, how their certification program meets the qualification requirements of Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103-B(c), and how their organizational structure and procedures include independent oversight, quality assurance, supervision and support of the acceptance test training and certification processes. These requirements are necessary to ensure, at a minimum, that the organizations providing certification services to the building industry have a business structure that will effectively train and certify Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians. This will improve compliance with the Standards by providing certification services that will produce Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians better qualified to perform the acceptance tests required in the Standards.
B. Training and Certification Procedures
ATTCPs are required to provide both hands-on experience and theoretical training such that Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians demonstrate their ability to complete the acceptance tests of Section 120.5 of the Standards, as well as, all documentation requirements. ATTCPs are also required to provide training that covers the scope and process of the acceptance tests of Section 120.5 to Mechanical Acceptance Test Employers.
Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians
ATTCPs training curricula for Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians shall include, but not be limited to, the analysis, theory, and practical application of the following:
a) Constant volume system controls;
b) Variable volume system controls;
c) Air-side economizers;
d) Air distribution system leakage;
e) Demand controlled ventilation with CO2 sensors;
f) Demand controlled ventilation with occupant sensors;
g) Automatic demand shed controls;
h) Hydronic valve leakage;
i) Hydronic system variable flow controls;
j) Supply air temperature reset controls;
k) Condenser water temperature reset controls;
l) Outdoor air ventilation systems;
m) Supply fan variable flow controls;
n) Boiler and chiller isolation controls;
o) Fault detection and diagnostics for packaged direct-expansion units;
p) Automatic fault detection and diagnostics for air handling units and zone terminal units;
q) Distributed energy storage direct-expansion air conditioning systems;
r) Thermal energy storage systems;
s) Building Energy Efficiency Standards mechanical acceptance testing procedures; and
t) Building Energy Efficiency Standards acceptance testing compliance documentation for mechanical systems.
To be able to participate in the technician certification program Field Technicians must have at least three years of verifiable professional experience and expertise in mechanical controls and systems as determined by the Mechanical ATTCPs, to demonstrate their ability to understand and apply the Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician certification training. ATTCPs shall clarify in writing the process that will be used to make their determination of qualified professional experience to the Energy Commission.
ATTCPs must have a sufficient number of instructors to effectively train the amount of participants in both classroom and laboratory work. ATTCPs shall clarify in writing in their application to the Energy Commission how they will have a sufficient number of instructors to meet the demand of potential Field Technicians.
The hands-on training provided by ATTCPs gives Field Technicians the opportunity to practice performing the actual acceptance tests of Section 120.5 of the Standards.
All participants will have to take both a written and practical test to demonstrate the participant’s competence in all specified subjects to become a certified Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician. ATTCPs are required to retain all results of these tests for five years from the date the test was taken.
Recertification will be required of all Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians each time the Standards are updated with substantially new and/or modified acceptance test requirements.
Each Provider may establish an Energy Commission‐approved challenge test that evaluates competence in each area addressed by the Provider’s training program. If a Field Technician applicant successfully passes this challenge test, the Provider may waive the classroom training requirement and the written and practical test requirements for that applicant. An applicant who passes this challenge test shall also successfully meet the requirements specified in Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103-B(c).
ii. Mechanical Acceptance Test Employers
The ATTCPs shall provide written explanations of how their program includes certification and oversight of Acceptance Test Employers to ensure quality control and appropriate supervision and support for Acceptance Test Technicians.
Mechanical Acceptance Test Employers need to participate in a single class or webinar for a minimum of at least four hours of instruction that covers the scope and process of the acceptance tests in Section 120.5.of the Standards,
D. Provider Accountability
•ATTCPs are required to have procedures for accepting and addressing complaints regarding the performance of any certified Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician and/or Employer, and must have a clear explanation on how building departments and the public can complete these procedures.
•ATTCPs have the authority to decertify Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers based upon poor quality or ineffective work, failure to perform acceptance tests, falsification of documents, failure to comply with the documentation requirements of these regulations or other specified actions that justify decertification.
•ATTCPs must include quality assurance, independent oversight and accountability measures, such as, independent oversight of the certification processes and procedures, visits to building sites where certified technicians are completing acceptance tests, certification process evaluations, building department surveys to determine acceptance testing effectiveness, and expert review of the training curricula developed for Standards, Section 120.5. Independent oversight may be demonstrated by accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard.
Once a Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician becomes certified, the ATTCP will issue a unique certification identification number to the Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician. ATTCPs shall maintain an accurate record of the certification status for all Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians that the ATTCP has certified. ATTCPs shall provide verification of current Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians’ certification status upon request to authorized document Registration Provider personnel or enforcement agency personnel to determine the Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians’ eligibility to sign Certificate of Acceptance documentation according to all applicable requirements in Sections 10-103-B, 10-102, 10-103(a)4, and the Reference Joint Appendix JA7. Standards compliance will also be facilitated by requiring the Mechanical Acceptance Testing Technician to include their assigned certification number on the compliance documentation, thereby allowing the enforcement agency and the Energy Commission to track the effectiveness of this certification program.
ATTCPs shall provide annual reports to the Energy Commission documenting the training and certification activity during that year, what adjustments have been made to the training curricula, if any, to address changes to the Standards Mechanical Acceptance Testing requirements, adopted updates to the Standards or to ensure training is reflective of the variety of lighting controls that are currently encountered in the field. The ATTCP Annual Report shall include the total number of Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers certified by the ATTCP (a) during the reporting period and (b) to date. The annual report will also include any administrative actions taken by the ATTCP to correct problems with Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician field performance. The Energy Commission will use these annual reports to review the performance of ATTCPs as part of its oversight responsibilities for these regulations. All required reports shall contain a signed certification that the ATTCP has met all requirements for this program. These requirements are necessary to receive timely information to appropriately regulate the program and for the Energy Commission to effectively implement the training and certification of Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians for lighting controls acceptance testing, as specified in Title 24, Part 6.
3. Interim Approval
To ensure statewide energy efficiency goals are met and that building owners are receiving the economic benefits of efficient mechanical systems, the AABC, NEBB, and the TABB shall be approved as an authorized Mechanical Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider, each separately subject to the below conditions:
1. Interim approval shall only apply to Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians completing the following mechanical acceptance tests required in Standards, Section 120.5:
A. NA7.5.1 Outdoor Air Ventilation Systems
B. NA7.5.2 Constant Volume, Single Zone Unitary Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
C. NA7.5.4 Air Economizer Controls
D. NA7.5.5 Demand Control Ventilation Systems
E. NA 7.5.6 Supply Fan Variable Flow Controls
F. NA7.5.7, NA7.5.9 Hydronic System Variable Flow Controls
G. NA7.5.10 Automatic Demand Shed Controls
Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians certified by AABC, NEBB, or Tabb do not have interim approval to complete any other mechanical acceptance tests in Standards, Section 120.5 not 'listed above.
Interim approval is conditioned upon submittal of an application that contains the information required above including documentation demonstrating that the AABC, NEBB, or TABB certification includes training and testing on the Standards mechanical acceptance testing procedures and acceptance testing compliance documentation for mechanical systems.
Technicians who have been certified by AABC, NEBB, or TABB prior to the inclusion of training on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation shall qualify as Mechanical Acceptance Test Technicians upon successful completion of a class or webinar with at least four hours of instruction on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation.
Employers who have been certified by AABC, NEBB, or TABB prior to the inclusion of training on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation shall qualify as Mechanical Acceptance Test Employers upon successful completion of a class or webinar with at least four hours of instruction on the Standards acceptance testing procedures and compliance documentation.
Interim approval for all ATTCPs shall end on the later date of July 1, 2014 or six months after the effective date of the 2013 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The Energy Commission may extend the interim approval period for up to six additional months total, if it determines the threshold requirements in Section 10-103-B(b) have not been met for the certification requirements to take effect. If the Energy Commission determines that an extension is necessary, its determination shall be approved at a publicly noticed meeting.
During the interim approval period, including any possible extensions to this interim period, the Energy Commission may approve additional ATTCP providers meeting the requirements of 10-103-B(c).
Interim approval of AABC, NEBB, or TABB certified technicians and employers does not mean that the threshold criteria for Field Technicians needing ATTCP certification has been met, postponed or negated in any way. AABC, NEBB, or TABB certified technicians will count toward the 300 certified technicians in threshold criteria 1.A. above, however both threshold criterion must still be determined by the Energy Commission to be met before Field Technicians are required to be certified to complete the acceptance testing and documentation requirements of Section 120.5.