For buildings for which the Certificate of Compliance (CF1R) requires HERS field verification for compliance with the standards, a HERS rater must visit the site to perform field verification and diagnostic testing, to complete the applicable Envelope portions of a Certificate of Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing (CF3R).
The following measures require field verification and diagnostic testing if they are used in the proposed design for compliance, and are 'listed on the CF1R as special features requiring HERS rater verification:
1. Building Envelope Sealing
2. Quality Insulation Installation (QII)
Field verification is necessary only when credit is taken for the measure. For example, Building Envelope Sealing need only be HERS verified if Building Envelope Sealing was used to achieve credit in the proposed design.
Registration of the CF3R is required. The HERS rater must submit the CF3R information to the HERS provider data registry as described in Chapter 2. For additional detail describing HERS verification and the registration procedure, refer to Reference Residential Appendix RA2.
A. Design
The initial compliance documentation consists of the Certificate of Compliance (CF1R). With the 2008 update, MF-1R is no longer a checklist, but a statement of the mandatory features to be included with the CF1R forms. The mandatory features are also included in the CF2R forms. The CF1R must be filed on the plans and specifications. Included on the CF1R is a section where special envelope features are listed. The following are envelope features that should be listed in this section if they exist in the proposed design:
1. Inter-zone ventilation
2. Radiant barriers
3. Multiple Orientation
4. Controlled ventilation crawlspace
5. Non-standard ventilation height differences
6. Standard free ventilation area greater than 10 percent of the window area
7. Metal-framed walls
8. Sunspace with interzone surfaces
9. Roofing products (Cool roof)
10. Air retarding wrap
Plan checkers should verify that insulation levels, fenestration U-factors, and SHGCs listed on the CF1R are consistent with the plans and specifications.
If registration of the CF1R is required (see Chapter 2 for requirements), the building owner, or the person responsible for the design must submit the CF1R to the HERS provider data registry for retention following the procedures described in Chapter 2 and in Reference Residential Appendix RA2.
B. Construction
During the construction process, the contractor and/or the sub-contractors complete the necessary sections of the Certificate of Installation (CF2R):
Fenestration/Glazing. The glazing contractor lists all the fenestration products that are installed in the building along with the model number, the manufacturer number, the U-factor and the SHGC. Ensure dynamic glazing controls are functional with Energy Management Systems or similar.
Building Envelope Leakage Diagnostics. This is applicable only if the builder/contractor does blower door testing to reduce building envelope leakage.
Insulation Installation Quality Certificate. The insulation contractor documents the insulation installation quality features that have been followed as shown on the CF2R checklist.
Description of Insulation. The insulation contractor documents the insulation materials installed in the walls, roofs, and floors along with the brand name of the materials and the thermal resistance.
The building official (field inspector) will visit the site multiple times during the construction process. The purpose of these visits is to verify that the equipment and materials installed are consistent with the plans and specifications.
If registration of the CF2R is required, the licensed person responsible for the installation must submit the portion of the CF2R information that applies to the installation to a HERS provider data registry using procedures described in Chapter 2 and in Reference Residential Appendix RA2.