9.2   What’s New in the 2013 Standards

The 2013 Standards includes new mandatory measures and different compliance requirements for additions and alterations. This section highlights the key changes from the 2008 Standards.

Mandatory Measures in Additions and Alterations

Envelope

9.2.1    Wall Insulation: 

1.   Walls:  exterior walls built with 2x6 or greater framing must have a minimum of R-19 cavity insulation or achieve a U-factor = 0.074. See §150.0(c);

2.   Raised-floor insulation:  raised floors must have a minimum of R-19 insulation between framing members or achieve the equivalent U-factor as specified in §150.0(d);

3.   Fenestration:  the area-weighted average U-factor of all new and replacement fenestration must have a maximum value of 0.58; §150.0(q); Exception:  up to 10 square feet or 0.5% of the conditioned floor area, whichever is greater, is exempt from the maximum fenestration U-factor requirement.

9.2.2    HVAC and Water Heating

New piping insulation requirements per Table 120.3A include:

1.   All piping with a ¾ inch (19 mm) or larger diameter must be insulated as specified in §150.0(j);

2.   All hot water pipes from the heating source to the kitchen fixtures must be insulated as specified in §150.0(j); Exceptions: piping in walls which meet Quality Insulation Installation (QII) criteria; and inaccessible existing piping.

9.2.3    Ducts and Air Distribution Systems

Installation of all new (or full replacement) duct systems:

1.   Duct system sealing and leakage testing and field verified per RA3.1.4.3; online registration of the CF1R form with a HERS provider as specified in§150.0(m);

2.   Zonally controlled central forced air systems must deliver greater than 350 CFM/ton of nominal cooling and have a fan efficacy less than 0.58 W/CFM; accordance to the procedures as specified in Residential Reference Appendix RA3.3 with online registration of the CF1R form with a HERS provider as specified in §150.0(m);

3.   Additions must meet the mechanical ventilation requirements in ASHRAE Standard 62.2 (not a new requirement); and the whole building ventilation airflow must be in accordance to the procedures as specified in Residential Reference Appendix  RA3.7 with online registration of the Certificate of Compliance with a HERS provider as specified in §150.0(o).

9.2.4    Lighting

1.   Simplified requirements for classifying “high efficacy” luminaires (lighting fixtures) per Tables 150.0-A and 150.0-B   as specified in §150.0(k);

2.   An Energy Management Control System (EMCS) or multi-scene programmable controller may be used to comply with dimmer requirements if specific listed requirements are met. See §150.0(k);

3.   An Energy Management Control System (EMCS) may be used to comply with vacancy sensor requirements if specific listed conditions are met See §150.0(k);

4.   A minimum of one high efficacy luminaire shall be installed in each bathroom, and all other bathroom lighting shall be high efficacy or controlled by vacancy sensors. See §150.0(k).

9.2.5    Prescriptive Additions

All new size (conditioned floor area) categories and new special requirements for prescriptive additions as outlined in this section and Table 9-3A through 9-3D.

1.   Additions ≤ 400 ft2 are allowed a Total Glazing Area up to 75 ft2 or 30% of Conditioned Floor Area, whichever is greater; and have up to 60 ft2 West-Facing Glazing Area.  See §150.2(a)1B;

2.   Additions > 400 ft2 and ≤ 700 ft2 are allowed a Total Glazing Area up to 120 ft2 or 25% of Conditioned Floor Area, whichever is greater; and have up to 60 ft2 West-Facing Glazing Area, see §150.2(a)1B.;

3.   Additions > 700 ft2 are allowed a Total Glazing Area up to 175 ft2 or 20% of Conditioned Floor Area, whichever is greater; and have West-facing Glazing Area up to 70 ft2 or 0.5% of Conditioned Floor Area, whichever is greater.  See §150.2(a)1.A;

4.   Additions > 1,000 ft2 must meet Package A whole house fan requirements, while Additions ≤ 1,000 ft2 are exempt.  See §150.2(a), EXCEPTION 6 to §150.1(c)12.

Note: None of the above options allows credit for glazing when removed to make way for the addition.

9.2.6    Prescriptive Alterations

1.   The total fenestration area and west-facing area limitations include vertical glazing and skylights;

2.   Up to 75 square feet of vertical fenestration is exempt from the total area and west-facing area limitations.

9.2.7    Performance Approach - Existing + Addition + Alterations (E+A+A)

1.   Performance compliance may not be used for tradeoffs unless there are at least two or more altered components 'listed in TABLE 150.2-B;

2.   Existing roofs/ceilings removed as part of an addition or alteration -- and all existing skylights being removed as part of the removed roofs/ceilings - are excluded (not modeled) in the Existing + Addition + Alterations performance calculations;

3.   Existing exterior walls removed as part of an addition or alterations -- and all existing vertical fenestration (windows, clerestories, glazed doors) being removed as part of the removed walls -- are excluded (not modeled) in the Existing + Addition + Alterations performance calculations;

4.   Only “Existing”, “Altered” and “New” building components and/or systems are included and modeled in the Existing + Addition + Alterations performance calculations;

5.   Existing fenestration not being removed as part of an alteration can now be improved with Window Films and can be modeled in the Existing + Addition + Alterations performance calculations;

6.   Without Third Party Verification of the building’s existing (i.e., pre-alteration) conditions, the E+A+A approach no longer provides energy credits based on altered components which upgrade (improve) the existing conditions. See §150.2(b)2B and Table 150.2-B;

7.   With Third Party Verification of the building’s existing (i.e., pre-alteration) conditions, the E+A+A approach still provides energy credits based on altered components which upgrade (improve) the existing conditions. See a §1502 (b)2B and Table 150.2-B.

See Table 9-4 in this chapter for a summary of how the compliance software sets the Standard Design (energy budget) for alterations.

For further discussion on how Energy Commission-approved 2013 compliance software programs have changed from the 2008 compliance software, see Chapter 8.