To ensure reliable energy savings and proper operation and control, the ISAC system shall conform to the eligibility criteria in section RA4.3.1. The eligibility criteria include compliance with third-party field verification of the ISAC’s model number by a certified HERS rater utilizing the system equipment verification procedure in Reference Residential Appendix RA3.4.4.2, and duct sealing as confirmed by field verification and diagnostic testing in accordance with the applicable requirements in Section RA3.1. Compliance with the eligibility requirements requires the installer to verify of the presence and proper operation of required controls.
The builder or installer shall provide a Certificate of Compliance that reports the use of an ISAC the system for determining performance standards compliance, that requires HERS verification of the system equipment, and duct sealing for compliance.
RA4.3.1.1 HERS Verification
The following shall be verified by a HERS rater and reported on a Certificate of Verification for the system:
(a) The model number of the installed unit is for a unit that the Energy Commission has approved for compliance credit and matches the model number used for compliance credit.
(b) The duct system has been sealed and tested in accordance with all applicable requirements in Reference Appendix RA3.1.
(c) For systems that require charging of the refrigerant lines either a Charge Indicatory Display (CID) or refrigerant change test shall be provided. The CID or refrigerant charge credit shall not be taken.
RA4.3.1.2 Eligibility Testing
The installing contractor shall complete the following eligibility testing and document the results on the applicable Certificate of Installation.
(a) Verify that building cooling is controlled by a standard indoor HVAC thermostat and not by factory-installed controls.
(b) Verify that ice making is not controlled by the thermostat.
(c) Verify that the water tank is filled to the proper level as specified by the manufacturer.
(d) Verify that the correct model number is installed as indicated in compliance documents (including ice melt start time). Certify the installed model number on the CF-1R form.
(e) Force the controls to indicate no demand for cooling, set the time to be within the nighttime period, and simulate that the tank is not full with ice. Verify that the system operates properly in the ice-making mode (i.e., it starts charging the tank and does not provide cooling to the building).
(f) Force the controls to indicate no demand for cooling, set the time to be within the nighttime period, and simulate the tank being full of ice. Verify that the system operates properly in the idle mode (i.e., the compressor is off, and no cooling is provided by the system).
(g) Force the controls to indicate a demand for cooling and set the time to be within the daytime period. Verify that the system operates properly in the ice melt mode (i.e., it starts discharging and that the compressor is off).
(h) Force the controls to indicate a demand for cooling and set the time to be within the morning shoulder time period. Verify that the system operates properly in the direct cooling mode (i.e., the system is providing cooling with the compressor).
(i) Force the controls to indicate no cooling load, and set the time to be within the daytime period. Verify that the system operates properly in the idle mode (i.e., it does not provide cooling to the building and the compressor is off).
(j) Force the controls to indicate a demand for cooling and set the time to be within the nighttime period. Verify that the cooling is provided by the compressor.
To ensure reliable energy savings and proper operation and control, the evaporatively-cooled condensing unit shall conform to the requirements in section RA4.3.2.
The HERS verifications and eligibility testing 'listed in sections RA4.3.2.1 and RA4.3.2.2 shall be completed, certified by the HVAC installer on the Certificate of Installation, and verified by a HERS Rater on the Certificate of Verification.
The builder or installer shall provide a Certificate of Compliance that reports the use of an evaporatively-cooled condensing unit for determining performance standards compliance, that requires HERS verification of the system equipment, duct sealing, and refrigerant charge for compliance as described in Section RA4.3.2.1.
RA4.3.2.1 HERS Verification
The following shall be verified by a HERS rater and reported on a Certificate of Verification for the system:
(a) EER at 95 o F dry bulb and 75 o F wet bulb temperature is 'listed with ARI (generally called EERa).
(b) EER at 82 o F dry bulb and 65 o F wet bulb temperature is submitted to ARI and published by the manufacturer in accordance with ARI guidelines (generally called EERb).
(c) Presence of TXV is verified, if the ARI certified EERs are based on equipment with TXVs.
(d) Ducts are tested and sealed in all installations of this equipment according to applicable requirements in Section RA3.1.
(e) Proper refrigerant charge or presence of Charge Indicator Display (CID) is verified if compliance credit is taken for this measure when TXVs are not installed.
RA4.3.2.2 Eligibility Testing Eligibility Testing
The installing contractor shall complete the following eligibility testing and document the results on the applicable Certificate of Installation.
(a) Verify that there is water in the water casing.
(b) Switch on the cooling system by setting the thermostat below the room temperature.
(c) Verify that the water pump starts running when the system is turned on.
(d) When the water pump is running, verify that all the condenser coils are wet.
(e) Verify that the high pressure trip for the compressor is set (per manufacturer’s specifications) at or below 300 psig for R22 Refrigerant and at or below the saturation pressure corresponding to a temperature of 1310 F for all other refrigerants.
(f) Turn off the water supply to the water casing, drain the water from the sump, and verify that the water pump and the compressor trip.
(g) Verify that the condenser coils have a corrosion resistant coating and that the water casing is made up of corrosion resistant material.
(h) Verify that the electrolytic protection is installed.
(i) Verify that a blow-down pump is installed for periodic blow-down to remove solids from the water casing.
(j) Verify that the operation of this pump is automatic based on compressor run time or the conductivity of the water in the casing.
(k) Verify that the water casing is sloped downward towards the blow-down pump location to facilitate removal of solids.
(l) Drift eliminators must be installed to reduce the loss of water to less than 0.002% of the recirculated water (as per test method CTI-HBIK Std.140 or other approved procedure).
(m) Condensate water must be routed to the evaporative condenser sump, unless it is not practical i.e. the fan coil and condenser not separated by conditioned space.
(n) Condenser must have a certification from the manufacturer that water consumption is less than .15 gph per ton of capacity
(o) Water connection is made with tubing no large than ¼ inch diameter
(p) Overflow from the unit is not connected directly to the sewer drain ( son in the event of a water float failure an overflow condition can be more easily detected) or another means of determining an overflows condition is provided.
(q) The system has a backup solenoid water shutoff control or no spill sump.
Qualifying equipment is limited to either indirect-direct or indirect evaporative coolers. Direct evaporative coolers and indirect or indirect-direct evaporative coolers that do not meet the following eligibility criteria shall not be used.
RA4.3.3.1 Eligibility Testing
The installing contractor shall complete the following eligibility testing and document the results on the applicable Certificate of Installation.
(a) Eligible equipment shall be 'listed under Title 20 Appliance Standards.
(b) The equipment manufacturer shall certify to the Commission that water use does not exceed 7.5 gallons per ton hour based on the Title 20 Appliance Standards testing criteria.
(c) Equipment shall be permanently installed (no window or portable units).
(d) Installation shall provide for automatic relief of supply air from the house with maximum air velocity through the relief dampers not exceeding 800 fpm (at the Title 20 rated airflow). Pressure relief dampers and ductwork shall be distributed to provide adequate airflow through all habitable rooms. For installations with an attic, ceiling dampers shall be installed to relieve air into the attic, and then to outside through attic vents. For installations without an attic, sidewall relief dampers are acceptable.
(e) To minimize water consumption, bleed systems shall not be allowed.
(f) A water quality management system (either “pump out” or conductivity sensor) is required. “Pump out” systems can either be integral to the evaporative cooler or they can be accessories that operate on a timed interval. The time interval between dumps shall be set to a minimum of six hours of cooler operation. Longer intervals are encouraged if local water quality allows.