The requirements of this section apply to nonresidential lighting control Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers, and the Certification Providers that train and certify them.
Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician and Employer certification requirements shall take effect when the Energy Commission finds that each of the following conditions are met. Until such time that Section 10-103.1(b)1 and 10-103.1(b)2 are met, Field Technicians are allowed to complete the acceptance test requirements in Section 130.4 without completing the Acceptance Test Technician certification requirements.
1. Number of Certified Acceptance Test Technicians. There shall be no less than 300 Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technicians certified to perform the acceptance tests in Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Section 130.4 The number of certified Acceptance Test Technicians shall be demonstrated by Certification Provider-prepared reports submitted to the Energy Commission.
2. Industry Coverage by Certification Provider(s). The Certification Provider(s) approved by the Energy Commission, in their entirety, shall provide reasonable access to certification for technicians representing the majority of the following industry groups: electrical contractors, certified general electricians, licensed architects, professional engineers, controls installation and startup contractors and certified commissioning professionals who have verifiable training, experience and expertise in lighting controls and electrical systems. The Energy Commission will determine whether reasonable access to certification is provided by considering factors such as certification costs commensurate with the complexity of the training being provided, certification marketing materials, prequalification criteria, class availability, and curriculum.
The Acceptance Test ’Technician Certification Providers (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:
1. Requirements for Applicant ATTCPs to Document Organizational Structure. ATTCPs shall provide written explanations of the organization type, by-laws, and ownership structure. ATTCPs shall explain in writing how their certification program meets the qualification requirements of Title 24, Part 1, Section 10-103.1(c). ATTCPs shall explain in their application to the Energy Commission their organizational structure and their procedures for independent oversight, quality assurance, supervision and support of the acceptance test training and certification processes.
2. Requirements for Certification of Employers. The ATTCPs shall provide written explanations of their certification and oversight of Acceptance Test Employers. This explanation shall document how the ATTCP ensures that the Employers are providing quality control and appropriate supervision and support for their Acceptance Test Technicians.
3. Requirements for Applicant ATTCPs to Document Training and Certification Procedures. ATTCPs shall include with their application a complete copy of all training and testing procedures, manuals, handbooks and materials. ATTCPs shall explain in writing how their training and certification procedures include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. Training Scope. The scope of the training shall include both hands-on experience and theoretical training to certify competency in the technologies and skills necessary to perform the acceptance tests.
B. Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician’ Training.
(i) Curricula. Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider 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) Occupancy 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.
(ii) Hands-on training. The ATTCP shall describe in their application the design and technical specifications of the laboratory boards, equipment and other elements that will be used to meet the hands-on requirements of the training and certification.
(iii) Prequalification. Participation in the technician certification program shall be limited to persons who have at least three years of professional experience and expertise in lighting controls and electrical systems as determined by the Lighting Controls ATTCPs.
(iv) Instructor to Trainee Ratio. The ATTCP shall document in its application to the Energy Commission why its instructor to trainee ratio is sufficient to ensure the integrity and efficacy of the curriculum and program based on industry standards and other relevant information.
(v) Tests. The ATTCP shall describe the written and practical tests used to demonstrate each certification applicant’s competence in all specified subjects. The ATTCPs shall retain all results of these tests for five years from the date of the test.
(vi) Recertification. The ATTCP shall recertify all Acceptance Test Technicians and Acceptance Test Employers prior to the implementation of each adopted update to the Building Energy Efficiency Standards as these updates affect the acceptance test requirements. Recertification requirements and procedures shall only apply to those specific elements that are new or modified in future updates to Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
C. Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employer’ Training. Training for Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employers shall consist of a single class or webinar consisting of at least four hours of instruction that covers the scope and process‘ of the acceptance tests in Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Section 130.4.
D. Complaint Procedures. The ATTCPs shall describe in their applications to the Energy Commission procedures for accepting and addressing complaints regarding the performance of any Acceptance Test Technician or Employer certified by the ATTCP, and explain how building departments and the public will be notified of these proceedings.
E. Certification Revocation Procedures. The ATTCPs shall describe in their applications to the Energy Commission procedures for revoking their certification of 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.
F. Quality Assurance and Accountability. The ATTCP shall describe in their application to the Energy Commission how their certification business practices include quality assurance, and accountability measures, including but not limited to 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 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Section 130.4 The ATTCP shall review a random sample of no less than 1 percent of each Technician’s completed compliance forms, and shall perform randomly selected on-site audits of no less than 1 percent of each Technician’s completed acceptance tests. Independent oversight may be demonstrated by accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17024 standard.
G. Certification Identification Number and Verification of ATT Certification Status. Upon certification of an ATT, the ATTCP shall issue a unique certification identification number to the ATT. The ATTCP shall maintain an accurate record of the certification status for all ATTs that the ATTCP has certified. The ATTCP shall provide verification of current ATT certification status upon request to authorized document Registration Provider personnel or enforcement agency personnel to determine the ATT's eligibility to sign‘ Certificate of Acceptance documentation according to all applicable requirements in Sections 10-103.1, 10-102, 10-103(a) 4, and the Reference Joint Appendix JA7.
The ATTCP shall provide the following regular reports to the Energy Commission:
1. Annual Report: The ATTCP shall provide an annual report to the Energy Commission summarizing the certification services provided over the reporting period, including the total number of Acceptance Test Technicians and Employers certified by the ATTCP (i) during the reporting period and (ii) to date. The annual report shall include a summary of all actions taken against any Acceptance Test Technician or Employer as a result of the complaint or quality assurance procedures described by the ATTCP as required under Section 10-103.1(c)(3)(D) and 10-103.1(c)(3)(F).
2. Update Report: The ATTCP shall have no less than six months following the adoption of an update to the Building Energy Efficiency Standards to prepare an Update Report. The ATTCP shall submit an Update Report to the Energy Commission no less than six months prior to the effective date of any newly adopted update to the Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The ATTCP shall report to the Energy Commission what adjustments have been made to the training curricula, if any, to address changes to the Building Energy Efficiency Standards Acceptance Testing requirements, adopted updates to the Building. Energy Efficiency Standards or to ensure training is reflective of the variety of lighting controls that are currently encountered in the field. All required update reports shall contain a signed certification that the ATTCP has met all requirements under Section 10-103.1(c). Update reports shall be approved through the Amendment Process provided under Section 10-103.1(f).
All required reports shall contain a signed certification that the ATTCP has met all requirements for this program.
The Energy Commission shall review Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider applications according to the criteria and procedures in Section 10-103.1(c) to determine if such providers meet the specified requirements for providing acceptance testing certification services.
1. Energy ‘Commission staff will review and validate all information received on Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider applications, and determine whether the application is complete and contains sufficient information to be evaluated by staff. Complete applications shall be evaluated by staff based on their contents.
2. The Executive Director may require that the applicant provide additional information as required by staff to fully evaluate the Provider application.
3. The Executive Director shall provide a copy of the staff evaluation to interested persons and provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment.
4. The Executive Director shall issue a written recommendation that the Energy Commission designate the applicant as an authorized Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider or deny the Provider application.
5. The Energy Commission shall make a final decision on the application at a publicly noticed hearing.
The ATTCP may amend a submitted or approved application as described in this Section.
1. Amendment Scope.
A. Nonsubstantive Changes. A nonsubstantive change is a change that does not substantively alter the requirements of the application materials for the ATTCP, ATT, or ATT Employer. For amendments making only nonsubstantive changes, the ATTCP shall submit a letter describing the change to the Energy Commission as an addendum to the application.
B. Substantive Changes. A substantive change is a change that substantively alters the requirements of the application materials for the ATTCP, ATT, or ATT Employer. For amendments making any substantive changes, the ATTCP shall submit the following:
(i) A document describing the scope of the change to the application, the reason for the change and the potential impact to the ATTCP, ATT, and ATT Employer as an addendum to the application;
(ii) A replacement copy of the affected sections of the ATTCP application with the changes incorporated; and
(iii) A copy of the affected sections of the ATTCP application showing the changes in underline and strikeout format.
2. Amendment Review. Amendments submitted prior to approval of an ATTCP application shall be included in the application’s Application Review and Determination process specified in Section 10-103.1(e).
Amendments submitted after approval of an ATTCP’s application that contain only nonsubstantive changes shall be reviewed by the Executive Director for consistency with Section 10-103.1. Amendments determined to be consistent with this Section shall be incorporated into the approval as errata.
Amendments submitted after approval of an ATTCP’s application that contain any substantive changes shall be subject to the Application Review and Determination process specified in Section 10-103.1(e). If the Energy Commission finds that the amended application does not meet the requirements of Section 10-103.1, then the ATTCP shall either abide by the terms of their previously approved application or have their approval suspended.
If the Energy Commission determines there is a violation of these regulations or that an Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider is no longer providing adequate certification services, the Energy ‘Commission may revoke the authorization of the Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider pursuant to Section 1230 et. seq. of Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations.
NOTE: Authority: Sections 25402, 25402.1, 25213, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25007, 25402(a)-(b), 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8 and 25910, Public Resources Code.