9.1 Introduction

This chapter covers key aspects of how the 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Standards) apply to construction of residential additions, alterations to an existing residential building, or both. As explained below, the Energy Standards do not apply to repairs.

The chapter is organized as follows:

Section 9.1 – Introduction. Highlights the applicable standards definitions for additions, alterations, and repairs and provides several examples of each.

Section 9.2 – What’s New in the 2019 Energy Standards. Highlights of the requirements and compliance options in the 2019 Energy Standards.

Section 9.3 – Compliance Approaches. An overview of prescriptive and performance compliance options..

Section 9.4 – Prescriptive Approach. Detailed information on prescriptive compliance methods for additions.

Section 9.5 – Performance Method. An explanation of computer compliance approaches for additions, including existing + addition + alterations.

When additions and alterations include changes to the envelope, mechanical systems, and/or water heating systems, a certificate of compliance must be completed prescriptively or be generated by compliance software with the performance approach. The prescriptive certificate of compliance is the CF1R-ADD-01 or CF1R-ALT-02 form. (See Appendix A for a full list of forms.)

Changes to the HVAC systems will likely include one or more measures that require Home Energy Rating System (HERS) diagnostic testing and field verification. If a HERS measure is required, the certificate of compliance must be completed and registered online with an approved HERS provider using the provider’s web-site. Refer to Chapter 2 for information about document registration and to Residential Appendix RA2 for more information about HERS measures.

For copies of the appropriate compliance documentation, refer to Appendix A of this manual.

9.1.1    Additions

An addition is any change to an existing building that increases conditioned floor area and conditioned volume (including conditioning a previously unconditioned space). See §100.1.

Examples of an addition include:

1.  Adding a conditioned sunroom or other rooms to an existing house.

2.  Converting a garage or other existing unheated space into conditioned living space.

3.  Enclosing and conditioning an existing patio area.

4.  Obtaining a permit to legalize an existing, habitable, and conditioned space that was added to a residential dwelling without a permit.

5.  Adding a bay window that extends to the floor, thereby increasing both floor area and volume.

9.1.2    Alterations

An alteration is any change to a water-heating system, space-conditioning system, lighting system, or envelope of a building that is not an addition. See §100.1.

Examples of alterations include:

1.  Adding insulation to any existing exterior roof or ceiling, exterior wall, or raised floor over a crawl space, garage, or unheated basement.

2.  Replacing or installing a new top surface to an existing roof (reroofing) and replacing portions of or the entire roof assembly.

3.  Replacing existing fenestration or adding fenestration area (for example, windows, bay windows, greenhouse/garden windows, dynamic glazing, clerestories, or glass doors) to existing walls.

4.  Replacing an existing skylight or increasing the area of skylight to an existing roof.

5.  Constructing an entirely new roof over an existing conditioned space.

6.  Adding a loft within the existing conditioned volume of a home.

7.  Replacing an existing heating system or adding a heating system (for example, a furnace, wall heater, heat pump, or radiant floor). (NOTE: Adding heating to a previously unconditioned space is an addition, not an alteration.)

8.  Replacing an existing cooling system or adding a cooling system (for example, an air conditioner or heat pump).

9.  Extending or replacing an existing duct system or adding an entirely new duct system.

10.   Replacing the existing water heater or adding water heaters and/or hot water piping.

11.   Replacing existing lighting or adding new hardwired lighting fixtures.

12.   Adding window film.

9.1.3    Repairs

A repair is “the reconstruction or renewal for the purpose of maintenance of any component, system, or equipment of an existing building. Repairs shall not increase the pre-existing energy consumption of the repaired component, system, or equipment. Replacement of any component, system, or equipment for which there are requirements in the Energy Standards is considered an alteration and not a repair.” (See §100.1).

Note: Repairs to residential buildings are not within the scope of the Energy Standards.

For example, when a component, system, or equipment of an existing building breaks or is malfunctioning and maintenance fixes are needed for it to work properly again, it is considered a repair and not subject to the standards. However, if instead of fixing the break or malfunction, the component, system, or equipment is replaced with a new or different one, the scope of work is considered an alteration and not a repair and requirements of the Energy Standards must be met.

Examples of work considered repairs include:

1.  Replacing a broken pane of glass but not the entire window.

2.  Removing fenestration and other envelope components for maintenance or repair and then reinstalling the same fenestration or other envelope components in the same location.

3.  Replacing a failed fan motor or gas valve in a furnace but not replacing the entire furnace.

4.  Replacing a heating element in a water heater but not replacing the entire water heater.

Note: When any existing envelope component is moved to a new location, even when that location partially overlaps the previous location of the item, the work is considered an alteration.

Note 2: Replacement of some HVAC components for repair are defined by the Energy Standards as alterations, therefore triggering requirements that must be met. Section 150.2(b)1E of the Energy Standards defines the following HVAC component replacements as an alteration that triggers the requirement for duct sealing: ”replacement of the air handler, outdoor condensing unit of a split system air conditioner or heat pump, or cooling or heating coil.” Similarly, if more than 40 linear feet of new or replacement space conditioning ducts are installed, then the entire duct system must be sealed and leakage tested to be equal or less than 15 percent. (See §150.2(b)1D.)

Note 3: Some cooling system component replacements are defined by the Energy Standards as alterations, which require meeting certain requirements. Section 150.2(b)1F of the Energy Standards defines installing or replacing a compressor, condensing or evaporator coil, refrigerant meting device, or refrigerant piping as an alteration, which triggers several requirements, including thermostat and, depending on the climate zone, airflow, and refrigerant charge requirements. (See §150.2(b)1F.)