NA1.1  California Home Energy Rating Systems

Appendix NA1 provides direction for communication and documentation processes that must be completed for compliance with the HERS verification requirements for multifamily dwelling units (dwelling units), and for  HERS verification of  duct sealing of HVAC systems covered by §140.4(l)1, §141.0(b)2D, and §141.0(b)2E (systems) that require field verification and diagnostic testing by a certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Rater, using the testing procedures in Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA2. The Commission approves HERS Providers, subject to the Commission’s HERS Program regulations, which appear in the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Chapter 4, Article 8, Sections 1670-1675. Approved HERS Providers are authorized to certify HERS Raters and maintain quality control over field verification and diagnostic testing.

When the Certificate of Compliance indicates that field verification and diagnostic testing of specific energy efficiency measures are required as a condition for compliance with Title 24, Part 6, an approved HERS Provider and certified HERS Rater shall be used to conduct the field verification and diagnostic testing according to the applicable procedures in Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA2. HERS Providers and HERS Raters shall be considered special inspectors by enforcement agencies, and shall demonstrate competence to the satisfaction of the enforcement agency, for field verifications and diagnostic testing. As specified by California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 8, Section 1673(j)(2), HERS Providers and HERS Raters shall be independent entities from the builder or subcontractor installer of the energy efficiency improvements being field verified or diagnostically tested. An “Independent Entity means having no financial interest in, and not advocating or recommending the use of any product or service as a means of gaining increased business with, firms or persons specified in CCR Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 4, Article 8, Sections 1671 and 1673(j).” Third Party Quality Control Programs approved by the Commission may serve some of the functions of HERS Raters for field verification and diagnostic testing purposes as specified in NA1.7. Also, Acceptance Test Technicians may serve the function of a HERS Rater for field verification and diagnostic testing purposes as specified in NA1.9.

The remainder of Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA1 describes the:

a)   Requirements for documentation and communication for HERS verification compliance processes;

b)   Responsibilities assigned to each of the parties involved in the field verification and diagnostic testing process;

c)   Requirements for procedures for installing contractors and Certificate of Installation documentation;

d)   Requirements for HERS Rater field verification and diagnostic testing and documentation procedures;

e)   Requirements for sampling procedures for HERS verification compliance;

f)    Requirements for Third Party Quality Control Programs;

g)   Requirements for HERS verification compliance for alterations to existing buildings.

Table NA1-1 describes the measures that require installer certification and HERS Rater field verification and diagnostic testing, and identifies the protocol or test procedure in the Reference Nonresidential Appendices that shall be used for completing installer and HERS Rater field verification and diagnostic testing.

Table NA1-1 – Summary of Measures Requiring Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing