INFORMATION FOR CONTRACTORS
You are going to need to register your construction or alteration project with one of two State certified construction project registries.
There are two state certified, privately run, registries that create the documents you’ll deliver to your local building official or inspector. They are CHEERS (Cheers.org) and Calcerts. (Calcerts.com).
Calcerts has a good video that will walk you through their registration process.
There are three major documents to know about in the HERS process; CF1Rs, CF2Rs and CF3Rs. The HERS Rater or energy consultant starts the process and creates a CF1R which explains the who, what and where of the project. It also states HVAC equipment shall be installed and what tests shall be required.
The CF2R is an installation document filled out by the installing contractor, usually an HVAC or insulation contractor. It states what equipment was installed, how the equipment and ducts were sized and that it was installed to code. Filling out the CF2R is the responsibility of the installing HVAC contractor.
The CF3R is created by the HERS Rater after testing the installation.The CF3R states that the system passed the tests and that it was installed to code. The CF3R is the final and most important document, it is what the inspector will want to see to pass the project.
IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR INSTALLING HVAC CONTRACTORS TO KNOW:
Please note: The 2013 energy code, Title 24, requires quite a few things in an HVAC system. Here are some highlights.
- HVAC system sizing must be calculated by an approved method. Duct systems are required to be designed by an approved method. ACCA Manual J and Manual D are one system to do this. Wrightsoft is the leading software tool. “Rules of thumb” sizing do not pass code or work well.
- Air conditioners need to have at least 350 CFM per ton of air flow. A/Cs need to use 0.58 or fewer watts per cubic feet of air flow. This is the code absolute minimum. Here, more is better.
- You’ll need to have the cold air return properly sized. See above. Again, Bigger = better.
- You’ll need to state the airflow the filter system is rated for. They want to see .05 inches of water colunm of pressure in the return and .10 in the supply.
- You’ll need to tape the sheet metal boots to the drywall or flooring.
- You’ll need to mastic over the tape that is sealing your system.
- Use only “UL181” approved plastic and metal tape and mastic. UL 181 is code required.
- You’ll need to have less than 6% duct leakage in new duct systems and less than 15% in existing systems. (FYI: Hot rodder contractors get their systems below 1 percent.)
- (Note: the secret ingredient here is air duct mastic. Use it liberally).
Missing any of these items is a failure, so take heed.
One final note about duct sealing and profitability, forcing a general contractor up into a 135 degree attic to attempt to seal leaky ducts during a HERS test, is not good for business.