Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Subcommittee

Presentation to the Regional Technical ForumAugust 30, 2011

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History

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

2006 Last version of RTF Residential Specifications

Subcommittee evolved to RTF contracted management of group in Nov 2010.

55 Subcommittee members participated

21 teleconferences, weekly during hot topic season (ventilation) from Dec-May.

Delivered Updates to RTF, presented Jan, May and June

Ventilation Specifications Approved June 2011

These are the remainder of the retrofit specifications, approved line-by-line by subcommittee

3-year revision cycle begins immediately after adoption.

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General Revisions to 2006 Specifications

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

• Formatting

• Code references

• Avoided redundancy

• Improved detail of installation requirements

• Provided input from public comment

How Specification May Change Measures

• Change in measure cost/savings:– Inspection requirements may increase admin. cost– Changes in compliance may change cost and

savings• Other or follow-on work for RTF:– Review measure savings and cost and update UES

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

Residential Weatherization Specifications Comment Response

• Initiated July 7th, 2011 through July 30• Extended at August 2 RTF Meeting• Open until August 19• Comments posted on RTF Web Site• Subcommittee Met to Consider Comments:

– July 21– July 29– August 18 (advised extension of comment period)– August 23

• More than 10 hours of deliberation on comments

Residential Weatherization Specifications Comment Response

• 27 comments received • 21 separate parties• 3 parties submitting two comment

installments• 200 + line item inquiries/recommendations• Comments from: – utility groups, - utilities, – weatherization contractors, - public agencies,– utility program contractors, - engineering.

Residential Weatherization Comments

9 (33%)

2 (7%

)

5 (19%)6 (27%)3 (11%)

1

1 (4%)

Comments Received

Utility

Utility Groups

WX Contractors

Program Con-tractors

Engineering

National Laboratory

Public Agency

Residential Weatherization Specifications Comment Response

• Comments by Categories• Edits to specific language (technical and editorial)• Inquiries regarding interpretation/clarity• Observations of the difficulty of implementing• Consideration of specific technologies or materials• Concern weatherization impact on moisture• Encouragement of delay of approval (training,

marketplace readiness). • Added cost for implementing specifications (acquisition

impact, TRC…)Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

Residential Weatherization Comments

Materials

Moisture

Cost

Delay

Implementation

Editorial

Technical

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

Comments by Category

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

Minor Technical/ Clarification

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General Specifications

• Inspector qualifications and inspection requirements (I-3)

• Whole home mechanical ventilation compliance (I-6)• Indoor air quality materials

– Disclosure Form– EPA Booklet

• Installer Certificate/Record (II-11)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

General Specifications

“An inspector or representative of the utility (who has demonstrated competency of understanding these specifications through successful passing of an RTF approved written test) shall inspect a minimum 25% of projects to verify and document projects comply with these specifications.”

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General Weatherization• Human Contact Areas (III-1)• Electrical Wiring (III-2)– Knob and Tube– Junction Boxes

• Combustion Appliance Exhaust Ventilation Inspection (III-3)

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors (III-4)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

Compliance ConditionsWeatherizationMeasure

Compliance w/ Whole House Mechanical Ventilation

Prescriptive air sealing required

Prescriptive Duct Sealing and Insulation

Attic No Yes Yes

Floors No Yes Yes

Walls No Yes No

Windows No Yes n/a

Ducts Ins. No n/a Yes

Whole House Air Sealing

Yes Yes No

• Where combustion appliances are present in conditioned space a CO monitor and combustion venting inspection is required.

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Attic and Roof Insulation

• Added more detail to prescriptive air sealing and duct insulation requirements (AR-1,AS, D)

• Prescriptive duct sealing required (AR-1, D)• New references to Air Sealing and Mechanical

Ventilation sections • Safety requirements for insulation near heat

producing fixtures (AS-7)• Attic access varieties (AS-10)• Attic wall insulation (AS-13)• Unvented vaulted ceilings (A-19)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Underfloor Insulation• Added more detail to prescriptive air sealing and

duct insulation requirements (FI-2)• Prescriptive duct sealing required (FI-2)• New references to Air Sealing and Mechanical

Ventilation sections • Underfloor access varieties (FI-5)• Insulation support (FI-10)• Exterior Perimeter Insulation section removed• Blown Floor Insulation – Manufactured (FI.2-3)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Wall Insulation• Plugs to be sealed & ready to paint (WI-i)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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HVAC Duct Sealing and Insulation• Replace uninsulated flex-ducts with R-8 flex

(D-a)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Hydronic and Water Pipe Insulation• Insulation must be designed &

manufactured for purposes of insulating pipes (HW-a)

• Properly sized if pre-formed insulation is used (HW-d)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Windows/Doors• Caulking, finish, air sealing, flashing

requirements added (WD-2)• Re-worded safety glazing requirements

(WD-9,10)

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Air Sealing & Testing• New section – Prescriptive (as a part of WX Measure) and Whole House• Incorporates previously separate Air Sealing requirements

– Field Verification Protocol for Determining Reduction in Infiltration Levels and Mechanical Ventilation Requirements for Site Built and Mobile Homes with Verified Air Sealing

• Air Sealing Checklist• Define accessible/non-accessible locations• Air Sealing Checklist with required sealing locations• Contractor certifications for Whole House air sealing• Testing protocol• CAZ test procedure

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

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Mechanical Ventilation• Approved June 2011• New Section• Spot & Whole Home mechanical ventilation

requirements• Ventilation duct installation requirements

Subcommittee: Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specifications

Committee Recommendations

• Evaluation of true market changes– Savings– Cost– Ventilation/Air Sealing impact on prescriptive measures– Compliance

• Support a three year revision cycle• Region understands the rigor required for inspection

requirements that are difficult but important to assure persistence

• Adopt the specifications

RTF Proposed Motion:

“I ____________move that the RTF adopt the Residential Weatherization Specifications developed by the Residential Weatherization Specification Subcommittee with a requirement for pre and post air leakage testing on (5% or xx) homes where weatherization measures are installed and Whole House Air Seal is not performed ”