# Presentation: 702699

## COMcheck-EZ Software Case Studies 

**COM*****check-EZ***** Software**** Case Studies **

## What is COMcheck-EZ?

**The Software is self-contained**
**Energy Code book can be used as****needed for reference only**
**Relatively simple to use and very flexible**

***What is COMcheck-EZ*****?**

## What Do I Need to Know?

**General Understanding of Windows-based Computer Programs**
**Basic Information about the Builder and Project to be Constructed**
**Building Plans including Exterior Wall Areas, Glazing Areas, Roof/Ceiling Areas, Basement Wall Areas, etc.**
**Insulation R-Values, NFRC Glazing and Door U-Values, etc.**
**Lighting**
**Heating and Cooling System Efficiencies**
**Service Water Heating**

***What Do I Need to Know*****?**

## Building Envelope
construction assembly (materials & insulation levels)
windows, doors & skylights
Mechanical Systems	
Service Water Heating
Lighting Systems

- construction assembly (materials & insulation levels)
- windows, doors & skylights
**Mechanical Systems****	**
**Service Water Heating**
**Lighting Systems**

**Components that Must Comply ****with the Energy Code**

## Slide 5

**Expand the Screen like other programs.**
**Lets take a closer look at this area.**

## Title Bar

**Title Bar**
**Menu Bar**
**Toolbar**
**Make sure the correct code is chosen.**

**Notes:**
Title Bar - The title bar displays the name of the currently open project data file and the currently selected code. If no file is open, the word Untitled is displayed.
Menu Bar - The menu bar is located directly under the title bar and displays the available menus–File, Edit, View, Options, Code, Tools and Help. These menus are discussed in more detail in the following sections.
Toolbar - The toolbar contains buttons with images representing some of the same options available in the menus.

## Construction Type

**Construction Type**
** ****Basic Information**

## Slide 9

**Notes:**
Choose from the drop down list of states and cities

The list of cities was taken from the U.S. Geological Survey's Populated Places (PPL) database (which is part of USGS's Geographic Names Information System). The PPL database contains the name, location (latitude/longitude), elevation, and sometimes the population of over 165,000 locations in the U.S. and its possessions. We mapped each of the PPL locations to a best available NOAA weather station as a source of heating degree-days, cooling degree-days, and other climate parameters. The new REScheck weather file contains the subset of the PPL locations for which the USGS has a population estimate (a little more than 22,000 cities).

## Four Main Screens

**Four Main Screens**
**Building Use**
**  ****Whole Bldg. or**
**  ****Area Category **

- Compliance Results:

**Notes:**
Folder Tabs - The Project, Envelope, Lighting and Mechanical folder tabs are used to choose the respective screens.
Each major system must comply on its own, tradeoffs between major systems (i.e. envelope and lighting) are not permitted using COMcheck EZ.

## Main Building Envelope

- _Main Building Envelope_
- This is where you add square footage values for roofs, exterior walls, windows, etc.
- This is where you add U-factors and R-values for ceilings, exterior walls, windows etc.
- Continuous insulation is entered separately from cavity insulation.

## Envelope Section

**Building Components are added by clicking on these.**

**Notes:**
Each of the assembly components have a drop down list of assembly types.

## Adding 

- Step 1:
- Click on Roof

- Adding
- Roof

## Adding Roofs

- Step 2:
- Select Roof Type  (This can be repeated so that different roof types and any number of skylights can be added individually.)

## Adding Roofs

- Step 3:
- Add square footage  (In this case 20532 square feet)

## Adding Roofs

- Step 4:
- Add insulation R-Value (R-19 cavity and R-8.0 continuous in this example)

## Adding Roofs

- Step 1:  Click on “Roof”
- Step 2:  Select Roof type
- Step 3:  Add square footage
- Step 4:  Add insulation R-Value

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

## Adding Exterior Walls

- Step 1:  Click on “Wall”
- Step 2:  Choose Assembly
- Step 3:  Add square footage
- Step 4:Add the R-Values

- 1

- 2

- 3

- 4

- Exterior walls, windows and doors can be added as a total sum or each exposure can be added separately

## Adding Windows

## Basement Walls

## 1

- 2

**Notes:**
Wall Height
Enter the average height of the basement wall measured from the top of the basement floor to the top of the basement wall.
The Wall Height (ft) and Depth Below Grade (ft) fields together enable you to enter a basement wall assembly partially above and partially below grade as a single entry.  If the values in these two fields are the same, the wall will be treated as entirely below grade.
Depth Below Grade
Enter the average depth below grade of the wall in the Depth Below Grade (ft) field, measuring from the average grade level to the top of the basement floor.

- Adding Floors

- Slab-On-Grade should be entered in linear feet

**Notes:**
The insulation position pop-up list enables you to specify if perimeter slab insulation will be used and, if so, if it will be placed vertically or horizontally.  If no perimeter insulation will be used, select No Insulation.

- Lighting components are added by clicking on these

- Lighting Results

**Notes:**
Use the blue-on-white buttons at the top of the Lighting screen to create a list of lighting fixtures present in your proposed design.  Each fixture type you select is added to the lighting fixtures list displayed on the Lighting screen.  For each fixture type, you must enter a ballast type (if applicable), the number of lamps per fixture, quantity, and the fixture input wattage.  Input wattage is the electrical power input to the lamp and ballast combination.

- Lighting Options:
- Spaces
- Exemptions and Allowances

**Notes:**
The Lighting screen contains an optional feature that enables you to organize lighting fixtures under the spaces (or parts of the building) in which they are used.  To activate this feature, select Spaces from the Options menu while in the Lighting screen.  This feature helps ensure fixture counts are correct and greatly facilitates plan review and inspections.

## The Mechanical section generates a customized list of mandatory requirements applicable to the mechanical components you identify. 

- The Mechanical section generates a customized list of mandatory requirements applicable to the mechanical components you identify.

- Mechanical components are added by clicking on these

## Slide 27

**Notes:**
Click the HVAC System button to launch a series of screens (collectively referred to as a wizard) on which you enter information about your building’s HVAC components.  The HVAC system wizard screen sequences depend on the information you enter.  You must continue to the final screen in the sequence before the Finish button becomes active, enabling you to return to the Mechanical screen.   

## Save as many files as you like

- Print and Preview reports
- Last files worked on are here

## Need Help?

**Need Help?**

## Sigma 2 Bldg. Floor Plan

**Sigma 2 Bldg. ****Floor Plan**

**Notes:**
Floor Plan used for reference.
The number of windows and doors can be taken from the window/door schedule.  Locations can be verified by the window and door symbols on the plan.
Overall plan dimensions can also be taken from this plan.

## Roof:   20,532 sq.ft.  Wood truss R-19 Insulation

**Roof:**   20,532 sq.ft.  Wood truss R-19 Insulation
**Exterior Walls**:  8172 sq.ft. 2 X 4 Metal Frame at 16” O.C., R-10 Insulation
- Walls Perimeter = 681 ln. ft.
**Windows:**  998 sq.ft. Metal Frame, double pane, tinted, U-value .69,  SHGC-Value .57, P.F. .50
- Window/Wall Ratio = 12%
**Glass Doors**:  126 sq. ft. Clear Glazing, U-value .92, SHGC-Value .47

**Activity Areas**
**Office:**  15,849 sq.ft.
**Halls/Corridors/Transitions:**  	3338 sq.ft.
**Restrooms:**  500 sq.ft.
**Kitchen:**  505 sq.ft.
**Lobby:**  340 sq.ft.

**Metal Door**: 21 s.f. U-value .70
**Floor:**  20,532 sq. ft./681 linear feet, unheated slab on grade, no insulation
- 2 Storage Water Heaters, Electric,  80 gal. capacity

**Sigma 2 Bldg. ****Building Envelope**

**Notes:**
Building data is used for COMcheck-EZ software runs. 
The user can choose to enter the activity area breakdowns in COMcheck-EZ but may prefer to consider the entire building “office”. 

## Sigma 2 Bldg. Lighting Plan – Existing Lighting

**Sigma 2 Bldg. ****Lighting Plan – Existing Lighting**

**Notes:**
Existing lighting is detailed in this lighting schedule.  The number of fixtures are listed for software inputs. Symbols are used so the specific locations of the various lighting fixtures can be verified on the plan.

## Sigma 2 Bldg. Mechanical Plan

**Sigma 2 Bldg.**** ****Mechanical Plan**

**Notes:**
The unit numbers and corresponding descriptions of the heat pump units are listed on the mechanical plan.  This information is taken from the original building plans.  Not all of the information listed will be used for inputs in COMcheck-EZ.  

NOTE:  The exterior lighting is not entered into the software for code compliance.  Only efficacy requirements apply to exterior lighting.  The exterior lighting is included as part of the lighting schedule because this case study is intended to represent (although greatly simplified and generalized) what users will find in typical building plans.

##  Building Section

** ****Building Section**

**Notes:**
The material specifications and dimensions in this section are used for a number of inputs in both COMcheck-EZ.  

The overhang dimension and vertical window placement are used to determine the projection factor ( .5) used in COMcheck-EZ. 

The extension (the distance the overhang extends horizontally in the plane of the window past the edge of the window jambs) is assumed to be 3’ for this case study.  This assumption approximates the continuous overhang present in this building.

## Overhang/Projection Factor (PF) 

- Overhang/Projection Factor (PF)

**PF= A/B**
**PF=0.5**

## Red Mountain Feed & Irrigation  Floor Plan

**Red Mountain Feed & Irrigation **** Floor Plan**

- Inside Office/Bathroom

- Storage

## Exterior Walls:  3,954 sq.ft. 

**Exterior Walls**:  3,954 sq.ft.
- 10’ High:  R10 between girt & metal wall + 2x4 R11 metal studs,
- 	0.071 u-factor, heat capacity=1  (2,176 sq. ft.)
- 5’ High:  R10 between girt & metal wall  (928 sq. ft.)

## Walls

## Lighting

## Red Mountain FeedLighting Plan 

**Red Mountain Feed****Lighting Plan **

- Lighting Schedule
- 8’ Industrial Fluorescent, 2 F96T12 Slimline Lamps & Energy Saving Magnetic Ballast
- 43 Fixtures, 173 watts/fixture
- 2’x4” Troffer 2 F32T8 lamps and GEB, 6 Fixtures, 59 watts/fixture

**Notes:**
The material specifications and dimensions in this section are used for a number of inputs in both COMcheck-EZ.  

The overhang dimension and vertical window placement are used to determine the projection factor ( .5) used in COMcheck-EZ. 

The extension (the distance the overhang extends horizontally in the plane of the window past the edge of the window jambs) is assumed to be 3’ for this case study.  This assumption approximates the continuous overhang present in this building.

## Heating System

- Pellet Stove

- Unit Heater

## Roof:   5,000 sq.ft.  Metal w/1” Styrofoam thermal block, R-13 Insulation

**Roof:**   5,000 sq.ft.  Metal w/1” Styrofoam thermal block, R-13 Insulation
**Exterior Walls**:  6,397 sq.ft.
**Windows:**  144 sq.ft. Metal Frame, double pane, tinted, U-factor .75,  SHGC .88, PF .33
- Glass Doors:  42 sq. ft., Metal Frame, U-factor .92, SHGC .87, PF, .33
- Window/Wall Ratio = 2.9%
**Doors**:  100 sq. ft.Overhead Metal, U-value .60, other metal-42’, u-value 1.20

**Floor:  **5000sq.ft./300 linear feet, unheated slab on grade, R10 2’ vertical

**Red Mountain Feed ****Building Envelope**

**Notes:**
Building data is used for COMcheck-EZ software runs. 
The user can choose to enter the activity area breakdowns in COMcheck-EZ but may prefer to consider the entire building “office”. 

## Tri-Cities Battery Building Envelope/1st Floor

**Tri-Cities Battery ****Building Envelope/1****st**** Floor**

**Notes:**
Building data is used for COMcheck-EZ software runs. 
The user can choose to enter the activity area breakdowns in COMcheck-EZ but may prefer to consider the entire building “office”. 

## Tri-Cities Battery Lighting Plan/1st Floor

**Tri-Cities Battery ****Lighting Plan/1st Floor**

**Notes:**
Building data is used for COMcheck-EZ software runs. 
The user can choose to enter the activity area breakdowns in COMcheck-EZ but may prefer to consider the entire building “office”. 

## Floor:  5000sq.ft./300 linear feet, unheated slab on grade, R10 2’ vertical

**Roof:**   	9,316 gross sq. ft.
- Simple Saver System, 7,290 sq. ft., R24, U-factor 0.042
- Metal w/no thermal block, 1,053 sq. ft., R38
- Wood Vaulted, 973 sq. ft., R30,
**Exterior Walls**:
- 2x6 Wood Stud, 2,196 sq. ft., R19 + R3 EIFS
- 2x6 Metal Stud,  24 o.c., sq. ft. 4,667, R19
**Windows:**
- Dbl. pane, fixed, 471 sq. ft., U-factor .72, SHGC .60, PF  .25 (store front)
- Dbl. pane, fixed, 208 sq. ft., U-factor .75, SHGC .60, PF .25
- Glass Doors/Overhead:  971 sq. ft., U-factor .75, SHGC .88, PF .2
**Doors**:  Metal insulated, 84 sq. ft., U-factor .60 (main)
- Metal insulated, 1073 sq. ft., U-factor .60 (overhead)
**Floor:  **5000sq.ft./300 linear feet, unheated slab on grade, R10 2’ vertical

**Tri-Cities Battery ****Building Envelope**

**Notes:**
Building data is used for COMcheck-EZ software runs. 
The user can choose to enter the activity area breakdowns in COMcheck-EZ but may prefer to consider the entire building “office”.