# Presentation: 766280

## Utility Brown Bag Series

**PTCS Commissioning**** **

**Updated following**
**May 17, 2006**
**Conference Call**

**Speakers:          Adam Hadley, BPA**
**	****        ****Rosalie Nourse, BPA**
**	****        ****Kathy Moore, Umatilla Electric Cooperative**
**	****        ****Ottie Nabors, BPA**
***Facilitated by:  Rosalie Nourse, BPA***

## Heat Pump Changes      – The 3 Causes

- BPA’s programs move from “building conservation infrastructure” to “acquiring cost-effective energy savings”.
- Region commissions Ecotope to study savings for heat pumps.  Results show:
- Refrigerant charge is less important than originally assumed
- Airflow is very important
- Control of resistance elements is very important
- 3. 	Climate Crafters closes their doors.

## Change Summary	

- All heat pumps are now assumed to be “upgrades.” (No “conversions”)
- Duct sealing required where ducts “substantially outside” heated space. **(1)**
- Commissioning is required on all heat pumps. **(1)**
- Commissioning specifications change significantly. **(2)**
- BPA hires Ecos to act as third party Performance Tested Comfort SystemsTM (PTCS) service provider for duct and heat pump certifications. **(3)**

## PTCS Heat Pump Commissioning	

- Controls
- Strip heat off at outdoor temperatures above 35°F.
- Airflow
- TrueFlow plate tested airflow > 350 CFM/ton
- Refrigerant Charge
- Weigh-in method  **OR**
- Superheat/subcool method
- CheckMe!, or ACRx Handtool.

## Testing Equipment

- Equipment available from _[www.energyconservatory.com](http://www.energyconservatory.com/)_
- PTCS technicians receive a 7.5 percent discount
- PTCS Heat Pump Technicians ($1,425)
- TrueFlow Plate ($690)
- Pressure Gauge ($735)
- PTCS Duct Technicians ($3,335)
- Duct Blaster ($1,000)
- Blower Door ($1,600)
- Pressure Gauge ($735)
- Note: Prices shown are approximate.  Contact Energy Conservatory for actual pricing.

## PTCS Duct Sealing

- Specifications have not changed.
- “. . . houses with a “substantial” amount of ductwork in unconditioned space shall have duct system certified . . ..”
- Substantial = 75 percent or more outside heated space.
- Please don’t use a tape measure!  75 percent is a guideline.  Use best judgment here.

## Utility Role

- Verify systems meet specifications.
- Make a determination of duct location.
- Maintain the following documentation:
- ARI efficiency ratings
- System sizing
- Manual J calculations
- Balance point worksheet
- PTCS Commissioned Heat Pump Certification
- PTCS Duct System Certification (where required)

*Note: This is a summary of the installation specifications.*

## ARI Ratings – www.aridirectory.org

## Balance Point Worksheet

## Utility Role, continued 

- BPA does **NOT** expect utilities to directly inspect or test for:
- Airflow
- Refrigerant Charge
- Controls
- Duct Leakage
- The tests above are performed by certified technicians.
- Quality is assured by the PTCS service provider.

## PTCS Topics

- PTCS Training
- Reporting and Recording PTCS Measures
- Quality Assurance (QA)

## PTCS Training

- Training coordinated between utility & Ecos, with BPA Energy Efficiency Representatives (EERs) as intermediaries.
- Utilities provide and coordinate training sites, provide logistical support and market training opportunity to local technicians, and perform class registration.
- Support costs can be claimed under the Conservation Rate Credit or Conservation Acquisition Agreement administrative allowance.
- Ecos provides duct sealing and heat pump commissioning training.
- Ecos has a list of current technicians that may be shared with utilities to help market PTCS.
- Class size:  Maximum of 10 students each for the heat pump commissioning; and duct sealing.  Minimum of six students per class.

## PTCS Training, continued

- Who should attend?
- Heat pump technicians who have not taken the new heat pump commissioning training.
- Duct technicians who want to certify new & retrofit PTCS duct systems.
- Exceptions:
- Anyone who had the 3-day duct sealing training offered by the Oregon Department of Energy or Climate Crafters can be certified without additional training.  They will be contacted by Ecos to determine interest in participating in PTCS training.
- Anyone who had 2-day duct sealing training offered by ENERGY STAR® can be certified for new homes without additional training.  They will need to take the 3-day training to perform retrofit work.

## Training Overview

- Kathy Moore, Umatilla Electric Cooperative
- Other utilities

## Reporting and Recording PTCS Measures

- Technicians fill out a 2-part form.
- Certification document
- Field form: Utility enters measure information into Regional Technical Forum Planning, Tracking, and Reporting (PTR) system (certification part only).
- Assurance of compliance: Ecos vets field form to assure compliance with standards.

## Quality Assurance

- Results used to improve duct sealing and heat pump commissioning.
- Site visits coordinated through utility.
- Results shared with utility and certified technicians.
- 10 percent of certified sites subject to QA visits.
- Non-compliant sites flagged for follow up by technician for corrective action.