# Presentation: 247795

## 2000 International Energy

- Conservation Code
- Using
- COM*check*-*EZ**TM*

- U.S. Department of Energy

## Code Copyright

- Please be aware that all actual code text and graphics from the International Energy Conservation Code are copyrighted by the International Code Council

- ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
- MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
- LIGHTING COMPLIANCE
- SOFTWARE

- Scope and Application

## 	What is COMcheck-EZ TM?

- Method for demonstrating compliance with Chapter 8 of the 2000 IECC
- Resultant building will generally meet or exceed the energy efficiency of a building constructed to the code
- COM*check*-*EZ* can be used when adopting authority has approved its use

## What Buildings Does COMcheck-EZ TM Apply To?

- Building type list changes depending on what code is selected for compliance

- Examples include
- 	Offices
- 	Retail, Grocery and Wholesale Stores
- 	Restaurants
- 	Assembly and Conference AreasIndustrial Work Buildings
- 	Commercial or Industrial Warehouses
- 	Schools and Churches
- 	Theaters
- 	Apartment Buildings with Four or More Habitable           	Stories
- 	Hotels and Motels

**Notes:**
COMcheck--EZ can be used to demonstrate energy code compliance in the design and construction of most types of commercial and high-rise buildings.

You must use the software method to demonstrate compliance for buildings having a window-wall ratio (WWR) of more than 50%.

One and two family residential and multifamily 3 stories or less are covered under the residential energy code currently in place.

## Very low energy use buildings             
    (<3.4 Btu/h-ft2  or 1 W/ft2)
Buildings (or portions of) that are neither heated nor cooled
Buildings designated as historic

-     (<3.4 Btu/h-ft2  or 1 W/ft2)
- Buildings (or portions of) that are neither heated _nor_ cooled
- Buildings designated as historic

- Exceptions

**Notes:**
  Very low energy use building
  This includes heating, cooling, lighting and water heating

  An unconditioned warehouse is an example of an unconditioned space

Buildings designated as historic
  National/state/local historical register
  Some jurisdictions may still require additions to these structures to comply with the energy code.

## Overview of the COMcheck-EZ TM Materials

-     Scope and Application Compliance Guide
-     Envelope              Compliance Guide
-     Mechanical Compliance Guide

-     Lighting Compliance Guide
-     Software Compliance Guide

**Notes:**
These guides are available in pdf format on the CheckMate CD.  The Software Compliance Guide is online as the software help.

## COMcheck-EZ TM Compliance Process

- COM*check*-*EZ** *TM Compliance Process

- Each element must comply on its own

- Envelope

- Lighting

- Mechanical

**Notes:**
Each discipline complies on its own
The building envelope complies independently from the mechanical or lighting systems.  The lighting system must comply separately from the mechanical and building envelope and, the mechanical system is independent from the lighting and building envelope.

Different methods of compliance can be used for the building.  For example, COMcheck-EZ can be used for the building envelope.  The LTGSTD program can be used for the lighting system in the same building and the provisions from the ASHRAE 90.1 energy code can be used to make the built-up mechanical system comply.

Trade-offs are only allowed between systems (e.g building envelope and lighting) if using an Energy Cost Budget approach as specified in the ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Code.

## Does The Code Apply?

**Question:**
- The sketch below shows a building with four different spaces.  Spaces A, B, and C do not have installed heating or cooling equipment.  Are any of these spaces exempt from the COM*check*-*EZ*TM requirements?

**Notes:**
The conductivity of the heat is based on the wall area and the amount of insulation in the walls separating conditioned space from unconditioned space and unconditioned space from the outdoors.  Space A is in contact with conditioned space on three sides.  Space C is in contact with conditioned space on two sides.  Space B is in contact with conditioned space on only one side.  If we assume that all of the walls shown have the same amount of insulation, the conductance of the walls between the conditioned space and spaces A and C is greater than or equal to the conductance of the walls in contact with the outdoors.  Spaces A and C are considered conditioned spaces and thus must meet the COMcheck-EZ requirements.  Space B does not have to meet the COMcheck-EZ requirements because the heat conductance to the outdoors is greater than the heat conductance to the conditioned space.

## Newly Conditioned Space (Previously Unconditioned)

- Envelope, mechanical and lighting systems must be brought into compliance
- Potential problem areas
- Building envelope
- Lighting system
- Recommendations
- Demonstrate compliance for systems at the time of permit

**Notes:**
Many code enforcement jurisdictions require that building owners sign an affidavit when applying for the initial building permit for a shell building.  The owner acknowledges in the affidavit the potential difficulties associated with postponing envelope and lighting compliance.  To minimize these difficulties, permit applicants should demonstrate compliance when each system is installed.

Examples include adding a conditioned office area to an existing unconditioned warehouse.  The building envelope would need to be brought into compliance.  This could be done by
  adding insulation
  decreasing or changing out the windows
  reducing the lighting levels if lighting levels did not meet code

## New Construction in Existing Buildings (Tenant Improvements)

- New system(s) must comply
- Envelope (should already comply)
- Mechanical
- Lighting

**Office**

**Restaurant**

**New****Tenant****Space**

**Retail**

**Bakery**

**Notes:**
Tenant improvements in an existing building (the base building has been constructed, but the individual tenant spaces have not been completed) are considered new construction.  All envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems and components being installed must comply with some or all of the COMcheck-EZ requirements.
Existing systems and components not subject to the current permit application must comply with the COMcheck-EZ requirements when conditioning previously unconditioned spaces.

A tenant improvement space in a strip shopping center is a common example.  Typically, the tenant is required to comply with the mechanical and lighting requirements of the energy code.

## Alterations to Existing Spaces

- Applies to only portions of the systems being altered
- Applies if alteration increases energy use
- Alterations must meet the requirements applying to the altered component
- New systems in the alterations must comply

**Notes:**
In most cases, existing envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems and components set the requirements for alterations.  For example, envelope alterations comply if the overall performance of the envelope is not degraded.  Similarly, lighting alterations comply if the building’s overall connected lighting load does not increase.  Mechanical alterations are governed primarily by the requirements for each altered component.

## Additions

- Construction of new conditioned space or the conditioning of previously unconditioned space
- Treat the envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems as if the addition were a new building

**Notes:**
Additions are newly constructed conditioned spaces or previously unconditioned spaces after heating or cooling equipment has been installed.  All additions must comply with the COMcheck-EZ requirements.
Envelope, lighting, and mechanical systems and components are treated the same as they are for new buildings.  Existing systems simply extended into an addition do not have to be brought up to COMcheck-EZ efficiency levels.

Additions can be combined with the existing buildings to show compliance with the code.

## Additions (cont’d)

- Compliance options for additions
- Treat as a stand-alone building
- Bring entire building into compliance

**Notes:**
1.  Treat the addition as a stand-alone building and ignore the common walls between the existing building and the addition.  You can use either the COMcheck-EZ prescriptive or software method to demonstrate compliance for this option.
2.  Combine the existing building with the addition.  You can use only the COMcheck-EZ software method to demonstrate compliance for this option.

## Mixed Use Buildings

- Minor occupancy
- <10% of floor area
- Treat as major occupancy
- Different commercial occupancies
- Treat building under the same compliance process as single occupancy building

- Clothing Store

- Office

- Barber Shop

- Bakery

- Shoe Store

**Notes:**
COMcheck-EZ uses the same compliance process for commercial buildings with multiple-occupancy types as for those with a single-occupancy type.

Minor occupancy rules allow a 1000 ft2  office to be combined with a 10,000 ft2 retail store under the prescriptive lighting whole building approach.

## Mixed Use Buildings (cont’d)

- Hotel/motel and commercial occupancies
- Treat as different commercial occupancies
- Mixed residential and commercial occupancies
- Treat the residential occupancy under the applicable residential code
- Treat the commercial occupancy under the commercial code

**Notes:**
Mixed residential and commercial occurs when a building has three or fewer stories and contains both residential and commercial occupants, with the minor occupancy type taking up more than 10% of the building’s conditioned floor area.

The residential and commercial occupancies fall under two different scopes.  Thus, two compliance submittals must be prepared using the appropriate calculations and forms from the respective codes for each.

## Change in Occupancy

- No action is required if alterations are not made to the building systems

- Mel’s Diner

- EAT

- Mel’s Diner

- MEL’S

- Jim’s Java

- JAVA

- Mel and JimAttorneys at Law

**Notes:**
COMcheck-EZ requirements generally do not apply to occupancy changes.  However, if physical changes are made to the building, the rules for alterations or additions may apply.  Your code enforcement official will need to evaluate these changes on a case-by-case basis to determine energy requirements.

## Problem

**Question:**
- A building owner wants to rearrange some interior partitions and reposition the light fixtures in the affected rooms.  Do any requirements exist for this alteration?

**Notes:**
Because no change exists in the connected lighting load, only the control, switching, and wiring requirements apply.  For example, each newly arranged room must have a light switch, and any one- or three-lamp ballasts must be tandem wired.

## Problem

**Question:**
- A building owner wants to install a new window in an old building, which will increase the glazing area.  How can COM*check*-*EZ*TM help demonstrate compliance?

**Notes:**
The new window will degrade the overall building performance.  Therefore, the increased glazing area must be offset with other envelope improvements.  You can use the COMcheck-EZ software to show that additional insulation will offset the added glazing by ensuring the building’s compliance margin with the new glazing is at least as large as its compliance margin without the new glazing.

## SCOPE AND APPLICATION

MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
LIGHTING COMPLIANCE
SOFTWARE

- MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
- LIGHTING COMPLIANCE
- SOFTWARE

- Envelope Compliance

## Scope

- Applies to the building envelope surrounding conditioned space
- Affects heating and cooling system

**Notes:**
The parts of the building that will be conditioned must be determined.  The surfaces that surround this conditioned space (the building envelope) must comply with the code.  This includes the
  roof
  walls
  floor

Glazing area, type and placement, as well as insulation levels and placement, affect the size of the heating and cooling system.

## Building Envelope vs. HVAC Loads

- Cold outside temperature
- heat loss/air leakage add to heating load
- Hot outside temperature
- solar gains add to air conditioning loads
- Fenestration is the most important element of a commercial building envelope

**Notes:**
The building envelope is closely tied to HVAC loads.
If penetrations in the building envelope are not sealed properly, air leakage will affect the heating loads.
If glazing does not have the proper SHGCs, additional solar gains entering the envelope will add to air-conditioning loads.

## Scope

- Envelope requirements

- _Mandatory Requirements_
-   Air Leakage
- Materials & Equipment Information
- Vapor Retarders

- Prescriptive Packages

- Building EnvelopeCompliance

- Software

**Notes:**
Mandatory requirements must be met regardless of the levels of insulation or type and areas of the windows.

Two compliance methods are available to demonstrate compliance for insulation and windows:

  packages - all components must meet or exceed the requirements.

  Software - trade-offs are allowed between the insulation levels of different components.

## Air Leakage

- Caulk, gasket, weatherstrip or otherwise seal all joints and penetrations in the building envelope

**Notes:**
The following areas, where they occur in the building envelope, must be sealed:
  - exterior joints around window and door frames
  - between wall sole plates, floors, and exterior-wall panels
  - openings for plumbing, electricity, refrigerant, and gas lines in exterior walls, floors, and roofs
  - openings in the attic floor (such as where ceiling panels meet interior and exterior walls and masonry fireplaces)
  - service and access doors or hatches
  - all similar openings in the building envelope

Sealing the building envelope reduces air infiltration in the building.

Mechanical systems will need to condition any “unwanted” air that enters the building.  Reducing the infiltration levels will reduce the quantity of unwanted air that enters the building.

## Infiltration Controls

**Notes:**
Examples of penetrations within the building envelope.  Clockwise from left, plumbing lines have been sealed where they pass through an exterior wall, the next two photos illustrate sealing between wall panels, and the last picture shows a site-built window which has not yet been properly sealed.

## Air Leakage

- Manufactured window and door air leakage rates
- Labeled windows and doors enforced at point of manufacturer
- Non-labeled windows and doors ~ use manufacturers test results

**Maximum Allowed Air Leakage Rates**

**Frame Type****	****Windows (cfm per ft. of****	****Sliding          Swinging****	****  operable sash cracks)****	**

**	****	****	****Doors (cfm per sq. ft.****	****	****	****     of door area)****	**

-       Wood	                  0.25		      N/A                  0.25
-   Aluminum	                  0.37                                       0.37                 1.25
-          PVC	                  0.06                                       0.37                 N/A**            ****	**

**Notes:**
Site-built windows must be sealed.  No infiltration rates apply in this application.

## Materials and Equipment Information

- Identify materials and equipment used for compliance
- Building Plans
- U-values of windows and doors
- SHGC of windows
- R-values of all insulation
- Window dimensions on floor plans or window schedule

**Notes:**
If two or more different insulation levels exist for the same building component, record each level separately on the plans or specifications.

It is critical that levels of insulation, window type, etc., be noted on the building plans.  The building plans will be used as bid documents and for field inspection.

Information that does not make it on the plans has a good chance of not being installed in the finished building.

## Materials and Equipment Information

- Building Site
- Labels on insulation and windows
- Contractor certification statements
- Blown-in insulation
- Initial installed and settled thickness
- Coverage area and number of bags
- “Guaranteed R-value” products

**Notes:**
Component R-values and U-factors must be provided so compliance can be determined.
Blown-in insulation
  - initial installed thickness, settled thickness, coverage area, and number of bags used must be clearly posted at the job site.
For components having a manufacturer’s guaranteed R-value rating, thickness markers must be placed at least every 300 feet.
For components without a manufacturer’s guaranteed R-value rating, contact the Insulation Contractors Association of America for an approved way to ensure proper insulation levels are obtained.
All COMcheck-EZ insulation requirements assume the insulation is installed at its standard thickness.  If insulation is compressed, the R-value is reduced and the building may not meet the requirements.
Check with your code enforcement official for requirements on certifying building components.
Manufacturer’s literature can be requested if there is a question during field inspection on an insulation R-value, window U-value or other efficiency level.

## Vapor Retarder

- Install in nonvented framed ceilings, walls, floors
- Must have a Perm Rating of 1.0
- Install on the “warm-in-winter” side of insulation

**Notes:**
Nonvented areas are framed cavities without vents or other openings to allow for free air movement.

## Vapor Retarder

-   People

-   Other

- 20oF

- LowVaporPressure

- 70oF

**Notes:**
In a situation with low vapor pressure outside and high vapor pressure inside, the high vapor pressure will travel towards the areas of low vapor pressure.  If the vapor reaches dew point and condenses within an unvented cavity (such as a wall), the moisture could degrade the insulation and perhaps the framing members if a vapor barrier is not installed.

## Vapor Retarders

- Exceptions
- All of climate zones 1-7 are exempt from this requirement (check your state maps)

**Notes:**
Example of unfaced batts covered by polyethylene sheeting - used as the vapor barrier.

## Building Envelope Compliance

- _Mandatory Requirements_
-   Air Leakage
- Materials & Equipment Information
- Vapor Retarders

- Prescriptive Packages

- Building EnvelopeCompliance

- Software

**Notes:**
COMcheck-EZ includes a manual method (prescriptive compliance path) and a software method (system performance compliance path).  Either method can be used to demonstrate that a proposed building design complies with the COMcheck-EZ requirements.

Only construction referenced in the building permit application must comply with the COMcheck-EZ requirements.  Each system - envelope, mechanical, and lighting - must comply separately.  For example, if the building permit application is for only the lighting system, then the envelope and mechanical provisions do not apply.  Trade-offs between systems are only allowed if utilizing an Energy Cost Budget approach (not available in COMcheck-EZ).

## Prescriptive Packages

- For buildings with 50% WWR or less
- Minimal calculations
- Based on:
- Climate zone
- Window wall ratio
- Construction assembly
- All components must meet or exceed package requirements

**Notes:**
The prescriptive method is a package approach that requires all components in your design to meet or exceed prescribed efficiency levels contained in the prescriptive package table for your building’s climate zone.
If one component does not meet the prescribed efficiency level, you must:
  use the software method to demonstrate compliance, or
  change the building design.
In addition, the prescriptive packages are restricted to use with buildings <=50% glazing, for buildings with more glazing, you must use the software method.

## Prescriptive Packages Climate Zone Map

## Show Example Packages

## Prescriptive Packages Window-Wall Ratio (WWR)

- Gross window area / gross wall area
- Gross wall area includes
- Above-grade walls
- Band joist and subfloor between floors
- Area of all doors and windows

**Notes:**
The gross window area includes the rough-opening area of the window, not just the transparent glass area.

You must use the software method to demonstrate compliance for buildings having a window-wall ratio (WWR) of more than 50%.

## Prescriptive Packages Walls and Doors

- Walls
- Walls next to unconditioned space
- “Low fenestration area”
- Doors
- <5% of gross wall area ~ No requirement
- Sliding glass and atrium doors that function as windows
- Must meet window requirements
- >5% of gross wall area
- R-value requirements for the predominant wall construction class

**Notes:**
The R-values in the packages only apply to the installed insulation.  For example an R-13 wall insulation requirement requires an R-13 to be installed between framing members.

Insulation levels can be added together to meet the R-value requirement.  For example, an R-11 insulation installed between studs in a wall can be added to an R-5 exterior sheathing for an added R-value of R-16.
Concrete masonry unit walls may be insulated by filling the empty core with perlite, vermiculite, or some other insulative material.  In some cases, even with filled cores, these wall types require additional insulation.
Metal buildings - special attention to the design and construction of metal buildings is required to ensure these buildings meet the COMcheck-EZ requirements.  Two key elements exist in metal buildings that are not found in other building classes - thermally broken connections between the purlin and metal roof sheet and compression of insulation behind wall girths and roof purlins.

## Insulating Concrete Walls

**Notes:**
Example of a concrete wall with metal furring.

## Insulating Framed Walls

**Notes:**
Example of a properly insulated framed wall.

## Prescriptive PackagesWindows

- Requirements based on
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
- Requirements dependent on projection factor
- National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) tested
- Maximum U-value

**Notes:**
SHGC is described in more detail in the following slides.

## Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

- The glazing’s effectiveness in rejecting solar heat gain
- Part of a system for rating window performance
- used by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
- Gradually replacing shading coefficient (SC) in product literature and design standards
- convert SC to SHGC by multiplying the SC value by 0.87

**Notes:**
SHGC is the glazing’s effectiveness in rejecting solar heat gain.  SHGC is part of a system for rating window performance used by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  SHGC is gradually replacing the older index, shading coefficient (SC), in product literature and design standards.  If you are using glass whose performance is listed in terms of SC, you may convert to SHGC by multiplying the SC value by 0.87.
Your design must have a SHGC less than or equal to that in the prescriptive package.  The SHGC requirement is affected by the projection factor (PF) of qualifying overhangs.

## Restricted to  3% of roof area
Requirements based on
U-value ~ NFRC tested or default U-value table

- Requirements based on
- U-value ~ NFRC tested or default U-value table

- _Prescriptive Packages_Skylights

**Notes:**
A skylight U-factor is based on the interior-surface area of the entire assembly, including glazing, sash, curbing, and other framing elements.  Center-of-glass U-factors cannot be used.
If an NFRC U-factor rating is available for the skylight, you should use its BB-size (ie, 48 by 48 in.) rating.  Newer NFRC labels specify commercial rather than BB.
Buildings with skylight percentages over 3% of the gross roof area must use the software approach or reduce the skylight area.  

## Requirements based on
Assembly type
Continuous insulation
Cavity insulation
All R-values must meet or exceed

- Requirements based on
- Assembly type
- Continuous insulation
- Cavity insulation
- All R-values must meet or exceed

- _Prescriptive Packages_Roofs and Floors

**Notes:**
In some cases the WWR will affect the roof insulation requirement.
Roof insulation in buildings with attics must be installed to allow for free circulation of air through the attic eave vents.
R-values for roofs represent cavity insulation and/or insulating sheathing (depending on the package selected).  For example, if R-19 batt insulation is to be used with R-4 insulating sheathing, enter “R-19 + R-4” in the Proposed R-value column.
Metal buildings - there are two classes of metal building roofs.  One class uses traditional techniques that drape the insulation over the purlin and fasten the metal roof sheets through the insulation directly to the purlin.  The second class requires that a thermal block be placed between the metal roof sheet and purlin.
A thermal block consists of foam blocks or other materials/techniques that prevent heat from migrating from the purlin directly to the metal roof sheet.  Compressed fiberglass batt insulation does not qualify as a thermal block.

## Roof Systems Insulation

**Notes:**
Example of continuous insulation placed on a roof deck.

## Slab edge insulation
Proposed R-value must meet or exceed

- Proposed R-value must meet or exceed

- _Prescriptive Packages_Floors

**Notes:**
Slab-edge insulation may be installed vertically or horizontally on the inside or outside of foundation walls. 
If installed vertically, it must extend downward from the top of the slab to the top of the footing (or 48 in., whichever is less).  
If installed horizontally, it must cover the slab edge and then extend horizontally (to the interior or exterior) for a minimum distance of 40 in.

## Surface area in direct contact with the Earth
Proposed R-value(s) must meet or exceed required R-value
Cavity insulation
Insulating sheathing

- Proposed R-value(s) must meet or exceed required R-value
- Cavity insulation
- Insulating sheathing

- _Prescriptive Packages_Basement Walls

**Notes:**
Where 15% or less of a basement wall assembly is above grade (based on exterior surface area), the basement wall requirement from the prescriptive package may be used for the entire assembly.
Basement wall insulation must cover the entire basement wall but does not have to extend more than one story below grade.

- SCOPE AND APPLICATION
- ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
- LIGHTING COMPLIANCE
- SOFTWARE

- Mechanical Compliance

## Scope

- Heating, cooling, ventilating and water heating account for 40% of commercial building energy use

**Notes:**
Improving the energy efficiency of mechanical systems and equipment serving these loads in commercial buildings can significantly reduce U.S. energy use.  New technologies and practices applied to mechanical designs produce energy-efficient systems while maintaining occupant comfort.

## Scope

- COM*check-EZ *TM encourages efficient mechanical design by:
- Requiring minimum equipment efficiency
- Minimizing distribution losses in ductwork
- Optimizing system controls
- Requiring acceptable levels of outdoor ventilation
- Requiring hydronic heating system features to reduce distribution losses
- Requiring specific water-heating system components to reduce distribution and standby losses

**Notes:**
The requirements described in the Mechanical section are typically incorporated in the design of the system as standard practice.  For example, the system control requirements dictate that each system shall have a thermostat capable of controlling the system.  You cannot purchase a piece of equipment in the US that does not meet the equipment efficiency requirements.

## Scope

- Systems that provide heating, cooling or ventilation for human comfort
- Exception:  Systems that serve an industrial process

**Notes:**
Systems serving a process load are not covered under COMcheck-EZ.  For example, a system serving a computer room specifically designed to cool the system and not for human comfort is exempt from the requirements.

## HVAC Systems

**Notes:**
Example of a roof-top unit.

## HVAC Systems

**Notes:**
Example of a unit heater.

## Equipment Efficiency

- Most packaged equipment is covered by NAECA and therefore already meets the  requirements before it can be sold

**Notes:**
Don’t need to worry about equipment efficiency as part of field inspection.  Equipment sold in the U.S. must already meet efficiency requirements.

## NAECA

- National Appliance Energy Conservation Act
- Specifies equipment performance of heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, and other equipment
- Applicable equipment must meet NAECA before it can be sold in the United States -  *No need to enforce at the building department counter*

**Notes:**
Since it is the manufacturer’s requirement to produce equipment that meets the NAECA requirements, there is no need for the equipment efficiency to be checked during plan review or field inspection.

## Outdoor Ventilation Air and Exhaust

- Applies to all enclosed spaces normally used by humans
- Spaces must be continuously ventilated
- Mechanically
- Naturally
- Use either:
- Building or mechanical code of local jurisdiction
- Chapter 4 of the ICC International Mechanical           Code (IMC)

**Notes:**
In addition, spaces that contain unusual sources of contaminants must be designed with enclosures to contain the contaminants.  These spaces must also have local exhaust systems to directly vent the contaminants (see the state or local mechanical code or IMC).

## Mechanical Ventilation

- Requirements for mechanically ventilated spaces
- Minimum ventilation rates
- System controls
- Dampers

**Notes:**
If your design is mechanically ventilated, it must
	- meet minimum ventilation rates
	- meet provisions for operating the system at those rates
	- include dampers to prevent air infiltration during periods of building nonuse

## Chapter 4 of the IMC

- _Mechanical Ventilation_Minimum Ventilation Rates

**Notes:**
The heating/cooling system must supply the minimum-required outdoor air to the space.  A supply- and return-air system or an exhaust system must supply the outdoor air.  Use the ventilation requirements prescribed by your local mechanical code or Chapter 4 of the IMC in the absence of a mechanical code.

This table was developed by multiplying the number of people/ft2 by CFM/person to come up with CFM/ ft2 . 

## Must have the capability of controlling for continuous ventilation

- _Mechanical Ventilation_System Control Requirements

**Notes:**
Outdoor air must be brought into the building continuously during periods of occupancy.  Ventilation air must be supplied even though there is no heating or cooling demand to ensure that the occupants have a healthy work environment.  
When the heating and/or cooling system is controlled by a thermostat with a fan On/Auto switch, the switch must be in the On position.  Outdoor air is then supplied to the building whenever the system is operating.
If a thermostat with a built-in time-switch is used, the thermostat must be capable of setting back or shutting off the fan during periods of nonuse.
Some ventilation systems are designed to supply outdoor-air quantities exceeding minimum levels.  These systems must also be capable of reducing outdoor-air floor to minimum levels.
Devices such as return ducts, mechanically or automatically operated control dampers, or fan volume controls can be used to reduce air flow.

## Required for outdoor-air and exhaust systems with design air flow rates > 3000 CFM
Must automatically close during periods of non-use
Exception
Where restricted by health and life safety codes

- Must automatically close during periods of non-use
- Exception
- Where restricted by health and life safety codes

- _Mechanical Ventilation_Shutoff Dampers

**Notes:**
This requirement will mainly affect dedicated outdoor-air supply systems in paint shops, restaurants, and auditoriums.

## Natural Ventilation

- Use windows, doors, louvers or other openings to provide outdoor air
- Refer to local code
- Section 402 of the IMC

**Notes:**
Most ventilation is provided to buildings using mechanical systems since new commercial buildings utilize inoperable windows.
Refer to your state or local code or Section 402 of the IMC to find minimum area requirements for above- and below-grade openings, adjoining spaces, and spaces containing contaminants.
The codes typically require that a free opening of at least 4% of the floor area be available for natural ventilation.

## Heating and Cooling System Controls

- Each system must have a thermostat to control heating and/or cooling to each zone

***Heat Pump***

- 2:07

- pm

- 78

- o

- F    on

**+**

**-**

- Automatic

- S

- hutoff/

- S

- etback

- Heating

- s

- et

- s

- back to 55

- o

- F

- and cooling

- set

- s

-  up to

- 85

- o

- F

- .

- Fan system

- is

- on

- during normal

- occupancy

- .

- Occupant

- O

- verrides

- I

- f

- U

- sing

- H

- eat

- P

- ump

- 5 oF deadband

**Notes:**
Thermostats must have the capability to automatically set back or shut down heating and cooling systems during unoccupied hours for seven different day schedules.
Thermostats must also have an accessible 2-hour override so occupants can operate the system during off-hours.
Thermostats controlling both heating and cooling must be capable of having a 5 degree F deadband, or range of temperature where no heating or cooling is available; except  if the thermostat requires manual changeover between heating and cooling and does not have automatic changeover capability
Thermostats must have a battery backup capable of maintaining programmed settings for at least 10 hours if power is lost.
Heat pumps with supplementary electric resistance heaters must have thermostats specifically designed for heat pump operation.
A programmable thermostat must be used to meet these requirements.
Exceptions:
Thermostats that control the temperature in residences, hotel/motel guest rooms, or areas where heating and/or cooling systems must operate continuously do not require a shutoff control.
A setback or shutoff control is not required on systems with a total energy demand of 2kW (6,826 Btu/hr) or less.

## Heating and Cooling Loads

- Design heating and cooling loads
- determine using procedures equivalent to Chapters 27 and 28 of the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals or an approved equivalent computation procedure
- All equipment and systems sized to meet calculated loads
- Exceptions:
- Capacity may be greater than loads for standby purposes
- Multiple units of same equipment type whose combined capacities exceed loads

**Notes:**
All equipment and systems must be sized to be no greater than needed to meet calculated loads.  A single piece of equipment providing both heating and cooling must satisfy this provision for one function with the capacity for the other function as small as possible, within available equipment options.
The equipment and/or system capacity may be greater than calculated loads for standby, but standby equipment must be controlled to be automatically off when the primary equipment and/or system is operating.
Multiple units of the same equipment type whose combined capacities exceed the calculated load are allowed if they are provided with controls to sequence operation of each unit as the load increases or decreases.

## Economizers

- Use of outside air to actively cool interior spaces
- Adjusts outside air and exhaust dampers to utilize 100 percent outside air when its temperature makes it advantageous to do so
- Most appropriate for thermally massive buildings which have high internal loads and require cooling in interior zones year round

**Notes:**
One advantage of all-air HVAC systems is that they can utilize outside air to condition interior spaces when it is at an appropriate temperature.  The use of outside air to actively cool interior space is referred to as an economizer, or economizer cycle.  

Whenever the outside air is cooler than the cooling set-point temperature, only the distribution energy is required to provide cooling with outside air.  When the outside air temperature is above the set-point temperature but less than the return air temperature, it requires less cooling energy to utilize 100 percent outside air for supply air than to condition recycled indoor air.  An economizer cycle is nothing more than a control sequence that adjusts outside air and exhaust dampers to utilize 100 percent outside air when its temperature makes it advantageous to do so.

This simplest type of economizer utilizes a dry-bulb temperature control which activates the economizer at a predetermined outside dry-bulb temperature, usually above the supply air temperature.

An enthalpy control can instantaneously determine and compare the amount of energy required to cool 100 percent outdoor air with that required to cool the normal blend of return air.  It then selects the source which requires the least energy for cooling.

## Economizers (cont’d)

- Greatest benefit in climates having more than 2000 heating degree days
- Two types of economizer switch-over cycles
- dry-bulb
- enthalpy

**Notes:**
Both types choose between outdoor or return air streams.  The way that economizer cycles choose which air stream to use is what distinguishes them from one another.

## Economizers (cont’d)

**Notes:**
Example of an economizer control.

## Economizers (cont’d)

- Integrated air economizers required on systems
- Cooling capacity  90,000 Btu/h
- Not required in climate zones 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3b
- Check your location
- Not required for hotel/motel guest rooms, residential spaces, or supermarkets

**Notes:**
Air economizer systems take advantage of favorable weather conditions to reduce mechanical cooling by introducing cooler outdoor air into a building.  They are common on packaged rooftop heating and cooling systems.  When properly installed and maintained, these systems can reduce mechanical cooling by up to 75 percent in favorable climates.

## Trade-off high cooling efficiency for economizer
Total cooling capacity
Climate zones
Equipment efficiency (EER)

- Total cooling capacity
- Climate zones
- Equipment efficiency (EER)

- Economizers *(cont’d)*

**Building Location**

**Total Cooling Capacity of****Equipment**

**Zones 6a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15-19**

**Zones 3a, 4a, 7a, 8, 9b, 10b, 11b**

**Zones 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b**

- 90,000 Btu/h to 134,999 Btu/h	   N/A	           11.4 EER	10.4 EER
- 135,000 Btu/h to 759,999 Btu/h	   N/A	           10.9 EER	  9.9 EER
- 760,000 Btu/h or more		   N/A	           10.5 EER	  9.6 EER

**Notes:**
To identify the minimum EER necessary to trade off the economizer, first find the climate zone for your building location in the table.  Then determine if this tradeoff is applicable to your zone.  If so, find the appropriate cooling capacity of the proposed equipment.  Finally, find the corresponding minimum EER.

## Economizers (cont’d)

- Controls
- Two-stage thermostat and an economizer controller
- Dry-bulb temperature, or enthalpy, or combination
- Typically integrated in field and factory installed economizers

**Notes:**
Typical economizer controls include a two-stage thermostat and an economizer controller using dry-bulb temperature or enthalpy, or a combination of both.  
A control is also included to prevent ice from forming on cooling coils.  This control arrangement allows outdoor-air cooling, mechanical cooling, or outdoor-air plus mechanical cooling - a feature known as “integrated control”.

## Duct Construction

- Two key areas of energy loss in duct work
- Insulation
- Sealing

**Notes:**
Ducts must be properly insulated to ensure that the supply air does not heat up (when the space calls for cooling) or cool down (when the space calls for heating).  Properly sealing ducts will ensure that the occupied spaces receive the correct amount of space conditioning and that the attic or crawlspace does not become conditioned space because of leaky ducts. 

## Duct Insulation

- Required for supply and return ducts
- Requirements determined by
- Duct location
- Ducts in unconditioned spaces = R-5
- Ducts outside the building = R-8

**Notes:**
All supply- and return-air ducts and plenums must be insulated with a minimum of R-5 insulation when located in unconditioned spaces (e.g., attics, crawl spaces, unheated basements, unheated garages) and with a minimum of R-8 when located outside the building envelope.
When located within a building envelope assembly, the duct or plenum shall be separated from the building exterior or unconditioned spaces by a minimum of R-8 insulation.
Exceptions:
	- when located within equipment
	- exhaust-air ducts
	- when the design temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the duct or plenum does not exceed 15 degrees F (8 degrees C)

## Duct Sealing

- Minimizes air leakage
- Allows the transport of air to the desired location, rather than losing much of it along the run
- Allows system to operate as designed

## Duct Sealing (cont’d)

- Duct Sealing *(cont’d)*

- Flexible ducts
- Metal bands should be used on all duct connections
- Duct mastic is strongly recommended on all joints
- Seal all connections, grills, air handlers, penetrations, etc.

**Notes:**
Properly sealing plenums, air handlers, and ducts is the key to eliminating leaks.  In duct systems, all joints, longitudinal and transverse seams, and connections must be securely fastened and sealed with welds, gaskets, mastics (adhesives), mastic-plus-embedded-fabric systems, or tapes.
Duct mastic-plus-embedded-fabric is the preferred flexible sealant.  Tapes and mastics used to seal duct work must be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 181A or UL 181B.
Although COMcheck-EZ does not require duct mastic, its use is strongly encouraged.  Conventional duct tape must not be used except to seal the joints on duct access doors and air-handler panels.
Additionally, duct registers, grilles, and diffusers must be sealed to the gypsum board or other interior finish.  Penetrations into the supply or return plenum (taps, takeoffs, and starting collars) and any structural cavities used for air plenums or ducts must also be sealed.
Ducts must be connected to fans and other air distribution equipment including multi-zone terminal units using mechanical fasteners with seals, mastics or gaskets.

## Duct Sealing (cont’d)

- Duct Sealing *(cont’d)*

- Metal ducts > 0.5 inch water column
- Seal transverse seams
- Use exterior duct sealant

**Notes:**
In the diagram, an exterior-duct sealant is used to seal both transverse and longitudinal seams.
Pressure-sensitive tape (duct tape) cannot be used as the primary sealant

## Documentation

- HVAC system compliance should be documented on plans
- Equipment schedule
- Mechanical duct layout
- Plan notes
- Specifications

**Notes:**
It is important to get all the mechanical system information on the building plans (mechanical plans).  The mechanical plans will be used as bid documents and for field inspection.  
Operation and maintenance documentation must be provided to the owner that includes at least the following information:
  - equipment input and output capacity and required maintenance actions
  - equipment operation and maintenance manuals
  - HVAC system control maintenance and calibration information (including wiring diagrams, schematics, and control sequence descriptions).  Desired or field-determined set points must be permanently recorded on control drawings, at control devices, or, for digital control systems, in programming comments.
  - a complete narrative of how each system is intended to operate

## Hydronic Heating

- Heating only through individually controlled radiators or fan-coils and served by central hot water boiler
- Hydronic heating and cooling coils - test connections
- Components are required on zonal heating systems
- thermostats
- new equipment boilers and circulation pumps
- pipe insulation
- 1/2 in. on all branches for individual terminal units
- 1 1/2 in. on all circulation loop piping
- variable flow controls or temperature reset controls

**Notes:**
Hydronic heating and cooling coils must be equipped with a way to balance and pressure test connections to balance and measure water flow and pressure.

## Hydronic Heating

- Requirements for part-load controls on systems > 600,000 Btu/hr
- water temperature reset
- controls must decrease water temperature at least 25% of (design supply - return water)
- OR
- variable flow
- variable-frequency drive on pump
- multiple, staged pumps
- control valves

**Notes:**
Water temperature reset approach requires controls be installed to decrease the temperature of the water leaving the boiler as the overall demand for heating decreases.
Variable flow approach requires controls be installed to reduce the flow of water as the overall demand for heating decreases.  Variable-frequency drives on the pump will vary the speed of the pump; multiple, staged pumps will vary the number of pumps used to circulate water; control valves will modulate to vary the flow of water.

## Zones

- Zone terminal controls must:
- reduce the supply of primary supply air prior to reheating, recooling or mixing air streams (if system is variable-flow and serves multiple zones)
- be installed to reduce the flow of air through one duct to a minimum prior to mixing with air from another duct
- be controlled to prevent simultaneous supply of warm air and cool air to zones (in three-duct systems)

## Multiple Zone Systems

- Each zone must have its own temperature control device
- Must include controls to reset supply air temperature by at least 25% of the difference between the design supply air temperature and the design room temperature

## Variable Air Volume Controls

- Not required in zones:
- with special pressurization or cross-contamination requirements
- where at least 75% of the reheating and recooling energy is achieved through use of site-recovered or site solar energy
- with special humidity control requirements for specialized processes
- that require less than 300 cfm of supply air (provided total air flow to these zones does not exceed 10% of the total)
- Not required if constant volume is necessary to meet outside-air requirements of Chapter 4 of the IMC

## Water Heating

- NAECA regulated water heating equipment allowed under COM*check-EZ *TM
- Electric heaters
- Fuel-fired storage
- Packaged boilers
- Instantaneous
- Pool and spa heaters
- No gas or oil water heaters > 140 gallons

**Notes:**
COMcheck-EZ focuses on residential-scale water heaters which are covered under the NAECA requirements.  

## Water Heating (cont’d)

- Water Heating *(cont’d)*

- 1

- 2

- 3

- Heat traps to reduce standby losses
- Pipe insulation to reduce distribution and
- standby losses

- Circulation loop temperature controls to reduce distribution losses

- Summary of requirements

- 2

- 2

- 3

- CW

- In

- 2

- HWS

- Service

- Temp.

- 1

## Heat Traps

- Required on noncirculating hot water systems

**Notes:**
Heat traps stop hot water from rising into the distribution pipes and forming a natural circulation loop.
Heat traps are required in the inlet and outlet piping of noncirculating water heaters.
Some water-heating equipment has factory-installed integral heat traps.  For equipment without factory-installed integral heat traps, heat traps must be purchased and installed in the inlet and outlet connections or field-fabricated by creating a loop or inverted U-shaped arrangement of the inlet and outlet pipes.
Heat traps are not required on circulating systems.

## Pipe Insulation

- Circulating systems
- 1 in. of insulation required on all circulation piping
- Noncirculating system insulation requirements
- First eight feet of outlet piping
- Inlet piping between the storage tank and a heat trap
- Use circulating system pipe insulation table

## Circulation Loop Controls

- Application: circulating hot water systems
- Automatic time switches required to turn off the pump and heat tracer tape when it is not in use

**Notes:**
Circulating systems using heat trace tape must have a time switch control that can automatically turn off the system during unoccupied hours

## Software

- Mechanical
-  Requirements

## Software

- Enter HVAC system description
- Heating equipment type and fuel
- Cooling equipment type, condenser type, and cooling capacity
- Zoning category
- Enter central plant description
- Heating capacity range
- Boiler type
- Boiler fuel
- Cooling plant type
- Condenser type
- Cooling capacity range
- Enter service water heating details

## Mechanical

**Notes:**
Use the three buttons at the top of the Mechanical screen to enter information about the building’s HVAC system(s), plant(s), and water heating system(s).
The View menu allows you to select from viewing the components list, a requirements list, or an inspection checklist.

## SCOPE AND APPLICATION
ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE

SOFTWARE

- ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
- MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
- SOFTWARE

- Lighting Compliance

## Scope

- Energy for lighting in buildings
- Accounts for approximately 27% of energy use

**Notes:**
The lighting system in a commercial building drives the cooling loads.  The higher the wattage, the larger the cooling system to handle the increased load.  
Energy-efficient lighting in commercial buildings can significantly reduce U.S. energy use.  New technologies are available that, when applied to lighting designs, produce energy-efficient lighting without decreasing lighting quality.

## Lighting and HVAC

- Nearly all energy consumed by lighting systems is converted to light, heat and noise, which dissipate into the building
- Therefore, if the amount of energy consumed by a lighting system is reduced
- the amount of heat energy going into a building will also be reduced
- less air-conditioning will be needed
- the amount of winter-time heating may be increased

**Notes:**
Example:
100 kWh increase of 20kWh cooling
1KW increase = .2 kWh cooling load

## Scope

- Applies to the design of the:
- first installed lighting systems
- altered system that increases the lighting load
- Lighting systems used for specialized commercial, display and emergency use purposes are exempt

## ScopeExempt Systems    

- specialized medical, dental, and research
- professional sports arenas
- display lighting for exhibits in galleries and museums
- guest room lighting in hotels and motels
- emergency lighting normally off

## ScopeInterior Lighting Requirements    

-   Controls
-   Switching
-   Wiring

- _Scope_Interior Lighting Requirements

**Notes:**
Interior lighting requirements are divided into a set of mandatory requirements, provisions that must be complied with regardless of the quantity of lighting that is installed, and two methods for determining the allowed wattage for the building.  
The Prescriptive approach contains a look up table to determine allowed wattage for each occupancy type.  The Software approach automates the Prescriptive approach.

## Independent Switching

- Lighting controls required for each area enclosed by ceiling height partitions
- Switch locations
- In view of lights
- “On” or “off” indication from                remote location
- Occupancy sensor

**Notes:**
Building occupants must have the ability to control the lights in their work spaces and to turn lights off when the spaces are not occupied.  

## Independent Switching (cont’d) 

- Exceptions
- Emergency/security lighting
- Public areas
- Building lobbies
- Retail stores
- Other public areas

**Notes:**
Emergency and security areas must be designated as such on the plans, and the lights must be controlled by switches accessible only to authorized personnel.
Public area lights can be controlled by a single switch for the entire area.
For security reasons, it is often important to have switching inaccessible to the general public.

## Hotel/Motel Guest Room Switching

- Standard Room

- Suite

- Master switch required at entry

**Notes:**
The intent is to be able to turn lights off in a hotel/motel room at the entrance door instead of at each light source (e.g., lamp). 

Master switches operate all permanently-wired luminaires and switched receptacles.  These switches are usually three-way devices wired in combination with local controls.  In multiple-room suites, a standard control device is required at the entrance to each separate room.  Exception:  bathroom lighting systems in hotel and motel guest rooms.

## Bi-Level Switching 

- Reduce connected lighting load by 50% for each space
- Exceptions
- Area has one luminaire
- Occupancy sensor controls area
- Area is corridor, storage area, restroom, or main lobby

**Notes:**
Lighting within a space must be switched so the occupant can reduce the connected lighting load by at least 50% in a reasonably uniform illumination pattern.
Offices tend to be overlit given the new office furniture and increase of computer equipment for a conventional office.  Given the choice, occupants may reduce the light level in a space by 50% to reduce glare.

## Exterior Lighting Controls

- Must be capable of automatically turning lights off when daylight is available
- Eligible controls
- Directional photocell
- Astronomical time switch
- Building automation system with astronomical time switch capabilities
- Exceptions
- Covered areas requiring illumination during daylight hours

**Notes:**
Automatic controls are required for all exterior lights.

Exceptions include lights in parking garages, tunnels, and other large-covered areas that must be on during daylight hours.

## Tandem Wiring

- Exceptions
- Luminaires with electronic high-frequency ballasts
- Luminaires not on same switch controls or not in the same area

**Notes:**
A two-lamp ballast is the most conventional-ballast type.  The following one-lamp or three-lamp fluorescent fixtures must be tandem-wired:
	pendant- or surface-mounted luminaires in continuous rows
	recess-mounted luminaires located within 10 feet of each other and served by the same switch

## Demonstrating Compliance

- Include the following information on the electrical plans
- Switching schemes
- Make/model of exterior lighting controls
- Notes for tandem wiring

**Notes:**
It is important to put as much information on the lighting plans as possible because the plans will be used as a bid document and for field inspection.  

## ScopeExterior Lighting Requirements    

- Controls

- _Scope_Exterior Lighting Requirements

**Notes:**
The mandatory requirements for exterior lighting contain provisions that ensure that the lighting is turned off during periods of daylight hours when it is not needed.
The use of high efficacy lighting replaces the need for an allowed wattage calculation for exterior lighting.

## Exterior Lighting

- Criteria
- Lighting power supplied through building electrical service
- Must use energy-efficient lighting sources to highlight paths, walkways and parking areas
- > 45 Lumens/Watt
- Fluorescent
- Compact Fluorescent
- Metal Halide
- High Pressure Sodium

**Notes:**
Mercury vapor may meet it if the ballast is separate from the bulb

## Exterior Lighting (cont’d)

- Exceptions
- Signal, directional, and marker lighting associated with transportation systems
- Lighting for historical landmarks or buildings
- Integral lighting for advertising signage
- Health, life safety and security lighting
- Low-voltage lighting used exclusively for landscaping

## Efficacy

- The ratio of light output to watts input
- lumens per watt
- The higher the efficacy, the more efficient the light source
- 40 watt incandescent = 480 lumens
- 40 watt fluorescent = 2640 lumens

## Efficacy Examples

**Notes:**
This chart compares the efficacy of the various lighting sources and can be used to determine the type of lighting that can be used to meet the exterior lighting requirements.

## Interior Lighting Requirements

- _Mandatory Requirements_
-   Controls
-   Switching
-   Wiring

- Interior Lighting
-  Requirements

- Prescriptive

- Software

- Entire
- Building

- Partial
- Building

- Entire
- Building

- Area

**Notes:**
Interior lighting must not exceed allocated power limits.  Interior lighting includes all permanently installed general and task lighting shown on the plans.  It does not include emergency lighting that is usually off, specialized lighting for medical or research purposes, lighting for museum or gallery displays, or lighting for plant growth.
The Prescriptive approach provides a look-up table, based on occupancy, which allows the documentation author to determine the allowed watts/ft2 for the space.

## Prescriptive - Entire Building

- Applies to whole building
- Refer to *Columns* *A* and* B *of Application Worksheet to determine if building is eligible

**Section 1 - Allowed Lighting Power Calculation**

- **May use only Column B or Column C to qualify project.  Do not use more than one column.

- 		      Entire	  Tenant Area or	Building or	  Allowed		    Building	Portion of Building	    Space	  Watts**Building or Area Type	(watts per sq ft)	  (watts per sq ft)	    (sq ft)	(B or C x D)
- Office		         1.3		         1.5	   10,000	    13,000
- 					Total Allowed Watts   13,000

-                A		           B		   C	           D	                 E

**Notes:**
1.  Determine if project applies to the entire building and if building type listed in Section 1, Column A
2.  Determine if Column B assigns a value for the entire building, if so, enter the square footage of the entire building in Column D
3.  Multiply the watts per square foot in Column B by the square footage in Column D to determine the allowed watts
4.  Enter the results in Column E

## What’s the Allowed Wattage?

**Notes:**
Have the class determine the allowed wattage for this building.

## Prescriptive - Partial Building

- Project only applies to portion of entire building
- Project has more than one occupancy type
- Refer to *Columns A *and *C* of Application Worksheet

**Notes:**
1.  Circle the appropriate value for each type in Section 1, Column C on the Lighting Application Worksheet
2.  Determine the total area of each type and enter the square footage for each in Column D
3.  Multiply the watts per square foot in Column C by the square footage in Column D
4.  Enter the results in Column E
5.  Sum the results in Column E to determine the total allowed watts

## What’s the Allowed Wattage?

- Determine allowed watts

**Notes:**
Use the Prescriptive approach for determining the allowed wattage for the space.

## Additional Power Allowances

- Applied to either entire or partial building approaches
- Decorative lighting - 1 W/ft2 for space
- VDT lighting - 0.35 W/ft2 for space
- Fine merchandise display - 3.9 W/ft2 for case or shelf
- Medical lighting - 1 W/ft2 for space

**Notes:**
VDT = video display terminal

## Determining Total Project Watts

- Example

- Use Section 2 of Application Worksheet
- Fixture ID
- Fixture description
- Lamp ballast
- Quantity
- Watts per fixture
- Total wattage (D x E)

- 

**A**

**B**

**C**

**D**

**E**

**F**

**Fixture ID**

**Fixture Description**

**Lamp/Ballast**

**Quantity**

**Watts per Fixture**

**D x E**

*F1*

*2x4 Recessed Troffer*

*T8/Electronic*

*110*

*121*

*13,310*

*F2*

*Recessed PL Fixture*

*PL 18*

*50*

*22*

*1,100*

*F3*

*Medium-Base Socket*

*100 W*

*30*

*75*

*2,250*

**Total Actual Watts**

*16,660*

**Section 2 - Actual Lighting Power Calculation**

**Notes:**
Determining the installed wattage is more difficult than determining the allowed wattage.  Use the default wattage tables in the COMcheck-EZ manual to select default wattages for each fixture type. Manufacturer’s literature can also be used to determine the fixture wattages.
1.  For each fixture type in the project, list the fixture type, fixture description, lamp ballast, quantity, and watts per fixture
2.  Multiply the value in Column D by the value in Column E to calculate the total watts for each fixture type
3.  Enter the results in Column F
4.  Sum the values in Column F to determine the total actual watts
If you need to list more equipment, use additional worksheets as continuation pages.

## Does My Design Comply?

- Example

- Use Section 3 of Application Worksheet
- Total allowed watts
- Total project (actual) watts
- Compliance if Line 3 is  0

**Notes:**
1.  Enter the total allowed watts on Line 1
2.  Enter the total actual watts on Line 2
3.  The project complies if Line 3 is zero or greater
If the project does not comply with the allowed wattage requirements some possible options include:
-  Reduce the proposed lighting load by eliminating fixtures or installing fixture types with a higher efficacy;
 - Use the methods presented in the ASHRAE 90.1 energy code which will allow credit for automatic lighting controls.

## Software

- Interior Lighting
-  Requirements

- Prescriptive

- Entire
- Building

- Partial
- Building

- Entire
- Building

- Area

**Notes:**
The COMcheck-EZ software allows you to quickly determine if your lighting design meets the COMcheck-EZ interior-lighting power limits.
Use the Entire Building compliance method for buildings that entirely match one of the available building type categories.  
Use the Area Category compliance method for mixed-use buildings when detailed information about space usage is available.

## SCOPE AND APPLICATION
ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
LIGHTING COMPLIANCE

- ENVELOPE COMPLIANCE
- MECHANICAL COMPLIANCE
- LIGHTING COMPLIANCE

- Software

## 	Computer Requirements

- Windows-based computer (PC)
- 80486 processor
- 6 MB extended RAM
- VGA or Super VGA monitor
- Microsoft-compatible mouse

## Screen Layout

- _Title bar_ - displays name of currently open project data file
- _Menu bar_ - displays available menus - File, Edit, View, Options, Code, and Help
- _Folder tabs_ – Project, Envelope, Lighting, and Mechanical folder tabs used to choose the respective screens
- _Buttons_ - used to create a list of building and lighting components or to display additional input screens for describing mechanical systems in your building
- _User prompts and status messages_ - displayed in bottom left corner of the screen
- _Compliance results_ - color-coded results as a percentage by which performance is better than or worse than the minimum required by the code

## Color Codes

- 							_Color_					_Indication_
- Red on white				Data is either missing or not within a valid range
- Dark blue on white		Data was selected from a drop-down list.  						Clicking on such fields with the left mouse button 					will redisplay the appropriate list
- Black on white			Data is editable by user
- Black on gray				Data was calculated by the program and is not 					directly editable by the user
- Green on white			Design complies
- Red on white				Design does not comply

## Software Steps

- Project
- Choose your building location and type
- Envelope
- Create a building description
- Lighting
- Create a lighting description
- Mechanical

**Notes:**
COMcheck--EZ can be used to demonstrate energy code compliance in the design and construction of most types of commercial and high-rise buildings.

You must use the software method to demonstrate compliance for buildings having a window-wall ratio (WWR) of more than 40%.

## Project

**Notes:**
In this screen, you must enter the:
	- building location
	- building use category(ies)
	- building area
COMcheck-EZ lists the available cities for each state.  If your city is not listed, choose the closest city with similar weather conditions or consult with your local building department.
It is also recommended that you enter information about the project such as the project name, designer/contractor, document author, and any notes you may want to include.

## Create a list of building components present in your proposed design
For each component selected, you must enter
component area (or perimeter for concrete slab on grade)
cavity R-value
continuous R-value 
assembly U-factor
Check and edit default R-values and U-factors
Program automatically updates the compliance results

- For each component selected, you must enter
- component area (or perimeter for concrete slab on grade)
- cavity R-value
- continuous R-value
- assembly U-factor
- Check and edit default R-values and U-factors
- Program automatically updates the compliance results

- Create a Building Description

**Notes:**
The cavity R-value is used for insulation placed between structural members, while the continuous R-value input is used for insulation that is continuous across the structure such as rigid-roof insulation or insulating wall sheathing.