## Draft Proposal CA-5b

This concept has been developed by the DOE Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) as a possible code

change proposal to the Commercial provisions of the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code

(IECC). Interested parties are asked to submit any and all comments on DOE's initial concepts and draft

code change proposals. For instructions on submitting comments, visit:

www.energycodes.gov/development/ commercial/codes/iecc/concepts/



## Commission Service Water Heating (CA-5b)

Objective: Increase HVAC commissioning scope to also include the building service water

heating systems.

Suggested Code Change Proposal

Add Section C404.8 and Revise Sections C408.1, C408.2, C408.2.3.2, C408.2.4, C408.2.4.1, C408.2.5.2,

and C408.2.5.4.

C404.8 Service water heating systems commissioning and completion requirements. Service water

and swimming pool and spa heating systems and controls shall be commissioned and completed in

accordance with Section C408.2.

C408.1 General. This section covers the commissioning of the building mechanical systems in Section

C403, service water heating systems in Section C404, and electrical power and lighting systems in

Section C405.

C408.2 Mechanical systems and service water heating systems commissioning and completion

requirements. Prior to passing the final mechanical and plumbing inspections , the registered design

professional shall provide evidence of mechanical sy stems and service water heating systems

commissioning and completion in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Construction document notes shall clearly indicate provisions for commissioning and completion

requirements in accordance with this section and ar e permitted to refer to specifications for further

requirements. Copies of all documentation shall be given to the owner and made available to the code

official upon request in accordance with Sections C408.2.4 and C408.2.5.

Exception: The following systems are exempt from the commissioning requirements:

1. Mechanical systems and service water heating systems in buildings where the total mechanical

equipment capacity is less than 480,000 Btu/ h (140 690 W) cooling capacity and 600,000 Btu/h

(175 860 W) space heating capacity.

2. Systems included in Section C403.3 that serve dwelling units and sleeping units in hotels,

motels, boarding houses or similar units.C408.2.3.2 Controls. HVAC and service water heating control systems shall be tested to document that

control devices, components, equipment, and system s are calibrated, adjusted and operate in accordance

with approved plans and specifications. Sequences of operation shall be functiona lly tested to document

they operate in accordance with approved plans and specifications.

C408.2.4 Preliminary commissioning report. A preliminary report of commissioning test procedures

and results shall be completed and certified by the registered design professional or approved agency and

provided to the building owner. The report shall be organized with mechanical and service hot water

findings in separate sections to allow independent review. The report shall be identified as “Preliminary

Commissioning Report” and shall identify:

1. Itemization of deficiencies found during testing required by this section that have not been

corrected at the time of report preparation.

2. Deferred tests that cannot be performed at th e time of report preparation because of climatic

conditions.

3. Climatic conditions required for performance of the deferred tests.

C408.2.4.1 Acceptance of report. Buildings , or portions thereof, shall not pass the final mechanical and

plumbing inspections , until such time as the code official has received a letter of transmittal from the

building owner acknowledging that the building owner has received the Preliminary Commissioning

Report.

C408.2.5.2 Manuals. An operating and maintenance manual shal l be provided and include all of the

following:

1. Submittal data stating equipment size and selected options for each piece of equipment

requiring maintenance.

2. Manufacturer’s operation manuals and main tenance manuals for each piece of equipment

requiring maintenance, except equipment not furn ished as part of the project. Required routine

maintenance actions shall be clearly identified.

3. Name and address of at least one service agency.

4. HVAC and Service hot water controls system maintenance and calibration information,

including wiring diagrams, schematics, and control sequence descriptions. Desired or fielddetermined setpoints shall be permanently recorded on control drawings at control devices or, for

digital control systems, in system programming instructions.

5. A narrative of how each system is intende d to operate, including recommended setpoints.

C408.2.5.4 Final commissioning report. A report of test procedures and results identified as “Final

Commissioning Report” shall be delivered to the building owner and shall include:

1. Results of functional performance tests.2. Disposition of deficiencies found during testing, including details of corrective measures used

or proposed.

3. Functional performance test procedures u sed during the commissioning process including

measurable criteria for test acceptance, provided herein for repeatability.

The report shall be organized with mechanical and service hot water findings in separate sections to allow

independent review.

Exception: Deferred tests which cannot be performed at th e time of report preparation due to climatic

conditions.

Reason: The value of commissioning of a commercial building has been documented and was included

for mechanical and lighting systems during the prior code development cycle as a new Section C408 in

the IECC. Those provisions are intended to ensure that the building has been “tuned” prior to

occupancy to make sure it is properly operating and capable of continuing to operate properly. This

extends the value and validity of the code provisions because there is little value in requiring something

be provided in a building if it is not properly installed and ready to perform its intended function.

The commissioning of the service hot water system is the next logical step in enhancing the value of the

IECC. As noted above, why require something in the code if there is no activity to make sure it is

properly installed and can perform its intended function.

The proposed change expands the scope of mechanical commissioning to include service hot water

systems. For the size of building not exempt from commissioning, service hot water and mechanical

systems are often integrated and the controls and commissioning are likely to be completed by the

same parties. The provisions require that the preliminary and final commissioning reports be organized

so that mechanical and service hot water results are separate and can be independently reviewed. This

will allow mechanical and plumbing inspectors to separately review the results where appropriate.

Cost Impact: There is a cost impact associated with this proposed change to the degree that the

commissioning activity is currently not being performed and would have to be performed and

documented in the proposed change. The cost would be modest, as it would be accomplished by the

same staff completing the mechanical commissioning and would be included in the same commissioning

report. That said, there should also be a decrease in costs to the degree that such commissioning

reduces the burden on state and local government in enforcement of the code as commissioning serves

to ensure and document compliance with the code. Without commissioning to ensure the code

‐

required controls and other systems are in place, the cost effectiveness of other energy code provisions

is in jeopardy. A study of 643 commissioned building in 26 states found that new building

commissioning had a median payback of 4.2 years (http://cx.lbl.gov/2009

‐ assessment.html).