Code of Maine Rules › 02 - DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION › 385 - MANUFACTURED HOUSING BOARD › Chapter 110 - STATE CERTIFICATION OF MODULAR HOMES › Subchapter 2 - Codes and Standards › Section 385-110-2-11 - Energy Standard for State-Certified Modular Homes

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
1.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this standard is to provide a reasonable
					 energy code, based on nationally recognized codes, that will apply to all
					 State-certified modular homes that are installed in Maine. This standard sets
					 forth design and construction requirements relating to energy efficiency in
					 State-certified modular homes.
2.
Compliance; Limited Waiver of
				  Compliance with Energy Specifications Table
State-certified modular homes must comply with the
					 provisions of this Section. The executive director may waive compliance with
					 the Energy Specifications Table contained in subsection 6(A) below in the
					 limited circumstances described in subsection 6(N) below.
3.
Materials and Equipment
Materials and equipment must be identified in a manner that
					 will allow a determination of their compliance with the provisions of this
					 chapter. Materials and equipment used to conform to the applicable provisions
					 of this chapter must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's
					 installation instructions. (2009 IRC, N1101.7)
4.
Identification
Materials, systems and equipment must allow a determination
					 of compliance with these codes and standards adopted.
5.
Building Thermal Envelope
				  Insulation
The home manufacturer shall provide in the plans approved
					 by the board or by an approved inspection agency a listing of the minimum
					 R-value and/or U-value (as appropriate) of insulation installed or to be
					 installed by a licensee of the board. Any insulation installed in the field by
					 a licensee of the board must be installed in accordance with the installation
					 requirements of the insulation manufacturer. The home manufacturer shall state
					 areas within the envelope of the home manufactured by it that need to be field
					 insulated to meet code and what R-value and/or U-value (as appropriate, if
					 using field windows and doors) must be obtained.
6.
Energy and Efficiency
				  Standards
A.
Energy
				  Specifications Table
The values listed in the Energy Specifications Table below
					 are minimum standards for State-certified modular homes (one and two family
					 homes and townhouses).
Energy Specifications Table
Minimum Insulation
R-Value
Maximum Fenestration
for
Exterior Doors
U-Factor
Maximum Fenestration for
							 Windows1
U-Factor
Maximum Fenestration for Skylights
U-Factor
Ceilings
Roof/Ceilings
Walls
Floors
Entrance
Specialty
R-38
R-38
R-19
R-19
.35
.45
.35
.6
1 The term "windows" includes
					 sidelights, octagonal, elliptical, transom, etc.
B.
Perimeter Space
For 2-story homes, the perimeter of the space between the
					 top of the second floor rim joists and the finished ceiling below must be
					 insulated to R-19.
C.
Unfinished Second Floors
Homes delivered with an unfinished second floor must be
					 insulated as described below:
(1)
Stair enclosures
- The ceilings of the stair enclosures must be
				  insulated to R-30. The walls of stair enclosures must be insulated to
				  R-11.
(2)
Doors
- To
				  prevent heat loss into the unfinished space, doors within stair enclosures must
				  be either an exterior door or insulated by any means, including temporary
				  means, to R-19.
(3)
Ceilings
- The floor/ceiling assembly between the first and second
				  stories must be insulated to R-30, except that the ceiling area beginning at
				  the outside walls and extending to the knee walls must be insulated to
				  R-38.
D.
Basement
				  Stair Enclosures
Basement stair enclosures of homes with an unconditioned
					 basement must be insulated as described below:
(1) The ceilings of the basement stair
				  enclosures must be insulated to R-19; and
(2) The walls of the basement stair
				  enclosures must be insulated to R-11.
[
NOTE
: See the definition of "conditioned
					 space" in 2009 IRC, R202.]
E.
R-value Computation
Insulation materials used in layers, such as framing cavity
					 insulation and insulating sheathing, must be summed to compute the component
					 R-value. The (insulation) manufacturer's settled R-value must be used for
					 blown-in insulation. Computed R-values may not include an R-value for other
					 building materials or airfilms (2009 IRC N1102.1.1) such as framing, drywall,
					 structural sheathing or exterior siding materials. Insulation separated from
					 the conditioned space by a vented space may not be counted towards the required
					 R-value.
[
NOTE
: See the definition of "conditioned
					 space" in 2009 IRC, R202.]
F.
Exterior Walls
Insulation in exterior walls must be placed so that the
					 entire cavity is insulated, including the space between the back of electrical
					 boxes and the exterior sheathing.
G.
Air Leakage
The building thermal envelope must be durably sealed to
					 limit infiltration in accordance with 2009 IRC, N1102.4.1.
H.
Air Sealing and Insulation
				  Demonstration of Compliance
The durable sealing of the building thermal envelope
					 required by paragraph G above is subject to verification if deemed necessary by
					 the executive director. In such event, durable sealing must be demonstrated by
					 the visual inspection option contained in 2009 IRC, N1102.4.2.2. A decision of
					 the executive director to require verification is final and may not be appealed
					 to the board.
I.
Draft Stop
Draft stop materials must be placed along the entire
					 perimeter of the interconnecting modules.
J.
U-factor
U-factors of fenestration products must be determined in
					 accordance with the National Fenestration Rating Council, Inc. (NFRC), NFRC
					 100-2010.
K.
Waiver
				  of Compliance with the Energy Specifications Table
(1) A manufacturer may obtain a waiver of
				  compliance with the Energy Specifications Table contained in Subpart B, Section
				  I-A(F)(1) by demonstrating to the executive director of the board that the
				  design or construction of a dwelling makes it infeasible, as set forth below,
				  to apply one or more of the values contained in the Energy Specifications
				  Table. The waiver request must be made prior to acceptance of the plans by the
				  manufacturer's board approved third-party inspection agency.
(2) In determining feasibility of compliance
				  with the Energy Specifications Table, the executive director shall consider as
				  alternatives to a waiver the manufacturer's ability to achieve compliance
				  through alternative construction techniques, use of different materials, or
				  design change. The executive director may also consider other relevant factors,
				  including cost of compliance with the Energy Specifications Table, although
				  cost of compliance alone is not a ground for obtaining a waiver. It is the
				  intent of the board that waivers be sparingly granted.
(3) To receive a waiver, a manufacturer must
				  further demonstrate that the U-value of the design for which the waiver was
				  granted meets or exceeds the REScheck target value as calculated (using Climate
				  Zone 6 for the entire State of Maine, including Aroostook County) under the
				  trade-off approach for the 2009 edition of the International Code Council
				  International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This demonstration must be made
				  in the form of a REScheck compliance certificate signed by the board-licensed
				  manufacturer and the inspection agency, with the supporting inspection
				  checklist attached.
(4) The
				  executive director's denial of a waiver must be made in writing, must state the
				  basis for the denial, and must inform the manufacturer of the time and manner
				  in which an appeal to the board may be taken pursuant to Subchapter 6.
[
NOTE
: REScheck is available at no cost at
					 from the U.S. Department of Energy at the following URL:
www.energycodes.gov/rescheck/
]
L.
Furnaces and
				  Boilers
Gas-fired or oil-fired furnaces and hot-water boilers rated
					 at less than 300,000 BTU/h must have a minimum AFUE rating of 78% in accordance
					 with the United States Department of Energy (DOE) 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B,
					 Appendix N, entitled "Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption
					 of Furnaces and Boilers" (January 20, 2010).