Staff Review of Energy Compliance Software REM Rate

The Florida Building Commission Codes and Standard team initiated a review of the energy simulation program submitted for review. We detailed below issues we feel need to be addressed before this program is sufficient to receive approval for use in determining compliance with the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation. In no particular order of importance here are some of the issues we encountered and some problems that may be errors with the program itself.

1. There is a glitch that was encountered with REM Rate that was installed on one of our machines. It will not allow you to start a new project with all data fields blank. When you try to start a new project it keeps or loads the project you last saved in REM Rate. We were not able to find out how to stop this and had to manually blank out the fields
2. The REM Rate program as it is currently setup is a global function by which the interface provides users with comprehensive screens. Some of these screens are not related to code compliance. It is advisable that users are given the option to select the Florida code compliance option as a starting point, independent from the other areas.
3. Rating information should not be part of the code compliance function.
4. Utility defaults not clear. What is significance for different types of fuel? Do these calculations have any influence on whether a project will pass Florida Code compliance?
5. If a project is started with building input mode set to Detailed and then switches to Simplified will any inputted data be lost? Will it have any effect on entered information?
6. Currently the Volume of conditioned space must be entered manually. It would be more practical for program to calculate volume from depth and height of building parameters.
7. Building Information tab. The year built functionality should be flagged for year of input.
8. Building Information tab. The Mobile home option under housing type is not covered by Florida building code and should be removed from the pull down.
9. Building Information tab. Under housing type “none” should not be able to be selected.
10. In the help files there is no mention of the Florida Building Code or its requirements it only refers to I-Code.
11. Building Information tab. Under housing type “Number of units” should be labeled with (Apartments Only).
12. Building Information tab. Floors on or above grade is confusing; REM Rate should ask for Number of floors.
13. Foundation Walls tab. Foundation walls screen should not be triggered if slab on grade is selected on previous screen.
14. Slab Floor tab. With slab on grade selected the program allows the entering of elevated floor specifications ie R-30.
15. Help screens. Diagrams would be helpful in showing what values relate to a certain building assembly and remove confusion. Good sections that do this are the help page for Rib and Band Joists. It would be good to have diagrams for each Building tab.
16. Above-Grade Wall tab. Above-Grade Wall properties such as “gross area” should be calculated automatically by the program. There are no data fields to enter dimensions of a wall. Length and Height for example.
17. Working with a building component should have popup or restriction from deleted an item by accident. A “Do you really want to delete this item” message would be helpful.
18. Please add functionality to widen the “errors/warnings” box with handles or mouse dynamically.
19. Is the only way to save added components to press the next button? There should be better save functionality to kept data from being lost and to kept progress from being lost in general.
20. Mechanical Efficiency tab. How does REM Rate account for performance efficiency adjustments on new construction? What does Performance Adj. (%) have to do with Florida Code Compliance?
21. The REM Rate program does not restrict minimum required R values below Florida Code minimum requirements. For example on the Duct System tab, a duct R-value is allowed to be entered in unconditioned attic that is below R-8.
22. In the duct leakage that allows selection of un-code related defaults such as “RESnet/Hers default”
23. Duct System tab. Default duct leakage does not allow selection of “leaky with insulation” as a default selection.
24. With regard to air leakage the program does not allow for a passive compliance option. The code allows for passive and as an option for testing.
25. Whole house infiltration tab. Menu does not show Florida Building Compliance it should the I-code.
26. Lights and Appliances tab. The Rating/Audit screen energy features that are not related to the Florida code ie. Appliances. Is there a way to remove appliances from a given project?
27. Mandatory requirements screen is not functional. Most of these fields have no bearing on if a project passes the Florida Code.
28. DOE challenge home tab. DOE challenge home is not applicable to Florida code compliance.
29. Interior Mass tab. Interior mass/interior walls not part of Florida code energy calculations.
30. How are sunspace room factored in from the rest of the house. What calculations are involved? What do these calculations have to do with Florida code compliance?
31. When doing a quick analysis the Error/Warning screen does not refer to specific that is causing the Error. This would be helpful.
32. Quick Analysis does not show a pass/fail indicator for the Florida Code. The only way to determine this is to run a report to see any Florida Code information.
33. The Florida Form 405-10 (1) report/printout should be only show data limited to code compliance. Footnote shows analysis for rating.
34. REM Rate does not specify type of Roof to be constructed. For example Built up roofing or Metal.