Status to Date:

 

HB 535 – Section 34

 

The Florida Building Commission shall adopt into the Florida Building Code, 5th Edition (2014) Energy Conservation, the following:

 

"Section 406 relating to the Alternative Performance Path, Energy Rating Index of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) may be used except as follows for Table R406.4 as an option for demonstrating compliance with the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation. TABLE R406.4 MAXIMUM ENERGY RATING INDEX shall reflect the following energy rating index: for Climate Zone 1, an index of 58; for Climate Zone 2, an index of 58. The Florida Building Commission shall continue its current adoption process of the 2015 IECC and determine by October 1, 2016, whether onsite renewable power generation may be used for compliance. The commission must also determine whether onsite renewable power generation may be used for a period longer than three years but not more than six consecutive years."

 

 

2016 Supplement (Code Fixes) to the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code “Effective – July 1, 2016)

 

5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation

 

Facts:

 

-          Adopts the 2015 IECC/ERI as another option for compliance, in addition to the prescriptive and performance paths.

 

-          Requires meeting target score

 

-          Requires meeting the mandatory code requirements of the 2015 IECC including piping provisions for water heating

 

-          Requires compliance with minimum installation and window envelope prescriptive requirements of the 2009 IECC

 

-          The ERI performance path allows the B.O. to specify qualifying Energy Rating Index method to be used

 

-          Provide for 3rd party analysis and review of the energy using features of the house.

 

-          Determination – ERI - 100 is equivalent to the 2006 IECC and “0” is equivalent to a net –zero home.

 

 

R406 Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative. Add Section R406 to read as follows:

 

SECTION R406 ENERGY RATING INDEX COMPLIANCE ALTERNATIVE

 

R406.1 Scope. This section establishes criteria for compliance using an Energy Rating Index (ERI) analysis.

 

R406.2 Mandatory requirements. Compliance with this section requires that the provisions identified in Sections R401 through R404 labeled as “mandatory” and Section R403.5.3 of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code be met. The building thermal envelope shall be greater than or equal to levels of efficiency and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient in Table 402.1.1 or 402.1.3 of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.

Exception: Supply and return ducts not completely inside the building thermal envelope shall be insulated to a minimum of R-6.

 

2015 International Energy Conservation Code (Sections R401 through R404 labeled as mandatory and Section R403.5.3.

 

-          Section R401 Through R404 labeled as “mandatory”:

1.      Posting of a permanent certificate for compliance listing predominant R – values on insulation for building envelope (wall, ceiling/roof, floor..etc.), U – factor and SHGC for fenestration, ..etc. (R401.3)

2.       Air leakage – building thermal envelope -test information; Fenestration air leakage; sealing recessed lighting to limit air leakage (R402.4)

3.      Mechanical system – requires a minimum of one thermostat for each separate heating and cooling system, requires control of heat pump supplementary heat; duct/air handler must be sealed; disallow the use of building cavities as duct for plenums; provides for piping insulation; provides for mechanical ventilation as per the IMC or IRC; provides for equipment sizing and efficiency rating; provides for pools and permanent spa energy consumption (R403)

4.       Provides for lighting equipment requirements (R404)

5.      Provides for hot water pipe insulation (R493.5.3)

 

-          Building thermal envelope shall be greater than or equal to levels of efficiency and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient in Table 402.1.1 or 402.1.3 of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code

 

See attachment #1

 

R406.3 Energy Rating Index. The Energy Rating Index (ERI) shall be a numerical integer value that is based on a linear scale constructed such that the ERI reference design has

an Index value of 100 and a residential building that uses no net purchased energy has an Index value of 0. Each integer value on the scale shall represent a 1-percent change in the total energy use of the rated design relative to the total energy use of the ERI reference design. The ERI shall consider all energy used in the residential building.

 

R406.3.1 ERI reference design. The ERI reference design shall be configured such that it meets the minimum requirements of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code prescriptive requirements.

The proposed residential building shall be shown to have an annual total normalized modified load less than or equal to the annual total loads of the ERI reference design.

 

2006 International Energy Conservation Code prescriptive requirements

 

TABLE 402.1.1

INSULATION AND FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS BY COMPONENT

 

See attachment #2

 

 

-          Building thermal envelope as per Table 402.1.1 (402)

-          Air leakage – sealing requirements (402.4)

-          Fenestration air leakage  (402.4.2)

-          Recessed lighting –sealed (402.4.3)

-          Moisture control – (402.5)   

 

R406.4 ERI-based compliance. Compliance based on an ERI analysis requires that the rated design be shown to have an ERI less than or equal to the appropriate value listed in

Table R406.4 when compared to the ERI reference design.

 

R406.5 Verification by approved agency. Verification of compliance with Section R406 shall be completed by an approved third party, in accordance with Florida Statutes 553.99 (Building Energy Efficiency Rating System).

 

R406.6 Documentation. Documentation of the software used to determine the ERI and the parameters for the residential building shall be in accordance with Sections R406.6.1

through R406.6.3.

R406.6.1 Compliance software tools.

Documentation verifying that the methods and accuracy of the compliance software tools conform to the provisions of this section shall be provided to the code official.

R406.6.2 Compliance report. Compliance software tools shall generate a report that documents that the ERI of the rated design complies with Sections R406.3 and R406.4.

The compliance documentation shall include the following information:

1. Address or other identification of the residential building.

2. An inspection checklist documenting the building component characteristics of the rated design. The inspection checklist shall show results for both the ERI reference design and the rated design, and shall document all inputs entered by the user necessary to reproduce the results.

3. Name of individual completing the compliance report.

4. Name and version of the compliance software tool.

 

Exception: Multiple orientations. Where an otherwise identical building model is offered in multiple orientations, compliance for any orientation shall be permitted by documenting that the building meets the performance requirements in each of the four (north, east, south and west) cardinal orientations.

 

TABLE R406.4 MAXIMUM ENERGY RATING INDEX

 

CLIMATE ZONE                            ENERGY RATING INDEX

1                                                                                  52 58

2                                                                                  52 58

3                                                                                  51

4                                                                                  54

5                                                                                  55

6                                                                                  54

7                                                                                  53

8                                                                                  53

 

R406.6.3 Additional documentation. The code official shall be permitted to require the following documents:

1. Documentation of the building component characteristics of the ERI reference design.

2. A certification signed by the builder providing the building component characteristics of the rated design.

3. Documentation of the actual values used in the software calculations for the rated design.

 

R406.7 Calculation software tools. Calculation software, where used, shall be in accordance with Sections R406.7.1 through R406.7.3.

 

R406.7.1 Minimum capabilities. Calculation procedures used to comply with this section shall be software tools capable of calculating the ERI as described in Section R406.3, and shall include the following capabilities:

1. Computer generation of the ERI reference design using only the input for the rated design.

The calculation procedure shall not allow the user to directly modify the building component characteristics of the ERI reference design.

 

            The calculation procedure shall not allow the user to directly modify the building component characteristics of the ERI reference deisgn.

 

2. Calculation of whole building, as a single zone, sizing for the heating and cooling equipment in the ERI reference design residence in accordance with Section R403.7.

3. Calculations that account for the effects of indoor and outdoor temperatures and part-load ratios on the performance of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning equipment based on climate and equipment sizing.

4. Printed code official inspection checklist listing each of the rated design component characteristics determined by the analysis to provide compliance, along with their respective performance ratings.

 

R406.7.2 Specific approval. Performance analysis tools meeting the applicable sections of Section R406 shall be approved. Tools are permitted to be approved based on meeting a specified threshold for a jurisdiction. The code official shall approve tools for a specified application or limited scope.

R406.7.3 Input values. When calculations require input values not specified by Sections R402, R403, R404 and R405 of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, those input values shall be taken from an approved source.

 

 

6th Edition (2017) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation

EN6727 (Status TAC – AS)

R406.3 Energy Rating Index.

The Energy Rating Index (ERI) shall be a numerical integer value that is based on a linear scale constructed such that the ERI reference design has an Index value of 100 and a residential building that uses no net purchased energy has an Index value of 0. Each integer value on the scale shall represent a 1-percent change in the total energy use annual total normalized modified loads of the rated design rated design relative to the annual total energy use loads of the ERI reference design. The ERI shall consider all energy used in the residential building.

R406.3.1 ERI reference design.

The ERI reference design shall be configured such that it meets the minimum requirements of the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code prescriptive requirements.

The proposed residential building shall be shown to have an annual total normalized modified load less than or equal to the annual total loads of the ERI reference design.

R406.4 ERI-based compliance.

The ERI for the rated design shall be determined in accordance with ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301-2014, including Addendum A-2015, and Compliance based on an ERI analysis requires that the rated design be shown to have an ERI less than or equal to the appropriate value listed in Table R406.4 when compared to the ERI reference design.

EN 6727 (TAC – AS)

R406.6.1 Compliance software tools.

Computer software utilized for demonstration of code compliance shall have been approved by the Florida Building Commission in accordance with requirements of this code. Documentation verifying that the methods and accuracy of the compliance software tools conform to the provisions of this section shall be provided to the code official.