Minutes

The meeting was convened by Facilitator Ken Cureton at 10:00 a.m. A quorum was achieved with eight of eleven voting members present: Brent Caldwell, Bob Cochell, Philip Fairey, Jan Geyselaers, Dale Greiner, Rafael Palacios, Mike Bishop representing Ron Bailey, and Bob Volin representing Roger Sanders. Staff support was provided by Mo Madani, Ann Stanton, Jim Hammers and April Hammond, Counsel. The meeting was facilitated by Ken Cureton.

Meeting Objectives:

Ø Objective 1 To Approve the Agenda and the Minutes of the 8/6/2013 meeting.

Ø Objective 2 Discuss and provide recommendations on how to revise the Energy Simulation Tool Approval Technical Assistance Manual.

Actions Taken:

The agenda and minutes of the August 6, 2013 meeting were unanimously approved.

Stanton described the purpose of the Energy Simulation Tool Approval Technical Assistance Manual and changes to the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, that may need to be included in the Manual. Madani emphasized that the document constitutes a set of guidelines. Public comment from Stewart and Glenn made points about the proper title of the Code should be 5^th Edition (2014), that the status of the document as a guideline should be more strongly emphasized, that tables in the test needed the date to be changed, and that the HERS BestTest is not referenced from the Code.

Discussion by the TAC then ensued. Fairey stated that there is an ASHRAE Standard 140, Class 2, Tier 1 standard that could be substituted for the BestTest. Swami made the case that the Manual has no test to verify that a given program will achieve code compliance, but will only test the underlying engine. Responding to a question from Madani (through the Chair), Swami stated that the only test for commercial software compares it to Appendix G to ASHRAE 90.1, which is a rating standard. An appropriate test would create a prototype building for comparison purposes. Fairey stated that for residential applications, Appendix C to the Manual contains such criteria; it needs to be updated to reflect requirements of the next code, such as the baselines, which can be accomplished quite easily. Swami stated that updating the commercial code baselines is much more complicated and that, if misunderstood, could create quite different code compliance results. Bishop inquired as to the impact of the .8 multiplier. Fairey clarified that the requirement for increased stringency is no longer in the law and that the requirement to change to the IECC changes the baselines (standard reference designs). Madani stressed that if a contractor is required, the project would need to be addressed by the Florida Building Commission as a research project.

Fairey moved that the Energy Simulation Tool Approval Technical Assistance Manual be updated to correspond with the provisions of the 2014 Energy Conservation code and incorporate additional testing per the Swami/Vieira comment. Cochell seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

Geyselaers moved that the recommendation be forwarded to the Florida Building Commission as a necessary research project. Cochell seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Greiner at 10:45 am.