Title 24 Information Update
The 2008 Title 24 California
Energy Codes are Here.
Download your copy.
What is Title 24?
When is compliance with the energy portion of Title 24 mandatory?
What’s new in the 2005 Standards for Additions and Alterations?
When is a HERS rater needed for an addition? For an alteration?
What is Title 24?
Title 24 is a California Energy Efficiency Code that was enacted by the California Energy Commission in 2005 in order to regulate Residential HVAC installation process.
When is compliance with the energy portion of Title 24 mandatory?
If a building permit is required for a construction project, then compliance with Title 24 is required. Requirements differ depending on the type of renovation project. Generally, larger projects are additions and smaller projects are alterations. Because additions are larger and are more significantly increasing energy consumption, there are more requirements to meet the code. Alterations are small projects and have fewer requirements and are more easily satisfied procedurally.
What’s new in the 2005 Standards for Additions and Alterations?
There are two significant changes to the Standards for additions. When using the Prescriptive Approach (§152(a)1) the fenestration in additions up to 100 square feet are now required to meet the U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient requirements in Package D for new construction. By using the Performance Approach (§152(a)2 a builder may choose to show compliance for an addition by upgrading a component of the existing building to compensate for failing to meet a prescriptive requirement for additions. When ducts will be extended from an existing duct system to serve an addition, the ducts will be allowed to meet the duct sealing requirements for alterations to existing duct systems.
For alterations there are also several changes from the previous Standards, also in the Prescriptive Approach (§152(b)1) and the Performance Approach (§152(b)2.) Perhaps the greatest changes deal with space conditioning ductwork, and include:
When more than 40 feet of new or replacement ducts are installed to serve an existing building, the new ducts will be required to meet the mandatory requirements in §150 (m) and the duct insulation requirements in Package D. Additionally, in climate zones 2 and 9-16, the combined new and existing duct system will be required to be sealed, tested, and field verified.
Ducts that form entirely new duct systems will be sealed to meet the prescriptive requirements for newly constructed buildings.
- New ducts that extend an existing duct system will have three options:
- the measured duct leakage for the combined new and existing duct system will be less that 15 percent of fan flow;
- the duct leakage to outside will be less than 10 percent of fan flow; or
- the duct leakage prior to sealing will be reduced by more than 60 percent and a visual inspection and smoke test will be required to show that all accessible leaks have been sealed.
It is possible that none of the three options for extensions of existing duct systems can be achieved. If that is the case, compliance will require that a certified HERS rater verifies through observation and a smoke test that all accessible leaks have been sealed. Duct sealing will not be required when an existing duct system that is extended is constructed, insulated, or sealed with asbestos.
When a space conditioning system is altered by the installation or replacement of space conditioning equipment, including replacement of an air handler, cooling or heating coil, or furnace heat exchanger, the existing duct system that is connected to that new or replaced space conditioning equipment will be required to be sealed, tested and verified to the same requirements of new ducts that extend an existing duct system. Duct sealing will not be required when the existing duct system is documented to have been previously been sealed, tested and field verified; when the existing duct system is less than 40 linear feet in unconditioned spaces or when the existing duct system is constructed, insulated or sealed with asbestos.
Also new in the Standards are requirements for fenestration. Alterations that add fenestration area will be required to meet the U-factor, fenestration area, and SHGC requirements of Package D. Replacement fenestration, where all the glazing in an existing fenestration opening is replaced with a new manufactured fenestration product, will be required to meet the U-factor and SHGC requirements of Package D. (Glass replaced in an existing sash and frame and replacement of a single sash in a multi-sash fenestration product are considered repairs, which are not required to comply.)
When is a HERS rater needed for an addition? For an alteration?
A HERS rater is needed when compliance with Title 24 requires duct testing, testing of refrigerant charge and airflow (RCA) or verification of a thermostatic expansion valve (TXV). A HERS rater is also needed when taking performance credits such as Manual D duct design, blower door-verified air sealing, duct surface area reduction, and verification of ducts within conditioned space. For alterations, prescriptive requirements specify that new split system air conditioners or heat pumps installed must either test RCA or verify installation of a TXV by a HERS rater. As an alternative to these requirements, an air conditioner or heat pump with a higher efficiency rating may be installed. The Package D requirement for diagnostic testing of ducts does not apply to alterations. A HERS rater may also be required when new or replacement ducts are installed depending on the compliance option chosen. See Section 8.4 of the Residential Compliance Manual for details.
For more information. Contact our Title 24 hotline at 1.877.411.8378
