Michael Lubliner, Senior Building Science SpecialistWSU Energy Program

Funding provided by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

Technical support provided in Washington:

• Training (in-person, webinars, video)

• Phone and email inquiry hotline support

• Energy code compliance tools

•Website with educational resources

WSU Energy Code website

•Building department site visits

Residential - Spend an hour on our web page!

• WSU Energy Program • 360-956-2042• energycode@energy.wsu.edu• www.energy.wsu.edu/code• Mike Lubliner, Melinda Spencer,

Carolyn Roos

Non-residential• Evergreen Technology Consulting • Lisa Rosenow• 360-539-5300• com.techsupport@waenergycodes.com• http://waenergycodes.com

• Delivered 80 WSEC-R 2015 trainings to 2,100 attendees

• Reply to over 2,000 hotline calls and emails annually

• Participate in SBCC Energy & Mechanical TAGs

• Code change proposals – Spring 2019

• Tech Advisory Groups (TAG) review proposals for SBCC – Summer 2019

• SBCC puts together model codes integrated with proposed changes – Fall 2019

• Public hearings & council vote – Winter 2019

• Council & Legislative Approval – Winter 2020

• Implementation – November 1, 2020 (new permits)

45% energy savings (or 55% of the energy consumption in 2006)

• Residential buildings and associated sites, systems and equipment

• Maximum and minimum for residential construction in each town, city and county

• R3 - Single and townhomes• R2 - Multi-family 3 stories or

less above grade:– Corridor style– “Garden” style

(enter to each from outside)

• Chapter 1 - Scope and Administration

• Chapter 2 - Definitions

• Chapter 3 - General Requirements

• Chapter 4 - Residential Energy Efficiency

• Chapter 5 - Existing Buildings (challenging)

• Chapter 6 - Reference Standards

• Appendix A - Default Heat Loss U-Factors

• Appendix RA/RB - R405 Optional Energy Measures

• Appendix C - Exterior Design Conditions

• R401 - General

• R402 - Building Envelope

• R403 - Systems

• R404 - Electrical Power & Lighting

• R405 - Simulated Performance Alternative

• R406 - Additional Energy Efficiency Credits

• R407 - Certified Passive House (new)

• Air sealing of all joints and seams on all ducts, air handlers and filter boxes (see IMC 603.9 or IRC M1601.4)

• Duct testing performed and permanently documented

Signed affidavit (duct tester’s responsibility)

Test results must be recorded on certificate for new construction (builder’s responsibility)

Use RS-33 Duct Testing Standards

This and other resources are available on our website www.energy.wsu.edu/Documents/Duct Testing Standards modified2015WSEC.pdf

• A permanent certificate shall be completed by the builder or other approved party

• Posted on a wall in the space where the furnace is located - a utility room or an approved location inside

• The certificate shall list the R-values of insulation: ceiling/roof, walls, foundation (slab, below-grade wall, and/or floor) and ducts outside conditioned spaces

• U-factors for fenestration (see glazing worksheet)

.

• Types and efficiencies: – HVAC – DHW service water heating – Appliances– Renewables

• Test results and documentation:– Ductwork air leakage by certified tester (per RS-33)– Envelope air leakage – Ventilation system flow rate testing and commissioning

• The code official may require test documentation including:– An electronic record of the time, date and location of the test, using

a date-stamped smart phone photo or air leakage testing software

.

Duct Testing Test Result Calculator

• Introduction to duct sealing and testing requirements for the WSEC

• Basic understanding of the purpose of duct sealing and testing

• Discussion of benefits of moving ducts inside

• Get you ready to take TEC/RETROTEC training on how to use the testing equipment!

Note: This class does not provide qualification for ENERGY STAR, PTCS, tax credits or other Beyond Code programs

• Leaky and poorly insulated ducts typically raise heating and cooling costs 20% to 40%

• A conservative estimate is ducts waste over $10 billion in energy in residential homes

• HVAC ducts are “low-hanging WSEC-R fruit”

• Design HVAC within the conditioned space?

• Why drive a Tesla on flat tires?

• The hole needs to be connected to the outside

• Heat loss is proportional to temperature and pressure differences

• Holes that see high pressures and high temperature differences are most important for energy savings

In heating climates, this is the supply side near the air handler

In cooling climates this is the return side near the air handler

• Health and safety

• Comfort

• Energy savings

• Building durability

• Reduce greenhouse gases in atmosphere

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Return Air Pathway

Large Hole

Unsealed

Dovetail

Connections

Large hole where down drafting

furnace connects to

supply plenum

Holes

• CFM: Cubic feet per minute

• Pa: Pascals

• Conditioned Floor Area (CFA): Square footage of all heated areas

• Manometer: Digital pressure-reading device

• Duct Tester: Equipment used to pressurize ducts

• Blower Door: Equipment used to pressurize (or depressurize) a structure

• Airflow requires:

Driving force

(pressure or temperature difference)

A hole

• Air moves from high to low pressure areas

P1

+

P2

-

P1- P2= P

Airflow Hole size x P

Perfect Duct

1 cfm

(exfiltration)

1 cfm

(infiltration)

1 c

fm

Perfect

Duct

System

1 cfm

• Airflow in = airflow out, so

flow through fan = flow through leaks in system

• CFM25 is an aggregation of all holes throughout the entire duct system – that’s all!

It does not tell us where to find the holes

It does not tell us how much the ducts leak under normal operating conditions

Without a blower door, it does not tell us how much of the holes are connected to the outside

• Duct leakage to the outdoors measures effective duct leakage to the outside

• Combines a blower door with the duct blower

• Total duct leakage measures leakage to indoors and outdoors

Both tests provide cubic feet per minute (CFM) duct leakage numbers

At rough-in:

• Total leakage ≤ 4 CFM per 100 sf of conditioned floor

area @ 25 Pa for a complete system

• Total leakage ≤ 3 CFM per 100 sf of conditioned floor area @ 25 Pa if air handler has not been installed

Post construction:

• Total leakage test: ≤ 4 CFM per 100 sf

• Leakage to exterior test: ≤ 4 CFM per 100 sf

• Total leakage: ≤ 3 CFM per 100 sf buried duct-2018 code (new)

Based on conditioned floor area @ 25 Pa

Total leakage

• House size: 2,240 sf

• 2,240 x 0.04 = 90 CFM maximum

Leakage to exterior (requires a blower door)

• House size: 2,240 sf

• 2,240 x 0.04 = 90 CFM maximum

Duct Testing Affidavit Test Result Calculator

Exception: Duct tightness test is not required if:

• The air handler and all ducts are located within conditioned space

• 10 feet of return ducts and 5 feet of supply ducts are allowed to be outside of the conditioned space

• Duct tester

• Manometer

• Register blocks or “mask”

fan & rings

• Connect duct tester to furnace cabinet or return grill

• Close/seal outside ventilation air openings

• Block (seal) all registers

• Remove furnace filter

• Insert static pressure tap

• Program manometer

Seal registers

to pressure

test

1. Insert static probe into duct

2. Point toward air flow direction

Airflow

• Meters measure pressures only

• Most meters will convert pressures to flow rate

• Attention to meter details is critical:Garbage in = garbage out

Minneapolis DG-700

Color-coded connections

Step 1: Seal all registers and grills Mask or foam blocks

Integrated freshair duct sealed

Also: integrated fresh air duct sealed

Step 2: Insert in Supply Side(in or near supply plenum)

Step 3: Connect Duct Blower to System

Integrated fresh

air duct sealed

1. Seal all registers and grills

2. Seal fresh air duct and/or HRV

3. Install static pressure tap in supply side

4. Attach duct blower to system

5. Set up pressure gauge

6. Pressurize system to + 25 Pa

7. Record air flow into system @ + 25 Pa

8. Document set-up configurations

9. Consider automated duct testing report with time/GPS

and

Yields duct leakage CFM to the exterior

Seal and pressurize ducts to + 25 PaBlower door pressurizes building to + 25 Pa

Incorporates blower door

1. Seal all registers and grills

2. Seal fresh air duct and/or HRV

3. Install static pressure tap in supply side

4. Attach duct blower to system

5. Install blower door and close up the house

6. Set up pressure gauges

7. Pressurize house to +25 Pa (blower door)

8. Pressurize duct system to +25 Pa (duct blower)

9. Record air flow into system @ +25 Pa

10. Document set-up configurations

All joints, seams and connections shall be fastened and sealed

• See IMC 603.9 or IRC M1601.3 for details

• Closure systems must be installed according to the manufacturer’s listing

• Unlisted duct tape is not permitted as a sealant on any metal ducts

Duct tape may be used if:• Installed in accordance with mfg’s

installation instructions

• Must contain detailed info specific to application on ducts

• Info must contain approved duct materials and surface cleaning requirements

Please let us know if you find this information from any manufacturer!

Mechanically fastened joint using “the right tool for the job” per UL flex duct listing using approved Panduit strapping gun!

• Attics, crawl spaces, garages require R-8

• In slabs or underground require R-10

• On a roof or exterior of a building require R-8 and a weatherproof barrier

• Typical duct liner requires 2.5 inches to meet code

• Most duct liner is R-4 per inch & need additional insulation

• Installation of ducts in exterior walls, floors or ceilings shall not displace required insulation

• Unlined building cavities shall not be used as ducts

• Primary space conditioning systems in each dwelling unit require a programmable thermostat

• Heat pumps with supplemental electric resistance heaters shall have strip heat lockout controls

Max. setting of 40oF Set to 35oF or less at final inspection

Duct testing is required when replacing HVAC equipment.

This includes:

• Air handler replacement

• Outdoor condensing unit (AC or HP)

• Cooling or heating coils

• Furnace heat exchanger

• Testing must be completed by certified technician

• Results provided to homeowner and building official on affidavit

• Ducts with less than 40 lineal feet in unconditioned spaces

• Ducts that have been previously tested

• Ducts containing asbestos

• Ducts in additions less than 750 sf

• Habitat for Humanity

• First WA ENERGY STAR

• All ducts inside

• 1,000 sf

• All electric < $40/month

Ducts between floors High-efficiency furnace inside the structure

For floor/ceiling assemblies only -

not for crawl spaces

Pressure difference

• Stack effect

• Wind effect

• Temperature difference effect

• Duct leakage effect

• HVAC zone balance

44NCAT

Source: Residential Energy

What does the energy code require?

• Prescriptive air sealing

• Testing of the air barrier

• Maximum leakage targets

2015 WSEC maximum = 5 ACH50

new/additions

2018 may need 0.5 credit for 3 ACH50

2018 may want 2.0 ACH50 w/HRV or

ERV 2020 for 1.5 - 2.0 credits

Building envelope must have continuous air barrier

Breaks or joints are sealed

Air-permeable insulation is not an air barrier

VS.

• Air Barrier & Insulation table R402.4.1.1

• Include checklist of each building component with: QA = who, what, when & how? = < ACH50

• Cost-effective measure

• The devil’s in the air barrier QA details

Existing house

Addition

Addition only = 5.0 ACH

Addition + existing house = 7.0 ACH

Duct Sealing for Comfort, Energy and Air Quality http://www.energy.wsu.edu/videos/duct-sealing/

Sealing HVAC system ducts is a cost-effective energy efficiency action that also improves indoor air quality. Learn how ducts move air, where common leaks are, and how to fix leaks.

Air Leakage in Homes: The Invisible Thiefhttp://www.energy.wsu.edu/videos/air-leakage-in-homes_part-01/

(presented in 7 chapters)

• Closed house condition• Blower door creates negative pressure• Measure house pressure + air flow out• Use - 50 Pascals pressure

High air flow @ 50 Pascals = large air leakageLow air flow @ 50 Pascals = small air leakage

Measure the pressure in building

Measure the volume of air out fan

Calculate the leakage area Estimate air exchange

• Blower door Fan Panel Frame

• Manometer Old version New (WiFi) version

w/multiple doors

• Assemble frame, place nylon panel over frame, secure in exterior door frame

• Insert fan in panel

• Connect tubing to manometer, fan and exterior

• Properly program manometer

• Depressurize to -50 Pa and record CFM

Device Configuration

select

“REF” ports

“Input” ports

Device select

Mode select

BD 3 OPEN

PR/ FL

Pa CFM

1

BD = Blower Door

BD 3 OPEN

PR/ FL

Pa CFM

1

BD 3 OPEN

PR/ FL

Pa CFM

1

BD 3 OPEN

PR/ FL

Pa CFM

1

• Close exterior windows and doors

• Close fireplace and stove doors

• Close dampers (depressurizing the house sucks gravity dampers closed)

• Plumbing traps must be filled with water or blocked in some other manner

• Open interior doors

Did I fill the plumbing traps?

• Open access hatches to conditioned attics or crawl spaces

• Exterior ventilation openings closed and sealed

• HVAC ducts and registers not sealed

• HVAC, water heater OFF

Pressure (in Pascals)

Flow rate (CFM)

• Determine leakage rate of house with blower door (CFM @ 50 Pascals)

• Calculate to volume of the house (ft3)

ACH50 = (CFM x 60) ÷ volume

• 2,000 sf house

• Volume = 16,000 ft3 (2,000 x 8)

• Blower door CFM = 1,300 CFM

• ACH50 = (CFM x 60) ÷ volume

• ACH50 = (1,300 x 60) ÷ 16,000

• ACH50 = 78,000 ÷ 16,000

• ACH50 = 4.8

• Now that you understand the testing approaches and requirements for WSEC-R, you need to learn how to use the equipment and become proficient using it

• Spend 1-3 hours on these websites learning how to use the equipment:

https://retrotec.com/

https://energyconservatory.com/

www.energy.wsu.edu/

BuildingEfficiency/EnergyCode