Residential Weatherization and Ventilation Specs Subcommittee

Updates

Regional Technical ForumMarch 2nd, 2010

Subcommittee Meeting• Feb 18, 2010 (phone/gotomeeting)• Attendees

– Adam Hadley– Mark Jerome– Ted Haskell– Bruce Manclark– Stephanie Vasquez– Mark Johnson– David Hales– Tom Eckart– Jeremy Anderson– Kacie Bedney– Mark Percy– Bruce Carter– Lucinda Gilman– Paul Tschida

• Results1. Group came to a

consensus that ESG's Performance Air Testing and Sealing (PATS) Specifications meet/exceed the RTF's Air Sealing specifications

2. Began discussion on changes to the Residential Weatherization Specifications

ESG’s PATS Specifications - Overview

Performance Air Testing & Sealing (PATS) Specifications• Certified Technician Requirement• Materials Specifications• Application Requirements

– How and where air-sealing is to be installed• Measurement Requirements

– Blower Door setup and testing protocol• Indoor Air Quality

– CAZ testing • 5 Pa depressurization limit for natural draft combustion devices• 15 Pa depressurization limit for assisted draft combustion devices

– CO Monitor Required– Ventilation requirements

• Closely follows ASHRAE 62.2, with an exception to ensure RTF spec is met if 62.2 calls for a smaller whole-house fan.

Subcommittee Recommendation

• RTF to consider ESG’s PATS spec equivalent to the RTF’s Air-Sealing Specification

• Decision?

Subcommittee Meeting

• March 1st, 2010 – (in-person 10am-3pm)

• Attendees– Bruce Manclark– Rich Arneson– Bruce Carter– Mark Jerome– Adam Hadley– David Hales– Zach Erdmann– Ted Haskell– Adam Hadley

Results (YES!!!)• Agreement on Ventilation

Specification direction & program guidance

• Further Wx Specs Discussion

– Mark Johnson– Kacie Bedney– Warren Cook– Brady Peeks– Bob Davis– Jeremy Anderson– Tom Eckhart– David Baylon

(near) Consensus Ventilation Specification Outline

• Ventilation system not required• Full disclosure always required: insulation, windows, duct

seal, and air seal– Disclose that we don’t and can’t really know the best IAQ solution– Provide general information on source control and ventilation

strategies– Provide specific language on how to meet (get close to meeting)

ASHRAE 62.2 recommended ventilation levels • The nationally recognized standard, simplified

– Provide RTF recommended ventilation standard• Based on 62.2, but very simplified; with energy-conscious tradeoffs

• CO alarm always required where combustion equipment• Would apply equally to manufactured homes

Other Program Direction

• Two levels of savings available for performance based air sealing– All cases

• Savings for tightening down to 0.25 ACHn (0.25 still up for debate) allowed

– Tightening beyond 0.25 ACHn • Savings only claimable if RTF approved ventilation system is

installed• Reason: keeps us from encouraging tightening without ventilation

• Efficient fan spec may provide an additional deemed energy savings measure

Proposed RTF Work Products• Disclosure Document Language– Guidance for meeting 62.2– Guidance for meeting RTF’s IAQ/Ventilation standard

• RTF IAQ/Ventilation Standard• Savings Calculations– “Beyond 0.25” savings– Efficient fan savings

What We’re looking for from the RTF today• Are we heading in the right direction?• Continue with efforts?

Weatherization Specifications Update• Intent of Update

– Remove program language from the specs– Remove unnecessary specifications– Update references to outdated standards– Update specs to current practices– Better integrate Weatherization Specifications, Ventilation

Specifications, Air-Seal Specifications, and Duct Specifications

• Needs more work

• No Recommendation, so no action needed from the RTF