ECC Raters (formerly HERS Raters) and Title 24

ECC (energy code compliance) Rater

The ECC-Rater is trained and certified by an Energy Commission approved ECC-Provider to perform the ECC-Verification that may be required to demonstrate and document compliance with the Energy Code. ECC-Raters receive special training in diagnostic techniques and building science as part of the certification administered by the ECC-Providers. The ECC-Raters operate independently from the ECC-Providers and are to act as independent, third-party agents to the contractor installing the energy efficiency requirements for the construction project.

ECC-Raters shall be considered “special inspectors” by enforcement agencies, which is not to be confused with the same term used by local enforcement agencies regarding inspectors with specific ICC training and certification. ECC-Raters are not special inspectors for the local enforcement agencies; they are special inspectors for the project proponents, including the installing contractor. ECC-Raters may be required to attain business licenses in some jurisdictions.

The Energy Commission has determined that an ECC-Rater may act as a document author for the CF2R for a residential project with no violation of the provisions of “Conflict of Interest” (Title 20, Section 1673(j)). If requested to do so by the builder or subcontractor, the ECC- Rater may aid the builder or subcontractor to register the CF2R with an ECC registry.  However, the ECC-Rater may not certify the information on a CF1R as the responsible person (that is, sign the CF1R as if they were the builder or subcontractor).

The builder or subcontractor responsible for the installation must provide the certification by electronic signature to confirm the information submitted to the ECC registry. Refer to Reference Residential Appendix Section RA2.5 and Reference Joint Appendix JA7 for more information. The ECC-Rater may not certify the information on a CF2R as the responsible person unless the ECC-Rater and installer have signed a written agreement that the ECC-Rater is an authorized representative that may sign on behalf of the installer. The installing contractor remains the responsible person. Qualifications for delegation of signature authority are detailed in Section 10-103(a)3A.

The ECC-Rater conducts the ECC-Verification of the installed energy efficiency features when required by the CF1R or CF2R. The ECC-Rater must transmit the results of the ECC-Verification to the ECC registry. The ECC-Rater must provide to the ECC registry all information required to complete the CF3R and must certify those data as accurate and complete to the ECC registry. The ECC registry will make available registered copies of the CF3R to authorized users. Printed copies, electronic or scanned copies, and photocopies of the completed, signed, and registered CF3R are allowed for document submittals, subject to verification that the information contained on the copy conforms to the registered document information on file in the ECC registry for the dwelling. A copy of the registered CF3R must be posted at the building site or made available to the inspector for review by the enforcement agency in conjunction with requests for final inspection for each dwelling unit.

ECC Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing

This section describes some procedures and requirements for ECC-Verification of energy efficiency features.

Measures Requiring ECC Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing

ECC-Verification is required only when certain regulated efficiency requirements or equipment features are installed. If such efficiency requirements or equipment features are not installed, then ECC-Verification is not required. For example, if a dwelling that must comply with the Energy Code does not have air distribution ducts, then ECC-Verification for duct leakage is not required for compliance.

The following features require ECC-Verification:

• Duct sealing
• Duct location, surface area, and R-value
• Low-leakage ducts entirely in conditioned space
• Low-leakage air handlers
• Verification of return duct design
• Verification of air filter device design, filter MERV rating, and labeling
• Verification of prescriptive bypass duct requirements
• Refrigerant charge in ducted split-system and ducted packaged unit air conditioners and heat pumps, and mini-split systems
• Installation of fault indicator display
• Verified system airflow
• Air handler fan efficacy
• Verified energy efficiency ratio 2(EER2)
• Verified seasonal energy efficiency ratio 2(SEER2)
• Verified heating seasonal performance factor 2(HSPF2)
• Heat pump-rated heating capacity
• Evaporatively cooled condensers
• Variable-capacity heat pump credit
• Whole-house fan
• Central fan ventilation cooling systems
• Continuous whole-building mechanical ventilation airflow
• Intermittent whole-building mechanical ventilation airflow
• Kitchen exhaust (including vented range hoods)
• HRV/ERV system heat recovery efficiency or fan efficacy
• Building envelope air leakage
• Quality insulation installation (QII)
• Quality insulation installation for spray polyurethane foam
• Verified pipe insulation for single dwelling
• Verified central parallel piping (PP-H)
• Verified compact hot water distribution system expanded credit (CHWDS-H-EX)
• Demand recirculation: manual control (R-DRmc-H)
• Demand recirculation: sensor control (R-DRsc-H)
• Verified drain water heat recovery system (DWHR-H)

(Excerpted from the CEC Title 24 Residential Compliance Manual)