Report. South Carolina Energy Code Compliance Survey

Transcription

1 Report South Carolina Energy Code Compliance Survey June 30, 2011 Prepared for: The South Carolina Energy Office 1200 Senate Street 408 Wade Hampton Building Columbia, SC Prepared by: MC2 Mathis Consulting Company 2002 Riverside Drive Suite 42-F Asheville, NC Executive Summary What is the purpose of an energy code if it is not adequately or consistently enforced? Determining what energy code components are often red-tagged by building officials or otherwise unenforced reveals where more education and better enforcement tools are needed for state to achieve the goals of its energy code. Compliance with the energy code provisions have taken an increased sense of urgency with federal requirements for 9 compliance by 2017 coupled with the daily challenges of utilities, policy makers and planners seeking to address the growing energy needs of the state in an increasingly uncertain energy future. As a part of the energy code training program conducted in South Carolina between March and June, 2011, Mathis Consulting Company (MC2) surveyed attendees at these training as to their perception of current energy code compliance, areas of compliance deficiencies and their recommendations to address perceived compliance challenges. Attendees included building inspectors, contractors, builders and designers. Survey results showed a consistent recognition of key building topics where code compliance is currently weak and where additional education and enforcement tools could be immediately put to use. Priority areas identified for improved compliance include improper or inadequate air sealing and HVAC load and equipment sizing calculations. Additional diagnostic tools for building officials were cited as critical to achieve the compliance targets. The majority of respondents highlighted education and training for designers, builders, and contractors as also essential.

2 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey Page 2 Disclaimer This report was prepared for the South Carolina Energy Office as a deliverable for its contract with Battelle Memorial Institute (Contract No ) which is funded through DOE s Pacific Northwest National Lab under Contract DE-AC05-76RL The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the United States government or the South Carolina Energy Office.

3 Page 3 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey Report As a part of the energy code training program geared for building officials in South Carolina between March and June, 2011, Mathis Consulting Company (MC2) surveyed training attendees as to their perception of energy code compliance. The survey asked for areas of compliance deficiencies and recommendations to address perceived compliance challenges. Attendees included building inspectors, contractors, builders and designers. Survey results showed a consistent recognition of key building topics where code compliance is currently weak and where additional education and enforcement tools could be immediately put to use. The 81 surveys collected reveal that building inspector respondents largely felt that all energy code components were appropriately red-tagged most of the time. This report provides some additional initial insights on code compliance from other building professionals. As South Carolina moves towards the 9 compliance goal by 2017, this report highlights key areas of concern and potential enforcement education priorities. Perception of Code Compliance The first section provided a list of code components which respondents marked as red-tagged or unenforced, according to their perceptions based on their work experience. Red tagged here means enforced, while Unenforced means that the particular provision tends to be overlooked by code officials. Table 1 captures the survey responses to the first series of questions asked regarding perceived code compliance. Table 1: Perceived Compliance with Current Code (Enforced and Unenforced Provisions) REDTAGGED UNENFORCED % 81% 78% % 7 69% 64% 5 39% % 19% 6% 1

4 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey Page 4 Observations On average, inspectors marked items as red-tagged 7 of the time compared to unenforced less than 2 of the time. Compared to the perceptions from the same North Carolina survey given to a diverse audience of architects, builders, inspectors, engineers, and HERS raters, respondents in South Carolina (almost all Inspectors) were twice as likely to mark code components as red-tagged. At odds with this trend, HVAC sizing was marked unenforced about two-thirds of the time and air sealing is unenforced nearly a quarter of the time. These areas are fundamental to capturing the energy efficiency embodied in the energy code and point to critical enforcement gaps. Education and support to the entire building community is needed to address these areas. Additional Survey Questions and Responses The remaining questions were asked directly to the trainees regarding compliance issues. In this section we also captured some general trainee demographics such as inspector certification type, experience levels, etc. Below we cite each question asked along with results and our assessment. Q11. Your number one (most common) red-tagged or problem energy code component: Improper insulation installation and air leakage were the most common problem area called out by these results. This is of particular concern considering that these are durable, long term energy efficiency components. Problems in the building envelope lead to longterm comfort issues and can make it extremely expensive to own and operate a home % 11% 7% 6% 3% Most Commonly Red Taggged Components Improper Insulation Installation Air Leakage (incl. Building Envelope) Insufficient Insulation (R-values) Unlabeled Windows or Improper U & SHGC Factors Load and Sizing Calculations/HVAC Duct Sealing Lighting Energy compliance certificate Service Water Heater Q12. The most commonly unenforced energy code component in your experience: Consistent with the perception assessment above, HVAC load calculations stands out as the most under-enforced area in the code. This is interrelated to air leakage, or inadequate air sealing, in forming the fundamental energy performance of any building. Proper sizing and HVAC load calculations are based on assumptions that the building envelope is performing at a certain level. High air leakage and gaps in insulation can lead to a common 2 2 4% 4% Most Commonly Unenforced Code Components Load and Sizing Calculations/HVAC Air Leakage (incl. Building Envelope) Lighting Unlabeled Windows or Improper U & SHGC Factors Duct Sealing Service Water Heater Improper Insulation Installation

5 Page 5 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey practice of over-sizing HVAC units as a safety factor. These results show why the new testing provisions in advanced codes are so critically important. If the building has a good visual inspection of the insulation along with test results from air leakage, a good HVAC contractor is much less likely to add a ton or two of air conditioning just to be safe. It also points to the need for HVAC contractor education regarding proper sizing. As homes and buildings continue to become tighter, and windows do a better job lowering solar heat gain, the over-sizing of HVAC units will become more of a problem leading to moisture issues, comfort challenges and equipment breakdowns, as well as problems for the state s utility planners Q13. Having now participated in this class, what do you think are the most common violations of the energy code that are typically overlooked? Again, we see the same two common problems. This reinforces the emphasis we place on envelope and sizing issues in all energy code trainings, where we also highlight improper insulation installation. To achieve its 9 compliance goal for South Carolina, these items must receive top priority in future training and code enforcement. 2 21% 17% 4% 3% After Class, Most Common Code Violations Air Leakage (incl. Building Envelope) Improper Insulation Installation Load and Sizing Calculations/HVAC Insufficient Insulation (Rvalues) Unlabeled Windows or Improper U & SHGC Factors Service Water Heater Duct Sealing Q14. What would be the most important thing the State can do to make your energy code compliance and enforcement job easier? Education was the most cited action that South Carolina could do to support energy code compliance and enforcement. We separated education responses into three categories to clarify the perceived needs. This is a clear request for additional training. Combined with the responses above, the content of the trainings provided under this project was well focused. 16% 1 8% 6% 4% 11% 11% 8% 3% What can SC do to Make Compliance & Enforcement Easier Education - General Clarification or Better Availability of Code Better Enforcement Education of Builders/ Contractors/Designers Better Tools (Tags, Cameras) Outreach / Incentives to Homeowners Education of Inspectors The results here show that broadening the educational audience is a good next step. Included in Education for Builders were responses recommending that there be continuing education. Many respondents identified aspects of clarifying the energy code, or making it more available. This reinforces the practice of providing a Cliff s Notes version of energy code provisions for easy reference. Better Enforcement also ranked highly, reflecting the need for continued education of building inspectors.

6 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey Page 6 Q15. What, if any, additional tools do you need to help in energy code compliance and enforcement? As with question 14, Education and Training ranked well above the other categories referenced. The energy code could be licensed by the state for open distribution from ICC. This would be a small price to pay for completely solving the number one request from the building community on addressing better energy code compliance. A few individuals specifically indicated access to infrared cameras, software for enforcing the code, and testing tools like blower doors. 16% 1 8% 6% 4% 4% 4% Additional Tools to Help with Compliance Education/ Training Infared Camera Better Access to Code/ Code Tools Better Enforcement Better Tags Owner Input Q16. How many years have you been a South Carolina building inspector? The majority of respondents had between 5 and 15 years as a South Carolina building inspector. This suggests that there may be an impending problem with the retirement of some of SC s most experienced inspectors. This amplifies the need for accelerating code training for all SC codes. 19% Number of Years as Inspector Less than 5 years 57% Between 5 and 15 years Between 15 and 25 years 9% Between 25 and 36 years Q17. What level certificates do you hold? Providing an energy code certification seems prudent due to the widespread crosstraining among a majority of inspectors. This allows the code to be presented in a coherent and holistic manner that better communicates the integration of the four disciplines by their energy requirements % 88% % Building Mechanical Plumbing Electrical Fire Type of Certifications Held

7 Page 7 SC Energy Code Compliance Survey Appendix A: Energy Code Compliance Survey South Carolina Building Officials Please indicate below the degree of compliance with the current provisions of the state s energy code. Please check the answer you feel is the MOST accurate in your work experience. Please use the back of this form to provide any additional code compliance information you d like to share. Current Compliance Assessment REDTAGGED UNENFORCED 1. Insufficient Insulation Levels (R-value) are: 2. Improper Insulation Installations are: 3. Improper or Inadequate Air Sealing are: 4. Improper Window U and SHGC values are: 5. Unlabeled Window U-Factors are: 6. Unlabeled Window SHGCs are: 7. Inadequate Duct Sealing or Installation are: 8. Improper Load and Sizing Calculations are: 9. Service Water Heating violations are: 10. Non-compliant Lighting are: 11. Your number one (most common) red-tagged energy code component: 12. The most commonly unenforced energy code component in your experience: 13. Having now participated in this class, what do you think are the most common violations of the energy code that are typically overlooked? 14. What would be the most important thing the State can do to make your energy code enforcement job easier? 15. What, if any, additional tools do you need to help in energy code enforcement? 16. How many years have you been a South Carolina building inspector? Years 17. What level certificates do you hold? Building: Mechanical: Plumbing: Electrical: Fire: Optional Information: If you would be willing to receive a call so we could collect some additional information regarding your experience in energy code compliance and enforcement please check here: Name: Contact Phone Number: Please use the back of this form to provide any other information you d like to share regarding energy code compliance issues or needs.