The ASHRAE/IES energy standard would have multiple compliance options to ensure verification of delivered building envelope performance under a new proposal.
“Uncontrolled air leakage has long been an unquantified variable in load calculations for buildings large and small,” ASHRAE said in a news release. “It has also been identified as the ‘weak link’ in many otherwise well insulated building enclosures.” Proposed envelope testing, inspection and verification procedures are intended to help deliver better performing building envelopes, and help to reduce errors associated with envelope air leakage in equipment sizing calculations.
This proposal, Addendum l, is one of 14 proposed addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, now open for public comment. To comment, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.
The proposal provides for multiple compliance methods including whole building air leakage testing, continuous air barrier inspection, and performance verification procedures. The proposed changes would likely have an impact on first costs, but the long-term savings are expected to more than justify these costs. The costs of the verification procedures will go down over time as builders become more familiar with envelope performance testing, inspection and other verification techniques and their construction practices improve due to the important feedback they will provide, ASHRAE says.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jul 10, 2018
DOE’s Better Buildings Summit to be held in Cleveland, August 21-23
Agenda includes technical training and networking opportunities.
Codes and Standards | Jul 6, 2018
Houston’s lessons learned from Harvey include lack of awareness by residents of flood danger
Inconsistent regulatory environment also cited.
Codes and Standards | Jul 6, 2018
Delos and HDR will co-develop wellness design tools and collaborate on research
WELL Building Standard pioneer teams with architects to advance wellness innovations in the built environment.
Codes and Standards | Jul 5, 2018
BREEAM New Construction standard launched in U.S.
Follows successful launch of BREEAM In-Use standard.
Codes and Standards | Jun 29, 2018
Nearly half of nonresidential construction projects now delivered by design-build
‘Alternative’ method now mainstream for nonresidential, highway/street, and water/wastewater construction projects.
Codes and Standards | Jun 28, 2018
Modular construction may be key to relieving housing crunch
May be only way to meet needs as ranks of construction workers decline.
Codes and Standards | Jun 27, 2018
Thirty nine San Francisco high rises at risk of collapse in major earthquake
Vulnerable buildings have welded columns and beams.
Codes and Standards | Jun 26, 2018
Boston enacts new climate resiliency rules for buildings
New policy is likely a first in the nation.
Codes and Standards | Jun 25, 2018
Integrated Project Delivery guide offered by Pankow Foundation
An Action Guide for Leaders offers answers to critical IPD questions.
Codes and Standards | Jun 21, 2018
New app said to automate code compliance
Startup offers plug-in that scans 3D models.