WSR 11-24-072

EXPEDITED RULES

BUILDING CODE COUNCIL


[ Filed December 6, 2011, 2:54 p.m. ]

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Repeal of requirements in WAC 51-11-1200 2009 Washington State Energy Code, Chapter 12 -- Energy Metering.

NOTICE

     THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Tim Nogler, Washington State Building Code Council, P.O. Box 41449, Olympia, WA 98504-1449 , AND RECEIVED BY February 7, 2012.


     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The state building code council is proposing to amend WAC 51-11-1200 2009 Washington State Energy Code, Chapter 12 -- Energy Metering. This would effectively repeal the requirements for building energy metering from the Washington State Energy Code.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: This rule is no longer necessary due to changed circumstances. New information has come forward to indicate that the cost of compliance with this rule far exceeds that which was originally estimated. As such, the rule as adopted is not feasible as originally intended. In the current economic climate, the costs associated with compliance outweigh any benefits received.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.025.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 19.27A.025.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Washington state building code council, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation: Krista Braaksma, P.O. Box 41449, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 407-9278; and Enforcement: Local jurisdictions.

November 18, 2011

Kristyn Clayton

Council Chair

OTS-4511.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-03-115, 10-13-113 and 10-22-056, filed 1/20/10, 6/21/10 and 10/28/10, effective 1/1/11)

WAC 51-11-1200   ((Section 1201 -- General.)) Reserved.   ((All buildings shall comply with Chapter 12. Whole building energy supply sources shall be metered to supply energy consumption data to the building owner to effectively manage energy. The building shall have a totalizing meter for each energy source.


1202 Whole Building Energy Supply Metering. Meters with remote metering capability or automatic meter reading (AMR) capability shall be provided to collect energy use data for each energy supply source to the building including gas, electricity and district stream, that exceeds the thresholds listed in Table 12-1. Utility company service entrance/interval meters are allowed to be used provided that they are configured for automatic meter reading (AMR) capability.

((TABLE 12-1
Energy Source Meter Thresholds

Energy Source Main Metering Threshold
Electrical service > 500 kVA
On-site renewable electric power > 10 kVA (peak)
Gas and steam service > 300 kW (1,000,000 Btu/h)
Geothermal > 300 kW (1,000,000 Btu/h) heating
On-site renewable thermal energy > 10 kW (30,000 Btu/h)

Master submetering with remote metering capability (including current sensors or flow meters) shall be provided for the systems that exceed the thresholds in Table 12-1 to collect overall totalized energy use data for each subsystem in accordance with Table 12-2.


TABLE 12-2
     Component Energy Master Submetering Thresholds

Component Submetering Threshold
Chillers/heat pump systems > 70 kW (240,000 Btu/h) cooling capacity
Packaged AC unit systems > 70 kW (240,000 Btu/h) cooling capacity
HVAC fan systems > 15 kW (20 hp)
Exhaust fan systems > 15 kW (20 hp)
Make-up air fan systems > 15 kW (20 hp)
Pump systems > 15 kW (20 hp)
Cooling towers systems > 15 kW (20 hp)
Boilers, furnaces and other heating equipment systems > 300 kW (1,000,000 Btu/h) heating capacity
General lighting circuits > 15 kVA
Miscellaneous electric loads > 15 kVA

Metering shall be digital-type meters for the main meter. Current sensors or flow meters are allowed for submetering. For subsystems with multiple similar units, such as multicell cooling towers, only one meter is required for the subsystem. Existing buildings are allowed to reuse installed existing analog-type utility company service/interval meters.


1203 Metering: Where new or replacement systems or equipment is installed that exceeds the threshold in Table 12-1 or Table 12-2, metering shall be installed for that system or equipment in accordance with Section 1201.
))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025, 19.27A.045. 10-03-115, 10-13-113 and 10-22-056, § 51-11-1200, filed 1/20/10, 6/21/10 and 10/28/10, effective 1/1/11.]

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