EXCEPTION:

The following alterations need not comply with the requirements for new construction provided the energy use of the building is not increased:

 

1. Storm windows installed over existing fenestration.

 

2. Surface applied window film installed on existing single pane fenestration assemblies to reduce solar heat gain provided the code does not require the glazing fenestration to be replaced.

 

3. Existing ceiling, wall or floor cavities exposed during construction provided that these cavities are insulated to full depth with insulation having a minimum nominal value of R-3.0 per inch installed per Section C402.

 

4. Construction where the existing roof, wall or floor cavity is not exposed.

 

5. Roof recover.

 

6. Air barriers shall not be required for roof recover and roof replacement where the alterations or renovations to the building do not include alterations, renovations or repairs to the remainder of the building envelope.

 

7. Replacement of existing doors that separate conditioned space from the exterior shall not require the installation of a vestibule or revolving door, provided however that an existing vestibule that separates a conditioned space from the exterior shall not be removed.

EXCEPTION:

Buildings or spaces that were permitted prior to the 2009 Washington state energy code, or were originally permitted as unconditioned, may comply with this section as follows:

 

1. Where the component performance alternative in Section C402.1.5 is used to demonstrate compliance with this Section, the Proposed Total UA is allowed to be up to 110 percent of the Allowable Total UA. This exception may be applied to the project area alone, or to the existing building and project area combined as a whole building.

 

2. Where total building performance in accordance with Section C407 is used to demonstrate compliance with this Section, the total annual carbon emissions from energy consumption of the proposed design is allowed to be up to 110 percent of the annual carbon emissions from energy consumption allowed by Section C407.3. This exception may be applied to the project area alone, or to the existing building and project area combined as a whole building.

EXCEPTION:

Air leakage testing is not required for alterations and repairs, unless the project includes a change in space conditioning according to Section C503.2 or a change of occupancy or use according to Section C505.1.

EXCEPTION:

Additional envelope upgrades are included in the project so the addition of vertical fenestration does not cause a reduction in overall building energy efficiency, as approved by the code official.

EXCEPTION:

An area-weighted average of the U-factor of replacement fenestration products being installed in the building for each fenestration product category listed in Table C402.4 shall be permitted to satisfy the U-factor requirements for each fenestration product category listed in Table C402.4. Individual fenestration products from different product categories listed in Table C402.4 shall not be combined in calculating the area-weighted average U-factor.

EXCEPTION:

Additional envelope upgrades are included in the project so the addition of skylights does not cause a reduction in overall building energy efficiency, as approved by the code official.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Existing mechanical systems which are altered or where parts of the systems are replaced are not required to be modified to comply with Section C403.3.5 as long as mechanical cooling capacity is not added to a system that did not have cooling capacity prior to the alteration.

 

2. Alternate mechanical system designs that are not in full compliance with this code may be approved when the code official determines that existing building constraints including, but not limited to, available mechanical space, limitations of the existing structure, or proximity to adjacent air intakes or exhausts makes full compliance impractical. Alternate designs shall include additional energy saving strategies not prescriptively required by this code for the scope of the project including, but not limited to, demand control ventilation, energy recovery, or increased mechanical cooling or heating equipment efficiency above that required by Tables C403.3.2(1) through C403.3.2(12).

 

3. Only those components of existing HVAC systems that are altered or replaced shall be required to meet the requirements of Section C403.8.1, Allowable fan motor horsepower. Components replaced or altered shall not exceed the fan power limitation pressure drop adjustment values in Table C403.8.1(2) at design conditions. Section C403.8.1 does not require the removal and replacement of existing system ductwork.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Qualifying small equipment: Economizers are not required for cooling units and split systems serving one zone with a total cooling capacity rated in accordance with Section C403.3.2 of less than 33,000 Btu/h (hereafter referred to as qualifying small systems) provided that these are high-efficiency cooling equipment with SEER and EER values more than 15 percent higher than minimum efficiencies listed in Tables C403.3.2 (1) through (3), in the appropriate size category, using the same test procedures. Equipment shall be listed in the appropriate certification program to qualify for this exception. The total capacity of all qualifying small equipment without economizers shall not exceed 72,000 Btu/h per building, or 5 percent of the building total air economizer capacity, whichever is greater.

 

Notes and exclusions for Exception 1:

 

1.1. The portion of the equipment serving Group R occupancies is not included in determining the total capacity of all units without economizers in a building.

 

1.2. Redundant units are not counted in the capacity limitations.

 

1.3. This exception shall not be used for the initial tenant improvement of a shell-and-core building or space, or for Total Building Performance in accordance with Section C407.

 

1.4. This exception shall not be used for unitary cooling equipment installed outdoors or in a mechanical room adjacent to the outdoors.

 

2. Chilled water terminal units connected to systems with chilled water generation equipment with IPLV values more than 25 percent higher than minimum part load equipment efficiencies listed in Table C403.3.2(7), in the appropriate size category, using the same test procedures. Equipment shall be listed in the appropriate certification program to qualify for this exception. The total capacity of all systems without economizers shall not exceed 480,000 Btu/h per building, or 20 percent of the building total air economizer capacity, whichever is greater.

 

Notes and exclusions for Exception 2:

 

2.1. The portion of the equipment serving Group R occupancy is not included in determining the total capacity of all units without economizers in a building.

 

2.2. This exception shall not be used for the initial tenant improvement of a shell-and-core building or space, or for total building performance in accordance with Section C407.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Where an alteration project impacts an area smaller than 5,000 square feet, controlled receptacles are not required.

 

2. Where existing systems furniture or partial-height relocatable office cubical partitions are reconfigured or relocated within the same area, controlled receptacles are not required in the existing systems furniture or office cubicle partitions.

 

3. Where new or altered receptacles meet the exception to Section C405.10, they are not required to be controlled receptacles or be located within 12 inches of noncontrolled receptacles.