Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR [98-14-110].

Title of Rule: Chapter 51-11 WAC, Washington State Energy Code.

Purpose: To correct the Section 503.7 amendment to the Washington State Energy Code.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045, and 19.27.020.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045, and chapter 34.05 RCW.

Summary: The proposed rule amends Section 503.7 of the Energy Code to correct a change that has an unintended consequence of added expense for no real energy savings benefit.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045, and 19.27.020.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting and Implementation; Judith Darst, P.O. Box 48300, Olympia, WA 98504-8300, (360) 586-2251; and Enforcement: Local jurisdictions.

Name of Proponent: State Building Code Council, governmental.

Agency Comments or Recommendations, if any, as to Statutory Language, Implementation, Enforcement, and Fiscal Matters: The council is seeking comments on the proposed correction in the rules.

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

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The proposed rule amends chapter 51-11 WAC, the 1997 Washington State Energy Code (WSEC), Section 503.7 Cooling with Outdoor Air (Economizer Cycle). The 1997 WSEC residential economizer requirements has an unintended consequence that would eliminate commonly used mechanical systems, would not always result in an energy savings benefit, and would ultimately result in undue expense. The amendment herein takes into consideration the general welfare of the public by reverting back to the existing residential economizer requirement.

Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Section 503.7: The change corrects the residential economizer requirement which has an unintended consequence that would eliminate commonly used mechanical systems, would not always result in an energy savings benefit, and would ultimately result in undue expense. The proposed amendment reverts the code language back to the existing code language in the WSEC (1994 Second Edition).

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The council appointed Energy Code Technical Advisory Group (TAG) discussed the code language for Section 503.7. Based on this review, the council found that the change proposed is needed to correct the unintended consequence that would prohibit commonly used mechanical systems, would not always result in an energy savings benefit, and would ultimately result in undue expense. This change will provide clarification of existing rules by reverting back to the current requirement in the WSEC (1994 Second Edition) and relief from potential negative economic impact. Therefore, no small business economic analysis was necessary.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The council is not listed as one of the agencies required to comply with RCW 34.05.328.

Hearing Location: Spokane City Hall, City Council Chambers, West 808 Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA, on Friday, September 18, 1998, at 9:00 a.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Krista Braaksma, (360) 753-5927, by September 1, 1998, TDD (360) 753-2200.

Submit Written Comments to: Mike McEnaney, Chair, State Building Code Council, P.O. Box 48300, Olympia, WA 98504-8300, fax (360) 586-5880, by September 16, 1998.

Date of Intended Adoption: November 13, 1998.

July 10, 1998

Mike McEnaney

Council Chair

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 98-03-003, filed 1/8/98, effective 7/1/98)

WAC 51-11-0503  Building mechanical systems.

503.1 General: This section covers the determination of design requirements, system and component performance, control requirements, insulating systems and duct construction.

EXCEPTIONS: Special applications, including but not limited to hospitals, laboratories, thermally sensitive equipment, and computer rooms may be exempted from the requirements of this section when approved by the building official.

503.2 Calculations of Heating and Cooling Loads, and System Sizing Limits: The design parameters specified in Chapter 3 shall apply for all computations.

503.2.1 Calculation Procedures: Heating and cooling design loads for the purpose of sizing HVAC systems are required and shall be calculated in accordance with accepted engineering practice, including infiltration and ventilation.

503.2.2 Space Heating and Space Cooling System Sizing Limits: Building mechanical systems for all buildings which provide space heating and/or space cooling shall be sized no greater than two hundred percent (200%) of the heating and cooling design loads as calculated above.

EXCEPTIONS: The following limited exemptions from the sizing limit shall be allowed, however, in all cases heating and/or cooling design load calculations shall be submitted.

1. For equipment which provides both heating and cooling in one package unit, including heat pumps with electric heating and cooling and gas-pack units with gas heating and electric cooling, compliance need only be demonstrated for either the space heating or space cooling system size.

2. Natural gas- or oil-fired space heating equipment whose total rated space heating output in any one dwelling unit is fifty-six thousand Btu/h or less may exceed the two hundred (200%) percent sizing limit provided that the installed equipment has an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of not less than the sum of seventy-eight percent plus one percent for every five thousand Btu/h that the space heating equipment output exceeds the design heating load of the dwelling unit.

3. Stand-by equipment may be installed if controls and other devices are provided which allow redundant equipment to operate only when the primary equipment is not operating.

503.3 Simultaneous Heating and Cooling: Systems and equipment that provide simultaneous heating and cooling shall comply with the requirements in, as appropriate, Section 1422 or Section 1435.

503.4 HVAC Equipment Performance Requirements:

503.4.1 Equipment Components:

503.4.1.1: The requirements of this section apply to equipment and mechanical component performance for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems. Equipment efficiency levels are specified. Data furnished by the equipment supplier or certified under a nationally recognized certification program or rating procedure shall be used to satisfy these requirements. Equipment efficiencies shall be based on the standard rating conditions in Tables 5-4, 5-5 or 5-6 as appropriate.

503.4.1.2: Where components from more than one manufacturer are assembled into systems regulated under this section, compliance for each component shall be as specified in sections 503.4.2 through 503.4.6 of this Code.

503.4.2: HVAC System Heating Equipment Heat Pump-heating Mode. Heat pumps whose energy input is entirely electric shall have a coefficient of performance (COP) heating, not less than the values in Table 5-7. Heat Pumps with supplementary backup heat other than electricity shall meet the requirements of Table 5-7.

503.4.2.1: These requirements apply to, but are not limited to, unitary (central) heat pumps (air source and water source) in the heating mode, water source (hydronic) heat pumps as used in multiple-unit hydronic HVAC systems, and heat pumps in the packaged terminal air-conditioner in the heating mode.

503.4.2.3 Supplementary Heater: The heat pump shall be installed with a control to prevent supplementary backup heater operation when the operating load can be met by the heat pump compression cycle alone.

503.4.2.4 Heat Pump Controls: Requirements for heat pump controls are listed in section 503.8.3.5 of this Code.

503.4.3 HVAC System Combustion Equipment: For Group R Occupancy, all gas, oil, and propane central heating systems shall have a minimum AFUE of 0.78^*. All other Group R Occupancy heating equipment fueled by gas, oil, or propane shall be equipped with an intermittent ignition device, or shall comply with the efficiencies as required in the 1987 National Appliances Energy Conservation Act (Public Law 100-12).

^* HVAC Heating system efficiency trade-offs shall be made using Chapters 4 or 6 of this Code.

503.4.4 Packaged and Unitary HVAC System Equipment, Electrically Operated, Cooling Mode: HVAC system equipment as listed below, whose energy input in the cooling mode is entirely electric, shall have an energy efficiency ratio (EER) or a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) cooling not less than values in Table 5-8.

503.4.4.1: These requirements apply to, but are not limited to, unitary (central) and packaged terminal heat pumps (air source and water source); packaged terminal air conditioners.

503.4.5 Other HVAC Equipment: HVAC equipment, other than that addressed in Sections 503.4.2 through 503.4.4, shall have a minimum performance at the specified rating conditions not less than the values shown in Tables 14-1 through 14-3.

503.5 Reserved.

503.6 Balancing: The HVAC system design shall provide a means for balancing air and water systems. Balancing the system shall include, but not be limited to, dampers, temperature and pressure test connections and balancing valves.

503.7 Cooling with Outdoor Air (Economizer Cycle): ((Systems and equipment that provide mechanical cooling shall comply with Section 1413 and, as appropriate, Section 1423 or Section 1433.)) Each fan system shall be designed to use up to and including 100% of the fan system capacity for cooling with outdoor air automatically whenever its use will result in lower usage of new energy. Activation of economizer cycle shall be controlled by sensing outdoor air enthalpy or outdoor air dry-bulb temperature alone or alternate means approved by the building official.

EXCEPTIONS: Cooling with outdoor air is not required under any one or more of the following conditions:

1. The fan system capacity is less than 3,500 cfm or total cooling capacity is less than 90,000 Btu/h.

2. The quality of the outdoor air is so poor as to require extensive treatment of the air and approval by the building official.

3. The need for humidification or dehumidification requires the use of more energy than is conserved by the outdoor air cooling on an annual basis.

4. The use of outdoor air cooling may affect the operation of other systems so as to increase the overall energy consumption of the building.

5. When energy recovered from an internal/external zone heat recovery system exceeds the energy conserved by outdoor air cooling on an annual basis.

6. When all space cooling is accomplished by a circulating liquid which transfers space heat directly or indirectly to a heat rejection device such as a cooling tower without use of a refrigeration system.

7. When the use of 100% outside air will cause coil frosting, controls may be added to reduce the quantity of outside air. However, the intent of this exception is to use 100% air in lieu of mechanical cooling when less energy usage will result and this exception applies only to direct expansion systems when the compressor is running.

503.8 Controls:

503.8.1 Temperature Control: Each system shall be provided with at least one adjustable thermostat for the regulation of temperature. Each thermostat shall be capable of being set by adjustment or selection of sensors as follows:

503.8.1.1: When used to control heating only: Fifty-five degrees to seventy-five degrees F.

503.8.1.2: When used to control cooling only: Seventy degrees to eighty-five degrees F.

503.8.1.3: When used to control both heating and cooling, it shall be capable of being set from fifty-five degrees to eighty-five degrees F and shall be capable of operating the system heating and cooling in sequence. The thermostat and/or control system shall have an adjustable deadband of not less than ten degrees F.

503.8.2 Humidity Control: If a system is equipped with a means for adding moisture to maintain specific selected relative humidities in space or zones, a humidistat shall be provided. Humidistats shall be capable of being set to prevent new energy from being used to produce space-relative humidity above thirty percent.

EXCEPTION: Special uses requiring different relative humidities may be permitted when approved by the building official.

503.8.3 Zoning for Temperature Control:

503.8.3.1 One- and Two-Family Dwellings: At least one thermostat for regulation of space temperature shall be provided for each separate system. In addition, a readily accessible manual or automatic means shall be provided to partially restrict or shut off the heating and/or cooling input to each zone or floor.

503.8.3.2 Multifamily Dwellings: For multifamily dwellings, each individual dwelling unit shall have at least one thermostat for regulation of space temperature. A readily accessible manual or automatic means shall be provided to partially restrict or shut off the heating and/or cooling input to each room. Spaces other than living units shall meet the requirements of 503.8.3.3.

503.8.3.3 Reserved.

503.8.3.4 Control Setback and Shut-off:

Residential Occupancy Groups. One- and Two-Family and Multifamily dwellings--The thermostat required in section 503.8.3.1 or section 503.8.3.2, or an alternate means such as a switch or clock, shall provide a readily accessible, manual or automatic means for reducing the energy required for heating and cooling during the periods of non-use or reduced need, such as, but not limited to unoccupied periods and sleeping hours. Lowering thermostat set points to reduce energy consumption of heating systems shall not cause energy to be expended to reach the reduced setting.

503.8.3.5 Heat Pump Controls: Programmable thermostats are required for all heat pump systems. The cut-on temperature for the compression heating shall be higher than the cut-on temperature for the supplementary heat, and the cut-off temperature for the compression heating shall be higher than the cut-off temperature for the supplementary heat. Heat pump thermostats will be capable of providing at least two programmable setback periods per day. The automatic setback thermostat shall have the capability of limiting the use of supplemental heat during the warm-up period.

503.9 Air Handling Duct System Insulation: Ducts, plenums and enclosures installed in or on buildings shall be thermally insulated per Table 5-11.

EXCEPTIONS: Duct insulation (except where required to prevent condensation) is not required in any of the following cases:

1. When the heat gain or loss of the ducts, without insulation, will not increase the energy requirements of the building.

2. Within the HVAC equipment.

3. Exhaust air ducts.

4. Supply or return air ducts installed in unvented crawl spaces with insulated walls, basements, or cellars in one-and two-family dwellings.

503.10 Duct Construction: All duct work shall be constructed in accordance with Standards RS-15, RS-16, RS-17, RS-18, RS-19 or RS-20, as applicable, and the Uniform Mechanical Code.

503.10.1: High-pressure and medium-pressure ducts shall be leak tested in accordance with the applicable standards in Chapter 7 of this Code with the rate of air leakage not to exceed the maximum rate specified in that standard.

503.10.2: When low-pressure supply air ducts are located outside of the conditioned space, all HVAC ductwork seams and joints, both longitudinal and transverse, shall be taped and sealed with products approved by the building official only. Ductwork joints shall be mechanically fastened with a minimum of three fasteners per joint for a cylindrical duct. Use Table 5-11 for duct insulation requirements.

503.10.3: Requirements for Automatic or manual dampers are found in the Washington State Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Code.

503.11 Piping Insulation: All piping installed to serve buildings (and within) shall be thermally insulated in accordance with Table 5-12. For service hot water systems see section 504.7. If water pipes are outside of conditioned space then the pipe insulation requirement shall be R-3 minimum for nonrecirculating hot and cold water pipes. For recirculating service hot and cold water pipes use Table 5-12 for pipe sizes and temperatures.

EXCEPTION: Piping insulation is not required within unitary HVAC equipment.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025 and 19.27A.045. 98-03-003, § 51-11-0503, filed 1/8/98, effective 7/1/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.025. 93-21-052, § 51-11-0503, filed 10/18/93, effective 4/1/94. Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.27A RCW. 92-01-140, § 51-11-0503, filed 12/19/91, effective 7/1/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020 and 1990 c 2. 91-01-112, § 51-11-0503, filed 12/19/90, effective 7/1/91.]