HERS TEST FOR HVAC
HERS Duct Leakage Test: A required inspection for HVAC systems in California to measure air loss from ductwork. It ensures compliance with Title 24, improves energy efficiency, lowers utility costs, and enhances indoor air quality.
Airflow Measurements
HERS Airflow Measurement Test: A required test for HVAC systems in California that verifies proper airflow from the system to ensure energy efficiency, comfort, and Title 24 compliance. It helps optimize system performance and indoor air quality.
Refrigerant Charge Verification
HERS Refrigerant Charge Verification: A test ensuring an HVAC system has the correct refrigerant levels for optimal efficiency and Title 24 compliance. Proper charge improves system performance, reduces energy consumption, and extends equipment lifespan.
Watt Draw
HERS Watt Draw Test: Measures the electrical power consumption of an HVAC system’s fan to ensure it operates efficiently and meets Title 24 compliance. Lower watt draw indicates better energy performance and reduced utility costs.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
QII
HERS Quality Insulation Installation (QII): A verification process ensuring insulation is properly installed with minimal gaps, compression, or voids. Required for Title 24 compliance, QII improves energy efficiency, enhances comfort, and reduces heating and cooling costs.
IAQ
HERS Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Test: Ensures proper ventilation and filtration in homes and buildings to meet Title 24 standards. It verifies fresh air intake, reduces indoor pollutants, and improves overall air quality for a healthier living environment.
Fenestration
HERS Fenestration Verification: Confirms that windows, skylights, and glass doors meet Title 24 energy efficiency standards. It ensures proper U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), and air leakage ratings to improve building performance and reduce energy costs.
Lighting
HERS Lighting Verification: Ensures installed lighting systems comply with Title 24 energy efficiency standards, including high-efficacy fixtures, controls, and dimmers. This helps reduce energy consumption, lower electricity costs, and improve overall building performance.
Hot Water Heater
HERS Hot Water Heater Verification: Ensures water heaters meet Title 24 energy efficiency standards, verifying proper installation, insulation, and performance. This improves energy savings, reduces heat loss, and enhances system efficiency.
Solar Testing
HERS Solar (PV) System Verification: Confirms that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems meet Title 24 energy standards, ensuring proper installation, performance, and efficiency. This maximizes energy production, reduces electricity costs, and supports California’s sustainability goals.
HERS HVAC Verification: Ensures that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems comply with Title 24 standards, verifying proper installation, airflow, refrigerant charge, duct sealing, and energy efficiency. This improves performance, reduces energy costs, and enhances indoor comfort.
BLOWER DOOR TEST
HERS Blower Door Test: Measures a home’s airtightness by detecting air leaks in the building envelope. Required for Title 24 compliance, this test helps improve energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and HVAC performance while reducing energy waste.
CFR2 (Confirmed Rating Stage 2) in HERS testing is the final verification step, involving on-site testing of air leakage, duct efficiency, insulation, and HVAC performance to confirm compliance and finalize the HERS Index Score for certification.
CF1-R (Certificate of Compliance) is the initial energy documentation in HERS testing, detailing a home’s energy features and design to ensure compliance with energy codes before construction.
Non-HERS Special Inspections
CF2R-ADD-02-E – Prescriptive Additions
The CF2R-ADD-02-E Prescriptive Additions – Simple Non-HERS form is a Certificate of Installation used in California for residential additions that do not require Home Energy Rating System (HERS) field verification. It is completed by the installing contractor to confirm compliance with state energy efficiency standards for such additions.
CF2R-ALT-05-E – Prescriptive Alterations
The CF2R-ALT-05-E Prescriptive Residential Alterations That Do Not Require HERS Field Verification form is a Certificate of Installation used in California for simple residential alterations exempt from HERS verification, such as specific ductwork modifications. The installing contractor completes this form to demonstrate compliance with state energy efficiency requirements.
CF2R-MCH-01-E – Space Conditioning Systems
The CF2R-MCH-01-E Space Conditioning Systems, Ducts, and Fans form is a Certificate of Installation used in California to document HVAC system installations, including ducts and fans, ensuring compliance with state energy efficiency regulations. This form may require verification by a HERS rater depending on the project scope.
CF2R-MCH-02-E – Whole House Fan
The CF2R-MCH-02-E Whole House Fan form certifies the proper installation of whole house fans in California residences to ensure compliance with state energy efficiency standards. It is completed by the installing contractor as part of the compliance process.
CF2R-ENV-01-E – Fenestration Installation
The CF2R-ENV-01-E Fenestration Installation form verifies that installed windows, doors, and skylights in California homes meet state energy efficiency standards. The installing contractor completes this form to confirm compliance with these requirements.
CF2R-ENV-03-E – Insulation Installation
The CF2R-ENV-03-E Insulation Installation form certifies that insulation installed in California residences meets state energy efficiency requirements. This form is completed by the installing contractor to verify compliance with applicable standards.
CF2R-ENV-04-E – Roofing and Radiant Barrier
The CF2R-ENV-04-E Roofing and Radiant Barrier form certifies that roofing installations, including radiant barriers, comply with California’s energy efficiency standards. The installing contractor completes this form to confirm adherence to these regulations.
CF2R-SRA-01-E – Solar-Ready Buildings
The CF2R-SRA-01-E Solar-Ready Buildings form ensures that newly constructed single-family and low-rise multifamily homes in California meet the state’s solar-ready requirements. This form applies to projects without solar photovoltaic systems and is completed by the installing contractor to verify compliance with energy efficiency guidelines.
CF2R-SRA-02-E – Minimum Solar Zone Area Worksheet
The CF2R-SRA-02-E Minimum Solar Zone Area Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24, Part 6). It calculates the minimum solar zone area required for new residential buildings, accounting for factors such as roof size and obstructions, to ensure solar readiness.
HERS Compliance Inspections
CF2R-MCH-20-H – Duct Leakage
The CF2R-MCH-20-H Duct Leakage Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It records the results of duct leakage testing to verify that HVAC duct systems meet airtightness standards, enhancing energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
CF2R-MCH-21-H – Duct Location
The CF2R-MCH-21-H Duct Location Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It documents the positioning of HVAC ducts within a building to confirm compliance with energy efficiency standards and reduce thermal losses.
CF2R-MCH-22-H – Fan Efficacy
The CF2R-MCH-22-H Fan Efficacy Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It ensures that HVAC fans operate within the required efficacy limits (watts per CFM) to support efficient air distribution.
CF2R-MCH-23-H – Airflow Rate
The CF2R-MCH-23-H Airflow Rate Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that HVAC systems achieve the minimum required airflow (CFM per ton) to maintain proper performance and efficiency.
CF2R-MCH-25-H – Refrigerant Charge Verification
The CF2R-MCH-25-H Refrigerant Charge Verification Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It confirms that HVAC systems have the correct refrigerant charge, ensuring optimal efficiency, performance, and regulatory compliance.
CF2R-MCH-26-H – Verified EER/SEER
The CF2R-MCH-26-H Verified EER/SEER Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that an HVAC system’s Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) meet the required efficiency benchmarks.
CF2R-MCH-27-H – Indoor Air Quality
The CF2R-MCH-27-H Indoor Air Quality Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It ensures that the mechanical ventilation system provides sufficient fresh air and meets indoor air quality standards.
CF2R-MCH-28-H – Return Duct Design & Filter Sizing
The CF2R-MCH-28-H Return Duct Design & Filter Sizing Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It confirms that return ducts and air filters are properly sized to promote efficient airflow, system functionality, and indoor air quality.
CF2R-MCH-29-H – Duct Surface Area Reduction & R-Value Compliance
The CF2R-MCH-29-H Duct Surface Area Reduction & R-Value Compliance Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It ensures that duct systems meet insulation (R-value) requirements and employ surface area reduction techniques to boost energy efficiency.
CF2R-MCH-30-E – Ventilation Cooling Compliance Credit
The CF2R-MCH-30-E Ventilation Cooling Compliance Credit Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that a building’s ventilation cooling system meets efficiency standards, qualifying for compliance credit by reducing mechanical cooling energy consumption.
CF2R-MCH-31-H – Whole House Fan
The CF2R-MCH-31-H Whole House Fan Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It ensures that whole house fans comply with airflow and efficacy requirements to enhance ventilation and lower cooling energy use.
CF2R-MCH-32-H – Local Mechanical Exhaust
The CF2R-MCH-32-H Local Mechanical Exhaust Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that local exhaust fans, such as those in kitchens and bathrooms, meet airflow and efficacy requirements to support indoor air quality.
CF2R-MCH-33-H – Variable Capacity Heat Pump Compliance Credit
The CF2R-MCH-33-H Variable Capacity Heat Pump Compliance Credit Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It confirms that a variable capacity heat pump meets performance standards to qualify for compliance credit, improving energy efficiency.
CF2R-ENV-20-H – Building Envelope Air Leakage Test
The CF2R-ENV-20-H Building Envelope Air Leakage Test Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that a building meets air leakage limits through blower door testing, promoting energy efficiency and air quality.
CF2R-ENV-21-H – Quality Insulation Installation (QII) – Framing Stage
The CF2R-ENV-21-H Quality Insulation Installation (QII) – Framing Stage Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It ensures insulation is correctly installed during the framing phase to maximize thermal performance and energy savings.
CF2R-ENV-22-H – Quality Insulation Installation (QII) – Insulation Stage
The CF2R-ENV-22-H Quality Insulation Installation (QII) – Insulation Stage Worksheet is a compliance document under California’s Title 24, Part 6. It verifies that insulation is properly installed in the insulation phase to meet energy efficiency and thermal performance requirements.
HERS Compliance Inspections – Summary
Duct System Compliance:
- CF2R-MCH-20-H: Tests duct leakage to ensure airtightness.
- CF2R-MCH-21-H: Documents duct placement for energy efficiency.
- CF2R-MCH-29-H: Ensures duct insulation (R-value) and surface area reduction compliance.
HVAC Performance:
- CF2R-MCH-22-H: Verifies fan efficacy (watts per CFM).
- CF2R-MCH-23-H: Confirms airflow rate meets efficiency standards.
- CF2R-MCH-25-H: Checks proper refrigerant charge.
- CF2R-MCH-26-H: Verifies EER/SEER efficiency compliance.
Indoor Air Quality & Ventilation:
- CF2R-MCH-27-H: Ensures adequate mechanical ventilation.
- CF2R-MCH-28-H: Confirms proper return duct design & filter sizing.
- CF2R-MCH-30-E: Verifies ventilation cooling efficiency for compliance credit.
- CF2R-MCH-31-H: Ensures whole house fans meet airflow standards.
- CF2R-MCH-32-H: Confirms local exhaust fan compliance.
Heat Pump & Compliance Credits:
- CF2R-MCH-33-H: Ensures variable capacity heat pump meets efficiency standards.
Building Envelope Compliance:
- CF2R-ENV-20-H: Tests for air leakage using blower door testing.
- CF2R-ENV-21-H: Verifies quality insulation installation (QII) during framing.
- CF2R-ENV-22-H: Ensures proper insulation installation for thermal performance.
Each inspection ensures compliance with California Title 24, Part 6, improving energy efficiency, HVAC performance, and indoor air quality.
HERS Inspections for Existing Conditions & Residential Alterations
Building & Duct System Compliance:
- CF3R-EXC-20-H: Documents existing energy features before upgrades.
- CF3R-MCH-20-H: Tests duct leakage to meet airtightness standards.
- CF3R-MCH-21-H: Verifies duct placement for energy efficiency.
- CF3R-MCH-29-H: Ensures duct insulation (R-value) and surface area reduction compliance.
HVAC Performance:
- CF3R-MCH-22-H: Confirms fan efficacy (watts per CFM).
- CF3R-MCH-23-H: Verifies airflow rate for efficiency.
- CF3R-MCH-25-H: Checks proper refrigerant charge.
- CF3R-MCH-26-H: Ensures EER/SEER efficiency compliance.
Indoor Air Quality & Ventilation:
- CF3R-MCH-27-H: Ensures proper mechanical ventilation.
- CF3R-MCH-28-H: Confirms return duct and filter sizing for airflow.
- CF3R-MCH-30-H: Verifies ventilation cooling efficiency for compliance credit.
- CF3R-MCH-31-H: Ensures whole house fans meet airflow standards.
- CF3R-MCH-32-H: Confirms local exhaust fan compliance.
Heat Pump & Compliance Credits:
- CF3R-MCH-33-H: Verifies variable capacity heat pump efficiency.
Building Envelope Compliance:
- CF3R-ENV-20-H: Tests air leakage via blower door testing.
Each inspection ensures California Title 24, Part 6 compliance, enhancing energy efficiency, HVAC performance, and indoor air quality.