What does the Georgia Code Say About Testing
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As the southeast continued its march toward "Going Green," the building industry is being hit with new and tougher requirements to make new home more energy efficient than ever. The newest thing for builders to look out for is Blower Door and Duct Testing which was supposed to start January 1, 2011. As usual, the DCA did not have their act together in time so builder were spared six months before the code went into effect. These requirements went into effect on July 1, 2011, and any permits pulled for new construction pulled on or after July 1, 2011 will require Blower Door and Duct Testing by a certified DET Verifier. Highlights from the Georgia Supplements and Amendments to the IECC are listed below:
Building Envelope Testing
Duct Tightness Testing
For more information on the Georgia Supplements and Amendments to the IECC you can go to the DCA website. There you will have access to the current codes as well as the proposed 2012 codes.
402.4.2.1 Testing required. Building envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when tested air leakage is less than seven air changes per hour (ACH50) when tested with a blower door at a pressure of 50 Pascals (1.04 psf). The formula for calculating ACH50 adn testing protocol is listed in Appendix B "Building Envelope and Duct Tightness Testing Protocol". Testing shall occur after rough in and after installation of penetrations of teh building envelope, including penetrations for utilities, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and combustion appliances.
Exception: Building envelope tightness testing for additions, renovation, alterations or repairs shall only be conducted in the case of construction that affects all aspects of the building envelope.402.4.2.2 Certified duct and envelope tightness (DET) verifier. Testing for building envelope tightness shall be conducted by a certified DET verifier.
403.2.2 Sealing (Mandatory). All Ducts, air handlers, filter boxes and building cavities used as ducts shall be sealed. Joints and seams shall comply with section 403.2.4 of these Georgia State Supplements and Amendments. Duct tightness shall be verified by any of the following and comply with the testing protocol in Appendix B.
uilding envelope tightness and insulation installation shall be considered acceptable when tested air leakage is less than seven air changes per hour (ACH50) when tested with a blower door at a pressure of 50 Pascals (1.04 psf). The formula for calculating ACH50 adn testing protocol is listed in Appendix B "Building Envelope and Duct Tightness Testing Protocol". Testing shall occur after rough in and after installation of penetrations of the building envelope, including penetrations for utilities, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and combustion appliances.
1. Post-construction test: Leakage to outdoors for each system shall be less than or equal to 8 cfm (226.5 L/min) per 100 sqft (9.29 sqm) of conditioned floor area assigned to that system or a total leakage for each system with the air handler installed of less than or equal to 12 cfm (339.8 L/min) per 100 sqft (9.29 sqm) of conditioned floor area assigned to equal that system when tested at a pressure differential of 0.1 inches w.g. (25 Pa) across the entire system, including the manufacturer's air handler enclosure. Conditioned floor area should be calculated using ANSIZ765, and should include all directly conditioned square footage, whether finished or not, that meets building code requirements for living space.
2. Rough-in test: Total leakage for each system with the air handler installed shall be less than or equal to 6 cfm (169.9 L/min) per 100 sqft (9.29 sqm) of conditioned floor area assigned to that system when tested at a pressure differential of 0.1 inches w.g. (25 Pa) across teh roughted in system. All register boots shall be taped or otherwise sealed during testing.
Exceptions:
1. Duct tightness testing is not required if the air handler and all ducts are located within conditioned space.
2. Duct tightness testing is not required for existing duct systems unless more than 50% of the duct system is modified.
3. If the air handler, furnace or evaporator coil is replaced on an existing system, all joints, seams and connections from equipment to duct system and duct system connections to plenums shall meet the sealing requrements of this code and be verified by a visual inspection by the state licensed conditioned air contractor or by a DET Verifier.
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