• NewMeasures

The new code has added: prescriptive requirements forwater-conserving plumbing fixtures and fittings, including reducedflow rates for water closets, urinals and showerheads (Section4.303.1.1-4); a standard for the combined weight of constructionand demolition waste disposed in landfills to be …”equal to or lessthan2 pounds per square-foot of the building area” (Section4.408.4.1 [HR+]); and a new section that sets standards forrefrigerator leakage reduction, refrigerant piping, receivers andother related items (Section 5.508.2). These upcoming changes will really help to clarify therequirements for alterations, remodels, and renovations. Theseareas, under the current requirements, are not as well defined andour team often has to seek out specific guidance from localbuilding department officials to confirm how they will be enforcingthe code. Ensuring compliance with CALGreenCALGreen is a statewide code; however, it is adopted at thelocal level, which means that all jurisdictions in California arerequired to adopt the mandatory base provisions. They may alsochoose to add additional requirements as they see fit. Partner Energy has found that the enforcement variesfrom jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some cities have very advancedcompliance protocols in place, while others do not as they have notseen a major uptick in new construction to require such stringentprotocols. So how do you know which regulations are relevant to you, andif your project is compliant? Before construction, a design reviewof the project plans should be conducted by a sustainability consultant that will assess thebuilding's compliance -and if required, recommend modifications toachieve compliance - under the appropriate building codes. Thisreview can also serve as a quality assurance and coordinationreview to ensure all design and construction disciplines addressthe code requirements. Compliance requires all team members,including the architect, engineers, contractor and owner play arole in meeting the green building standards. Following this, the main task for compliance is Commissioning. For all non-residentialbuildings over 10,000 square feet, functional performance testingof all energy systems (HVAC, electrical, domestic hot water,controls, and irrigation) is required. Commissioning is afull-building analysis of these systems to ensure optimal systemperformance, reduced energy usage, reduced waste, and loweroperating costs. This quality assurance process begins during designphase and continues through construction, occupancy, and operationsof new construction. For projects less than 10,000 square feet orfor smaller scopes of work, commissioning is not required, buttesting, adjusting and balancing of the HVACsystem must still be performed. So it's time to get moving! The expanded scope will significantly increase the number ofprojects that must comply with CALGreen starting January 1st, sothis is the time to consider how the changes will impact yourproject. Firstly, the deadlines: All project constructiondocuments submitted to the building department for plan check on orbefore December 31, 2013 will be assessed under current CALGreenstandards, while all projects submitted after this date must complywith the future code. So, if your project will not be submitted before the end ofthe year, now is the time to get familiar with the new requirementsto make sure that your building is being designed to be compliant.Anumber of documents summarizing the changes are available on the CALGreen websitethat will help to clarify exactly which buildings are now includedunder the code's regulations.