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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 12. CONSTRUCTION CODES SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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SubTilte 12-K. GREEN CONSTRUCTION CODE SUPPLEMENT OF 2013 |
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Chapter 12-K6. ENERGY CONSERVATION, EFFICIENCY AND CO2E EMISSION REDUCTION |
Section 12-K611. ENERGY SYSTEMS COMMISSIONING AND COMPLETION
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Strike Section 611 of the International Green Construction Code in its entirety and insert new Section 611 in the Green Construction Code in its place to read as follows:
611.1 Mechanical systems commissioning and completion requirements. Mechanical systems commissioning and completion of the mechanical system installation shall comply with Section 611.1 and the Administrative Bulletins.
611.1.1 Commissioning plan. A commissioning plan shall be developed by a registered design professional or approved agency and shall include at a minimum all of the following items:
1. A narrative describing the activities that will be accomplished during each phase of commissioning, including guidance on who accomplishes the activities and how they are completed.
2. Equipment and systems to be tested including, but not limited to, the specific equipment, appliances or systems to be tested and the number and extent of tests.
3. Functions to be tested including, but not limited to, calibrations and economizer controls.
4. Conditions under which the test shall be performed including, but not limited to, affirmation of winter and summer design conditions and full outside air.
5. Measurable criteria for performance.
611.1.2 Systems adjusting and balancing. HVAC systems shall be balanced in accordance with generally accepted engineering standards. Air and water flow rates shall be measured and adjusted to deliver final flow rates within the tolerances provided in the product specifications. Test and balance activities shall include as a minimum, the provisions of Sections 611.1.2.1 and 611.1.2.2.
611.1.2.1 Air systems balancing. Each supply air outlet and zone terminal device shall be equipped with a means for air balancing in accordance with the Mechanical Code. Discharge dampers are prohibited on constant volume fans and variable volume fans with motors of 10 hp (18.6 kW) and larger. Air systems shall be balanced in a manner to first minimize throttling losses then, for fans with system power of greater than 5 hp, fan speed shall be adjusted to meet design flow conditions.
Exception: Fans with fan motor horsepower of 5 hp or less.
611.1.2.2 Hydronic systems balancing. Individual hydronic heating and cooling coils shall be equipped with means for balancing and measuring flow. Hydronic systems shall be proportionately balanced in a manner to first minimize throttling losses, then the pump impeller shall be trimmed or pump speed shall be adjusted to meet design flow conditions. Each hydronic system shall have either the capability to measure pressure across the pump, or shall have test ports at each side of each pump.
Exceptions:
1. Pumps with pump motors of 5 hp or less.
2. Where throttling results in not greater than 5 percent of the nameplate horsepower draw above that required if the impeller were trimmed.
611.1.3 Functional performance testing. Functional performance testing shall be in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611.1.3.1, 611.1.3.2 and 611.1.3.3.
611.1.3.1 Equipment. Equipment functional performance testing shall demonstrate the installation and operation of components, systems, and system-to-system interfacing relationships in accordance with approved plans and specifications so that operation, function, and maintenance serviceability for each of the commissioned systems is confirmed. Testing shall include all specified modes of control and sequence of operation, including under full-load, part-load and all of the following emergency conditions:
- Each mode as described in the sequence of operation.
2. Redundant or automatic back-up mode.
3. Performance of alarms.
4. Mode of operation upon a loss of power and restoration of power.
611.1.3.2 Controls. HVAC control systems shall be tested to document that control devices, components, equipment, and systems are calibrated adjusted and operate in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. Sequences of operation shall be functionally tested to document that they operate in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
611.1.3.3 Economizers. Air economizers shall undergo a functional test to determine that they operate in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.
611.1.4 Preliminary commissioning report. A preliminary report of commissioning test procedures and results shall be completed and certified by the registered design professional or approved agency and provided to the building owner prior to the final mechanical inspection. The report shall be identified as “Preliminary Commissioning Report” and shall identify all of the following:
1. Itemization of deficiencies found during testing required by this section that have not been corrected at the time of report preparation.
2. Deferred tests that cannot be performed at the time of report preparation because of climatic conditions.
3. Climatic conditions required for performance of the deferred tests.
611.1.4.1 Acceptance. Buildings, or portions thereof, shall not pass the final mechanical inspection until such time as the code official has received a letter of transmittal from the building owner acknowledging that the building owner has received the Preliminary Commissioning Report.
611.1.4.2 Copy. At the request of the code official, a copy of the Preliminary Commissioning Report shall be made available for review.
611.1.4.3 Certification. A certification, signed and sealed by the registered design professional or approved agency, documenting that the mechanical and service water heating systems comply with Sections C403 and C404 of the Energy Conservation Code shall be provided to the code official by or before the final inspection.
611.1.5 Completion requirements. The construction documents shall specify that the requirements described in this section be provided to the building owner within 180 days of the date of issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
611.1.5.1 Drawings. Construction documents shall include the location of and performance data pertaining to each piece of equipment.
611.1.5.2 Manuals. An operating and maintenance manual in accordance with industry-accepted standards shall be provided and shall include all of the following:
1. Submittal data stating equipment size and selected options for each piece of equipment requiring maintenance.
2. Manufacturer’s operation manuals and maintenance manuals for each piece of equipment furnished as part of the building project. Required routine maintenance shall be clearly identified.
3. Names and addresses of not less than one service agency.
A Systems Manual shall be provided and shall include all of the following:
1. HVAC controls system maintenance and calibration information, including wiring diagrams, schematics, and control sequence descriptions. Desired or field-determined set-points shall be permanently recorded on control drawings at control devices or, for digital control systems, in programming comments.
2. A complete narrative of how each system is intended to operate, including recommended setpoints, seasonal change-over information and emergency shutdown operation.
3. Control sequence descriptions for lighting, domestic hot water heating and all renewable energy systems complete with a description of how these systems connect to, and are controlled in conjunction with, the overall building system.
611.1.5.3 System balancing report. A written report describing the activities and measurements completed in accordance with Section 611.1.2 shall be provided.
611.1.5.4 Final commissioning report. A complete report of test procedures and results identified as “Final Commissioning Report” shall be completed and provided to the building owner, and shall be made available to the code official upon request. The report shall include all of the following:
1. Results of all functional performance tests.
2. Disposition of all deficiencies found during testing, including details of corrective measures used or proposed.
3. All functional performance test procedures used during the commissioning process including measurable criteria for test acceptance, provided herein for repeatability.
Exception: Deferred tests that were not performed at the time of report preparation because of climatic conditions.
611.2 Sequence of operation. A sequence of operation shall be developed and finalized upon commissioning, when the operational details are initialized and validated. A sequence of operation shall be the final record of system operation, and shall be included on the control diagram ‘as-builts’, or as part of the education and operation and maintenance document that is provided to the owner.
611.3 Lighting commissioning and completion requirements. The registered design professional or approved agency shall provide evidence of compliance with the provisions of Sections 611.3.1 and 611.3.2.
611.3.1 Pre-occupancy requirement. Prior to final electrical inspection, the approved agency conducting commissioning shall verify that controls have been installed in accordance with the approved construction documents. Any discrepancies shall be reviewed for compliance with Section 608 and the requirements of Section C405.2 of the Energy Conservation Code.
611.3.2 Final commissioning report. Lighting controls shall be commissioned in accordance with this Section. Within 180 days of the date of issuance of the first certificate of occupancy for occupiable space in a story above grade plane, the owner shall be provided with a Final Commissioning Report and a copy shall be made available to the code official upon request. The report shall include the following:
611.3.2.1 Occupant sensors. It shall be verified that testing to verify compliance with Section C405.2 of the Energy Conservation Code has been performed.
611.3.2.2 Automatic daylight controls. Automatic daylight controls shall be commissioned in accordance with all of the following:
1. It shall be verified that the placement and orientation of each sensor is consistent with the manufacturer’s instructions. If not, the sensor shall be relocated or replaced.
2. Control systems shall be initially calibrated to meet settings and design intent established in the construction documents;
3. Prior to calibration of systems controlling dimmable luminaires all lamps shall be seasoned in accordance with the recommendations of the lamp manufacturer.
4. Where located inside buildings, calibration of open-loop daylight controls, which receive illumination from natural light only, shall not occur until fenestration shading devices such as blinds or shades have been installed and commissioned;
5. Calibration of closed-loop daylight controls, that receive illumination from both natural and artificial light, shall not occur until furniture systems and interior finishes have been installed, and any fenestration shading devices such as blinds or shades have been installed and commissioned; and
6. Calibration procedures shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
611.3.2.3 Time switch and programmable schedule controls. Lighting controls installed in accordance with Section 608 shall be programmed. Scheduling shall incorporate weekday, weekend and holiday operating times, including leap year and daylight savings time corrections. It shall be verified that system overrides work and are located in compliance with Section C405.2 of the Energy Conservation Code.
611.3.2.4 Dimming systems with preset scenes. For programmable dimming systems it shall be verified that automatic shutoff and manual overrides are working and that programming is complete. Prior to programming, all lamps shall be seasoned in accordance with NEMA LSD 23.