SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The California Energy Commission (CEC) has delayed to Aug. 1, 2009, the effective date for compliance with the 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 6). According to the CEC, this change allows for all California code updates to have the same effective date.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) notes the following key provisions in the 2008 Title 24 standard:

Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps
Subchapter 8, Section 151 (f) 7 A, which covers ducted split system central air conditioners and ducted split system heat pumps, requires that temperature measurement access holes and saturation temperature measurement sensors are installed for refrigerant charge measurements. In addition, a Charge Indicator Display (CID) that demands attention when the air conditioner fails to meet certain requirements shall be installed in a location clearly visible to the occupant and within one foot of the house thermostat.

Subchapter 8, Section 151 (f) 7 B, which also covers ducted split system central air conditioners and ducted split system heat pumps, requires that an airflow greater than 350 cfm/ton of nominal cooling capacity and a fan watt draw less than 0.58 W/cfm must be simultaneously demonstrated in every zonal control mode. A static pressure probe hole or a permanently installed static pressure probe in the supply plenum downstream of the air conditioning evaporator coil is also required.

Central Forced Air System Fans
Subchapter 8, Section 151 (f) 11 includes a requirement for central forced air system fans used in central fan integrated-ventilation systems to demonstrate a watt draw of less than 0.58 W/cfm in Air Distribution Mode.

Packaged Direct-Expansion Units
Subchapter 3, Section 125 covering nonresidential buildings requires that packaged direct-expansion units be equipped with fault detection and diagnostics (FDD). Air handling and zone terminal units are also required to be equipped with automatic FDD systems.

Residential appendix RA3.1.4.3.10 states that additional credit is available for verified low leakage ducts when a factory sealed air handler unit is installed. The manufacturer must certify to the commission that the unit has achieved a leakage rate of 2 percent or less.

Additional details may be found at the CEC Website at www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2008standards/.

Publication date: 02/02/2009