2012 Washington State Energy Code
Our code experts provide support to those who use the residential sections of the Washington State Energy Code (WSEC). The 2012 code went into effect July 1, 2013 (visit the Washington State Building Code Council website for updates).
Have questions about the residential code?
Email energycode@energy.wsu.edu or call the WSEC Residential Code Hotline at
360-956-2042. Other resources to help you include:
Listserv
Code Text
Compliance Publications & Tools
Energy Code Worksheets
New Solar
Scheduled Trainings
List of Duct Testers
Presentations & Videos
Hot Topics
FAQs
For non-residential code resources, contact the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council.
Listserv
Sign up to receive email updates about energy code changes and educational opportunities from the Energy Code listserv.
Code Text
We provide support regarding the residential code only.
2012 Washington State Energy Code – Residential
2012 Washington State Energy Code – Commercial
2012 Washington State Energy Code – Appendices
Compliance Publications & Tools
These resources pertain to the residential sections of the 2012 WSEC.
2012 Prescriptive Energy Code Checklist
Duct and Blower Door Test Hand Calculator
Duct and Blower Door Test Calculator
Duct Testing Standard (RS-33)
Duct Testing Affidavit (New Construction)
Duct Testing Affidavit (Existing Construction) - Jurisdictions, please contact us for a modifiable copy of the Duct Testing Affidavit
Air Leakage Testing
WSEC 2012 Certificate ¼ Sheet (Avery 6878)
WSEC 2012 Certificate ½ sheet (Avery 6573)
Insulation Certificate
Getting to Know Your Ventilation System: Exhaust Type - Whole House
Benefits of Duct Sealing brochure
Energy Code Worksheets
Forms and worksheets for the 2012 WSEC have changed. Instead of being group into one workbook, the Prescriptive Worksheet, Glazing Schedule and Heating System Sizing Calculator are now independent documents.
Prescriptive Method. This approach is the simplest method of WSEC code compliance. A project complies with building envelope requirements if it meets all minimum insulation levels required for the applicable climate zone. This Excel file provides a method for documenting compliance with the prescriptive standards.
Prescriptive Worksheet – All Climate Zones
Table R406.2 Energy Credits
Glazing Schedule. Using the Prescriptive Method, all glazing must have an “area weighted average” U-Factor of 0.30. This means that some windows can have a higher U-factor than 0.30 and some can have a lower U-factor than 0.30, as long as the area weighted average is U-0.30 or lower. You may need to complete this form to document glazing compliance when applying for your building permit.
Glazing schedule
Heating System Sizing Calculator. This calculator - a simpler version of previous worksheets for newly constructed buildings - assumes that your glazing products have an area weighted average of U-0.30. Use the dropdown boxes to choose insulation levels and enter the areas of each building component. The form has embedded instructions; hover your cursor over the red triangles to see the help notes. This calculator sizes heating systems only; it will not accurately size cooling systems.
Heating System Sizing Worksheet
Component Performance Approach (2012 WSEC). Please contact us at energycode@energy.wsu.edu or 360-956-2042 for a 2012 version of the CP Worksheet.
Solar 
The Washington State Building Code Council recently passed an emergency rule regarding installation of residential rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. The links below explain the rule change and provide checklists that are available for jurisdictional use.
Explanation of rule change
Building permit checklist
Electrical permit checklist
Scheduled Trainings
We offer training on the residential sections of the 2012 WSEC and on duct testing protocols.
Training details and schedule
List of Duct Testers
We have compiled a list of individuals who have attended the one-day duct testing training offered by the WSU Energy Program and meet the minimum requirements to test ducts for the 2012 WSEC.
Technicians who can verify that they have successfully completed duct testing training provided by the Northwest ENERGY STAR Program or Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) may also be qualified to test ducts under the 2012 WSEC.
Database of PTCS technicians
Database of Northwest ENERGY STAR verifiers
Presentations and Videos
Duct Sealing Video
"Duct Sealing for Comfort, Energy and Indoor Air Quality" (16:45 min.)
Air Leakage In Homes: The Invisible Thief
Our air sealing video is divided into seven chapters:
Introduction
Why Air Seal?
Air Sealing For New Homes
Measuring Building Tightness
Air Sealing For Existing Homes
Combustion Safety
Final Thoughts
Washington State Energy Code Presentations
These trainings are frequently modified to meet jurisdictional needs and improve quality. Past presentations include:
2012 WSEC Residential Compliance Training
Duct Testing Training
Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Training
"Hot Topic" Archives
ACEEE Ducts Inside
Additions and Ducts
Comparing the Moisture Performance Of Wood Framed Wall Systems
Conditioned Crawl Spaces
Efficient Water Heating
Electric Heat Lock Out on Heat Pumps
Energy Efficient Home Cooling
Externally Applied Building Insulation
Indoor Air Quality - Keeping Homes Dry
Inspection Attic Insulation
Principles of Heat Transfer
Unvented Attics
Insuladd - Ceramic-Based Paint Additive
UltraCBF rFOIL - Foil-Faced Bubble Wrap
FAQs
Click on the question to show or hide the answer
Support and Training
Q: Who do I contact with questions about the WSEC?
Contact the WSU Energy Program. We receive funding to provide technical assistance on the residential sections of the WSEC.
Email: energycode@energy.wsu.edu
Phone: 360-956-2042
Contact: Gary Nordeen, Luke Howard, Emily Salzberg and Tanya Beavers
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC) provides technical assistance on sections of the WSEC that focus on multi-family residential and commercial buildings.
Email: wsec@putnamprice.com
Phone: 206-624-0283
Q: I would like to attend an Energy Code class. Where can I learn more?
A: Check out our
Events and Trainings page. Online registration is available for classes that are posted. If you do not see a class time or location that works for you, sign up for the
email Listserv to be notified of trainings as they are scheduled.
Duct and Blower Door Testing
Q: Do you have to be certified to perform blower door testing?
A: No. At this time, the 2012 WSEC does not require certification to perform an air leakage test on a house. We highly recommend that air leakage testing personnel attend the one-day duct and air leakage class to make sure they are aware of the maximum allowed leakage rates, test pressures and proper set-up of the testing equipment.
Energy Code Requirements
Q: Where can I find a copy of a previous energy code? My house was built in 19XX; what were the energy code requirements then?
A: Depending on how well the home originally complied with the applicable energy code at the time it was built, the prescriptive requirements of the WSEC may not apply. Homes may have used component performance or systems analysis to comply with the code. Systems analysis was used far more frequently in the 1990s than it is used now. The appropriate version of the code is determined by the date when a building department received a complete permit application, not the date of construction, so the permit could have been issued under a previous code version.
Download copies of previous energy codes
New - 2012 WSEC
Q: In the 2012 WSEC, the Climate Zones have changed. What are the new Climate Zone designations?
A: Washington state has three ICC-designated climate zones: Climate Zones 5 and 6 and Marine 4. Due to a recent emergency rule by the State Building Code Council, all areas of the state have the same energy code requirements. The map shows climate zones for all counties in the state.
Q: Have the duct leakage rates changed in the 2012 WSEC?
A: Yes. The duct maximum leakage rates in the 2012 WSEC are 4% of the conditioned floor area of the structure (3% if the air handler is not installed). This rate applies to all test methods: total duct leakage at rough-in, total duct leakage at final and leakage to exterior test.
Q. Has the hot water piping R-value requirement changed and do hot water pipes inside the house need to be insulated?
A: The Washington State Building Code Council reduced the R-value of hot water piping from R-4 to R-3 through the emergency rule making process. The SBCC also issued an interpretation relating to insulating hot water pipes inside the conditioned space. The interpretation can be found here:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/sbcc/Page.aspx?cid=96 Click on interpretation # 13-15
Q: Can whole house ventilation fans be operated intermittently or do they need to operate continuously?
A: The Washington State Whole House Ventilation requirements were based on intermittent operation for many years. The national residential ventilation standard developed by ASHRAE (ASHRAE Standard 62.2) is based on using lower flow fans operating continuously. New fan sizing charts in the code are based on continuously operating lower flow fans. You can operate whole house fans intermittently by increasing the fan size - sometimes drastically. IMC Table 403.8.5.1 lists fan size factors for different intermittent operating percentages.
Example: How do I size my whole house fan for a 2,200 square foot house with 3 bedrooms? I want to operate the fan 75% of the time.
First, size the fan from IMC Table 403.8.1. A 60 CFM continuously operated fan is required.
To determine the size of the fan operated 75% of the time, use the factor in Table 403.8.5.1 (the answer is 1.3).
Size of intermittently operated fan: 60 X 1.3 = 78 CFM. The timer needs to be set to run 3 hours out of every 4-hour segment.