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Energy Code Resources

Documents on this page are for residential permit applications after July 1, 2007


Washington State Energy Code Training

Attached is the WSEC residential training. Although this training is frequently modified to meet jurisdictional needs and improve quality, here is what you will see or what you saw at a WSU residential energy code training.

Attached is the WSEC non-residential training. Although this training is frequently modified to meet jurisdictional needs and improve quality, here is what you will see or what you saw at a WSU non-residential energy code training.


Energy Code Trainings Offered


Washington State University Energy Program is providing training on duct testing protocols. These classes are provided due to a code change in the Washington State Energy Code that takes effect on 7/1/10. The code change requires mandatory duct testing if HVAC ducts are located outside of the conditioned space.

Attendees of this training will receive a certificate valid as documentation of the minimum requirement for duct testing for code compliance. This training is not required for technicians that can show that they have completed duct testing training provided by the Northwest Energy Star Program or from Performance Tested Comfort Systems.

We encourage industry professionals involved in duct installation as well as code officials directly affected by this new code amendment to attend. Please keep in mind that this class will be taught throughout the state at various locations over the next year.

This class will comprise of a 2 to 3 hour classroom session where attendees will learn the new testing standard and how to operate the equipment necessary to test to this standard. The second half of the day will be in the field where participants will have the opportunity to operate the equipment and demonstrate their ability to run the test in a new construction scenario.

Participants will leave the class with a certificate as documentation of their participation in the class. This certificate may be necessary to provide to code officials in order to verify that they have completed the training required to conduct these tests.

To register for this class send an email to:
Classes are free and limited to 20 people

Instructors: Gary Nordeen, Luke Howard, Andy Gordon
WSU Extension Energy Program
(360) 956-2042

Currently scheduled classes:

  • Olympia 6/23/09  (Full-you can email to be placed on a waiting list)

  • Pullman 6/30/09

  • Walla Walla 7/16/09

  • Whatcom County 7/21/09 and 7/22/09  (click the date to register online)

Stay tuned for future locations


Builder's Field Guide 7th Edition

The Washington State Energy Code Builder?s Field Guide has been updated and is now current with today?s requirements. The guide states the year 2006. This corresponds with the Energy and Ventilation Codes currently enforced in Washington. The next code versions will be 2009 which will become effective on 7/1/2010.

Cover of the Builder?s Field Guide. Click to download the Entire Guide.


Other Resources

For Non residential code forms
For State Building Code Council Interpretations
Moving Ducts Inside: Big Builders and Scientists Find Common Ground (506k pdf)


Listserv

The following articles were sent out to Energy Code Listserv members. If you would like to be added to the list, click on the link below.

Energy Code listserv - Sign up to be notified of energy code changes and educational opportunities


For permit applications after July 1, 2007

Code Text:

Washington State Energy Code 2006 Edition

RS29 2006 Edition: Systems Analysis For Non Residential Buildings

Washington State Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality Code 2006 Edition

Washington State Building Code Council: Energy Code Interpretations

2006 WSEC Residential Code Support Documents

Prescriptive Method (WSEC Chapter 6)

For the Washington State Energy Code, the prescriptive approach is the simplest method of code compliance. Meet all the minimum insulation levels required by one of the options, and the project complies with the building envelope.

The following Excel file has been created to provide a method for documenting compliance with the prescriptive standards. This set of files is for single family and duplex (type R-3 and R-4) construction. Choose either the Climate Zone 1 or Climate Zone 2 file depending on the location of the building.

Component Performance Approach:

The CPWorksheets are designed to document the qualification of building designs by the component performance approach described in Chapter 5 of the Washington State Energy Code 2006 Edition (WSEC). Please refer to the restrictions on the copyright worksheet before using.

We have tested the worksheets with Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft® Windows®. All functions should work with Excel versions 98 or later. Excel 95 will work, but the "comments" will not appear. The worksheets also work on contemporary Macs.

The worksheets are designed to display correctly when Arial 10 point font is used. If your standard font is other than this, you may have difficulty reading the worksheets. To correct this problem, go to the | Tools | Options menu, select the "General" tab, and make sure that Arial 10 point is your standard font. If you have difficulty seeing font this size, we recommend changing the magnification through the | View | Zoom menu, or by holding down the button while scrolling your mouse wheel up.


The CPWorksheets file contains thirteen Microsoft® Excel® worksheets, four sheets which calculate component performance, and nine that contain the component libraries. For guidance in use of the worksheets, refer to the "Instructions" worksheet.
Download the CPWorksheets - includes all climate zones and building types, as well as the component libraries

Note: The component library worksheets provide the default component u-factors from chapter 10 of the WSEC. These are the u-factors necessary to complete most projects. Each of the worksheets contains space for users to input custom components as needed.

Previous versions of this workbook required opening a separate workbook containing the component libraries (CPLibrary.xls.) This current version consolidates these two workbooks into one. If you have been maintaining your own custom library entries, you will need to copy the custom entries from your original CPLibrary worksheet into the appropriate tab of this worksheet (do not copy the entire worksheets from the original CPLibrary worksheet ? these entries will not be recognized by the component performance worksheets. We strongly advise that you keep your original CPLibrary worksheet as a backup.



Residential Ventilation Instruction Sheets

If you have questions about the energy code resources, email us: or call 360-956-2042.

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