Air Conditioning Contractors of America

2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300

Arlington, VA 22206
www.acca.org

TechGuide_HI_2015_Final_2.indd 1 7/13/15 1:49 PM

TECHNICIAN’S GUIDE & WORKBOOK FOR
HOME EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE
IMPROVEMENT

2015

A Compendium to ANSI/ACCA 14 QH-2014

Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement

To comment on the content of this document

or for information pertaining to
technical content, respond to:

Donald Prather
ACCA
2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22206
[email protected]
703-575-4477
INTENT Page iii

Intent

Many ACCA members have built upon their successful reputations as the best available HVAC
contractors by becoming the best whole home performance contractors in their local market area. With
the 2014 update of the ANSI/ACCA 12 QH-2014 Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement
(QH Standard) a new Technician certification was crafted: a hybrid HVAC Technician capable of
understanding whole house energy upgrade opportunities. The Technician’s Guide & Workbook for
Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement is written to be used as the basis for that course and
certification program for Technicians. It covers the steps that are necessary for an experienced HVAC
Technician to complete and document compliance with all of the requirements outlined in the QH
Standard.

Most successful Technicians have strong soft skills, and deal well with homeowners. When that ability
is added to their ability to properly assess complex problems, and develop solutions they become
excellent candidates for leading a QH Standard based home performance evaluation. However, the
additional paperwork, notes, and measurements required for home performance evaluations are more
cumbersome. This is due to the size and scope: QH evaluations cover all of the parts of the home, and
how subsystems interact when changed.

This Guide and Workbook provides an approach for organizing and recording needed notes,
measurements, and other information. By adhering to guidance in the Guide and Workbook,
Technicians will be able to follow a repeatable process for obtaining, selling and overseeing home
performance improvements. Finally, there may be items in a home performance audit unique to an
individual home. Having the Guide and Workbook as a quick reference in the field will provide
Technicians with the resource material needed to complete the required tests, measurements, and
documentation for any home.

Two types of training are not covered in this Guide and Workbook: The first has three parts, software
for load calculations, equipment selection and duct design and the second has two parts, the software
that performs the actual energy audit and the method for evaluating the current energy usage. The first
is covered extensively by other ACCA training that is available and the second is covered by auditing
training available commercially.
Page iv INTRODUCTION

Introduction

The Technician’s Guide & Workbook for Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement is divided into
sections that parallel the material covered in the QH Standard. However, the requirement found in the QH
Standard are expanded upon, and further explained so the Technician can better understand the type of
tasks, the tools required, and the procedures needed, to undertake a home performance evaluation project.
The workbook was designed for both individual learning and for classroom usage. In the book, at intervals
designed to clarify and enhance the training material, are questions (in blue print), with space for answers
to be written in by the Technician. These question are designed to reinforce many of the important points
covered in the sections. There are also recommended field exercises (in green print) designed for hands on
learning. Those who complete the Guide and Workbook will be taking the first steps to becoming field
experts trained to provide a safe, healthy, and energy efficient home environment. Technicians who develop
the knowledge base required for implementing home performance improvements will be able to address
evaluations that include: whole plumbing fixture ratings, electrical loads, and envelope properties as well
as the related HVAC system requirements.

The Guide & Workbook does not provide training on any one of the home auditing/evaluation software
tools that are available on the market. Technicians will need to also get training on the usage of the auditing
software selected by the contractor they work for in order to complete a home performance audit. Once
this Guide & Workbook are completed, along with the auditing/evaluation training; a skilled Technician
with the appropriate tools and manufacturer’s manuals can complete a home evaluation and home
performance audit. By following the instructions provided and obtaining the data and measurements, that
process will become verifiable and repeatable.

Additionally, it should be noted that the QH Standard’s design requirements (sizing, duct design, and
HVAC equipment selection and installation) are covered briefly in the Guide & Workbook, with focus on
the required documentation. ACCA has established manuals to aid for the required facets of design: Manual
J®, Manual D®, Manual S®, Manual RS®, Manual T®, and Technician’s Guide & Workbook for Quality
Installations. Those Manuals, or other approved methods for designing and installing, need to be utilized
for a HVAC system’s installation to be compliant with the ANSI/ACCA 5-2015 HVAC Quality Installation
Specification. Load calculation, equipment selection and duct design are covered in other ACCA training
materials. Thus they will not be repeated in this Guide and Workbook.

To further help Technicians organize and record the information required for a QH Standard based home
evaluation for performance improvement, there are generic instructions, for approved procedures the
Technician needs to complete for each requirement. The Guide and Workbook contains examples and
illustrations include various types of building materials, items that need to be documented in the field,
building structural types, and testing and diagnostic equipment. This guide & workbook provides a broad
perspective on available tools, with emphasis on tools specifically mentioned in the QH Standard.
Technicians can use this Guide & Workbook to help in the selection of an appropriate measurement
instruments for a specific job.
 Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................ i
Intent ............................................................................................................................................................................ iii
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. iv
1.0 Purpose....................................................................................................................................................................1
2.0 Scope.......................................................................................................................................................................1
3.0 Comprehensive Performance Audit .........................................................................................................................1
3.1 Interview ...................................................................................................................................................2
3.2 Health Safety: Fossil Fuel Appliances ......................................................................................................6
3.3 Envelope .................................................................................................................................................25
3.4 Ventilation ..............................................................................................................................................29
3.5 Insulation ................................................................................................................................................31
3.6 Heating and Cooling Systems .................................................................................................................38
3.7 Water Heating .........................................................................................................................................48
3.8 Appliances and Equipment .....................................................................................................................50
3.9 Moisture ..................................................................................................................................................50
3.10 Pools and Spas ......................................................................................................................................54
3.11 Discretionary Items for Cost Benefit Analysis .....................................................................................54
3.12 Documentation ......................................................................................................................................57
3.13 Unsafe Conditions ................................................................................................................................57
4.0 Assessing Improvements.......................................................................................................................................65
4.1 Identifying Improvements ......................................................................................................................65
4.2 Cost/Benefit Analysis .............................................................................................................................76
5.0 Presenting Performance Improvement Opportunities ..........................................................................................79
5.1 Prioritizing Audit Information ...............................................................................................................79
5.2 Presenting Building Improvement Opportunities ...................................................................................80
5.3 Proposed Improvement Requirements ....................................................................................................80
5.4 Required Documentation ........................................................................................................................82

6.0 Implementing Identified Performance Improvements ..........................................................................................84

6.1 Safety ......................................................................................................................................................84
6.2 Envelope .................................................................................................................................................85
6.3 Ventilation ..............................................................................................................................................86
6.4 Insulation ................................................................................................................................................86
6.5 HVAC .....................................................................................................................................................87
6.6 Moisture ..................................................................................................................................................88
6.7 Pools and Spas ........................................................................................................................................88
7.0 Test Out Procedures ..............................................................................................................................................90
7.1 Scope of Work Review ...........................................................................................................................90
7.2 Work Performance Evaluation................................................................................................................90
7.3 Test Out For Envelope Improvements ....................................................................................................90
Appendices:
Appendix 1 | Evaluating Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) Tests ...........................................................................92
Appendix 2 | Ensuring ASHRAE 62.2 Compliance ..................................................................................................101
Appendix 3 | Determining Insulation Values .............................................................................................................132
Appendix 4 | Vapor Retarders and Air Barriers .........................................................................................................152
Appendix 5 | Residential Insulation Target Values ....................................................................................................164
Appendix 6 | Quick Math Review..............................................................................................................................165
SECTIONS 1, 2 &3: PURPOSE, SCOPE & COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AUDIT Page 1

Technician’s Guide & Workbook for Home Evaluation and Performance

Improvement

1.0 Purpose (Reference §1.0 in the QH Standard)

The ANSI/ACCA 12 QH-2014 Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement (QH Standard)
establishes the minimum criteria by which deficiencies in existing residential buildings are identified during
a home audit. Improvement opportunities are assessed, scopes of work are developed and finalized, and
then the work is performed in accordance with industry recognized procedures.

2.0 Scope (Reference §2.0 in the in the QH Standard)

The QH Standard applies to site-constructed, or manufactured, one- and two-family dwellings and
townhouses not more than three stories above grade in height (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: One to Three Story Family Residences

3.0 Comprehensive Performance Audit (Reference §3.0 in the in the QH Standard)

Comprehensive performance audits collect information about the residence. Measurements, tests, and
observations are required to gather information for many areas of the home. This section covers unsafe
conditions, and documentation requirements. The QH Standard separates required portions of the
standard and items that are good to do but not required. Items in the QH Standard that are not required are
labeled as discretionary items. Often items not required are important to the customer and for doing the best
job possible. Thus, in this Guide & Workbook they are included but are identified as discretionary.
Subsection in section 3.11 covers discretionary items. To do a complete analysis, Technicians need to
consider the option of including discretionary items in their report. Since they represent good practice, and
good customer service, as well as additional sales opportunities, they are included along with the mandatory
requirements in this Guide & Workbook. Discretionary items are further identified and addressed in the
Section 3: Additional Auditing Procedures (page 59)
When specific home performance improvements are requested by the homeowner, or as part of a program
sponsoring the home performance contracts, or is required by code for a remodel, or update, the Technician
must include the information required to support the design and implementation of those upgrades in the
audit report. The Technician’s job is to dig below the surface and to evaluate things related to the home’s
construction and operation.
An important responsibility for every Technician is: upon discovery of any condition deemed unsafe, the
Technician shall halt the audit process and leave the building and recommend that the occupants do the
same until the situation is resolved.

Technicians Guide & Workbook for Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement, 2015
Page 2 SECTION 3: COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AUDIT

3.1 INTERVIEW (Reference: §3.1 in the QH Standard)

Homeowner interviews are where the first information based on the homeowner’s opinion on how their
home is operating and what their perceived performance problems are is gathered. Often the owners will
think everything is OK and they are only seeking methods for reducing energy consumption.

Requirements

Homeowner interviews need to identify occupant behaviors and use patterns. So it is good to have as many
of the adults in the home as possible there for the interview (see Figure 2). The interview process generally
should take between 15 and 30 minutes. The homeowners should be notified early in the appointment
scheduling process that their participation for that period of time will be required. However, after the
interview, the Technician performing the audit needs to make sure those with asthma, allergies, chemical
sensitivity, etc., were notified that some of the testing procedures may cause them irritation and they should
not be present, and should allow an hour or two to pass after the testing is completed before they reenter
the home. The interview is designed to identify things the occupants do that impact energy use, and existing
problems or concerns with their homes envelope and mechanical systems.

Once an appointment is scheduled, the Technician should arrive on time, make sure everyone who needs
to be involved in the decision making process is present, and then ask the questions and write down the
answers taking photographs of problem areas and damage where appropriate (see Figure 3). Thus, it can be
an interview on the move as well as at the kitchen table. Use common sense and be sure to write the answers
given to the questions legibly so you have a complete record. There are 26 basic must ask questions listed
below, along with how the answers may help you to come up with guidance for a home performance plan
(answers are shown in blue italics below the questions). The questions may lead to additional follow-up
questions that will in turn become items that need to be addressed in the proposal. Additionally, your
company may have other questions to ask. Bottom line, the more information gathered the better.

Figure 2: Both Homeowners at the Interview Figure 3: Photo of Water Damage

Basic Interview Questions

General Questions for Data Gathering:

1. Do you own or rent the home? (Note: Renters must have express written permission from the home’s
owner prior to having an audit performed.)
This is important because if they do not have ownership, they may not be able to authorize work.
2. How many people live (or work) in your home?
This becomes a factor for considering things like the heating and cooling load, and/or hot water
heater size, etc.

Technicians Guide & Workbook for Home Evaluation and Performance Improvement, 2015