Register Sealing before having BECT do a duct leakage test

Subject : Register Sealing before having BECT do a duct leakage test

Hello,

Please make sure that the registers are sealed as in the photo below, before BECT comes to test the system for duct leakage.

Seal the register boxes to drywall or hardwood floor with UL 181 aluminum tape as shown below.

Aluminum Tape (must be UL 181)        

                              Register sealed to drywall with Al tape.

The photos below are examples of what the registers/returns should not look like.

Unsealed boot in drywall, on ceiling. This won't hold air.

Unsealed 1950s boot in hardwood floor, unsealed.

1920s register boot, unsealed to plaster yet painted black.

Also, please make sure that your forced air unit set on the highest speed so that you can achieve 350 cfm/ton​ for the 1. Total Airflow Test and 2. The Fan/Watt Draw Test.


Also, don't forget to drill a 1/4 inch hole in each side of the plenum (both supply plenum and return plenum) and mark the hole, HSSP, for Hole for Static Pressure Probe. Put aluminum tape over the hole but make sure marking is visible for HERS test. If those access holes are not there - you'll need to do it at the test. They are so that someone can insert a probe on each side and see the difference in temperature and humidity changes before and after the air moves through the evaporator coil.

If you have any questions on how to seal it, we also have a video on our website detailing how to properly seal your ducts. Click this link here to watch the video, http://bect.us/videos/. You can also watch our other videos on energy efficiency in the home on BECT's YouTube channel. Check it out here, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAd8LCb6fzHAkzqOu9loGrQ/videos?view_as=subscriber.

Stay cool and comfortable, 

BECT

Dear CEC, Please approve Wrightsoft software for alterations and additions compliance, (Title 24 performance)

Dear Commissioner McAllister,

I am writing to request that you to approve Wrightsoft software to perform title 24 energy compliance (performance) for residential alterations and additions in California.

I am told that the software is now able to perform compliance for new homes but not for alterations and additions, the far more common jobs found here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I have been using Wrightsoft for the last year and am extremely impressed with it as a tool to perform load calculations, duct design and equipment selection. As a HERS rater I see failure to perform to code every day in the HVAC systems I test, with about 75% of them fail to move enough air in AC mode. Having HVAC systems be designed properly yields systems that perform to those design standards.

I understand that the CEC is now evaluating Wrightsoft. If that is so, I ask you to accelerate the evaluation and allow Wrightsoft to be used in title 24 compliance in alterations and additions.

It is my understanding that 1% of California residential HVAC changeouts get load calculations done. This must be why I see such wildly oversized air conditioning systems in my testing.

Here is what I’d like you to do to improve energy efficiency and efficacy in new/alterations in California,

1.       

Allow Wrightsoft to be used for T24 compliance in Alterations and additions.

2.       Compel the Contractors State License Board to teach HVAC contractors to use load calculation software and that calculations, design and equipment selection is code required.

3.       Sponsor classes to teach HVAC contractors how to use load calculation/duct design software.

4.       Encourage title 24 consultants to use load calculation software and do both compliance and design.

Doing only compliance misses the greater point of creating heating/cooling/ventilation systems tailored to a particular house and actually achieving efficiency and performance. I see “T24 compliant” houses fail HERS tests every day.

If you need any help, please do not hesitate to call me.

Thanks for your help in creating an energy efficient economy in California.

Very truly yours,

George Matthews

Building Energy Compliance Testing www.bect.us Phone 510 520 4443

Walnut Creek, CA 94597