208 Capabilities

Certified individuals shall have certain capabilities to perform the work required under their certification. The capabilities for each certification category listed in this section are contained in Chapter 3, Standard ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, and Standard ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 Appendix B, Inspection Procedures for Minimum Rated Features. Certification candidates shall demonstrate proficiency at these capabilities through successful completion of certification requirements specified in Section 206 Certification Candidates. Accredited Training Providers should ensure that their curricula effectively cover these items.

208.1 Certified Rating Field Inspector (RFI)

A Certified Rating Field Inspector is permitted to conduct all tasks contained within ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 Appendix B, Inspection Procedures for Minimum Rated Features. A Certified Rating Field Inspector shall have proficiency in performing those tasks and in the capabilities listed below.

208.1.1 General

208.1.1.1 Have a basic understanding of building performance evaluation.

208.1.1.2 Demonstrate proficient customer communication skills, ethics, and privacy per the RESNET Code of Ethics.

208.1.1.3 Complete field inspection forms that accurately identify and document the minimum rated features of the Rated Home in accordance with the requirements of ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 Appendix B, Inspection Procedures for Minimum Rated Features.

208.1.1.4 Identify potential problems with the building such as health and safety concerns, building durability issues, potential comfort problems, and sources elevated energy use in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 8 Section 802- Combustion Safety Testing.

208.1.1.5 Identify basic home construction types and the ramifications for energy usage.

208.1.2 Health and Safety

208.1.2.1 Identify moisture issues such as condensation, leaks through building components, signs of mold or mildew, insect damage, efflorescence and stains.

208.1.2.2 Identify potential combustion appliance safety hazards.

208.1.2.3 Identify evidence in combustion equipment of flame rollout, blocked chimneys, rust and corrosion, and missing or damaged vent connectors.

208.1.2.4 Identify problems related to poor indoor air quality (IAQ), building durability, and human comfort.

208.1.2.5 Identify potential presence of mold and potential causes.

208.1.3 Moisture Principles and Properties

208.1.3.1 Identify potential or existing moisture issues (bulk water intrusion, capillary action, air transport, vapor diffusion).

208.1.4 Building Components

208.1.4.1 Identify exterior building components, such as stone or brick veneer, overhangs, roofing types, grade levels, and lighting types.

208.1.4.2 Determine building orientation and shading characteristics.

208.1.4.3 Collect fenestration specific information in enough detail to allow for efficiencies and performance factors to be derived for those windows, doors, and skylights without NFRC labels. This includes the identification of window and skylight types, frame materials, reflective and low-e films and coatings, and permanently installed shading devices.

208.1.4.4 Measure building dimensions.

208.1.4.5 Estimate the approximate age of a building.

208.1.4.6 Identify areas of thermal bypasses and thermal bridging.

208.1.5 Documenting Building Components

208.1.5.1 Use construction documents such as building drawings and specification sheets, or actual measured building dimensions to produce a scaled and dimensioned sketch of a home.

208.1.6 Collecting Field Data (including photo documentation) as specified in ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 Appendix B.

208.1.6.1 Identify signs of building additions.

208.1.6.2 Identify basic combustion appliance concerns.

208.1.7 Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) Testing

208.1.7.1 Perform CAZ depressurization, spillage, and Carbon Monoxide (CO) testing in accordance with CO Test and Depressurization Test for the Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) protocols contained in Chapter 8, Section 802- Combustion Safety Testing.

208.1.7.2 Identify gas leaks using combustible gas sensing equipment. If a leak is found, recommend that a certified technician repair the leak.

208.1.8 Air Leakage

208.1.8.1 Identify common air-leakage sites and indicate likely opportunities for leakage reduction.

208.1.8.2 Identify air leakage mechanisms and drivers, energy and comfort implications, and health and safety issues.

208.1.8.3 Identify potential air sealing using zonal pressure differentials and measurement techniques.

208.1.8.4 Measure pressure differences across the Compartmentalization Boundary imposed by the operation of the home's equipment.

208.1.9 Conditioned Air Distribution Systems.

208.1.9.1 Identify obvious leakage locations and indications of previous sealing.

208.1.9.2 Identify impacts of designed and imposed flaws (closed interior doors, blocked registers and grilles, air handler filters, etc).

208.1.9.3 Identify duct supply and return types (flexible, rigid metal, building chase, insulated panels) and locations with respect to thermal and air barriers.

208.1.9.4 Identify room and zone pressure imbalances caused by lack of ducted return air or pressure relief mechanisms such as transfer grilles or jumper ducts.

208.2 HERS Modeler

A HERS Modeler is permitted to create and/or edit rating models for HERS rating purposes under the supervision of a Certified HERS Rater. A Certified HERS Modeler shall have proficiency in the capabilities listed below.

208.2.1 Understand and interpret plans, builder specifications, and field data forms/documentation.

208.2.2 Reference “Help Menu” and online technical support resources to resolve specific modeling questions.

208.2.3 Understand and reference RESNET Standards to maintain compliance with “user” modeling requirements for calculating HERS Ratings.

208.2.4 Create a projected HERS Rating from plans and Builder specifications using RESNET Accredited HERS Modeling software tool.

208.2.5 Create a Confirmed Rating from a rater/RFI’s field data collection forms using RESNET Accredited HERS Modeling software tool.

208.3 Certified HERS Rater

A Certified HERS Rater shall have proficiency at the knowledge and abilities of a Rating Field Inspector and a HERS Modeler in addition to the following.

208.3.1 General

208.3.1.1 Understand and be familiar with local climate conditions, housing stock, and climate- specific practices.

208.3.1.2 Identify summer and winter design temperatures

208.3.1.3 Understand local utility pricing structures (flat vs. tiered rates, net-metering regulations) and sources for reliable utility information.

208.3.1.4 Prepare a detailed work scope.

208.3.1.5 Develop field inspection forms.

208.3.1.6 Determine window, door, and skylight efficiencies and performance factors for those fenestrations that do not have an NFRC Label.

208.3.1.7 Identify major U.S. climate zones and energy consumption impacts of local climate zone.

208.3.1.8 Recommend levels of insulation by climate zone.

208.3.1.9 Have a basic understanding of energy improvement measure interactions, expected life, and bundling for optimal performance considering the house-as-a-system and the emerging need for deep energy savings.

208.3.2 RESNET Rating System

208.3.2.1 Communicate the business aspects of being a RESNET Certified HERS Rater.

208.3.2.2 Maintain current knowledge of the HERS Rating method using the Reference Home as defined in ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 and ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380.

208.3.2.3 Conduct both projected and confirmed building simulation and performance analysis to provide HERS Ratings in accordance with the requirements in Chapter 3, ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 and ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380.

208.3.2.4 Use RESNET Accredited Software Rating Tool(s) capable of producing a HERS Index, perform data entry procedures, reporting, and analysis of results.

208.3.2.5 Calculate HERS Index computation using the Normalized Modified End-Use Loads (nMEUL) Rating Method.

208.3.2.6 Communicate the benefits of the Home Energy Rating System to homeowners, builders, finance, and real estate agents and cultivate partnerships between those individuals.

208.3.2.7 Assist and educate customers and builders with:

208.3.2.7.1 Home Energy Ratings.

208.3.2.7.2 Cost effectiveness of energy efficient building design.

208.3.2.7.2.1 Identify HVAC pros/cons, drivers, and sensitivities for major system

208.3.2.7.2.2 Identify sizing and design issues, control types and their impacts on energy use and humidity control.

208.3.2.7.2.3 Identify cooling and heating system design trade-offs.

208.3.2.7.2.4 Determine need for duct insulation in Unconditioned Space Volumes and specify thickness of retrofit insulation if needed.

208.3.2.7.2.5 Identify potential lighting upgrades.

208.3.2.7.3 Quality assurance.

208.3.2.7.4 Marketing of HERS Rated Homes.

208.3.2.7.5 Qualifications for RESNET recognized energy efficiency programs (EEPs) such as ENERGY STAR®.

208.3.2.7.6 Real estate financing, economic terminology, and energy code compliance.

208.3.2.7.7 Financing advantages of Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) and Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM).

208.3.2.7.8 Adding appraisal value through energy improvements.

208.3.2.8 Provide excellent customer service in an ethical and fully disclosed manner in accordance with the RESNET Code of Ethics.

208.3.2.9 Produce reports which meet minimum reporting requirements and improvement analysis.

208.3.2.10 Maintain standard operating procedures and office administration.

208.3.2.11 Maintain knowledge of current technical guidelines.