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Share Your Feedback on Mechanical Ventilation Testing Best Practices
Austin Energy Wants to Hear From You
Austin Energy Green Building would like your feedback to help create a best practices document regarding the new mechanical ventilation testing requirement from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Community feedback can be provided in two ways:
Provide feedback through the Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum below
Attend the online stakeholder engagement meeting to discuss the topic and solution
Register now to join us!
Meeting Recording and Resources
Stakeholder meeting was held April 12, 2022 - recording is posted at right in Videos section.
For more information, please visit the Resources section to the right. Austin Energy values your feedback and participation. If you know of others who would like to join the discussion, please share this page.
Background and Prior Work
In 2021, the City of Austin adopted the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). One of the new requirements of the new energy code is mechanical ventilation testing. This code requirement ensures that mechanical ventilation systems installed in homes perform as intended and as required by code. While the required airflow (cfm) delivered has not changed with the adoption of the 2021 IECC, many contractors may have trouble passing the required testing. The most commonly installed whole-dwelling mechanical ventilation (i.e., fresh air) system installed in Austin is the "air-cycler" system. Testing data indicate this type of system will have difficulties consistently passing. Additionally, testing methods for “air-cycler” systems bring potentially unsafe testing conditions for energy code testing contractors with multi-story homes.
On February 1, 2022, AEGB held a public meeting to 1) inform HVAC contractors, ventilation manufacturers, energy code testers, and the Development Services Department (DSD) of the new code requirement and 2) discuss potential solutions. AEGB presented its initial testing data showing inconsistent passing results. Attendees agreed that contractors face unsafe conditions when testing fresh air inlets located above the first story of a home. The group discussed inline fans as a potential solution to “passing” tests and preventing unsafe conditions. However, inline fans cost more than current systems. Since no attending stakeholders have had to comply with these new testing requirements, they asked if a phased-in approach would be accepted by the City. The April 12 session will be a time to discuss these matters further.
Share Your Feedback on Mechanical Ventilation Testing Best Practices
Austin Energy Wants to Hear From You
Austin Energy Green Building would like your feedback to help create a best practices document regarding the new mechanical ventilation testing requirement from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Community feedback can be provided in two ways:
Provide feedback through the Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum below
Attend the online stakeholder engagement meeting to discuss the topic and solution
Register now to join us!
Meeting Recording and Resources
Stakeholder meeting was held April 12, 2022 - recording is posted at right in Videos section.
For more information, please visit the Resources section to the right. Austin Energy values your feedback and participation. If you know of others who would like to join the discussion, please share this page.
Background and Prior Work
In 2021, the City of Austin adopted the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). One of the new requirements of the new energy code is mechanical ventilation testing. This code requirement ensures that mechanical ventilation systems installed in homes perform as intended and as required by code. While the required airflow (cfm) delivered has not changed with the adoption of the 2021 IECC, many contractors may have trouble passing the required testing. The most commonly installed whole-dwelling mechanical ventilation (i.e., fresh air) system installed in Austin is the "air-cycler" system. Testing data indicate this type of system will have difficulties consistently passing. Additionally, testing methods for “air-cycler” systems bring potentially unsafe testing conditions for energy code testing contractors with multi-story homes.
On February 1, 2022, AEGB held a public meeting to 1) inform HVAC contractors, ventilation manufacturers, energy code testers, and the Development Services Department (DSD) of the new code requirement and 2) discuss potential solutions. AEGB presented its initial testing data showing inconsistent passing results. Attendees agreed that contractors face unsafe conditions when testing fresh air inlets located above the first story of a home. The group discussed inline fans as a potential solution to “passing” tests and preventing unsafe conditions. However, inline fans cost more than current systems. Since no attending stakeholders have had to comply with these new testing requirements, they asked if a phased-in approach would be accepted by the City. The April 12 session will be a time to discuss these matters further.
Share Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum on FacebookShare Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum on TwitterShare Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum on LinkedinEmail Mechanical Ventilation Best Practices Forum link
Please provide us with your feedback, comments, and expertise for a best practices document regarding the new mechanical ventilation testing requirement from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). If you reference websites or documents, please include the reference to share with the community. For help getting started, check out the Kickstarter Questions document in the Resources section. Resource links are provided in the FAQ section to the right to prepare you to share feedback. Join the online community discussion by clicking the button below.
Timeline
Technical Stakeholder Meeting
Mechanical Ventilation Testing Best Practices has finished this stage
Austin Energy Green Building held a virtual meeting with technical stakeholders (HVAC contractors, testing contractors, manufacturers) to explore the technical and safety issues related to the new mechanical ventilation testing requirement.
General Stakeholder Meeting
Mechanical Ventilation Testing Best Practices is currently at this stage
The stakeholder group is expanded to collect comments and create a best practices guide.
Final report
this is an upcoming stage for Mechanical Ventilation Testing Best Practices
Feedback will be collected and released as a best practices document.
