2015 Solar/Hydronics Code offers uniformity

MOKENA, ILL. — In response to a growing interest in residential and commercial solar energy systems, IAPMO first developed and published the Uniform Solar Energy Code in 1976. Just like the 2009 and 2012 editions of this code, the 2015 Uniform Solar Energy and Hydronics code (USEHC) was developed using IAPMO’s American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited open consensus process, and is unique in that it is both a Code and an American National Standard.

The 2015 USEHC is developed to govern the installation and inspection of solar, hydronic and geothermal energy systems as a means of promoting the public’s health, safety and welfare. Published previously as the Uniform Solar Energy Code, the 2015 edition adds significant provisions concerning hydronic and geothermal systems.

This comprehensive, consensus IAPMO/ANSI Code provides a single source reference for the installation, use or maintenance of radiant, hydronic, geothermal and solar systems. It can have a significant positive impact by leading to the increased utilization of these high efficiency and renewable energy systems. It also raises the bar for the industry, much of which has been unregulated for many years.

Uniformity will be a significant benefit, as will the opportunity for fewer callbacks on problem installations and satisfied consumers. No other model code published today specifically addresses the design and installation of solar, geothermal, hydronic and radiant heating and cooling systems.

“This new code provides a single, comprehensive standard for hydronic heating and cooling systems,” said Mark Hudoba, director, Heating and Cooling, Uponor. “It will improve the clarity and consistency of hydronic systems design and operation to everyone in the industry. Having minimum standards assures that consumers get a solid-performing hydronic heating or cooling system.”

Who benefits from widespread acceptance and adoption of the USEHC?

• Contractors — The provisions of the USEHC help eliminate confusion and controversy on the part of Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) by establishing consensus guidelines for the application of radiant and hydronic technologies in the built environment.

• Manufacturers, engineers, architects and contractors — Pertinent design and installation topics, previously addressed in multiple codes or regulations are now available in a single ANSI consensus standard. (Note that some aspects of system installation may need to comply with mechanical or other codes applicable in the local jurisdiction.)

• End Users — Understanding that the sharing of knowledge that the USEHC has been developed by subject matter experts in accordance with vetted system design criteria and accepted construction techniques.

RPA setting the bar high

The overall goal of the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA) has always been one of raising the bar for professionals, while instilling confidence in the consumer and government that properly designed, installed and maintained hydronic systems will and can provide the highest degree of comfort and efficiency.

The RPA is committed to contributing professionalism to the entire hydronics/radiant industry and promoting such systems as the most viable path to energy savings and comfort for the end user. Many provisions of the 2015 USEHC concerning radiant heating and cooling applications have not appeared in model codes before; RPA’s involvement in the development of relevant language ensures that state-of-the-art design and construction principles are considered.

It has taken years of diligent effort by RPA and the collective best minds in the industry. When the decision was made to create a Hydronics Code, RPA was successful in creating a code committee representing all facets of the industry: manufacturers, suppliers/distributors, contractors, installers and government officials/inspectors. The RPA Code Committee spent more than a year compiling relevant information, even from foreign countries, and molding it into a working document.

“We find ourselves on the brink of bringing this whole program to fruition,” said Mark Eatherton, executive director, RPA, which is in the process of developing educational curriculum that will explain the many nuances of the code, and provide drawings and explanations for purposes of interpretation. “We are getting prepared to help our members of this industry to move forward, and put hydronics into the wheelhouse of every consumer, architect and engineer in North America, and it is critical that we have to include the installation and design entities as a part of our program.

“The RPA always has been, and will continue to be, about education,” continued Eatherton. “Not just contractors education, but education of the end users, as well as the design teams involved in putting these buildings together, and the people in the field enforcing these codes.”

These classes will be offered to RPA and IAPMO members at a discount. A formal announcement will be made once these classes are available online.

Having an accredited American National Standard brings the ultimate credibility to the USEHC.

Although RPA did offer voluntary guidelines in the past, there was very little information available to the industry or the consumer in a meaningful, useable format regarding design criteria and best practices. Much of the content of the RPA guidelines was in more of a “should” configuration, as opposed to mandatory code required language, using words like “shall.”

When the possibility arose that the RPA Code document could become part of an American National Standard, the document was submitted into the process, a balanced ANSI Committee was created, and the document was further refined over an additional three years, with experts from every facet of the industry contributing countless hours, worth literally millions of dollars, to the effort.

Having an accredited American National Standard brings the ultimate credibility to the USEHC.

Local Enforcement

A code is only as good is the enforcement in the field. The RPA has begun teaching and working with the code enforcement officials in its efforts to bring their knowledge base of these mechanical systems up to speed so that they are much more comfortable performing their job in the field.

Some people believe that the code will dictate exactly how they must install their system. This is not correct. The code establishes a minimum standard, and in most cases where the contractors have been receiving training, guidance and direction from competent manufacturers, they are already installing systems that exceed the minimum standards.

It is those jobs that are being performed by unqualified, untrained personnel that will be required to change their ways. Our bottom line goal is to increase the consumers’ confidence about the safety, reliability, efficiency and comfort associated with the proper design and installation of these wonderful systems and make the installing contractors job of meeting the AHJ’s requirements quicker, smoother and easier.

The availability of this code means that in jurisdictions where it is adopted, a single source for many provisions affecting the installation of these systems will be available to contractors and AHJs.

“I expect two primary impacts on AHJ's,” said Hudoba. “First, many AHJ’s will look to familiarize themselves with the code in an effort to improve their ability to inspect and approve systems. Code information and training opportunities for AHJs can be found on the IAPMO website: http://www.iapmo.org. An electronic version of the code can be viewed at http://epubs.iapmo.org/USEHC/. Second, the code will make it easier for AHJs to enforce the code due to the consistency of proper system design and installation.”

It will provide residential and commercial consumers the assurances and protections of a viable, quality installation in an understandable format. Inspectors and AHJs receive the guidance and protections of a model code developed in a consensus process from the industry.

“The clarity and consistency that the code provides will reduce the number of improperly designed and ill-performing systems that are installed, thereby enhancing the overall professionalism of the hydronics trade,” said Hudoba.

Designers and contractors should know that subject matter experts specializing in each of the technologies addressed in the USEHC invested significant personal time in the development of the code in an effort to include accurate and complete provisions.

We are trying to educate our members in advance so that when their jurisdiction adopts these codes that they will not be caught flat footed.

The code will provide experienced installation contractors with verification that what was taught to them by competent manufacturers and the RPA are good recommendations to follow, and that their work will exceed the codes minimum requirements.

“As a former working mechanical contractor, I can speak from personal experience that the only way we typically find out that the code has changed is when we violate the code and find ourselves on the wrong side of the enforcement official,” said Eatherton. “That is a very expensive, non-productive method of learning, but one that you won’t soon forget. We are trying to educate our members in advance so that when their jurisdiction adopts these codes that they will not be caught flat footed.”

Federal fingers

There have been rumblings from within the industry about government overreach and about contractors who are worried about the government’s involvement in building a hydronic code. Yet, it isn’t the government developing the code, it is the industry that is responsible for helping to develop the codes.

“It is the government that will be enforcing the code, and any code is only as good as the AHJ who is enforcing the code,” said Eatherton. “We have already started training the AHJ’s, and this will only make the good contractors job easier. The inspectors will now have the ability to know what is right, and what is wrong, and the right ways of performing these jobs.”

A contractor who has received good and regular training from a recognized, competent manufacturer is most probably not going to have to make any major changes in their operations. They are already in compliance with the provisions of the code. It is the unlicensed people who are out there doing all of the wrong things that end up giving our industry a black eye that will be the focus of this code, not the well trained, experienced contractors.

As a code/standard development organization, IAPMO is constantly looking for more involvement from our industry members, regardless of where they fall in the food chain. Everyone from the consumer all the way up to the manufacturer, and every entity in between has open access to the process, and we invite their participation in the development of these open consensus codes and standards.

Manufacturing members must be included as a part and parcel of this whole process. Many of the manufacturers have helped in populating the many different technical committees involved in the development of the applicable codes.

“We will be leaning heavily upon our manufacturer members in all aspects of the deployment of this code and the associated education and certification standards that were developed in conjunction with the code,” said Eatherton. “We intend to certify our manufacturers’ facilities, as well as their instructive personnel to bring the whole program together. We’ve already begun negotiations with numerous manufacturer members, and they are in full support of our efforts.”

Additional Standards

To increase customer awareness and confidence, ASSE International is developing a Hydronic System Installer and Hydronic System Designer National Standard and certification program. It is our intent that the Authority Having Jurisdiction will recognize this certification and require it as minimum criteria to allow contractors and designers to perform work in their jurisdiction. This program is expected to be released in 2016.

The RPA is developing an Instructive Training Manual, and a Best Practices Manual. These two items will be used going forward to ensure that we have provided the contractors and designers with the tools necessary to ensure proper and appropriate applications of these mechanical systems.

It will take the designers and installers through the steps necessary to ensure that the delivery method correlates with the energy source. Using staple up tubing with a ground source heat pump has its limitations, and we must make certain that everyone with skin in the game understands the limitations and appropriate application of these and all hydronic heating and cooling systems.

The RPA has been heavily involved in the development of the ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 19000: Hydronic Systems Professional Qualifications Standard. This Standard is a program to certify expert hydronic heating and cooling systems designers and or installers, as well as solar thermal installers. This is a very stringent program, requiring proof of active field service as well as approved course materials before the applicant will be allowed to sit for the test. Our hope is that the AHJ’s around the country will recognize this program for the value that it brings to the industry, and we hope that it will become a minimum requirement for people who are applying for licenses to do hydronic and solar thermal work in their jurisdiction. This will have some mandatory educational provision that the RPA already has available to the public thorough our educational partner, HeatSpring. These courses can be previewed at https://www.heatspring.com/partners/radiant-professionals-alliance.

Solar & Hydronics Code Provisions

Key provisions of the 2015 USEHC and changes from the 2012 edition include:

• New hydronics chapter provides:

- Radiant heating and cooling

- Snow melt systems

- Minimum requirements for the capacity of heat sources

- Heating appliances and equipment

- Piping, joints and connections

- System controls

- Space heating

- Steam systems

- Auxiliary systems

- Installation, testing and inspection of hydronic systems

• New condensates waste and control provisions for condensate-producing equipment and appliances

• New alternative engineering design provisions

• New provisions for accessibility, attic and underfloor installation, and roof installation of appliances and equipment used in solar energy, hydronic, and geothermal energy systems

• New solar thermal provisions, such as materials, solar collectors, freeze and overheat protection, drainback and thermosiphon systems, and pressure testing

• New geothermal energy systems chapter provides minimum requirements for groundwater systems, ground-heat exchanger design, heat exchangers, heat pumps, distribution design, and the installation of geothermal energy systems

• New duct systems chapter provides minimum requirements for ducts used for conveying air for heating and cooling of spaces

• New electrical provisions for the installation of solar photovoltaic systems based on NFPA 70-2014