FAQ’s about certifications and the ANSI Standard
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
Format
- General Questions (by Builders)
- General Questions (by Verifiers)
- Specific Questions by practice. These will be organized in order following the ANSI National Green Building Standard.
General Questions (By Builders)
When must I register my project? Projects must be registered before framing is completed. There are many mandatory items to be verified on site by the green Verifier (find the mandatory items in the Scoring Tool or the ANSI National Green Building Standard). If the mandatory items cannot be verified then the project can not be certified. Look at the Registration Application for other documents that must be completed for application (application is a download on this website).
The Scoring Tool gives me two choices to score my project, does is matter which one I choose? Yes is does. Choose the National Green Building Standard. That is the base for our Build Green NM program. We no longer recognize the other guidelines.
General Questions (by Verifiers)
Builders are required to send a Designers Report to the Verifier. Are Verifiers required to transfer that onto a Verification Report? No, Build Green NM is not yet authorized to use the Verification Report by the NAHBRC. Verifiers may use and make their notes on the Designer’s report. They are still responsible to jot down notes as needed on the report.
Is there a Sampling Protocol for Build Green NM? Not at this time.
RESNET allows sampling per their sampling protocol for the items covered in the HERS rating. Does BGNM allow this sampling protocol to apply to the Sustainable Building Tax Credit homes? Build Green NM can accept the sampling protocol for the HERS rating but the State of NM should be contacted to verify if sampling is acceptable for the state tax credit.
Specific Questions Listed by Practice # and Category
Lot Design, Preparation and Development
503.2 A site was picked that is relatively flat to build on. The standard states that no points are allowed for picking a flat site to begin with, is this fair? Using good judgment to begin with is important. So Build Green NM will award the points that are appropriate in this category for avoiding the steep slopes and picking a flat or low sloped lot to begin with.
503.5(4) & (5) require "landscape plan by qualified landscape architect". Is a license architect really required? There are many qualified landscape designer with years of experience in our area. Can I use a designer instead of an architect?
I would accept substituting the word "professional" for the word "architect". By qualified the professional must be qualified or liscened in a field related to landscape design or native / Xeric plants that would do well in the area you are building in. You may also cite from regional books written by qualified individuals and identify specific plants. Cite your reference material on the plan.
Resource Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Build Green NM required extra points for water efficiency in the old guidelines. Does Water Efficiency still require extra points for water efficiency? No, The ANSI NGBS raised the bar for water efficiency so we accept the points as stated in the NGBS.
Energy Efficiency
704.6.2.2 Many evaporative coolers are installed with no duct system to distribute the air to multiple locations, there is only a single location where the air enters the home and it is usually a very short duct to a central location in the home. Is it required to leak test this system? If so, is it allowable to test the system at rough in or before the cooler is installed by sealing off the duct where the cooler will be installed? When the duct work is solely for “Evaporative Cooling” a duct leakage test does not seem practical. Since the home is required to “leak” out the air from a cooler throughout the home the leakage is not relevant and should not be tested. When the ductwork is used for both heating and cooling the Cooler should be in place and the damper installed. Use the furnace CFM rating when testing for % leakage, not the cooler CFM rating.
704.6.2.2 The common assumption on airflow for refrigerated AC systems is 400 CFM per ton of cooling capacity. However in dry climates, it is advisable to increase the airflow to 450 CFM per ton of cooling capacity, or sometimes higher. The ANSI standard gives points for duct leakage not exceeding 6% of the design airflow. May we use the 450 CFM per ton as the basis for the maximum of 6% duct leakage? Yes BGNM accepts 450 CFM per ton of cooling as the standard for testing air flow leakage.
Indoor Environmental Quality
903.5.1 The standard gives points for not having water distribution lines in exterior walls (hot and cold?). Is a vertical pipe from the slab to the fixture considered a distribution line? Build Green NM allows a line coming from the floor to the fixture shutoff valve not to exceed 4’ per line. This is to allow for kitchen sinks (etc.) to “look outside”. The lines should be insulated in a pipe insulation and to the inside of the wall insulation. Hose Bibs have the same allowance and requirement.
902.2.1 Building ventalation systems. How do we determine the amount of ventalation needed if we are claiming points for whole house ventalation? Appendix B of the ANSI National Green Building Standard gives two methods to determine how to meet the requirements. These are based on ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007. One way is a formula where the Fan rate in CFM = .01 X Conditioned floor area + 7.5 X the # of bedrooms. There is also a chart in appendix B. A third way would be to use the rate suggested in the software from your HERS rater. |
