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Items to Be Addressed for HERS Rating and Energy Code Compliance

HERS Rater needs at least 5 business days advance notice of insulation START date (not END date) to schedule MIDPOINT inspections.

HERS Rater is required to verify and grade insulation, give feedback to builder, and verify mechanical systems are "on track" to meet Final HERS score of 55 maximum per code.

A MISSED MIDPOINT will increase the cost of the HERS Rating as MassSave incentives cannot be earned and the Rater portion of the subsidy will not earned by the Rater and applied to reduce the cost of the HERS Rating to the builder. An additional invoice may be issued due to a missed midpoint inspection.

FAILED blower door, HVAC duct, and other tests may lead to an additional invoice.

General Issues and Observations

General Overall Issues and Observations

WINDOW U values are higher than specified in energy model which can negatively impact final HERS score

Air barrier NOT fully continuous

Air-permeable insulation (i.e. fiberglass) cannot be used as an air sealant - need rigid, foam

Air sealing and foaming not complete - wires, penetrations, gas piping for fireplaces, etc

Insulation in vertical or horizontal cavities not fully in contact with air barrier, drooping, gaps, air spaces

Zero Clearance Fireplaces / Shaft or Bump Out - not fully sealed and missing air barriers

“Hidden walls” do not have an air barrier – all vertical surfaces must have insulation in contact with 6 sides (4 edges of cavity, back or sheathing side, front side (interior face must have air barrier)

Domestic Hot Water system either not installed or differs from specs in HERS energy model

WALLS

Missing silicone (white) sealant at exterior sill plates - PL400 is not a sealant per code; top plates and tops of EXTERIOR walls shall be sealed

Multi-Family/Townhouses - Party or Common walls - missing "picture framing" air sealant - FOAM at tops, bottoms, exterior edges, all floors

Behind Tubs - missing air barrier between tub and exterior wall insulation - do this before tub installed or FOAM all

Zero Clearance Fireplace area - not insulated entirely or gaps in air barrier, sealant missing, foaming

Dropped Soffits - missing area barrier behind framing, top of soffits - insulation and rigid air barriers (drywall, plywood) must be done prior to framing soffit - basements, kitchens, etc

KNEEWALLS and other ATTIC walls - need a BACKSIDE air barrier

GARAGE adjacent walls must have a rigid air barrier and be sealed with foam

Shafts – horizontal shafts thru walls - must be sealed with foam not Rocksul or fiberglass

Shaft – vertical through floors and ceilings - must have a RIGID sealed CAP at Top and Bottom

Dropped soffits do not have air barrier and insulation that meets code which will negatively impact final blower door infiltration test and HERS score

“DOUBLE or Hidden Cavity” walls – must be sealed at tops, have air barriers

RIMS

Incomplete or missing air barrier on exterior wall areas

Fiberglass batts are NOT an air barrier that meets code (even with paper facing)

Between floors, insulation against outer sheathing/rim board must be installed plus an interior rigid, foam sealed air barrier aligning with sheetrock from wall below

FLOORS

Floors over garages or other unconditioned spaces must have a rigid blocker/air barriers at the end or exposed edges of all exposed insulation even if in a ceiling cavity

All batts in floor systems are must be in contact with subfloor above insulation and not drooping

Cantilevered floors need sealed, solid blocking at edge of wall plane

AIR SEALING

Air permeable fibrous insulation not allowed to be used as air sealing material

Missing foam, air sealing – ducts, flues, shafts, plumbing, piping, wiring, exhaust fans, range hoods, and other penetrations

Seal attic pulldown trim with foam from topside prior to blower door test

HVAC

HVAC systems not ready to test or are not sealed per code

HVAC registers and boots not sealed to sub-floors per code

HVAC systems differ from specs in HERS energy model which could negatively affect final HERS score

HVAC sub used building cavities as ducts – not allowed per code

CONTINUOUS MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Continuous Mechanical Ventilation system, bath fan will not meet code unless programmable switch or HRV installed

More than one bath fan needed to meet requirement

HRV sizing should be reviewed – do not undersize. Install controls and test before final inspection.

OTHER

Exterior wall electrical outlets and boxes need gasket or shall otherwise be air sealed. Note: electric boxes on interior walls on second floors to cold attics are a source of infiltration

BEFORE CALLING FOR FINAL INSPECTION AND HERS TESTING

Seal ALL breaks, joints, drill holes in thermal envelope including UNDER SINKS, all DWV piping

Install BACKSIDE Air Barriers as required - kneewalls, walls to attics, basement demising walls, shafts for skylights, etc

AIR SEAL with silicone caulk all RECESSED LIGHTING and other penetrations in ceilings

HVAC ducts need to be 100% sealed to subfloors and/or finished surfaces (flooring, drywall gaps sealed)

HVAC furnaces/units air air filters need to be fully sealed including penetrations in equipment

Need attic hatch or CAP and the top side of pull downs and/or doors sealed with foam similar to an exterior door or window. Seal around skylite shafts.

Ensure all plumbing operational and traps filled with water

Attics, hatches, access doors - missing gasketing or foam on top or backside at edges. R10 cover minimum.