What is Mandatory Monitoring?

Energy monitoring systems provide users with data about their consumption patterns so they can make informed energy management decisions and maximize savings.

Why Mandatory Monitoring?

Revising the code to actually require energy measurement and monitoring will only add a small incremental cost beyond what already costs to comply with the section and will result in energy consumption reduction and energy cost savings.

Measure Description

Revise Section 130.5(b) to require electric submeters [rather than just separation of electrical circuits] to align with the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), ASHRAE Std. 90.1, and Washington State’s energy code

Proposed Code Language:

Measurement devices shall be installed to measure, monitor, and record the electrical energy usage of load types according to TABLE 130.5-B to enable effective energy management. The electrical energy usage for all loads shall be recorded a minimum of every 15 minutes and reported at least hourly, daily, monthly, and annually. The data for each tenant space shall be made available to that tenant. In buildings having a digital control system, the energy usage data shall be transmitted to the digital control system and graphically displayed. The system shall be capable of maintaining all data collected for a minimum of 36 months.

What is FDD?

Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) System is a software platform that utilizes building analytic algorithms to convert data provided by sensors and devices to automatically identify faults in building systems and provide a prioritized list of actionable resolutions to those faults based on prioritized performance impact.

Why FDD?

Energy efficiency of a new building’s HVAC system will degrade over time caused by poorly maintained, failing and improperly controlled equipment. The proposed FDD requirement will reduce that degradation by detecting HVAC system faults and notifying building operators so that corrective actions may be taken to repair the faults and reduce energy consumption of the building. Additionally, FDD systems are being utilized to drive operational efficiency, make better use of maintenance personnel, and resolve comfort issues.

Measure Description

Add FDD requirements for large buildings into CA Title 24, Part 6 to align it with the 2021 version of the International Energy Conservation Code.

Proposed Code Language

120.2(l) Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD). Newly constructed buildings that require DDC according to Section 120.2(j) shall include a fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) system to monitor the HVAC system’s performance and automatically identify faults. The FDD system shall:

Utilize permanently installed sensors and devices to monitor the HVAC system’s performance by monitoring central plant equipment, zone terminal equipment, and associated components including but not limited to motors, actuators, valves, and dampers.

Sample the HVAC system’s performance at least once per 15 minutes.

Automatically identify HVAC system faults using algorithmic-based analysis that performs rule-based or model-based diagnostics separately from the monitoring and alarming functionality of the DDC. A list of possible faults that should be identified by the FDD system includes but is not limited to: HVAC systems that improperly simultaneously heat and cool; excessive outdoor air intake and conditioning; under-utilized free cooling potential; equipment malfunction (such as broken/leaking valves, broken/stuck dampers, sensors out of calibration); wrong setpoints and operating schedules; unintentional manual overrides; lack of energy-saving control sequences (such as chilled water reset); a bad bearing in a motor or compressor; misaligned motor, rotor imbalance, or cracked rotor bar; dirty filters or strainers; incorrect refrigerant or oil levels; pumps with throttled discharges; short cycling of equipment; excessive oscillation (hunting) of control points and/or control loop tuning needs; incorrect fan and pump speeds, pressures, or low flow rates; improper building or space pressurizations (negative or positive); inefficient boiler combustion; and excessive building peak electrical demand.

Automatically notify authorized personnel of identified HVAC system faults.

Automatically provide prioritized recommendations for repair of identified faults based on analysis of data collected from the sampling of the HVAC system performance.

Be capable of transmitting the prioritized fault repair recommendations to remotely located authorized personnel.

Be capable of tracking and reporting the history of identified faults and identifying corrective actions from identification of fault through closure.

Exception to Section 120.2(l): R1 and R2 occupancies.

What are MLCs?

Multilevel Lighting Controls (MLCs) allow the ability to reduce power going to a lighting system in multiple steps. Title 24, Part 6 multilevel lighting controls apply to a wide range of building types and systems, and it encompasses both new construction and retrofit projects in the state of California.

Why Multilevel Lighting Controls?

The LBNL meta-analysis of savings from various lighting control strategies shows an average of 34% energy savings from personal tuning.

Measure Description

This code proposal seeks to expand and clarify requirements for Multilevel Lighting Controls.

The proposal also expands the multilevel lighting control requirement to classrooms and spaces below 100 sf. Exceptions, previously applicable, shall be omitted.

This proposal entails modifying the existing requirement of a 0.5 W/sf connected lighting load requirement to mandate the implementation of multilevel lighting controls for spaces with a connected lighting load exceeding 0.4 W/sf.

The proposed measure will also remove “Table 130.1-A Multilevel Lighting Controls and Uniformity” and simplify code language by combining similar requirements and include control requirements in code language rather than in a table. .

Proposed Code Language

(b) Multilevel lighting controls. The general lighting of any enclosed space with a connected lighting load that exceeds 0.4 watts per square foot shall provide multilevel manual lighting controls that allow the occupants to adjust the illuminance level up to full light output (or a high-end trimmed level) and down to 10% of full light output or lower, and separately allow the occupants to turn the lighting OFF.

Exception 1 to Section 130.1(b): An area enclosed by ceiling-height partitions that has only one luminaire with no more than two lamps or has only one inseparable SSL luminaire with a maximum labelled rated wattage of less than 20 watts.

Exception 2 to Section 130.1(b): Restrooms, laundry area, locker room, copy room, and exercise/fitness center (but not gymnasium).

Exception 3 to Section 130.1(b): Healthcare facilities.