Georgia Leads in Building Envelope and Ductwork Standards

As concerns about energy costs, carbon emissions, and airborne hazards grow, more homeowners and housing developers are focusing on building performance. Over the past several decades, Georgia has become a leader in two of the most important performance indicators: the tightness of a home’s duct system and its thermal envelope (the walls, doors, windows, roofs, and floors that separate inside from outside). Southface Institute’s efforts to strengthen residential energy codes and train the trade workforce are a large part of this success.

• October 2009: Leakage testing for ducts and the thermal envelope is mentioned in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for the first time. Duct testing with relatively easy passing criteria is required for new homes, while blower door testing is listed as an option to “prove” air sealing was performed. Questions remain about where to record testing results and when to require or exempt testing for an existing home or duct system.
• November 2010: Since there are not enough Home Energy Raters in the state to perform the necessary testing, Southface creates the Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) Verifier designation. This credential answers logistical questions that aren’t addressed by the national code. It also provides a pathway to train individuals to perform the testing mandated by the upcoming 2011 Georgia energy code (IECC 2009 with state-specific amendments).
• December 2010: Southface conducts the first-ever DET Verifier training at its headquarters in Atlanta. The curriculum is shared with other professional training entities, including technical colleges, to prepare a pool of DET Verifiers throughout Georgia in the following year. Southface leads Train-the-Trainer sessions and continues to offer the DET Verifier training to this day.
• January 2012: In Tennessee, the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County roll out enforcement of the 2009 IECC with stronger amendments, including mandatory blower door testing similar to Georgia’s. DET Verifier Train-the-Trainer workshops are held outside of Georgia for the first time, and guidance for future collaborations is established.
• October 2012: Alabama’s energy code goes into effect. Southface creates a custom DET Verifier curriculum for Alabama Power, which leads the training at its statewide facility. DET testing licensing falls under the purview of the Alabama Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HACR) Board.
• November 2012: Southface conducts DET Verifier training in Illinois and shares the curriculum to support the newly adopted state energy code.
• January 2013: South Carolina’s latest energy code becomes active, and they begin the rollout of a DET Verifier program.
• January 2015: Louisiana implements the DET Verifier program, and Southface conducts the first training in the state.
• November 2019: Florida introduces blower door testing requirements and recognizes DET Verifiers as acceptable testing professionals.
• January 2020: Georgia updates and revises its energy code to the 2015 IECC with new, modified tightness thresholds for single-family and low-rise multifamily homes as well as new testing requirements for total duct leakage.
• September 2021: While the adoption of Arkansas’ new energy code is delayed, the Arkansas HVACR Association adopts Southface’s DET Verifier curriculum to the state and conducts training in numerous classes.
• January 2023: Working with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), Southface brings the DET Verifier curriculum to Nebraska. In conjunction with Nebraska’s state energy office, the curriculum is distributed through technical colleges and other private entities.

Today, building envelope and ductwork standards remain central to the comfort, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, affordability, and sustainability of millions of residences in Georgia and beyond. And Southface remains dedicated to training the workforce to offer the code-compliant testing and retrofitting services needed to get the job done.

Southface is enrolling now for their next DET Verifier training on December 2-4. A virtual info session for the course will be held on November 13. Learn more and register today.

Article originally published on SaportaReport.