La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § I-1923

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section I-1923 - Certification of Existing Small Commercial Buildings Energy Raters

A. Definitions. For the purpose of this Section, the following words, unless the context does not permit such meaning, shall have the meanings indicated.

Department-the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

Energy Rating-a site inventory and descriptive record of features impacting the energy use of the building. This includes, but is not limited to: all building component descriptions (locations, areas, orientations, construction attributes and energy transfer characteristics); all energy using equipment and appliance descriptions (use, make, model, capacity, efficiency and fuel type); and all energy features, and computations.

ESCB Energy Raters-This includes all energy raters qualified, trained, and certified by the department to conduct energy ratings on existing small commercial buildings-up to and including 7000 square feet.

Existing SmallCommercial Building (ESCB)-a completed small commercial building, buildings for which a certificate of occupancy, or equivalent approval for occupancy, has been issued-up to and including 7,000 square feet.

B. General Provisions

1. Rules provided herein shall apply to site built existing small commercial buildings, except those specifically exempted herein.

2. The energy rating for existing small commercial buildings shall be determined using only software approved by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources for the southern climate. If a rating is performed on a proposed building, the rating shall be clearly labeled as a "rating based on plans".

3. Beginning with the implementation date of this rule, no person may provide an energy rating for small commercial buildings in Louisiana unless such a person has been certified as provided by this rule. To perform an energy rating for any existing small commercial building as required by this rule, the person performing the energy rating must be certified by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, or its designee.

4. Certification will be valid for one year following the date of issuance. No energy rating activity shall be conducted after the expiration of the term of certification. A duplicate certificate may be obtained by written request to the department.

5. An application for annual certification renewal shall be submitted on Form #ERHL-704, herein incorporated by reference, with a renewal fee of the maximum amount allowable by the state. In addition to the annual renewal fee, a certified Existing Small Commercial Building (ESCB) energy rater must, over a three-year period, have completed 12 credit hours of continuing education in courses accepted by the department for certification renewal. Acceptable courses shall, in general, be those dealing with energy use in buildings, building science, or building systems (including heating, ventilation and air conditioning), building design or construction, codes or plan review, financing or selling small commercial buildings, and courses on energy rating systems.

C. The following qualifications, at a minimum, are required for certification as an ESCB energy rater.

1. The individual shall submit an application on the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Form #ERHL-704 (ESCB) and pay the appropriate application fee of up to the maximum amount allowable by the state. The form is available by writing to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 617 N. Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70804.

2. Individuals applying for certification as an Existing Small Commercial Building Energy Rater shall attend a training program provided by the department, or its designee and shall demonstrate achievement of a level of knowledge and proficiency so as to successfully rate residences, and small commercial building by passing department tests specific to the buildings rated for certification. At the department's discretion, an individual may also qualify for certification as ESCB energy rater without attending the department's training program by providing a certificate of certification as an ESCB energy rater from an accredited training provider approved by the department and passing the department's challenge tests. Individuals applying for certification as ESCB energy raters in this manner must also demonstrate achievement of a level of knowledge and proficiency so as to successfully rate buildings by passing department tests specific to the type of building rated for certification. In addition, the rater candidate must complete seven ratings, four residential, and three small commercial while conducting three under the supervision of the department or its designee.

3. No certification shall be approved unless the applicant demonstrates to the department that the following conditions are met.

a. The applicant has filed an accurate and complete application describing compliance with the relevant certification requirements along with the application fee.

b. The applicant is capable of performing the activities for which he/she is seeking certification.

c. The applicant has not shown a lack of ability or intention to comply with this rule.

d. The applicant has conducted all energy rating and compliance related activities forthrightly and honestly.

4. Recertification is required at least every three years from the rater's last date of certification. For recertification, the applicant shall attend training on changes impacting the rating system provided by the department or its designee, and demonstrate achievement of a level of knowledge and proficiency so as to successfully rate residential, and small commercial buildings by passing a departmental test applicable to the buildings being rated. The fee for recertification shall be the annual certification renewal fee. The ESCB energy rater shall be required to satisfactorily perform and complete one home, and one small commercial building energy rating, accompanied and evaluated by another randomly chosen certified home energy rater, as a requirement for recertification and to comply with the department's guidelines requirement for periodic peer review and reevaluation of raters. Home energy raters and ESCB energy raters shall also be required to serve as a peer evaluator at least once within three years before being recertified.

D. Reporting Requirements. Certified home energy raters, and ESCB energy raters shall submit all ratings to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources in electronic format, either via electronic mail (e-mail) or, at the department's discretion with prior written approval from the department, in some other electronic format.

E. The home energy rating report (or ESCB Report) provided to the client shall include the following:

1. the certified rater's signature typed or printed name and rater certification number;

2. the date that the rating was completed; and

3. contact information for the home energy rater including address, and phone number.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § I-1923

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of the Secretary, LR 31:935 (April 2005).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:354(A) (3) and (E) (2).