February 2015


Florida HVAC Insider


Page 11A


The Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association is comprised of over 350 HVAC contractors and HVAC


affi liated fi rms in eight chapters across the State of Florida. FRACCA was established in 2001 by a group of dedicated leaders in the HVACR industry and is a statewide not-for-profi t association. FRACCA works to promote the interests of industry professionals through legislative action and educational program development. For more information about FRACCA, contact the FRACCA offi ce at 727-576-3225, by email at mail@fracca.org, or visit them online at www.fracca.org.


Thoughts from the FRACCA President


by


Oscar Calleja


New D.O.E. Regional Minimum SEER-14.0 - New Fire Code - New Building Code, Oh My!


There is a lot of confusion out there with recent changes to Codes and the Federal Minimum SEER. It is important that AC Contractors know what the new rules of the game are and how to cope with these going forward. My hope is that I can clarify some of these issues here. Let’s begin with the DOE Minimum Regional SEER of 14.0. How does it apply to installations you are doing in 2015?


 New Construction - The answer is between now and July 1, 2015 you can still permit and install AC equipment with SEER-13.0 and higher, provided you can get your hands on them. There is a dwindling stock of these. After July 1, 2015 you may only use SEER-14.0 or higher.


 Replacement - For replacement of existing equipment you can always install any equipment available as long as you meet the minimum SEER of the existing system that you are taking out. So in theory, you could use a SEER-12.0, if available, to replace an old SEER-12.0 system.


Why do we have the July 1, 2015 deadline for new construction? Be- cause that’s when the new Florida Building Code 5th


into effect, and that new Code speci- fi es a minimum SEER-14.0 for New Construction.


There is confusion as to how the Federal Regional Minimum SEER mandate was written and questions about how much regulation and paper- work this new regulation brings along. Let’s see if I can explain it. First, the mandate applies strictly to Manufacturers, not to Contractors. The burden of compliance falls on


Ed. (2014) goes


the Manufacturers, who are forbid- den from building equipment with a “Labeled SEER” of less than 14.0. Notice that the DOE used the “Labeled SEER” language to prevent them from continuing to build Condensing Units that have the “Yellow Label” showing SEER-13.0 but that could provide a higher SEER (>14.0) when matched with a particular Air Handler. The DOE also made Manufacturers provide an electronic trail of where each piece of equipment went from the factory to its installation end point. This requirement ensures the equipment doesn’t go from a lower minimum SEER Region, to a higher minimum requirement Region like ours. The burden of record keeping falls squarely on the Manufacturers and Distributors with the penalties and fines hitting the Manufacturers only.


What about the Fire Prevention Code? Even though it is part of the Florida Building Code by reference, it is actually a separate Code and it is developed, written and voted on by a separate entity (State Fire Marshall) from the Florida Building Code. The new 5th


Edition (2014) Fire Preven- tion Code was formally approved and immediately made effective last November. That is why you may see Building Officials applying some new


CAM’s CORNER


Monthly Legislative Update


Fire Code regulations even though the Building Code stays the same until July 1, 2015. Be aware that the local Fire Marshall, as well as your local Mechanical Inspector, can now ask for some things that are in that new Fire Code.


The new Florida Building Code, which is called the FBC 5th


Edition (2014), will


go into effect at midnight, June, 30, 2015. For the most part it is basically similar to the current 2010 Code with a few changes that we will have to deal with. Some of the most important new requirements include: the supply of Outdoor Air (Mechanical Ventilation) to all new Residences, the Minimum SEER-14.0, and the change in Duct Smoke Detectors in return instead of supply. This last item generates a confl ict between the Mechanical Code


Cam Fentriss article is featured as a Contractor Alert and can be found on page 4A.


and the Supply location required in the Fire Code. The confl ict will have to be addressed by the submission of a request for a Declaratory Statement from the Building Commission, hope- fully soon.


There is also the new requirement for a Building Air-Tightness Test (In- fi ltration-Blower Door Test) for all new residences with a specifi ed maximum of 5 ACH50. This requirement falls on the Builder since it has to do with how well the building envelope has been sealed, but could also impact AC Contractors who might be asked to perform such tests. You better become familiar with Blower Door Tests.


Hopefully I have not managed to confuse you beyond where you were before. Have No Fear - there is help on the way!


Coming up Friday, March 27, FRAC-


When you think of home, does it conjure up thoughts of good food, relaxation, se- curity, peace? What would be your thoughts if your home had “houseitosis”? (a play on words from the bad breath word halitosis.) In the old days before tight and super tight houses the house would “breathe” on its own… infi ltration; this is how mankind has lived since the dawn of time. How- ever, since the Oil Embargo of the 1970’s, the drive to reduce energy consumption in houses has made infi ltration a bad word and steps were instituted to limit it wherever possible. When we foam the penetration in stud walls, then window frames became tight… then super tight, everything is caulked or gasketed and the result is the “Super Tight house”. This house does use less energy to heat and cool; how- ever, there is a down side, smells. Until recently, the basic ventilation rate formula established by ASHRAE 62.2 back in 2003 — 7.5 cfm per person plus 1 cfm per 100 square feet — has remained unchanged.


The standard by Bob Cochell


assumes that the number of occupants in a home equals the number of bedrooms plus one. How- ever, the latest (2013) version of ASHRAE 62.2 includes a significant change in the decade- old ventilation formula. Under the new formula, high-performance homes will need to be ventilated at a higher rate, namely 7.5 cfm per person plus 3 cfm per 100 square feet. This means that for a tightly built 2,400 square- foot home with 3 bedrooms, the minimum airfl ow rate of the ventila- tion equipment has jumped 89%, from 54 cfm to 102 cfm.


How does that relate to the A/C


Load? (Cooling in Tampa is shown as an example) Hs = cfm x delta T x 1.08 Hs = 102 x 18 x 1.08 Hs = 1,983 Btuh


Hl = cfm x delta grains x .68 Hl = 102 x 49 x .68 Hl = 3,399 Btuh


CA will be holding its 2015 Education Conference at the Embassy Suites in Kissimmee. This year’s Conference will feature courses on the new Codes, HVAC topics and all needed CEU’s for your license. It will give you the opportunity to visit the AIRodeo Air Diagnostic Lab. There will be a chance to experience hands-on training on Air Diagnostic Equipment, Blower Door Testing, Duct Testing, Test, Balance, Measure of air fl ows, etc. To cap it off, Saturday, March 28, our featured speaker and instructor is Dr. Joe Lstibu- rek of Building Science Corporation, who is considered to be the “Guru” of Building Science. He will answer and raise many questions and entertain you in the process.


In my opinion, it is worth your while to attend. Not only will you learn from the experts and experience the hands-on training, but by talking with your fel- low Contractors from across the State discover ways to make our businesses more effi cient and successful. Watch for our state-wide mailing to contractors, visit www.fracca.org, or contact FRACCA for 2015 FRACCA Education Conference information and registration.


continued on page 12A


Oscar L. Calleja, President For more information about FRACCA and our chapters, visit us online at www.fracca.org or call the FRACCA offi ce at 727-576-3225. Thoughts and comments can be sent to FRACCA at mail@fracca.org.


February's


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44