What is Acceptance Testing?

First included in California’s 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Standards), Title 24, Part 6, acceptance testing specifies targeted inspections and functional performance tests to help ensure that equipment installed in nonresidential buildings is operating as designed and in compliance with the Energy Standards. These pass/fail tests are required for lighting controls, mechanical systems and process equipment installed in recently constructed buildings and as part of major renovations, and for all new replacement equipment of these types. Nonresidential building systems requiring acceptance testing include, but aren’t limited to: • Lighting controls • HVAC • Controls • Air distribution ducts • Envelope features • Process equipment Acceptance testing procedures can be found in Nonresidential Reference Appendix NA7, including equipment, systems and functions to be tested, conditions under which test is to be performed, and measurable results for acceptable performance

Roles and Responsibilities: Who Does What and When?

Acceptance testing generally includes three phases:

• Documentation inspection – While performing the document inspection, the technician is required to review the construction plans that were approved by the local building department. These plans should include the required Nonresidential Certificates of Compliance (NRCC) and the Nonresidential Certificates of Installation (NRCI)

• Construction inspection – The technician then compares the approved plans and documentation to the actual installations and verifies that they are consistent. After all necessary modifications are made, the technician can then proceed with the functional test

• Functional testing – The functional test is specific to the equipment type and requirements in the Energy Standards. Acceptance testing can be performed by the installing technician or a third party. The acceptance test is intended to give the installing technician a credible document that shows that the installed system was operational and in compliance with the Energy Standards when the technician left the construction site Testing results must be reported to the local building department on the applicable Nonresidential Certificate of Acceptance (NRCA). All performance deficiencies must be corrected by the builder or installing contractor and the acceptance testing procedures must be repeated until the construction/installation of the specified systems conform to the required acceptance criteria. Only then can the final certificate of occupancy be issued.

Tips to Passing Title 24 Inspection

Inspections:

• Provide a company representative, to demonstrate the controls function, as designed.

• Confirm all devices have been Started Up. 

• Provide Installation and Operating Instructions for each device. 

• Provide a set of "As Built" Plans.

• Confirm all "stand alone" devices are CEC approved.

Occupancy Sensors:

• Not Triggered from Outside of the Room / Zone / Hallways / Space.

• General, Accent, and Perimeter Lighting, all controlled separately. 

• Ceiling mounted Sensors are not mounted near HVAC registers.

• Wall mounted Sensors are not blocked by obstructions.

Daylighting:

• General Lighting controlled separately, from Primary and Secondary Side-lit Zone / Sky-lit Zones.

• Confirm fixtures dim or switched, as designed.

• Confirm Day-lit Zones are correctly drawn on the "As Built" plans.

• Photo sensors are located in appropriate areas, based on type:

  • Open-loop: sensing daylight only,

  • Closed-loop: sensing electric light.

Outdoor Controls:

• Confirm Time Switches are Astronomical controlled.

  • Include Weekend and Holiday event programing.

• Time Switches have battery back-up installed.

• Time Switches have a maximum, 2 hour manual override.

• Fixtures mounted 24' or lower are controlled by appropriate motion detectors.

• Incandescent Fixtures with a rating greater than 100w, are controlled by appropriate motion detectors.

• All Outdoor Fixtures are controlled by a Time Clock or Photo Cell.

Demand Response:

• Pre-Coordinate access to the EMC or LMC System.

• Confirm affected fixtures dim uniformly.

• Confirm Lighting Control System is capable of receiving signal from the Utility