ECBC Code Compliance Quiz

ECBC - Code Compliance

• The ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) is essential for buildings, ensuring world-class standards and procedures.
• It promotes uniformity and benchmarking.
• Continuous upgradation is needed to keep pace with evolving technology.
• Products and markets constantly evolve, necessitating code updates.
• The code is applicable to buildings with a connected load of 100 kW or more or a contract demand of 120 kVA or greater.
• It's intended for commercial use and not residential projects.
• Plug loads and equipment for manufacturing processes are excluded unless specified in the code.

Different Codes

• Various national and international codes are available for reference.
• The ECBC 2017 Users' Manual is a key document.
• The National Building Code of India 2005 is an example of a national code.
• Other standards like ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004 are available.

Scope of the Code

• The code covers buildings or building complexes with a connected load of at least 100 kW or a contract demand exceeding 120 kVA.
• The scope is limited to commercial purposes, excluding residential projects.
• Manufacturing processes, unless specified, are not covered by the code's energy provisions.

Areas of Compliance

• Parameters for compliance cover the building envelope, HVAC, hot water services, lighting, electrical power and motors, and renewable energy systems.

How to Read the Code

• The code has mandatory and prescriptive requirements, differentiated by sections.
• Mandatory sections are 4.2, 5.2, 6.2 & 7.2
• Prescriptive sections are 4.3, 5.3, 6.3
• Section 9 details the energy performance methodology.

Approach to Meet the Code Compliance

• Prescriptive Approach: Meet all mandatory and prescriptive requirements without exceptions.
• Whole Building Simulation Approach: Meet all mandatory requirements and use simulation to optimize design and enable trade-offs in prescriptive requirements.

Building Envelope

• Fenestration: U-value, SHGC, and VLT determination for entire fenestration systems, including frames, should be by a lab or certified manufacturer.
• Opaque Construction (Roof & Walls): The code requires U-value determination for complete assemblies.
• Daylighting has new requirements for minimal daylight levels to meet the code for different buildings.
• Building Envelope Sealing: Addresses air leakage aspects.

Fenestration - Thermal Properties

• Key factors for fenestration include U-value (heat transfer due to temperature difference), SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) and VLT (visual light transmittance).
• Thermal properties of glazing affect solar radiation absorption, transmission, and reflection.

Building Envelope - Thermal Properties (cont.)

• U-Value: A measure of heat transfer through a material.
• Shading Coefficient: Represents the fraction of solar energy transmitted by a glazing.
• Typical values: U-values and shading coefficients vary based on glazing type and thickness.

Prescriptive Requirement

• Maximum allowable Window Wall Ratio (WWR) is 40%.
• Maximum allowable Skylight to Roof Ratio (SSR) is 5%.
• Minimum allowable Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) is 0.27.
• Code specifies maximum U-factor and SHGC values for different climates and building types.

Opaque Construction - Wall & Roof

• RCC Walls: U-value of 1.95 W/m².K.
• Concrete Roof: U-value ranging from 2.5-3.0 W/m².K. Various wall options like brick with insulation, thermocol, concrete blocks, etc., are provided.
• Roof options, insulation techniques, and thermal imaging are also discussed.

Daylight

• Above-ground floor spaces need to meet useful daylight illuminance requirements.
• Compliance is either through simulation or manual methods.
• Percentage requirements of above-grade floors needing to comply with Daylight are also detailed.

Air Leakages

• Details about sealing and weather-stripping of the building envelope are discussed, excluding naturally ventilated spaces.
• Key areas include joints, penetrations, site-built fenestration, and exhaust fans.

HVAC

• Natural Ventilation: Guidelines for complying with the code are detailed in conjunction with natural ventilation methods.
• Mechanical Ventilation: Rules regarding installation of mechanical systems, based on NBC (National Building Code), are included.
• Air Conditioning: Rules regarding minimum efficiency requirements of equipment are covered.
• Minimum Equipment Efficiencies: The minimum efficiency requirements for different types and capacities of chillers are provided, along with detailed tables.

HVAC Controls

• Temperature controls manage temperature within conditioned zones.
• Occupancy controls de-energize or throttle ventilation when unoccupied.
• Fan controls use variable-speed drives or other options to control fan speed.
• Dampers automatically close when the fan is not in use or the space is not occupied.

HVAC Piping & Ductwork

• Insulation requirements for piping and ductwork are to include materials such as aluminum sheet metal, painted canvas or plastic, and cellular foam.
• System balancing and water utilization details are also included.

HVAC Service Water Heating

• Regulations and requirements for solar water heating systems in various buildings, depending on floor area, are covered.
• Solar water heaters need to meet stated performance and efficiency levels.

HVAC Prescriptive Requirements

• Key elements of the code's requirements related to pumps, cooling towers.

Lighting - Interior & Exterior

• Lighting Controls: Discusses features such as automatic lighting shutoff, space control, daylight controls, centralized control, exterior lighting control, etc.
• Occupancy Sensors: Placement and control functions outlined.
• Daylight Control: Specifics for using daylighting in areas for automatic/manual control are documented.
• Exterior Lighting Control: Photo sensors and/or astronomical time switches for exterior lighting are discussed.
• Interior Lighting Power: Calculations for interior lighting power allowance using the area method or by functional space are covered.
• Different types of building’s interior/exterior lighting power are enumerated. Detailed tables are provided to guide calculation.

Electrical

• Transformers: Maximum allowable power transformer losses are defined, including guidelines for efficiency and permissible loss values.
• Energy Efficient Motors: Requirements for three-phase induction motors, including categories of efficiency (IE2, IE3, IE4).
• Diesel Generators (DG) Sets: Standard power ratings for different building types are covered.
• Metering & Monitoring: Details on electrical metering are provided, including the equipment to measure demand (kVA), energy (kWh) and the total power factor.
• Power Factor Correction: The power factor requirements for 3-phase systems are explained with various categories of building requirements.
• Power Distribution Systems: Losses are limited and calculated up to panel level.
• Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS): Energy efficiency requirements are outlined.
• Renewable Energy Systems: Specifics regarding the requirements for the dedicated renewable energy area (REGZ), as part of the building design, is explained.
• Detailed tables are included to assist with calculations and determining appropriate specifications.

Whole Building Simulation Method

• Simulation methods use building models to estimate annual energy consumption through simulations to compare designs as per ECBC standards for various building types in different climates and zones.
• Details regarding EPI ratio calculation, and the importance of modeling design early, are highlighted.
• Simulation tools, such as IES, EQUEST, and others, are listed and explained.
• Key components for the whole building simulation method, including building description factors, simulation tools and their outputs are provided.
• Tables for maximum allowed or expected EPI ratios based on climate and building types are listed.

Test your knowledge on the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and its compliance standards. This quiz covers the significance of ECBC, its application in commercial buildings, and comparisons with other national and international codes. Understand how to keep up with evolving codes for energy efficiency.