Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
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 Small
Commercial
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.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
36:354(A) (3) and (E)
(2).
