Title 24, Part 6, is California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standard. Its purpose is to help reduce peak energy consumption, particularly the kind that contributes to rolling blackouts. Starting January 1, 2010 both residential and commercial buildings with steep-slope roofs are required to meet Title 24, Part 6, standards.
ACS Roofing is committed to Green Roofing Principles. Please ask your sales associate about options and allowable prescriptive measures available to you and possible rebates. We will fully explain all details and options available. For more information on TITLE 24, PART 6 please read the article titled “Energy Standards Hit the Roof”, by Mark Tate, published in Today’s Home Living magazine:
Re-Roofing: New Requirements as of 1/1/2010
Are you are a homeowner shopping for a new roof? The obvious decisions you will ponder over are color, style and which roofing company to hire. Now, however, because of Title 24, part 6-, there are even more details about the installation of a new roof to think about. For the intended purpose of reducing California’s energy consumption, Title 24, part 6- California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standard- became effective on January 1st of this year. Simply put, when re-roofing you will either have to install a CRRC (Cool Roof Rating Council) approved cool roof or use an alternative prescriptive measure approach. What this means for the majority of consumers who are purchasing a new roof is that additional ventilation and/or energy saving products will be required to be installed with the new roof in order to comply with these new requirements.
What ventilation and energy saving products will you need? That would be an easy question if it was not for the fact that California, with some of the strictest energy standards in the nation, also has some of the most complicated measures to achieve those standards. Although you have various options in achieving compliance with this energy code, understanding how to can be complicated even for contractors and building officials alike. The Energy Commission’s 5 page Prescriptive Certificate of Compliance form for re-roofing has to be filled out for each individual home. This consists of performing calculations to demonstrate how compliance will be achieved. This all has to be completed before a building permit can be issued for your project. In addition, a signed declaration statement of accuracy and completeness by the contractor or person responsible is required before the building inspector will pass the final inspection.
Besides installing a cool roof some of the allowable prescriptive measures are as follows:
- Insulation with a thermal resistance of at least 0.85 hr ft or at least a ¾ inch air space is added to the roof deck over an attic.
- Existing ducts in the attic are insulated and sealed according to §151(f)10.
- In climate zones 10, 12 and 13, with 1 ft2 of free ventilation area of attic ventilation for every 150 ft2 of attic floor area, and where at least 30 percent of the free ventilation area is within 2 feet vertical distance of the roof ridge.
- Building has at lest R-30 ceiling insulation.
- Building has radiant barrier in the attic meeting the requirements of §151(f)2.
- Building has no ducts in the attic.
Because each home is built differently and has unique circumstances: (vaulted ceilings, cathedral ceilings, tri-level, low slope areas, etc.) the prescriptive measures could be any one or a combination of the above.
Your budget will probably determine weather you choose a cool roof or a prescriptive measure. To make sure you get the right roofing system & don’t spend more than what you need, you should look for and hire a roofing company that has enough training & experience in this area. Your contractor and their salesperson should look at all options and be able to explain the benefits and drawbacks of one option over the other. The ultimate decision should be based on what is best for the customer’s circumstances, not what is easiest or the fastest way for the roofing company.
With the right roofing system you will achieve many benefits:
- New roof will last longer
- Home will be much cooler in the summer months
- Less energy consumption / Save money over time
- Helps the environment
For more detailed information on this subject and to download a copy of the Prescriptive Certificate of Compliance form, go to the California Energy Commission website at https://www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2008standards/residential_manual.html. There you will find the entire 563 page Residential Building Compliance Manual. After looking at that, I am sure you will agree with most, that Yes the energy standards for California have hit the roof!
Please visit the following website to enhance your understanding of Title 24, Part 6.
