What Is a Third-Party Quality Control Program, and Why Was My HVAC Final Approved Early?
A final can pass before the CF3R is registered when the installer takes part in an approved Third-Party Quality Control Program. The program checks the installer's test data, and the building department may approve on the CF2R on condition that the CF3R follows. If later verification fails, the work must be corrected and retested.
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The program in one paragraph
A Third-Party Quality Control Program trains participating installers, collects far more data than compliance needs from each job, checks that data for errors and flags installations that look noncompliant. It tells the installer to retest and fix problems before leaving the site. Its staff cannot sign a certificate of verification. The Energy Commission may approve such programs, so ask your installer for the program’s name and the department for its conditions.
Why the city could sign first
The compliance manual says the enforcement agency may conditionally approve a building on the CF2R testing performed and documented by a participating contractor. For alterations, the residential appendix is specific: where data checking has shown the unit complies, the agency may approve on the certificate of installation before the certificate of verification is registered, on condition that one will be submitted. The word is may.
What is still owed
The provider must assign an independent ECC-Rater to verify the participating contractor’s installation work. The program cannot replace that rater, and the CF3R is what finally closes the file. Alterations cannot be placed in a sample group, and for new buildings a program contractor’s group can reach 30 dwellings.
If the later test fails
If subsequent verification shows retesting, resampling, full testing or corrective action is needed, the corrective work must be completed. An early final does not waive the failure. Steps are under what happens after a failed ECC test.
A second early route: cold weather
Below 55°F outside, a department may approve refrigerant charge verification on a weigh-in charge, if the installer signs a declaration on the registered CF2R to return to correct the charge. The installer must tell the homeowner the charge has not been verified, and the rater checks it once the outdoor temperature reaches 55°F.
For missing certificates in general see why the CF3R is missing. Related reading includes HVAC replacement permits, rater independence and our residential reports.
Common Title 24 Questions
- What is Title 24?
- Do I need a Title 24 report?
- How much does a Title 24 report cost?
- How long does a Title 24 report take?
- What is included in a Title 24 report?
- What plans do I need to upload?
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. The manual and the appendix allow conditional approval, at the department's discretion, where an approved quality control program has checked the installer's data.
Yes. The approval is conditional on a certificate of verification being submitted, and the rater remains responsible for it.
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View all ECC-Raters guides → · CHEERS and ECC · Title 24 guide