Which Title 24 Performance Credits Need an ECC-Rater Test?
Any credit that relies on equipment or installation better than the minimum must be field verified by an ECC-Rater (called a HERS rater until 1 January 2026). Section 150.1(b)2B names eight, from equipment ratings and a low-leakage air handler to a tighter enclosure and quality insulation installation.
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The rule behind every credit
When performance of installed features above the minimum in Section 150.1(c) is needed for the building to comply, field verification is required, and the results go on certificates of installation and verification. The CF1R lists them in its own ECC section, separate from special features and modeling assumptions, so a project can read its list straight off the certificate; how to read ECC measures on a CF1R shows where.
The eight credits the code lists
- An EER2, SEER2, CEER or HSPF2 rating above the minimum.
- A variable capacity heat pump compliance option.
- A low-leakage air handler.
- Heat pump rated heating capacity at 47F and 17F.
- A whole-house fan: airflow and fan efficacy.
- A central fan ventilation cooling system.
- Building enclosure leakage lower than the standard design.
- Quality insulation installation.
The code numbers these i to ix, and item iv is reserved, so eight are active.
Tests with no credit attached
Every new home with central HVAC gets duct leakage, duct airflow and fan watt draw (with the hole for the static pressure probe) and exhaust fan checks whether or not a credit is claimed. Reduced duct surface area, increased duct R-value and high-SEER2 or high-EER2 equipment add to the list, and Table RA2-1 holds the full set. Verification applies only to what is installed; a house with no ducts needs no duct test.
If a test fails
The failure is recorded in the registry, and the CF3R carries a FAIL watermark until the builder or installer corrects the problem and the ECC-Rater retests.
Choosing credits that avoid a test
Envelope changes the plans can show, such as insulation or glazing values, are checked at inspection rather than by a rater. Equipment ratings above the minimum always add a visit. Compare the cost in what rater testing costs, learn the job types in when verification is required and prepare with preparing for the rater. A failed test has its own steps. Orders start on the residential report page.
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
Refrigerant charge on heat pumps is verified in every climate zone, and a credit for a rating above the minimum adds verification of that rating.
On the CF1R, in the section listing features that need ECC verification. It is separate from the special features section.
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