Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) Program

OMB Control #: 1910-1584
Exp. Date: XX/XX/XXXX

DOE HQ F 413.35
(03/2019)

DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
Recommended Quality Management Provisions
April 16, 2014

RECOMMENDED QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROVISIONS
Builder Documentation & Verification
Requirements

QM Provision
QM #1: Project Documentation
Complete construction documents shall be qualified as
Designed to Earn ENERGY STAR and document all
additional provisions and specifications required for DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home including Mandatory Requirements: 2012
IECC envelope insulation levels, ENERGY STAR windows,
duct work in conditioned space, requirements for hot water
distribution, requirements for indoor fixtures, EPA Indoor
airPLUS checklist, and Renewable Energy Ready Home
Checklist.

QM #2: Integrated Design Process
As early as practical in the design process, conduct a meeting
involving the HVAC, insulation, air sealing, and framing trades,
along with the 3rd party verifier for the home. All meeting
outcomes should be documented. Complying with the LEED
for Homes Integrated Process Prerequisite meets this
provision.
Note that the resulting thermal envelope, moisture
management, IAQ, HVAC, and renewable-ready provisions,
roles, and responsibilities should be integrated into project
documentation and work scopes (see QM #1).
QM #3: Establish a Formal Quality Management Program
Builders who establish formal QM programs are more likely to
achieve consistent success in meeting the DOE Challenge
Home program requirements, as well as reducing costly
defects. Establish a formal QM program that includes at a
minimum:
•
•
•

written procedures and field checklists
in-house inspections and field tests protocols
training requirements for staff and contractors.

There are a number of formal quality programs that can be
used to achieve these requirements including the National
Housing Quality Program (www.nahbrc.org/quality), Quality
Built (www.qualitybuilt.com), and First Time Quality
(www.firsttimequality.com). These programs are based on
ISO 9001.

Develop and store construction documents
which, at a minimum, shall include all content
required to consistently implement DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home:
•
Specifications
•
Plans
•
Wall Sections
•
Details
•
Contractor work scopes
•
ENERGY STAR Version 3 and DOE
Zero Energy Ready Home criteria and
checklists
Develop and store key meeting outcomes which
at a minimum shall include:
•
a clear statement of the energy
performance target for the home;
•
implementation strategy for the key
thermal envelope, moisture
management, IAQ, HVAC, and
renewable-ready elements;
•
specific methods for reaching these
targets; and
•
assigned party responsible for each
specific measure/step.

Document and implement key quality
management tools which, at a minimum, shall
include:
•
written field procedures and
checklists
•
in-house inspections and field tests
protocols (excluding third-party
requirements for ENERGY STAR and
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
already included in documentation see QM #1)
•
training requirements for staff and
contractors.

Rater/Verifier
Requirements

Review the construction
documentation and verify
compliance with Designed
to Earn ENERGY STAR
including all additional
content for DOE Zero
Energy Ready Home.

The third-party rater/verifier
shall review the Integrated
Design Process meeting
outcome documentation and
verify it meets minimum
requirements. Where
applicable, verify
compliance with LEED for
Homes Integrated Process
Prerequisites.

The third-party rater/verifier
shall review all documented
quality management tools
and verify they meet
minimum requirements.

Where applicable, this documentation can be
part of documentation for a formal quality
program.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 75 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Office of the Chief
Information Officer, Records Management Division, IM-23, Paperwork Reduction Project (1910-5184), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave
SW, Washington, DC 20585-1290; and to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), OIRA, Paperwork Reduction Project (1910-5184), Washington, DC
20503.

Revised 6-14-13

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