5900-429 Rater Design Review Checklist

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes
National Rater Design Review Checklist, Version 3 / 3.1 / 3.2 (Rev. 13)
If pursuing Track A - HVAC Grading, complete this page. 1
Home Address: __________________________________ City: _______________________ State: ______ Permit Date: ________
Must Rater 2
Correct Verified

1. Partnership Status
1.1 Rater has verified and documented that builder has an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement using
www.energystar.gov/ResPartnerDirectory. 4
1.2 Rater has verified and documented that their company has an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement using
www.energystar.gov/ResPartnerDirectory. 5
1.3 Rater(s) signing checklists attest that they have completed EPA-recognized training and are credentialed by a
Home Certification Organization (HCO).

N/A3

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4a.1 HVAC design report compliant with ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310, and the National HVAC Design
Supplement to Std. 310 for Dwellings & Units, collected for records, with no applicable Items left blank. 12

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4a.2 ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310 design review criteria have been met for applicable housing type.

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4a.3 Cooling sizing % is within the cooling sizing limit selected by the HVAC designer.

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2. High-Performance Fenestration
2.1 Specified fenestration meets or exceeds 2009 IECC or, for National v3.2, 2021 IECC requirements. 6, 7

3. High-Performance Enclosure
3.1 Specified total building thermal envelope UA achieves ≤ 100% of the total UA resulting from the U-factors in 2009
IECC Table 402.1.3 or, for National v3.2, 2021 IECC Table 402.1.2. See exception in Fn. 8. 7,8,9,10

4a. Review of ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310 HVAC Design Report with ENERGY STAR Supplement 11

Rater Name:

__________________________________________________________________ Date of Review: __________________

Rater Signature: ______________________________________

OMB Control Number: 2060-0586

Rater Company Name:_______________________________________

Revised 12/01/2023
OMB Control Expiration Date: 01/31/2024

Page 1 of 4
EPA Form Number: 5900-429

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes
National Rater Design Review Checklist, Version 3 / 3.1 / 3.2 (Rev. 13)
If pursuing Track B - HVAC Credential, complete this page.
Home Address: __________________________________ City: _______________________ State: ______ Permit Date: ________
Must
Rater 2
Correct Verified

1. Partnership Status
1.1 Rater has verified and documented that builder has an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement using
www.energystar.gov/ResPartnerDirectory. 4
1.2 Rater has verified and documented 13 that HVAC contractor holds credential required to complete National HVAC
Commissioning Checklist, unless all equipment to be installed in home to be certified is an exempted type, in
which case check “N/A”. 14

N/A3

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HVAC Contractor Company Name: ______________________________________________________________
1.3 Rater has verified and documented that their company has an ENERGY STAR partnership agreement using
www.energystar.gov/ResPartnerDirectory. 5
1.4 Rater(s) signing checklists attest that they have completed EPA-recognized training and are credentialed by a
Home Certification Organization (HCO).

2. High-Performance Fenestration
2.1 Specified fenestration meets or exceeds 2009 IECC or, for National v3.2, 2021 IECC requirements. 6, 7

3. High-Performance Enclosure
3.1 Specified total building thermal envelope UA achieves ≤ 100% of the total UA resulting from the U-factors in 2009
IECC Table 402.1.3 or, for National v3.2, 2021 IECC Table 402.1.2. See exception in Fn. 8. 7,8,9,10

4b. Review of ENERGY STAR National HVAC Design Report 15, 16
4b.1 National HVAC Design Report collected for records, with no applicable Items left blank.

4b.2 National HVAC Design Report reviewed by Rater for the following parameters (National HVAC Design Report Item # in parenthesis):
4b.2.1 Cooling season and heating season outdoor design temperatures used in loads (3.3) are within the limits
defined for the State and County, or US Territory, where the home will be built, or the designer has
provided an allowance from EPA to use alternative values. All limits are published at
energystar.gov/hvacdesigntemps. Note that revised (i.e., 2019 Edition) limits are required to be used for all
HVAC Design Reports generated after 10/01/2020. 17

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4b.2.2 Number of occupants used in loads (3.4) is within ± 2 of the home to be certified. 18

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4b.2.7 The variation in total heat gain across orientations (3.13) is ≤ 6 kBtuh. 22

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4b.2.8 Cooling sizing % (4.13) is within the cooling sizing limit (4.15) selected by the HVAC designer.

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4b.2.3 Conditioned floor area used in loads (3.5) is between 100 sq. ft. smaller and 300 sq. ft. larger than the
home to be certified. 19
4b.2.4 Window area used in loads (3.6) is between 15 sq. ft. smaller and 60 sq. ft. larger than the home to be
certified, or, for homes to be certified with > 500 sq. ft. of window area, between 3% smaller and 12%
larger. 20
4b.2.5 Predominant window SHGC used in loads (3.7) is within 0.1 of predominant value in the home to be
certified. 21
4b.2.6 Sensible, latent, & total heat gain are documented (3.10 - 3.12) for the orientation of the home to be
certified. 22

Rater Name:

__________________________________________________________________ Date of Review: __________________

Rater Signature: ______________________________________

OMB Control Number: 2060-0586

Rater Company Name:_______________________________________

Revised 12/01/2023
OMB Control Expiration Date: 01/31/2024

Page 2 of 4
EPA Form Number: 5900-429

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes
National Rater Design Review Checklist, Version 3 / 3.1 / 3.2 (Rev. 13)
Footnotes
1.

Track A – HVAC Grading shall use ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310 including all Addenda and Normative Appendices, with new versions and
Addenda implemented according to the schedule defined by the HCO that the home is being certified under.

2.

All items shall be verified for each certified home and sampling protocols shall not be used. The term ‘Rater’ refers to the person(s) completing
the third-party verification required for certification. The person(s) shall: a) be a Certified Rater or Approved Inspector, as defined by ANSI /
RESNET / ICC 301, or an equivalent designation as determined by an HCO; and, b) have attended and successfully completed an EPArecognized training class. See www.energystar.gov/newhomestraining.

3.

The column titled “N/A,” which denotes items that are “not applicable,” should be used when the checklist Item is not present in the home or
conflicts with local requirements.

4.
5.
6.

Raters are only required to document the partnership status of a builder once, for the first home that the Rater certifies for them.
Raters are only required to document the partnership status of their company once, for the first home that the Rater certifies for them.
For all versions except National v3.2, all windows, doors and skylights shall meet or exceed the component U-factor and SHGC requirements
specified in 2009 IECC Table 402.1.1. For National v3.2, all windows, doors and skylights shall meet or exceed the component U-factor and
SHGC requirements in 2021 IECC Table 402.1.2.
If no NFRC rating is noted on the window or in product literature (e.g., for site-built fenestration), select the U-factor and SHGC value from Tables
4 and 10, respectively, in 2013 ASHRAE Fundamentals, Chapter 15. Select the highest U-factor and SHGC value among the values listed for
the known window characteristics (e.g., frame type, number of panes, glass color, and presence of low-e coating). Note that the U-factor
requirement applies to all fenestration while the SHGC only applies to the glazed portion. The following exceptions apply:
a. An area-weighted average of fenestration products shall be permitted to satisfy the U-factor requirements;
b.

An area-weighted average of fenestration products ≥ 50% glazed shall be permitted to satisfy the SHGC requirements;

c.

15 square feet of glazed fenestration per dwelling unit shall be exempt from the U-factor and SHGC requirements, and shall be excluded
from area-weighted averages calculated using a) and b), above;
One side-hinged opaque door assembly up to 24 square feet in area shall be exempt from the U-factor requirements and shall be excluded
from area-weighted averages calculated using a) and b), above;

d.
e.

Fenestration utilized as part of a passive solar design shall be exempt from the U-factor and SHGC requirements, and shall be excluded
from area-weighted averages calculated using a) and b), above. Exempt windows shall be facing within 45 degrees of true South and
directly coupled to thermal storage mass that has a heat capacity > 20 btu / ft3xoF and provided in a ratio of at least 3 sq. ft. per sq. ft. of
South facing fenestration. Generally, thermal mass materials will be at least 2 in. thick.

In Phius or PHI certified homes, where triple-glazed window assemblies with thermal breaks / spacers between the panes are used, such
windows meet the intent of Item 2.1 and shall be excluded when assessing compliance of a) through e), above.

7.

For all Versions except National v3.2, the 2009 IECC Climate Zone designations are applicable, as defined and illustrated in Section R301 of
the code. For National v3.2, the 2021 IECC Climate Zone designations are applicable, as defined and illustrated in Section R301 of the code.
Note that some locations have shifted to a different Climate Zone in the 2021 IECC compared to prior editions.

8.

For all Versions except National v3.2 the total building thermal envelope UA shall be less than or equal to the total UA resulting from multiplying
the U-factors in 2009 IECC Table 402.1.3 by the same assembly area as the home to be certified.
For National v3.2, the total building thermal envelope UA shall be less than or equal to the total UA resulting from multiplying the U-factors in
2021 IECC Table 402.1.2 by the same assembly area as the home to be certified. Exception for homes permitted before 01/01/2025 and certified
using National v3.2: the total building thermal envelope UA shall be less than or equal to 105% of the total UA resulting from multiplying the Ufactors in 2021 IECC Table 402.1.2 by the same assembly area as the home to be certified.
The UA calculation shall be done using a method consistent with the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals and shall include the thermal bridging
effects of framing materials. The calculation for a steel-frame envelope assembly shall use the ASHRAE zone method or a method providing
equivalent results, and not a series-parallel path calculation method. In jurisdictions designated by a code official as having Very Heavy Termite
Infestation, the total UA limit shall be calculated by replacing the code-required slab insulation R-value and depth with the slab insulation R-value
and depth specified in the Rated Home.
The performance of all components (i.e., ceilings, walls, floors, slabs, and fenestration) can be traded off using the UA approach. Note that Items
3.1 through 3.4 of the National Rater Field Checklist shall be met regardless of the UA tradeoffs calculated.

9.

Slab edge insulation is only required for slab-on-grade floors with a floor surface less than 12 inches below grade. Slab insulation shall extend
to the top of the slab to provide a complete thermal break. If the top edge of the insulation is installed between the exterior wall and the edge of
the interior slab, it shall be permitted to be cut at a 45-degree angle away from the exterior wall. The following alternatives apply:

a.

Slab assemblies with an F-Factor equivalent to that of the insulation required in Item 3.2 of the National Rater Field Checklist may be
used. F-Factors shall be determined using Table A6.3.1-1 from ASHRAE 90.1-2022 Appendix A. See www.energstar.gov/F-Factor for
more details.

b.

The thermal break is permitted to be created using ≥ R-3 rigid insulation on top of the slab. In such cases, up to 10% of the slab surface
is permitted to not be insulated (e.g., for sleepers, for sill plates). Insulation installed on top of slab shall be covered by a durable floor
surface (e.g., hardwood, tile, carpet).

10. Where an insulated wall separates a garage, patio, porch, or other unconditioned space from the conditioned space of the house, slab insulation
shall also be installed at this interface to provide a thermal break between the conditioned and unconditioned slab. Where specific details cannot
meet this requirement, partners shall provide the detail to EPA to request an exemption prior to the home’s certification. EPA will compile
exempted details and work with industry to develop feasible details for use in future revisions to the program. A list of currently exempted details
is available at: energystar.gov/slabedge.

OMB Control Number: 2060-0586

Revised 12/01/2023
OMB Control Expiration Date: 01/31/2024

Page 3 of 4
EPA Form Number: 5900-429

ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes
National Rater Design Review Checklist, Version 3 / 3.1 / 3.2 (Rev. 13)
11. If pursuing Track A, then Item 4a.1 and 4a.2 shall be completed, even if the field verification tasks in ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310 are not
applicable to any HVAC systems in the home (e.g., a home with a boiler and no AC). Item 4a.3 shall be completed if the home to be certified
contains an air conditioner or heat pump; otherwise, ‘N/A” shall be checked.

12. As an alternative, the ENERGY STAR National HVAC Design Report may be collected in lieu of the ENERGY STAR National HVAC Design
Supplement to Std. 310 for Dwellings & Units. In such cases, at least two documents will still be collected – an HVAC design report compliant
with ANSI / RESNET / ACCA / ICC 310 plus the ENERGY STAR National HVAC Design Report. Note that for projects with more than one HVAC
system, one ENERGY STAR National HVAC Design Report per system would need to be collected.

13. Raters’ documentation of the HVAC contractor credential must be updated at least once every 12 months.
14. HVAC contractors must be credentialed by an EPA-recognized HVAC Quality Installation Training and Oversight Organization (H-QUITO) if a
split air conditioner, unitary air conditioner, air-source heat pump, or water-source (i.e., geothermal) heat pump up to 65 kBtuh with a forced-air
distribution system (i.e., ducts) or a furnace up to 225 kBtuh with a forced-air distribution system (i.e., ducts) will be installed in the home to be
certified. For all other permutations of equipment (e.g., boilers, mini-split / multi-split systems) and distribution systems, a credential is not
required. An explanation of this credentialing process and links to H-QUITOs, which maintain lists of credentialed contractors, can be found at
energystar.gov/newhomeshvac.

15. If pursuing Track B, then Section 4b shall be fully completed if the home contains split air conditioners, unitary air conditioners, air-source heat
pumps, or water-source (i.e., geothermal) heat pumps up to 65 kBtuh with forced-air distribution systems (i.e., ducts) or furnaces up to 225 kBtuh
with forced-air distribution systems (i.e., ducts). For a home without any of these system types, collection of the National HVAC Design Report
is still required with Section 1 and 2 completed. However, for such a home EPA recommends, but does not require, that Sections 3 through 5 of
the report be completed and that the report be reviewed per Item 4b.2.

16. The Rater shall collect one National HVAC Design Report per system design per plan. Regardless of whether the “site-specific design” or “group
design” box has been checked in Item 1.6 of the National HVAC Design Report, the system design as documented on the National HVAC Design
Report must fall within the tolerances in Item 4b.2 for the home to be certified. The report is only required to be collected once per system design,
even if multiple homes are built using this design (e.g., in a production environment where the same plan is built multiple times, only one report
is required as long as no aspect of the system design changes between homes). The Rater is only responsible for verifying that the designer
has not left any items blank on the National HVAC Design Report and for verifying the discrete objective parameters in Item 4b.2 of this Checklist,
not for verifying the accuracy of every input on the National HVAC Design Report. Homes certified under Rev. 13 of the program requirements
are permitted to use any Revision of the National HVAC Design Report between Rev. 08 and Rev. 13.

17. Visit energystar.gov/hvacdesigntemps for the maximum cooling season design temperature and minimum heating season design temperature
permitted for ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes and the process for a designer to obtain an allowance from EPA. The same design
report is permitted to be used in other counties, as long as the design temperature limits in those other counties meet or exceed the cooling and
heating season temperature limits for the county selected. For example, if Frederick County, VA, is used for the load calculations, with a 1%
cooling temperature limit of 93 °F, then the same report could be used in Fairfax County (which has a higher limit of 94 °F) but not in Albemarle
County (which has a lower limit of 92 °F).

18. To determine the number of occupants among all HVAC systems in the home, calculate the number of bedrooms, as defined below, and add
one. The number of occupants used in loads must be within ± 2 of the home to be certified, unless Item 1.5 of the National HVAC Design Report
indicates that the system is a cooling system for temporary occupant loads.
A bedroom is defined by ANSI / RESNET / ICC 301-2014 as a room or space 70 sq. ft. or greater size, with egress window and closet, used or
intended to be used for sleeping. A “den”, “library”, or “home office” with a closet, egress window, and 70 sq. ft. or greater size or other similar
rooms shall count as a bedroom, but living rooms and foyers shall not.
An egress window, as defined in 2009 IRC section R310, shall refer to any operable window that provides for a means of escape and access
for rescue in the event of an emergency. The egress window definition has been summarized for convenience. The egress window shall:
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have a sill height of not more than 44 inches above the floor; AND
have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 sq. ft.; AND
have a minimum net clear opening height of 24 in.; AND
have a minimum net clear opening width of 20 in.; AND
be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys, tools or special knowledge.

19. Conditioned Floor Area for the home to be certified shall be calculated in accordance with the definition in ANSI / RESNET / ICC 301-2019.
20. Window area for the home to be certified shall be calculated in accordance with the on-site inspection protocol provided in Normative Appendix
B of ANSI / RESNET / ICC 301-2019.

21. “Predominant” is defined as the SHGC value used in the greatest amount of window area in the home.
22. Orientation represents the direction that the front door of the house is facing. The designer is only required to document the loads for the
orientation(s) that the house might be built in. For example, if a house plan will only be built one time in a specific orientation (e.g., a site-specific
design), then the designer only needs to document the loads for this one orientation.

This collection of information is approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (OMB Control No. 2060-0586).
Responses to this collection of information are voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection
of information is estimated to be 0.5 hours per response. Send comments on the Agency’s need for this information, the accuracy of the provided
burden estimates and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden including through the use of automated collection techniques to
the Director, Regulatory Support Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2821T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20460.
Include the OMB control number in any correspondence. Do not send the completed form to this address.
OMB Control Number: 2060-0586

Revised 12/01/2023
OMB Control Expiration Date: 01/31/2024

Page 4 of 4
EPA Form Number: 5900-429