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Home My WebLink AboutRESPONSE - RFP - P1052 NEW HOME INSPECTION AND PERFORMANCE TESTINGResponse to Proposal P1052 New Home Inspection and Performance Testing BOUI_CM L-^"M =C5L-13M;q, CO 636933691 3BJ--CB®L4- 1M.R" Response to Proposal P 1052 New Home Inspection and Performance Testing Boulder Design Alliance (BDA) has been instrumental in testing, training and developing procedures for proving the performance in homes across the country. Rob deKieffer is the managing partner of BDA and was the principal investigator for the original home performance study. Since the original Fort Collins study, Rob has conducted similar investigations in Missouri and Michigan. BDA has also conducted in- depth field investigations in 7 other states. BDA was the lead training organization for the Home Performance With Energy Star Program in Colorado. This not only required the creating a standard testing protocol, but direct evaluation of homes in the Fort Collins community. Boulder Design Alliance provides consulting services to a wide variety of corporations. BDA continues to work with BPI to improve standards, works with the EPA to create national criteria for Home Performance, and trains contractors to adequately conduct home and mechanical system evaluations. BDA will be a valuable asset to the city of Fort Collins. The results will connect a wide network of building/training professionals. This network will bring consistency and added credibility to the valuable work done in the city. Sincerely, Robert deKieffer Boulder Design Alliance ®OUL-JEe� OaGIGN /.�LLI/�NCa D0®G MaLIGR/� L/�N✓< a06.ILMaM, CO 6®J®1 34933--g®"- ia�a Table of Contents Page ❑ Required Services 1 ❑ Proposed Protocols — Under Construction 1 o Proposed Protocols — Completed Units 1 ❑ Quality Control 2 ❑ Data Management 3 ❑ Staffing 3 ❑ Qualifications 3 ❑ Compensation 4 ❑ References 4 ❑ Availability 4 ❑ Conflict of Interest 4 ❑ Appendices o Data Base Collection o Resume W0 MMrZ �MM^ L^PN n MCaL _MMM, CO 6®J®7 3MM--W®LI- lm9m Required Services ❑ A significant amount of the pertinent information found in the initial study came from the inspection of units in pre -insulation and at insulation inspection. The pre - insulation reviews are faster, and provide vital information on air sealing, blocking, plumbing chases, electrical connections, and cantilevers. I would suggest a number of pre -insulation and insulation inspections before any of the completed units are evaluated. ❑ The completed unit evaluation will provide the technical data that defines the final impact of the inconsistencies found in the initial investigations. The results will present the safety, comfort and energy efficiency components of new construction ❑ BDA is uniquely qualified to compare the results from the initial study, take comparative photographs, match results from the field tests. Protocols for Homes Under Construction ❑ Homes under construction will be examined from the ground up. This starts with foundation and ground moisture control, installed mechanical components, air sealing, true wall insulation values, and other construction weaknesses. The pictures taken during this section provide some of the most valuable training and code implementation opportunities. ❑ Digital photographs will be taken to match the photos taken during the original study, field notes will be recorded, and important code related compliance issues will be a prime focus. ❑ Homes under construction will be examined at before insulation and after insulation. Pre -insulation inspection will clearly show the areas for potential problems. Post insulation documentation will show a variety of solutions to building problems. Protocols for completed homes ❑ The standard protocols will be a close to the original protocols as possible. o A Blower door will be used to evaluate total air leakage, leakage to the attic and garage, and duct leakage to the exterior. o A duct blaster will be used to measure total duct leakage, duct leakage to the exterior, and return and supply duct leakage. ®OVI_OCR Oi�31PEN /.�LLI/�NC� �®®� Mgl-1�6/� l-/�IV6 ®OLILO�TQ. CO B®�®1 t�gre O Plow nooa and large neaa anemometer wilt be usea to document the air Ilow from each register. Air flow through the duct system will also be evaluated using both heat rise and a flow plate. o Mechanical system operating pressures will be made before and after the filter and before and after the AC coil. Select pressures will also be made at the supply registers. o Micromometers will be used to establish room pressures and worst -case CAZ pressures. Sequential depressurization will be conducted. Air flow from exhaust fans will be measured using a flow box and anemometer o Combustion efficiency and Carbon monoxide will be measured using a total combustion analyzer. Results will be printed on -site. All gas appliances will tested. If gas ranges are present, ambient CO will also be measured. Any atmospherically vented appliances will be measured for spillage and draft. o Humidity will be measured in a select number of homes using a digital humidity meter. o Individual room temperature variations will be measured on a select number of homes (5' center of room) o Infrared testing will be conducted using the City provided fleer. Another camera can be obtained by the contractor if necessary. Pictures will be made using a dry scan, blower door enhanced, and coupled with a standard digital picture of each location. o If any air conditioning charge testing can be completed, it will be done using a digital compound gauge and clamp -on type K thermocouples. Quality Control ❑ The computer will control the blower door. This allows the computer to calculate the level of accuracy of test measurements. The full blower door calculations will be included. ❑ Any tests using zone testing will use the computer to maintain a constant house pressure differential. ❑ All test instruments have been recently calibrated. ®OULOmR OCSIGN TLL1A"=M 9®40M M "#WMA L^Ns ®01JL.1. W R. CO mmmml 39®33--g®'•4- 18-%46 Reporting ❑ The data/pictures will put on multiple flash drives, or cd's. The data will be mailed or dropped off at the Fort Collins utility within 24 hours of the inspection. ❑ Data will be put into the combined spreadsheet used to track all data from the original study results. Staff ❑ Rob deKieffer will be the principal investigator. He successfully completed all of the tests for the original study and can certainly meet all of the needs of the abbreviated testing. ❑ Assistance provided by the city can shorten the testing slightly, based on the experience of the staff. The main part of the testing protocol needs to be done on a continuous basis to ensure that the house conditions have not been accidentally altered. Sealing up ducts for the duct blaster test, lighting inspection, pictures of the home and infrared photos are all areas where assistance can be valuable. Qualifications ❑ Rob deKieffer has tested thousands of homes, He continues to work on the national level to develop, train and implement the most aggressive energy conservation standards in the country. Recent work with Proctor Engineering, Building Performance Institute, Affordable Comfort Institute, NYSERDA, and the EPA continue to advance the art of energy conservation in new construction and retrofit applications. ❑ Mr. deKieffer has concentrated on national home performance and certification for the last year. He has worked with local code officials and presented to the Colorado code officials convention. Rob's work in the Fort Collins area has been restricted to retrofit applications for the past year. ®CI..IL-M�M G�MIGN TLLVANCB H®®B Mc MGSA L-^"M WC3LA-MjWR. CO ®®J®7 336939--Meb- - 1m56 Compensation ❑ The inspection and testing fees include $175 in travel and documentation costs. 1) Inspection - $800/day — 3-4 units inspections a. City staff could concentrate on problem areas found in initial field inspections. This could add additional units during the inspection day. 2) Testing - $800/day I test unit per day a. Lighting evaluation $50 b. City staff could conduct lighting inspection, assist in duct testing and photo documentation. Speeding up this process could reduce the field costs. References ❑ Tom Downey, Program Manager, Proctor Engineering Group — San Rafael ❑ Julie DeSeve, Program Manager, Conservation Services Group —New Jersey ❑ Gil Rossmiller, Head Building Official, City of Parker ❑ Matt Anderson, Head of Technical Services, Building Performance Institute ❑ Sara Helmers, Program Manager, Conservation Services Group/Oregon Energy Trust - Portland Availability ❑ Rob's travel schedule can accommodate all testing during the schedule requested by the city. Conflicts ❑ BDA has provided evaluation services, training and inspections for the City and other corporations. This includes working with many of the current heating contractors, insulators, builders and raters. BDA does not currently have any business relationships in Fort Collins or any conflict of interest. MOLJ"�WR 038.NSN AL-L-[AC=Wi 3®®3 MWLMG ^ L^PIM WOLILOMKFR, CO G®M®1 383--MM14- 1G4re