Energy Code - Documents

Tips

• Tip 303 - Applicant Responsibilities and Plan Requirements for Single Family and Two Unit Dwelling Units
  Summary of information necessary for building permit applications. Building section (Figure 4) shows details required for insulation and glazing. Contains sample glazing and opaque door schedule (Figure 7).
• Tip 303A - Common Single Family and Duplex Building Code Items
  Includes insulation and glazing requirements for both the prescriptive compliance option (Tables 6-1 and 6-2) and the Target UA performance compliance option (Table 5-1). Lists information to be included on drawings.
• Tip 314, Seattle Building Code Requirements for Existing Buildings that Undergo Substantial Alterations
  Includes information about complying with the Seattle Energy Code for projects that are "substantial alterations."
• Tip 322, Spray-Applied Foam Insulation
• Tip 403 - NFRC Glazing U-factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
  Provides a summary of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) procedure for rating, certification, and labeling of the U-factor for glazing. Contains sample glazing and opaque door schedule. Lists information to be included on drawings.
• Tip 415 - Applicant Responsibilities and Plan Requirements for Mechanical Permits
  Summary of information necessary for mechanical permit applications.
• Tip 419 - Commissioning for Nonresidential Mechanical and Lighting Systems                          Summary of requirements for record drawings, operating manuals and maintenance manuals, air and water system balancing, and commissioning for mechanical systems, and automatic controls commissioning for lighting systems.
• Tip 420, Solar Energy Systems and Solar-Ready Roofs for Residential Buildings                                        General information regarding solar energy systems for single-family homes and townhouses, plus permit requirements under the electrical code, energy code, fire code, land use code and Seattle City Light regulations.  
• Tip 421, Controlled Receptacles
• Tip 422, Renewable Energy and Solar-Ready Roofs for Commercial Buildings
• Tip 423, Energy Compliance Through the Target Performance or Total Building Performance Paths
• Tip 424, Plumbing and Heat Pump Water Heating for Commercial and Multifamily Buildings              Describes energy code requirements for heat pump water heating systems in multifamily and hotel buildings and additional energy code requirements for hot water distribution piping, with descriptions of the various permits required and optional C406 efficiency credits.
• Tip 425,  HVAC Total System Performance Ratio                                                                                                   Describes requirements to meet TSPR (Total system performance ratio) requirements in the energy code for several building types. This is a measure of the overall efficiency of the entire HVAC system.
• Tip 426, Envelope Component Performance Compliance                                                                                   For projects electing to use the component performance (UxA tradeoff) method for building envelope compliance, this tip describes how to use the equation, and defines the various terms.
• Tip 428,  Fenestration in Seattle Energy Code                                                                                                         Describes size and performance requirements for windows, curtain wall, and other fenestration types, including doors and skylights. Covers new construction and alterations.
• Tip 429, Energy Code for Multifamily Buildings                                                                                                      This Tip provides information about energy code requirements that specifically apply to multifamily buildings for the building envelope, HVAC systems, water heating, lighting, solar, refrigerant piping, and more.

Code Interpretations

• C503.2C Change of Space Conditioning from Fossil Fuel Heating to Heat Pump                                        Applicable to permits granted under 2018 or earlier code editions, as this exception has been incorporated into the 2021 and later codes. 
• SRC 1411.6, SEC R403.4, and SEC C403.10.4 Refrigerant Line Insulation                                                        Applicable to permits granted under 2018 or earlier code editions, as these requirements have been incorporated into the 2021 and later codes.