HERS Raters can assist building safety departments during national pandemic

Across the world lives and businesses are being disrupted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Confronted by this emergency, building safety departments are facing a challenging question of whether to shut down, remain open or curtail some of their operations. Deemed essential by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and state governments across the U.S., code officials play a necessary role in the building and construction industry.

Many building safety departments are facing limited resources and increased demands on their time. The International Code Council and RESNET partnered on a new program that assists building safety departments with additional resources that can supplement their operations while ensuring the energy provisions of the code are met in residential structures.

Code officials can elect to accept RESNET HERS Raters that are also currently certified by the Code Council as Residential Energy Inspectors/Plan Examiners for undertaking required energy code inspections and testing in their jurisdiction. These individuals can be recognized by their IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist certification from the Code Council that confirms both building science and energy code competence. Read more on the new ICC IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist certification.

Those certified by RESNET as HERS Raters bring the following qualifications that can assist building safety departments during this national emergency.

• They have successfully completed a stringent training and certification process following industry-recognized national standards and have demonstrated their knowledge in the application of building science.
• They have completed air leakage and duct tightness training in accordance with the ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380-2019: Standard for Testing Airtightness of Building Enclosures, Airtightness of Heating and Cooling Air Distribution Systems, and Airflow of Mechanical Ventilation Systems. This Code Council standard is adopted by reference in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
• They adhere to strict quality assurance oversight standards set by RESNET.

These RESNET qualifications complement the Code Council’s Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner certification that certifies an individual’s knowledge and understanding of the IECC, which includes material, installation, methodology, plans examination, and inspection of energy conservation materials and construction methods and practices as it pertains to residential structures as defined in the IECC.

Each year, RESNET’s network of certified HERS Raters provide energy-efficiency testing on more than 240,000 homes across the U.S. Now, with the IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist certification, these experts may also provide, as a service to your building department, code compliance inspections at the same time. For more information, click on RESNET HERS Raters. Your Trusted Third-Party Code Inspector.

RESNET has adopted a temporary 120-day emergency policy allowing remote inspection and testing for HERS Raters that reside in areas where there are shelter-in-place and stay-at-home mandates. To download the policy, click on Revised Procedures for Remote Inspections and Testing Alternatives. To maximize public health building departments should consider the new RESNET emergency procedures.

Find an IECC/HERS Compliance Specialist near you. This new certification program is rapidly adding new certified individuals, so check back often if there currently isn’t someone in your jurisdiction.