Plans and Specifications

Submittals must include plans, specifications and computations to show conformance with Chapter 13 (1301.8.2), and a Mandatory Checklist (1301.8.1). All Calculation Procedures to demonstrate compliance with Chapter 13 must be in accordance with ASHRAE 1997 Handbook of Fundamentals, or other procedures specified in Chapter 13. View Code Language

Approval and Acceptance

This is a new requirement which applies to systems for:

lighting; electric distribution, and; HVAC

It is intended to assure that systems meet three criteria: 1. That they are designed to meet intended needs; 2. That they are installed according to design; 3. That they perform as intended. The section is divided into two conceptual halves:

The Approval portion requires descriptions of the preliminary design and of how the systems will be tested to ensure performance. These descriptions must be submitted before a permit is issued. The Acceptance portion describes documentation of the testing that has been performed on the completed systems. The documentation that must be submitted before a final certificate of occupancy is granted.

Construction Documents Before a permit is issued, a narrative report must be submitted containing enough information to describe the systems, including their operational features and controls. The report must also include a description of how the systems will be tested for final acceptance, and provide limited information about operations and maintenance manuals, record drawing, and controls documents. This reporting and testing information provides the essence of a commissioning protocol, although the word "commissioning" does not appear in the code, and

there is no requirement for independant third-party commissioning agents. The benefits of the commissioning of systems include:

reducing/eliminating systems that fail to perform properly assuring peak energy performance of systems providing a baseline and tools for proper operation and maintenance of systems reducing callbacks

System Description Report The narrative report must cover the following 7 criteria for each system: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Design Intent Basis of Design Sequence of Operation System Description Testing Operations and Maintenance Manuals Record Drawings View Code Language Approval of the report by the Building Official is expressly not required for:

design concepts testing procedures acceptance criteria

In other words, the local inspector is not responsible for evaluating the engineering of the system, and he or she will not reject the report because they don't like the design. (Unless, of course, the design violates some specific aspect of the code.) BUT, the Building Official shall reject construction documents if they are incomplete. It is recommended, therefore, that the report follow the 7 criteria in order and clearly labeled. For more recommendations and an example of this format, see the System Description Report Guideline to writing system description reports and the Sample narrative report. Approval and Acceptance - Plans plans and specifications shall have enough information to identify:

system and equipment arrangements system and equipment sizing system specifications sequence of operation tabulation of building loads and components View Code Language

Some of the information required in plans and specifications is also found in the narrative reports, but in much less detail. The plans and specifications have more detail so that contractors have enough information to install the systems, while the narrative reports present a conceptual overview. Acceptance Once the systems have been installed, there are four steps that must be taken before the local Building Official will issue a final Certificate of Occupancy. 1. The Building Official may either witness the tests or accept a professional's test report. (see 780 CMR 120) 2. The building Official must receive certification from a Registered Professional (as allowed in 780 CMR 116.2) that installed system matches approved documents (as amended). This Professional may be the engineer who designed the system, the installing contractor (only if they designed the system too), or a different registered engineer who was hired for construction oversight. 3. The Building Official must receive written confirmation from building owner or their representative that they have received as-built drawings reviewed by designer of record for reasonable accuracy. 4. The Building Official must receive written confirmation from building owner or their representative that they have received O&M manuals, control documents, etc. View Code Language Conditional Acceptance A temporary Certificate of Occupancy may be issued if the Building Official is satisfied that the compliance can be demonstrated with the building occupied.