Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about CBECC-Res 2013 Updated March 6, 2015 After the General Administrative FAQs, the remaining questions and answers are listed in the order received, with the most recent questions at the top of the list. Click on the links to jump to each section. General Administrative FAQs 1. What is CBECC-Res? 2. How do I install CBECC-Res on my computer? 3. Can I install CBECC-Res on a network? 4. What does the software cost? 5.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQs Posted on December 30, 2014 1. With the latest release (bug fix 3b1 (694)), should I start using Example 18 files as my starting point? 2. My CF1R is reporting slab edge insulation when I did not model any. Can I fix this? 3. The check box to “Use this EER” sticks in the checked position. How can I get it to shut off when I am specifying a default value? 4. If a building has heating only, is HERS verified fan efficacy required? How do I model the correct requirement? 5.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQs Posted on August 29, 2014 1. Will results change from Version 2c to Version 3? 2. A HERS requirement for return duct design shows up on every job I upload to the HERS provider. How can I get this feature removed? 3. My building will have no cooling. If I enter 0 for the unique number of cooling systems (or the count), my file will not run. How am I supposed to show no cooling? 4. Is there an update with regard to the HERS reporting for “no cooling”? 5.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQs Posted on May 7, 2014 1. When I opened an existing input file, I am getting a message that indicates my file might not run. Is that true? 2. When a new version of software is approved, how soon do I have to use the new version? 3. If I get a plan check correction and need to go back to an earlier version of the software, is there any way for me to retrieve an older version from the CBECC-Res web site? 4. Can I have more than one version of CBECC-Res on my computer? 5.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 2. There are no U‐factors for the opaque assemblies on the CF1R. Why not? 3. In multi‐family, how do I determine the correct number of water heaters to show in my water heating system? 4. Is 1‐coat stucco shown as R‐4 sheathing insulation and 3 coat stucco exterior finish? 5. Water heater efficiencies have changed. What is the correct way to enter the various efficiencies? 6. Can we expect to see a summary of HERS measures on the CF1R? 7.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 5. How do I know I’m using the latest version of CBECC-Res? Open the software on your computer and click on the icon with the yellow “?” icon (or select “Help” and then select “About…”). The version number is at the bottom of that screen. In the example below, the version number is 1e (532). Compare this to the version number shown in the Downloads section on the project website, www.bwilcox.com/bees/bees.html.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 • The Residential Alternative Calculation Method (RACM) Reference Manual, which can be downloaded from www.bwilcox.com/BEES/BEES.html or www.energy.ca.gov/title24/2013standards/implementation/documents/ If you have a question that is not covered by one of these documents or if you think CBECC-Res is not operating correctly, send an email to CBECC-Res Support and we'll answer your question as soon as possible.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 11. Where can I find updates to the CBECC-Res software? Updates to CBECC-Res are posted on the project website: www.bwilcox.com/BEES/BEES.html. If you would like to be notified by email when a new version of the software is available, please visit the CBECC website and submit your e-mail address using the sign up option at the top of the page. 12.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 4. If I have 2 air conditioners and 1 furnace (i.e., an inconsistent number of systems), the program will not run. Should I model 2 systems or 1 system? Enter the smaller of the number of systems. During installation the builder can install more systems than are defined in the input file. 5. My project crashed with a CSE error. The project log file did not contain any information to narrow down the location of the error.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 2. My CF1R is reporting slab edge insulation when I did not model any. Can I fix this? Yes. Check the slab has edge insulation box, set the R-value and depth to none, and then uncheck slab has edge insulation (make sure in the process of doing this it did not switch it to a heated slab). 3. The check box to “Use this EER” sticks in the checked position.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQS POSTED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2014 1. There is still a watermark on my Existing+Addition CF1R, but no HERS measures. What am I doing wrong? The first recommendation is to see if you have modeled AC Charge (refrigerant charge) as “Verified” (even on an existing system or a “no cooling equipment” system this can trigger HERS). If so, change it to “Not Verified” and this should solve the problem. 2.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 We have added a HERS Features Summary to the CF1R (following Required Special Features). This will help you determine why a watermark is appearing on an existing plus addition CF1R. Also note, that on an Addition Alone, which is modeled as New Construction, the watermark will appear because there is not yet a way to identify existing HVAC equipment. For those cases, you will need to continue to use the guidance found in the July 17 FAQ #5. 2.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 Using notepad, create a file that will be saved in the root directory containing CBECC (e.g., c:) named something.bat. The contents of that file will be one line per file variation: "C:\Program Files\CBECC-Res 2013\CBECC-Res13.exe" -pa -nogui "C:\Documents and Settings\name\ My Documents\CBECC-Res 2013 Projects\variableA.ribd" "C:\Program Files\CBECC-Res 2013\CBECC-Res13.exe" -pa -nogui "C:\Documents and Settings\name\My Documents\CBECC-Res 2013 Projects\variableB.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 building meeting the criteria. The requirements for this credit (from Residential Appendix RA3.5 apply to all ceilings/attics, knee walls, exterior walls and exterior floors. FAQS POSTED ON AUGUST 29, 2014 1. Will results change from Version 2c to Version 3? Yes, in some cases.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 6. Can you explain the 2-story ventilation change in more detail? Is this related to whole house fans? Yes, it is related to whole house fans and their benefits in a 2-story home. The principal difference is in the “stack effect,” driven by the opened window area and the height difference between the open windows. In 1-story homes, a 2-foot height difference drives the stack effect of natural ventilation, and in 2-story homes, a 10-foot height difference drives this stack effect.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 apply to existing systems. It is the labels in the fields that contain an overview of the system (HVAC – DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, HVAC - FAN SYSTEMS) that may still reference HERS requirements. The CF1R was recently changed to remove sections that do not apply. If registration is required (for example, duct testing for greater than 40 feet of new duct), no HERS verifications are triggered for the existing HVAC system or IAQ for an addition < 1,000 ft2. 3.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 7. When modeling a mini-split heat pump, the compliance results are not as expected. Am I doing something wrong? No, you are probably not doing anything wrong. The field performance of these systems has not been verified to justify the sometimes significantly more efficient SEER and HSPF ratings they are given by the appliance standards test methods.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 12. Does the compiler support multi-core processor cores or hyper-threading? “CBECC-Res” includes two relevant components for this run-time discussion. CBECC-Res is the user interface and compliance rules processing component, and CSE (California Simulation Engine) is the building energy analysis component.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 Starting with the existing zone (zone status “existing” not “altered”), the status of the HVAC system will be either existing or altered. If the intent is to model a change-out, then the status is altered (not new). For example, if the owners are installing a new tankless water heater for the whole house, that is “altered.” There will be a credit for this feature, which will vary depending on whether the existing condition is verified and on the efficiency of altered system.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 always requires HERS verification of the mandatory indoor air quality requirements and typically has mandatory duct leakage testing. An addition may not require HERS verification if: (A) It is < 1,000 ft2 addition (no IAQ verification), (B) An existing HVAC system with < 40 linear feet of new ducts provides conditioning to the addition (no duct testing), or (C) A new or existing ductless HVAC system provides conditioning to the addition (no duct testing).
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 to check how the file was modified to get it to run. You might need to redefine one or more components. 2. When a new version of software is approved, how soon do I have to use the new version? It will vary from two to six months and this date will be displayed on the appropriate web sites. In the early stages of software development, when new versions are released more frequently due to errors and bug fixes, this time limit may be quite short.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 Yes. However, as of this writing, if you have a garage, you will need to model the garage with a cathedral ceiling as well. No insulation in the garage ceiling is required. 9. What are the options for the sources of U-factor and SHGCs allowed by the standards? Specifically, what is ADFP? The three valid sources are NFRC, default, or ADFP, which stands for Alternate Default Fenestration Procedure.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 The value is the number of stories in the zone. If the building is one zone for a two-story building, then the value is 2. If you have divided the building into one zone per floor, then the value is 1 and the software determines the number of stories in the building when you correctly identify the “bottom” or floor elevation as, for example, 10.7 for a slab on grade building with first floor ceiling heights of 9 feet (see User Manual, Section 5.4.1.7, p. 5-7). 3.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 Alternatively, start with a new file, choose the appropriate climate zone and proceed. Once a file is saved, all fields will become user-defined (red text). 3. Did it get easier to get electric water heating to comply? If so, why? If natural gas is not available, it is easier to show compliance with electric water heating. A comparison of propane and electricity costs showed electricity was more cost effective than propane. 4.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 3. Will we be able to model other shading devices soon? Not any time soon. ASHRAE Window Attachment (used in CBECC-Res) does not use SHGCs and only has bug screens. At some future time when rules and programming can be developed, the ability to model advanced systems such as operable exterior shades may be added. 4. Do I really need 6 surfaces in every zone? Yes. You can add interior surfaces if necessary.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 4. Is the file needed for uploading a project to HERS generated any time I run an input file? If not, what do I need to do so that I do not have to re-run a job to get this file? No, the file is not always generated. Once you are ready to move forward with a job (send a draft of the CF1R to the client, for example), you should check the two boxes shown below for the PDF and Full (XML) under the Analysis tab.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 Enter the values as they appear in the directory. Energy Factor is 0.60, Recovery Efficiency, Thermal Efficiency, and Standby Loss are entered as %s, meaning 80.0 Recovery Efficiency, 1.31% standby loss. 6. Can we expect to see a summary of HERS measures on the CF1R? In an attempt to keep the CF1R as brief as possible, since the HERS provider will summarize the measures when a project is uploaded, a summary on the CF1R will not be added.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQS POSTED ON OCTOBER 11, 2013 1. How do I use the field Window Type? There are two new 1‐story sample files that use this field. It works consistently only when creating new windows. Here’s an example of how to use this feature. Add windows to the library with limited features such as U‐factor and SHGC. For example, glass block, or typical efficiencies for the brand of windows to be used on the project for single hung, picture windows, sliding glass doors, etc.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 FAQS POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 1. Where are my input files? They are in a folder similar to this (set up during installation): C:\My documents\CBECC‐Res2013 Projects\ 2. Are we supposed to model unconditioned garages? You do not have to model unconditioned garages, but you will likely find it beneficial and a more accurate representation of the building. No energy requirements apply to the garage.
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 No. You can model each dwelling unit as a zone, or the simplest approach is to model each floor as a zone. Each zone needs to have a separately defined HVAC system. In MFExample12, the first floor zone consists of 4 dwelling units and is assigned HVAC System 1 and DHW System 1: HVAC Even if the equipment is identical, each zone must have a separately defined HVAC system. NOTE: if they are identical, once all the details of the system are defined, use the copy and paste functions.
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FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 HEAT PUMPS If the systems are heat pumps first define the individual heat pump, including the capacity at 47 and 17 (from AHRI).
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 If the units have different capacities, change the # of unique heat pump types to whatever # is correct, e.g., 2 and select the tab Heat Pump Equipment and enter the information on the screen that looks like MORE MULTI‐FAMILY MODELING HINTS Second Floor Zone Information The HVAC system for the second floor zone is called HVAC System 2 and uses the same DHW System 1 (see below for DHW details).
FAQ for CBECC-Res 2013 DHW The DHW “system” consists of 8 individual water heaters: If it had central water heating, the field labeled “Distribution Type” is from the equipment to the dwelling unit and the field labeled “Multi‐Family Hot Water Distribution Type” is for the distribution inside the dwelling unit. Number of Stories The number of stories in the zone – so it will almost always be 1 in a multi‐family building.
