Staff
Analysis for Declaratory Statement Request
DS2016-033
May 5, 2016
Issue: Petitioner
seeks a Declaratory Statement on interpretation Florida Building Code – Energy
Conservation 5th Edition (2014), Section C405.7.1. Specifically, requesting a clarification of
whether the Section C405.7.1 would require conformance with ASHRAE 90.1, 8.3.2,
Automatic Receptacle Control.
Question: Does
the Florida Building Code- Energy Conservation 2014, Section C405.7.1 require
conformance with the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1, 8.4.2, Automatic Receptacle
Control?
Background:
The
Petitioner, Alfonso Fernandez-Fraga, P.E., President of Initial Engineers,
would like clarification on the intent of the Florida Building Code, Energy
Conservation as relates to ASHRAE 90.1.
As per Florida Building Code – Energy Conservation 2014, Section.
Section C405.7.1 Applicability states “This section applies to all building
power distribution systems. The provisions for electrical distribution for all
sections of this code are subject to the design conditions in ASHRAE Standard
90.1.”
The
petitioner has multiple commercial office projects under design at this time,
which are affected by the referenced section. The projects are law offices in
high-rise office buildings.
Additional
Comments as provided by the petitioner:
1) ASHRAE
90.1, 8.4.2 reads,
"At
least 50% of all 125 volt 15- and 20-Ampere receptacles, including those
installed in modular partitions, installed in the following space types:
a.
Private offices
b.
Open offices
c.
Computer Classrooms
shall
be controlled by an automatic control device that shall function on:
a.
a scheduled basis using a time-of-day operated control device that turns
receptacles off at specific programmed times - an independent program schedule
shall be provided for areas of no more than 25,000 sf but no more than one floor, or
b.
an occupant sensor that shall turn receptacles off within 30 minutes of all
occupants leaving a space, or
c.
a signal from another control or alarm system that indicates the area is
unoccupied.
Exception: Receptacles for the following shall not
require an automatic control device:
a.
Receptacles specifically designated for equipment requiring 24 hour operation.
b.
Spaces where an automatic shutoff would endanger the safety or security of the
room or building occupant(s)."
2) FBC-
Energy Conservation 2014, C405.7.1 states,
"Electrical
Power (Mandatory).
C405.7.1
Applicability. This section applies to all building power distribution systems.
The provisions for electrical distribution for all sections of this code are
subject to the design conditions in ASHRAE Standard 90.1 ."
3) ASHRAE
Standard 90.1 defines design conditions as, "specified environmental
conditions, such as temperature and light intensity, required to be produced
and maintained by a system and under which a system must operate."
4) I
could not find another reference to "design conditions" in ASHRAE
90.1, but when defining HVAC design requirements it states, "...design
loads for the purpose of sizing systems and equipment shall be determined in
accordance with generally accepted engineering standards and handbooks
acceptable to the adopting authority (for example, ASHRAE Handbook- Fundamentals). "
5)
Neither Item 3 nor Item 4 above, appear to be related to a requirement for
switching outlets.
6) We
will not speculate as to the intent behind the verbiage except to say that
"...subject to the design conditions in ASHRAE ..." should not be
interpreted to mean, "...subject to all mandatory
provisions
in ASHRAE ..."
-----
REFERENCES:
5th Edition (2014) Florida
Building Code, Energy Conservation,
Chapter 4[CE]
C405.7 Electrical power (Mandatory).
C405.7.1 Applicability.
This section applies to all building power distribution systems. The provisions for electrical
distribution for all sections of this code are subject to the design conditions
in ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
C405.7.2 Electrical metering.
In buildings having individual dwelling units, provisions shall be made to
determine the electrical energy consumed by each tenant by separately metering
individual dwelling units.
---
ASHRAE 90.1 - 2010
Section 8.4 Mandatory Provisions
8.4.2 – Automatic Receptacle Control.
At least 50% of all 125 volt 15- and 20-Ampere receptacles, including
those installed in modular partitions, installed in the following space types:
a. Private offices
b. Open offices
c. Computer Classrooms
shall be controlled by an automatic control device that shall function
on:
a. a scheduled basis using a time-of-day operated control device that
turns receptacles off at specific programmed times - an independent program
schedule shall be provided for areas of no more than 25,000 sf but no more than
one floor, or
b. an occupant sensor that shall turn receptacles off within 30 minutes
of all occupants leaving a space, or
c. a signal from another control or alarm system that indicates the area
is unoccupied.
Exceptions: Receptacles for the following shall not require an automatic control
device:
a. Receptacles
specifically designated for equipment required 24 hour operation.
b. Spaces where an
automatic shutoff would endanger the safety or security of the room or building
occupant(s).
---
ASHRAE 90.1 Definitions - 2010
Section 3. Definitions, Abbreviations, and
Acronyms.
3.2 Definitions
design conditions:
specified environmental conditions, such as temperature and light intensity,
required to be produced and maintained by a system and under which the system
must operate.
---
ASHRAE 90.1-2010 – User’s Manual
8.4 Mandatory Provisions (8.4)
All requirements in
Section 8 are mandatory and must always be met, even when the Energy Cost
Budget method of compliance is used.
Automatic
Receptacle Control (8.4.2)
The Standard
requires that 50% of all 125 volt 15- and 20-Ampere receptacle outlets in
private offices, pen offices and computer classrooms be automatically switched
off when the space in which they are located is not occupied. Typically, half
of each duplex outlet would be switched and the other half would be powered
continuously, but other configurations are allowed such as every other duplex
outlet being switched. Other configurations are also acceptable.
The switched
outlets may be controlled by a programmable time clock similar to the
technology used for lighting control (see 9.4.1.1). This technology is expected
to be the most common means of compliance. The switched outlets may also be
controlled by an occupant sensor located in the space or another control or
alarm system that indicates if the area is occupied.
The Standard does
not require that outlets be explicitly labeled, since information about which
receptacle outlets are switched and which are not can be communicated in many
ways. However, labeling is certainly a reasonable and practical option.
The Standard has
exceptions for spaces where this requirement does not make sense. These include
spaces where the receptacles are specifically designated for equipment that
requires 24 hour operation and where automatic shutoff would endanger the
safety of security of the room or occupants.
-----
Staff analysis:
Question:
Does the Florida Building Code- Energy Conservation 2014, Section
C405.7.1 require conformance with the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1, 8.4.2,
Automatic Receptacle Control?
Answer:
Option #1/Petitioner: No, “..subject to the design conditions in ASHRAE…” should not be interpreted to mean, “…subject to all mandatory provisions in ASHRAE..”
Option #2/Staff: Yes, as per Section C405.7.1 of the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, power distribution systems of the buildings in questions are subject to the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1 – 2010 including the “Mandatory Provisions” of Section 8.4 of the said standard.