DPD News
2006 Seattle Energy Code Training
2006 Seattle Energy Code Training

In April, Seattle staff will be presenting four different training sessions on the 2006 Seattle Energy Code requirements. Compliance with the 2006 code is mandatory for any permit application submitted on January 9, 2008 or later.

Customer Alert::

  • Seattle Energy Code provides energy savings that exceed ASHRAE 90.1-2004 by 20 percent.
  • The 2006 codes took effect on November 10, 2007 and were mandatory January 9, 2008.
  • Purchase hard copies at DPD or view online at www.seattle.gov/DPD/energy.

Public Training Dates:

  • April 08: Lighting, Transformers & Motors
  • April 15: Mechanical Systems & Commissioning Requirements
  • April 22: Building Envelope Design
  • April 29: Recap of Entire Nonresidential Energy Code

All trainings will be conducted on Tuesday afternoons, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Trainings will be held at the Lighting Design Lab, 400 E. Pine St,. Ste 100, Seattle.

The Lighting Design Lab is on the corner of Bellevue Avenue and East Pine Street.
The Lab strongly recommends public transportation or carpooling. Parking on Capitol Hill is extremely limited. Metro bus numbers 7, 10, 11, 14, 43 and 49 all stop within two blocks of the Lab. Metro schedule details can be found at http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov.

Driving directions:

Northbound I-5: exit Olive Way and turn right on Bellevue

Southbound I-5: exit Stewart St. and follow the left lane onto Denny Way. Go up the hill, over the freeway and turn right onto Bellevue.

The Lighting Design Lab can accommodate 60 attendees for each date. Register early. Please include your dates, name, company, telephone, email address and how you heard about the program. (See right for contact information.)

Highlights:

The 2006 Seattle Energy Code consists of the 2006 Washington State Energy Code plus Seattle amendments.

New Seattle amendments have been adopted. Here are a few:

  • 1001.5: Add table of default R-values for commonly used building materials.
  • 1005.1: Provide individual table numbering, expand default options for peripheral edges of intermediate concrete floors, and add table of default U-factors for metal building walls.
  • 1007.1: Provide individual table numbering, add table of default U-factors for metal building roofs, and add table with default U-factors for roofs with insulation entirely above deck.
  • 1132.2: Clarify application to computer room equipment in mechanical system alterations, air-handling units located outdoors, and chiller efficiency improvements.
  • 1314: Modify per ASHRAE Std 90.1 to better address air leakage for windows, vestibules and loading docks.
  • Table 13-1: Increase insulation levels and improve glazing heating and cooling performance.
  • 1411.1: Modify exception so that chillers designed for non-standard conditions must show compliance with the nearest value in table; and address equipment not rated.
  • 1412.4.1: Revise to limit exceptions for non-motorized dampers per ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
  • 1413.1: Clarify when waterside economizer is allowed to be used.
  • 1420-1423: Delete simple systems section to create consistent requirements for all system types.
  • 1431.2: Provide prescriptive sizing option in exception 4.
  • 1433: Revise exemptions to lower threshold to 33,000 Btuh, lower total capacity of all units without economizers, and add clarifying note; revise to only exempt open refrigerator cases.
  • 1436.1: Set multiple thresholds for heat recovery systems.
  • 1438: Revise to require variable speed drive for all fans and pumps of 7.5 hp and larger.
  • Tables 14-1C and 14-1K, 14-1L, and 14-1M: Increase minimum efficiencies for chillers and corresponding changes to Tables14-1K, 14-1L, and 14-1M.
  • 1512.2: Clarify application to furniture-mounted task lighting.
  • 1532 and Table 15-2: Not adopted in Seattle.
  • Table 15-1: Reduces lighting power allowances to 0.95 W/ft2 for office and to 2.7 W/ft2 (1.5 + 1.2) for retail spaces over 3,000 ft2, insert “ceramic metal halide and other” HID.

Washington State Building Code Council made amendments to the 2006 Washington state codes including the Washington State Energy Code. Key state energy code changes include:

  • 502.4.4, 1314.4: Requires leakage testing for recessed lighting.
  • 503.2.2: Limit of 150% for residential equipment sizing (previously 200%).
  • Tables 6-1 and 6-2: Changes include U-0.35 windows for single-family.
  • 505.3: Exterior lighting for residential buildings must be either high-efficacy (i.e. no incandescents) OR controlled by a motion sensor.
  • Tables 5-1 and 6-1: Wall U-factors for residential buildings revised to be U-0.057 for consistency with Chapter 10 and to eliminate the different wall U-factors for space heating system type.
  • 1411: Incorporation of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and national Energy Policy Act (EPAct) requirements for increased efficiencies for mechanical equipment, exit lights, and transformers.
  • 1530 and Table 15-1: Significant restructuring of the interior lighting power allowance table.
  • 1532 and Table 15-2: Complete revision of the exterior lighting power allowance (not adopted in Seattle).