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2016 ASHRAE 90.1

Summary of Important Changes

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Overview

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016, Energy Efficiency Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings,

incorporates more than 120 updates to the 2013 version of the standard. During its development, BOMA International’s codes

team worked to ensure the interests and concerns of the commercial real estate industry were heard and that the updates

would maximize energy efficiency without excessively increasing cost. The new edition is estimated to provide an 8.3 percent

increase in energy savings over the 2013 edition (PNNL modeling results).

To help commercial building owners and managers better understand the changes that were made, BOMA International has

compiled the following list of critical changes and their cost implications. Changes are organized by section number in the

standard. Some significant changes include:

• Building Thermal Envelope: Though very few modifications were made to the building thermal envelope, the insulation

requirements for metal buildings, doors and windows have been increased.

• Mechanical Systems: Major changes to mechanical system requirements include more stringent efficiency

requirements for energy recovery systems. Although not yet mandated, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) efficiency

and rating requirements are now included if such a system is used, and there is a new metering requirement for chilled

water plants.

• Power and Lighting: With the significant reduction in cost and increased usage of LED lighting, both exterior and interior

lighting allowances have been reduced to reflect the lower power consumption of LEDs. New control requirements were

added for emergency lighting and parking lot occupancy sensors. Hotel/motel guest room controls were expanded, and

the standard now regulates lighting in dwelling units within commercial buildings.

• Alternate Compliance Path: Appendix G, previously only used to rate LEED buildings, is now able to be used as a stand-

alone compliance path, offering more options to designers.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that the summary overviews all changes within the body of the standard,

developers and designers need to consult the 2016 edition of ASHRAE 90.1 to determine how changes may impact a specific

project.

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Section(s) and

Issue(s)

Type of

Change

Cost

Implication

Comments

Table 3.2, Heated

Space Criteria

Revision Increase The heating output threshold (in BTU/h-ft2) has been reduced in all

climate zones except for CZs 1 & 2. Criteria for CZ 0 has been added,

areas of which previously fell into CZ 1.

CZ 2013 2016

0 n/a 5

1 5

2 5

3A; 3B 10 9

3C 10 7

4A; 4B 15 10

4C 15 8

5 15 12

6 20 14

7 20 16

8 25 19

4.2.4 Inspections Revision Unknown The list of items for inspection have been deleted. Inspection

procedures are now to be specified by the Building Official.

4.2.5 Verification and

Commissioning

Reporting

4.2.5.1

Nonconformance

New Sections Increase The new section specifies reporting requirements for conformance and

nonconformance inspection findings to the building official and outlines

the documentation requirements through correction.

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5.1.2.3, Space

Conditioning

Categories

(Exception)

Revision Increase Approval is required from the Building Official in all CZs for a space to

be designated as semiheated or unconditioned. Previously, Climate

Zones 1 & 2 did not require approval.

5.1.4.1, Climate -

United States

Locations

5.1.4.2, Climate -

International

Locations

Revision None The Code User is referred to ASHRAE Standard 169 to determine

climate zones. U.S., Canada and international climate zone tables from

Standard 169 have been reproduced in Annex 1.

Section 5.2.1

Compliance

New Section Increase Section 5.9, Inspection and Verification, is now mandatory.

5.4.3.1.3, Testing,

Acceptable Materials,

and Assemblies

New Section None A whole building pressurization test (0.40 cfm/ft2) has been added as

an alternative compliance option to the material and assembly air

barrier specifications. Exceptions permit buildings over 50,000 ft2 to

take representative sections for testing. Another exception permits the

use of a diagnostic evaluation (e.g., smoke tracing or IR imaging) if the

leakage rate exceeds 0.40 but not 0.60 cfm/ft2.

5.4.3.1.3 Testing,

Acceptable Materials,

and Assemblies

Revision Decrease Single-ply roof membrane no longer has to be fully adhered to be

deemed an air barrier.

5.4.3.2 Fenestration

and Doors

Revision Increase Glazed power-operated sliding and folding entrance doors have been

included in the air leakage requirements for glazed swinging entrance

doors (1.0 cfm/ft2).

Exception to 5.4.3.2 Revision Increase Metal coiling doors in semiheated spaces in CZs 6 and under are no

longer fully exempt from the air leakage requirements. The new

minimum threshold set is 1.0 cfm/ft2.

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Table 5.5-0 Building

Envelope

Requirements for

Climate Zone 0 (A,B)*

New Increase The insulation requirements in new Climate Zone 0 have been set at a

level higher than what had been permitted for buildings in these

locations when they fell into Climate Zone 1.

Tables 5.5-1 through

8, Building Envelope

Requirements for

Climate Zones 1 – 8

Revision Increase The insulation requirements were made more stringent for metal

building roofs and walls, fenestration and opaque doors.

5.5.3.6 Opaque Doors

(Exceptions)

New Exceptions Decrease Nonswinging, horizontally hinged sectional doors with a single row of

fenestration (between 14% and 25% of total door area) are permitted

an increased u-factor.

5.5.4.1 General

(Fenestration)

New Exception

#2

Decrease Clarifies how area-weight averaging of vertical fenestration U-factor,

SHGC, VT/SHGC, or LSG are permitted.

5.5.4.4.1 SHGC of

Vertical Fenestration

Table 5.5.4.4.1 SHGC

Multipliers for

Permanent Projections

Revision to

Exceptions

Increase Exceptions to the SHGC requirements where permanent shading

devices are used have been rewritten (Exceptions 1 & 2). Table

5.5.4.4.1 no longer includes a column for multipliers for North-facing

fenestration.

Exception 5 no longer permits north-oriented fenestration to have a

SHGC 0.05 greater than that specified in Tables 5.5.1 – 5.5.8. The

exception now permits north-oriented fenestration to have an SHGC

equal to or less than the area-weighted average SHGC of fenestration in

the S, E and W orientations before reductions are made for the

permanent projections in exceptions 1 & 2.

5.5.4.5 Fenestration

Orientation

New equation

for CZs 4-8

Deleted

Exception

Increase When SHGCs are factored into the fenestration orientation (Option B),

the fenestration area on the E and W facades in CZs 4-8 are further

limited.

Deleted Exception 2, which exempts buildings from the vertical

fenestration orientation requirements where there is existing

permanent infrastructure to the south.

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5.8.2.3 U-Factor

(Fenestration & Door

Products)

Clarification

Minor

None Exception 4, which permits labeling in accordance with

ANSI/DASMA105, clarifies “garage doors” as “sectional garage doors

and metal coiling doors.”

5.9 Inspection and

Verification

New Sections Increase New Section 5.9.1, Inspections, specifies components to be inspected,

including fenestration & doors, loading dock weatherseals, and the

opaque building envelope.

New subsection 5.9.2.2, Air Leakage Verification, specifies periodic

inspection and reporting requirements or the option of a whole-building

air leakage test.

6.3.2 Criteria

(Simplified Approach

Option for HVAC

Systems)

Revision Increase Criteria d has added Section 6.4.3.12, Economizer Fault Detection and

Diagnostics, as mandatory requirement for air economizers.

New Criteria k was added, which requires systems serving hotel/motel

guest rooms to comply with new Section 6.4.3.3.5, Automatic Control of

HVAC in Hotel/Motel Guest Rooms.

Criteria r has added the ventilation design requirements of Section

6.5.3.7.

6.4.1.2.1 Water-

Cooled Centrifugal

Chilling Packages

Revision None Design conditions were modified based on AHRI Standard 550/590

test conditions.

When 550/590 test conditions are not the basis of design, a maximum

evaporating leaving temperature of 60 °F is specified for the given

equations to be applicable.

Example (Section

6.4.1.2.1)

Correction/

Clarification

None Calculations were modified slightly for clarification and to correct

significant digits.

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6.4.3.3.5 Automatic

Control of HVAC in

Hotel/Motel

Guest Rooms

New Section Increase New section and subsections specifying the automatic controls for

HVAC equipment required in hotels and motels with greater than 50

guest rooms. Requirements include temperature setbacks and the

discontinuation of outdoor air ventilation during unoccupied periods.

Captive key card systems may be used to comply (subsection

6.4.3.3.5.2).

6.4.3.9 Heated or

Cooled Heating in

Vestibules

Revision

New Exception

None The section now limits cooling in vestibules to a minimum of 85 °F. The

existing exception is still valid for vestibules tempered with transfer air,

and an exemption for systems where the heating or cooling is provided

by site-recovered energy have been added.

6.4.3.11 Chilled-Water

Plant Monitoring

New Section Increase New electric-motor-driven chilled-water plants greater than specified

thresholds are required to have a monitoring system to measure the

energy use and efficiency, have a graphically displayed recording and

reporting system and include economizer fault detection & diagnostics

(where an economizer is provided).

Size Thresholds

1000 tons (1500 tons in CZs 3C, 4C, & 5-8) for water-cooled

plants

570 tons (860 tons in CZs 3C, 4C, & 5-8) for water-cooled plants

6.5.1 Economizers Revision Decrease The section now applies to all cooling systems regardless of whether or

not they have a fan. A new exception (#2) has been added to exempt

chilled water cooling systems without a fan that use induced airflow

with total system capacities less than certain thresholds (1MM Btu/h in

CZ 0-4 & 1.4MM Btu/h in CZs 5-8). Systems in CZ 1A are fully exempt

regardless of size.

Table 6.5.1-1

Minimum Fan-Cooling

Unit Size for which an

Economizer Is

Required

Revision Increase Table 6.5.1-1 was previously only for comfort cooling but now applies to

cooling for computer rooms, too.

Previous Table 6.5.1-2, which specified the size threshold for fan-

cooling units serving computer rooms that required economizers, was

deleted. CZs 2a, 3a and 4a had previously been exempt from

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economizer requirements, and the threshold for other CZs were greater

than what is now permitted by Table 6.5.1.1, under which they are now

governed.

6.5.2.1 Zone Controls

(for Simultaneous

Heating and Cooling

Limitations)

New

Equipment

Covered in

Exception

Decrease An exception for systems with DDC has been added where the volume

of air that is reheated, recooled or mixed is less than 20% of the zone

design peak supply. (Other systems remain at 30%.)

6.5.2.6 Ventilation Air

Heating Control

New Section Increase New requirement for units that provide ventilation air to multiple zones

and operate in conjunction with zone heating and cooling systems

stating that they may not use heating or heat recovery to warm supply

air above 60°F when representative building loads or outdoor air

temperature indicate that the majority of zones require cooling.

6.5.3.1.2 Motor

Nameplate

Horsepower

New Exception Decrease New exception #4 to the maximum selected fan motor size is for fans

with a motor nameplate horsepower of less than 1.

Table 6.5.3.1-2 Fan

Power Limitation

Pressure Drop

Adjustment

Revision None The first line, which provides the drop adjustment for fully ducted return

and/or exhaust air, is now only applicable when the exhaust systems

are required by code to be fully ducted. Systems required to maintain

air pressure differentials between adjacent rooms are also provided

with the same adjustment credit.

6.5.3.2.3 VAV Set-

Point Reset

Revision Decrease Clarification was added that this requirement is for multiple-zone VAV

systems. The requirements now only apply to systems with a total fan

system motor nameplate rating exceeding 5 hp.

6.5.3.2.4 Return and

Relief Fan Control

New Section Increase New section adds control requirements for the relief of excess air when

it is required by Section 6.5.1.1.5 during air economizer operation.

Exceptions exist for fans ≤ 0.5 hp and for staged relief fans.

6.5.3.4 Parallel-Flow

Fan-Powered VAV Air

Terminal Control

New Section Increase The new section adds new automatic control requirements for parallel-

flow fan-powered VAV air terminals.

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6.5.3.7 Ventilation

Design

New Section Increase The new section provides two options to limit the design minimum

system outdoor air (design or with dampers) or requires exhaust air

energy recovery.

6.5.4.2 Hydronic

Variable Flow Systems

Table 6.5.4.2 Pump

Flow Control

Requirements

Revision

New Table

6.5.4.2

Increase ▪ The nomenclature was changed from “HVAC pumping systems” to

“chilled- and hot-water distribution systems”

▪ The threshold for applicability is no longer a pump system power

exceeding 10 hp

▪ The exception for systems with fewer than three control valves was

moved into the main paragraph.

▪ Variable fluid flow must be capable of reducing flowrates to 25% or

less of the design flowrate or minimum required (previously 50%).

▪ Refers the user to new Table 6.5.4.2 for the motor nameplate hp

rating threshold by climate zone that require controls that will result

in pump motor demand of no more than 30% of design wattage at

50% of design water flow.

▪ The two existing exceptions were moved into the main paragraph,

and five new exceptions were added for a number of specific

systems.

6.5.4.4, Chilled- and

Hot-Water

Temperature Reset

Controls

Revision

New Exceptions

Deleted

Exceptions

Increase ▪ Separate setpoint resets are specified for DDC control valves.

▪ Three new exceptions were added for thermal energy storage

systems, process equipment, and for boiler turn-down.

▪ The existing two exceptions for hydronic systems and infeasibility

were deleted.

6.5.4.7, Chilled-Water

Coil Selection

New Section Increase The new section requires chilled-water cooling coils to provide a 15 °F

or higher temperature difference between leaving and entering water

temperatures and a minimum of 57 °F leaving water temperature at

design conditions. Seven exceptions exist for specific equipment.

6.5.5.2, Fan Speed

Control

Revision Increase ▪ The section has been clarified that it applies to fans on heat-

rejection devices.

▪ The threshold of applicability was lowered from 7.5 hp to 5 hp.

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▪ Control requirements were changed from requiring the fan speed to

be lowered by 33% to a specified power demand (30% of design

wattage) at 50% airflow.

▪ CZs 1 & 2 are no longer exempt.

Table 6.5.6.1-1

Exhaust Air Energy

Recovery

Requirements

for Ventilation

Systems Operating

Less than 8000 Hours

per Year

Table 6.5.6.1-2

Exhaust Air Energy

Recovery

Requirements

for Ventilation

Systems Operating

Greater than or Equal

to 8000 Hours per

Year

Revision Decrease Design supply airflow rates have been increased for a number of

climate zones and percent-outdoor-air combinations. This permits

smaller exhaust systems to be designed and installed without energy

recovery.

6.5.7.1 Transfer Air Revision Increase ▪ The section scope has been expanded from kitchen hood makeup

air to cover any makeup air. The list of maximum air supply that is

permitted has been slightly modified by referring to external sources.

Available transfer air is now calculated from conditioned space

within 15 feet as opposed to “adjacent spaces.”

▪ Four exceptions were added for laboratories, vivariums, spaces

required to maintain positive pressure, and for spaces with a

required negative pressure relationship.

Table 6.6.1 Power

Usage Effectiveness

(PUE) Maximum

Revision Decrease Maximum PUEs for CZs 0A & 0B have been added to the table. They

are slightly higher than those permitted by CZs 1A & 1B.

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Tables 6.8.1-1 through

6.8.1-13

(Mechanical Efficiency

Requirements)

Revision

minor

None Efficiencies for obsolete effective dates have been removed.

Footnotes that previously referred to NAECA now refer to 10 CFR 430.

An informative note directs the code user to Appendix F for federal

minimum efficiencies of single-phase air conditioners.

Table 6.8.1-14,

“Vapor-Compression-

Based Indoor Pool

Dehumidifiers—

Minimum Efficiency

Requirements”

Table 6.8.1-15,

“Electrically Operated

DX-DOAS Units, Single-

Package and Remote

Condenser, without

Energy Recovery—

Minimum Efficiency

Requirements”

Table 6.8.1-16,

“Electrically Operated

DX-DOAS Units, Single-

Package and Remote

Condenser, with

Energy Recovery—

Minimum

Efficiency

Requirements”

New Tables Increase New efficiency tables have been added for indoor pool dehumidifiers

and dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units.

7.4.3, Service Hot-

Water Piping

Insulation

Revision Increase New requirement (c) requires the first 8 ft of branch piping connecting

to recirculated, heat-traced, or impedance heated piping to be

insulated.

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Table 7.8,

Performance

Requirements for

Water-Heating

Equipment—Minimum

Efficiency

Requirements

Modifications None Performance requirements in the table that contain Energy Factors (EF)

have been deleted and instead refer the Code User to footnote (g),

which refers to 10 CFR 430.

8.4.1, Voltage Drop Revision Increase Feeder conductors and branch circuits combined now must be sized for

a 5% voltage drop total as opposed to a 2% and 3% drop, respectively.

Circuits dedicated to emergency services are no longer exempt.

8.4.3.2 Recording and

Reporting

Revision None Requires collected data to be transmitted to DDC controls, including

graphical display, in buildings with DDC controls (Section 6.4.3.10)

Table 8.4.4 Minimum

Nominal Efficiency

Levels for Low-Voltage

Dry-Type Distribution

Transformers

Revision Increase Minimum efficiencies for three-phase transformers have increased.

9.1.1, Scope (Lighting) Revision Decrease

Increase

▪ The scope of the chapter now only includes exterior lighting that is

powered through the building’s electrical service.

▪ Lighting within dwelling units is no longer exempt.

9.1.2, Lighting

Alterations

Revision Decrease Wording was modified for clarity to refer the Code User to specific

sections that are applicable to alterations. The exception was modified

to allow up to 20% of the lighting load (previously 10%) to undergo an

alteration before triggering code requirements. Two new exceptions

were added for maintenance/repair due to the deletion of the

exemptions from the main paragraph.

9.1.5 Climate New Section None Added for congruency with other sections—simply refers the Code User

to Section 5.1.4 to determine the Climate Zone.

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Exception to 9.4.1.1(c)

(Interior Lighting

Controls)

New Exemption None Lighting in open-plan office spaces are permitted to turn on

automatically to more than 50% if controlled in zones no greater than

600 ft2. This permits the effective use of occupancy sensors.

9.4.1.1(e) (Interior

Lighting Controls)

Revision None Calibration adjustment for automatic sidelight daylight controls are no

longer required to be readily accessible but must be located within 11

ft. above the finished floor level and may not require the physical

presence of a person at the sensor.

9.4.1.1(e) & (f)

(Interior Lighting

Controls)

Revision None Calibration adjustment for automatic toplight and sidelight daylight

controls may not require the physical presence of a person at the

sensor.

Exception to 9.4.1.1(f)

(Interior Lighting

Controls)

Revision None Exception 2 to the required automatic controls under toplight daylight

zones is now dependent on a maximum effective aperture as opposed

to a maximum visual transmittance.

Exceptions to

9.4.1.1(g) and (i)

(Interior Lighting

Controls)

New Exceptions

#4 (in each

section)

None Lighting loads (in W) up to 2% of the gross area building area (in ft2) are

exempt from the automatic off (g) and scheduled off (i) requirements.

This permits emergency egress lighting to remain lit.

9.4.1.1(h) & (i)

(Interior Lighting

Controls)

Revision Increase Lighting connected to emergency circuits has been explicitly called out

as applicable to automatic full off (h) and scheduled shutoff (i) controls.

9.4.1.2, Parking

Garage Lighting

Control

Revision

Deleted

Exception

Increase ▪ The exception for daylight transition zones and ramps without

parking from the parking garage lighting control requirements has

been deleted.

▪ Requirement (d) for garage perimeter lighting controlled by

photosensors now specifies a minimum of 50% reduction in power

in response to daylight.

9.4.1.4, Exterior

Lighting Control

Modified Increase ▪ Requirement (c), which applies to lighting other than grounds and

façade lighting, including signage, must have controls that can

reduce lighting power by 50% (previously 30%).

▪ New requirement (d) was added to require motion sensors that

reduce parking lot lighting by 50% after 15 minutes of no activity.

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The requirement is applicable to lighting greater than 78 W with a

mounting height ≤ 24 ft.

9.4.2, Exterior

Building Lighting

Power

New Exemption Decrease Exemption (1)(e) has been expanded to include public art displays as

exempt from the exterior lighting power requirements when equipped

with an independent control.

Table 9.4.2-2,

Individual Lighting

Power Allowances for

Building Exteriors

Revision Increase ▪ Lighting power allowances have been reduced throughout the table.

Lighting power allowances for main entries and other doors have

been combined as “pedestrian and vehicular entrances and exits.”

▪ The table now states “uncovered” entrances and loading areas to

make it clear that if they were covered, they would be within the

scope of the interior lighting requirements.

9.4.4, Dwelling Units New Section

with exemption

Increase New section requires at least 75% of lights within dwelling units to be

high-efficacy unless they are controlled with dimmers or automatic

controls.

9.6.2, Additional

Interior Lighting Power

Revision Increase ▪ The permitted increase in LPD for decorative lighting or lighting that

highlights art has been reduced from 1 W/ft2 to 0.75 W/ft2.

▪ The additional interior lighting power allowance for retail areas has

also been reduced by about 33%. The 1000 W base allowance has

not been reduced.

Tables 9.5.1 & 9.6.1,

Lighting Power Density

Allowances

Revision Increase Lighting power density allowances have been reduced by about 10% for

nearly all building area and space types

10.4.1, Electric Motors Revision None The section was modified to no longer refer to the Energy Independence

and Security Act of 2007 but instead to NEMA Design motors. Five

exceptions to the section’s requirements have been added for:

1. Air-over electric motors.

2. Component sets of an electric motor.

3. Liquid-cooled electric motors.

4. Submersible electric motors.

5. Inverter-only electric motors.

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10.4.3.4, Design

Documents

New Section None The new section requires design documents to list the usage category

and energy efficiency class of elevators.

Normative Appendix A,

Rated R-Value of

Insulation and

Assembly U-Factor, C-

Factor, and F-Factor

Determinations

Revised None Appendix A provides pre-calculated heat transfer values for materials

and also provides methods for calculating those values. Major

modifications to the appendix include the following:

▪ Values for Section A3.2.2 were expanded for single-layer and

double-layer insulation in metal walls.

▪ Unlabeled insulated double-layer metal coiling doors were given a U-

factor of 1.00 in Section A7.1.

▪ For Metal Building U-Factor Equations, new section A9.4.6.3, Single-

Layer in Cavity and Double-Layer Walls, was added.

Appendix B, Building

Envelope Climate

Criteria

Deleted n/a Appendix B was deleted, however Annex 1 was added – Reference

Standard Reproduction Annex from ASHRAE 169.

Appendix C,

Methodology for

Building Envelope

Trade-Off Option in

Section 5.6

Revised None Appendix C provides simulation requirements when using the Building

Envelope Tradeoff Option in Section 5.6. Modifications to the appendix

include:

▪ Section C3.5.5.3, Air Leakage, was modified for clarity

▪ Required HVAC characteristics for electrically-provided cooling with

constant COP (b) and fans (f) have been modified (Section C3.5.8)

Appendix D

“Climatic Data”

Deleted n/a Appendix D was deleted, however Annex 1 was added – Reference

Standard Reproduction Annex from ASHRAE 169.

Informative Appendix

F, U.S. Department of

Energy Minimum

Energy Efficiency

Requirements

New Appendix None This new appendix provides the federal efficiency standards for

residential products, which are found in the U.S. Code of Federal

Regulations, 10 CFR Part 430 Subpart C, Section 430.32.

Normative Appendix

G, Performance Rating

Method

Revision None Appendix G now can be used as a path for compliance with the

standard in addition to being able to rate “beyond code” performance of

buildings. Other modifications to include: elevator, motor and

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refrigeration baselines; changes to the baseline for existing building

projects; and specific opaque assemblies for the baseline envelope

model.

Table 4.2.1.1, Building Performance Factor (BPF)

The Performance Cost Index calculated using Appendix G is required to

be less than a Performance Cost Index Target. An equation is provided

to calculate the PCIt, which is a function of the baseline building energy

cost, the building use, and the climate zone.

4.2.1.3 Alterations of Existing Buildings

The option to utilize Appendix G is provided for additions and

alterations. Two exceptions have been deleted from alterations:

1. where the standard required compliance with a provision that results

in the increase in energy use (within Section 4.2.1.3)

2. The option to show that the entire altered building uses less annual

energy than a substantially identical design (previously exception 2 to

Section 4.2.1.3)

Annex 1 New None This annex reproduces ASHRAE Standard 169 Material so that climate

zones can be determined.