Education and Resources
We offer training and technical resources in support of the commercial provisions of the WSEC.
Scroll down to the TRAINING section for up-coming opportunities for WSEC-C education.
Technical Resources
NEW TOOL!! 2021 WSEC-C Additional Energy Efficiency & Load Management Credits Compliance Forms
This Excel workbook is a set of electronic forms developed to help designers calculate Required and Achieved Energy Efficiency and Load Management Credits to demonstrate compliance with the 2021 WSEC-C. Reviewing the “ReadMe” and “Using This Form” tabs in the workbook before completing the forms is recommended. Note that some inputs in the forms require supporting calculations that must be completed separately. These Excel forms and calculations are included as supporting documentation with a building permit submittal.
Applicable provisions supported by these compliance forms include:
- Section C406.1 Additional energy efficiency and load management measures credit requirements
- Section C401.3.3 Fossil fuel compliance path - Additional efficiency credits
- Section C403.1.4 Use of electric resistance and fossil fuel-fired HVAC heating equipment
- Section C404.2.1 Service water heating system type
- Section C411 Renewable energy
2021 WSEC-C Building Thermal Envelope Minimum Requirements Summary
This resource summarizes the building envelope thermal performance requirements in Section C402 of the 2021 WSEC-C. It includes prescriptive opaque assembly R-values and U-factors and fenestration U-factors and solar heat gain coefficients (SHGC). It also includes envelope requirements for walk-in and warehouse coolers and freezers per Section C410, and greenhouse envelope assemblies per Section C402.1.1.3. Refer to Page 3 for a summary of applicable table footnotes.
WSEC-C Commissioning Compliance Checklist
Building commissioning (Cx) is an integrated, systematic process to ensure that all building systems perform interactively, in accordance with the project design intent. Systems and equipment that require Cx in the WSEC-C include mechanical, service water heating, refrigeration, lighting controls, controlled receptacles and energy metering. For projects that require Cx, a completed Commissioning Compliance Checklist is required as supporting documentation with a building permit submittal.
2018 WSEC-C - FIGURE C408.1.4.1 COMMISSIONING COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
2021 WSEC-C - FIGURE C408.1.4.1 COMMISSIONING COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST
Fact Sheets
NEW RESOURCE!! Comparison of Very High Efficiency DOAS with 2021 WSEC-C DOAS Requirements
This resource from BetterBricks details the key elements that differentiate a very high efficiency dedicated outside air system (DOAS) from the more typical DOAS with heat recovery, as required by the 2021 WSEC-C. Refer to the BetterBricks website for additional information.
What is Total System Performance Ratio (TSPR)?
This fact sheet provides a general overview of the purpose of this mechanical requirement and how this performance ratio is calculated. Also refer to training videos about the TSPR webtool on the On Demand Training webpage.
Smart Service Water Heating Circulation Pumps Fact Sheet
Service water heating circulation systems are used in commercial buildings to maintain the design supply temperature in the primary piping loop. The WSEC requires this system to have a circulation pump with controls that manage the water temperature in the circulation system and turns off the pump when there is no demand for hot water. This strategy saves energy and reduces water use by minimizing the time required for hot water to reach a fixture.
Smart circulation pumps offer a better than code strategy that simplifies installation and operation with integrated sensors, programmable control logic and ECM motors. This fact sheet provides information about this strategy and links to helpful resources.
Training
2021 WSEC Commercial Provisions Trainings
Effective date of the 2021 WSEC is March 15th, 2024. Refer to our Newsroom page for more information.
________________________________________________________
2024 WEBINAR SERIES - 2021 WSEC-C
Training content will cover the most substantive changes between the 2018 WSEC-C and 2021 WSEC-C, including key EPCA-related changes. We’ll focus on the provisions that have been determined to offer the highest potential for energy savings. Funding for this webinar series is provided by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
(EPCA - Energy Policy and Conservation Act Preemption)
October 30th, 2024 – 2021 WSEC-C Multifamily Buildings
This webinar will summarize key changes and new requirements in the 2021 WSEC-C that apply to multifamily (Group R-2) buildings.
Topics in this webinar will include:
- Scope changes in the new residential building definition
- Differences between 2021 WSEC-C and WSEC-R thermal envelope requirements
- Thermal envelope requirements for decks & balconies
- Air barrier testing criteria
- Service water heating systems & equipment that are common in multifamily buildings
- HVAC systems & equipment that are common in multifamily buildings
- Ventilation requirements for dwelling units & common core areas
- Summary of additional energy efficiency & load management measures applicable to multifamily
TIME: Noon, Pacific Standard Time
DURATION: One-hour presentation plus additional time for Q&A
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
________________________________________________________
PREVIOUS TRAININGS
October 2nd, 2024 – 2021 WSEC-C - Additional Energy Efficiency and Load Management
This webinar provides information about the additional energy efficiency, load management and related renewable energy provisions. It also covers the additional credit requirements for the fossil fuel path.
Topics in this webinar include:
- Efficiency measure and load management measure credits required by occupancy & project type
- Credit requirements for existing building alterations
- Additional efficiency credits required for the fossil fuel compliance path
- Summary of additional energy efficiency measures (AEM) and load management measures (LMM)
- Credit requirements for tenant spaces (initial TI)
- Discrete area weighting of credits by occupancy group
- Correlation between renewable energy prescriptive requirements and energy efficiency measure requirements
July 31st, 2024 – 2021 WSEC-C Mechanical Systems - Space Heating Updates
This webinar provides information about the space heating provisions and applicable details about the new fossil fuel path.
Topics in this webinar include:
+ Prescriptive space heating requirements
+ Exceptions for space heating using electric resistance and fossil fuels
+ Supplemental heating in heat pump systems
+ Supplemental heating in dedicated outdoor air systems
+ Fossil fuel primary space heating alternative compliance path
+ Space heating requirements in low-energy and semi-heated spaces
+ Alterations to space heating systems in existing buildings
Missed these webinars? Go to the On Demand Training page to watch the videos and view the slide presentations.
2024 WABO Annual Education Institute
March 25th, 2024 – What is this thing? Identifying Common Mechanical System Components In Commercial Buildings
- How to identify mechanical systems and components that are commonly used in commercial buildings for heating, cooling and ventilation, and the 2021 WSEC requirements that apply to them.
March 23rd, 2024 – Multifamily Mash-up - 2021 WSEC Commercial & Residential Comparison
- Commercial and residential energy code experts will provide a summary of requirements that apply specifically to multifamily buildings.
Many thanks to everyone who participated these trainings!
2021 WSEC-C, Solar Readiness & Renewable Energy Systems
Agenda:
- On-site renewable energy system requirements and exceptions
- Qualifying types of off-site renewable energy systems
- Documentation requirements for off-site renewable energy systems
- Solar readiness, designated solar zones and exceptions
- Solar zone structural integrity and photovoltaic interconnection requirements
- Additional efficiency measures for on-site & off-site renewable energy systems
2021 WSEC-C Envelope & Air Barrier Provisions
Key Topics:
- Opaque assembly thermal performance updates
- Requirements for decks, balconies & mass transfer deck slabs
- Fenestration performance updates
- U-factor requirement for mech equipment thru-wall penetrations
- Building enclosure air leakage test procedures
- Updates to residential building definition
2021 WSEC-C Mechanical Systems, Part 2
Key topics:
- Updates to economizer exceptions
- Changes to demand responsive controls provisions including ventilation (DCV)
- Scope update to HVAC door switch interlock controls requirement
- Changes to heated & chilled water distribution system design criteria
- Summary of mechanical additional energy efficiency & load management measures
2021 WSEC-C Mechanical Systems - Part 1
Key topics:
- Expanded scope for the TSPR requirement and updates to exceptions
- Updates to the equipment minimum efficiency tables
- DOAS energy recovery efficiency, fan power and supply air tempering
- Balanced ventilation and heat recovery requirements for Group R-2 occupancy
- Changes to the fan power allowance criteria
Missed these webinars? Go to the On Demand Training page to view all of our training videos about the 2021 WSEC-C.
2023 AIA NWW: WSEC-C CHANGES & RESOURCES
This webinar for architects provided information about key requirements in the 2021 WSEC-C and helpful resources available to assist architects with energy code compliance documentation. This event was hosted by AIA NWW and AIA Seattle who are providing CEUs. If you attended this training, contact AIA NWW for question about receiving CEUs nwwadministrator@aiaseattle.org.
NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS - This slide presentation is available on the On Demand Training page. Content on topics that are anticipated to be impacted by recent SBCC activities has been removed.
________________________________________________________
UP-COMING TRAINING TOPICS
- Service Water Heating Systems - Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) & Fossil Fuel Systems
- Lighting Power & Lighting Controls Systems
_____________________________________________________________________________________________