This chapter contains the procedures used to test and certify vendor’s compliance software as acceptable for compliance with Title 24, Part 6. Compliance software must also follow all modeling rules specified in Chapter 5. The tests used to verify software functionality and accuracy of simulation results are referred to as the reference method. The tests fall into the following categories:
•Tests to verify that the software is evaluating thermal loads and the response of the HVAC systems to these loads in an acceptable manner. These tests reference ASHRAE Standard 140-2007, Standard Method of Test for Evaluation of Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs.
•Tests that verify that compliance software is capable of modeling envelope, lighting, HVAC, and water heating efficiency features and provides precise estimates of energy tradeoffs and reasonably accurate predictions of building energy consumption.
•Tests to verify that the standard design building is created correctly. For example, the standard design HVAC system is properly specified, other components of the standard design are correctly defined, and rules that fix and restrict inputs (such as schedules and plug loads) are properly applied. These tests do not verify simulation outputs but may require simulations to be run to specify inputs that depend on system sizing.
•The reference method is designed to cover representative software functionality for building envelope, space uses, lighting, daylighting, HVAC, and water heating, both for simulation performance and for proper implementation of ACM rules specified in Chapter 5. The Energy Commission reserves the right to add ruleset implementation tests or software sensitivity tests to verify existing or future compliance software requirements. Moreover, the Energy Commission reserves the right to adjust the passing criteria for the software sensitivity tests to reflect the capabilities of commonly available energy simulation programs.