#BUILDING ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING CODE#

The BECxA compliance option ( DCMR 12I, В§11.3.1.3.b) incorporates a qualified commissioning authority into the project lifecycle (design and construction phases) to enhance the quality assurance of the air barrier through documentation, validation, and verification. Additionally, this type of test does not address the thermal continuity, water barrier, and other performance criteria vital to enclosure performance.Д¬ompliance option 2: air barrier building envelope commissioning authority (BECXA) However, since the testing occurs late in the construction process, repairs could be costly and difficult to address if a test fails. In contrast to the second BECxA compliance path, whole-building air tightness testing provides direct validation of performance and a clear and quantifiable metric for success. Since a buildingвЂ™s air barrier relies on continuity across several systems (e.g., fenestration, wall membranes, roofs, etc.) the test must occur relatively late in the building enclosure installation process.

#BUILDING ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING CODE#

Compliance option 1: whole-building airtightness testingДЄ whole-building air tightness test ( DCMR 12I, В§11.3.1.3.a) entails a single test (or a sampling of tenant units in multifamily buildings) to validate the air leakage rate of the completed air barrier assembly complies with the code criteria. The DC Code includes two compliance paths for its BECx requirement: Whole-building airtightness testing or working with a qualified air-barrier Building Envelope Commissioning Authority (BECxA). During bid, construction, and occupancy and operations, the BECx process verifies the design is properly implemented to comply with such requirements. The code and relevant industry standards establish objectives and procedures for the project team through project completion.Дuring the design phase, BECx validates that contract documents reflect the ownerвЂ™s requirements. Specific to the DC Energy Conservation Code objectives, BECx aims to decrease the likelihood of poorly performing air barrier assemblies. The BECx Authority, a third-party commissioning agent, acts as an independent party to develop and manage the BECx process, and provides technical advice pertaining to the air barrier. BECx is intended to increase the likelihood that completed construction meets the ownerвЂ™s requirements through review of the air barrier design and installation.ДЄir barrier systems are complex and must be designed and constructed to comply with many competing performance criteria. These requirements intend to improve the performance of newly constructed exterior wall systems through increased documentation, validation, and verification. The 2017 DC Construction Codes, adopted in 2020, introduce requirements for conducting whole-building airtightness testing or commissioning of the air barrier construction. Jump ahead BECx information for owners BECx information for practitioners This resource intends to help owners, architects, other design professionals, and general contractors understand the DistrictвЂ™s code requirements related to BECx and plan for incorporating the approach into the design and construction process within the District.

As envelope systems become more and more complex alongside new requirements for increased building performance, building envelope commissioning will be a fundamentally important process to ensure quality. That requirement, called Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx), is a quality assurance process for verifying the ownerвЂ™s requirements for the building enclosure are defined and met. When the District of Columbia adopted new construction codes in early 2020, it included provisions ( DCMR 12I, В§11.3.1.3) that require building envelope system design review and testing. The building envelope is one of the largest and most crucial systems that affect a buildingвЂ™s energy performance and its levels of occupant comfort.

This resource is available courtesy of DCSEU.

Building envelope commissioning