I have a client who is wanting their Park Restroom to have Air Conditioning (we are a prefab builder). They said their City does not require Energy Documentation (ComCheck). They do not want the building to be insulated. The building is a "U" classification. Can we build it without insulating it if we install a ductless mini split system. Also, they said their other Park Restrooms have A/C, and are not insulated. Thanks for the help.
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Air Conditioning for Park Restrooms
- Thread starter Hectorins
- Start date
steveray
SAWHORSE
They may have a "low energy" pass on the energy code....
The following buildings, or portions thereof, separated from the remainder of the building by building thermal envelope assemblies complying with this code shall be exempt from the building thermal envelope provisions of Section C402.
C402.1.1 Low-Energy Buildings
The following buildings, or portions thereof, separated from the remainder of the building by building thermal envelope assemblies complying with this code shall be exempt from the building thermal envelope provisions of Section C402.
- Those with a peak design rate of energy usage less than 3.4 British thermal units per hour per square foot (Btu/h × ft2) or 1.0 watts per square foot (watt/ft2) of floor area for space conditioning purposes.
ICE
Oh Well
Is the "Park Restroom" owned by a government entity? If so, is the owner the City that would not require energy documentation?
To be honest I don't know the applicable code. We are in Texas. I am the sales guy, trying to make sure I do the right thing here,
Paul Sweet
Sawhorse
Codes apply to thee but not to me.
I believe Texas has their codes adopted at the local jurisdiction level. Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio all having their own amendments.To be honest I don't know the applicable code. We are in Texas. I am the sales guy, trying to make sure I do the right thing here,
Base code for the State would likely be the Energy Conservation Code of the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings Program, so I will answer based upon that for now.
Generally speaking, yes, the building would be required to be insulated. You may find relief via C402.1.1 as a low energy building - See #1 below in red text.
C402.1.1 Low-Energy Buildings
The following low-energy buildings, or portions thereof separated from the remainder of the building by building thermal envelope assemblies complying with this section, shall be exempt from the building thermal envelope provisions of Section C402.- Those with a peak design rate of energy usage less than 3.4 Btu/h • ft2 (10.7 W/m2) or 1.0 watt per square foot (10.7 W/m2) of floor area for space conditioning purposes.
- Those that do not contain conditioned space.
- Greenhouses.
ICE
Oh Well
Not everyone is onboard with climate change being man-made. If jurisdictions have the right to adopt stringent energy codes should they have the right to not adopt stringent energy codes? If the jurisdiction is satisfied, I don't see a problem.
Mech
Registered User
Not requiring Energy Documentation is not the same as not requiring compliance with the Energy Code.
I just made a quick HVAC selection. Using 95 F exterior temp and 75 F interior, 50 cfm outside air to be exhausted, CMU walls, plywood roof and no insulation in a 50 sq ft shack; 77 BTU/hr sq ft is required for cooling the building structure. That does not include energy to cool the outside air being drawn in to be exhausted or any energy to offset body heat, lights, hand dryers, etc.
I was able to classify a building once as low energy, but if I recall, I think I still needed to add some insulation to the walls. The heat generated by the manufacturing process provided the majority of the heat and we supplemented with unit heaters. Cooling was not provided or even practical.
I just made a quick HVAC selection. Using 95 F exterior temp and 75 F interior, 50 cfm outside air to be exhausted, CMU walls, plywood roof and no insulation in a 50 sq ft shack; 77 BTU/hr sq ft is required for cooling the building structure. That does not include energy to cool the outside air being drawn in to be exhausted or any energy to offset body heat, lights, hand dryers, etc.
I was able to classify a building once as low energy, but if I recall, I think I still needed to add some insulation to the walls. The heat generated by the manufacturing process provided the majority of the heat and we supplemented with unit heaters. Cooling was not provided or even practical.