COMcheck is the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s commercial energy compliance tool that essentially tells a user whether or not a building meets the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1, as well as state-specific codes.
The Energy Analysis must represent the entire project, including a building’s envelope, HVAC, service water heating, lighting and electrical power systems as applicable to the scope of the project work. The Energy Analysis may be in one of the formats below. Other formats may be used if approved in advance by the Secretary of State of New York State, where required and the Buildings Commissioner
Understanding the Law
Energy Analysis Requirements
COMcheck: Can be used to demonstrate compliance with the NYCECC when doing an analysis for a new commercial building. When using COMcheck, you must complete all the applicable checkboxes on all the pages of the form and be sure to acknowledge component certification requirements in the COMcheck summary.
Applicants Must Key Identifying Terms
Applicants must key the identifying terms used in the energy analysis to the construction drawings, so that each wall type, window type, HVAC unit, lighting fixture, etc., can be clearly linked to their location in the drawings. Applicants must also provide sheet numbers, signaling where the supporting documentation for each line item in the energy analysis can be found. This can be done either through a column in the tabular analysis format or in notes section relating to the COMcheck, REScheck or EN1 form in the drawings.
The COMcheck software product group makes it easy for architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1, as well as several state-specific codes. COMcheck also simplifies compliance for building officials, plan checkers, and inspectors by allowing them to quickly determine if a building project meets the code.
Scope of Work
Verification of the total building load (made up of cooling, heating, lighting, and envelope) by determining the building location, the specific assembly and equipment/material types selected, internal gains from lighting and miscellaneous plug loads, and the thermal properties and orientation of the envelope assemblies.
The following efficiency values from building components detailed in the design documentation will be required for COMcheck compliance calculations:
- SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient)
- U Factors
- SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating)
- EEF (Energy Efficiency Factor) used in the building components.
If these efficiency values are not provided in the drawings and/or specifications or do not meet the code compliance parameters The Cotocon Group will alert the design team and assist with determining what alterations to the project documentation are necessary.