Certified Energy Auditor Certification Building Envelope Assessment 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An auditor uses a co-heating test on a small house. What does this test primarily determine?
- Airtightness at 50 Pa
- In-situ whole-building heat loss coefficient (HLC) (Correct answer)
- Duct leakage as a percentage of system airflow
- Window solar heat gain coefficient
Correct answer: In-situ whole-building heat loss coefficient (HLC)
A co-heating test electrically heats a building to a constant indoor temperature and measures steady-state energy input to derive the overall heat loss coefficient of the actual built structure.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a rainscreen cladding system on an exterior wall?
- To provide a continuous vapor retarder
- To create a vented capillary break that promotes drainage and drying (Correct answer)
- To serve as the primary structural backup for windows
- To increase wall R-value through an additional air space
Correct answer: To create a vented capillary break that promotes drainage and drying
A rainscreen system creates a vented air space behind cladding that allows bulk water to drain and surfaces to dry, protecting moisture-sensitive sheathing and insulation.
Question 3: Which condition should an energy auditor consider before performing a blower door test in a home with combustion appliances?
- Outdoor wind speed must be below 15 mph
- Combustion appliances should be shut off or monitored to prevent backdrafting during depressurization (Correct answer)
- Interior humidity must be above 30% RH
- All duct registers must be sealed before testing
Correct answer: Combustion appliances should be shut off or monitored to prevent backdrafting during depressurization
Depressurizing a home can cause combustion appliances to backdraft, spilling dangerous flue gases indoors; appliances should be shut down or carefully monitored during the test.
Question 4: In ASHRAE climate zone mapping, which zone is characterized by hot-humid conditions requiring a focus on latent load management and vapor control on the exterior wall surface?
- Zone 1A and 2A (Correct answer)
- Zone 4C
- Zone 6B
- Zone 7
Correct answer: Zone 1A and 2A
Climate zones 1A and 2A (hot-humid, e.g., Miami and Houston) experience high outdoor humidity and heat, requiring exterior vapor control and latent load management strategies.
Question 5: What does the term 'thermal bridging' refer to when evaluating a metal roof deck on a commercial building?
- Condensation on the underside of the deck
- Heat conducted through the deck fasteners and metal purlins bypassing insulation (Correct answer)
- Solar reflectance of roofing membrane
- Air leakage through deck seams
Correct answer: Heat conducted through the deck fasteners and metal purlins bypassing insulation
Metal fasteners and purlins penetrate or contact the insulation layer, conducting heat rapidly through what should be an insulated assembly, reducing effective R-value.
Question 6: An auditor finds that spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation in an attic has a yellowish, chalky surface exposed to daylight through a skylight. What action is warranted?
- No action needed — color variation is cosmetic only
- Apply a thermal barrier or intumescent coating since UV-degraded SPF loses fire resistance and R-value integrity (Correct answer)
- Spray additional SPF over the degraded layer
- Replace with fiberglass batts immediately
Correct answer: Apply a thermal barrier or intumescent coating since UV-degraded SPF loses fire resistance and R-value integrity
UV exposure degrades open and closed-cell SPF, compromising its integrity and fire resistance; building codes require SPF to be covered with an approved thermal or ignition barrier.
Question 7: Which measurement tool is most appropriate for locating hidden moisture intrusion behind wall cladding without removing materials?
- Manometer
- Pyranometer
- Capacitance-based or resistance-based moisture meter (Correct answer)
- Duct blaster
Correct answer: Capacitance-based or resistance-based moisture meter
Capacitance or resistance moisture meters detect elevated moisture content in wall assemblies non-invasively or with minimal penetration, identifying areas of bulk water intrusion.
Certified Energy Auditor Certification Building Envelope Assessment 5
An auditor uses a co-heating test on a small house.
What does this test primarily determine?