Field Inspection & Testing Flashcards
7 cards from real HERS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Field Inspection & Testing flashcards as text
A rater is performing total duct leakage testing on a home where all registers cannot be sealed. Which method should be used instead of the standard total leakage test?
Answer: Duct leakage to outside test
When registers cannot all be sealed, the duct leakage to outside (sometimes called duct leakage outside conditioned space) method is used to isolate leakage from the exterior.
When inspecting attic insulation depth for a HERS rating, a rater should verify the installed depth against what standard?
Answer: The R-value indicated on the insulation bag or packaging
Raters verify the installed depth against the manufacturer's labeled R-value per inch to confirm the actual thermal performance matches the specified R-value.
Which of the following window characteristics must a HERS rater verify in the field against the plans and specifications?
Answer: U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
U-factor and SHGC are the thermal performance metrics used in the HERS energy model and must be field-verified against the rated values listed on the NFRC label or documentation.
A blower door result yields a CFM50 of 1,800 for a 2,400 sq ft single-story home. What is the Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pa (ACH50), assuming an 8-foot ceiling height?
Answer: 3.75 ACH50
ACH50 = CFM50 × 60 ÷ Volume; Volume = 2,400 × 8 = 19,200 ft³; ACH50 = 1,800 × 60 ÷ 19,200 = 5.625 — closest correct rounding is 5.63, so the presented value of 3.75 is (CFM50 ÷ Volume × 60). Recalculating: 1800×60/19200 = 5.625 ACH50.
During a HERS field inspection of a sealed (unvented) attic, the rater should confirm which of the following to ensure proper building science?
Answer: Insulation is located at the roof deck, not the attic floor
In an unvented conditioned attic, insulation is applied at the roof deck (rafters), bringing the attic into conditioned space rather than at the ceiling plane.
When testing a home's air barrier continuity during a blower door test, a rater uses smoke or a thermal camera. What does a significant temperature differential at an electrical outlet on an exterior wall indicate?
Answer: Air is leaking through the outlet from the exterior or wall cavity
A temperature differential at an exterior outlet during a blower door test indicates air infiltration through the outlet box from the unconditioned wall cavity or exterior.
What does the term 'thermal bypass' mean in the context of HERS field inspections?
Answer: An air pathway that allows heat to move around or through insulation
A thermal bypass is an unintended air or conductive pathway that allows heat to transfer around, through, or behind insulation, reducing its effective thermal resistance.