Field Inspection & Testing Flashcards

When performing a blower door test, at what reference pressure is the airflow typically measured for HERS rating purposes?

Answer: 50 Pascals

Blower door tests for HERS ratings are conducted at 50 Pascals (Pa) of depressurization to standardize results across different homes.

A rater measures duct leakage to outside on a new construction home and gets 4.5 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area. Which ENERGY STAR threshold does this result meet?

Answer: It meets the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes limit of 5 CFM25 or less

ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Version 3.2 requires duct leakage to outside to be ≤4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area for most climate zones, but thresholds vary; at 4.5 it would fail the 4 CFM25 limit but context matters.

During a field inspection, the rater finds insulation installed with a visible air gap between the insulation batt and the exterior wall sheathing. How should this be rated?

Answer: Grade III — substantial defects requiring remediation

Air gaps between insulation and the sheathing represent a Grade III installation defect because they create thermal bypasses that substantially degrade insulation performance.

What is the primary purpose of a duct pressurization test (Duct Blaster) during a HERS field inspection?

Answer: To quantify air leakage from the duct system

A duct pressurization test uses a Duct Blaster to pressurize the duct system and measure the total leakage from supply and return ducts.

A HERS rater is inspecting a home with a vented crawl space. Which of the following conditions would be a concern for moisture management during field inspection?

Answer: Exposed soil has no ground cover vapor barrier

Exposed soil in a crawl space without a vapor barrier allows moisture to evaporate into the crawl space, risking mold, rot, and energy loss.

When verifying mechanical ventilation during a HERS field inspection, what should the rater measure to confirm adequate whole-house ventilation?

Answer: Actual airflow (CFM) compared to the ASHRAE 62.2 required rate

ASHRAE 62.2 defines minimum whole-house ventilation rates, and the rater must measure actual airflow (CFM) to verify the installed system meets those requirements.

During a heating system inspection, the rater observes that a gas furnace flue pipe has a visible gap at a joint inside conditioned space. What is the primary concern?

Answer: Combustion gases may spill into the living space

A gap in a gas furnace flue pipe inside conditioned space can allow dangerous combustion gases, including carbon monoxide, to spill into the living area.

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.

What is the RESNET-defined minimum sample rate for rater quality assurance (QA) field inspections of new construction ratings performed by a rater trainee?

Answer: 25% of ratings per year

RESNET standards require a 25% QA field inspection rate for rater trainees to ensure proper oversight before full certification.

During a duct leakage test, all supply and return registers are taped off, and the system is pressurized to 25 Pa. What does the measured airflow represent?

Answer: Total duct leakage including leakage to inside conditioned space

With all registers sealed and the duct system pressurized at 25 Pa, the measured airflow represents total duct leakage from all seams, joints, and connections in the system.

A rater inspects a home where the air handler is located in the garage. What is the primary concern with this configuration?

Answer: Combustion gases and vehicle exhaust can be distributed throughout the home

An air handler in the garage can draw in vehicle exhaust, carbon monoxide, and other combustion pollutants and distribute them into the living space through the duct system.

Which RESNET insulation grading level describes batts that are installed with no more than 2% of the surface area having defects such as gaps, voids, or compressions?

Answer: Grade I

Grade I insulation installation means the insulation is properly cut, fitted, and in full contact with all six sides of the cavity with minimal defects (≤2% affected area).

When field-verifying a heat pump water heater (HPWH) for a HERS rating, which specification is most critical to confirm against the energy model inputs?

Answer: Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) and installation location

The Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) directly determines the water heater's energy efficiency in the model, and installation location affects whether heat pump mode can operate efficiently.

A rater is testing a home and finds that the blower door result is significantly lower than expected based on the model inputs. What is the most appropriate action?

Answer: Report the anomaly and verify that all windows, doors, and penetrations were properly closed during testing

An unexpectedly low blower door result may indicate a testing error such as an open window or door, so the rater must verify all openings were sealed before accepting the result.