RESNET Standards and Policies Flashcards

Under RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards, what is the minimum sampling frequency allowed for production builders using the sampling protocol?

Answer: Every 10th home built

RESNET sampling protocol allows production builders to rate 1 in every 10 homes of a repeating floor plan as a minimum sampling frequency.

Which RESNET standard specifically governs the accreditation of Home Energy Rating System (HERS) providers?

Answer: RESNET Chapter 2 Standard

RESNET Chapter 2 Standard establishes the requirements for accrediting HERS providers who oversee rater certification and quality assurance.

What must a HERS rater do if they discover a significant discrepancy between the rated features and actual construction during a final inspection?

Answer: Revise the rating inputs to reflect actual conditions

RESNET Standards require raters to update rating inputs to match actual field conditions discovered during inspections.

According to RESNET policy, how long must HERS raters retain rating files and supporting documentation?

Answer: 5 years

RESNET requires HERS raters to maintain rating files and documentation for a minimum of 5 years after the rating is issued.

In the RESNET quality assurance framework, what is the role of a 'provider' relative to a HERS rater?

Answer: A provider accredits and oversees HERS raters and their quality assurance

RESNET providers are accredited organizations responsible for certifying, training, and conducting quality assurance oversight of HERS raters.

What does RESNET Standard 380-2019 primarily address?

Answer: Methods for measuring airtightness of building enclosures

RESNET/ICC 380-2019 establishes standard test methods for measuring the airtightness of building enclosures, ducts, and mechanical ventilation systems.

When a HERS rater certifies a home using the confirmed rating pathway, which of the following site inspections is required?

Answer: Both pre-drywall and final inspections

The confirmed rating pathway requires both a pre-drywall inspection (to verify insulation and air sealing) and a final inspection with diagnostic testing.

Under RESNET Standards, which entity has ultimate authority to suspend or revoke a HERS rater's certification?

Answer: The HERS provider who certified the rater

The HERS provider that certified a rater has the authority and responsibility to suspend or revoke that rater's certification under RESNET Standards.

Which RESNET policy requires that rating software used for HERS ratings be tested against a standard set of reference cases?

Answer: RESNET Software Approval Process

The RESNET Software Approval Process requires rating software to be validated against standardized reference test cases before it can be used for official HERS ratings.

A HERS rater working in a state without a state-specific rating standard defaults to which set of rules?

Answer: RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards

In the absence of state-specific requirements, HERS raters default to the RESNET Mortgage Industry National Home Energy Rating Standards.

According to RESNET policy, what is required when a HERS rater transitions from one HERS provider to another?

Answer: The rater's rating history must be transferred to the new provider

RESNET policy requires that a rater's rating history and files be transferred to the new provider when a rater changes providers.

What is the RESNET-defined purpose of the HERS Index?

Answer: To provide a relative energy efficiency score compared to a reference home

The HERS Index provides a relative energy efficiency score where a score of 100 represents a home built to the HERS reference home standard.

Under RESNET Standards, which of the following is NOT an approved pathway for conducting a HERS rating on new construction?

Answer: Desktop rating using plans only with no inspections

RESNET does not allow a fully desktop-only rating with no field inspections for new construction; some level of field verification is always required.

How does RESNET define a 'rating file' for quality assurance purposes?

Answer: The software model inputs and outputs plus field inspection records

A RESNET rating file includes the complete software model with inputs and outputs, along with all field inspection records and supporting documentation.

What is the primary function of RESNET's National Registry of HERS Ratings?

Answer: To track and store completed HERS ratings for public and industry access

RESNET's National Registry serves as the official repository for completed HERS ratings, allowing lenders, appraisers, and homeowners to verify and access rating information.

A HERS rater is asked to rate an existing home built in 1975. Which RESNET pathway is most appropriate?

Answer: Existing home rating pathway

RESNET has a specific existing home rating pathway designed to handle the unique challenges of rating older homes with unknown construction details.

According to RESNET Standards, what must a HERS provider do if a rater under their oversight fails a quality assurance review?

Answer: Implement a corrective action plan and monitor the rater's subsequent work

RESNET requires providers to implement corrective action plans and increase oversight monitoring when a rater fails a quality assurance review.

Under RESNET policy, how many quality assurance file reviews must a provider conduct per rater per year at minimum?

Answer: 1 review per year

RESNET Standards require providers to conduct a minimum of one quality assurance file review per rater per year as part of the ongoing QA process.

What distinguishes a RESNET-accredited provider from a RESNET-certified rater?

Answer: Providers are organizations that certify and oversee raters, while raters perform actual ratings

RESNET providers are accredited organizational entities responsible for certifying individual raters and ensuring their quality assurance, while raters perform the actual energy ratings.

Which RESNET standard establishes requirements for rating software to calculate the HERS Index?

Answer: ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 301

ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 301 establishes the calculation methodology that approved rating software must use to determine the HERS Index score.