Standards, Codes, and Ethics 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 Standards, Codes, and Ethics flashcards as text
A rater suspects a builder has asked them to rate identical floor plans as unique homes to avoid the sampling confirmation requirement. What should the rater do?
Answer: Notify their rater provider and document the concern
RESNET ethics require raters to escalate suspected fraud or sampling abuse to their rater provider, who can then investigate and notify RESNET if warranted.
Under ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301, what is the reference home used for calculating the HERS Index based on?
Answer: A new home built exactly like the rated home but with standard code features
The HERS reference home mirrors the geometry and features of the rated home but applies standard efficiency values per ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301.
Which IECC provision requires new homes to have a maximum air leakage rate verified by a blower door test?
Answer: R402.4.1.2
IECC Section R402.4.1.2 specifies the testing requirements for building air leakage, including the use of a blower door and maximum ACH50 limits by climate zone.
What ethical obligation does a HERS rater have if they lack the technical competency required for a specialized rating task (e.g., multifamily high-rise)?
Answer: Decline the work or obtain additional training before proceeding
RESNET's code of ethics requires raters to only accept work within their demonstrated competency, declining or seeking qualification before taking on specialized tasks.
Under RESNET standards, how is the HERS Index value of 100 defined?
Answer: A home equivalent to the RESNET reference home energy use
A HERS Index of 100 represents the energy use of the RESNET reference home, not a specific code year or technology level.
Which of the following would require a rater to perform a field QA check under RESNET's mandatory QA program?
Answer: A randomly selected percentage of the rater's filed ratings each year
RESNET's mandatory QA program requires a random sample of each rater's filings to be reviewed in the field each year to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Per RESNET guidelines, what must a rater disclose to a client before beginning a rating engagement?
Answer: Any potential conflicts of interest and the scope of services
RESNET ethics require raters to disclose any conflicts of interest and clearly define the scope of services before entering into a rating engagement.