SHI Regulatory Compliance & Legal Framework 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal agency oversees the Energy Star certification program that applies to solar water heating systems sold in the US?
- Department of Energy
- Environmental Protection Agency (Correct answer)
- Federal Trade Commission
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
Correct answer: Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA administers the Energy Star program, including certifications for solar water heating systems that meet efficiency criteria.
Question 2: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a solar thermal installation on a commercial building must ensure that:
- All roof access points are ADA-compliant
- Any controls or access panels at ground level are accessible to persons with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Solar collectors must be viewable from wheelchair height
- Thermal storage tanks must be located on the ground floor
Correct answer: Any controls or access panels at ground level are accessible to persons with disabilities
ADA requires that ground-level controls and access panels serving building systems be accessible to persons with disabilities.
Question 3: A solar installer discovers mid-project that the local jurisdiction requires a special fire-rated sealant around roof penetrations not specified in the original permit. What is the correct action?
- Proceed without the sealant since it wasn't in the original permit
- Stop work and notify the AHJ before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Apply a standard sealant and note the substitution in the as-built drawings
- Request the customer sign a waiver and continue
Correct answer: Stop work and notify the AHJ before proceeding
When unanticipated code requirements are discovered, the installer must stop work and consult the Authority Having Jurisdiction before proceeding.
Question 4: Which SRCC document specifically provides ratings for complete solar water heating systems, as opposed to individual collector ratings?
- SRCC OG-100
- SRCC OG-300 (Correct answer)
- SRCC TM-1
- SRCC DC-5
Correct answer: SRCC OG-300
SRCC OG-300 rates complete solar domestic water heating systems, while OG-100 rates individual collectors.
Question 5: A homeowner asks to add a solar space heating loop to an existing potable water system without a backflow preventer. Under most state plumbing codes, this is:
- Permitted if the loop uses food-grade glycol
- Prohibited because cross-connection control requires backflow prevention (Correct answer)
- Allowed if the system pressure stays below 80 psi
- Required to be inspected annually but otherwise permissible
Correct answer: Prohibited because cross-connection control requires backflow prevention
Plumbing codes require backflow prevention devices wherever a non-potable system (such as a glycol heating loop) connects to a potable water supply.
Question 6: When a solar thermal system is installed on a federally designated historic property, which additional approval is typically required beyond the standard building permit?
- FAA airspace clearance
- State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review (Correct answer)
- Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permit
- EPA National Emission Standards review
Correct answer: State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) review
Modifications to federally designated historic properties require review by the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act.
Question 7: In most US jurisdictions, the maximum allowable water heater temperature setpoint to prevent Legionella growth while also minimizing scalding risk is balanced at:
- 100°F
- 120°F
- 140°F (Correct answer)
- 160°F
Correct answer: 140°F
140°F is the temperature recommended by ASHRAE 188 to kill Legionella bacteria, while anti-scald mixing valves are required to deliver water at 120°F or below at fixtures.
SHI Regulatory Compliance & Legal Framework 2
Which federal agency oversees the Energy Star certification program that applies to solar water heating systems sold in the US?