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Board removes complex building-performance adjustment tables and extends mandatory backstops to fixed-EUI path
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Summary
The board voted to eliminate adjustment factors in the C407 simulated-performance tables to reduce complexity and potential error, and separately added the same mandatory backstop requirements to fixed-EUI compliance so all simulated paths carry the same minimum mandatory items.
The board voted on two closely related commercial code changes designed to simplify simulated-performance compliance and to ensure consistent mandatory requirements across simulated compliance options.
On one item, staff (Adam) proposed removing a set of building-performance factor adjustment tables in C407 that had been added to align simulated performance with the prescriptive (C406) efficiency credits. Adam said public commenters and board members had argued the additional adjustment factors created complexity and increased the chance of modeling mistakes; the board adopted the change unanimously.
Separately, the board adopted an amendment to ensure mandatory backstop requirements — a list of specific prescriptive sections for envelope, HVAC and lighting systems — also apply to projects using the fixed-EUI compliance option and not only the site-EUI reduction pathway. Anna (staff) summarized the backstop list as architectural envelope items, mechanical equipment/calculation items, and electrical lighting and controls elements.
Votes and outcome: removal of building-performance factor adjustments passed unanimously (18 yes, 0 no). Adding the mandatory backstop language to the fixed-EUI option passed (17 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain).
Why it matters: board members said the changes simplify compliance and reduce modeling errors while making sure every simulated path (site-EUI reduction and fixed-EUI targets) contains the same minimum mandatory preservations so that flexibility does not undermine building performance.
Next steps: staff will remove the adjustment tables and insert the mandatory backstop language into the fixed-EUI section in the next draft.
