by Brianna Crandall — July 14, 2014—Guidance on how to incorporate changes regarding the building envelope, lighting, mechanical and the energy cost budget in the updated 2013 energy standard from global building technology society ASHRAE and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) of North America are included in a newly published User’s Manual. Standard 90.1 has been a benchmark for commercial building energy codes in the United States and a key basis for codes and standards around the world for more than 35 years, notes ASHRAE.
The newest version, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, incorporates 110 addenda, reflecting changes made through the public review process. Because the standard is written in mandatory language and is not intended as a design specification or an instruction manual, the User’s Manual was developed to minimize multiple interpretations of Standard 90.1 that may occur.
The manual helps users of the standard understand its principles and requirements and how to comply with them. It also includes measurements and calculations in both I-P (inch-pound) and SI (International System of Units), or metric system, units, making it usable with either edition of Standard 90.1. In addition, the book includes sample calculations, application examples and references to helpful resources and Web sites.
The User’s Manual is intended for architects, engineers, contractors, code officials and other building professionals, and is also suitable for use in educational programs. Purchasers of the manual can also download compliance forms and tools from the ASHRAE Web site.
“Including all the forms and instructions together in one location vs. including them in print allows users to download the package for continual use in their business,” Drake Erbe, Standard 90.1 committee chair, commented.
The User’s Manual for Standard 90.1-2013 is available from the ASHRAE Bookstore at a cost of $115 ($98 for ASHRAE members).
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is a building technology society with more than 50,000 members worldwide. The Society and its members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability. Through research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE’s goal is to shape tomorrow’s built environment today.
