b'BY BCE ENGINEERSWhat do the 2021 WA State Energy Code Changes Mean for Your Existing Building?A fter much conversation,appliances and service water heatingutility electrical service upgrade. Many anticipation, and perhapssystems shall comply with thebuildings that were originally designed trepidation, the 2021 WAelectrification requirements, therearound fossil fuel-fired heating State Energy Code is finally here andare lists of exceptions that cover mostsystems do not have the electrical adopted. And architects, engineers,maintenance replacement projects.capacity to handle a conversion to and capital projects teams are readingElectrification is not required if youelectric heating.all the fine print to make sure that yourare replacing heating equipment with brand-new buildings have all the bellsequipment that is the same type as,Lightingand whistles to be up to code. Butand does not exceed the capacity of,The 2021 WSEC has expanded what does the code have to say aboutthe existing equipment. Earlier draftsthe types of lighting alterations that your existing buildings? And whatof the code required the replacementare required to comply with the new do you need to know as you plan forto be of a single appliance that wasconstruction requirements of the repairs and equipment replacements?failing and required immediatecode. If you are familiar with the This article has you covered: fromreplacement, but in the final version2018 WSEC, you may remember boilers to water heaters to lightthose stipulations do not apply. Anythat it allowed up to 50% of the fixtures, everything you need to knowfossil fuel-fired or electric resistanceluminaires in a particular interior about maintenance projects and theheating equipment can be replacedspace or building exterior to be 2021 WSEC. like-for-like. Similarly, service waterreplaced without requiring compliance heating appliances can be replacedwith the maximum allowable power Electrification & Heating Equipment with equipment of the same type withrequirements of the code. This Lets start with the elephant inthe same or higher efficiency and thethreshold has been reduced in the room: electrification. If youvesame or lower capacity, provided theresection C503.7.2 to 20%. Any project heard anything at all about the 2021are no other alterations to the existingreplacing 20% or more of luminaires WSEC, its probably section C403.1.4,service water heating system size orin a given space must meet the HVAC heating energy shall not beconfiguration. For both HVAC heatinglighting power density allowances provided by electric resistance orand service water heating, if you arefor new construction listed in section fossil fuel combustion appliances.not changing system size or type youC405.4.2.Or its counterpart, section C404.2.1,are in the clear. The interior lighting allowances Service hot water shall be providedOther maintenance type projectsfor schools decreased almost 30% by an electric air-source heat pumpmay also fall under exceptions tofrom the 2012 WSEC to the 2015 water heating system. The 2021the electrification requirements,WSEC and beyond. This means that WSEC is taking a huge step inincluding those which add or replaceany buildings that were constructed pushing new construction projectsterminal unit equipment when youor remodeled under the 2012 WSEC toward electrification and the useare not altering the central systemor prior codes likely cannot have of heat pumps for HVAC heatingplant. Similarly, adding or replacingluminaires replaced like-for-like. and service water heating (althoughair handling equipment withIn this scenario, a lighting watts there are a variety of exceptions tohydronic coils is allowed without theper square foot calculation would those requirements on new buildings,requirement for electrification whenneed to be performed for the perhaps a topic for another article).you are not altering the central systemportion of the building that is having But are existing buildings being forcedplant. And even if you are looking atluminaires replaced in order to select to electrify? adding capacity to a heating system,a replacement fixture that has a Although Section C503:there is an exception if converting awattage low enough to comply with Alterations says that added orfossil fuel-fired system to a heat pumpthe code requirements. It is important replaced mechanical heatingsystem would trigger an unplannedto note that the 20% threshold is 10 WAMOA JOURNALSPRING 2024'