OFFICE OF ENERGY

Energy Codes 

Commercial

 

Commercial Building Energy Conservation Code

 

The Commercial Building Energy Conservation Code (CBECC) was originally enacted as part of the 1997 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session.  All commercial buildings over 1,000 square feet that are not intended primarily for manufacturing, commercial, or industrial processing must comply with the CBECC.

  • The Office of the State Fire Marshal, Code Enforcement and Building Safety is responsible for enforcement of the CBECC.
  • The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Energy provides training and technical assistance in the implementation of the CBECC.
  • Effective July 1, 2023, commercial buildings in the State of Louisiana, with the exception of low-rise 3 stories or less, multifamily residential buildings, must meet the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1-2019.
  • All Low-rise, single & multifamily residential buildings, of three stories or less, must meet the requirements of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (2021 IECC).  

    Compliance with the IECC is documented by the forms generated by COMcheckTM  for high rise commercial & REScheckTM, for single family and low rise multi-family buildings of three stories or less, which both can be downloaded at https://www.energycodes.gov/

 

Office of the State Fire Marshal's Energy Code Requirements and Links
Information about the Commercial Energy Conservation Code from the Office of the State Fire Marshal

 

Commercial Building Energy Conservation Code
Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1730.41

 

Documenting Compliance

 

Commercial Buildings

For all commercial buildings other than low-rise, multifamily residential buildings, compliance with the CBECC is documented by the submission of Compliance Forms generated by COMcheckTM. This software is a product of the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.  COMcheckTM can be downloaded at https://www.energycodes.gov/.

 

Inputting data into COMcheckTM for commercial buildings will typically be done in the following sequence:

  1. Select proper “code” (90.1-2019) from the menu at top of the COMcheckTM screen.
  2. Name & save file.
  3. Select state and city of the project
  4. Select correct Project Type (New Construction, Addition or Alteration)
  5. Click “Edit Project Details” & input information identifying project.
  6. Add Building Use information
  7. Building Area Method assigns a single Area Category to the entire building.  This is the simpler option, but could result in a lower amount of interior lighting wattage allowed.
  8. Area Category (Space-by-Space) Method requires the input of an Area Category for each individual space in the building.
  9. Add applicable Exterior Lighting Areas
  10. Click “Envelope” tab.
  11. Click each “blue/white” tab that is relevant to your project. The simplest building would have a roof, floor & 4 exterior walls with the appropriate windows & doors shown under each wall. Select building details that most closely fit your project. Input information into all cells that show the font in red (indicates a discrepancy).
  12. R-factors, U-Values, and SHGCs are product-specific and will be determined by the design of and purchases for the specific building.
  13. Watch lower right corner of COMcheckTMscreen to see pass / fail progress.
  14. Click “Lighting” tab.
  15. Click each “blue/white” tab that is relevant to your project & enter required information.
  16. Watch lower right corner of COMcheckTMscreen to see pass / fail progress.
  17. Click “Mechanical” tab.
  18. Click each “blue/white” tab that is relevant to your project & enter appropriate information.
  19. The mechanical category has no pass or fail status since all new equipment meets federal minimum energy efficiency guidelines.
  20. Click “Save” to save final project
  21. Select the File dropdown at the top of the window and select “Save Report”
  22. Check the boxes to select all 4 compliance certificates
  23. Click OK
  24. Select a location on your computer, give the file an appropriate name, and click save
  25. Submit the report to the Office of the State Fire Marshal

 

Low-rise, Single & Multifamily Residential

For low-rise, single & multifamily residential buildings, compliance with the CBECC is documented by the submission of Compliance Forms generated by REScheckTM.  REScheckTM, another product of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, can be downloaded at https://www.energycodes.gov/.

 

Inputting data into REScheckTM for low-rise, multifamily  will typically be done in the following sequence:  

  1. Select proper "code" (2021 IECC) from menu at top of REScheckTMscreen
  2. Name & save file
  3. Select state and city of the project
  4. Select correct Project Type (New Construction, Addition or Alteration)
  5. Select Multifamily
  6. Input conditioned square footage of building
  7. Click "Edit Project Details" & input information describing project
  8. Click "Envelope" tab
  9. Click each "blue/white" tab that is relevant to your project.  The simplest building would have a ceiling, floor & 4 exterior walls with the appropriate windows & doors under each wall in REScheckTM.  Select building details that most closely fit your project.  Input information into all cells that contain red type.
  10. R-factors, U-Values, and SHGCs are product-specific and will be determined by the design of and purchases for the specific building.
  11. Watch lower right corner of REScheckTMscreen to see pass / fail progress
  12. Input of information on "Mechanical" tab is optional but useful to building officials
  13. The mechanical category has no pass or fail status since all new equipment meets federal minimum energy efficiency guidelines
  14. Click "Save" to save final project file
  15. Select the File dropdown at the top of the window and select “Save Report”
  16. Check the box next to Compliance Certificate (the others are not required)
  17. Click OK
  18. Select a location on your computer, give the file an appropriate name, and click save
  19. Submit the report to the Office of the State Fire MarshalIf you have any questions or issues arise while using COMcheckTMor REScheckTM, contact Buddy Justice at 225-342-4498