In late 2019, RESNET and the International Code Council (ICC) launched the IECC/HERS® Compliance Specialist designation (designation). This designation is available to certified RESNET HERS® Raters and Rating Field Inspectors (RFIs) who obtain the ICC Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner Certification. At the 2020 RESNET Building Performance Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., RESNET and ICC announced a comprehensive program that would utilize IECC/HERS® Compliance Specialists for all energy code compliance paths. Since that announcement in Scottsdale, RESNET staff have been working diligently to develop the first phase of this program which utilizes the Simulated Performance Alternative compliance path (performance path) in the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). When the first phase of this program launches, it will allow HERS® Raters with the designation to generate uniform compliance documentation for the 2009 and 2018 versions of the IECC. These uniform compliance documents were developed by RESNET and ICC to meet all the requirements of the performance path and will include the ICC and RESNET logos. Raters will be able to generate both permit application and certificate of occupancy documents using RESNET accredited software and submitting the home to the RESNET Buildings Registry. Builders and code officials that participate in this program can trust in the quality of certified professionals performing code compliance services, backed by RESNET’s robust quality assurance infrastructure. The schema that will allow the data from these code compliance files to be stored in the RESNET Buildings Registry has been completed and the database development will soon be underway. RESNET’s Quality Assurance (QA) team has been busy developing QA protocols for this program and RESNET expects to have draft program guidelines by early 2021. Although this program will be ready to fully launch later in 2021, it’s not too early for HERS® Raters and RFIs to get started. Review the infographic about the benefits of obtaining the designation, then be on the lookout for future IECC training for the ICC Residential Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner Certification. RESNET has just released a new infographic promoting the benefits of using professionals with the designation to code officials. RESNET and ICC will be promoting this infographic and the designation to code officials over the next several months. In just one year, more than 200 individuals have obtained the designation. Builders and code officials can find these professionals on the ICC website’s “Search for Certified Professionals” page by searching for the “IECC/HERS® Compliance Specialist” under “Certification Type”. Visit https://www.resnet.us/about/hers-raters-and-energy-codes/ for more information and to stay up to date on the program.
