Part 11 – California Green Building Code (CALGreen)

CHAPTER 2 DEFINITIONS

ADDITION. An extension or increase in floor area of an existing building or structure.

ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDING. A building that contains no combustion equipment or plumbing for combustion equipment serving space heating (including fireplaces), water heating (including pools and spas), cooking appliances (including barbeques), and clothes drying, within the building or building property lines, and instead uses electric heating appliances for service.

ALTERATION OR ALTER. Any construction or renovation to an existing structure other than repair for the purpose of maintenance or addition.

COMBUSTION EQUIPMENT. Any equipment or appliance used for space heating, water heating, cooking, clothes drying and/or lighting that uses fuel gas.

ELECTRIC HEATING APPLIANCE. A device that produces heat energy to create a warm environment by the application of electric power to resistance elements, refrigerant compressors, or dissimilar material junctions, as defined in the California Mechanical Code.

FUEL GAS. A gas that is natural or manufactured, including liquefied petroleum, or a mixture thereof.

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED (or NEW CONSTRUCTION). A newly constructed building (or new construction) does not include additions, alterations, or repairs.

CHAPTER 4 – RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

Division 4.1 PLANNING AND DESIGN

SECTION 4.106
SITE DEVELOPMENT

4.106.5 All-electric buildings. New construction buildings shall comply with Section 4.106.5.1 or 4.106.5.2 so that they do not use combustion equipment or are ready to accommodate installation of electric heating appliances.

4.106.5.1. New construction. All newly constructed buildings and Accessory Dwelling Units, Guest Houses and Pool Houses shall be all-electric buildings.

Tenant improvements shall not be considered new construction. The final determination whether a project meets the definition of substantial reconstruction/alteration shall be made by the local enforcing agency.

Exceptions:

1. Residential Buildings may contain non-electric indoor and outdoor cooking appliances, fireplaces, and outdoor firepits.

2. Exceptions shall not apply to Accessory Dwelling Units, Guest Houses and Pool Houses.

3. Emergency Generators may utilize fuel gas.

4. If the applicant establishes that there is not an all-electric prescriptive compliance pathway for the building system under the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards, and that the building is not able to achieve the performance compliance Standard applicable to the building under the Energy Efficiency Standards using Commercially available technology and an approved calculation method, then the local enforcing agency may grant a modification. The applicant shall comply with Section 4.106.5.2.

Inactive Fuel Gas Infrastructure may be extended to spaces that are anticipated to qualify for the exceptions contained in this chapter. The inactive Fuel Gas Infrastructure shall not be activated, have a meter installed, or otherwise used unless the exemptions specified in this chapter have been confirmed as part of the issuance of a building permit. If the Fuel Gas Infrastructure is no longer serving one of the exceptions contained in this chapter, it shall either be capped, otherwise terminated, or removed by the entity previously entitled to the exemption, in a manner pursuant to all applicable Codes.

Town of Atherton shall have the authority to approve alternative materials, design and methods of construction or equipment per California Building Code Section 104.

4.106.5.2 Requirements for combustion equipment.

Where combustion equipment is allowed per Exceptions under 4.106.5.1, the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electrical heating appliance in the following ways, as certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor:

1. Branch circuit wiring, electrically isolated and designed to serve all electrical heating appliances in accordance with manufacturer requirements and the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage, and an electrical receptacle or junction box within five feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

2. Labeling of both ends of the unused conductors or conduit shall be with “For Future Electrical Appliance”; and

3. Reserved circuit breakers in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled (i.e., “Reserved for Future Electric Range”), and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

4. Connected subpanels, panelboards, switchboards, busbars, and transformers shall be sized to serve the future electrical heating appliances. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electric Code; and

5. Physical space for future electrical heating appliances, including equipment footprint, and if needed a pathway reserved for routing of ductwork to heat pump evaporator(s), shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for future electrical heating appliances may overlap with non-structural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.

CHAPTER 5 – NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES

Division 5.1 PLANNING AND DESIGN

SECTION 5.106 - SITE DEVELOPMENT

5.106.13 All-electric buildings. New construction buildings shall comply with Section 5.106.13.1 or 5.106.13.2 so that they do not use combustion equipment or are ready to facilitate future electrification.

5.106.13.1. New construction. All newly constructed nonresidential buildings shall be all-electric buildings.

Tenant improvements shall not be considered new construction. The final determination whether a project meets the definition of substantial reconstruction/alteration shall be made by the local enforcing agency.

Exceptions:

1. Nonresidential buildings containing kitchens located in a place of public accommodation, as defined in the California Building Code Chapter 2, may apply to the local enforcing agency for a modification to install commercial food heat-processing equipment served by fuel gas. The local enforcing agency may grant the modification if they find:

a. The need cannot be achieved equivalently with an electric heating appliance; and

b. The applicant has installed energy efficient equipment based on Energy Star or California Energy Wise qualifications, as available.

The applicant shall comply with Section 5.106.13.2.

2. If the applicant establishes that there is not an all-electric prescriptive compliance pathway for the building system under the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards, and that the building is not able to achieve the performance compliance standard applicable to the building under the Energy Efficiency Standards using commercially available technology and an approved calculation method, then the local enforcing agency may grant a modification. The applicant shall comply with Section 5.106.13.2

5.106.13.2. Requirements for combustion equipment.

Where combustion equipment is allowed per exceptions under Section 5.106.13.1, the construction drawings shall indicate electrical infrastructure and physical space accommodating the future installation of an electrical heating appliance in the following ways, as certified by a registered design professional or licensed electrical contractor:

1. Branch circuit wiring, electrically isolated and designed to serve all electrical heating appliances in accordance with manufacturer requirements and the California Electrical Code, including the appropriate voltage, phase, minimum amperage, and an electrical receptacle or junction box within five feet of the appliance that is accessible with no obstructions. Appropriately sized conduit may be installed in lieu of conductors; and

2. Labeling of both ends of the unused conductors or conduit shall be with “For Future Electrical Appliance”; and

3. Reserved circuit breakers in the electrical panel for each branch circuit, appropriately labeled (i.e., “Reserved for Future Electric Range”), and positioned on the opposite end of the panel supply conductor connection; and

4. Connected subpanels, panelboards, switchboards, busbars, and transformers shall be sized to serve the future electrical heating appliances. The electrical capacity requirements shall be adjusted for demand factors in accordance with the California Electric Code; and

5. Physical space for future electrical heating appliances, including equipment footprint, and if needed a pathway reserved for routing of ductwork to heat pump evaporator(s), shall be depicted on the construction drawings. The footprint necessary for future electrical heating appliances may overlap with non-structural partitions and with the location of currently designed combustion equipment.