Rating Standards & Compliance Flashcards
7 cards from real HERS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Rating Standards & Compliance flashcards as text
For a multifamily building with three or fewer stories, which HERS rating standard applies?
Answer: ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 for low-rise residential
Low-rise multifamily buildings (three stories or fewer above grade) are rated under ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301, the same standard as single-family homes.
A builder asks a HERS rater to rate only the insulation and air sealing and skip duct testing to save time. The rater should:
Answer: Decline — a confirmed rating requires all required inspections and tests
RESNET standards require all mandatory inspections and tests to be completed for a valid confirmed rating; partial ratings are not permissible.
Under RESNET's HERS rating standards, 'thermal bypass' defects discovered during inspection must be:
Answer: Documented as-built and included in the rating model accurately
All as-built conditions including thermal bypasses must be documented and modeled accurately regardless of their effect on the final HERS score.
A HERS rater's certification lapses due to missed continuing education requirements. What is the immediate consequence?
Answer: The rater cannot perform or submit HERS ratings until recertification is complete
A lapsed HERS certification means the rater is not authorized to perform or submit ratings until all recertification requirements are fulfilled.
Which aspect of a home's window specifications is directly input into HERS rating software to calculate energy performance?
Answer: U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
HERS rating software requires window U-factor (thermal conductance) and SHGC (solar gain) values to calculate heating, cooling, and lighting loads.
When a home's heating system is not yet installed at the time of the confirmed rating, the rater should:
Answer: Postpone the confirmed rating until the system is installed and tested
A confirmed rating requires all systems to be installed and verifiable; the rating must be postponed until the heating system is installed.
What is the RESNET-defined role of a 'Rating Provider' in the HERS certification ecosystem?
Answer: An accredited organization responsible for training, certifying, and quality-assuring HERS raters
RESNET-accredited Rating Providers are the organizational backbone of the HERS system, responsible for rater training, certification, quality assurance, and file management.