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SQA Trending Statewide Nonconformance

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To: EmPower+ Contractors
Regarding Programs: EmPower+
Summary: SQA trending statewide nonconformance
Contact: Amy Kasson-Muzio; [email protected]

Dear Stakeholders,

The NYSERDA Standards and Quality Assurance, SQA, team regularly reviews statewide trends of nonconformances identified during Quality Assurance inspections. To assist contractors by enhancing their internal Quality Control, the SQA team will be sending out emails to contractors who have received the trending statewide nonconformance identified at least once during a Quality Assurance inspection. The emails sent to contractors will contain the nonconformance identified during one or more inspections performed over the past year from the installed energy efficient projects.

The goal is to ensure the installation of the safest and most reliable energy efficient projects for all households throughout New York. The SQA team will assist contractors to successfully pass all inspections and answer questions.

Below is an example of a trending statewide nonconformance identified:

REQUIREMENT: Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) safety issues have been corrected.

NONCONFORMANCE DESCRIPTION: CAZ and appliance related safety issues have been corrected per ANSI/BPI-1200 Sections 7.8.1.1, 7.8.1.3, 7.8.1.5, 7.8.2.2 and 7.8.4.

The most common reasons why this nonconformance is identified are because:

  • Vent/flue/connector piping does not have the minimum clearance from combustible materials per BPI-1200 and NYS Residential Code
  • Unintended vent/flue/connector openings causing leakage (corrosion, broken fittings, detached piping/fittings)
  • Vent/flue connector is not pitched up from the appliance connection point to the chimney/vent connection.

To avoid this nonconformance we highly encourage the leadership and crew members to:

  • Maintain minimum required clearances between insulation, chimneys, vents and connectors. Repairs made to single wall vents and appliance connectors, such as holes made for combustion analysis should be covered with materials approved by NYS code, use of snap in metal plugs are recommended, foil tapes do not meet minimum code material requirements.
  • Replace/repair vents, flues, connectors to address leakage and improper pitch, this work scope item should be included as a health and safety measure.
  • Where the existing appliance flue outlet is too tall to install the flue/connector with the proper pitch per the appliance manufacturer specifications and/or code include replacement of the appliance with a heat pump or combustion appliance with a flue outlet that is low enough, for example a short gas fired hot water heater. This work scope item should be discussed with your account manager and should be included in the work scope as a health and safety measure for program review.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, please submit to:

[email protected]

We appreciate the hard work and effort put forth by all installers.

Sincerely,The Standards and Quality Assurance Team