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REScheck Compliance Methods
REScheck is designed to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) Model Energy Code (MEC) and the International Code Council (ICC) International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). REScheck includes three compliance methods: prescriptive packages (and a web-based package generator), trade-off worksheet, and software. It is important to note that regardless of which compliance method is used, there are certain general requirements that must also be met.
Prescriptive Packages
The prescriptive package approach is the simplest of the REScheck compliance approaches. With this approach, you select a package of insulation and window requirements from a list of packages developed for a specific climate zone (packages are separated into single-family and multifamily). Each package specifies insulation levels, glazing areas, glazing U-factors, and sometimes heating and cooling equipment efficiency. Once selected, simply meet or exceed all requirements listed in the package to achieve compliance. One advantage of the prescriptive package approach over the trade-off and software approaches is that many of the building component areas are not required to be known. Only one calculation, glazing area percentage, is required.
View packages in your state and climate zone
Learn more about the Prescriptive Package approach
See the compliance worksheet
REScheck Package Generator
Rather than the traditional approach of following pre-determined prescriptive packages for code compliance, the package generator allows you to generate your own code-compliant insulation and window packages based on building location, window-to-wall ratio, and your choice of insulation levels. Select a package you desire and print or save (in PDF) a Compliance Report and Inspection Checklist.
Trade-off Worksheet
The trade-off approach is a "pencil-and-paper" approach. This approach allows you to trade off insulation and window efficiency levels in different parts of the building. You can trade off ceiling, wall, floor, basement wall, and crawl space wall insulation; glazing and door areas; and glazing and door U-factors. The trade-off approach calculates whether your home as a whole meets the overall insulation and window requirements of the code. This approach is allowed in the 2000 IECC and gives more flexibility than the prescriptive approach as each individual envelope requirement of the code does not have to be met. The trade offs normally focus on the envelope component requirements only.
REScheck Software
The software approach is the most flexible of the compliance approaches. The software allows trade-offs among all building envelope components and heating and cooling equipment efficiencies. With minimal input, you can quickly compare different insulation levels to select what works best for your proposed building. Unlike the prescriptive package and trade-off approaches, the software approach allows you to trade off basement wall, slab-edge, and crawl space wall insulation depth as well as insulation R-value. The software automatically generates a report that can be submitted for plan review to document compliance. An inspection checklist is also generated which details the general requirements as well as the specific building components the user has described.
The REScheck software is available in both a desktop and online version. The desktop version, simply called REScheck, is available for both PC and Mac systems. The online version, REScheck-Web, performs just like the desktop version but requires no download or installation.
How does it work?
REScheck performs a simple U-factor x Area (UA) calculation for each building assembly to determine the overall UA of your building. The UA that would result from a building conforming to the code requirements is compared against the UA for your building. If the total heat loss (represented as a UA) through the envelope of your building does not exceed the total heat loss from the same building conforming to the code, then the software declares that you pass. A high-efficiency equipment trade-off can also be performed.
What types of buildings are involved?
REScheck is appropriate for insulation and window trade-off calculations in residential detached one- and two-family buildings (referred to as single-family buildings) and multifamily buildings (such as apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and rowhouses). Multifamily buildings include residential buildings three stories or less in height with three or more attached dwelling units. See Scope of the IECC
What kind of reports does it produce?
The REScheck software generates a report that lists the insulation and window efficiency levels of your proposed building, as well as an inspection checklist listing the additional basic requirements found in the code.
Note: Some states/jurisdictions have their own versions of the Windows REScheck software. These versions include specific example files and contact information. State-specific versions are listed on the web page once you click on the link.
Summary
- The REScheck prescriptive package approach is the simplest compliance approach and involves selecting a package of insulation and window requirements from a list of packages developed for a specific climate zone. This approach involves: 1) meeting all general requirements, 2) calculating the glazing area percentage, 3) looking up your climate zone, 4) finding a package that works for you, and 4) completing the worksheet.
- The REScheck trade-off approach allows you to trade off insulation and window efficiency levels in different parts of the building. This approach involves: 1) meeting all general requirements, 2) calculating the necessary U-factors, and 3) completing the worksheet.
- The REScheck software approach is the most flexible approach and allows trade offs between all building envelope components and heating and cooling equipment efficiencies. This approach involves: 1) meeting all general requirements, 2) knowing the gross areas of the building envelope components, 3) entering the building information into the software, and 4) printing and signing the Compliance Report and Inspection Checklist.
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