V8 File QA Q15: FoundationWalls

PHOTOS REQUIRED per ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 APPENDIX B and HERS® Standards Chapter 9 at several site locations and in sufficient detail to confirm that the foundation wall types, thicknesses & studs; insulation R-values, grades & dimensions; lengths & heights; heights above & depths below grade; orientations; and locations which are entered into the software correspond with field-verified plans and/or field data collected by the Rater/RFI for the actual condition of the rated home. If the as-built dwelling unit and model does not have any insulation present, a photo is not required for that foundation wall type. A minimum of one wideout photo is required for each foundation wall type that exists. Raters/RFIs are responsible for documenting reasons for missing the minimum requirement for photos of each foundation wall type that exists in the dwelling unit. Typically, Raters/RFIs are not present when exterior continuous insulation is installed before the foundation wall is backfilled with earth, and are therefore not able to collect full photo documentation. In this situation, the builder can provide the foundation wall insulation photos and documentation for the home. The QAD should verify that the documentation provided is sufficient to confirm the quality and accuracy of the installation. Many of these items may not be visible or accessible at a final inspection, the rater should provide photo documentation of the elements that are still visible at this stage. *Be sure that where multiple foundation wall types exist, they are handled separately, including where their “location” with respect to conditioned areas of the home may vary between wall types and within the same wall type.

SCORING: (These errors are assessed per modeled wall, the same error can occur multiple times on each foundation wall type that exists and should be added to the overall total) "Satisfactory": When all mandatory photos are provided, and no errors in modeling "1": one to two minor errors in modeling (listed below) (this is per modeled wall) "2": three to four minor errors (listed below) in modeling OR one to two major errors in modeling (this is per modeled wall) "3": five or more minor errors (listed below) OR three or more major errors in modeling (listed below) (this is per modeled wall)"Missing Photo": One or more of the mandatory photos are missing, and no errors in modeling "Missing Photo + "1": One or more of the mandatory photos are missing, plus "1" per scoring above "Missing Photo + "2": One or more of the mandatory photos are missing, plus "2" per scoring above "Missing Photo + "3": One or more of the mandatory photos are missing, plus "3" per scoring above "N/A": No Foundation Wall present in the home

GUIDANCE: Minor Foundation Wall Modeling Errors:

• Insulation thickness of each modeled Foundation Wall (not including framing) off by 0.5 to 1.0 inch
• Incorrect Foundation Wall Construction Type modeled
• If the wall is framed out and finished on the interior, Incorrect Foundation Wall Studs Type modeled
• Insulation R-Value of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 5% to 10%
• If Continuous Insulation, Top of Wall to Top of Continuous Insulation of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 0.5 to 1.0 foot
• If Continuous Insulation, Top of Wall to Bottom of Continuous Insulation of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 0.5 to 1.0 foot
• If Stud/Cavity Layer, Incorrect Insulation Material of each Foundation Wall modeled
• If Stud/Cavity Layer, Incorrect Stud Type of each Foundation Wall modeled
• If Stud/Cavity Layer, Incorrect Sheetrock Thickness of each Foundation Wall modeled
• Height Above Grade of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 0.5 to 1.0 foot (distance from grade level to the top of the foundation wall)
• Depth Below Grade of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 0.5 to 1.0 foot (distance from grade level to the top of the slab floor)
• Total Horizontal Exterior Perimeter Length of each modeled Foundation Wall off by 5% to 10%
• Incorrect Enclosure of each Foundation Wall modeled
• Incorrect Location of each Foundation Wall modeled

Major Foundation Wall Modeling Errors:

• Insulation thickness of each modeled Foundation Wall (not including framing) off by greater than 1.0 inch
• Insulation R-Value of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 10%
• Incorrect Insulation Grade of each modeled Foundation Wall (based on ANSI/RESNET/ICC 301 Appendix A depth/void variance for insulation type and grade)
• If Continuous Insulation, Top of Wall to Top of Continuous Insulation of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 1.0 foot
• If Continuous Insulation, Top of Wall to Bottom of Continuous Insulation of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 1.0 foot
• If Stud/Cavity Layer, Incorrect stud depth, spacing, or framing fraction modeled
• Height Above Grade of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 1.0 foot (distance from grade level to the top of the foundation wall)
• Depth Below Grade of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 1.0 foot (distance from grade level to the top of the slab floor)
• Total Horizontal Exterior Perimeter Length of each modeled Foundation Wall off by greater than 10%
• Assigns Foundation Wall to incorrect orientation