Energy Tech Laboratories Homes Northwest manual Closed Loop Ground Heat Exchangers

1.0CLOSED LOOP GROUND HEAT EXCHANGERS

1.1Installation Personnel and Training Required.

1.1.1The loop contractor shall have a certified installer (technician) trained by IGSHPA or an IGSHPA certified manufacturer's training program.

1.1.2Ground heat exchanger fabricators shall have completed a heat fusion school in which each participant has performed a heat fusion procedure under direct supervision of an IGSHPA Association Certified Heat Fusion Technician or DOT certified heat fusion technician.

1.1.3Certified technicians shall attend a retraining school annually. A single failure of a fusion joint will void the certification, and the technician shall be retested to demonstrate satisfactory performance.

1.1.4Local and State laws and ordinances as they pertain to buried pipe systems shall be strictly followed, or the necessary variance obtained from the proper jurisdiction.

1.2System Sizing

1.2.1The recommended method and form for heating and cooling load calculations is available in the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J. This or an equivalent method shall be performed using Component U-values and F-values in the heat loss and heat gain coefficients that reflect the actual construction of the building. Heating loss calculations shall be made using 70°F indoor design temperature. The recommended ASHRAE winter design temperature and cooling design temperature for the nearest weather station representative of the installation shall be used. Heat pump system shall be sized to meet or exceed the heating design load of the house. Installed auxiliary heating shall not exceed 150% of the heating design load. All supplemental heaters greater than 5 kW shall be staged. Sizing documentation shall be provided to the ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest Verifier.

1.3Thermostats

1.3.1An electronic thermostat shall be installed to control the heating and cooling system. Thermostats used for both heating and cooling shall have a manual changeover feature or heating/cooling lockout to prevent cross-cycling between heating and cooling.

1.3.2Heat Pump Thermostat Capability: Heat pump thermostats shall have the capability of supporting a lock out to limit supplemental heater use. The thermostat shall have a minimum of two stage heating control.

ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest 1

Geothermal Heat Pump Design and Installation Standards