3.9.1.1 System Loads and Configuration

90.1-2019

Water Heating System Name

Applicability

All water heating systems

Definition

A unique descriptor for each water heating system. A system consists of one or more water heaters, a distribution system, an estimate of hot water use, and a schedule for that use. Nonresidential buildings will typically have multiple systems, perhaps a separate electric water heater for each office break room, etc. Other building types such as hotels and hospitals may have a single system serving the entire building.

Units

Text, unique

Input Restrictions

Where applicable, this should match the tags that are used on the plans such that a plan reviewer can make a connection

Baseline Building

The naming convention for the baseline building system shall be similar to the proposed design

 

Water Heating Peak Use

Applicability

All water heating systems, required

Definition

An indication of the peak hot water usage (e.g., service to sinks, showers, and kitchen appliances). When specified per occupant, this value is multiplied by design occupancy density values and modified by service water heating schedules to obtain hourly load values that are used in the simulation.

Peak consumption is commonly specified as gallons per hour per occupant, dwelling unit, hotel room, patient room, or floor area. If consumption is specified in gallons per hour, then additional inputs would be needed such as supply temperature, cold water inlet temperature, etc.

It is also common to specify peak use as a thermal load in Btu/h. In the latter case, there is an implied assumption for the cold water inlet temperature, supply temperature, distribution losses, and other factors. The thermal load does not include conversion efficiencies of water heating equipment.

Units

Btu/h or gallons/h

Input Restrictions

As designed. If these values are not available, the hot water use specified in COMNET Appendix B (COMNET 2017) may be used.

Baseline Building

Hot water consumption or load in the baseline building shall be the same as the proposed design, except in cases where:

  • A specific measure is specified for the proposed design that will reduce water consumption. Examples of such measures include low-flow terminal devices or controls. The baseline flow rates shall be determined based on prescriptive requirements in Standard 90.1-2019. When no such prescriptive requirement exists, it shall be equal to requirements of other efficiency or equipment codes or standards applicable to the design of the building systems and equipment.
  • SHW energy consumption can be demonstrated to be reduced by increasing makeup water temperature or reducing SHW temperature (e.g., alternative sanitizing technologies for dishwashing and heat recovery to entering makeup water).
  • SHW energy consumption can be demonstrated to be reduced by reducing the hot fraction of mixed water. Examples include heat recovery laundry or showers drains.

NOTE: Calculations need to be provided to support the difference in service hot water loads between the proposed and baseline model.

 

Water Heating Schedule

Applicability

All water heating systems

Definition

A fractional schedule reflecting the time pattern of water heating use. This input modifies the water heating peak use, described above.

Units

Data structure: schedule, fractional

Input Restrictions

If known, anticipated schedules shall be used. If not known, the schedules from COMNET Appendix C (COMNET 2017) may be used.

Baseline Building

Hot water schedules for the baseline building shall be the same as the proposed design, except in cases where a specific measure is specified for the proposed design that will reduce water consumption and the impact of the measure can be best approximated through an adjustment to the schedule. In general, such measures would be addressed through an adjustment to the water heating, peak use (see above).

 

Water Heating System Configuration

Applicability

All water heating systems

Definition

The configuration and layout of the water heating system, including the number of water heaters; the size, location, recirculation systems and pumps; and any other details about the system that would affect the energy model. Piping heat losses shall not be modeled per Standard 90.1-2019.

Units

Data structure

Input Restrictions

None

Baseline Building

The number of water heaters in the baseline building are dependent on the building area types. Section 3.9.1.2 discusses the requirements for the baseline building model.

 

Water Mains Temperature Schedule

Applicability

All water heating systems

 

Definition

A monthly temperature schedule indicating the water mains temperature. This temperature and the setpoint temperature are used to convert the load into a water flow rate.

 

Units

Data structure: schedule, °F

 

Input Restrictions

Entering water temperature can be defaulted to the values in Table 95 or provided by the user

 

Baseline Building

Same as proposed

Table 95. Defaults for Water Mains Temperature Based on Climate Zone

Monthly Average

Water Main Supply Temp (°F)

 

1A

1B

2A

2B

3A

3B

3C

4A

4B

4C

5A

5B

5C

6A

6B

7

8

January

76.5

70.2

64.6

65.8

56.5

59.4

59.7

50.8

52.3

52.9

45.5

48

50.6

43.1

43.1

37.6

32

February

77.1

72.2

65

67.3

56.4

59.5

59.5

50

51.7

52.3

44.1

47

49.9

41.6

41.6

35.6

32

March

79

77.6

67.9

72.2

59.5

62.4

60.1

52.2

53.8

53.4

45.8

48.7

50.7

42.7

42.5

36.1

32

April

81.7

85.1

72.7

79.5

65

67.4

61.5

57

58.3

56.1

50.1

53.1

52.7

46.4

45.6

39

32

May

84.6

92.6

77.9

87.2

71.6

73.3

63.2

63.1

64

59.5

56

58.8

55.5

51.6

50.2

43.5

32.9

June

86.8

98.1

82.3

93.1

77.4

78.4

64.8

68.9

69.3

62.9

61.9

64.3

58.3

57

54.9

48.5

36.9

July

87.7

100.2

84.6

95.8

80.8

81.3

65.9

72.7

72.8

65.2

66.2

68.2

60.4

61.1

58.6

52.6

40.7

August

87.1

98.1

84.2

94.3

80.9

81.3

66.1

73.6

73.5

65.9

67.6

69.4

61.1

62.8

60.2

54.7

43.1

September

85.1

92.6

81.2

89.2

77.8

78.3

65.4

71.3

71.3

64.7

65.9

67.6

60.3

61.6

59.2

54.2

43.4

October

82.4

85.1

76.4

81.8

72.2

73.2

64

66.4

66.7

62

61.5

63.2

58.2

57.9

56

51.3

41.5

November

79.5

77.6

71.1

74.2

65.6

67.3

62.3

60.3

61

58.5

55.6

57.5

55.4

52.6

51.4

46.7

38

December

77.4

72.2

66.8

68.3

59.9

62.3

60.7

54.6

55.8

55.2

49.7

51.9

52.6

47.2

46.7

41.7

33.8