Effective January 1, 2017, California Title 24, Part 6 requires Non-Residential Mechanical Acceptance Testing of the mechanical systems that are installed as part of new construction and renovation/replacement projects.

Acceptance tests demonstrate compliance with 2013/2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for mechanical systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in newly constructed buildings, as well as additions and alterations to existing buildings, including equipment replacement.

California Energy Commission Acceptance Testing Requirements:

• Prior to applying for a permit to install HVAC equipment, the installing contractor, equipment specifying engineering, or architect must complete and submit to the permit issuing authority the appropriate completed compliance forms.
• Permit issuing authorities require upon completion of installation that acceptance testing be performed and that the equipment pass a construction inspection and a functional test before a permit can be closed.
• The acceptance test must be conducted by a Certified Acceptance Test Technician "ATT" and the ATT must be employed by a Certified Acceptance Test Employer "ATE” at the time of testing.
• The Acceptance Testing Technician Certification Provider "ATTCP" must conduct an onsite audit of no less than 1% of a technician's acceptance forms.
• The required compliance and acceptance forms must be signed and recorded in the registry by the ATT, ATE, Document Author, and Responsible Person.
• Permit issuing authorities may not close a permit unless all required documents are submitted and the acceptance forms bear the registry watermark and unique ID specific to both the form and the project.