Overview of the Reference Method
The Reference Method is a series of tests designed to verify that Compliance Software meets the certification requirements defined by the CA Energy Commission. These tests are described in Chapter 3 of the Nonresidential Alternative Calculation Method (NACM) Manual.
The Reference Method consists of two test suites:
- Software Sensitivity Tests - A series of quantitative tests
designed to demonstrate that Compliance Software tools produce acceptable
simulation results. The tests are conducted by performing a pair of
simulations. The first simulation model is called the base case; the second
simulation model is setup by modifying one or more parameters of the base case.
The simulations are run and the change in TDV energy between the two runs is
calculated.
Applicant Compliance Software tools must perform these tests and record the results. These results are compared to the CA Energy Commission's Reference Results. The Reference Results were generated using the Energy Commission's Reference Software, EnergyPlus v8.0. The applicant software must generate comparable results in terms of the change in TDV energy. Absolute energy consumption results are also recorded, but the pass/fail criteria is dependent on the change in TDV energy.
The full specifications of the Software Sensitivity Tests are described in the NACM Chapter 3, Section 3.5. Additionally, the full details of each simulation model are described in the NACM Appendix 3A and the Reference Results are provided in NACM Appendix 3B.
- Ruleset Implementation Tests - A series of qualitative tests
designed to demonstrate that Compliance Software tools can accurately and
automatically produce the Standard Design (baseline) building model as
described in the NACM Reference Manual. The tests are conducted by producing an
input file (the "User Model") with several parameters that do not meet the
Standard Design requirements. The User Model must be processed by the
Compliance Software to generate the compliance models ("Proposed Model" and
"Baseline Model"). The Proposed and Baseline Models are then reviewed to verify
that the "non-compliant" parameters have been replaced as described in the NACM
Reference Manual.
The full specifications of the Ruleset Implementation Tests are described in the NACM Chapter 3, Section 3.4. Additionally, the full details of each test case are described in the NACM Appendix 3C.
Download the NACM Reference Method Documentation
The NACM Reference Method materials are available for download here.
CBECC-Com 2016.2.1
- Simplified Geometry - Streamlined Set
- Detailed Geometry (DG) - Full Set