Title 24 · California Energy Code
What mechanical acceptance/functional tests and certificates are required before occupancy?
Before a building gets final occupancy, the California Mechanical Code (Appendix E) requires specific functional tests on mechanical systems (forms MECH‑2A through MECH‑15A). A qualified field technician performs and signs each test form, a responsible contractor or design professional reviews and signs those forms, and the signed Certificates of Acceptance must be submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction—otherwise the final Certificate of Occupancy will not be released. file
Last reviewed: July 6, 2026
What the code requires — 2-4 sentences
Functional (commissioning) tests are required on new and retrofit mechanical equipment/systems and the results must be recorded on the appropriate Certificate of Acceptance forms before final occupancy is issued. The list of required tests (Forms MECH‑2A through MECH‑15A) is specified in § E804.2 and the general requirement to perform and submit those tests is in § E804.1. The acceptance process (plan review, construction inspection, field testing, and signature blocks for the Field Technician and Responsible Person) is prescribed in § E804.3, and the Authority Having Jurisdiction will not issue a final Certificate of Occupancy until the required certificates are submitted.
The single most important rule: the final certificate of occupancy cannot be released until the required signed Certificates of Acceptance are submitted and available to the enforcement agency (see § E804.3.4).
Requirements in detail
Which systems must be functionally tested (overview)
The code lists the specific required functional tests and the corresponding certificate form to be used. The list in § E804.2 requires testing for systems including (but not limited to) minimum ventilation controls, zone controls, duct leakage, economizers, demand-controlled ventilation, supply fan variable flow, hydronic valve leakage and variable-flow controls, water temperature reset, automatic demand shed, fault detection/diagnostics, distributed energy storage DX AC systems, and thermal energy storage — Forms MECH‑2A through MECH‑15A.
Who does the work and signs
- The Field Technician performs the field acceptance procedures and must sign the certificate to attest the test results are true and correct. § E804.3.3 / § E803.2.1.1.
- The Responsible Person (installing contractor or registered design professional of record) reviews the field results, signs the certificate to take responsibility for the scope, and may also perform the field tests and sign both blocks when applicable. § E803.2.1.2 / § E804.3.3.
What must happen before testing
Prior to any field functional testing there must be a construction inspection to verify that equipment is installed, calibrated, and capable of complying with the test requirements — this is required by § E804.3.2. The installation of supporting systems required for proper operation must be completed before testing.
Certificate filing and occupancy
Completed, signed Certificates of Acceptance must be posted or made available with the building permit(s) and provided to the Authority Having Jurisdiction; the final Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until they are submitted. § E804.3.4.
Decision‑relevant table (required forms, key metric, when required)
| System / Test (Form) | When required (typical trigger) | Main acceptance metric(s) / pass criteria | Code reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum ventilation controls (MECH‑2A) | Constant & variable air volume AHUs serving occupied spaces | Measured outdoor airflow within ±10% of compliance value at test conditions; controls stabilize within 5 minutes | § E804.2 / § E805.1.2 file |
| Zone temp & scheduling controls (MECH‑3A) | Single‑zone unitary/constant‑volume systems | Thermostat location, programming, supply fan, heating/cooling/damper operation per test steps | § E804.2 / § E805.3.1 file |
| Duct leakage (MECH‑4A) | Small single‑zone systems (subset by duct location) | Duct tightness per the procedures on the form | § E804.2 |
| Air economizer controls (MECH‑5A) | Units with economizers not factory‑tested | Dampers travel to 100% outdoor air in economizer mode; lockout setpoints and sensor locations per criteria | § E804.2 / § E805.5.2 file |
| Demand‑controlled ventilation (MECH‑6A) | Systems using DCV (CO2‑based) | CO2 sensor calibration; sensor location 3–6 ft above floor; setpoint ≤ allowed (see acceptance); operation at high/low CO2 | § E804.2 / § E805.6.2 file |
| Supply fan variable flow (MECH‑7A) | VAV systems with variable‑flow supply fans | Fan modulation and controls verified at two representative flows (see procedure) | § E804.2 / § E805.1 file |
| Valve leakage (MECH‑8A) | Hydronic variable‑flow systems; isolation valves in plants with multiple chillers/boilers | Valve leakage criteria documented on form | § E804.2 |
| Supply water temp reset (MECH‑9A) | Water systems with temperature reset strategies | Controls programmed into BAS and verified | § E804.2 |
| Hydronic variable flow (MECH‑10A) | Systems with pumps controlled by VFDs (pumps > 5 hp referenced for context) | Pump speed changes, pressure within ±5%, system stabilizes within 5 minutes | § E804.2 / § E805.10.2 file |
| Automatic demand shed (MECH‑11A) | Buildings with central demand‑shed sequences | Controls change noncritical zone setpoints on activation and restore on release | § E804.2 / § E805.11.2 file |
| FDD for DX units (MECH‑12A) | Packaged DX units with FDD systems | Verification that common faults are detected and reported | § E804.2 / § E805.12 file |
| AFDD systems (MECH‑13A) | Automatic fault detection & diagnostics | Controls and detection verified; no extra instrumentation required for many checks | § E804.2 / certificate examples file |
| Distributed energy storage DX AC (MECH‑14A) | DES/DX AC systems | Functional steps (night setback, load simulation); tank level, model verification | § E804.2 / acceptance form details file |
| Thermal energy storage (MECH‑15A) | TES systems | Certificate of Compliance data for chiller & tank; functional checks per form | § E804.2 / § E805.15 (forms) file |
(Each form contains specific construction‑inspection checklist items, stepwise functional tests, pass/fail boxes, and signature blocks. See § E804.2 and the forms in Section E806.0 for the full forms.) file
Typical acceptance criteria examples (explicit thresholds)
- Outdoor air flow: measured outdoor airflow must be within ±10% of the certificate of compliance value at the test conditions (minimum airflow and ~30% design flow) — see § E805.1.2 / § E805.2.2.
- Control stabilization: applicable controls should stabilize within 5 minutes after initiating test conditions — used in several tests (VAV, hydronic, etc.) (see test sections for each system). file
- Hydronic pressure tolerance: differential pressure or system pressure must be within ±5% of the operating setpoint during variable‑flow tests. § E805.10.2.
- DCV CO2 setpoint: interior CO2 setpoint not more than 600 ppm above outdoor where dynamically measured (or 1000 ppm where no OSA sensor) in acceptance criteria. § E805.6.2.
- Economizer: outdoor air damper must reach 100% open in economizer mode for applicable units; factory‑certified economizers may accept a factory certificate in lieu of field tests. § E805.5.2.
Exceptions & special cases
- Factory‑tested and certified economizers may be accepted with a valid factory certificate; no additional field tests are required for those units (see § E805.5.2(1)).
- Some small single‑zone systems are only a subset of the duct leakage tests depending on duct location — check MECH‑4A applicability in § E804.2 and the form instructions.
- A Responsible Person may act as the Field Technician and sign both signature blocks when qualified; the forms allow that arrangement but the responsible person then assumes the technician’s attestations (see § E803.2.1.1–.2 / § E804.3.3). file
If a specific test or system is not listed in § E804.2, the appendix does not require that form — consult the Authority Having Jurisdiction for local requirements or additional testing requested by plan review. The retrieved text contains the list in § E804.2; if you expect another system to be required, verify with your AHJ.
Common mistakes
- Submitting unsigned or incompletely filled Certificates of Acceptance — the AHJ will not release final occupancy without completed, signed forms (§ E804.3.4).
- Running tests before completing construction inspection items (instruments, sensors, pumps, BAS interfaces) — construction inspection and calibration must be documented before or at the time of testing (§ E804.3.2).
- Ignoring factory‑certified exceptions (e.g., relying on field tests when a valid factory certificate suffices) — check the economizer and FDD sections for permitted factory certificate acceptance. § E805.5.2(1) and related form notes.
- Using wrong test conditions (e.g., measuring outdoor air only at full design flow instead of at the required test points such as minimum and ~30% of design). See the stepwise test procedures in the specific test sections.
Worked example — VAV / AHU outdoor air acceptance (concrete numbers)
Scenario: A single air‑handling unit (AHU) serving an office floor has a certified total outdoor air requirement of 10,000 CFM on the Certificate of Compliance. The AHU is variable‑air‑volume (VAV) and must be tested at (a) minimum system airflow and (b) 30% of total design airflow per the test procedure.
Determine the two test flows:
- Minimum system airflow (from design docs) = 2,000 CFM (example).
- 30% of total design airflow = 0.30 × 10,000 = 3,000 CFM.
Measure outdoor air at each test condition and compare to the Certificate of Compliance total ventilation value:
- Acceptance tolerance: measured outdoor airflow must be within ±10% of the compliance value at each condition (§ E805.1.2).
- At 2,000 CFM system flow, suppose measured outdoor airflow = 1900 CFM → deviation = (1900/2000 − 1) = −5% → PASS (within ±10%).
- At 3,000 CFM system flow, suppose measured outdoor airflow = 3250 CFM → deviation = +8.3% → PASS (within ±10%).
Controls must stabilize within 5 minutes after adjustments. If control response takes 8 minutes, document the failure, correct the cause, and repeat the test until the stabilization criterion is met (§ E805.1.1.2 / § E805.1.2).
Record results on Form MECH‑2A, have the Field Technician sign the form, have the Responsible Person review and sign, and submit the completed certificate to the AHJ prior to final occupancy per § E804.3.4. file
Related provisions
- § E804.1 — Functional tests required on new and retrofit equipment (general statement).
- § E804.2 — Enumerated list of required tests and corresponding forms (MECH‑2A through MECH‑15A).
- § E804.3 — Acceptance process, plan review, construction inspection, testing, certificates and signatures.
- § E805.1 – E805.12 — System‑specific test procedures and acceptance criteria (see sections for VAV/CAV, economizers, DCV, hydronic, FDD, etc.). filefile
- Section E806.0 — Certificate of Acceptance forms and required signature blocks (see individual MECH‑ forms for detail).
Code references
Grounded in the retrieved California Energy Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:
§ 804.3.2 High relevance — show source text
This is typically done prior to signing a certificate of compliance. E 804.3.2 Construction Inspection. The installing contractor, registered design professional of record, owner’s agent, or the person responsible for certification of the acceptance testing on the certificate of acceptance (responsible person) shall perform a construction inspection prior to testing to ensure that the equipment that is installed is capable of complying with the requirements of this appendix and is calibrated. The installation of associated systems and equipment necessary for proper system operation is required to be completed prior to the testing.
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APPENDIX E
E 804.3.3 Acceptance Testing. One or more field technicians shall perform the acceptance testing; identify performance deficiencies; ensure that they are corrected; and where necessary, repeat the acceptance procedures until the specified systems and equipment are performing in accordance with the acceptance requirements. The field technician who performs the testing shall sign the certificate of acceptance to certify the information has been provided to document the results of the acceptance procedures is true and correct.
The responsible person shall review the test results from the acceptance requirement procedures provided by the field technician and sign the certificate of acceptance to certify compliance with the acceptance requirements. The responsible person shall be permitted to perform the field technician’s responsibilities, and shall then sign the field technician declaration on the certificate of acceptance to certify that the information on the form is true and correct.
E 804.3.4 Certificate of Occupancy. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall not issue the final certificate of occupancy until required certificates of acceptance are submitted. Copies of completed, signed certificates of acceptance are required to be posted, or made available with the permit(s), and shall be made available to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
E 805.0 HVAC System Tests.
E 805.1 Variable Air Volume Systems (Form MECH- 2A). This test ensures that adequate outdoor air ventilation is provided through the variable air volume air handling unit at two representative operating conditions. The test consists of measuring outdoor air values at maximum flow and at or near minimum flow. The test verifies that the minimum volume of outdoor air is introduced to the air handling unit where the system is in occupied mode at these two conditions of supply airflow. This test shall be performed in conjunction with supply fan variable flow controls test procedures to reduce the overall system testing time as both tests use the same two conditions of airflow for their measurements.
E 805.1.1 Test Procedure. The procedure for performing a functional test for variable air volume systems shall be in accordance with Section E 805.1.1.1 and Sec tion E 805.1.1.2.
E 805.1.1.1 Construction Inspection. Prior to functional testing, verify and document that the system controlling outside airflow is calibrated either in the field or factory.
E 805.1.1.2 Functional Testing. The functional testing shall be in accordance with the following steps:
Step 1: Where the system has an outdoor air economizer, force the economizer high limit to disable economizer control (e.g., for a fixed dry-bulb high limit, lower the setpoint below the current outdoor air temperature).
Step 2: Adjust supply airflow to either the sum of the minimum zone airflows or 30 percent of the total design airflow. Verify and document the following:
§ 803.2 High relevance — show source text
(1) Visual inspection of the equipment and installation.
(2) Review of the certification requirements.
(3) Functional tests of the systems and controls.
E 803.2 Construction Documents. Details of commissioning acceptance requirements shall be incorporated into the construction documents, including information that describes the details of the functional tests to be performed. This information shall be permitted to be integrated into the specifications for testing and air balancing, energy management and control system, equipment startup procedures or commissioning. It is possible that the work will be performed by a combination of the test and balance (TAB) contractor,
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APPENDIX E
mechanical/electrical contractor, and the energy management control system (EMCS) contractor, so applicable roles and responsibilities shall be clearly called out.
E 803.2.1 Roles and Responsibilities. The roles and responsibilities of the persons involved in commissioning acceptance are included in Section E 803.2.1.1 through Section E 803.2.1.3.
E 803.2.1.1 Field Technician. The field technician shall be responsible for performing and documenting the results of the acceptance procedures on the certificate of acceptance forms. The field technician shall sign the certificate of acceptance to certify that the information he provides on the certificate of acceptance is true and correct.
E 803.2.1.2 Responsible Person. The responsible person shall be the contractor or registered design professional of record. A certificate of acceptance shall be signed by a responsible person to take responsibility for the scope of work specified by the certificate of acceptance document. The responsible person shall perform the field testing and verification work, and where this is the case, the responsible person shall complete and sign both the field technician’s signature block and the responsible person’s signature block on the certificate of acceptance form. The responsible person assumes responsibility for the acceptance testing work performed by the field technician agent or employee. E 803.2.1.3 Certificate of Acceptance. The certificate of acceptance shall be submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction in order to receive the final certificate of occupancy. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall not release a final certificate of occupancy unless the submitted certificate of acceptance demonstrates that the specified systems and equipment have been shown to be performing in accordance with the applicable acceptance requirements. The Authority Having Jurisdiction has the authority to require the field technician and responsible person to demonstrate competence, to its satisfaction. Certificate of acceptance forms are located in Section E 806.0.
E 804.0 Commissioning Tests. E 804.1 General. Functional tests shall be performed on new equipment and systems installed in either new construction or retrofit applications in accordance with this section. The appropriate certificate of acceptance form along with each specific test shall be completed and submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction before a final occupancy permit can be granted.
E 804.2 Tests. Functional testing shall be performed on the devices and systems listed in this section. The functional test results are documented using the applicable certificate of acceptance forms shown in parenthesis and located in Section E 806.0. The functional tests shall be performed in accordance with Section E 805.0 using the following forms:
(1) Minimum ventilation controls for constant and variable air volume systems (Form MECH-2A).
§ 803.2.1.3 High relevance — show source text
The responsible person shall perform the field testing and verification work, and where this is the case, the responsible person shall complete and sign both the field technician’s signature block and the responsible person’s signature block on the certificate of acceptance form. The responsible person assumes responsibility for the acceptance testing work performed by the field technician agent or employee. E 803.2.1.3 Certificate of Acceptance. The certificate of acceptance shall be submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction in order to receive the final certificate of occupancy. The Authority Having Jurisdiction shall not release a final certificate of occupancy unless the submitted certificate of acceptance demonstrates that the specified systems and equipment have been shown to be performing in accordance with the applicable acceptance requirements. The Authority Having Jurisdiction has the authority to require the field technician and responsible person to demonstrate competence, to its satisfaction. Certificate of acceptance forms are located in Section E 806.0.
E 804.0 Commissioning Tests. E 804.1 General. Functional tests shall be performed on new equipment and systems installed in either new construction or retrofit applications in accordance with this section. The appropriate certificate of acceptance form along with each specific test shall be completed and submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction before a final occupancy permit can be granted.
E 804.2 Tests. Functional testing shall be performed on the devices and systems listed in this section. The functional test results are documented using the applicable certificate of acceptance forms shown in parenthesis and located in Section E 806.0. The functional tests shall be performed in accordance with Section E 805.0 using the following forms:
(1) Minimum ventilation controls for constant and variable air volume systems (Form MECH-2A).
(2) Zone temperature and scheduling controls for constant volume, single-zone, unitary air conditioner and heat pump systems (Form MECH-3A).
(3) Duct leakage on a subset of small single-zone systems depending on the ductwork location (Form MECH-4A).
(4) Air economizer controls for economizers that are not factory installed and tested (Form MECH-5A).
(5) Demand-controlled ventilation control systems (Form MECH-6A).
(6) Supply fan variable flow controls (Form MECH-7A).
(7) Valve leakage for hydronic variable flow systems and isolation valves on chillers and boilers in plants with more than one chiller or boiler being served by the same primary pumps through a common header (Form MECH8A).
(8) Supply water temperature reset control strategies programmed into the building automation system for water systems (e.g., chilled, hot, or condenser water) (Form MECH-9A).
(9) Hydronic variable flow controls on a water system where the pumps are controlled by variable frequency drives (e.g., chilled and hot water systems; water-loop heat pump systems) (Form MECH-10A).
(10)Automatic demand shed control (Form MECH-11A).
(11)Fault detection and diagnostic for DX units (Form MECH-12A).
(12)Automatic fault detection and diagnostic systems (AFDD) (Form MECH-13A).
(13)Distributed energy storage DEC/DX AC systems (Form MECH-14A).
(14)Thermal energy storage (TES) systems (Form MECH15A). E 804.3 Acceptance Process. The functional testing process shall comply with Section E 804.3.1 through Section E 804.3.4.
§ 804.3 High relevance — show source text
(3) Duct leakage on a subset of small single-zone systems depending on the ductwork location (Form MECH-4A).
(4) Air economizer controls for economizers that are not factory installed and tested (Form MECH-5A).
(5) Demand-controlled ventilation control systems (Form MECH-6A).
(6) Supply fan variable flow controls (Form MECH-7A).
(7) Valve leakage for hydronic variable flow systems and isolation valves on chillers and boilers in plants with more than one chiller or boiler being served by the same primary pumps through a common header (Form MECH8A).
(8) Supply water temperature reset control strategies programmed into the building automation system for water systems (e.g., chilled, hot, or condenser water) (Form MECH-9A).
(9) Hydronic variable flow controls on a water system where the pumps are controlled by variable frequency drives (e.g., chilled and hot water systems; water-loop heat pump systems) (Form MECH-10A).
(10)Automatic demand shed control (Form MECH-11A).
(11)Fault detection and diagnostic for DX units (Form MECH-12A).
(12)Automatic fault detection and diagnostic systems (AFDD) (Form MECH-13A).
(13)Distributed energy storage DEC/DX AC systems (Form MECH-14A).
(14)Thermal energy storage (TES) systems (Form MECH15A). E 804.3 Acceptance Process. The functional testing process shall comply with Section E 804.3.1 through Section E 804.3.4.
E 804.3.1 Plan Review. The installing contractor, registered design professional of record, owner’s agent, or the person responsible for certification of the acceptance testing on the certificate of acceptance (responsible person) shall review the plans and specifications to ensure that they are in accordance with the acceptance requirements. This is typically done prior to signing a certificate of compliance. E 804.3.2 Construction Inspection. The installing contractor, registered design professional of record, owner’s agent, or the person responsible for certification of the acceptance testing on the certificate of acceptance (responsible person) shall perform a construction inspection prior to testing to ensure that the equipment that is installed is capable of complying with the requirements of this appendix and is calibrated. The installation of associated systems and equipment necessary for proper system operation is required to be completed prior to the testing.
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APPENDIX E
E 804.3.3 Acceptance Testing. One or more field technicians shall perform the acceptance testing; identify performance deficiencies; ensure that they are corrected; and where necessary, repeat the acceptance procedures until the specified systems and equipment are performing in accordance with the acceptance requirements. The field technician who performs the testing shall sign the certificate of acceptance to certify the information has been provided to document the results of the acceptance procedures is true and correct.
The responsible person shall review the test results from the acceptance requirement procedures provided by the field technician and sign the certificate of acceptance to certify compliance with the acceptance requirements. The responsible person shall be permitted to perform the field technician’s responsibilities, and shall then sign the field technician declaration on the certificate of acceptance to certify that the information on the form is true and correct.
§ 801.0 High relevance — show source text
I certify that the information provided on this form substantiates that the construction/installation identified on this form complies with the acceptance requirements indicated in the plans and specifications approved by the enforcement agency, and conforms to the applicable acceptance requirements and procedures specified in Section E 801.0 through Section E 806.0.
I have confirmed that the Installation Certificate(s) for the construction/installation identified on this form has been completed and is posted or made available with the permit(s) issued for the building.
I will ensure that a completed, signed copy of this Certificate of Acceptance shall be posted, or made available with the building permit(s) issued for the building, and made available to the enforcement agency for all applicable inspections. I understand that a signed copy of this Certificate of Acceptance is required to be included with the documentation the builder
provides to the building owner at occupancy. Col2 Col3 Col4
Company Name:
Company Name:
Company Name:Phone:
Responsible Person’s Name:
Responsible Person’s Name:Responsible Person’s Signature: Responsible Person’s Signature: License: Date Signed: Position With Company (Title): Position With Company (Title): 522 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
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APPENDIX E
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE MECH-13A Col2
Automatic Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) for Packaged Direct-Expansion Units and Zone
(Page 2 of 4)
Terminal Units Acceptance
Automatic Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) for Packaged Direct-Expansion Units and Zone
(Page 2 of 4)
Terminal Units Acceptance
Project Name/Address:
Project Name/Address:System Name or Identification/Tag: System Location or Area Served: Intent: Verify that the system detects common faults in air handling units and zone terminal units.
Construction Inspection
- Instrumentation to perform test includes, but not limited to: a. No instrumentation is required – changes are implemented at the building automation system control station.
- Installation.
a. The functional testing verifies proper installation of the controls for FDD for air handling units and zone terminal units. No additional installation checks are required.
|A.
§ 805.5.1.1 High relevance — show source text
E 805.5.1.1 Construction Inspection. Prior to functional testing, verify and document the following:
(1) Economizer lockout setpoint is in accordance with this appendix.
(2) Economizer lockout control sensor is located to prevent false readings.
(3) System is designed to provide up to 100 percent outside air without over-pressurizing the building.
(4) For systems with DDC controls lockout sensor(s) are either factory calibrated or field calibrated.
(5) For systems with non-DDC controls, manufacturer’s startup and testing procedures are applied.
E 805.5.1.2 Functional Testing. The functional testing shall be in accordance with the following steps:
Step 1: Disable demand control ventilation systems (where applicable).
Step 2: Enable the economizer, and simulate a cooling demand large enough to drive the economizer fully open. Verify and document the following:
(1) Economizer damper is 100 percent opened and return air damper is 100 percent closed.
(2) Where applicable, verify that the economizer remains 100 percent open where the cooling demand can no longer be met by the economizer alone.
(3) Applicable fans and dampers operate as intended to maintain building pressure.
(4) The unit heating is disabled.
Step 3: Disable the economizer and simulate a cooling demand. Verify and document the following:
(1) Economizer damper shall close to its minimum position.
(2) Applicable fans and dampers shall operate as intended to maintain building pressure.
(3) The unit heating is disabled.
Step 4: Simulate a heating demand, and set the economizer so that it is capable of operating (e.g., actual outdoor air conditions are below lockout setpoint). Verify the economizer is at minimum position.
Step 5: Restore demand control ventilation systems (where applicable) and remove system overrides initiated during the test.
E 805.5.2 Acceptance Criteria. Air economizer controls acceptance criteria shall be as follows:
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APPENDIX E
(1) Where the economizer is factory installed and certified, a valid factory certificate is required for acceptance. No additional equipment tests are necessary.
(2) Air economizer lockout setpoint is in accordance with this appendix. Outside sensor location accurately reads true outdoor air temperature and is not affected by exhaust air or other heat sources.
(3) Sensors are located to achieve the desired control.
(4) During economizer mode, the outdoor air damper shall modulate open to a maximum position and return air damper to 100 percent closed.
(5) The outdoor air damper is 100 percent open before mechanical cooling is enabled and for units 75 000 Btu/h (22 kw) and larger remains at 100 percent open while mechanical cooling is enabled (economizer integration where used for compliance).
CMC § 2025 High relevance — show source text
after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|System returned to initial operating conditions after all tests have been completed:|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|Y/N|
B. Testing Results A B C D E F G Indicate if Passed (P), Failed (F), or N/A (X), fill in appropriate letter. 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 497
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APPENDIX E
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE MECH-3A Col2 Constant Volume Single Zone Unitary Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Systems
(Page 3 of 3)Constant Volume Single Zone Unitary Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Systems
(Page 3 of 3)Project Name/Address: Project Name/Address: System Name or Identification/Tag: System Location or Area Served: C. PASS/FAIL Evaluation. (check one): PASS: AllConstruction Inspection responses are complete andTesting Results responses are “Pass” (P). FAIL: AnyConstruction Inspection responses are incomplete OR there is one or more “Fail” (F) responses in
Testing Results section. Provide explanation below. Use and attach additional pages if necessary.498 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
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APPENDIX E
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE MECH-4A Col2 Air Distribution Systems Acceptance
(Page 1 of 3)Air Distribution Systems Acceptance
(Page 1 of 3)
Project Name/Address:
Project Name/Address:
System Name or Identification/Tag:System Location or Area Served: Enforcement Agency: Permit Number:
Note: Submit one Certificate of Acceptance for each system that
must demonstrate compliance.Enforcement Agency Use: Checked by/Date FIELD TECHNICIAN’S DECLARATION STATEMENT
I certify under penalty of perjury the information provided on this form is true and correct.
I am the person who performed the acceptance requirements verification reported on this Certificate of Acceptance (Field Technician).
§ 1.11.5.1 High relevance — show source text
1.11.5.1 Existing Group I-1 or R occupancies. Licensed 24-hour care in a Group I-1 or R occupancy in existence and originally classi- fied under previously adopted state codes shall be reinspected under the appropriate previous code, provided there is no change in the use or character that would place the facility in a different occupancy group.
1.11.6 Certificate of Occupancy. A Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued as specified in Title 24, Part 2, California Building Code, Section 111.
Exception: Certificates of Occupancy are not required for work exempt from permits in accordance with Section 105.2 of the Califor- nia Building Code.
1.11.7 Temporary structures and uses. See Title 24, Part 2, California Building Code, Section 108.
1.11.8 Service utilities. See Title 24, Part 2, California Building Code, Section 112.
1.11.9 Stop work order. See Title 24, Part 2, California Building Code, Section 115, and Title 24, Part 9, California Fire Code, Section 113.
1.11.10 Unsafe buildings, structures and equipment. See Title 24, Part 2, California Building Code, Section 116, and Title 24, Part 9, California Fire Code, Section 114.
1.11.11 Adopting agency identification. The provisions of this code applicable to buildings identified in Section 1.11 will be identified in the Matrix Adoption Tables under the acronym SFM.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §1.03] Scope. (a) California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall govern the use and maintenance of any building or struc- ture used or intended for use as an asylum, jail, mental hospital, hospital, sanitarium, home for aged, children’s home or institution, school or any similar occupancy of any capacity; and any theater, dance hall, skating rink, auditorium, assembly hall, meeting hall, night club, fair building or similar place of assemblage where 50 or more persons may gather together in a building, room or structure for the purpose of amusement, entertainment, instruction, deliberation, worship, drinking or
2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE 1-9
on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.
ADMINISTRATION
dining, awaiting transportation or education, and in any building or structure which is open to the public and is used or intended to be used for the showing of motion pictures when an admission fee is charged and when such building or structure has a capacity of 10 or more persons, and shall apply to both new and existing occupancies.
Exceptions: (1) Buildings controlled by the Federal Government, provided they are not subject to the provisions of Section 15452, Education Code.
(2) Homes and institutions and day-care facilities that provide nonmedical board, room, and care for six or fewer ambulatory children.
California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall also apply to any building housing any occupancy when _such building is used as an auxiliary or accessory structure to any of the occupancies specified herein.
§ 0.249 High relevance — show source text
The 2-way valves automatically close.|a. The 2-way valves automatically close.|
Y / N| |b. Measure and record the differential pump pressure in feet of water column.|Feet Water
Column =|| |c. The measurement across the pump in step 2b is within 5% of the measurement in step 1b.|c. The measurement across the pump in step 2b is within 5% of the measurement in step 1b.|Y / N| |Step 3: System returned to initial operating conditions.|Y / N|Y / N|B. Testing Results. PASS / FAIL Col3 Step 1: Pressure measurement is within 5% of submittal data for all pumps. Step 2: Pressure measurements are within 5%. C. PASS / FAIL Evaluation (check one): Col2 PASS: AllConstruction Inspection responses are complete and allTesting Results responses are “Pass.” FAIL: AnyConstruction Inspection responses are incomplete_OR_ there is one or more “Fail” responses inTesting
Results section. Provide explanation below. Use and attach additional pages if necessary.For SI units: 1 inch water column = 0.249 kPa
2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 511
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APPENDIX E
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE MECH-9A Col2
Supply Water Temperature Reset Controls Acceptance
(Page 1 of 2)
Supply Water Temperature Reset Controls Acceptance
(Page 1 of 2)
Project Name/Address:
Project Name/Address:
System Name or Identification/Tag:System Location or Area Served: Enforcement Agency: Permit Number:
Note: Submit one Certificate of Acceptance for each system that
must demonstrate compliance.Enforcement Agency Use: Checked by/Date FIELD TECHNICIAN’S DECLARATION STATEMENT
I certify under penalty of perjury the information provided on this form is true and correct.
I am the person who performed the acceptance requirements verification reported on this Certificate of Acceptance (Field Technician).
§ 805.5.2 High relevance — show source text
Step 3: Disable the economizer and simulate a cooling demand. Verify and document the following:
(1) Economizer damper shall close to its minimum position.
(2) Applicable fans and dampers shall operate as intended to maintain building pressure.
(3) The unit heating is disabled.
Step 4: Simulate a heating demand, and set the economizer so that it is capable of operating (e.g., actual outdoor air conditions are below lockout setpoint). Verify the economizer is at minimum position.
Step 5: Restore demand control ventilation systems (where applicable) and remove system overrides initiated during the test.
E 805.5.2 Acceptance Criteria. Air economizer controls acceptance criteria shall be as follows:
484 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
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APPENDIX E
(1) Where the economizer is factory installed and certified, a valid factory certificate is required for acceptance. No additional equipment tests are necessary.
(2) Air economizer lockout setpoint is in accordance with this appendix. Outside sensor location accurately reads true outdoor air temperature and is not affected by exhaust air or other heat sources.
(3) Sensors are located to achieve the desired control.
(4) During economizer mode, the outdoor air damper shall modulate open to a maximum position and return air damper to 100 percent closed.
(5) The outdoor air damper is 100 percent open before mechanical cooling is enabled and for units 75 000 Btu/h (22 kw) and larger remains at 100 percent open while mechanical cooling is enabled (economizer integration where used for compliance).
(6) Where the economizer is disabled, the outdoor air damper closes to a minimum position; the return damper modulates 100 percent open, and mechanical cooling remains enabled. E 805.6 Demand-Controlled Ventilation Systems Acceptance (Form MECH-6A). The purpose of this test is to verify that systems required to employ demand-controlled ventilation shall be permitted to vary outside ventilation flow rates based on maintaining interior carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration setpoints. Demand-controlled ventilation refers to an HVAC system’s ability to reduce outdoor air ventilation flow below design values where the space served is at less than design occupancy. Carbon dioxide is a good indicator of occupancy load and is the basis used for modulating ventilation flow rates.
E 805.6.1 Test Procedure. The procedure for performing a functional test for demand-control ventilation (DVC) systems shall be in accordance with Section E 805.6.1.1 and Section E 805.6.1.2.
E 805.6.1.1 Construction Inspection. Prior to functional testing, verify and document the following:
(1) Carbon dioxide control sensor is factory calibrated or field-calibrated in accordance with this appendix.
(2) The sensor is located in the high-density space between 3 feet (914 mm) and 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor or at the anticipated level of the occupants’ heads.
(3) DCV control setpoint is at or below the carbon dioxide concentration permitted by this appendix.
E 805.6.1.2 Functional Testing. The functional testing shall be in accordance with the following steps:
Step 1: Disable economizer controls.
§ 801.0 High relevance — show source text
I am a licensed contractor or registered design professional who is eligible per the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction to take responsibility for the scope of work specified on this document and attest to the declarations in this statement (responsible person).
I certify that the information provided on this form substantiates that the construction/installation identified on this form complies with the acceptance requirements indicated in the plans and specifications approved by the enforcement agency, and conforms to the applicable acceptance requirements and procedures specified in Section E 801.0 through Section E 806.0.
I have confirmed that the Installation Certificate(s) for the construction/installation identified on this form has been completed and is posted or made available with the permit(s) issued for the building.
I will ensure that a completed, signed copy of this Certificate of Acceptance shall be posted, or made available with the building permit(s) issued for the building, and made available to the enforcement agency for all applicable inspections. I understand that a signed copy of this Certificate of Acceptance is required to be included with the documentation the builder
provides to the building owner at occupancy. Col2 Col3 Col4 Company Name: Company Name: Company Name: Phone: Responsible Person’s Name: Responsible Person’s Name: Responsible Person’s Signature: Responsible Person’s Signature: License: Date Signed: Position With Company (Title): Position With Company (Title): 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE 529
), Copyright © 2025 IAPMO, and may not be used for any other purpose or distributed to any other persons or parties.
APPENDIX E
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE MECH-15A Col2 Thermal Energy Storage (TES) System Acceptance
(Page 2 of 3)Thermal Energy Storage (TES) System Acceptance
(Page 2 of 3)Project Name/Address: Project Name/Address: System Name or Identification/Tag: System Location or Area Served: Intent: Verify proper operation of distributed energy storage DX systems.
Construction Inspection
- Instrumentation to perform test includes, but not limited to: a. No special instrumentation is required for the acceptance tests.
A. Certificate of Compliance Information Col2 Col3 Col4 Col5 Col6 The following Certificate of Compliance information for both the chiller and the storage tank shall be provided on the plans
to document the key TES System parameters and allow plan check comparison to the inputs used in the DOE-2 simulation.
DOE-2 keywords are shown in ALL CAPITALS in parentheses.The following Certificate of Compliance information for both the chiller and the storage tank shall be provided on the plans
to document the key TES System parameters and allow plan check comparison to the inputs used in the DOE-2 simulation.
DOE-2 keywords are shown in ALL CAPITALS in parentheses.The following Certificate of Compliance information for both the chiller and the storage tank shall be provided on the plans
to document the key TES System parameters and allow plan check comparison to the inputs used in the DOE-2 simulation.
_DOE-2 keywords are shown in ALL CAPITALS in parentheses.
Frequently asked questions
Who must sign the Certificate of Acceptance?
The Field Technician who performed the tests must sign to attest the test results; a Responsible Person (contractor or registered design professional) must also sign to take responsibility for the scope. The Responsible Person may also act as the Field Technician and sign both blocks if qualified. § E803.2.1.1–.2; § E804.3.3. file
Can a factory certificate replace field testing?
Yes — where the code explicitly allows (for example, factory‑certified economizers may use a valid factory certificate in lieu of further field tests). § E805.5.2(1).
When must Certificates of Acceptance be submitted?
Certificates of Acceptance must be completed, signed, posted or made available with the building permit(s), and submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction before a final Certificate of Occupancy will be issued (§ E804.3.4).
What happens if a test fails?
The field technician identifies deficiencies, ensures they are corrected, and repeats the acceptance procedures until the systems perform per the acceptance requirements; the technician documents results and only signs when the form is true and correct (§ E804.3.3).
Are there time/stability criteria for tests?
Yes — many tests require that controls and system operation stabilize within 5 minutes after initiating the test step; check the specific test section for details (e.g., VAV, hydronic). § E805.x (see the relevant test). file
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