Energy and Green Third-Party Program
The Department of Buildings (DOB) Green Building division has integrated the review and inspection of the DC Energy Conservation Code and Green Construction Code into the Third-Party Program. All new Notice of Intent (NOI) applications may indicate an approved Third-Party Agency (TPA) for either plan review or inspections.
All new NOIs for plan review will be required to indicate an approved agency to conduct an "energy review" and "green review" at plan review. All TPAs must meet all qualifications in order to participate in the Green and Energy Third-Party Program. For more detailed instructions on the Notice of Intent process for plan review and inspections, see "Resources" below.
Approved Energy and Green Third-Party Agencies
All TPAs must be approved to participate as part of the Green and Energy Third-Party Program. Click to view a list of the approved agencies. Participating agencies must comply with the following terms:
- Must attend or have attended DOB-led Green and Energy Third-Party training for relative discipline (see below).
- Must provide evidence and/or obtain the minimum qualifications (for each discipline as applicable).
- If you are not already a registered TPA in the DOB Third-Party Program, please follow the new Agency guidelines in the DOB Third-Party Program Manual.
If your company is interested in becoming an approved Agency, please review terms and contact us.
Qualifications
These are the minimum qualifications that third-party agencies must obtain to participate in Green and Energy Reviews and Inspections. Click here for qualifications.
Approved Agencies
Click to view a complete list of Approved Inspection & Plan Review Agencies
Energy and Green Third-Party Code Plan Review Process
The following section provides official guidance on the new process for third-party plan review to the Green Construction Code and Energy Conservation Code. Information is presented in chronological order. Learn more about the DOB Third-Party Program.
Energy and Green Third-Party Code Inspections Process
As of March 15, 2017 project teams and owners have the option of using approved agencies for energy and green inspections. It is the third party’s responsibility to adhere to the requirements laid out at the mandatory green building division administered training. The following provides an overview of the third-party green and energy code inspection process.
INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION
The agency must submit a request for authorization to conduct GCC and ECC inspections on each project number. Upon inspection authorization, the third-party inspection agency may conduct inspections.
INSPECTION NOTIFICATION
In addition to submitting a request for inspection authorization, third-party inspection agencies must notify the Green Building Division of upcoming green and energy inspections.
ENERGY INSPECTIONS
Inspectors verify that the construction complies with the building code. The Energy Verification Sheet (EVS) includes a list of applicable DC Energy Conservation Code (ECC) elements that were identified during the plan review and serve as an inspection checklist at the time of Insulation and Final Energy Inspection. The EVS will help the building team and the inspector start off on the same page at each stage.
The following are mandatory inspections for all projects subject to the (ECC):
1. Insulation Inspection: at the time of the first Building Insulation Inspection or after Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Rough inspections are complete but prior to installing drywall.
2. Energy Final Inspection: at the time of Building Final Inspection or after finishes, plumbing fixtures, and light controls are installed.
GREEN INSPECTIONS
Green inspections are required on projects subject to the Green Construction Code (GCC) that have elected to pursue the GCC or ASHRAE 189.1 compliance pathways. Green inspections include a Green Demolition, Green Rough, and Green Final Inspection. When demolition is not part of a project's scope of work a Green Demolition Inspection is not required. Similarly, if a project is only performing demolition then a Green Rough-In and Green Final Inspection is not required.
The following clarifies when each inspection must be conducted.
1. Demolition Inspection: at the time of indoor air quality plan implementation but prior to starting construction activities likely to produce dust or odors.
2. Green Rough-In Inspection: at the time of the first Building Insulation Inspection or after Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Rough Inspections are complete but prior to installing drywall.
3. Green Final Inspection: at the time of Building Final Inspection or after finishes, plumbing fixtures, and light controls are installed.
The Green and Energy Compliance System (GECS) includes a list of applicable Green Construction Code (GCC) elements that were identified during plan review and serve as an inspection checklist at the time of Green Demolition, Green Rough-in, and Green Final Inspection. While the inspector may identify any unaddressed code requirements, the generated GECS inspection checklist will help both the building team and the inspector start off on the same page at each inspection.
DOCUMENTATION SUBMITTAL
Supporting documentation shall be required for some ECC projects and all GCC projects. This includes but is not limited to product submittals, manufacturers’ literature, and testing results. The following are among the most commonly collected ECC and GCC documents:
ECC
- Building Envelope Air Leakage Test Result
- Duct Leakage Test Result
GCC
- Indoor Air Quality Plan
- Construction Waste Management Summary and Tickets
- Commissioning Report
- Material Selection Calculation
DOB QUALITY ASSURANCE
DOB will administer the oversight protocol of the third-party agency, professional-in-charge and inspector in accordance with the Third-Party Program Procedural Manual. If the project is found to not be in compliance, DOB will:
1. Send feedback to the third-party review agency for lessons learned.
2. Record errors associated with the review and apply disciplinary measures per the Third-Party Program Procedural Manual.
Certificate of Occupancy Process for Third-Party Projects
Third-party plan review and inspection projects are subject to the same review as non-third-party projects. The Green Building Division verifies inspections have been approved and documents have been approved. All third party inspection results and documents should be sent to the assigned DOB point of contact for your agency or contact us.
Please click here for additional information on the Certificate of Occupancy Process.
