Build an Energy-Code Compliance Checklist

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one project-specific energy-code compliance matrix, organized into the eight schedule sections listed in the Component Schedule below, covering one defined residential project's approved energy documents, with every item assigned to a responsible trade, inspection stage, verification method, and evidence requirement.

B. Matrix Section Schedule (Component Schedule)

Section	Quantity	Source Type	Required Content	Verification / Purpose
Cover and Compliance Path	1	Approved document	Adopted code, edition, local amendments, climate zone, compliance path, authority	Confirmed against Project 01 binder and approved energy form
Assembly Schedule	1	Approved document	Wall, roof, ceiling, floor, slab, foundation, crawlspace, and rim insulation type, location, value, depth, density, installation grade, continuity	Traced to approved energy form or plan detail
Air-Sealing Checklist	1	Approved document	Air-barrier materials and continuity at walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, foundations, openings, penetrations, chases, fireplaces, garages, attics	Tied to plan details and inspection stages
Fenestration Schedule	1	Approved document	Window, door, skylight area, performance rating, orientation, product documentation	Product labels and certificates retained before removal
Duct and Equipment Schedule	1	Approved document	Duct location, insulation, sealing, support, return pathways, access, leakage-testing requirement; equipment efficiency, controls, thermostats, zoning, heat-recovery, commissioning	Traced to approved MEP and energy documents
Ventilation and Lighting Schedule	1	Approved document	Local exhaust, whole-house ventilation, controls, balancing, verification; high-efficacy lighting, controls, exterior-lighting requirements where applicable	Traced to approved energy and MEP documents
Testing Schedule	1	Approved document	Blower-door, duct-leakage, ventilation, balancing, equipment-startup, or other required testing with qualified tester, timing, equipment, target, form, corrective process	Traced to approved requirements; performed only by qualified tester
Product and Evidence Register	1	Working document	Insulation, window, door, HVAC, water-heating, ventilation, lighting, and controls product documents; installation photographs by location	Populated during pre-insulation and pre-drywall walks

C. Resource Takeoff

• Approved-document set: current approved energy forms, calculations, reports, plans, specifications, equipment schedules, and revisions for the defined project.
• Matrix hardware: one energy-matrix template with the eight sections listed in the Component Schedule, or an equivalent digital tracking sheet with matching sections.
• Evidence documents: product labels, certificates, and installation photographs saved by assembly, fenestration item, duct run, equipment unit, and ventilation component.
• Clarification allowance: at least one completed clarification exchange with the design professional or authority for a conflict or missing value identified while building the matrix, with the response recorded.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Compliance-path consistency	The matrix uses one recorded compliance path throughout, with any path mixing traced to a documented design-professional response
Value sourcing	Every assembly, air-sealing, fenestration, duct, equipment, and ventilation entry traces to an approved energy document, plan sheet, or manufacturer instruction
Trade and stage assignment	Every matrix item is assigned to a responsible trade, inspection stage, verification method, and evidence requirement
Section completeness	All eight matrix sections listed in the Component Schedule are present, populated, and correctly labeled
Pre-insulation and pre-drywall walk	Both readiness walks are completed using the matrix, with findings recorded in the verification-method and evidence columns
Testing evidence	Every required test has a recorded qualified tester, date, result, and corrective action where applicable
Revision control	The archived matrix version carries a revision date, change log, and assigned reviewer

E. Preparation — Confirm Code, Path, and Approved Documents

1. Identify the adopted energy code, local amendments, compliance path, climate zone, project type, and authority. Confirm this against the Project 01 reference binder before entering any value into the matrix.
2. Obtain approved energy forms, calculations, reports, plans, specifications, equipment schedules, and revisions. Record the current revision date for each document on the matrix cover page.
3. Confirm whether compliance uses prescriptive, performance, rating, modeled, or other approved path. Record the confirmed path and its source document.
4. Do not mix requirements from different compliance paths without design-professional approval. Flag any apparent mixing as a clarification question rather than resolving it independently.

F. Build the Assembly, Air-Sealing, and Fenestration Schedules

1. Create an assembly schedule for walls, roofs, ceilings, floors, slabs, foundations, crawlspaces, and rim areas. List every distinct assembly by location using the approved energy form's own assembly identifiers.
2. Record required insulation type, location, value, depth, density, installation grade, and continuity from approved documents. Enter one complete row per assembly; do not leave any column blank without marking it unresolved.
3. Identify thermal bridges, narrow cavities, headers, corners, eaves, knee walls, attic access, and difficult transitions requiring field attention. Note each condition against the affected assembly row.
4. Identify air-barrier materials and continuity at walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, foundations, openings, penetrations, chases, fireplaces, garages, and attics. Reference the controlling detail sheet for each location.
5. Create an air-sealing checklist tied to plan details and inspection stages. Assign each air-sealing item to the inspection stage at which it must remain visible.
6. Identify vapor-control and moisture-management requirements without adding an unapproved layer. Record only the layer shown in the approved assembly; flag any apparent omission as a clarification question.
7. Create a fenestration schedule with window, door, skylight, area, performance rating, orientation, and product documentation. List every opening using the approved window and door schedule's own tag numbers.
8. Verify product labels, certificates, ratings, and approved substitutions are retained before installation labels are removed. Photograph each label before it is covered or discarded.
9. Identify window and door installation, flashing, insulation, and air-sealing checkpoints. Cross-reference the Project 08 envelope-inspection checklist for the shared flashing details.

G. Build the Duct, Equipment, and Ventilation Schedules

1. Identify duct location, insulation, sealing, support, return pathways, access, and leakage testing requirements. Record each duct run and its required sealing method from the approved energy form.
2. Identify piping insulation, equipment efficiency, controls, thermostats, zoning, heat-recovery, and commissioning requirements. Record equipment identifiers matching the approved equipment schedule.
3. Identify local exhaust, whole-house ventilation, makeup air, controls, balancing, and verification requirements. Record each ventilation component and its required verification method.
4. Identify lighting, high-efficacy, control, exterior-lighting, and other electrical energy requirements where applicable. Record only where the approved documents include a lighting energy requirement.
5. Identify blower-door, duct-leakage, ventilation, balancing, equipment-startup, or other required testing. Record the required test type, target, and timing from approved requirements.
6. Identify qualified tester, timing, equipment, target, form, and corrective process from approved requirements. Confirm the tester's qualification before scheduling.
7. Identify inspections that must occur before insulation, drywall, exterior finish, equipment enclosure, or final approval. Assign each matrix item to its controlling concealment stage.

H. Assign Responsibility, Resolve Conflicts, and Verify in the Field

1. Create installation photo requirements for concealed air, thermal, duct, and flashing details. List the specific location and angle required for each photograph.
2. Create a product-document register for insulation, windows, doors, HVAC, water heating, ventilation, lighting, and controls. File each product's label, certificate, or rating alongside its matrix row.
3. Compare architectural, structural, MEP, and energy documents for conflicts. Note every discrepancy found between the assembly schedule and the architectural or structural drawings.
4. Convert conflicts and missing values into formal clarification questions. Use the clarification-question log rather than resolving the conflict independently.
5. Record approved responses and revise the matrix. Update the affected row and note the response date and source.
6. Assign every item to responsible trade, inspection stage, verification method, and evidence. Complete these four columns for every row before the matrix is used in the field.
7. Perform a pre-insulation walk using the matrix. Verify framing cavities, air-sealing items, and rough utilities against the matrix before insulation begins.
8. Perform an insulation and air-sealing readiness review before concealment. Confirm every assembly and air-sealing row is installed as specified and photographed.
9. Perform a pretest review before blower-door or duct testing. Confirm the building is ready for the test conditions specified by the qualified tester.
10. Record test results, corrective actions, retests, and final acceptance. Enter results directly into the Testing Schedule with the tester's name and date.
11. Verify final certificates, labels, forms, manuals, and owner information are installed or delivered as required. Confirm this against the approved energy form's closeout requirements.
12. Archive the completed energy matrix, products, photographs, tests, approvals, and revisions. Record the archive date, version number, and a summary of what was verified.