The HERS Program Is Evolving — Here’s What the New ECC Program Means for You
Effective date: January 1, 2026 (for the 2025 Energy Code). Until then, 2022 HERS rules still apply.
If you work in duct leakage testing, HERS ratings, or HVAC compliance in California, the familiar HERS I field verification work is transitioning into the Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program under Title 24. Good news: the tests you run don’t disappear—ECC mostly updates terminology, training, and registries to better align with the Energy Code’s triennial cycle.
Quick Summary
- What’s changing: “HERS I (FV&DT)” → ECC under Title 24; providers and raters update certifications and use ECC registries.
- What stays: Local AHJs enforce compliance; FV&DT testing continues (duct leakage, airflow, RCV, etc.).
- When: ECC applies to projects permitted under the 2025 Code starting Jan 1, 2026. Earlier projects remain under their original code version.
HERS → ECC: What Actually Changes?
| You Knew This Under HERS | Now Under ECC |
|---|---|
| HERS I field verification & diagnostic testing (FV&DT) | ECC Program under Title 24 (administrative move + updated training/registries) |
| HERS Providers & Raters | ECC-Providers & ECC-Raters (providers re-approved; raters update certs) |
| HERS Feature Summary on forms | ECC Feature Summary on 2025-based compliance docs |
| Group sampling allowed for some alterations | Group sampling removed for alterations |
| RCV weigh-in + FID usage rules | Revised RCV weigh-in; FID alone no longer sufficient for compliance |
| Nonresidential duct leakage FV&DT | Removed from the current FV&DT protocols |
Who Does What?
- ECC-Providers: Train & certify ECC-Raters and ECC-Rater Companies; operate the residential data registry used for compliance forms.
- ECC-Raters: Perform FV&DT to verify installed measures meet the Energy Code thresholds.
- AHJs (local building departments): Continue enforcing compliance and reviewing registered certificates as part of permitting.
Do I Need New Training?
Yes—if you want to test under the 2025 Code. Active HERS raters are recognized as ECC-Raters for the 2022 Code today, but to work on 2025-based projects (permitted on/after Jan 1, 2026), update training and certification via an approved ECC-Provider is required. Expect curricula to cover all FV&DT protocols, documentation procedures, and registry use.
What To Do Between Now and Jan 1, 2026
- Confirm your provider path. If your current HERS provider is transitioning, note when their ECC registry goes live.
- Plan your training window. Get 2025 update training on the calendar; brief your team on the terminology shift.
- Standardize test set-ups. With group sampling removed for alterations, tighten your SOPs to ensure consistent pass rates.
- Dial in tools & documentation. Ensure your test gear, seals, and photos/data entries produce repeatable, registry-friendly results.
Field Gear That Makes ECC Life Easier
ECC doubles down on verifiable, repeatable testing. That’s our wheelhouse:
- Vent Cap Systems™ — Reusable Vent Seals: Eliminates waste and residue from disposable tape. Faster set-and-remove, cleaner homes, predictable leakage baselines.
- Duct Ninja™ — Return-Air Sealing & Connection Tool: Securely attaches the flex to the return grill while sealing it for negative pressure tests—no ladders, no mess, highly repeatable results.
Key Dates & Retroactivity
- Now → Dec 31, 2025: 2022 HERS rules apply to projects permitted under the 2019/2022 code.
- Jan 1, 2026 onward: Projects permitted under the 2025 Code use ECC. Prior projects are not retroactive—they stay under their permitted code cycle.
Where to Learn More
Bottom Line
The ECC Program modernizes the administrative side of HERS I without reinventing your day job. Get your training lined up, tighten your test SOPs, and use gear that keeps results consistent and documentation clean. Come January 2026, you’ll be cruising.
