www.energystarhomesamerica.com

Issue 1, Volumue 2

January 25, 2004

Total Quality Assurance (TQA) –
An Approach to Energy Efficiency That Could Save You $$$$$
by Maci McDaniel, National Marketing Director

What is a TQA Program? Many of you may not have heard this terminology in the residential construction industry, but I am here to tell you that you will be hearing it a lot more in the future. Total Quality Assurance is a Program that GWSSI has been developing over the past several years working with builders, contractors and industry partners to help builders manage and monitor their building programs while protecting them from liability. This program is designed to reduce or eliminate customer complaints and callbacks through detailed quality assurance both during and after the construction process is complete. The program requirements are developed by working with a builder to establish performance requirements of the homes constructed and closely monitoring them during construction to ensure procedures and protocols are followed. As a result, customer service calls are significantly reduced and warranty costs are managed and controlled. In the event a warranty call is required, procedures are put in place to meet the needs of the customer and identify and mitigate problems early to avoid costly litigation and expense.

The Total Quality Assurance Program is designed to support builders in the following areas:

• Building component selection based on cost, efficiency and performance
• Building Science Consulting for building performance and indoor air quality
• Code consulting and municipality liaison
• Comprehensive Construction Training for Superintendents and Subcontractors
• Development of construction details specific to your building program
• Quality Assurance inspections during the construction process
• Energy Star or other Energy Efficient Program Certification (if required)
• Performance Testing when homes are complete which includes:
• Air Infiltration Measurement
• Static Pressure Testing
• HVAC Duct Leakage
• Detailed performance reporting on field operations including superintendent and subcontractor performance
• Utility Incentive Program Management and Reporting
• Customer Service/Warranty Department Support including:
• Advanced Diagnostic Testing
• Additional Outside Testing Resources, including sensors to monitor temperature, humidity levels, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
• Microbial Testing

Please contact your GWSSI Market Manager for more information on how a Total Quality Assurance Program can help you to increase your bottom line.

GWSSI’s New Client Service Technology Tools
by Maci McDaniel, National Marketing Director

In an effort to continuously exceed our client’s expectations, Guaranteed Watt Saver has developed technology tools to increase productivity and efficiency in servicing our clients. The latest of these developments is a web based online enrollment system. This system is designed to replace the need for filling out enrollment forms for each house a builder starts under the Energy Star and Total Quality Assurance Programs. Now, the start coordinator or person responsible for enrolling your houses can log in to a site and upload the information from an Excel spreadsheet directly to our site. This information is then downloaded directly into our database used to track your homes. This eliminates duplication of effort as well as bad information on houses such as wrong addresses, subdivision names, etc. This should greatly contribute to maintaining the integrity of the data on the homes we are testing and inspecting. 

Another development, which most of our builders are already using, is our web based plan analysis retrieval system. This system allows a builder to log in with a secure password to access their plan analysis reports, for both REM/Rate and RES Check, as soon as they are completed. A builder’s start coordinator or permitting agent can print the reports directly from this site to submit for permits. This has significantly reduced turnaround time on new plans, plan modifications, elevations/options and address specific plan analysis. We are also making the Energy Efficient Mortgage reports and any required city forms available on this site. The reports are housed on this site for the builder’s convenience and are updated and replaced when changes are made to keep all of the plan information current.

Also included on this site is the most recent copy of the Builder Profile being used in analyzing a builder’s plans. Builders can submit proposed changes to their profiles that are reviewed by the project manager. We recommend that builders review their builder profile at least quarterly to ensure accuracy of the information on building components, etc.

GWSSI is always striving to increase efficiency and performance for our clients. Look for more advancements later this year.

Inspector’s Corner
Window Flashing
by David B. Walker, National Operations Manager

When considering the construction process, whether we are building a new home or remodeling an existing home – there are many details that must be followed. One detail we will discuss that is often “over-looked” is window flashing. The proper flashing of a window assembly within the rough opening of a wall is as important as setting the window level and plumb.

When a window is installed, it is literally filling a designed “hole” within the wall. This designed hole creates an easy path for “outside” air, as well as “air vapor.” We have learned that “air” and/or “vapor” will seek the path of least resistance. With this in mind, it becomes mandatory to “seal” the rough opening and the window assembly correctly. We also know that the amount of glazing within a wall structure will have an enormous affect on the R-value of the wall assembly itself, as far as the conduction heat flow through the wall is concerned. (That’s another article.)

So, what is the proper way to flash a window? It isn’t as difficult as some may think. It simply requires a basic understanding – and some “hands-on” experience. If we are trying to keep the “water” out of a home, which is the major objective to building today, then we need to keep that basic principle in mind. Once the rough opening is established, we need to proceed by flashing the window “sill” first. The flashing should be folded over the bottom of the rough opening and up the sides of the opening ends, leaving the bottom of the sill flashing upturned. Next, proceed by extending the “jamb” flashing beyond the sill flashing below and where the “head” flashing will intersect. The jamb flashing would also fold around the side of the rough opening and lay over the upturned sill flashing.

The third step is to then apply a continuous seal to the back of the window assembly frame. There are certain rated caulks for this application. The window is then installed into the rough opening. The fourth step would be to either apply the final flashing material to the top of the installed window, overlapping the jamb flashing, or if using “drainage-plane” material, the material itself would be installed over head flashing and over the top of the window frame using the proper “bottom-to-top” overlapping method. With the drainage plane material, the first course (bottom), would be placed under the upturned jamb and sill flashing.

One key to remember is that window and flashing material manufacturers have varying protocols as far as minimum overlapping lengths. Be careful to follow the manufacturers suggestions when using these products. Click here to view GWSSI’s window flashing detail.

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