Sec.16a-38k-3. Mandatory building project requirements

All building projects pursuant to section 16a-38k-2 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies shall meet the minimum building standards outlined in subsections (a) through (l) of this section:

(a) Building commissioning shall be an integral part of the building project. Such commissioning shall be performed by an independent third-party, called a commissioning agent, who shall be certified as a commissioning agent by the Building Commissioning Association or the Association of Energy Engineers, and shall either be a Professional Engineer or have an S-1 license. This individual shall be included in the beginning stages of the building process through a post-occupancy evaluation. The commissioning agent shall not be an employee of the architectural, engineering, or construction firm that implements the project, and shall be hired directly by the state, municipality, or regional school district. For state facility projects, the commissioning agent may be an employee of the Department of Public Works provided such person shall act independently of the other staff assigned to oversee the design and construction of the project. The commissioning agent shall report all findings and recommendations to the owner of the state facility or the municipal or regional school district. Coordination and oversight of the training of facility management and maintenance personnel on proper equipment operation as well as verification of proper development of systems manuals shall be overseen by the commissioning agent in cooperation with the project manager-facilitator and with the building owner, designer, contractor, and subcontractors who installed the systems. The commissioning process, at minimum, shall include the following energy-related systems: (1) heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and associated controls, (2) lighting and day-lighting controls, (3) domestic hot water systems, and (4) renewable energy systems. It is required that the commissioning process also include water using systems and the building envelope systems.

(b) All building construction projects shall follow an integrated design process to set environmental and building performance goals. This process, at minimum, shall include at least one collaborative session of the design team consisting of the architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, civil engineer, commissioning agent, the project manager-facilitator representing the building owner, and representative(s) of the building tenant state agency or municipality, as applicable, prior to the preparation of contract documentation. The meeting shall include the owner's project requirements, the basis of design, commissioning plan, performance verification documentation, commissioning report, and post commissioning requirements. Prior to the start of the construction phase, at least one collaborative session among the designers, owner, and contractors, including any selected electrical, mechanical, and controls subcontractors shall be held to insure knowledge of design intent, required approval processes, and commissioning procedures. All records of decisions from the collaborative sessions shall be shared among the design team. The owner of the state facility or the municipal or regional school district shall have final decision making authority.

(c) The base minimum energy performance for all building projects shall be twenty-one percent better than the most current Connecticut State Building Code or ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004, whichever is more stringent. Base minimum energy performance shall be determined using approved building modeling software that is identified in the Connecticut Building Standard Guidelines Compliance Manual for High Performance Buildings.

(d) Energy consuming products installed in the building shall be Energy Star compliant if the product category has an Energy Star specification.

(e) The project manager-facilitator shall develop an indoor air quality management plan for the construction phase of the project. As part of the plan, the following shall be addressed:

(1) Periodic inspections of materials stored on-site to ensure that all installed or stored absorptive materials are protected from moisture and mold damage. If resting on the ground, spacers shall be provided to allow air to circulate between the ground and the materials. All water-damaged materials shall be removed from the site and disposed of properly.

(2) Surface grades, drainage systems, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning condensate drainage systems shall be designed so as to prevent accumulation of water under, in, or near the building. Irrigation systems shall be designed so as to prevent spraying of the building.

(3) Ductwork shall be sealed from outside elements during transport and storage, and interior surfaces shall be wiped down immediately prior to installation. During installation, open ends of ductwork shall be temporarily sealed and ductwork shall be protected with surface wrapping. No installed ductwork shall contain internal porous insulation materials or lining.

(4) Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment shall be covered and protected from moisture during transportation and on-site storage. For permanently installed air handlers used during construction, use filtration media in air handlers with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of ten, except for unit ventilator systems which shall have a minimum MERV of seven. All filtration media shall be replaced immediately prior to building occupancy with media having a MERV rating of equal or greater value to existing media.

(5) Materials that off-gas toxic or potentially toxic fumes shall be pre-conditioned for at least seventy-two hours prior to installation within the building. Such materials shall also be installed prior to the installation of porous building materials to reduce absorption and adsorption of those toxins by the porous materials. Prior to installation of porous materials and materials vulnerable to mold, the building enclosure shall be watertight.

(6) In the event that any portion of the building is occupied during construction or renovation activities, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractor's National Association (SMACNA) Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction shall be followed.

(f) Use low-flow fixtures to consume twenty percent less water in aggregate as compared to base levels calculated by meeting the Federal Energy Policy Act of 1992 fixture performance requirements. Calculations shall be based on estimates of occupant usage and shall include the following building fixtures only: showers, urinals, toilets, bathroom sink faucets, and kitchen sink faucets.

(g) The building or building site shall contain convenient areas to serve as collection points for recyclable materials and shall include an area for the sorting and storage of such materials for pick-up by recyclers.

(h) All construction shall include a plan for erosion and sediment control, as required by sections 22a-325 through 22a-329 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(i) No smoking shall be permitted in any building or portion of a building owned and operated or leased and operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof as mandated by section 19a-342 of the Connecticut General Statutes. All exterior designated smoking areas shall be located at least twenty-five feet away from outdoor air intakes, operable windows, and building entrances.

(j) A plan for integrated pest management as defined in section 22a-47 of the Connecticut General Statues, shall be established as required under section 22a-66l for general pest control in state buildings. Schools shall comply with sections 10-231d and 22a-66l of the Connecticut General Statutes.

(k) Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants shall not be utilized for energy systems in new construction. For renovation projects where existing heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment is reused, a CFC phase-out conversion shall be undertaken.

(l) Buildings shall be designed to meet the minimum ventilation requirements of the current ASHRAE Standard 62.1 using the Ventilation Rate Procedure for mechanical systems. If the current Connecticut State Building Code contains more stringent requirements, it shall be used to meet minimum ventilation requirements.

(Adopted effective September 2, 2009)