Act 253 – A Modification of the definition of Gas Fitting For your information, Act 253 was passed by the Louisiana State Legislature in May, 2018 which modified the definition of gas fitting under the State Plumbing Board Statutes, and clarified the exemptions of licensed Louisiana State Licensing Board contractors (LSLBC) from this requirement.  As a licensed LSLBC contractor, this change requires no action on your part for work done from the appliance shut off valve to the appliance inlet. The following is how this new requirement now reads as listed in the Plumbing statutes: Under Louisiana Revised Statutes (La R.S.) 37:1377(K), gas fitting is now defined as the work or business of installing, repairing, improving, altering, or removing natural gas piping, fittings, valves, or tanks used for conveying fuel gas for appliances on or in premises or in buildings annexed to immovable property.  Further, under this definition, gas fitting does not include the following:  piping connection, disconnection, or reconnection from the outlet side of the appliance shutoff valve to the appliance inlet. The following persons or entities are not to be construed as a gas fitter or master gas fitter for work done from the appliance shut off valve to the appliance inlet: any person or business entity licensed by the State Licensing Board for Contractors as a Mechanical contractor. any person or business entity classified under the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, duct work, and refrigeration sub classification of Mechanical contractors. This Act can be viewed in its entirety at www.legis.la.gov by clicking here.

(Reprinted from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Bulletin 18-03, July 2018)

Fact sheet from State Plumbing Board  February 27, 2018

Answers to Contractor Questions by the Louisiana State Plumbing Board Regarding Master Natural Gas Fitter & Natural Gas Fitter Licensure – ACT 297

2017 New Orleans Mechanical Installations in Flood Zones

• reviews and summarizes research studies of residential energy efficiency and related ventilation upgrades
• discusses ways that programs have monetized occupant health co-benefits
• identifies where research gaps exist, and/or where research can be improved and leveraged
• provides an overview of innovative programs that combine energy efficiency and health-focused home repairs

Download the report here.

For more information, please contact E4TheFuture, or see their website at e4thefuture.org.

Significant Energy & Mechanical Code Changes for 2015

• Significant Changes to the International Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, 2015 Edition (with Louisiana Amendments) 
  PowerPoint presentation by Mark Roberts, 4/23/2017
  Copyright 2015 International Code Council
• Significant Changes to the International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes, 2012 Edition
  PowerPoint presentation by Mark Roberts, 10/19/2015
  Copyright 2011 International Code Council
• Significant Energy & Mechanical Code Changes for January 1, 2015 with Louisiana Amendments
  PowerPoint presentation by Tim Pierre, updated by Audrey Evans & Mark Roberts
• Summary of 2015 Louisiana Amendments to the Energy & Mechanical Code
  Summary of The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC) Energy Efficiency & Mechanical International Residential Code Amendments for 2015, in plain language
• Text of 2015 Louisiana Amendments to the Energy & Mechanical Code
  Text of The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC) Energy Efficiency & Mechanical International Residential Code Amendments for 2015

Local Jurisdiction Adoption of the 2009 Energy and 2012 Mechanical Codes

• East Baton Rouge Parish
  • 2006-2012 Mechanical Code Changes
• Jefferson Parish
  • 2015 Mandatory Code Changes
  • Air Barrier and Insulation Checklist
  • Blower Door Testing Form
  • Duct Leakage Testing Form
• Lafayette Parish
  • Mechanical and Energy Code Amendments
• Northshore / St. Tammany Parish
  • Mechanical and Energy Code Amendments
  • Northshore Duct Verification Form
• Orleans Parish
  • Mechanical and Fuel Gas Permit Changes
  • Revised Visual Thermal Barrier Reporting Form
• Plaquemines Parish
  • Mechanical and Fuel Gas Permit Changes
• South Central Planning District
  • New Construction Plan Review Letter Template — Shows changes (new requirements are highlighted in red).
  • Energy Efficiency Certificate — Example certificate now required to be posted in or on the elec panel.
  • Ducts (State Code) — Reference to new requirements for sealing HVAC ducts.
  • Energy Efficiency — Air Barrier Inspection Requirements:  New inspection requirements as of January 1, 2015.
  • Example Manual J, D, & S — Now require all three documents; not just Manual J as in the past.
  • New Inspection Type — Energy Efficiency (replaces Insulation inspection):  New inspection type required to be performed by the building department (SCPDC) in place of what used to be called the Insulation Inspection. This is only a checklist of items — required inspection areas (including but not limited to these areas).
  • New Inspection Type — Duct Leakage Test:  New inspection type required to be performed by the building department (SCPDC) during Rough-in or at Final.
• Tangipahoa Parish
  • Total Duct Leakage Verification Form Based on the IECC 2009 adopted by Louisiana
  • Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Energy Compliance Form for Residential Buildings   Effective January 1, 2015

Resources from LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center

• Contractors’ Intro to Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET)
  Powerpoint Presentation by Dr. Claudette Reichel and Paul LaGrange courtesy of LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center
• LaHouse Presentation:
  “Building Science 101: Energy Upgrades for Existing Homes”
  Powerpoint Presentation by Dr. Claudette Reichel, LSU AgCenter
• LaHouse Publication: Improve Your Home & Prosper
  (6 page brochure)

Other Resources

• “Energy Star for Homes Program in New Orleans” — March 2016 presentation by Monica Gonzalez, Energy Star HVAC Senior Program Director, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.
• Allison Bailes presentation: “Beyond Mini-Splits: An Introduction to Variable Capacity Equipment for Whole House HVAC Designs” (RESNET conference, 2014)
• Radiant Barrier Power Point Presentation
  by Dr. Mario Medina, University of Kansas (October 2014)

• Transitioning HVAC Companies to Whole House Performance Contractors (USDOE Publication)

• Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment

• International Code Council (ICC)

• Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)

• Proper Design of HVAC Systems for Spray Foam Homes
  A report written by Doug Garrett, CEM,
  ACCA Certified Instructor, Building Performance and Comfort Inc.

• The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI)
  

• Elite HVAC Software

• Wrightsoft HVAC Software