RB103. SOLAR-READY ZONE

APPENDIX RB SOLAR-READY PROVISIONS SECTION RB103 SOLAR-READY ZONE RB103.1 General. A residential building with a roof area of 600 square feet (55.74 m2) or more oriented between 110 degrees and 270 degrees of true north shall comply with Sections RB103.2 through RB103.8. Exceptions: Residential buildings with a permanently installed on-site renewable energy system with a minimum size of 2 kilowatts (KW) per dwelling unit. A building with a solar-ready zone that is shaded for more than 70 percent of daylight hours annually. RB103.2 Construction document requirements for solar-ready zone. Construction documents shall indicate the solar-ready zone. RB103.3 Solar-ready zone. The total solar-ready zone shall be not less than 300 square feet (27.87 m2) exclusive of mandatory access or set back areas as required by the Fire Code. Residential buildings with a total floor area less than or equal to 2,000 square feet (185.8 m2) per dwelling shall have a solar-ready zone of not less than 150 square feet (13.94 m2). The solar-ready zone shall be composed of areas not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) in width and not less than 80 square feet (7.44 m2) exclusive of access or set back areas as required by the Fire Code. RB103.4 Obstructions. Solar-ready zones shall be free from obstructions, including but not limited to vents, chimneys, and roof-mounted equipment. RB103.5 Roof load documentation. The structural design loads for roof dead load and roof live load shall be clearly indicated on the construction documents. RB103.6 Interconnection pathway. Construction documents shall indicate pathways for routing of conduit or plumbing from the solar-ready zone to the electrical service panel or service hot water system. RB103.7 Electrical service reserved space. The main electrical service panel shall have a reserved space to allow installation of a dual pole circuit breaker for future solar electric installation and shall be labeled “For Future Solar Electric.” The reserved space shall be positioned at the opposite (load) end from the input feeder location or main circuit location. RB103.8 Construction documentation certificate. A permanent certificate, indicating the solar-ready zone and other requirements of this section, shall be posted near the electrical distribution panel, water heater or other conspicuous location by the builder or registered design professional. RB103.9 Shading. The solar-ready zone shall be set back from any existing or new, permanently affixed object on the building or site that is located south, east or west of the solar-ready zone a distance not less than two times the object’s height above the nearest point on the roof surface. Such objects include, but are not limited to, taller portions of the building itself, parapets, chimneys, antennas, signage, rooftop equipment, trees and roof plantings. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 6326 (May 29, 2020 – Part 2). The District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code (2017), referred to as the “Energy Conservation Code,” consists of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1-2013, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1) and substantial portions of Chapter 7 of ANSI/ASHREA/IES 189.1-2014, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1), published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Residential Provisions of the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (International Energy Conservation Code), published by the International Code Council (ICC), as amended by the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Commercial Provisions (12-I[CE] DCMR) and the Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Residential Provisions (12-I[RE] DCMR). The International Energy Conservation Code is copyrighted by the ICC and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/IECC2015. ASHRAE 90.1 is copyrighted by ASHRAE and therefore is not republished here. However, the text of ASHRAE 90.1 may be reviewed at: https://www.ashrae.org/standards-research--technology. Portions of Chapter 7 of ASHRAE 189.1 are reprinted in the District of Columbia Energy Conservation Code Supplement by permission of ASHRAE and ICC. District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Energy Conservation Code Supplement of 2017 – Residential Provisions 12-I[RE] DCMR § Appendix RB103