California's Title 24 Part 6 compliance documentation is more layered than most other states' energy code paperwork, reflecting how detailed the underlying code itself is. A complete submittal typically includes several distinct compliance forms depending on the project type and compliance path chosen, and understanding what belongs in the package — and how the pieces relate to each other — helps avoid submitting something that's technically compliant but documented incompletely.
Most Title 24 submittals center on a Certificate of Compliance (commonly the CF1R form for residential projects), generated through approved CBECC software, showing that the proposed design meets the applicable performance or prescriptive standard. This document summarizes the building's envelope, mechanical, and water heating systems against the code baseline for the applicable climate zone.
Beyond the performance or prescriptive compliance forms, Title 24 requires documentation confirming a set of mandatory measures are met regardless of which compliance path is used — items like minimum insulation, duct sealing requirements, and lighting controls that apply universally rather than being subject to trade-offs.
Where the compliance calculation claims measures that require field verification — duct leakage, refrigerant charge, quality insulation installation — the submittal needs to identify which HERS verification requirements apply, since these connect the paper compliance calculation to the field testing that has to occur before final approval.
Performance-path submittals require more detailed documentation of the energy model's inputs and assumptions than prescriptive-path submittals, which rely on meeting fixed component requirements. Confirming which path a project uses before assembling the documentation avoids preparing the wrong type or level of detail.
Title 24 documentation needs to align with the mechanical, electrical, and architectural plans submitted in the same permit package — window schedules, insulation specs, and equipment efficiency all need to match across every document. Given how many separate forms Title 24 involves compared to other states' energy codes, this cross-document consistency is one of the more common places a submittal runs into review comments.
Does every Title 24 submittal require the same set of forms?
No — the specific forms required depend on project type (residential vs. nonresidential), compliance path (performance vs. prescriptive), and which measures are being claimed, so the documentation package varies by project.
What's the relationship between the compliance forms and HERS verification?
The compliance forms identify which measures are being claimed that require HERS field verification; the actual verification happens later, in the field, but the submittal needs to reference which measures will require it.
Is CBECC software required for every Title 24 submittal?
It's required for performance-path compliance; prescriptive-path projects may not require full energy modeling software, though this depends on project specifics and local jurisdiction requirements.
Psychro.Pro prepares complete Title 24 documentation packages — compliance forms, mandatory measures, and HERS verification references — checked for consistency across your full permit submittal.Learn more.
