CAL GREEN CHANGES COMPLIANCE STANDARDS FOR MAINTENANCE CONTENT, O&MS
Current maintenance and warranty manuals may no longer be in compliance as of January 1

Nov 10 , 2010 (San Diego, CA) –New mandatory standards incorporating "environmentally responsible" building principles, called Cal Green, will make sweeping changes to the building standards starting January 1, 2011.

According to Chapter 4, Section 4.410 builders must make modifications and add new green-centric contentto their existing maintenance and warranty manuals already required by SB800. Many will need new or updated "green" information and now must include O&M documentation in order to be incompliance with California law.

The CalGreen Codes, which were passed into law early this year, are a comprehensive blueprint defining new minumum standards for all residential, government and commercial building in the State of California. One of the new requirements is the addition of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) documents for several manufactured products to be provided at the time of final inspection.

Covered in the Building Maintenance and Operation Section of the Title 24, Part 11 code of regulations, builders must also provide instructions and education on such subjects as water conservation, renewable energy programs, eco-friendly landscaping, recycling and indoor air quality. Additionally, the code states that builders are responsible for supplying information from local utilities, water and waste recovery providers on methods to further reduce consumption.

Compendia, who developed compliant green content last year, offers a highly versatile, ready-made-yet-customizeable solution that can make the transition cost-effective and painless.

"Builders will have to change their processes if they haven't already done so," said Compendia CEO Steve Fabry, "The codes are clear and although a greater burden is placed on builders to provide homeowners this added information, Compendia has already developed a methodology and a solution that can make the transition easier."

The codes, which affect homes permitted after January 11, 2011, require the collection and distribution of O&M documents. The identification, collection and efficient distribution of O&Ms is seen as the largest resource reallocation for post construction documentation (in terms of dedicated man-hours). Many builders in the past did not provide this service, but now will be required for any building built in California.

"Our content is proven, trusted and compliant with CalGreen's requirements. And we even have options should builders need to comply with more comprehensive standards such as LEED, NAHB, and GreePoint," Fabry said.

"And,by distributing it through our online portal, Home Experience, builders satisfy the law and give homeowners a useful tool to manage their home investment," he added.

The following is Chapter 4, Section 4.410 builders from Title 24, Part 11:

BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION
4.410.1 Operation and maintenance manual. At the time of final inspection, a manual, compact disc, web-based reference or other media acceptable to the enforcing agency which includes all of the following shall be placed in the building:
1. Directions to the owner or occupant that the manual shall remain with the building throughout the life cycle of the structure.
2. Operation and maintenance instructions for the following:

3. Information from local utility, water and waste recovery providers on methods to further reduce resource consumption, including recycle programs and locations.
4. Public transportation and/or carpool options available in the area.
5. Educational material on the positive impacts of an interior relative humidity between 30–60 percent and what methods an occupant may use to maintain the relative
humidity level in that range.
6. Information about water-conserving landscape and irrigation design and controllers which conserve water.
7. Instructions for maintaining gutters and downspouts and the importance of diverting water at least 5 feet away from the foundation.
8. Information on required routine maintenance measures, including, but not limited to, caulking, painting, grading around the building, etc.
9. Information about state solar energy and incentive programs available.
10. A copy of all special inspection verifications required by the enforcing agency or this code.