October 2008
This document outlines the approach to quality assurance in the construction process as recommended by Building Science Corporation for new residential construction.
The seven steps given below are meant to provide a "roadmap" for builders who intend to integrate whole house construction improvements aimed at the construction of more energyefficient, durable and affordable buildings. The approach is intended for builders constructing high-performance Building America prototypes but has general application for high-performance construction.
The roadmap is processed-based, not technology-based. This document accompanies the BSC Building America Performance Criteria, which provides minimum performance levels for new residential construction.
These are the seven steps:
- Review of past construction and risk assessment
- Setting performance goals
- Changes to drawings, specifications, contracts and trade scopes-of-work
- Training for site supervision and trades
- On-site inspections, verification, and trouble-shooting
- Commissioning
- Post construction evaluation
In Building Science Corporation's experience working with large and small builders across the United States, all of these steps deserve a high degree of attention. The steps provided here are guidelines – it is expected that each builder will require a process that is heavily customized to
suit internal goals, technical challenges, and regional variation. However, the seven steps provide a starting point or minimum standard for builders who build high performance houses.
The importance of "buy-in" from top levels of management cannot be over emphasized. We have found that the technical changes to the construction process are relatively straightforward if they are well supported by the builder’s internal organization and, most importantly, commitment from the trades performing the work.
Prepared for:
U. S. Department of Energy
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Prepared by:
Building Science Corporation
10 pages