The CF-1R is the most important document for any permitted HVAC replacement, new construction project, or major alteration in California — and most contractors have never read one. It sits in the permit file, gets stamped by the building department, and then gets ignored while everyone proceeds to schedule inspections based on assumptions, rumors, or what they heard applied to the last job down the street.
That approach creates problems. The CF-1R is project-specific. It tells you — precisely — which ECC measures are required for that exact home. Understanding how to read it before you call a rater, before you pull the permit, and before you install equipment will save you time, money, and the kind of last-minute surprises that derail project timelines.
This guide walks you through the key sections of the CF-1R and what each one means for your work in the field.
What Is a CF-1R?
CF-1R stands for Certificate of Compliance — Residential. It is the output document produced when a licensed energy modeler runs California Title 24 energy calculations for a project. When a permit application is submitted for new residential construction or a qualifying alteration, the CF-1R must be included with the permit package. The building department reviews it as part of the plan check process, stamps it into the permit file, and it becomes a legally binding specification for that project.
The CF-1R is generated by energy modeling software approved by the California Energy Commission — programs like EnergyPro, CBECC-Res, or similar tools. The energy modeler inputs the project details (location, floor plan, insulation specs, HVAC equipment, window values, etc.) and the software calculates whether the proposed home will comply with the Title 24 standard. The CF-1R documents all of those inputs and the required verification measures needed to confirm compliance in the field.
In practical terms: the CF-1R is the blueprint for the ECC rater's job. It defines what must be installed, what must be tested, and what must be verified before the permit can be finaled.
Where to Get Your CF-1R
The CF-1R is part of the permit file and should be available through the building department's permit portal or records office. Most California jurisdictions have moved to online permit systems where plan documents — including the CF-1R — can be downloaded by anyone with the permit number.
If you're an HVAC contractor who pulled the permit yourself, you likely already have it or can get it from whoever did the energy calculations. On new construction projects, the architect, general contractor, or energy modeler should have it. If you're a subcontractor called in to complete work on a project you didn't initiate, ask the general contractor — they are required to have a copy on site.
If you can't track down the CF-1R, call us. We work with the building department and energy modeling software regularly and can often help locate or interpret the document for your project.
Your CF-1R is project-specific. What's required for one job may be completely different for another even on the same street. Do not assume the measures from a previous job apply to the current one. Always pull and read the CF-1R for each project.
Key Sections HVAC Contractors Need to Know
The CF-1R can run several pages and contains information about the entire building, not just the HVAC system. Here are the sections most relevant to HVAC contractors:
HVAC Equipment Section
This section lists the required HVAC equipment specifications for the project: heating and cooling system type, required minimum efficiency ratings (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2, AFUE), and any specific equipment requirements mandated by the energy model. This is the section to check before you specify or order equipment — installing a unit that doesn't meet the minimum efficiency shown on the CF-1R is a compliance failure, and the rater will catch it during field verification.
Pay particular attention to the required SEER2 rating. If the CF-1R was modeled with a 16 SEER2 unit and you install a 14 SEER2 unit without a revised energy calculation, the project cannot receive its compliance certificate for that measure without remediation.
Mandatory Measures Section
This is the section most contractors need to spend the most time with. The Mandatory Measures section lists every ECC/HERS verification measure that must be completed for this project. It is typically organized as a checklist, and each line item represents a test or inspection that must be performed by a licensed ECC rater and documented on the CF-2R field verification form.
Common measures that appear in this section include:
- Duct leakage testing (new or altered duct systems)
- Refrigerant charge verification
- Airflow verification (fan efficacy / system airflow)
- Fan watt draw verification
- Blower door / building air leakage testing (new construction)
- Quality Insulation Inspection (QII) for new construction
- Kitchen hood verification
- Lighting controls verification
Every item checked in this section must be verified before the permit can be finaled. If an item is not checked, it is not required for this project. Do not perform tests that are not on the CF-1R and do not skip tests that are.
Duct System Section
This section specifies where the duct system is located — in conditioned space, unconditioned attic, or crawl space — and the required duct leakage limit. The leakage limit is expressed as a percentage of system airflow and will typically be 4% or 6% for new construction, or may reference a specific CFM25 value for altered systems. Know this number before the rater arrives — it determines whether your duct installation passes or fails the leakage test.
Envelope Section (New Construction)
For new construction projects, the envelope section lists required insulation R-values for walls, ceiling, floor, and slab assemblies, as well as window specifications (U-factor and SHGC). If QII is required, it will appear here or in the mandatory measures section. Review this section when coordinating with the insulation and framing subs so everyone knows what's required before it gets built.
How to Know Which Tests Are Required
The most efficient way to identify what's required for a specific project is to go directly to the Mandatory Measures section of the CF-1R and read every line item. Each measure will be marked as required or not required for this project. Some CF-1R documents use checkboxes; others use a narrative format with YES/NO indicators.
Once you have identified the required measures, you can have a precise conversation with your ECC rater about scheduling. Instead of saying "I need an inspection," you can say "I need duct leakage, refrigerant charge, and airflow verification — the CF-1R doesn't show blower door or QII." That level of specificity lets the rater schedule the right amount of time, bring the right equipment, and prepare the correct documentation. It reduces the risk of a return visit because a measure was missed.
Pro tip: Send your ECC rater a copy of the CF-1R before the inspection — not when they're standing in the driveway. When the rater has the document in advance, they can confirm which measures apply, identify anything that needs clarification, and show up prepared. This single step eliminates the most common cause of inspection delays and surprises.
What the CF-2R Is (and Why It's Different)
If the CF-1R is the plan, the CF-2R is the as-built record. CF-2R stands for Certificate of Installation and Field Verification. It is the form the ECC rater fills out after completing the field inspections. It documents what was actually installed and verified — equipment model numbers and efficiency ratings, test results (duct leakage CFM, airflow readings, refrigerant charge measurements), and confirmation that each required measure was completed.
Once the rater completes and signs the CF-2R, it is submitted to the HERS registry — a state-managed database that maintains records of all ECC compliance filings for California residential projects. The building department accesses this registry to confirm compliance before issuing a final permit or certificate of occupancy.
You cannot substitute a CF-2R from one project for another. The CF-2R is tied to the specific permit, the specific address, and the specific ECC rater who performed the inspections. A filing from a previous job has no bearing on a new one.
Common Mistakes Contractors Make
After working with hundreds of contractors across the Sacramento region, we see the same mistakes repeatedly when it comes to CF-1R knowledge:
- Scheduling the rater without a CF-1R on hand: The rater cannot confirm what measures are required without seeing the project-specific document. This leads to uncertainty, potential return visits, and compliance gaps.
- Assuming the same measures apply to every job: Every CF-1R is different. A job down the street — same builder, same floor plan — may have different required measures because the energy modeler made different assumptions or because the permit was pulled under a different code cycle.
- Not sharing the CF-1R with the insulation or framing crew on new construction: The envelope section of the CF-1R specifies insulation R-values and window specs. If the insulation sub doesn't have it, they may install the wrong product. If the framing crew doesn't know QII is required, they may not plan for the pre-drywall inspection window.
- Waiting until the inspection to ask what's required: By the time the rater is on site, every missed preparation is a problem. Read the CF-1R before scheduling, share it with your ECC rater, and confirm the scope before anyone shows up.
Call Us to Review Your CF-1R Before Scheduling
Not sure what your CF-1R requires? Call Roo's Ratings and we'll walk through it with you. We serve the Sacramento region and schedule quickly — with same-day CF-2R filing after every inspection.
Using the CF-1R as a Communication Tool
Think of the CF-1R as more than a compliance document — it is a coordination tool. When everyone on the project team has seen it and understands what it requires, projects move faster and fail inspections less often. Share it with your insulation sub. Share it with the framers so they know about QII timing. Give a copy to your ECC rater before inspection day. Post it on site where your crew can reference it.
The contractors who have the fewest ECC-related delays are the ones who treat the CF-1R as a project management document, not a bureaucratic formality. The information is all there — the measures required, the efficiency specs, the duct leakage limits — and it takes less than 15 minutes to read the relevant sections for a standard residential HVAC project.
If you have questions about a specific CF-1R or want help interpreting what it means for your project, call Roo's Ratings at (530) 300-4472. We are happy to walk through the document with you before scheduling and make sure your inspection goes smoothly the first time.
