A5.204 Mandatory Requirements for Alterations to Existing Buildings — 2025 California Green Building Standards Code

A5.204.1 Energy efficiency . Alterations to existing nonresidential buildings shall comply with Section A5.204.1.1.

A5.204.1.1 Altered pool and/or spa heating for existing nonresidential buildings . Alteration of existing nonresidential pool and/or spa heating system shall meet the following.

Heating source sizing. Heating systems or equipment for pools or spas shall meet one of the sizing requirements of Items 1 through 5 below:

1. Solar pool heating system with a solar collector surface area that is equivalent to 65 percent or greater of the surface areas of the pool or spa or a combination of both respectively; or
2. A heat pump pool heater as the primary heating system that meets the sizing requirements of Reference Joint Appendix JA16.3. The control for the heat pump pool heater shall meet the requirements specified in Section 110.4(d). The supplementary heater can be of any energy source; or
3. A heating system that derives at least 60 percent of the annual heating energy from on-site renewable energy or on-site recovered energy; or
4. A combination of a solar pool heating system and heat pump pool heater without any additional supplementary heater;

or

5. A pool heating system determined by the Energy Commission Executive Director to use no more energy than the systems specified in Item 1, 2, 3, or 4 above.

Exception 1 to A5.204.1.1: Portable electric spas compliant with 20 CCR, Section 1605.3(g)(7) of the Appliance Efficiency Regulations.

Exception 2 to A5.204.1.1: A pool or spa that is heated solely by a solar pool heating system without any supplementary heater.

Exception 3 to A5.204.1.1: An existing building with inadequate Solar Access Roof Area (SARA) as specified in Section 140.10(a) for a solar pool heating system to be installed.

Exception 4 to A5.204.1.1: Heating systems which are used exclusively for permanent spa applications in existing buildings with gas availability.