Quality Assurance Program2026-04-20T10:51:12-07:00

Quality Assurance at CHEERS

Your home deserves verification you can trust.

When it comes to energy compliance, accuracy matters for you, your builder, and the people who review your project. That’s why CHEERS runs a Quality Assurance (QA) program: to make sure the verification work done on your home is carried out correctly and documented properly, every time.

Verified compliance
Through independent review and structured oversight, CHEERS confirms that compliance documentation reflects real verification work performed the right way and in line with California’s Energy Code standards.
Consistent process
Every project is reviewed against the same requirements, using the same criteria. The goal is simple: to make California’s energy compliance system one that homeowners, builders, and Building Officials can genuinely rely on.

What Quality Assurance Actually Does

Think of QA as an independent check on the work of certified Raters and Rater Companies, the professionals responsible for documenting Energy Code compliance on your project.

Reliable documentation isn’t just paperwork, it’s what gives everyone confidence that compliance requirements were genuinely met. QA helps keep that process honest and consistent.

Here’s what CHEERS does through this program:

  • Oversees certified professionals who perform energy verification

  • Reviews verification work and compliance documentation submitted through the CHEERS Registry

  • Supports Building Officials with reliable, traceable compliance records

  • Provides independent confirmation of reported results

Consistent reviews mean consistent standards, which is good for everyone involved.

View Detailed Quality Assurance Program Information

CHEERS uses several types of reviews to maintain oversight, each one designed to be fair, objective, and technically thorough.

Sometimes, the best way to verify something is to see it in person. CHEERS may visit a project site to observe conditions, check that what’s been documented matches what’s actually installed, and confirm that Energy Code standards were applied correctly.

CHEERS may also observe a certified Rater while they carry out their normal verification activities. This helps ensure that established methods are being applied consistently without interrupting the work in progress.

Not every review requires a site visit. CHEERS also examines forms, documentation, and project data submitted to the CHEERS Registry looking for inconsistencies or patterns that might need a closer look.

Quality Assurance is about more than paperwork. It’s about making sure the energy compliance system works as it should for real people, on real projects.

If you’re a homeowner, QA means your project was independently evaluated against the same Energy Code standards as every other project no shortcuts, no guesswork.

If you’re a builder or contractor, it means you’re operating on a level playing field where the rules apply consistently to everyone.

And for Building Officials, it means the documentation in front of you has been subject to independent review so you can rely on it.

Across the board, CHEERS’ Quality Assurance program is what keeps California’s Energy Code compliance system grounded in transparency, accountability, and trust.

Quality Assurance Notifications

Whether you have received a failure notice or simply need guidance, the CHEERS Quality Assurance team is available to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the responsibilities of a ECC rater?2026-01-23T09:05:43-08:00

An ECC rater is responsible for performing field verification and diagnostic testing for the benefit of a homeowner or building owner to ensure proper measure installation and systems operations.

After performing field verification and diagnostic testing, an ECC rater is required to document test results by completing and signing a Certificate of Compliance (CF3R) for each ECC measure verified in the CHEERS Registry.

What can I do as a ECC rater to demonstrate transparency when completing verifications?2026-01-13T09:57:50-08:00

Photo documentation is a great way to demonstrate transparency when completing verifications. ECC raters are highly encouraged to upload geo-tagged photos of the front of the home and each verified measure to the CHEERS Activity Wall.

Code             ⬞ Explanation
MECH -20 Duct-Test / picture of manometer reading.
MECH -21 Duct location / picture of ducting representing compliance.
MECH -22 Fan-watt / picture of the measuring device and reading.
MECH -23 Airflow / picture of the measuring device and reading.
MECH -28 Return duct + filter sizing / 1 pic representing compliance.
MECH -25 Refrigerant Charge – picture of gauge readings. Pic of ambient air temperature.
MECH -26 EER – 3 pics total. 1 each for the FAU, Coil, and A/C tag.
MECH -27 Indoor Air Quality – picture of the airflow reading.
MECH -29 Duct surface area reduction / Buried ducts – 1 picture of ducts at rough / 1 pic at final of buried ducts.
MECH -30 Ventilation Cooling – picture of the nameplate of the equipment.
MECH -31 Whole House Fan – picture of the airflow reading and/or watt reading if applicable.
MECH -32 Kitchen range hood – pic of range hood label.
MECH -33 Variable Capacity Heat Pump – 1 picture for each required verification.
ENV -20 Pic of blower door reading.
ENV -21 3 pics representing compliance.
ENV -22 2 pics of compliant walls / 1 pic of attic at final.
PLB -22 Compact / standard / parallel piping – 1 pic of distribution system that demonstrates compliance of the measurement.
Which CHEERS Registry feature can ECC Raters use to assist with a transparent quality assurance process?2026-01-13T09:54:46-08:00

The CHEERS Activity Wall can be used to assist with a transparent quality assurance process. The Activity Wall is  a central location to post field comments, attach documents, and upload  photos of test results and equipment serial numbers. 

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