What Is a HERS Test? California's Title 24 Field Verification, Explained

By Roman Leonelli, CEO & Certified HERS / ECC Rater — CHEERS Rater #RCN13486 · Updated June 10, 2026

The definition

A HERS test (Home Energy Rating System test) is a set of field measurements required by Title 24 — California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards, found in Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations. The premise is simple: the energy code doesn't just trust that insulation, ducts, and HVAC equipment were installed correctly — for certain measures it requires an independent, state-certified rater to come out, measure the installed work, and register the results with a state-approved registry. Your building department checks for those registered results before it approves the final inspection and closes the permit.

The rater cannot be your installing contractor. Independence is the core of the program: the person who built it doesn't get to grade it.

HERS is becoming ECC — same test, new name

Under the 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which took effect January 1, 2026, the California Energy Commission (CEC) renamed the compliance side of the HERS program. "HERS raters" and "HERS providers" are now ECC raters and ECC providers — ECC stands for Energy Code Compliance — and the field verification rules moved from Title 20 of the state regulations into the administrative part of Title 24. The CEC's own wording: projects requiring field verification and diagnostic testing "must demonstrate compliance to enforcement agencies using compliance documents registered with an Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Provider." Details are on the CEC's ECC program page.

Two things didn't change: the tests themselves, and the people doing them. Raters may keep "HERS" in their business names, and the voluntary whole-house rating program ("HERS II") keeps the HERS name. If your contractor says "HERS test" and your permit tech says "ECC verification," they mean the same visit.

When Title 24 requires a HERS test

The trigger is your project's CF1R — the Certificate of Compliance filed with the permit application — which lists exactly which measures must be field-verified. The common cases:

• HVAC changeouts. Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump on a permitted job usually triggers duct leakage testing, and often refrigerant charge verification — under the 2025 code, charge verification applies to heat pumps in all 16 California climate zones and to air conditioners in climate zones 2 and 8–15.
• New homes and ADUs. New low-rise residential construction carries a package of verifications — duct leakage, airflow, fan watt draw, ventilation, and QII (Quality Insulation Installation, the pre-drywall insulation and air-barrier check).
• Additions and major remodels. Whenever the energy compliance documents claim credits that require verification, a rater has to confirm them in the field.

California is divided into 16 building climate zones, and several requirements depend on which one your project is in — your CF1R already accounts for that.

What the rater actually checks

The measures vary by project, but these are the ones we verify most often:

• Duct leakage. The duct system is pressurized with a calibrated fan and the leakage rate is measured against the code limit — the most common test on changeouts.
• Refrigerant charge. Confirms the AC or heat pump is charged to manufacturer specification, so it delivers rated efficiency.
• Cooling coil airflow and fan watt draw. Verifies the system moves enough air per ton without burning excess fan energy.
• Blower door (envelope leakage). Measures whole-house air leakage by depressurizing the building.
• QII — Quality Insulation Installation. A pre-drywall inspection of insulation and the air barrier per Reference Appendix RA3.5. See our QII verification service.
• Ventilation and IAQ. Whole-dwelling mechanical ventilation airflow — and, new under the 2025 code, HRV/ERV fault indicator displays verified by an ECC rater.

The paperwork: CF1R → CF2R → CF3R

Three forms carry a residential project from permit to sign-off, and the names tell you who files each one:

• CF1R — Certificate of Compliance. Filed at permit application by your designer or energy consultant. It's the plan: how the project will meet Title 24, and which measures need field verification.
• CF2R — Certificate of Installation. Filed by the installing contractor after the work is done, certifying what was actually installed.
• CF3R — Certificate of Verification. Filed by the independent HERS / ECC rater after testing. This is the document the building inspector looks for at final.

The sequence matters: the rater can't file a CF3R until the contractor's CF2R is complete and registered. If a rater shows up before the paperwork is in order, the visit is wasted — and usually billed.

Where the results live: the CHEERS registry

Compliance documents aren't just signed — they're registered with a CEC-approved data registry, where your building department can verify them. ERE registers through CHEERS, which the CEC approved as an ECC provider and 2025 Energy Code data registry on November 12, 2025 (its registry also remains approved for documents back to the 2013 code). One caution if you're searching old paperwork: CalCERTS, another long-running registry, shut down its HERS registry services in September 2024 — it is not a current option for new projects.

How long it takes

The site visit itself is short — about an hour for a typical single-system changeout, longer for multiple systems or whole-house packages. QII is the exception: it requires the rater on site before drywall, typically across two to three visits. ERE registers passing results the same day, which means your CF3R is visible to the building department before your final inspection — usually the difference between closing the permit this week and not.

What it costs

Market rates in California run roughly $150–$400 for a single duct leakage test, $200–$450 for a full changeout package, $200–$600 for a blower door test, and $250–$500 for QII verification. We've compiled the published numbers, sources, and the factors that move them in a dedicated guide: How much does a HERS test cost in California? For your specific project, ERE quotes a fixed price before you book — request a quote or call (310) 807-4800.

Frequently asked

Do I need a HERS test to replace my AC or furnace?

On most permitted HVAC changeouts in Southern California, yes. Replacing an air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump usually triggers duct leakage testing, and — depending on your climate zone and equipment — refrigerant charge verification. Your permit's CF1R lists the exact measures. Without the registered test results, the building department won't sign off the permit.

Can my HVAC contractor do the HERS test themselves?

No. California requires the test to be performed by an independent certified HERS / ECC rater with no financial interest in the installation. The contractor installs the system and files the CF2R; the rater verifies the work and files the CF3R. That separation is the whole point of the program.

What is a CF3R?

The CF3R (Certificate of Verification) is the document the HERS / ECC rater files after field-verifying your project. It's registered with a CEC-approved registry — ERE registers through CHEERS — and it's what the building inspector checks before approving your final inspection.

Is a HERS test the same as a home energy audit?

No. A home energy audit, or a HERS II whole-house rating, is a voluntary assessment of how efficient your home is. A HERS test — now called ECC field verification — is a code-compliance requirement: specific measurements Title 24 requires before your building permit can close.

What happens if my project fails the HERS test?

Nothing gets registered until it passes. The rater tells your contractor exactly what failed — most often duct leakage over the allowed limit — the contractor seals or corrects it, and the rater retests. Catching it fast matters, which is why ERE reports results the same day.

How much does a HERS test cost?

Market rates in California run roughly $150 to $400 for a single duct leakage test and $200 to $450 for a full HVAC changeout package; blower door tests, QII verification, and CF1R reports each have their own ranges. See How much does a HERS test cost in California? for the full table, or call ERE at (310) 807-4800 for a fixed quote.