Quality Insulation Installation (QII) Verification
QII is the HERS-verified Title 24 measure that confirms your insulation and air barrier were installed right — inspected before the drywall covers them. We verify the install per Reference Appendix RA3.5, then sign and register it so you can take the QII credit with confidence.
What is QII?
Quality Insulation Installation (QII) is a California Title 24 verification, defined in Reference Appendix RA3.5, that confirms a building's insulation and air barrier were installed to a higher standard than a normal building-department insulation inspection checks for. Under the 2022 Energy Code, QII is now a prescriptive requirement for new low-rise residential construction — on the standard (prescriptive) compliance path it is mandatory in all 16 California climate zones for new homes and additions over 700 square feet, and a certified third-party HERS rater has to inspect the install before drywall and sign off on it. That rater is us.
Because it's prescriptive, new construction can't simply design around QII — the project doesn't comply until a HERS rater verifies the work. (On the performance compliance path, QII instead earns a modeling credit that lowers the building's energy budget, which is how many additions and remodels use it.) Either way, the verification has to happen before the drywall goes up, so the rater can see the insulation and air barrier directly. It's one of our most-requested services on new construction, ADUs, and additions.
What we verify
We inspect the insulation install against the RA3.5 standard across the whole building envelope:
- Walls, ceilings, attic, and floors. Insulation fills each framed cavity completely — no gaps, voids, compression, or misalignment with the framing.
- Headers, corners, and penetrations. The framing details installers most often miss are insulated and air-sealed.
- Air-barrier continuity. The air barrier is in full contact with the insulation on all sides of each cavity, per Title 24 sections 110.7 and 150.1(c).
- Both batt and blown / spray systems. We verify fiberglass and mineral-wool batts, loose-fill and blown-in, spray polyurethane foam, and rigid board against the standard.
- Signed and registered verification. We document and register the QII so it's on file for your CF3R and the final inspection.
Timing is everything on QII
The inspection has to happen after the insulation is installed but before it is covered — the rater has to see the insulation and air barrier directly. The best time to bring us in is once framing is complete and the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins are in.
Give us three to five business days' notice before insulation wraps up, and we'll schedule the verification so your drywall crew is never held up. If something is flagged, catching it before the walls are closed means a quick fix instead of opening finished work back up.
Who needs QII
- New residential construction — QII is a common credit on the Title 24 performance compliance path.
- ADUs and additions — where the energy model needs the QII credit to pass.
- Production builders — we run QII at volume and coordinate with your insulation and drywall schedule.
- Anyone whose CF1R calls for it — if your energy documents take the QII credit, a HERS rater has to verify it. Send us the CF1R and we'll confirm.
Frequently asked
What is QII (Quality Insulation Installation)?
QII (Quality Insulation Installation) is a California Title 24 verification, defined in Reference Appendix RA3.5, that confirms insulation and the building air barrier were installed to a higher standard. Under the 2022 Energy Code it is a prescriptive requirement for new low-rise residential construction, so a certified third-party HERS rater must inspect the install before drywall and sign off on it. ERE performs that verification.
When does the QII inspection have to happen?
After the insulation is installed but before it is covered by drywall, because the rater has to see the insulation and air barrier directly. The best time to call is once framing is complete and the rough-ins are in. Give us three to five days' notice before insulation wraps up so we can schedule it without holding up your drywall crew.
What does the HERS rater check during a QII inspection?
We verify the install against the Title 24 RA3.5 standard across the whole envelope: walls, ceilings, attic, and floors fully filled with no gaps, voids, or compression; headers, corners, and penetrations insulated and air-sealed; and the air barrier in full contact with the insulation per Title 24 sections 110.7 and 150.1(c). Then we sign and register the QII verification.
Do I need QII for my project?
You need QII verification when your Title 24 energy compliance documents take the QII credit — common on new residential construction, ADUs, and additions on the performance path. Your energy consultant or the CF1R will indicate whether QII is required. Send us the project and the CF1R and we'll confirm.
Is QII the same as the HERS / ECC test?
No — they're separate HERS verifications. QII covers insulation quality and the air barrier and is inspected before drywall. The HERS / ECC test covers HVAC measures like duct leakage, refrigerant charge, cooling coil airflow, and fan efficacy, and runs after the system is installed. ERE does both, often on the same project. See Title 24 HERS / ECC Rating.
How much notice do you need for a QII inspection?
Three to five business days is ideal. Tell us when framing and rough-ins are in and roughly when the insulation will be finished, and we'll slot the verification in before the drywall is scheduled. We serve LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire and can usually get out within a week.
Have a QII inspection coming up?
Send your project and your CF1R. We'll confirm whether QII applies, schedule the verification before your drywall, and register it for your CF3R — HERS-certified, across LA, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.