Title 24 HVAC – Residential & Small-Business Checklist with Loxone
As of January 1, 2026, California’s updated Title 24, Part 6 Energy Code (the 2026 edition) raises the bar for HVAC and ventilation control requirements. These new requirements address whole-house and local ventilation, heat pump control behaviors, and ERV/HRV verification.
Prescriptive Title 24 HVAC & Ventilation Checklist
Design and document Title 24 HVAC compliant ventilation, tighten control behaviors, and simplify the verification process.
Core Loxone Components:
- Miniserver / Miniserver Compact: Central logic, schedules, trend logs
- Presence Sensor Tree / Air: Vacancy detection in baths, garages, and laundry rooms; boost triggers
- Touch / Touch Pure / Touch Pure Flex US: Manual-on for vacancy pattern; scene recall
- Relay Extension / Nano Relay Air: ERV/HRV boost enable; fan relays
- CT Meter: Log HVAC / ERV / HRV power for commissioning artifacts
- Modbus Extension: Pull status/power from supported HVAC equipment (optional)
Bathroom Requirements
For Title 24 HVAC compliance in bathrooms, use a manual-on control (such as a Loxone Touch) combined with auto-off functionality through a Presence Sensor operating in vacancy mode. During occupancy, the system should also trigger a timed ERV/HRV boost to enhance ventilation and meet prescriptive ventilation requirements.
Required Forms:
CF1R-MCH → CF2R-MCH → CF3R-MCH (note vacancy and boost logic in remarks)
How Loxone Helps:
The Presence Sensor automatically detects when the space is vacant and shuts the fan off after the required delay, ensuring energy efficiency and adherence to Title 24 HVAC vacancy requirements. The Touch switch provides a clear, user-friendly manual-on option for occupants, while a Relay or Nano Relay seamlessly activates a timed ERV/HRV boost during occupancy to maintain healthy air exchange and documentable performance. Together, these components create a responsive, code-ready ventilation solution that’s both simple for users and reliable for inspectors.
Garage/Laundry Requirements
For garages and laundry rooms under Title 24 HVAC requirements, the ventilation system should be configured for manual-on activation paired with automatic shutoff based on occupancy detection. A Presence Sensor ensures the fan runs only when the space is in use, reducing unnecessary energy consumption. If the area is connected to an ERV or HRV, the system can also provide an optional timed boost during occupancy to enhance air exchange and support compliance with prescriptive ventilation standards.
Required Forms:
CF1R-MCH / CF2R-MCH / CF3R-MCH
How Loxone Helps:
Loxone brings intelligent control and effortless documentation to garage and laundry room ventilation. Using the same manual-on and Presence-based auto-off pattern as in bathrooms, Loxone ensures these secondary spaces meet Title 24’s efficiency and control intent without overcomplicating the wiring. The system’s built-in trend logging automatically records occupancy events and fan run-times, providing clear, timestamped data that can be used during inspections or added to your project’s compliance documentation.
Whole-House ERV/HRV Requirements
For whole-house ERV and HRV systems governed by Title 24 HVAC requirements, installations should feature readily accessible filters and cores to make maintenance simple and ensure consistent airflow performance. The outdoor-air intake must be properly located to avoid contamination and deliver clean, balanced ventilation. During startup, the fault indicator should be tested for proper operation, and airflow rates verified and documented to confirm the system meets design intent and code expectations.
Required Forms:
CF1R-MCH (design) → CF2R-MCH (installation) → CF3R-MCH (verification including fault indicator)
Loxone Application:
A Relay or Nano Relay enables boost mode whenever extra ventilation is required, triggered automatically by Presence Sensors or changes in humidity levels throughout the home. The CT Meter then logs ERV and HRV power usage to verify operation during commissioning, while trend logs track boost events, fan status, and overall system performance – creating clear, timestamped records that make documentation and compliance effortless.
Paperwork Tip:
Include a “Ventilation Controls” page in your close-out packet showing vacancy timings, boost duration, and a screenshot of fault-indicator behavior.
For retrofit projects, the goal is to layer Title 24 compliant control behaviors onto existing ventilation equipment without the need for new wiring. Existing wall switches or a Loxone Touch can serve as the manual-on point, while a Presence Sensor provides automatic shutoff to establish a proper vacancy pattern. A Nano Relay Air or Relay Extension can be connected to the ERV or HRV’s boost input, enabling timed ventilation boosts when needed. To support verification and documentation, a CT Meter can be clamped around the ERV, HRV, or air-handler circuit to track run-time and energy use before and after the upgrade. If the project scope includes mechanical changes, be sure to update the CF2R-MCH form and complete the final verification on CF3R-MCH for compliance.
Required Forms:
If mechanical scope changes, update CF2R-MCH; perform final verification on CF3R-MCH.
Prescriptive HVAC/Ventilation Checklist
Meet ventilation control, scheduling, and shutoff requirements, and streamline NRCA-MCH acceptance testing.
Core Loxone Components
- Miniserver: Central schedules, interlocks, logging
- Touch Pure Flex US: Local run/boost scenes, limited manual control
- Presence Sensor Tree: Occupancy-based shutoff/boost
- Relay Extension / Nano Relay Air: Fan enable / exhaust interlocks
- CT Meter: Log exhaust and air-handler circuits
- Modbus Extension: Optional equipment reads
Back-of-House / Restrooms Requirements
For small business back-of-house areas and restrooms, Title 24 requires occupancy-based ventilation control to reduce energy waste when spaces are unoccupied. These rooms should feature automatic shutoff triggered by presence detection, along with a timed ventilation boost to ensure proper air exchange during use. A baseline ventilation schedule must also be maintained to provide continuous minimum airflow for health and comfort, even outside of occupied hours.
Required Forms:
NRCC-MCH (design) → NRCI-MCH (installation) → NRCA-MCH (acceptance, as required)
How Loxone Helps:
Loxone simplifies management ventilation in back-of-house and restroom areas while supporting Title 24 HVAC compliance. Presence sensors automatically turn off fans when the space is unoccupied, while a Touch Pure Flex provides a convenient manual-on option and enables timed boost when needed. At the same time, the CT Meter logs runtime and power usage, giving clear documentation for commissioning and ongoing verification.
Open Area / Office Requirements
For open areas and office spaces in small businesses, Title 24 HVAC requirements call for scheduled ventilation operations that can be adjusted based on actual occupancy. The system should include interlocks that automatically stop fans when zones are unoccupied, helping to conserve energy while maintaining comfort. During commissioning, it’s essential to verify ventilation rates to ensure each zone receives the proper airflow and that the system operates as designed under both scheduled and occupancy-controlled conditions.
Required Forms:
NRCC-MCH / NRCI-MCH / NRCA-MCH
How Loxone Helps:
Loxone streamlines ventilation control in open areas and office spaces by combining automated scheduling with intelligent occupancy detection. The Miniserver manages baseline schedules, while Presence sensors adjust airflow in real time based on actual occupancy. Relay interlocks stop fans in unoccupied zones, and CT Meter trend logs capture runtime and energy use, providing clear documentation for commissioning and ongoing compliance with Title 24.
Acceptance Planning Tip:
Book your acceptance technician early and prepare a concise “Control Points & Logs” summarizing inputs, outputs, set times, and screenshots.
Specifically, you should log:
- Timestamp (local): Record the exact date and time for every event or reading.
- ERV/HRV: Note when the system goes into boost mode, whether any fault indicators appear, and how long it runs each day.
- Exhaust fans: Track when fans are running and what triggered them (like occupancy).
- Heat pump / air handler: Record calls for heating, cooling, or fan operation, and total runtime hours.
- CT Meter: Capture real-time power consumption in watts or cumulative energy in kWh for the monitored circuits.
- Notes: Include any setpoint changes, service events, or unusual observations.
Finally, export the data from your Loxone Miniserver as a CSV file, and consider creating 1–2 graphs to visually show performance. This makes it easy to include in your commissioning report or project close-out packet for inspectors, clients, or internal records.
Required Form Overview At-a-Glance
CF1R-MCH → CF2R-MCH → CF3R-MCH (Design → Installation → Verification)
Nonresidential HVAC / Ventilation:
NRCC-MCH → NRCI-MCH → NRCA-MCH (Design → Installation → Acceptance)
- Vacancy Where It Matters: Presence Sensor + Touch deliver manual-on / auto-off patterns.
- Boost on Demand: Relay / Nano Relay triggers ERV/HRV boost by Presence or humidity.
- Proof in Your Pocket: CT Meter + trend logs create clean, time-stamped commissioning evidence.
- Simple Interlocks: Stop fans when spaces are unoccupied, schedule baseline ventilation, and log exceptions automatically.
Quick Summary of Title 24 HVAC Compliance
| Project Type | Key Focus | Loxone Benefits |
| Residential New Build | Vacancy in baths, garage, laundry; ERV/HRV boost & fault indication; trend logs + CT Meter for proof | Centralized logic and clean verification documentation |
| Residential Retrofit | Add vacancy and boost without re-wiring; CT Meter documents before/after performance | Minimal disruption, measurable improvement |
| Small Business New Build | Occupancy-based shutoff/boost, scheduled operation, NRCA-MCH acceptance | Reliable automation, clear compliance logs |
Ready to Simplify Title 24 HVAC Needs?
With Loxone, you can automate code-compliant ventilation control, collect proof of operation, and deliver cleaner documentation for both residential and small-business projects under California Title 24 HVAC (2026).
Connect Directly with a Loxone Expert
Igor Beletsky
