Blower Door Testing Mattapan, MA — Specialized Energy Code Town
Professional blower door air tightness testing in Mattapan, Massachusetts. RESNET-certified technicians providing fast, accurate results for MA Stretch Energy Code compliance and Mass Save eligibility.
Schedule a Test Call 617-584-18092026 Massachusetts Energy Code Facts — Mattapan
Mattapan enforces the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code (225 CMR 23), effective 1/1/2024 — one of only 60 Massachusetts municipalities to adopt it (a Stretch Code community since 7/1/2011). For 2026 permits, new homes must reach a maximum HERS Index of 42 (mixed-fuel) or 45 (all-electric) — up to 48 with qualifying credits — verified by a RESNET-certified HERS rater. ADUs must meet HERS 52–58, and major alterations, additions or change-of-use projects HERS 65–75, depending on fuel type and on-site solar.
- Energy code status: Specialized Opt-in Code (adopted 1/1/2024) — 1 of 60 MA municipalities (as of the June 2026 Mass.gov adoption list).
- Specialized Code requirements in Mattapan: new multifamily buildings over 12,000 sq ft must be Passive House certified; all-electric homes must use heat pumps for heating and hot water; homes that keep fossil fuels need electrification pre-wiring and rooftop solar, and fossil-fuel homes over 4,000 sq ft must certify net-zero (HERS 0).
- Required testing & verification: blower door (air infiltration) testing, duct leakage testing, balanced mechanical ventilation (ERV/HRV), plus EV-ready and solar-ready provisions on the HERS compliance path. New homes in Massachusetts (Climate Zone 5) must test at or below 3.0 ACH50 on the blower door test.
- Mass Save® 2026 new-construction incentives: up to $25,000 per all-electric single-family home (Passive House tier; $7,500 base tier, $15,000 ENERGY STAR® NextGen tier — HERS ≤45), up to $40,000 for a 4-unit building, up to $3,750/unit for 5+ unit multifamily, and up to $30,000 for major all-electric renovations. Every tier requires enrollment and verification by an approved HERS rating company.
Related Mattapan services: HERS Rating Mattapan · Duct Leakage Testing Mattapan · Stretch Code Compliance Mattapan · MA Energy Codes Guide — or get a free quote from our RESNET-certified team (617-584-1809).
Sources: 2025 DOER Massachusetts Stretch & Specialized Codes Technical Guidance (Sept 2025); Mass.gov Building Energy Code Adoption by Municipality (June 2026); Mass Save 2026 Residential New Construction program.
Common Questions About the Mattapan Energy Code
Is a HERS rating required in Mattapan, MA?
Yes. Mattapan follows the Municipal Opt-in Specialized Energy Code (effective 1/1/2024) on top of the Stretch Code it adopted in 7/1/2011. New dwellings need a certified HERS rating from a RESNET-accredited rater before the certificate of occupancy.
What HERS index do new homes in Mattapan need to hit?
New homes in Mattapan must score HERS 42 or lower (mixed-fuel) or HERS 45 or lower (all-electric) — up to 48 with qualifying credits. Fossil-fuel homes over 4,000 sq ft must certify net-zero (HERS 0), and multifamily over 12,000 sq ft needs Passive House certification.
What building energy code is Mattapan on right now?
Mattapan is one of only 60 of Massachusetts’ 351 municipalities on the Specialized Opt-in Code (225 CMR 23) per the June 2026 Mass.gov adoption list — the state’s most stringent energy code tier.
Official Maximum HERS Index Scores (Table R406.5)
These are the official maximum HERS Index scores that apply to projects in Mattapan under Table R406.5 of the current code (2025 DOER Technical Guidance):
| Building type | New construction (permits after 7/1/2024) | New construction w/ embodied-carbon credit (R406.5.2) | Accessory Dwelling Units | Major alterations, additions, change of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed-fuel building | 42 | 45 | 52 | 65 |
| Mixed-fuel + solar electric | 42 | 45 | 55 | 70 |
| All-electric building | 45 | 48 | 55 | 70 |
| All-electric + solar electric | 45 | 48 | 58 | 75 |
Scores are measured before counting on-site renewable generation (per R406.5). Historic buildings may opt out for alterations under R503.1.1. Embodied-carbon credits (+3 points) come from low-GWP concrete and insulation EPDs per Table R406.5.3/R406.5.4.
Complete Stretch Code Compliance Requirements in Mattapan
Beyond the HERS maximums above, every new dwelling in Mattapan on the HERS pathway must satisfy four code sections — R403.6 (Ventilation), R404.4 (EV Ready), R406 (HERS) and Appendix RB (Solar Ready) — per the 2025 DOER Technical Guidance:
- Balanced mechanical ventilation (R403.6): an ERV or HRV system meeting minimum system airflow, heat/energy-recovery efficiency, fan sound ratings and regulated air-inlet and exhaust locations — verified by field testing.
- EV-Ready parking (R404.4): pre-wiring with a connection point and dedicated electrical panel capacity for future vehicle charging.
- Solar-Ready roof (Appendix RB): a dedicated solar zone with structural-load verification, an electrical interconnection pathway and reserved panel space — unless the project installs solar directly.
- Air-tightness & duct sealing: blower door result of 3.0 ACH50 or lower (Climate Zone 5) and duct leakage within 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft.
Passive House alternative (R405): Phius or PHI certification satisfies the code in Mattapan in place of a HERS score — with a Certified Passive House Consultant for design and a Phius Certified Verifier/Rater during construction — and still requires EV-Ready and Solar-Ready compliance. Prescriptive path: allowed only for buildings without individually separate dwelling units, additions, and alterations — and a whole-building prescriptive project must implement 2 of the 3 additional-efficiency packages in R408 (enhanced envelope, higher-efficiency HVAC, or reduced water-heating energy). Additions of 1,000 sq ft or more (or exceeding 100% of the existing floor area) must meet both R502.3 prescriptive and the R406.5 HERS limits. Level III alterations (work area over 50% of the home and over 1,000 sq ft) also trigger HERS compliance; historic buildings are exempt under R501.6. Note that ENERGY STAR® is no longer a compliance path — HERS and Passive House are the two certification routes in Mattapan.
Mattapan’s Specialized Code: Three Ways to Comply (Appendix RC)
- Zero Energy Pathway (RC102): certify HERS 0 or lower — the home produces as much energy as it uses. Before counting on-site solar, the design must still score ≤45 (all-electric) or ≤42 (mixed-fuel) and meet IECC 2021 envelope U-factors. Alternative: Passive House plus a Phius ZERO design certification — the only Specialized option that can credit off-site renewable energy.
- All-Electric Pathway (RC103) — the most common route in Mattapan: comply with the R408.2 HVAC and water-heating efficiency packages (electric-resistance primary heating is excluded — heat pumps required), meet EV-Ready and Solar-Ready, then either achieve a final certified HERS of 45 or less without on-site power (with ERV/HRV, R406.2 lighting, and base-code U-factors) or pre-certify to Phius CORE / PHI. With load-management design, most all-electric homes run on a standard 200-amp panel.
- Mixed-Fuel Pathway (RC104) — only for dwellings under 4,000 sq ft: score HERS 42 or less without on-site power, plus electric-readiness (RC104.3), on-site renewables (RC104.4/RC105) and EV-Ready — or pre-certify Passive House with electric readiness. Electric readiness in Mattapan means a 250-volt/40-amp outlet within 3 feet of any gas or propane range, a 250-volt/30-amp outlet within 3 feet of the clothes dryer, a reserved branch circuit for a future heat-pump heating system, and a heat-pump water-heater location with 7-foot clearance.
Detail sourced from the 2025 Massachusetts Stretch & Specialized Codes Technical Guidance (DOER, Sept 2025), Table R406.5 and Appendix RC.
Blower Door Testing in Mattapan, MA
HERS Rating Company provides certified blower door testing in Mattapan, Massachusetts. Our RESNET-accredited technicians use calibrated equipment to precisely measure your building’s air leakage rate — delivering the documentation you need for code compliance, permit sign-off, and Mass Save incentives.
What Is a Blower Door Test?
A blower door test uses a powerful, calibrated fan temporarily installed in a doorway to pressurize or depressurize your home. By measuring airflow at a standardized pressure of 50 Pascals, we determine exactly how much air is leaking through the building envelope — expressed as ACH50 (air changes per hour).
Under the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code (IECC 2021), new homes in Mattapan must achieve 3.0 ACH50 or less. We perform the test and provide all documentation required by the Mattapan building department.
Why Mattapan Builders Rely on Our Blower Door Testing
- Code-Required — Mandatory for all new residential construction in Mattapan under MA Stretch Code
- Fast Turnaround — Digital test reports delivered within 24 hours
- Mass Save Eligible — Results accepted for all Mass Save rebate and incentive programs
- HERS Integration — Blower door results feed directly into your HERS Index score
- Experienced Team — RESNET-certified with thousands of tests completed across Massachusetts
- Green Certification — Required for LEED, Energy Star, and Zero Energy Ready Home programs
What’s Included in Our Mattapan Blower Door Test
- Pre-test site preparation and building walkthrough
- Calibrated Minneapolis Blower Door system installation
- Pressurization and depressurization measurements at 50 Pa
- Digital test report with ACH50 result and code compliance determination
- Optional infrared thermography to pinpoint air leakage locations
- All documentation required for Mattapan building department submittal
Blower Door Testing for Mass Save in Mattapan
Many Mass Save programs require blower door testing to verify home performance before rebates are paid. Our certified technicians provide the official test reports accepted by Mass Save program administrators, helping Mattapan homeowners and builders maximize energy efficiency incentives.
Schedule your blower door test in Mattapan, MA today — fast results, competitive pricing.
Get a Free Quote Call 617-584-1809Related Services in Mattapan
HERS Rating Mattapan MA | Duct Leakage Testing Mattapan MA | Stretch Code Compliance Mattapan MA