BC Building Code Energy and Ventilation Changes coming December 19, 2014: Province-wide AIBC-BOABC Continuing Education Initiative

The province of BC will be adopting into the 2012 BC Building Code the 9.36 Energy Efficiency and 9.32 Ventilation requirements of the 2010 National Building Code. These will come into effect in BC on December 19, 2014. The Building Officials’ Association of BC (BOABC), in conjunction with the AIBC, will be delivering continuing education seminars across the province on these changes between October 22 and November 26, 2014.  The venues will be Richmond, Nanaimo, Victoria, Prince George, Nelson, Kamloops, Kelowna, Surrey, Abbotsford and Cranbrook. Instructors will be architects and building officials. Register now, space is limited.

The program has been developed by Richard Kadulski Architect AIBC. He has specialized in energy efficient housing for over 30 years, and as a member of the National Building Code Standing Committee on Housing and Small Buildings, has been instrumental in the development of these code changes.    The complexities of these new code provisions are such that it is strongly advised that AIBC members and associates working on Part 9 buildings in jurisdictions that are governed by the BC Building Code or the National Building Code attend. These changes do not apply to the Vancouver Building Bylaw, nor do they apply to buildings required to comply with Part 3. .

Code users can expect the Building and Safety Standards Branch to issue the final code replacement pages before the implementation date. Online code users will see the new provisions as of the implementation date. Those designing buildings now, for permit application after December 19, 2014, will need to design in accordance with these new requirements noted above.

Note: The first document is comprised of 42 pages of the new 9.36 ‘Energy Efficiency’ Section; it replaces the existing five page Section 9.25 ‘Heat Transfer, Air Leakage and Condensation Control’. This crude comparison begins to suggest the challenge to the industry that these new provisions will present. To comply with the new provisions, a deeper understanding of thermal properties and performance than had previously been required of Part 9 code users will be required. Specification of RSI values will no longer be sufficient, effective RSI rather than material RSI will have to be determined. Requirements will vary according to climate zone, energy calculations will be necessary. The prescriptive requirements in 9.36 are focused primarily on Group C occupancies (residential).  Group D, E and F3 occupancies greater than 300 square meters, and F2 occupancies if any size, will require compliance with the National Energy Code for Buildings.

As a core competency for architects, many practitioners will be well-grounded in the building science theory necessary for understanding these new provisions, but understanding and application of the specific new requirements will require focused professional development. An easy way to get a clear overview of these code changes and what is being required of those designing Part 9 buildings is through taking this one day continuing education program.

Topics covered in the seminars will include:

• Overview of Current Regulations
• Scope of Changes – Changes to Div A, B, and C
• Structure of 9.36 – Building Envelope – HVAC – Service water heating
• Compliance options – Prescriptive – Performance – Trade-offs
• Building Envelope
  • Determination R-values
  • Calculation wall, ceiling, foundations
  • Calculating effective R-value
  • Continuity insulation
  • Thermal characteristics of above grade assemblies
  • Thermal characteristics of glazing
  • Thermal characteristics of below grade assemblies
  • Airtightness requirements
  • Trade-offs
• HVAC Requirements
  • Scope
  • Equipment & ducts
  • Heat recovery ventilation (with 9.32)
• Service Water Heating
  • Equipment efficiency
  • Piping & controls
• Performance Compliance
  • Calculation methods
  • Modelling criteria
• Administrative Issues
  • Resource materials
  • Consultants & para-professionals
  • Energy labelling programs

The schedule and registration form can be found on the BOABC website at www.boabc.org under ‘What’s New’ on the home page, or by clicking on the following link: http://www.boabc.org/EN/main/270.html.

Please send completed registration forms to Jennifer at the BOABC office along with payment.  You can also fax (604-270-9488) or scan and email (jennifer@boabc.org) completed registration forms with payment to follow.