The Fall Builders’ ForumPart 9 Energy Efficiency and

Ventilation Regulations“Effective December 19th, 2014”

• Builders’ Forum Introduction (5 min)• Overview of Changes (5 min)• Envelope (15-20 min)• HVAC / SWH (5-10 min)• 9.32 – Ventilation (15 min)• Compliance Options (10 min)• Closing Remarks (10 Min )• Additional Questions

BCBC Energy Requirements(current to December 18, 2014)

• Part 9 (Houses and Small Buildings)• Prescriptive Insulation tables• EnerGuide 77• No requirement for professionals• Part 10: Energy Efficiency current requirements

BCBC Energy Requirements(current to December 18, 2014)

BCBC – December 19th, 2014

• Current Part 9 Insulation tables (Table 10.2.1.1.A & Table 10.2.1.1.B) deleted

• Current reference to EnerGuide 77 deleted

• New admin section 2.2.8. sets out Information required for energy compliance by performance path

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Prescriptive path– In-cavity Insulation Table

Performance path– EnerGuide model – 77

Prescriptive path– Effective RSI-value Table– Trade-off Options – with /

without HRV

Performance path #1– EnerGuide model – better

than reference building

Performance path #2– NECB

Current to Dec. 18, 2014 As of Dec. 19, 2014

Compliance PathsSingle Family Home

December 19th, 2014

• New insert to Section 9.32. Ventilation• New Section 9.36. Energy Efficiency

– Incorporates NBC 9.36. as a new section of the BC Code

• Current Section 9.36. (Secondary Suites) becomes 9.37.

• Section 9.37. Objectives and Functional Statements– Renumbered to 9.38.

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BCBC Energy Requirements(as of December 19, 2014)

• Mid-stream amendment to the 2012 BC Building Code developed by the NRC.

• ~110 pages• Largest Code change in the history of

the BC Building Code• Multiple pathways to compliance

– Several options for specific building types– ‘Systems approach’ to prescriptive req’s– Performance-based options available

What is Section 9.36?

• Treats the building as a system

• Enables performance-based design

• Removes barriers for new technologies

The GREEN of Section 9.36

• Additional attention to detail at design stage• Possible expansion of design team to include

all sub trades now• A whole new Code to purchase, understand,

and apply (NECB)• Additional items in Building Permit submission• A new normal

What It MeansFor Designers / Builders

9.36. Scope & Application

9.36.1.1. Scope This section is concerned with the energy used by buildings through

– The building envelope heat losses (9.36.2), – Heating/ ventilation systems (9.36.3), (9.32), and– Domestic hot water (9.36.4)

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The Building Envelope

BCBC 9.36.2

• Focus is on total building performance, not just thermal insulation anymore

• Heat transfer and air leakage between conditioned space and unconditioned space

• Windows must conform to Section 9.7• Properties of insulation, location and installation

of air barriers, and vapour barriers must conform to Section 9.25

Scope + ApplicationBuilding Envelope

9.36. Energy Efficiency

Nominal Insulation

Effective Insulation

9.36. Energy Efficiency

Insulation in the framing cavity achieves continuity of effective Insulation, and is only a component in the assembly.

Climate Zones

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• Prescriptive path: Requirements vary whether or not an HRV is installed• Table with minimum effective RSI-values

• Look-up tables for most common assemblies, and information on how to calculate them and others are provided in the Appendix

• Breaking each wall apart to individual components

9.36.2.6. Thermal Characteristics of Above Ground Opaque Assemblies

Effective RSI-values – without HRV

9.36.2.6. Thermal Characteristics of Above Ground Opaque Assemblies

Table 9.36.2.6.A

Effective RSI-values – with HRV

9.36.2.6. Thermal Characteristics of Above Ground Opaque AssembliesTable 9.36.2.6.B

• Example:• Wall 1: 170 m2

• 2x6 @ 16” o/c, R-19 batt insulation; gyp bd. inside, plywood sheathing, rain screen, cement stucco:

• From table A-9.36.2.6.(1)A:• 2x6 @ 16” o/c, R-19 batt insulation effective R-value = 2.36• Additional layers (values from Table A.9.36.2.4.(1) D

• Interior air film 0.12• Gyp bd. 0.08• Ply sheathing 0.10• Rain screen cavity 0.15• Stucco 0.08 • Exterior air film 0.03• Total: 0.50

• Total effective RSI = 2.86 This wall assembly will work in Zone 4

Wall Assembly Calculation Example

• Major structural penetrations through assemblies are permitted – but total area must not exceed 2%• Major allowable penetrations include balcony slabs,

beams, columns, and minor ornamental structural elements.

• Minor penetrations include Pipes, ducts, through-wall equipment vents are not considered in the 2%.

9.36.2.4. Calculation of Effective Thermal Resistance of Assemblies

9.36.2.4. Calculation of Effective Thermal Resistance of Assemblies

RSIeffective vs. RSInominal RSIeff = RSInom

Effective R-Value

Effective R-Value

Effective R-Value• Look-up tables for common assemblies, and

information on how to calculate others (9.36.2.4)• Calculator - Canadian Wood Council – Wall Thermal

Design Calculator

Continuity of Insulation

• Insulation must be continuous across the entire envelope – but this does not mean continuous insulation across face.

• Another measure to reduce Thermal Bridging

• Applies to building components such as partitions, chimneys, fireplaces, and columns and beams along exterior walls, but not to stud framing and ends of joists (accounted for by effective R-value calculation).

Continuity of Insulation

9.36.2.5. Continuity of Insulation

• 9.36.2.5. (7) ducts, plumbing pipes, electrical or communication conduits placed within the insulated portion of a floor or ceiling assembly must have an effective insulation level not less than RSI 2.78 (R-15.78).

• This applies to attics, unheated crawlspaces, etc.

9.36.2.5. Continuity of Insulation

• Ducts outside the heated envelope must be insulated to the same effective insulation level as required for walls above grade

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• Alternative to placing ducts outside the heated building envelope: insulating the attic and making it conditioned space.

• Point to remember: The insulated roof section will now have to be the RSI value for your Zone. (cathedral)

9.36.2.5. Continuity of Insulation

Continuity of Insulation

• Unheated floor slabs must be insulated min. 1.2m horizontally or vertically down from its perimeter, with a thermal break along edge of slab a min. 50% of required insulation

9.36.2.8. Assemblies In Contact With Ground

Airtightness

• 9.25 currently requires an airtight building envelope• 9.36 addresses construction of air barrier details

because of the heat loss implications.• Testing is NOT required.• Air barriers must be continuous:

• across joints,• between assemblies, and• around penetrations.

Airtightness

Joints in panel-type air barrier materials must be sealed by:• Caulking, • Sealants,• Spray foam• Gaskets• Tapes

Airtightness

Flexible sheet air barrier materials require all joints to be:• lapped at least 50 mm (2”)Not 11/2”,

and structurally supported• sealed, and • structurally supported

Sealants must be non-hardening

Airtightness

HVAC + Service Water Heating

BCBC 9.36.3 + BCBC 9.36.4

• Heating systems must be designed in accordance with good practice (as per 9.32 & 9.33)

• Systems not referenced in 9.36 must be designed in accordance with requirements of the NECB

• Heating and air-conditioning equipment must be located inside the conditioned space, unless it is designed to be located outside

• Equipment efficiency set out in Table 9.36.10 (HVAC) and Table 9.36.4.2 (Service Water Heating)

HVAC + Service Water Heating

Scope + Application

• All piping/ducts must be located inside the conditioned space.

• If located outside or within an exterior wall, the piping/ducts must be insulated to same level as required for above grade walls

Continuity of Insulation

HVAC + Service Water Heating

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Ducts outside the heated envelope, or within an exterior assembly:• All joints in the ducts must be

sealed with sealant, mastic, or foil faced tape

• Fabric duct tape is not permitted

Continuity of Air Barrier

HVAC + Service Water Heating

• Heat pumps with supplementary heaters – controls should prevent operation of supplementary heater when the heat pump can supply the full heat load

• Heating & cooling systems with separate controls must prevent both cooling & heating to be activated simultaneously

• Heating and air conditioning equipment must be located inside a conditioned space, unless it is designed to be installed outside.

Temperature Controls

HVAC + Service Water Heating

• The first 2 m of piping from a storage tank or heater must be insulated with pipe insulation

• If hot water piping system has recirculation, the entire system must be insulated.

• If piping is located outside the heated envelope, it must be insulated to no less than the effective R-value of exterior walls.

Hot Water PipingHVAC + Service Water Heating

Ventilation

BCBC 9.36.3.9 + BCBC 9.32

• Exhaust only ventilation acceptable• New Principal Fan Sizing Rule• Ventilation air must be distributed to each bedroom and

a common area• 4 acceptable options• Principal System –must run continuously• Crawlspace Ventilation Required• Credit for very short bath fan exhaust ducts

Ventilation

Scope + Application

Ventilation Principal Ventilation System Exhaust Fan

• Based on bedroom count & square footage• Minimum exhaust fan air-flow rate in Table 9.32.3.5

Ventilation Kitchen & Bath Fans

• Principal exhaust fan capacity @ 50 Pascals• Designed to run continuously• Controlled by dedicated switch

• Clearly marked “principal Ventilation Exhaust Fan”

• Two settings: on & off

• Accessible for servicing

• If capable of running at multiple flow rates, must have a separate switch so low rate is not less than required

• Sound rating not to exceed 1.0 sone

Ventilation Kitchen & Bath Fans

• Exhaust must be installed in every kitchen and bathroom

• Unless these are served by principal ventilation system, the Minimum flow rate is as per Table 9.32.3.6

• Principal exhaust fan sized to Table 9.32.3.5; continuous operation

• Furnace fan must run continuously

• Supply air drawn into furnace return; limits on supply duct

9.32.3.4 (2) Supply with Forced Warm Air Heating

9.32.3.4 (3) HRV Supply with Forced Warm Air Heating

9.32.3.4 (4) Independently Distributed HRV System

• Dedicated supply ducts to each bedroom and to each floor

• At least one exhaust located 2 m above upper floor

Ventilation

Ventilation

• Only applicable to one storey dwelling (<168 m2 with no forced air heating)

• Passive inlets must be a min. 1.8m above floor

• Each bedroom must have one inlet with unobstructed vent area of 100 mm diameter

• At least one common area must have an inlet

9.32.3.4 (6) Passive Supply

Ventilation 9.32.3.7 Heated crawlspace ventilation

• If crawlspace is heated by ducted forced air heating, it must be connected to floor above by at least one transfer grille (25cm2) for each 30m2 of crawlspace area

Note: Crawlspace ventilation in this section must not be confused with exterior ventilation of unheated crawlspace

Ventilation

9.32.3.8 Ducts

• Exhaust and supply ducts:• Must be sized as required by manufacturer &

equivalent diameter as per Table 9.32.3.8 (3)• Need to be air-sealed • Insulated & provided with vapour barrier

Ventilation Future standard

Compliance

Part 9 Building Energy Regulations in BC

Review of 9.36Part 9 Building Energy Regulations in BC

Effective December 19, 2014

ComplianceRequirements for all Pathways

Design Verification ReportDrawing Submission

Envelope section drawing(s) to indicate Prescriptive requirements found in the Tables 9.36.2.6.A/B and Tables 9.36.2.8. A/B. Show all envelope insulation and components with notes indicating the Effective Thermal Resistance (RSI) Value of the Assembly. Both above and below grade.

If you have a feature wall then you will be required to show all of your wall assembly for this wall as well the other three typical assemblies.

ComplianceRequirements for all Pathways

ComplianceRequirements for all Pathways

Window section drawing(s) to indicate Prescriptive requirements found in Tables 9.36.2.7.A./B./C.

Show all Fenestration, Doors, and Skylights with notes indicating the Overall Thermal Transmittance (U Value)

These are separate labels from the NAFS labels on windows now.

9.36. Energy Efficiency

Compliance

• Drawing(s) to indicate Prescriptive requirements found in Table 9.36.3.10 and Table 9.36.4.2. Show all systems and types.

• This will include Space heating, Space cooling, and Service hot water.

• The notes on the plans will have to indicate the Performance Rating and Energy Source.

What is expected on the plans

• Completed information on the plans to confirm compliance

• Wall/ceiling assembles, with complete breakdown of the Effective RSI value

• Doors and windows indicated with the appropriate U-Values

• All heating and service water appliances are to be indicated on the plans

What to Expect from the municipality

• Building permit processing time will be increased accordingly to the permit and complexity to confirm compliance

• More inspections required by the Municipality for the first period of implementation of the new Code

• Training to the community provided by the Municipality to create a seamless cross over into the new Code

9.36 Energy Efficiency

• Questions?

• Thank you for attending todays session