Building Permit Application Package

Village of Keremeos 702 – 4th Street, Box 160, Keremeos, BC V0X 1N0 Tel: (250) 499-2711 Fax: (250) 499-5477 E-mail: [email protected]

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED FOR PERMIT ISSUANCE WITHOUT THE FOLLOWING:

1. A non-refundable application/plan processing fee of $150.00. The building permit fee will be assessed separately from the application fee.

2. Completed application form, accompanied by the owner’s acknowledgement of responsibility and undertakings.

3. Current (no older than 30 days) copy of “State of Title Certificate” (or a Title Search) and copies of any easements, rights of way or covenants registered on the title.

4. Copies of any approvals required under any enactment including Record of Sewerage sealed by a Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner (http://owrp.asttbc.org) and highway access permits (if necessary).

5. TWO SETS OF BUILDING PLANS in a suitable scale which will include: a. Floor plan, basement plan, foundation plan b. Elevation plans, front and back, both side views APPLICATIONS WITH COMPLETE c. Section plan DOCUMENTATION ARE PROCESSED ON A FIRST d. Site plan showing dimensions and location of all buildings, septic field and water on property (see sample) COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. ALL DOCUMENTATION MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 6. Authorization of Agent signed by the applicant if the applicant is not A PLAN CHECK IS DONE. the registered owner of the property.

7. Documentation from the Homeowner Protection Office is required for dwellings pursuant to the Homeowner Protection Act and a building permit cannot be issued until a completed HPO Registration Form is received.

8. If a manufactured home is being installed, it must conform to the appropriate standards. A mobile home is constructed to the Z-240 Home Series of Standards. Modular homes are constructed to the BC Building Code and have a A-277 label to show that they were built in a certified factory. [PLEASE NOTE: Mobile homes (CSA Z-240) are only permitted within a mobile home park (R5 Zone)]

Applications for Complex Buildings

In addition to the above requirements, applications for complex buildings must include a letter of assurance in the form of Schedule A (signed by owner and Coordinating Registered Professional), Building Code analysis, and Letters of Assurance in the form of Schedules B-1 and B-2 for each registered professional required on the project.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************

Although we do not require the following documents to issue a permit, to ensure that the applicant is not in violation of any Commission Order, Provincial Legislation or Statute, the Village of Keremeos advised that the applicant should check with:

a) Ministry of Transportation and Highways Access – 102 Industrial Place, Penticton, BC V2A 7C8 (250) 490-8200.

b) Municipal offices and applicable irrigation districts with respect to water supply.

c) BC Safety Authority, Suite #2 – 1101 Main Street, Penticton BC V2A 5E6 (250) 487-4485 Boiler Safety Officer (250) 487-4485 Electrical Safety Officer (250) 487-4483 OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 - 12:00 Gas Safety Officer (250) 487-4488

H:\TEMPLATES and FORMS\BUILDING PERMIT FORMS\Application Processing Factsheet.docx Village of Keremeos Office use only 702 4th Street, PO Box 160 Roll No: Keremeos, B.C. V0X 1N0 Fee: Received: Telephone: (250) 499-2711 Fax: (250) 499-5477 Receipt No: Email: [email protected] Website: www.keremeos.ca

Sewer Service Connection Application

PROPERTY INFORMATION: Owners Name: Phone:

Street Address:

Mailing Address:

Legal Description: Lot: Block: District Lot: Plan:

Roll No.: PID No.:

I/we ______, the registered owners of the above property, do hereby apply for a Sanitary Sewer Service Connection from the street main to our property. Building Type (residential, commercial, industrial, institutional) ______

SERVICES REQUESTED:

Size Connection Fee Extra Charges Total

SEWER ____ $______$______$______

Total Connection Fee $______

DECLARATION: I/we agree to deposit with this application the total required fees and abide by all the conditions of the Sewer Rates and Regulations Bylaw. I also acknowledge that an inspection of the connection must be completed by Public Works Staff prior to the lines being back filled.

______Registered Owner's Signature Date

Village of Keremeos – Sewer Service Connection Application Form

H:\TEMPLATES and FORMS\PUBLIC WORKS\SEWER FORMS\VoK_Sewer_Connection_App_2018.pdf SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For New Sewer Service Connections from Sewer Main to Property: Inspection Chamber must be installed between Municipal Sewer Service Connection and Sewer Line on Private Property (as per this Standard Drawing). Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to book a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 1 of 6 SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For New Sewer Service Connections from Sewer Main to Property: Service Connection must be installed to specifications shown on this Standard Drawing (including installation of Inspection Chamber). Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to book a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 2 of 6 SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For New Sewer Service Connections from Sewer Main to Property: Compacted Bedding material must be placed according to specifications shown on this Standard Drawing. Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to book a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 3 of 6 SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For New Sewer Service Connections from Sewer Main to Property: Trenches within Public Roadways must be backfilled and compacted according to specifications shown on this Standard Drawing. Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to book a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 4 of 6 SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For New Sewer Service Connections from Sewer Main to Property: Sewer lines and Inspection Chamber must be placed according to specifications shown on this Standard Drawing. Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to book a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 5 of 6 SEWER SERVICE CONNECTION APPLICATION PROCESS

STEP 1

- Applicant Completes Sewer Service Connection Application Form (all Registered Owners must sign the form). - Applicant submits completed Application Form along with Connection Fee - Village Staff processes Connection Fee and issues Applicant a Receipt - Village Staff retains completed Application Form within Records Management - Applicant approved to proceed with preliminary work to complete Sewer Service Connection.

STEP 2 - Applicant calls Village of Keremeos Public Works Department to schedule a Sewer Connection Inspection (Village will not complete inspection until completed Application and Connection Fee are received).

STEP 3 - Village of Keremeos Public Works Department completes Sewer Connection Inspection and completes Sewer Connection Inspection Report. - Village of Keremeos Public Works Department submits completed Inspection Report to Village Staff for retaining within Records Management.

Please contact Village of Keremeos Public Works Department at (250) 499-2711 for additional information and to schedule a Sewer Service Connection Inspection.

Page 6 of 6 Village of Keremeos 702 – 4th Street, Box 160, Keremeos, BC V0X 1N0 Tel: (250) 499-2711 Fax: (250) 499-5477 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.keremeos.ca APPLICATION FOR BUILDING PERMIT FOR OFFICE USE ONLY ROLL NUMBER: ______APP FEE: ______TITLE SEARCH: ______ZONED AS: ______TOTAL FEE PAYABLE: ______FAX TO K.I.D. (250-499-5696): ______DATE OF PAYMENT: ______

METHOD OF PAYMENT: ______

Owner Information (add additional page if more than two owners) Registered Owner Registered Owner (2nd)

Mailing Address Mailing Address

Province Postal Code: Province Postal Code

Daytime phone Alternate phone Daytime phone Alternate phone

Fax E-mail Fax E-mail

Agent Information (if applicable – complete Form 3 attached)

Name

Address

Town/Province Postal Code E-mail

Daytime phone Alternate phone Fax:

Land Under Application

LOCATION (civic address of property)

If property does not have civic address, please provide legal description.

Lot Block District Lot Plan

Parcel Identifier

Note: The Personal Information on this form is collected under the authority of the Local Government Act and Community Charter for the purpose of processing this application, and is subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Any questions regarding this collection should be directed to the Village of Keremeos Office, phone 250-499-2711.

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 1 Project Information

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Class of Work: New Alteration Addition Conversion Repair Demolish Move Change of Occupancy Plumbing Other Type of Construction Frame Log Steel Engineered Concrete Masonry Reinforced Concrete Preserved wood foundation Timber Plumbing/heating Other

Are there any buildings occupying any portion of said land? Yes No

If yes, state use: (Note – all structures on the property must be identified on the site plan)

Required for all projects other than Total Value of Work/Contract Value: $

Provide the Following for All That Apply: Name Address Phone Architect

Engineer Structural Mechanical Geotechnical Electrical Fire Suppression

General Contractor

Mechanical Contractor

Plumbing Contractor

Contractor (Other)

NOTE: It is the property owners’ responsibility to ensure all trades working on the project have a valid Keremeos Business Licence or Inter-Community Business Licence. Failure to ensure valid Business Licences are in place will delay the issuing of the Building Permit.

Manufactured Homes

Modular Home – MUST be CSA A-277 certified Yes No Mobile Home – MUST be CSA Z-240 certified Yes No - Only permitted in Mobile Home Parks (Zone R5)

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 2 Energy Efficiency Requirements (required for all new/substantially new structures)

Effective December 19, 2014 all building permit applications for new dwellings must address the requirements of Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency of the BC Building Code. These changes will require additional information at time of permit application. Upon submission it will be necessary to outline:  Proposed heating/cooling systems  Building ventilation as per 9.32 (is a heat recover ventilator being used?)  Location and type of air barrier and vapour barrier  Detailed wall / ceiling / floor assemblies including Effective Insulation Value of all components  “U” ratings of proposed windows and door

Effective Thermal Resistance Compliance method: Prescriptive Prescriptive plus simple trade-offs (provide details) Performance Mechanical ventilation: Is an HRV unit to be used? Yes No

Proposed Heating system:  Forced Air  Heat pump  Radiant / hydronic Heat  Electric Baseboard  Solid fuel-fired appliance  Wood burning appliance  Geothermal  Other

Proposed Air Barrier location: Exterior Interior Supporting Information Yes No Are there any restrictive covenants registered on the subject property? Yes No Are there any registered easements or rights-of-ways over the subject property? Yes No Is there legal access to the subject property? Yes No Is there a watercourse on the subject property or within 30 m of your project? SUBMIT a recent copy of the Certificate of Title or title search print for the subject property or properties (see information on Page 4 – Village of Keremeos can obtain this information on your behalf). SUBMIT two copies of a detailed site plan and other drawings drawn to appropriate scale that must include the following:  Bearing and dimensions of the parcel taken from the registered subdivision plan;  The legal description and civic address of the parcel;  The location and dimensions of all statutory rights of way, easements and setback requirements;  The location and dimensions of all existing and proposed buildings or structures on the parcel;  Distances from the project to the high water mark of any lake, swamp, pond or watercourse or the top bank of any ravine;  The location of a proposed septic tank and distances from any water;  The existing and finished ground levels to an established datum at or adjacent to the site and the geodetic elevation of the underside of the floor system of a building or structure where the Village of Keremeos’ land use regulations establish siting requirements related to minimum floor elevation; and  The location, dimension and gradient of parking and driveway access.

Building Plans SUBMIT two sets of building plans drawn to a scale of ¼” per foot or 1:50 mm or such other scale as may be acceptable to the building official that:

 Include floor plans showing the dimensions and use of all areas: the dimensions and height of crawls and roof spaces, the location, size and swing of doors, the location, size and opening of windows; floor, wall and ceiling finishes; plumbing fixtures; structural elements; and stair dimensions;  Include a cross section through the building or structure illustrating foundations, drainage, ceiling heights and construction systems;  Include elevations of all sides of the building or structure showing finish details, roof slopes, windows, doors, finished grade and conformance with the Building Code, Village of Keremeos bylaws, covenants and contracts relating to building height requirements;  Include cross-sectional details at sufficient locations to illustrate that the building or structure conforms to the Building Code; and  Include a foundation design.

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 3 Supporting Information (Continued)

INCLUDE copies of approvals required under any enactment relating to health or safety, including without limiting, sewage disposal permits, highway access permits and Ministry of Health approval or, if such approvals have been applied for and not obtained, copies of the application.

Additional Information Additional material or more detailed information may be requested by the Village of Keremeos upon reviewing your application. You may be required to provide a security deposit to the Village of Keremeos before commencement of construction. You may be required to provide a survey certificate of the property. Manufacturer's specifications and layouts are required for all manufactured beams, engineered trusses and I-jopists. Applications for Plumbing Permit

Plumbing fixtures to be installed or repaired: Water Closets Bathtubs (with or without Shower stalls (include # of Sinks Urinals (toilets) showers) heads) Kitchen Bathroom Laundry

Automatic Washers Dishwashers Hose Bibs Floor Drains Other Fixtures (list)

Total Number of fixtures:

Applications for Building Relocation Permit Applications for permits to authorize relocation of existing buildings must be accompanied by a security deposit and an approved demolition permit for the location from which the building is being relocated, if that location is subject to this bylaw.

Applications for Complex Buildings

In addition to the requirements set out above, applications for complex buildings must include:

 A letter of assurance in the form of Schedule A as referred to in Section 2.2, Division C of the Building Code, signed by the owner, or a signing officer of the owner if the owner is a corporation, and the coordinating registered professional;  Include a completed, signed and sealed Building Code analysis in a form prescribed by a building official; and  Include letters of assurance in the form of Schedule B-1 and B-2 as referred to in Section 2.2, Division C of the Building Code, each signed by such registered professionals as the building official, coordinating registered professional or Building Code may require to prepare the design for and conduct field reviews.

Applications for Demolition Permit Applications for permits to authorize demolition must include a demolition waste disposal plan and a security deposit.

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 4 COMPLETION CHECKLIST:

 Completed all relevant sections of this application form  Recent State of Title Certificate or Title Search (not more than 30 days old)  Copies of all covenants, easements and right of ways registered against the title  Two copies of a site plan with all required information  Two sets of building plans with all required information  Detailed wall / ceiling / floor assemblies including Effective Insulation Values  Approved Watercourse Development Permit (if required)  Connection to Municipal Sewer or Sewage Disposal Permit  Homeowner Protection documentation (if applicable)  Highway access permits (if required) – Village Authority  All owners listed on the title have signed the application form and Form 1  Correct application fee amount (contact Staff for current fees)  Schedule from Coordinating Registered Professional (complex buildings only)  Building Analysis (complex buildings only)  Security Deposit (if applicable)

REQUIREMENTS REGARDING SECURITY DEPOSIT FOR DAMAGE TO FACILITIES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY

(1) The owner is responsible for conducting an inspection of the existing conditions of all public properties adjacent to the building site and reporting any existing damage to the Building Official prior to commencing work. Any damage to public facilities detected at final inspection will be assumed to be caused by the owner unless reported prior to commencing work. (2) Every owner to whom a permit is issued shall be responsible for the cost of repairs for any damage to public properties that occur during the course of the work authorized by the permit. (3) Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall deposit with the Building Official a cash bond in the amount prescribed in the Fees and Charges Bylaw. This bond may be applied by the Village in payment to itself for any costs or expenses, which may be incurred in repairing, installing or replacing any facilities constructed in the public properties or rights of way. In addition, this bond may be applied in whole or in part, by the Village, in payments to itself for any costs or expenses that may be incurred by the Village in placing, replacing, erecting or moving safety barriers, fencing, obstruction or warning lights, street cleaning, or any other safety measure on the site being developed or, adjacent highways, easements or rights of way which, in the opinion of the Building Official, are necessary for public safety and are a result of work authorized by the building permit or work which is incidental thereto. After the deduction of such costs, the cash bond shall be paid to the applicant upon completion of the permit.

I, the owner/agent acknowledge that I have read and understand my responsibilities noted above:  Initial

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 5 Important: Your application will not be considered complete unless it contains all the information above. The processing of your application will be delayed if it is incomplete. Contact a staff person for assistance.

A note about obtaining the State of Title Certificate/Title Search and Covenants. The State of Title Certificate/Title Search and covenants may be obtained through our office, from the Land Title Office or through your local government agent office for a fee.

Please obtain copy of current title search and/or required covenants, easements and right of ways. I understand the applicable charge(s) will be applied to my building permit costs. Initial

DECLARATION

I/We, the undersigned, hereby certify that the information provided with respect to this application is full and complete and is, to the best of my knowledge, a true statement of the facts related to this application.

Signature of Registered Owner /Agent Signature of Registered Owner /Agent (or Authorized Signatory of Corporation*) (or Authorized Signatory of Corporation*)

Name of Registered Owner /Agent (print) Name of Registered Owner /Agent (print)

Date Date

*if owner is a company or corporation, proof of signing authority is also required

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 6 FORM 1

Acknowledgements of Owner

I acknowledge that the owner of the land in respect of which this permit is issued is solely responsible for carrying out the work authorized by this permit in accordance with the Building Code and other applicable laws respecting safety, including the requirements of the Building Code in relation to soil conditions for building foundations.

I acknowledge that the owner of the land is also solely responsible for determining whether the work authorized by this permit contravenes any covenant, easement, right of way, building scheme or other restriction affecting the building site, and whether the work requires the involvement of an architect under the Architects Act or an engineer or geoscientist under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act.

I acknowledge that the Village of Keremeos provides a limited service in relation to building construction and does not, by issuing building or occupancy permits, make any representation or give any assurance that the construction authorized by this permit complies in every or any respect with the Building Code or any other applicable laws respecting safety.

If the Village of Keremeos has so indicated on this permit, I acknowledge that the Village of Keremeos has issued the permit in reliance on the certification of a registered professional, engaged by me to provide such a certification, that the plans for the work authorized by the permit comply with the Building Code and other applicable enactments, and that the fee for the permit has been accordingly set. I acknowledge that the Village of Keremeos, by issuing this permit or any occupancy permit, makes no representations to me or any other person as to any such compliance.

Signature of Registered Owner Signature of Registered Owner (or Authorized Signatory of Corporation*) (or Authorized Signatory of Corporation*)

Name of Registered Owner (print) Name of Registered Owner (print)

Date of Acknowledgement Date of Acknowledgement

*if owner is a company or corporation, proof of signing authority is also required

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 7 Village of Keremeos 702 – 4th Street, Box 160, Keremeos, BC V0X 1N0 Tel: (250)499-2711 Fax: (250)499-5477 E-mail: [email protected]

Ow ner’s Authorization of Agent

The undersigned registered owner of land in the Village of Keremeos legally described as or having a civic address of:

hereby authorizes to:

1. apply for and obtain as my agent a building permit in respect of the land from the Village of Keremeos under the provisions of Building Bylaw No. 800;

2. provide to the Village of Keremeos as my agent all information and documents required by the bylaw for such an application; 3. review pertinent documents from prior building permit files relating to the subject property;

4. execute and deliver to the Village of Keremeos, as my agent, a document in the form set out on the attached page when obtaining the permit.

In signing this authorization the owner acknowledges that the Agent appointed herein will remain in place for the duration of the building permit application and issuance period, unless expressly removed from the file by the owner.

Signature of Registered Owner or Authorized Signatory of Corporate Owner*

Name of Registered Owner (please print)

Date of Authorization *if owner is a company or corporation, proof of signing authority is also required

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 8

Owner’s Authorization of Agent Acknowledgements of Owner’s Agent

If the Village of Keremeos has so indicated on this permit, I acknowledge that the Village of Keremeos has issued the permit in reliance on the certification of a registered professional that the plans for the work authorized by the permit comply with the Building Code and other applicable enactments, and that the fee for the permit has been accordingly set. I acknowledge that the Village of Keremeos, by issuing this permit or any occupancy permit, makes no representations to me or any other person as to any such compliance.

In executing this acknowledgement as the agent of the owner, I represent to the Village of Keremeos that I am authorized by the owner to receive this permit and make these acknowledgements on the owner’s behalf, and the owner is aware that the owner is solely responsible for carrying out the work authorized by this permit in accordance with the Building Code and other applicable laws respecting safety.

Name of Owner

Address of Project

Signature of Authorized Agent

Name of Authorized Agent (please print)

Date of Application

Building Permit Application (Revised April 2016) Page 9

Building Bulletin

BC Energy Efficiency Requirements for an SFD 2012 BC Building Code amendments

Purpose:

To inform staff, building contractors, designers and the general public of changes to the British Columbia Building Code regarding the Energy Efficiency of homes.

Background:

Effective December 19, 2014 all building permit applications must address the requirements of Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency of the BC Building Code. These changes will require additional information at time of permit application. Upon submission it will be necessary to outline:

 Proposed heating/cooling systems  Building ventilation as per 9.32 (is a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) being used)  Location and type of air barrier and vapour barrier  Detailed wall/ceiling/floor assemblies including Effective Insulation Values of all components  “U” ratings of proposed windows and doors

Previously, the BC Building Code has relied on nominal insulation values when considering thermal comfort. Section 9.36 has been introduced which will change this requirements to Effective Thermal Resistance (ETR). To achieve the required rating the entire cross-section of the wall/floor/ceiling will be used to calculate the RSI or R value. Each component of an assembly carries a rating. The ratings of Common Building Materials are set out in Table A-9.36.2.4.(1)D of the BCBC.

There are now three available options that can be used to attain the necessary compliance. Applicants can follow the prescriptive requirements of Section 9.36, follow the prescriptive requirements of Section 9.36 and use simple trade-offs as outlined in Article 9.36.2.11 or supply performance modeling completed by a Certified Energy Advisor (CEA). A list of Certified Energy Advisors are available on the Canadian Home Buildings Association website (http://www.chbabc.org/energy-programs/certified- energy-advisors.html )

Implementation:

The required ETR ratings from the BCBC for Zone 5 which includes the Village of Keremeos are as follows:

Zone 5 Assembly RSI R Ceilings below attics 8.67 49.23 Cathedral ceilings and flat roof 4.67 26.52 Walls 3.08 17.49 Floors over unheated spaces 4.67 26.52 Foundation Walls 2.98 16.92 Above Frost Line 1.96 11.13 Heated Floors 2.32 13.17 Slabs-on-grade 1.96 11.13 Zone 5 Assembly RSI R Ceilings below attics 6.91 39.23 Cathedral ceilings and flat roof 4.67 26.52 Walls 2.97 16.86 Floors over unheated spaces 4.67 26.52 Foundation Walls 2.98 16.92 Above Frost Line 1.96 11.13 Heated Floors 2.32 13.17 Slabs-on-grade 1.96 11.13

Questions?

We’re here to help. Please contact Building Services at 250-499-2711 (Tuesdays/Thursdays) or [email protected] for more information.

Please note: Building Bulletins are prepared to provide convenient information for customers, and should not be considered a replacement for reviewing the bylaw or associated legal documents. If there is any contradiction between the information in this bulletin and relevant bylaws and/or applicable codes, the bylaws and/or codes must be relied on for legal authority.

ILLUSTRATED GUIDE Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Climate Zones 5 to 7A North Vancouver Island and Interior

This guide has been developed to assist builders and residential industry stakeholders in understanding and complying with the new requirements in Section 9.36. of the British Columbia Building Code. Table of Contents

Forward...... 3 Changes to Provincial Energy Efficiency Requirements...... 3 Other Useful Information...... 3 Acknowledgements...... 3 Disclaimer...... 3

General...... 4 Scope...... 4 Compliance and Application...... 4

Building Envelope...... 6 Continuity of Insulation...... 6 Thermal Characteristics of Building Assemblies...... 9 Windows, Doors and Skylights...... 12 Airtightness...... 12 Construction of Air Barrier Details...... 12 Trade-off Options for Above-ground Building Envelope Components and Assemblies...... 17

HVAC and Service Water Heating Requirements ...... 18 Scope and Application...... 18 Equipment and Ducts...... 18 Air Intake and Outlet Dampers...... 18 Piping for Heating and Cooling Systems...... 19 Equipment for Heating and Air Conditioning Systems...... 19 Temperature Controls...... 19 Humidification...... 19 Heat Recovery from Dehumidification in Spaces with an Indoor Pool or Hot Tub...... 20 Heat Recovery from Ventilation Systems...... 20 Space Heat and Service Water Heating Equipment Efficiency...... 20 Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heat and Service Water Heating...... 20 Service Water Heating Piping...... 20 Service Water Heating Controls...... 20

Appendix 1: Section 9.36. Checklist ...... 22 Forward This guide has been developed to assist residential builders and industry stakeholders in British Columbia to interpret and comply with changes to the 2012 British Columbia Building Code (“the Code”) for energy efficiency for housing and small buildings. It is one in a series of guides designed to provide information for specific climate zones in British Columbia. Changes to Provincial Energy Efficiency Requirements Commencing December 19, 2014, applications for building permits must comply with new requirements for energy efficiency in housing, small commercial and industrial buildings. The new building envelope requirements vary depending on your location. New Code requirements are also being added related to the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and service water heating (SWH). Other Useful Information A number of documents complement this guide and are recommended reading to assist builders in the design and construction of homes, including: • Homeowner Protection Office (HPO)1, Building Envelope Guide for Houses. • Canadian Home Builders’ Association, Builders’ Manual2. Acknowledgements The publication was developed through extensive consultation with many individuals and organizations involved in residential construction in British Columbia. The HPO gratefully acknowledges the valued contributions made by the project industry committee, including residential builders, building officials, energy advisors, warranty providers and the Building and Safety Standards Branch. This guide was prepared by Innes Hood Consulting Inc. in collaboration with RDH Building Engineering Limited. Special thanks to Innes Hood, James Higgins and Graham Finch for their work on this project. Disclaimer This guide is intended to provide readers with general information about aspects of Part 9 of the British Columbia Building Code. Readers are urged not to rely simply on this guide, but to carefully review the Code and consult with appropriate and reputable professionals and construction specialists to assist in interpreting and applying the Code. It is the responsibility of all persons undertaking the design and construction of a house to fully comply with the requirements of the Code. The authors, contributors, funders and publishers assume no liability for the accuracy of the statements made or for any damage, loss, injury or expense that may be incurred or suffered as a result of the use of or reliance on the contents of this guide. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of individual contributors or the Homeowner Protection Office, a branch of BC Housing, or the Building and Safety Standards Branch.

1 http://www.hpo.bc.ca/publications 2 www.chba.ca/buildermanual.aspx

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 3

General (9.36.1.) This guide has been developed at the request of the Building and Safety Standards Branch to assist residential builders and industry stakeholders. It focuses on the most commonly used assemblies that will meet the requirements of the Code and provide durable service. Specifically, this guide: 1. provides residential builders with information to assist in the interpretation of the minimum requirements of the relevant energy efficiency requirements in the Code (Section 9.36.), and 2. highlights how the new Code requirements differ from existing requirements for energy efficiency.

Scope (9.36.1.1.) The scope of this guide is limited to single family houses. While Section 9.36. does include other small residential, commercial and industrial buildings, they are not addressed in this document.

Compliance and Application (9.36.1.3.) Buildings must comply with the prescriptive requirements of Subsections 9.36.2. through 9.36.4. Alternatively, buildings can be built to meet the performance compliance path requirements described in Subsection 9.36.5. of the Code, however, the performance path is not discussed in this document. Section 9.36. has six climate zones (Figure 1). The specific weather location may be determined by referencing the local authority or Appendix C of Division B in the Code. This particular guide provides information specific to Climate Zones 5 through 7A.

4 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Figure 1: British Columbia Approximate Climate Zones

Urban centres in Climate Zones 5 to 7A include: Climate Zone 5 Climate Zone 6 Climate Zone 7A Always check • Ashcroft • Kelowna • Carmi • 100 Mile House with your local • Bamfield • Kitimat • Cranbrook • Burns Lake building official • Bella Bella • Ladysmith • Dog Creek • Chetwynd to confirm the • Bella Coola • Port Alberni • Elko • Dawson Creek climate zone. • Burnaby • Queen Charlotte City • Fernie • Fort St. John • Cache Creek • Salmon Arm • Golden • Glacier • Campbell River • Sandspit • Greenwood • Mackenzie • Castlegar • Tahsis • Kimberley • McLeod Lake • Comox • Tofino • McBride • Smithers • Courtenay • Trail • Prince George • Taylor • Crescent Valley • Ucluelet • Princeton • Gold River • Vernon • Quesnel • Grand Forks • Youbou • Revelstoke • Hope • Stewart • Kamloops • Terrace • Kaslo • Whistler • Williams Lake

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 5

Building Envelope (9.36.2.)

Continuity of Insulation (9.36.2.5.) Important Code The continuity of the effectiveness of insulation is required. This may not require continuous Change: insulation, since the Code permits interruptions from framing and other penetrations.

Thermal insulation requirements are now defined in Insulation Terminology terms of effective insulation. Previous Nominal Insulation Effective Insulation versions of the Code referenced nominal insulation.

RSI and R-value Conversion

“R-value” = 5.678 x RSI Nominal insulation accounts only for Effective insulation takes into account thermal resistance of the insulation. all assembly components, including framing, sheathing, cladding etc.

Important Code Change: Continuity of Effective Insulation Continuous Insulation

Attached garages are treated as unconditioned space, even if the garage is insulated and intended to be heated. The assembly separating the garage from the house must be Insulation in the framing cavity Continuous insulation achieves insulated and be achieves continuity of effective continuity but is not required. made airtight. insulation.

6 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Typical locations requiring attention to detailing to provide for continuity of insulation are presented in Figure 2. A checklist providing frequent locations of thermal losses and air leakage is included in the appendix.

6 Figure 2: Typical Problem Areas for Insulation Continuity 5

3 4

Insulation Continuity Details Foundation Wall Two Planes of Insulation

1 2

Insulation separated by the foundation wall at the Where two planes of insulation are separated by a floor slab is not required to be continuous, provided building envelope assembly and cannot be the exterior insulation extends down to the footing. physically joined, one of the planes of insulation must be extended to overlap four times the thickness of the separation.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 7

Headers and Rim Joists Electrical Panel

3 4

The thermal bridging effect of closely spaced, Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components repetitive structural members like studs and joists, placed within and parallel to an exterior wall are and of ancillary members like lintels, sills and required to be insulated to the effective thermal plates, must be accounted for when calculating the resistance required for the wall at the projected area thermal resistance of building envelope assemblies. of the system component.

Wall to Window or Door Interface Attic Insulation at Outside Walls

5 6

Joints and junctions between walls and other A reduction in the thermal resistance of the attic components like windows and doors need to have insulation at the perimeter is permitted, provided the same effective R-value as the lower of the the insulation is constrained only by the roof slope adjoining components. For windows and doors, and venting requirements, and the minimum additional insulation at the rough opening is thermal resistance value above the exterior wall is typically not required. at least RSI 3.52 (R-20).

8 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Thermal Characteristics of Building Assemblies (9.36.2.6. - 9.36.2.8.) Typical nominal insulation values to achieve the effective requirements3 of Section 9.36. are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Nominal Insulation Levels by Assembly to Achieve Effective Insulation Requirements

Assembly Nominal Insulation (With or Without HRV) Zone 5 & 6: R-50 (RSI 8.8) Attic Ceiling (Typical Truss at 24” o.c.) Zone 7A: R-60 (RSI 10.6)

Zone 5 & 6: R-28 (RSI 4.9) – 2x10, 16” o.c. Cathedral Ceiling Zone 7A: R-31 (RSI 5.5) – 2x12, 16” o.c.

Cavity R-24 (RSI 4.2) Wall (2x6” at 16” o.c.) Continuous exterior wall insulation not required

Zone 5 & 6: R-28 (RSI 4.9) – 2x10, 16” o.c. Floor over Unheated Space Zone 7A: R-31 (RSI 5.5) – 2x12, 16” o.c.

Figure 3: Effective Insulation Requirements

* denotes where insulation adjustments are permitted with addition of an HRV.

3 The Canadian Wood Council has an online tool to assist in calculation of the effective thermal resistance of wall assemblies, located at www.cwc.ca/wtd

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 9

Commonly Accepted Above Grade and Below Grade Assemblies

Below Grade Wall Assembly for Zones 5 and 6 Above Grade Wall Assembly

Description Nominal Effective Description Nominal Effective

3” XPS insulation over 8” RSI 2.64 RSI 2.65 R-24 batt insulation in 2x6 RSI 4.2 RSI 2.66 poured-in-place concrete wall (R-15) (R-15.3) wood framing at 16” o.c. (R-24) (R-15.1)

Other building enclosure - Other building enclosure layers that contribute to layers that contribute to effective insulation: effective insulation:* 1. dampproofing 1. exterior air film 0.03 2. interior air film RSI 0.33 2. cladding & air cavity 0.18 (R-1.9) 3. sheathing membrane – RSI 0.52 4. sheathing 0.11 (R-2.95) Total effective insulation value: RSI 2.98 5. polyethylene – (R-16.9) 6. gypsum board 0.08 7. interior air film 0.12 Minimum effective thermal RSI 2.98 resistance for below grade walls: (R-16.9) Total effective insulation value: RSI 3.18 (R-18.1)

Minimum effective thermal RSI 3.08 resistance for above grade walls: (R-17.5)

* Varies by wall assembly. To be confirmed by designer.

Basement Wall Basement Wall Above Grade with Exterior Insulation with Interior Insulation Framed Wall

10 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Permitted placement of insulation for unheated floors and slab on grade assemblies is shown below.

Insulation of Unheated and Heated Slabs above the Frost Line

Insulation Placement of Unheated Slabs

Slab on grade at foundation wall with exterior insulation Slab on grade at foundation wall with interior to the footing. insulation down 1.2 m, or to the footing with a thermal break at the slab.

Insulation Placement for Heated Slabs

Exterior insulation to the footing and insulation under all Interior wall insulation and insulation under all heated slab areas. heated slab areas.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 11

Windows, Doors and Skylights (9.36.2.7.) All window, door and skylight assemblies have labeling requirements. A sample label presenting the U-value requirements for a window is presented in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Example Window Label showing U-value

Airtightness (9.36.2.9.) A continuous air barrier is required. Article 9.36.2.9. requires that the air barrier be continuous: • across joints, • between assemblies, and • around penetrations. Further requirements for air barriers are defined in Subsection 9.25.3. of the Code.

Construction of Air Barrier Details (9.36.2.10.) The Code has identified a number of details that have been shown to be problematic for air sealing. The locations are highlighted in Figure 5.

12 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

7 8 9 10 6 11

4 12

3 13

Figure 5: Air Barrier Detail Locations

Leakage Paths in Problematic Air Barrier Details Slab Foundation Wall Foundation to Sill Plate and Rim Joists

1 2

The floor slab air barrier must be made airtight by All joints at the transition between the foundation sealing the floor slab to the foundation wall. wall and the above grade wall must be made airtight by sealing all joints and junctions between the structural components, or covering the structural components with an air barrier material.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 13

Interior Wall Interface Rim Joist

3 4a

Interior walls that meet exterior walls or ceilings All joints at the rim joist assembly must be made with an interior plane of airtightness must be made airtight by sealing all joints and junctions between airtight by either sealing all junctions between the the structural components, or covering the structural components, covering the structural structural components with an air barrier material. components with an air barrier material and sealing it to the adjacent air barrier material, or maintaining the continuity of the air barrier system through the interior wall.

Cantilevered Floor Window Head

4b 5a

Cantilevered floors and floors over unheated spaces/ The interface between window head/jamb and wall exterior space must be made airtight by sealing assembly must be made airtight by sealing all joints all joints and junctions between the structural and junctions between the air barrier material in the components, and/or covering the structural wall and the window. The requirement also applies components with an air barrier material and sealing to doors and skylights. it to the adjacent air barrier material.

14 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Window Sill Mechanical Flues and Chimneys

5b 6

The interface between window sill and wall assembly Steel-lined chimneys that penetrate the building must be made airtight by sealing all joints and envelope must be made airtight by blocking the junctions between the air barrier material in the wall void between required clearances for metal and the window. The requirement also applies to chimneys and surrounding construction with sheet doors and skylights. metal and sealant capable of withstanding high temperatures.

Plumbing Stacks Skylights

7 8

Plumbing vent stack pipes that penetrate the building The interface between the skylight and wall envelope must be made airtight by either sealing the air assembly must be made airtight by sealing all joints barrier material to the vent stack pipe with a compatible and junctions between the air barrier material in material or sheathing tape, or installing a rubber gasket the wall and the skylight. or prefabricated roof flashing at the penetration of the plane of airtightness and sealing it to the top plate.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 15

Attic Hatches Pot Lights

9 10

Air leakage occurs through the joint between the Recessed pot light housings are one of the most hatch and the ceiling. The hatch is most often a piece common air leakage points through the ceiling of gypsum board cut to size resting on a ledge made plane into the attic. Air leakage occurs between the from wood trim or the edge of the ceiling. Air sealing housing and air barrier through the fixture housing can be achieved by ensuring the hatch is sized holes and its electrical connections. Installing boxes properly so that it has enough contact with the open- around the pot lights which are sealed to the air ing ledge and providing a closed cell foam gasket. barrier is an effective way to deal with this issue.

Wall to Ceiling Wall Vented Ducts

11 12

All joints at the transition between the above grade wall Duct penetrations through the building envelope and ceiling must be made airtight by sealing all joints must have an airtight seal. and junctions between the structural components and/or covering the structural components with an air barrier material.

16 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Electrical Penetrations in Walls

Electrical penetrations in walls, including electrical outlets, wiring, switches and recessed light fixtures through the plane of airtightness must be airtight. Options include using a component that is designed to be airtight and sealing it to the adjacent air barrier material, or by covering the component with an air barrier material and sealing it to the adjacent air barrier material.

Trade-off Options for Above-ground Building Envelope Components and Assemblies (9.36.2.11.) Article 9.36.2.11. is not mandatory. It is intended to permit minor trade-offs of building envelope components to allow for the reduction in the thermal performance of one assembly, while compensating with increased performance of the assembly in a different location. An example is the installation of a small heritage window on one wall and compensated by improved performance of other windows on the same wall. Trade-offs are permitted with: • above grade walls, floors and roofs • between windows that are located on the same wall. There are a number of restrictions, for example: • trade-offs have limits on how much reduction can take place • cannot trade off walls for windows (or vice versa). Reference to the Code is recommended to determine the allowable trade-offs.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 17

HVAC and Service Water Heating Requirements (9.36.3. & 9.36.4.)

While HVAC and service water heating requirements are in different parts of Section 9.36., they have been combined in this guide for simplicity.

Scope and Application (9.36.3.1. & 9.36.4.1.) This section applies to the efficiency of heating ventilation and air conditioning equipment and service water heating. The design and installation of HVAC and service water heating systems are covered in Sections 9.32. and 9.33. of the Code.

Equipment and Ducts (9.36.3.2.) HVAC systems and ducts are required to be sized in accordance with “good practice,” such as described in the Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA) reference material, CSA 280, and Sections 9.32. and 9.33. In addition, 9.36. requires that: • transverse and longitudinal joints in duct work must be sealed using an approved tape and sealant when outside the plane of insulation • ducts must be insulated to the same level as required for walls if they are outside of the envelope and carrying conditioned air (Figure 6).

Figure 6: Sealing and Insulation Requirements for Ducts Outside Plane of Insulation

Air Intake and Outlet Dampers (9.36.3.3.) In general, ducts are required to be equipped with a damper. The damper may be gravity operated, motorized or spring loaded. Where motorized dampers are used, they must remain in an open position if damper operation fails, such as during power outages. Examples of requirements are summarized below (Table 2).

Table 2: Requirements for Dampers

Location Damper Required? Flue connected to water heater Not required Condensing furnace/boiler air intake/exhaust Not required Combustion air intake on fireplace or woodstove Not required Ventilation air intake Required Clothes dryer vent Required Combined supply and exhaust ventilators Required Exhaust and supply fans Required

18 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Piping for Heating and Cooling Systems (9.36.3.3.) Pipe materials, insulation and coverings are addressed in Subsection 9.33.8. of the Code. To reduce thermal losses from piping systems, piping from heating and cooling equipment must be located inside the plane of insulation. Where piping is installed outside the plane of insulation, additional insulation is required to achieve a thermal resistance equivalent to exterior above grade wall requirements defined in 9.36.2. (Figure 7).

Good Practice Tip:

Venting of Combustion Equipment

While sidewall venting of tankless hot water heaters and furnaces is permitted, venting through the roof Figure 7: HVAC and SWH Insulation Requirements is generally recommended in order to avoid condensation and moisture build up Equipment for Heating and Air Conditioning Systems issues that have been found to Important Code Change: HVAC equipment must be located inside the plane of insulation. occur in sidewall venting Only HVAC equipment designed strictly for outdoor installation can be located outside the installations. conditioned space. Attached garages, even if heated, are considered unconditioned space.

Temperature Controls (9.36.3.6.) Temperature controls are generally required for heating and cooling equipment. The accuracy of the control must be better than plus or minus 0.5°C. Solid fuel fired appliances, such as wood heaters and stoves, are exempt from this requirement. Further requirements are provided for installations that have both heating and cooling equipment to prevent operation of heating and cooling equipment at the same time. In dwelling units with multiple zones, controls are required to permit adjustment of individual thermal zones.

Humidification (9.36.3.7.) Humidification is not a requirement of Section 9.36. However, when humidification is provided, the equipment must come with an automatic humidity control device.

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 19

Heat Recovery from Dehumidification in Spaces with an Indoor Pool or Hot Tub (9.36.3.8.) Installation of a heat recovery ventilation system or dehumidification is required unless the total water surface area is less than 10 m2 (108 ft2) and the pool or hot tub is equipped with a cover having a nominal thermal resistance greater than or equal to RSI 2.1 (R-12).

Heat Recovery from Ventilation Systems (9.36.3.9.) Heat recovery ventilation is not a requirement of Section 9.36. Where heat recovery ventilators4 are used, equipment must conform to the requirements of 9.36.3.9., including having a minimum sensible heat recovery efficiency of 60%. Space Heat and Service Water Heating Equipment Efficiency (9.36.3.10.) & (9.36.4.2.) Equipment efficiency requirements are defined for a range of equipment and fuel options in Table 9.36.3.10. of the Code. A summary of requirements for typical equipment is presented in Table 3. Solar Thermal Systems for Space Heat and Service Water Heating (9.36.4.3.) Solar thermal systems are not required in Section 9.36. However, if they are installed, the systems must comply with the following requirements: 1. installed in accordance with manufacturers requirements and procedures, 2. installed in accordance with other plumbing systems requirements of the Code, and 3. the storage tank must be installed in conditioned space.

Service Water Heating Piping (9.36.4.4.) Pipe insulation is required for the first 2 m (6.5 ft) of the storage tank inlet and outlet (Figure 7). The insulation must be at least 12 mm (0.5”) thick. In cases where piping is located outside the building enclosure or within unconditioned space, the insulation must be installed to a thermal resistance not less than the effective resistance requirements of the exterior above grade wall. In homes with recirculating hot water systems, all piping must be insulated.

Service Water Heating Controls (9.36.4.5.) Service water heating systems are required to be equipped with controls to permit adjustment of the temperature settings.

4 The Homeowner Protection Office is preparing a publication on heat recovery ventilators that will be available in 2014.

20 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Table 3: Summary of HVAC Performance Requirements

Equipment Type Size Performance Requirement

Space Heating Equipment

Gas Fired Furnace Less than Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) must be greater 220,000 BTU/Hr (66 kW) than or equal to 92%

Gas Fired Boiler Less than or equal to Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) must be greater 300,000 BTU/Hr (88 kW) than or equal to 90%

Air Cooled Unitary Air Less than or equal to Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 14.5 Conditioner and Heat Pump 65,000 BTU/Hr (19 kW) and Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of 11.5 Split System

Gas Fired Tankless Less than or equal to Energy Factor (EF) must be greater than or equal 250,000 BTU/Hr (73.2 kW) to 0.8

Service Water Heating Equipment

Electric Storage 13-71 Gal (50 to 270 L) Standby loss less than or equal to

25+ 0.20V (top inlet) 40+0.20V (bottom inlet)

Where

V= the tank volume (in Litres)

Gas Fired Storage Less than 75,000 BTU/Hr (22 kW) Energy Factor (EF) must be greater than or equal to 0.67-0.0005V

Where

V= the tank volume (in Litres)

Gas Fired Tankless Less than or equal to Energy Factor must be greater than or equal to 0.8 250,000 BTU/Hr (73.2 kW)

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 21

Appendix 1: Section 9.36. Checklist This checklist has been developed to assist builders and industry stakeholders to review the requirements of Section 9.36. of the British Columbia Building Code.

General Information

Building Address

City

Climate Zone (4 to 8)

Contractor Name

Contractor Phone Number

Building Envelope Required Effective Insulation R-value Actual Effective Insulation R-value

Wall

Ceiling

Basement Walls

Basement Floors

Window

Specific Requirements

q Effective insulation of ceilings, walls and floors meet the requirements of Table 9.36.2.6.A and Table 9.36.2.6.B for the correct climate zone. q The thermal characteristics of windows, door and skylights meet the requirements of Table 9.36.2.7. A, B and C for the correct climate zone. q Effective insulation of foundations meet the requirements of Table 9.36.2.8.A or B for the correct climate zone. q Ducts located outside the thermal enclosure are sealed and insulated to the exterior wall insulation requirements. q Dampers are installed at air inlets and exhausts where required. q Piping for heating or cooling systems is located within the thermal enclosure or are fully insulated. q HVAC equipment is located within thermal enclosure or designated to be installed outside of thermal enclosure. q Temperature controls are installed on heating and cooling equipment. q Indoor pools are covered or have an HRV/dehumidifier. q HVAC and SWH equipment meet minimum performance requirements determined in Tables 9.36.3.10. and 9.36.4.2. q Service water heating pipes are insulated at the inlet and outlet of storage tanks. q Service water heaters have temperature controls. q The air barrier details, materials and locations have been identified.

22 Illustrated Guide - Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia

Insulation /Air Seal Detail Insulation Continuity Air Barrier Continuity

1. Interior pony wall at a basement

2. Rim joist

3. Interior wall penetrating an exterior wall

4. Insulated floor above garage

5. Electrical penetration

6. Electric panel set into an exterior wall

7. Duct penetrating at a wall

8. Wall behind shower/tub

9. Wall behind fireplace

10. Staircase walls

11. Plumbing stack in an exterior wall

12. Wall adjoining porch roof

13. Door frame connection to a wall

14. Attic knee walls

15. Skylight shaft walls

16. Attic access panel/stair

17. Dropped ceiling/soffit

18. Recessed lighting fixtures

19. Cantilevered/floors over unheated spaces

20. Steel/masonry chimney penetrating an attic

21. Part wall at an exterior wall and attic

22. Plumbing stack at an attic penetration

23. Tapered insulation at the attic edge

24. Slab-edge insulation

25. Large beam set into a wall

26. Attic/garage framing running alongside an exterior insulated wall

27. Window and door and skylight rough opening

28. Concrete in ICF penetrations

29. Joints in air barrier

Climate Zones 5 to 7A: North Vancouver Island and Interior 23

Burnaby, 170 & Education HPO Technical Research 1 - 4555 BC V5H 4V8 Kingsway www.bchousing.org www.hpo.bc.ca Toll-free: Phone: 778 4526454 1 8664656873

10/14 Printed on recycled paper

2014 Amendments to:

2012 British Columbia Building Code

An interpretation of the 2014 Building Code Changes for 9.36 & 9.32.

The following changes reflect the most notable revisions and staff interpretations. This package is for information purposes only and does not constitute a formal or legal document. The actual British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) 2012 should be reviewed Prepared for the Village of Keremeos by the Building in its entirety for any design / construction Inspection Services Department, RDOS applications.

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

The following information has been obtained from the HPO Illustrated Guide, Energy Efficiency Requirements for Houses in British Columbia, BCBC 9.36 & 9.32, Building Officials Association of British Columbia and The Canadian Wood Council.

9.36.1.3. Compliance and Application There are 3 basic paths to compliance with meeting new Energy Efficiency regulations.

1 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Before December 19, 2014

The above cross section indicates the typical framing with insulation being constructed prior to December 19, 2014 where the nominal insulation thickness determined the required R-value.

2 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

9.36.2.4 now takes into account all of the assembly components including, cladding, sheathing framing, insulation and interior finish materials. This is known9 as Effective Insulation / Effective Thermal Resistance taking the whole wall assembly into consideration.

After December 19, 2014

3 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

A wall effective thermal resistance design calculator is available at http://cwc.ca/wtd, a list of assembly’s and

their effective insulation values is available from the Canadian Wood Council site at the address listed.

As an example for calculation purposes, the wall assembly below was taken from the Canadian Wood Council’s Thermal Design Calculator and to meet the minimum RSI value for the wall assembly of 2.97 or R-value of 16.86 an HRV must be incorporated into this design.

Energy & Thermal Performance  This wall is subject to some thermal bridging due to exposure of framing elements to outside temperature conditions.  The framing factor for this wall at 16″o.c. is 23% (i.e. 23% of the wall is wood only and 77% is insulated)

4 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

The Village of Keremeos is located in Zone 5

5 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Prescriptive reductions for insulation values will apply for the walls, ceilings below attics and skylight shafts when an HRV is introduced into the home.

6 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Energy & Thermal Performance  This wall is subject to some thermal bridging due to exposure of framing elements to outside temperature conditions.  The framing factor for this wall at 24″o.c. is 20% (i.e. 20% of the wall is wood only and 80% is insulated)

As an example for calculation purposes, the wall assembly above was taken from the Canadian Wood Council’s Thermal Design Calculator and meets the minimum RSI value of 3.08 or R-value of 17.48 for a wall assembly not incorporating an HRV

The RSI (R-value Systeme International) can be multiplied by 5.678 to obtain the R-Value. The above table indicates the required RSI values of the solid building assembly.

7 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Example

The illustration incorporates R-40 Blown Cellulose insulation in Zone 5, with an installed HRV is compliant, without an HRV will require R-50

Conditioned Interior Space

Attached garages are treated as unconditioned space, even if the garage is insulated and intended to be heated.

1) Wall between house and garage built to RSI of the above ground wall assembly

Attached garages are treated as unconditioned space with no allowances for heat. The assembly (walls & ceilings) separating the garage from the conditioned space must be insulated and air tight.

8 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components placed within an exterior wall must be insulated behind to the effective thermal resistance required for the above or below grade wall assembly.

Exposed foam plastics to be protected as per BCBC 9.25.2

Spray foam “Home kits” are not permitted.

Thermal bridging of repetitive structural members (ie; joist box ends, header spaces) must be included when calculating the thermal resistance of the exterior above grade wall assembly.

9 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

In the attic at the perimeter wall, the insulation value must maintain a minimum RSI value as the wall assembly for a maximum of 4’. ( In some designs the introduction of a high heeled truss may be warranted )

Round Styrofoam backer rod and caulking, air space without insulation meets the minimum U value of adjacent door / window

The space between the framing member and window / door frame may have the same effective U-value as the adjoining window / door.

10 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

The detailed illustration below indicates the Effective Insulation values required in a home constructed in Zones 5 & 6 not incorporating an HRV

Garages are treated as unconditioned space. When a garage is provided with heat the full

RSI requirements for outside walls are to be provided. Note garage door requirements.

11 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

12 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Illustrations below indicate insulation placement for unheated and heated slabs on grade above the frost line

Thermal Break 50% of the required insulation thickness

quired insulation

Insulation placement of unheated slabs

Thermal Break 50% of the required Radiant Infloor insulation thickness

Insulation placement of heated slabs

Insulation separated by the foundation wall at the floor slab is not required to be continuous, provided the exterior insulation extends down to the footing.

13 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Exposed foam plastics to be protected as per BCBC 9.25.2

When insulation is separated by the building envelope as indicated above, the interior insulation side must extend down the wall 4 times the thickness of the wall.

150 mm (6”) Nominal 3.52 RSI (R20) = 3.58 RSI effective

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls provide an effective resistance to thermal bridging. Minimum effective thermal resistance required for Zones 5 and 6 (no HRV): Above Grade = 3.08 RSI Below Grade = 2.98 RSI

14 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Currently under 9.25.3 the Code requires an airtight building envelope but does not get into details. This section addresses construction of air barrier details (9.36.2.10) because of the heat loss implications. The diagram below indicates critical areas for problematic air barrier details.

Air barriers must meet criteria in 9.25.2 for air barrier materials and shall be continuous:  Across construction, control and expansion joints  Across junctions between different between materials and assemblies, and  Around penetrations through all building assemblies.

Air barriers are different from vapour barriers but traditionally most Part 9 construction relies on the use of 6 mil poly to act as both the air and vapour barrier. Air barrier systems can be:  Rigid panels or materials such as air-tight drywall, spray applied form or rigid panel materials  Membrane sheets such as sealed polyethylene (6 mil poly) or exterior house wrap Or a combination of these

15 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

The following illustrations indicate where potential leakage conditions occur and where sealing is required between all joints and junctions between the structural components, and/or covering the structural components with an air barrier material and sealing it to the adjacent air barrier material.

Junctions between the floor and rim joist and rim joist to foundation must be sealed

Cantilevered floors and wall junctions are to be sealed

16 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

17 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Poly boots/hats are required on exterior walls and ceilings for electrical boxes and pot lights and must be sealed to the air / vapour barrier.

Note – structural support required.

barrier

The attic hatches and all plumbing/electrical penetrations into the attic space along any gaps, spaces, penetrations, irregularities that could inhibit leakage must be sealed

18 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Section 9.36.2.7 of the BCBC requires garage vehicular doors to have an R Value of 6.245 or RSI 1.1 when conditioned (heated). Doors are also required to be weather-stripped.

Example Window Label showing U-value

The U-factor is a rating given to a window based on how much heat loss it allows. U-factors generally range from 0.2 (very little heat loss) to 1.2 (high heat loss). The U-factor is the inverse of the R-value of a window, which measures a window’s insulating value.Heating Thus, a high Efficiencies R-value is the same as a low U-factor, and means that a window does not allow much heat to escape.

19 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

9.36.5 Energy Performance Method

This Performance option is restricted to houses with or without a secondary suite.

20 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Ducts must be insulated to the same level as required for walls if they are outside of the heated space and carrying conditioned air. Bathroom, dryer and kitchen exhaust are exempt from this requirement though are required to be directed outdoors, insulated to RSI 0.75 and have a vapor barrier.

Transverse and longitudinal joints in duct work must be sealed using an approved tape and sealant when outside the heated space.

21 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Heating Efficiencies

Fabric tape is not approved in the BCBC for this application

In general, ducts are required to be equipped with a damper. The damper may be gravity operated, motorized or spring loaded. Where motorized dampers are used, they must remain in an open position if damper operation fails, such as during power outages.

22 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Heating Efficiencies

Exterior Roof Top Heat / Cool Unit

Interior Residential Gas Furnace

HVAC equipment must be located inside the heated space. Only HVAC equipment designed strictly for outdoor installation can be located outside the Heated space. Attached garages, even if heated, are considered unconditioned space.

23 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Heating Efficiencies

Minimum Efficiency 92% Gas Fired Tankless

24 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Heating Efficiencies

Gas Fired Boiler Minimum Efficiency 90% Air Conditioners now have a 14.5 SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating)

Heat Pumps now must have an 11.5 Energy Efficiency Rating

The efficiency ratings for gas furnaces, boilers and hot water tanks both storage and instantaneous have been adjusted in the new requirements. Air conditioners and heat pumps also have increased efficiency ratings.

25 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Heating Efficiencies

Gas Fired Tankless Instantaneous Gas Fired Storage HWT Electric Storage HWT

The efficiency ratings for hot water tanks both storage and instantaneous have been adjusted in the new requirements.

26 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Service Water Heating Piping Pipe insulation is required for the first 2 m (6.5 ft) of the storage tank inlet and outlet. The insulation must be at least 12 mm (0.5”) thick. In cases where piping is located outside the building enclosure or within conditioned space, the insulation must be installed to a thermal resistance not less than the effective resistance requirements of the exterior above grade wall.

First 2m of piping on Piping located in the water storage unconditioned space tanks requires at must be insulated to least 12mm (1/2”) of the same value as the insulation. above grade wall.

Water heaters are to be located within a Service water heating conditioned space. systems are required to be equipped with controls to permit adjustment of the termperature settings.

In homes with recirculating hot water systems, all piping must be insulated.

Ducting through garages (unconditioned space) will be required to be insulated but reductions for the lower level may be permitted provided both sides of the ducts are insulated to a compensating higher thermal resistance so that the resulting heat loss does not occur.

27 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

9.32 Ventilation

This section only applies to ventilation of rooms and spaces in residential occupancies by natural ventilation and to self-contained mechanical ventilation systems serving only one dwelling unit. All other mechanical systems shall conform to Part 6 of the BC Building Code.

Every dwelling unit shall incorporate provisions for non-heating ventilation and if supplied with electrical power, provisions for heating season ventilation.

Heat recovery ventilation is not a requirement of Section 9.36. Where heat recovery ventilators are used, equipment must conform to the requirements of 9.36.3.9., including having a minimum sensible heat recovery efficiency of 60%.

Ventilation must be treated as a system. Not only exhaust. Pre-December, 2014 the exhaust only systems were used where a fan (bathroom) was used to create a negative pressure within the space and ventilation air was achieved through air leakage from loose building construction.

28 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Post December 19, 2014, with the introduction of a principal exhaust fan in 2006, the sizing was based on the number of bedrooms. The table above now indicates the number of bedrooms as well as floor area to determine the principal ventilation fan sizing.

The primary ventilation system is required to run continuously. This can be achieved by the use of an HRV or a dedicated Low Sone fan not exceeding 1.0 sones.

29 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Option 1

With 4 options to deliver ventilation air, utilizing the forced air system interlocked to the primary ventilation fan is cost effective in a majority of applications. The fresh air piping to the forced air return duct has also been reduced in length to the furnace cabinet and must not be located upstream of a return air grill.

Option 2

A 2nd option is to incorporate a passive Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV) as the primary ventilation fan. The furnace blower would be required to run continuously 24/7.

30 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Option 3

The 3rd option is to incorporate an HRV as the primary ventilation system. This system is installed separately from the forced air system or as a stand-alone ventilation system when forced air is not being installed.

Option 4

The 4th option is also installed separately from the forced air or as a system when forced air is not being installed. A primary ventilation fan is installed and interlocked with a distribution fan sized 2-3 times the primary ventilation fans’ capacity. The air discharge grill should be installed no closer than 2 m from the floor ensuring that the cooler air is missed with tempered air maintaining a suitable comfort level.

31 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

Should the calculations provided on the Mechanical Ventilation Check list provided by the HVAC installer indicate the collective exhaust appliances exceed the ½ air change per hour, make up air sized accordingly to the excess exhaust must be provided. As the Village of Keremeos is in a Radon Area this clause applies.

Exhaust from bath fans, primary ventilation fans and range exhaust ducts must be vented directly out doors, insulated with an RSI of 0.75 (R-4) and have a continuous vapor barrier.

32 | P a g e

Energy Efficiency Requirements Section 9.32 & 9.36

RADON CHANGES SECTION 9.16

The BC Building Code does not require installation of a fan during initial construction, although designers should consider the future installation of a fan (which will require access and electrical supply) somewhere along the radon vent pipe.

The BC Building Code refers to material that creates the space allowing the movement of soil gases between the air barrier system and the ground as a gas permeable layer The gas permeable layer allows for effective depressurization of that space, and functions as the drainage layer required in Article 9.16.2.1. A typical solution is to install coarse clean granular material below the floor on the ground. This allows compliance with 9.16.2.1(1)

The Radon rough in must be piped directly outdoors, an in-line fan is not required by code to complete a mitigation system. Changes have also occurred to the granular materials component and now are referred to as approved materials within the code. Alternate piping configurations may be considered by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

33 | P a g e