Energy Step Code requirements for Part 9 buildings

City of Richmond

June 29, 2017

BCBC 9.36.3 prescriptive pathway vs. performance-based Energy Step Code

Part 9

Energy Step Code

Climate Zone 4: 1 page

Section 9.36

103 pages

Climate Zones

The BC

Energy Step Code

has different targets

for different

climate zones.

Metro Vancouver

is in Climate Zone 4

Part 9 Step Code Requirements Climate Zone 4

(Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island)

Step

Bu

ildin

g en

ergy

mo

de

l

Airtightness Requirement:

Performance Requirement of Building Equipment and Systems

Performance Requirement of Building Envelope

Blower door test

ACH50: air changes per hour @

50 Pa pressure differential

Reference House:

__% better than ERS v15 ref. house

OR

mechanical energy use intensity

(MEUI): kWh/m2·year

thermal energy

demand intensity (TEDI):

kWh/m2·year

OR

peak thermal

load (PTL): W/m2

1 report score 0% OR conform to Subsection 9.36.5

2 ≤ 3.0 10% OR ≤ 60 ≤ 45 OR ≤ 35

3 ≤ 2.5 20% OR ≤ 45 ≤ 40 OR ≤ 30

4 ≤ 1.5 40% OR ≤ 35 ≤ 25 OR ≤ 25

5 ≤ 1.0 ≤ 25 ≤ 15 OR ≤ 10

Buildings are a system

Indoor Air Quality

Window Efficiency

Building Massing

Airtightness

Ventilation

Climate

Window Size & Placement

Solar Gain

Energy Use

Insulation Levels

Mechanical Efficiency

Energy Loss

Comfort

Moisture Control

Durability

Airtightness

• All buildings at all levels of the Energy Step Code require a blower door test at post-construction. The airtightness data from this test is entered into the building model to check for building compliance at the post-construction stage.

• Important: Whole buildings are tested, not individual building units.

• The number of times the full volume of air in the building is replaced during an hour when the building is pressurized and/or depressurized by 50 Pascals relative to outdoor air pressure. (Note: Step 1 does not have an airtightness target)

AND

Equipment and Systems

The modelled amount of energy used by space heating and cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems compared to the amount used by the same home if it were built to minimum BC Building Code prescriptive requirements.

(Note: BCBC 9.36 prescriptive pathway = Step 1)

• The modelled amount of energy used by space heating and cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems, per square meter of conditioned floor space, over the course of a year. (Note: easier for bigger homes to achieve)

OR

Building Envelope

• The modelled net total annual amount of heating energy needed per square metre of conditioned space floor area; including both:

• heat loss through walls, windows, etc., and

• “passive” heat gains from solar heating (walls & windows), cooking, lights, and body heat.

• The modelled maximum amount of energy needed to heat a building on the modelled coldest day of the year, per square metre of conditioned space floor area; a.k.a. “Design Heat Loss.” (Note: Intended for use mostly in northern BC)

OR

Step 1: “Enhanced Compliance” ~ BCBC 9.36

Initial staff proposal for stakeholder consultation purposes, for 2018 – ~2021: -detached residential, including houses with secondary suites -duplex / triplex -low-rise apartments

Step 2 Step 2: ~ BuiltGreen Gold Step 3: ~ Energy Star for New Homes

Initial staff proposal for stakeholder consultation purposes, for 2018 – ~2021: - townhouses - very large detached residential

Step

Bu

ildin

g en

ergy

mo

de

l

Airtightness Requirement:

Performance Requirement of Building Equipment and Systems

Performance Requirement of Building Envelope

Blower door test

ACH50: air changes per hour @ 50 Pa

pressure differential

Reference House:

__% better than ERS v15 ref. house

OR

mechanical energy

use intensity (MEUI):

kWh/m2·year

thermal energy

demand intensity (TEDI):

kWh/m2·year

OR

peak thermal

load (PTL): W/m2

2 ≤ 3.0 10% OR ≤ 60 ≤ 45

OR ≤ 35

3 ≤ 2.5 20% OR ≤ 45 ≤ 40

OR ≤ 30

Step 4

AND AND

Step 4: ~ R-2000

Initial staff proposal for stakeholder consultation purposes, for 2018 – ~2021: - Specific incented “showcase” buildings only

Step 5

AND AND

mechanical energy use intensity (MEUI): kWh/m2·year

Step 5: ~ Passiv Haus / ~ Net Zero Energy Ready

Initial staff proposal for stakeholder consultation purposes, for 2018 – ~2021: - not recommended for 2018

Applying the Step Code in Richmond Part 9 Buildings

Preliminary proposal only – input for stakeholder consultation

Building type Current approximate

Energy Step Code Performance Level

December 15, 2017

~ 2021 ~ 2025

Part 9 detached homes, duplexes

BC Building Code Step 1 Step 3 Step 4

Part 9 very large detached homes

BC Building Code Step 2 or 3 Step 3 or 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 townhouses

~Step 2-3 Step 2 or 3 Step 3 or 4 Step 4 or 5

Part 9 low-rise apartments

BC Building Code Step 1 Step 3 Step 4

Part 9 commercial / industrial

BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ?

Part 9 all renovations / additions

BC Building Code BC Building Code ? ?

City of Richmond Airtightness Training Program: July – December 2017

• The City of Richmond will pay all costs for:

• A pre-drywall blower door test and diagnostic walk-through for on-site workers:

• For houses or townhouses under construction within the City of Richmond.

• The City shall provide no more than 3 tests for any building or company.

• One day off-site airtightness training session for:

• general contractors;

• insulation sub-contractors; and

• sheathing sub-contractors

associated with an active Building Permit issued by the City of Richmond.

• The City shall fund no more than 3 persons from any company

• First come, first serve, subject to discretion of City staff.

Thank you

• Questions? Please contact:

Nicholas Heap Sustainability Project Manager

City of Richmond nheap@richmond.ca

(604) 276-4267