NBC – Alberta Edition Video #1 Overview

Author/Contributor: BILD Alberta, PHBI, Mattamy Homes, Safety Codes Council

Alberta Context: This video is an overview of the National Building Code – Alberta Edition update, covering the process behind developing the National Model Building Code and the concept of harmonization, and outlines how to comply with Tier 1 energy code requirements.

Summary: 

This video is a video guide for the Tiered Energy Section of the 2023 National Building Code – Alberta Edition and an initial overview of what industry can expect to comply with Tier 1.  The video does not include other important non-energy-related code changes.  The 2023 NBC-AE comes into effect on May 1, 2024. 

Watch the video to get the full summary. 

Video timestamps: 

How are the codes created? 1:09

  • The benefits of a harmonized code
  • New Tier code

Overview 5:44

  • The goal is to move towards net-zero ready (Tier 5)

Industry as a whole 9:13

How and who is involved in code changes? 10:02

  • How to get involved
  • Process for code review
    • public reviews
    • committee reviews
  • Alberta Adoption

The Building Code 11:40

The Roadmap to Energy Efficiency 14:04

  • Status Quo

What’s coming in the new code? 15:02

  • 9.36.6. Airtightness of Building Envelope 
  • 9.36.7. Tiered Energy Performance Compliance: Performance Path
  • 9.36.8. Tiered Energy Performance Compliance: Prescriptive Path

Why airtightness is important. Old Vs. New 17:26

  • Focus on building envelope

Airtightness requirements in the new code 20:40

  • Tier 1 option to use 9.25 requirements or move to 9.36

Prescriptive vs Performance Path 23:03

  • New to building code – EnerGuide equivalent
  • The main difference between the two is a mandatory blower door test

Energy Auditor 27:00

  • HOT2000
  • Performance modeling with blower door test
  • Gas-fired furnaces and domestic hot water metric 

Energy Efficiency vs Emissions 32:25

  • Building code doesn’t deal with GHGs, just energy efficiency
  • Energy efficiency does lead to a reduction in GHGs and carbon emissions

Peak cooling loads 34:10

Summary 37:27

  • No big changes to insulation requirements
  • Gas-fired furnaces and domestic hot water metric 
  • Small changes, in stages, will allow the industry to adapt

Links for Reference:

 

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