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

• Comes from Alberta Municipal Affairs
• National Building Code: 2023 Alberta Edition

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:

• BILD Alberta
• https://www.alberta.ca/building-codes-and-standards
• National Building Code: 2023 Alberta Edition
• National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings: 2020
• NRC Publications Archive