INFORMATIONAL GUIDE
Planning and Building Department
Revised: 2016 May 03
Energy and Ventilation
Requirements for Housing and
Small Buildings (Part 9)
The purpose of this brochure is to notify owners, developers, designers and
contractors of the new requirements for energy efficiency of Part 9
Buildings including Single and Two Family Dwellings.
“This information is provided for convenience only and is not in substitution of applicable City Bylaws or Provincial or
Federal Codes or laws. You must satisfy yourself that any existing or proposed construction or other works complies
with such Bylaws, Codes or other laws."
On 2014 December 19 Sections 9.32 and 9.36, the ventilation and energy requirements of the BC
Building Code for Part 9 buildings (including single and two family dwellings) came into effect. Permit
applications received on or after that day are required to meet these requirements.
General information regarding these requirements is available on the Building and Safety Standards
Branch website at http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/.
Illustrated Guides to assist you in understanding these requirements are available on Homeowner
Protection Office website at: http://www.hpo.bc.ca/energy-efficiency-requirements.
Compliance Options
The following table from the Appendix of the BC Building Code describes the types and sizes of Part 9
buildings to which Section 9.36 and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB 2011)
apply.
Table A-9.36.1.3.
Energy Efficiency Compliance Options for Part 9 Buildings
Energy Efficiency Compliance Options
Building Types and Sizes


Houses with or without a secondary suite
Buildings containing only dwelling units with
common spaces ≤ 20% of total floor areas
9.36.2.
to 9.36.4.
(Prescriptive)
9.36.5.
(Performance)
NECB
✓
✓
✓
Table A-9.36.1.3.
Energy Efficiency Compliance Options for Part 9 Buildings
Energy Efficiency Compliance Options
9.36.2.
to 9.36.4.
(Prescriptive)
9.36.5.
(Performance)
NECB
Group C occupancies
buildings containing Group D, E or F3
occupancies whose combined total floor area ≤
2
300 m (excluding parking garages that serve
residential occupancies)
buildings with a mix of Group C and Group D, E
or F3 occupancies where the non-residential
2
portion’s combined total floor area ≤ 300 m
(excluding parking garages that serve
residential occupancies)
✓
X
✓
buildings containing Group D, E or F3
occupancies whose combined total floor area >
2
300 m
buildings containing F2 occupancies of any size
X
X
✓
Building Types and Sizes





Energy Requirements for Climatic Zone 4
Burnaby falls into Climate Zone 4 with the exception of locations at higher elevations (e.g. Burnaby
Mountain).
Highlights of the ventilation and energy requirements for Zone 4 are as follows:
Minimum Effective Thermal Resistance of Above-ground Opaque Assemblies
(from Table 9.36.2.6. A&B)
2
RSI value (m K)/W
R value (hft °F)/Btu
Ceilings below attics
6.91
39.2
Cathedral / Vaulted ceilings and flat roof
4.67
26.5
Exterior walls
2.78
15.8
Floors over unheated spaces
4.67
26.5
2
Minimum Effective Thermal Resistance of Assemblies Below-Grade or in Contact with the Ground (from
Table 9.36.2.8. A&B)
2
RSI value (m K)/W
R value (hft °F)/Btu
1.99
11.3
Unheated floors below frost line
Uninsulated
Uninsulated
Unheated floors above frost line
1.96
11.1
Heated floors slabs
2.32
13.2
Slabs-on-grade with an integral footing
1.96
11.1
Walls adjacent to unheated space
2.78
15.8
Foundation walls
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Minimum Effective Thermal Resistance of Assemblies Below-Grade or in Contact with the Ground (from
Table 9.36.2.8. A&B)
2
RSI value (m K)/W
R value (hft °F)/Btu
Garage doors (for heated garage)
1.1
6.25
Access hatches
2.6
14.76
2
Maximum Required Thermal Characteristics of Fenestration and Doors
(from Table 9.36.2.7. A)
2
U value W/(m K)
R value (hft °F)/Btu
Windows and doors
1.80
0.32
Glass blocks
2.90
0.51
Front doors
2.60
0.46
2
Maximum Overall Thermal Transmittance of Skylights
(from Table 9.36.2.7. B)
2
U value W/(m K)
R value (hft °F)/Btu
2.90
0.51
Skylights
2
Specific Energy Requirements
Other noted changes of energy requirements applying to all climatic zones:

Ducts located outside of the thermal enclosure are sealed and insulated to the exterior wall
insulation requirements.

Dampers are installed at air outlets and exhausts where required.

Piping for heating or cooling systems is located within the thermal enclosure or are fully
insulated.

HVAC equipment is located within thermal enclosure or designated to be installed outside of
thermal enclosure.

Temperature controls are installed on heating and cooling equipment.

Service water heating pipes are insulated at the inlet and outlet of storage tanks.

Service water heaters have temperature controls.
Specific Ventilation Requirements
Other noted changes of ventilation requirements for self-contained mechanical system serving a single
dwelling unit including those in multi-family dwellings:

Principal ventilation system and/or exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms.

Supply air to bedrooms, living areas and heated crawlspaces.
Permit Application Requirements
Drawings submitted in support of building permit applications must include the following information:

Climate Zone

Compliance path chosen:
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o
o
o



Prescriptive (Subsections 9.36.2 to 9.36.4 of the BC Building Code)
Prescriptive with trade-offs – submit description of the trade-offs
Performance (Subsection 9.36.5.) – a report prepared by a person experienced in
energy modelling
Description of construction and effective thermal resistance values (RSI) (see table above) for
all envelope assemblies. The inspectors may ask for the values breakdown on all
components for unusual assemblies.
Thermal transmittance values (U) (see table above) of all windows, skylights, and glass
blocks.
Ventilation design (active or passive, airflows, HRV, crawl space ventilation scheme, etc.):
o
Specify heating system
o
Specify ventilation system – choose one of 9.32.3.4.(2), (3), (4) or (5)
o
Show location of principal exhaust fan.
o
Show location of supply air to bedrooms, living areas and heated crawlspaces.
o
Systems that are not addressed in 9.32. shall be designed by Professional Engineers
with Letters of Assurance
Inspection Requirements
Projects with no professional mechanical engineers involvement would require submission of appropriate
“TECA ventilation checklist” to the building inspector at the time of framing inspection to demonstrate
compliance with Section 9.32 and Section 9.36 of the BC Building Code.
“Certificate of Minimum Thermal Resistance Assemblies” shall be submitted to the building inspector at
the time of final inspection.
Further Information
If you have any questions, please contact the Building Department at 604-294-7130.
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