On November 17th, staff from the Cities of Waterloo and Kitchener, along with WRHBA, held a pre-dinner forum for members in order to inform them on the changes to the Ontario Building Code in effect January 1, 2012.
To view the presentation, click here.
Ontario’s building code is scheduled to update on Jan. 1, 2012, and that update includes noteworthy requirements about energy efficiency. Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has struggled to provide timely direction to Ontario’s municipal officials and building industry, and there is much confusion about how building permits will be approved in January.
Mindscape Innovations is proud to release a FREE online tool that is designed to be simple, and to help Ontario’s builders determine what changes may be required in order to bring their traditional designs into compliance with the new building code. This FREE online tool will help clarify the confusion surrounding SB12, and will help builders plan for the future.
To view the free web-based model to figure our if your design conforms with the Ontario Building Code (SB12), click here.
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The City of Kitchener has provided the following information (Nov. 9, 2011):
SB 12 (new houses)
For permit applications filed after Jan. 1/12, the Building Code will require projects to meet the minimum standard of EnerGuide 80 or equivalent. Based on industry feedback as early as October of 2010, there is a group working together to iron out the details. The group includes Ministry staff, OHBA members and building officials.
Presently, the new energy requirements will require applicants to meet one of the following;
i) EnerGuide rating of 80 (performance path),
ii) Supplementary Standard SB-12 (prescriptive path) or
iii) Alternate Compliance SB-12 performance by energy consumption (GJ)
The above referenced group are working on a few initiatives to make the transition smooth. For example the group are designing a energy matrix template for new homes where the designer would include the completed template on the first drawing. No separate sheet(s). The group is making good progress on tweaking the template to get it right! Once the template is complete local building officials have committed to sharing with the industry for consistency.
As noted above presently there will be three (3) options to builders for code compliance, a fourth option is presently under review by MMAH staff; EnergyStar. According to local builders, EnergyStar is a viable option that is being utilized right now prior to the code change. It is expected MMAH to make the decision shortly, and this may require a regulation change.
A few other energy conservation highlights/changes include;
* air barrier is a prescribed inspection,
* sump pits must be sealed,
* foundation/floor slab joint to be sealed
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UPDATE
On February 16th, WRHBA and the Cities of Kitchener, Waterloo & Cambridge held another pre-dinner forum to discuss the implementation of the code changes.
