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.
———————————————————————————————-
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
———————————————————————————————-
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.
———————————————————————————————-
|
March 19th, 2012
Green Building Update – March 2012
|
| |
 |
Update Overview
Greetings Ontario home builders and green building enthusiasts!
Here’s the latest news on:
- Ontario Building Code – SB-12
- Latest EEDS form
- OBOA directives to municipalities RE: EEDS form use
- Web tools for SB-12 guidance
- Software Release
- FREE: Code Caddy – automate and simplify EEDS and ESNH BOP forms and permit applications
- EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR
- 2012 ESNH to be released soon
- Incentives
- Marketing Reminder: OEE Directory
- R-2000
- 2012 R-2000 standard released
- Incentives
- List of green building incentives available
- Training
- Green building and SB-12 training offered
|
 |
|
|
1. Ontario Building Code – SB-12 News
- Latest Energy Efficiency Design Summary (EEDS) Form:
- In early February the Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) released a slightly revised version of the EEDS form, and have posted it on their homepage. In case there was any confusion on this, the latest EEDS form makes it clear that it is both the architectural and mechanical designer who sign-off on the energy efficiency design, not the CEA. The sign-off is intended to indicate that those responsible for the design acknowledge the accuracy of the energy efficiency specifications as listed on the EEDS form.
- OBOA Directives to Municipalities RE: EEDS form use:
- Since SB-12 requirements came into effect in January, several municipalities have made slight alterations to the EEDS Form for their own purposes. These EEDS form inconsistencies have created confusion for builders and energy advisers. The OBOA’s intention is to keep the EEDS form standardized across all municipalities. Builders and energy advisers who find variations in EEDS form requirements should remind municipalities that the OBOA has specifically requested that municipalities not add further requirements.
- Web Tools for SB-12 Guidance
- To help with your energy conservation planning for SB-12 compliance, we would encourage you to check out the following free web tools, in addition to consulting the Building Code literature and Supplementary Standards:
2. Software Release
- FREE: Code Caddy – Automate and simplify EEDS and ESNH BOP forms and permit applications:
- Mindscape Innovations is proud to release a free software tool for builders and energy advisers to use in order to simplify the permit application process for complying with Part 12. Like a Golf Caddy on a golf course, Code Caddy helps the user determine which “club” to use to get through the code successfully (i.e. which eligible compliance path), and then semi-automates the form filling process by generating required to generate EEDS and ESNH BOP forms for permit application. Download your free copy of Code Caddy tool at www.sb12.ca.
3. EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR
- 2012 ENERGY STAR Technical Specifications to be released soon:
- While no date has been confirmed, the 2012 ENERGY STAR Technical Specifications will be officially released soon, and will take effect for home enrollments after July 1, 2012. The new benchmark is expected to be equivalent to EnerGuide 83 performance. Homes enrolled prior to this date may use the existing ESNH standard, provided they are constructed by June 30th, 2014.
- Enroll your homes with Mindscape today! We accept both common (former EnerQuality v.4), custom (MIBOP), and performance (EnerGuide) spec enrollments, and have simple tools to help! Contact us at homes@mi-group.ca.
- Marketing Resources – OEE Directory
- A reminder to Builders that the OEE Housing Member’s Area provides some helpful resource for marketing materials:
- Ensure your company info is listed and up to date on the OEE New Homes Directory under ‘Builders’ for your corresponding area;
- Find promotional articles, brochures, logos and videos;
- Order ENERGY STAR flags and plaques.
4. R-2000
- 2012 R-2000 Technical Standard Released
- NRCan released the 2012 R-2000 Standard in February, and will become effective for all new R-2000 enrollments after July 1, 2012. Key changes over the 2005 standard include a 50% increase in energy performance target. Further changes are planned for a 2014 update, at which point the 2005 standard will expire.
5. Green Building Incentives
- Do not miss out on the following financial incentives to help with your green building projects:
6. Training
- Green Building and SB-12 Training
- Mindscape is offering private training workshops on a fee-for-service basis. If you or one of your clients would like to book a Mindscape instructor to come meet with your team, to walk through SB-12, the various compliance options and tools that can help, and to help you make a plan for how your various builds will comply, then contact training@mi-group.ca today. We’re booking up fast, but we’ll be glad to work with you and to help protect your plans for 2012 and beyond.
|
