National Energy Code for Buildings Building Standards and Licensing - - PDF document

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Presented by: Building Standards and Licensing Branch Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

National Energy Code for Buildings

Building Standards and Licensing Branch

Promoting construction of safe, healthy, habitable buildings National Energy Code for Buildings Building Standards Workshops Regina, SK Saskatoon, SK November 27, 2018 December 4, 2018

National Energy Code for Buildings

Agenda

• Introduction
• NECB 2015 (and changes for NECB 2017)
• Approach
• Application
• The Basics
• Compliance Paths
• Performance Level
• Supporting Documentation and Tools
• Building Envelope
• Lighting
• Heating, Ventilating and Air‐conditioning Systems
• Service Water Systems
• Electrical Power Systems and Motors

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction

Organization

• Government of Saskatchewan
• Ministry of Government Relations
• Public Safety Division
• Building Standards and Licensing Branch
• Building Standards Unit
• Gas and Electrical Licensing
• Interface to Technical Safety Authority of

Saskatchewan

• Emergency Management and Fire Safety Branch

National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction – Regulatory Framework

Legislative Framework

• The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act

(the UBAS Act)

• The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations

(the UBAS Regs)

• Adoption of the National Building Code (NBC)
• current version is NBC 2015

Municipal Framework (Local Authority)

• Building Bylaw

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ Five Principles

Application of the National Energy Code for Buildings is guided by five principles under provision of the UBAS Act. 1) Building owners are responsible to comply. 2) Local authorities (municipalities) are responsible to administer and enforce. 3) The Government of Saskatchewan is responsible for the legislative, regulatory and policy framework. 4) Building officials work for the local authority. 5) Designers (architects and engineers) and contractors work for the building owner.

National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction – UBAS Regulations – Codes Adopted

3(8) . . . The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, 2015, including the errata and revisions issued by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes from time to time, is declared to be in force on January 1, 2019. NBC 2015 Section 9.36. Energy Efficiency

• Adopted January 1, 2018 and in force January 1, 2019

NECB 2015

• Adopted January 1, 2018 and in force January 1, 2019

NECB 2017

• Available from NRC free of charge in digital format
• Proposed for adoption and in force on January 1, 2019

2020 Editions

• Public Review underway from November 7, 2018 to

January 4, 2019

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ UBAS Regulations

PART II General Standards

Codes adopted

3(1) In this section, “work” means any construction, erection, placement, alteration, repair, renovation, demolition, relocation, removal, use, occupancy or change of occupancy of a building.

National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ UBAS Regulations

PART II General Standards

Codes adopted

3(8.1) Notwithstanding subsection (8), the edition of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings that was in force

• n the day which a permit was issued is deemed to be in force

with respect to work: (a) for which the permit is issued before the day on which the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings is declared to be in force or any amendment to subsections (a) comes into force; and (b) that is not completed on the day on which that edition is declared to be in force.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ UBAS Regulations

PART II General Standards

Codes adopted

3(8.2) For the purposes of these regulations: (a) each of the subsequent editions of the National Energy Code

• f Canada for Buildings is deemed to be adopted on the date

that is one year after the date of its being issued; and (b) subject to other provisions of these regulations, any previous edition of the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings does not apply to any work for which a permit is issued on or after the date mentioned in clause (a).

National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ UBAS Regulations

PART II General Standards

Codes adopted

3(9) No person who is required to comply with the Act and these regulations shall fail to comply with the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings that is in force at the time the permit for the work to be undertaken is issued.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Introduction ‐ UBAS Regulations

PART II General Standards

Codes adopted

8(3.1) An owner who undertakes to construct or have constructed a building within the scope of the NECB shall have an architect or engineer complete: of: (a) the design or design review of the structure; (b) an inspection of construction of the structure to ensure compliance with the design; and (c) The reviews required by the NECB.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Approach

Why now? Energy end‐use breakdown for commercial/industrial sector

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

What building parameters are covered by the NECB? Division A, Article 1.1.1.2. 1) This Code contains requirements for a) the design and construction of the building envelope, b) the design and construction or specification of systems and equipment for i) heating, ventilating, or air‐conditioning, ii) service water heating, and iii) lighting, and c) the provision of electrical power systems and motors, excluding process loads.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Application

NECB applies to:

• New buildings (as defined in NBC)
• ALL new Group A, B, and F1 buildings regardless of size
• ALL new Group C buildings greater than 600 m2
• All new Group D, E, F2, and F3 buildings greater than

300 m² or exceeding 3 storeys or of mixed occupancy (excluding parking garages serving Group C buildings)

• Additions to any of the above buildings exceeding 10 m² of

floor area

• Major alterations to existing buildings

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

How is the NECB formatted?

• Objective‐based
• Division A – Compliance, Objectives and Functional

Statements

• Division B – Acceptable Solutions
• Division C – Administrative Provisions
• Why building design/construction is regulated in Objectives
• What the design/construction of the building must do to

achieve the objectives in Functional Statements

• Provides Acceptable Solutions that meet the objectives and

functional statements

• Allows for Alternative Solutions, provided they meet the

same objectives and functional statements

National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

How is the code formatted? As you would expect the code is written and laid out in the same format as the building code. The technical parts (Division B) are broken out essentially by discipline: Part 1 – General Part 2 – Reserved Part 3 – Building Envelope (Architect/Engineer) Part 4 – Lighting (Electrical Engineer) Part 5 – HVAC (Mechanical Engineer) Part 6 – Service Water Systems (Mechanical Engineer) Part 7 – Electrical Power Systems and Motors (Electrical Engineer) Part 8 – Performance Compliance Path (All of the above and NECB modeler)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Approach

What NECB doesn’t deal with?

• NECB does not deal with operation of the building including:
• anything you plug into the wall
• operating schedule
• numbers of staff or patrons
• equipment servicing or maintenance
• thermostat settings or other controls
• NECB does not apply to:
• existing buildings not being altered
• farm buildings
• buildings with heating or cooling systems with output

capacity < 10 W/m2 (limitation in NECB Part 3)

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Approach

• Energy used by

building for NECB is Energy source neutral

• NECB is based on

climatic zone represented by heating degree‐days (HDD)

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Approach

Benefits of Code Requirements

• No differentiation by
• fuel source
• assembly constructions
• occupancy, other than residential or non‐residential
• Consistent minimum energy performance
• Consistent benchmark through various paths
• Established based on minimum prescriptive path

requirements

• Changes subject to impact analysis to ensure viability
• Cost of construction and incremental energy saved

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Approach

Silent on renewable, waste and site‐generated energy

• Wide variety of technology exists
• Code does not place barriers to the use
• Reference standards for use, not to measure efficiency

Silent on most process loads

• Except pools and ice surfaces
• Performance Path includes:
• Guidance
• Flexibility

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

When will requirements need to be considered?

• Design

‐ Consult NECB

• Apply for Permit

‐ Comply with NECB

• Construct

‐ Build to NECB

• Inspect

‐ Comply with Code

• Occupy

National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

NECB Objective

• OE Environment

An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of the building, the environment will be affected in an unacceptable manner.

• OE1 Resources

To limit the probability that the risks of unacceptable effect

• n the environment due to use of resources addressed in

this Code are those caused by –

• OE1.1 excessive use of energy

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

OE Environment OE1 Resources OE1.1 Excessive use of energy Functional Statements – To limit . . .

• air leakage
• uncontrolled thermal transfer
• unnecessary energy demand or consumption for lighting, for

heating and cooling, for service water heating, electrical equipment and devices

• inefficiency of equipment and systems
• unnecessary rejection of reusable waste energy

National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

Example

• Sentence 4.2.1.3.(1) specifies the limits to installed interior

lighting power. These limits are considered to be acceptable solutions with regards to energy use.

• In an attribution table, the Sentence is linked to
• Functional Statement F94: To limit the unnecessary

demand and/or consumption of energy for lighting.

• Objective OE 1.1: Environment – Resources – Limiting the

probability of excessive use of energy An alternative solution might entail a higher installed interior lighting power than permitted but with provision of additional control of that lighting (beyond existing control requirements).

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

Supplements to NECB

• Intent Statements ‐ NECB 2011
• Intent Statements explain in plain language the reason for

a Code provision

• Use standard phrases "to limit the probability that/of…“

..."which could lead to…"

• Published electronically only
• Not code material
• User’s Guide – National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings

2011

• Published in 2014 (NECB 2015 User’s Guide coming Feb
• Intended to increase users’ understanding of the NECB

intent and application in the field.

National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

Will energy code compliance add cost to projects?

• This really depends upon you, the anecdotal evidence

suggests that energy efficiency improvements may add around 1% ‐ 2% capital cost to your project.

• Consultants experienced in Energy Efficiency have expressed

a view that it can be nearer 0.5% or even lower.

• The earlier you factor energy efficiency into your project

planning and design the less it will cost.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

The Basics

What energy performance improvement does the NECB provide?

• MNECB 1997

Baseline

• NECB 2011

+ 26.2%

• NECB 2015

+ 3%

• NECB 2017

+9 – 11%

National Energy Code for Buildings

Compliance Paths

Prescriptive Path (Do this. Don’t do that.) Trade‐off Path

• Building Envelope, Lighting, HVAC and service water
• Use only within the same Part of the NECB

(I want to do less here, so will do more there.) Performance Path

• Whole‐building modeling / engineering solution

(I am doing this because the computer model says I can.) More expertise needed as you progress from prescriptive to performance.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Compliance Paths

• Mix and match simple

prescriptive and trade‐off paths

• Use trade‐off within

same part only

• Cannot mix any
• ther path with

performance compliance path (whole building approach)

National Energy Code for Buildings

Performance Levels

• One consistent minimum acceptable performance level for all

paths.

• Compliance is a balancing act.

Source: Alberta Building Envelope Council

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Performance Levels

Balance of what?

• Need to demonstrate what was done and the outcome
• Required documents specific to the chosen compliance path
• Additional documentation that MAY be requested by the AHJ

for verification Prescriptive – common owner and site information, compliance path

declaration, documentation corresponding to the prescriptive requirements, information on drawings, information in specifications, equipment information

Trade‐off – prescriptive information, and summary table of trade‐off

calculations, detailed performance information related to trade‐off components, declaration of compliance

Performance – common owner and site information, compliance path

declaration, performance compliance summary report, declaration of compliance signed and sealed by designer

National Energy Code for Buildings

Supporting Documentation and Tools

• Compliance declaration (what path for what part?)
• Documentation requirements (Division C)
• Other information to satisfy the local authority

Building Energy Software Tools (Former host US Dept. of Energy) https://www.buildingenergysoftwaretools.com

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Scope

• Part 3 is concerned with the transfer of heat, and air through

the building envelope

• The building envelope is the collection of components that

separate conditioned space from unconditioned space, exterior air, or the ground. Methods of Compliance

• Prescriptive path
• Trade‐off path
• Performance path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Scope

• The building envelope also includes the separation between

separate interior spaces that are intended to be conditioned at temperatures differing by >10 oC at design conditions, such as:

• cold storage warehouses
• swimming pools to ice rinks
• offices to warehouses with minimal heat

Does not apply to buildings with heating or cooling system with output capacity < 10 W/m2 (limitation in Part 3)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Points of Note

• All assemblies must provide effective thermal resistance
• (virtually) All prescriptive values vary with climate zone
• FDWR (Fenestration and Door to Wall Ratio) is a factor
• FDWR is calculated dependent on climate

FDWR ≤ (2000 – 0.2•HDD) 3000 Regina 29.3% Saskatoon 28.7%

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Points of Note

• Includes interior spaces if ΔT greater than 10 ⁰C
• Trade‐off path
• hand calculations, like for like
• Air leakage matters

Watch out for: spandrel panels, overhead doors, thermal bridging, trade‐off limitations Changes in NECB 2017

• 3.1.1.5. calculations by ASHRAE Fundamentals, or ISO 14683;
• r 2D or 3D modelling; or lab tests to ASTM C 1363
• 3.1.1.7. thermal bridging shall be considered for closely

spaced structure, elements penetrating envelope, junctions

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Thermal Characteristics of Building Assemblies

• Typically obtained through testing in accordance with

relevant material standards.

• Testing in accordance with ASTM C 177, or ASTM C 518.
• Heat Flow though opaque assemblies occurs through a

combination of:

• conduction
• convection
• radiation

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Thermal Characteristics of Building Assembliess

• Overall Thermal Transmittance (U‐value) – measure of the

rate of transfer through a building assembly that is subject to a temperature difference. Expressed in units of W/(m2/oK)

• Effective Thermal Resistance (RSI) is the reciprocal of the

Overall Thermal Transmittance, expressed in units of (m2/oK)/W RSI = 1/U Rimp = RSI x 5.678

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Building Envelope Thermal Characteristics

• Requirements for opaque elements, fenestration, and doors

are related to the applicable Heating Degree‐Day (HDD) category for the building (Climate Zone)

• HDD = annual Σ (Δ between the mean temperature for each

day and 18oC)

• Six Climate Zones in Canada:

Zone 4 < 3000 HDD Zone 5 3000 – 3999 HDD Zone 6 4000 – 4999 HDD Zone 7A 5000 – 5999 HDD Zone 7B 6000 – 6999 HDD Zone 8 > 7000 HDD

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Saskatchewan Climate Zones Zone 6 4000 – 4999 HDD Zone 7A 5000 – 5999 HDD Zone 7B 6000 – 6999 HDD Zone 8 > 7000 HDD

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path

• General Requirements
• Protection of Insulation Materials
• Continuity of Insulation
• Spaces Heated to Different Temperatures
• Allowable Fenestration and Door Area (FDWR)
• Above Ground Components of the Building Envelope
• Vestibules
• Thermal Characteristics of Above‐Ground Opaque

Building Assemblies

• Thermal Characteristics of Fenestration
• Thermal Characteristics of Doors and Access Hatches

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path

• Building Assemblies in Contact with the Ground – Thermal

Characteristics of

• Walls in Contact with the Ground
• Roofs in Contact with the Ground
• Floors in Contact with the Ground
• Air Leakage
• General
• Opaque Building Assemblies
• Fenestration
• Doors
• Fireplace Doors

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path ‐ General Requirements

• Protection of insulation materials against degradation of their

thermal properties due to:

• air leakage or convection
• wetting, or
• moisture bypassing the plane of thermal resistance.
• Continuity of Insulation
• at penetrations
• keep continuous or overlap

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path ‐ General Requirements

• Spaces Heated to Different Temperatures
• Formula given to calculate, based on the temperature

difference and table values for above grade assemblies, fenestration, and doors

• Allowable Fenestration‐and‐door‐to‐wall ratio (FDWR) –

varies from 20% to 40%, based on HDD of location

• FDWR = 0.40 for HDD < 4000
• FDWR ≤ (2000‐0.2HDD)/3000 for 4000 ≤ HDD ≤ 7000
• FDWR = 0.20 for HDD > 7000
• Skylights – maximum 5% (NECB 2015) of gross roof area

maximum 2% (NECB 2017) of gross roof area

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path ‐ Above Ground Component Requirements

• Vestibules – required at all “main” entries (some exceptions)
• Maximum overall thermal transmittance expressed in tables,

by climate zone, for

• walls
• roofs
• floors (examples – cantilevered floor or at‐grade parkade

under condo)

• fenestration
• doors & access hatches

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path – Doors and Access Hatches

• Relaxation: Doors need not comply if U ≤ 4.4 W/(m2•K) if

assembly area ≤ 2% of gross wall area ‐ Allows for “feature” doors

• Exemption for storm, automatic sliding glass, revolving doors,

fire shutters

• Access hatches shall be insulated to U ≤ 1.3 W/(m2•K)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path ‐ Building Assemblies in Contact with the Ground

• Maximum overall thermal transmittance expressed in tables,

by climate zone, for

• below‐grade walls
• below‐grade roofs (tunnels, projecting basement roofs)
• floors

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path – Assemblies in Contact with Ground

• Walls
• Insulate to lesser of 2.4 m below ground or bottom of wall
• Foongs < 0.6 m below ground → insulate slab 1.2 m

around perimeter

• Embedded radiant heang/cooling → reduce U‐value by

20%

• Roofs < 1.2 m below ground → insulate
• Floors < 0.6 m below grade → insulate
• 1.2 m around perimeter, except climate zone 8
• Full area of floor slab in zone 8.
• Full area of floor slab if ducts or radiant heating/cooling

cables or pipes are embedded

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Requirements – Summary

• Climate Zone 7A and 7B

Roofs U=0.162 (0.138 2017) R‐35 (R‐41 2017) Walls U=0.210 R‐27 Below‐Grade Walls U=0.284 R‐20 Floors (No Radiant Heat) U=0.757 for 1.2m R‐7.5, 4’0” perimeter Floors (Radiant Heat) U=0.757 R‐7.5 Full Area

• Climate Zone 8

Roofs U=0.142 (0.121 2017) R‐40 (R‐47 2017) Walls U=0.183 R‐31 Below‐Grade Walls U=0.210 R‐27 Floors (All) U=0.379 full area R‐15

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Fenestration Requirements – Summary

City HDD Zone Glass U MAX FDWR (limit) Estevan 5340 7A 1.9 31.1 Maple Creek 4780 6 1.9 34.8 Prince Albert 6100 7B 1.9 26.0 Regina 5600 7A 1.9 29.3 Saskatoon 5700 7A 1.9 28.7 Uranium City 7500 8 1.4 16.7 20.0 (3.2.1.4.) Yorkton 6000 7B 1.9 26.7

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Validation of Building Envelope Thermal Characteristics

• Opaque Assemblies – Effective “U” values – not nominal
• All thermal bridges to be accounted for
• Calculation Procedures per ASHRAE Fundamentals
• Isothermal Planes Method
• Isothermal Planes and

Parallel Path Method

• Software analysis – 2D or 3D
• Lab Testing in accordance with ASTM 1363

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Validation of Building Envelope Thermal Characteristics

• Calculation of U‐Values
• Isothermal Planes Calculation – used for assemblies with

continuous components and no thermal bridging.

• Isothermal Planes and Parallel Path Calculation – applies to

wood frame assemblies where flow through thermal bridge is parallel to heat flow through insulation.

• Metal Frame Assembly Calculation – method where an

effective value for metal framing is used and added to isothermal planes method for continuous layers. (ASHRAE 90.1 Table A3.3)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Validation of Building Envelope Thermal Characteristics

• Assembly Fenestration

“U”‐values – NOT centre of glass

• CSA A440.2/A440.3, or

NFRC 100

• Lab Testing in accordance

with ASTM 1363

• Calculation Procedures per

ASHRAE Fundamentals

Source: Ontario Architects Association

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path – Air Leakage

• “The Building envelope shall be designed and constructed

with a continuous air barrier system comprised of air barrier assemblies to control air leakage into and out of the conditioned space”.

• Opaque assemblies – air barrier assembly required
• Conforming to CAN/ULC‐S742
• Air leakage rate ≤ 0.2 L/(s.m2)

at pressure differential of 75 Pa.

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path – Air Leakage

• Fenestration ‐ tested to referenced standards
• Metal and Glass Curtain Walls, specimen prepared in

accordance with AAMA 501.5, and tested to ASTM E283.

• Fixed windows, operable windows, and skylights tested to

AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/IS.2/A440 (“NAFS”)

• Higher air leakage rate allowed for operable windows and
• perable skylights

Source: Codes Canada

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Prescriptive Path – Air Leakage

• Doors ‐ tested to ASTM E283
• Higher air leakage rate allowed for Revolving doors
• Automatic commercial sliding doors
• Overhead doors
• Main entry exterior doors
• Loading docks that interface with truck boxes must have

seals

• Fireplaces must have doors (dampers) or enclosures

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Trade‐off Path

• Very easy to apply
• Allows flexibility while maintaining minimum performance

level set by prescriptive requirements

• Based on trading U‐values, FDWR
• Not permitted for additions
• Not permitted for semi‐heated buildings
• Above‐ground only
• Trade only vertical to vertical, horizontal to horizontal
• Limits to amount of trade‐off for assemblies with radiant

heating

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Trade‐off Path Sum of all selected above ground assemblies x U

≤

Sum of all prescriptive above ground assemblies x U

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Simple Trade‐off Path Example Prescriptive Simple Trade‐Off FDWR increased through using better glazing and better walls

Source: Codes Canada

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 3: Building Envelope

Performance Path

• If design does not, or cannot comply with Part 3 Prescriptive,

sends you to Part 8.

• Subject to Limitations:
• Provisions for the protection of insulation materials must

be met (cannot be changed)

• Building envelope air leakage is neutral (cannot be traded)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Scope

• Applies to lighting components and systems connected to

building's electrical service

• Exemptions:
• emergency lighting automatically off during normal

building operation

• lighting in dwelling units
• where impractical due to nature of occupancy

Methods of Compliance

• Prescriptive path
• Trade‐off path (interior lighting only)
• Performance path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Points of Note

• Accounts for installed lights, ballasts, transformers, and

controls

• Calculations may be done by either Building Area or Space‐

by‐Space methodologies

• Automatic light controls required in most spaces, some

daylighting controls

• Exterior lights are included

Watch out for: calculations, energy trade‐offs, lumens vs. Watts, new table values in NECB 2017

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Exterior Lighting – Options

• For exterior lighting systems that are connected to the

building’s electrical service Methods of Compliance:

• Prescriptive path, or
• Performance
• No trade‐off path option for exterior lighting

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Power Parts of Exterior Lighting Power Allowance:

• 1. Base site allowance
• 2. Specific building power allowance
• 3. General building power allowance

Step 1: Base site allowance

• Determine “Lighting zone” (see Table 4.2.3.1.A.)
• Lighting zone classification will determine base power

allowance

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Power Step 2: Specific building power allowance (See Table 4.2.3.1.C.) Lighting power for each specific exterior application ≤ Specific exterior application allowance

• The base site allowance can be drawn down to compensate

for applications that are greater than the specific allowance.

• ‘Unused’ or ‘under budget’ allowances CANNOT be

transferred to other specific areas.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Power Step 3: General building power allowance (See Table 4.2.3.1.D.) Lighting power for each general exterior application ≤ General exterior application allowance

• The base site allowance can be drawn down to compensate

for applications that are greater than the general allowance.

• ‘Unused’ or ‘under budget’ allowances can be transferred to
• ther general areas CANNOT be transferred to specific areas.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Power Exemptions:

• specialized signal, directional, and marker lighting associated

with transportation

• lighting for production, material handling, transportation

sites, and associated storage areas for industrial sites

• advertising signage or directional signage
• temporary lighting
• lighting integral to equipment or instrumentation and

installed by its manufacturer

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Power Exemptions:

• theme elements in theme/amusement parks
• lighting for theatrical purposes, including performance, stage,

film production, and video production

• lighting used to highlight features of recognized art objects,

public monuments and designated national or provincial historic sites

• lighting for athletic playing areas

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Exterior Lighting Controls

• Requirements
• Astronomical time controls
• Photosensors
• Photosensors and timer shutoff switch
• An equivalent control system equivalent in operation to above
• Controllers must retain programming and time setting for a 10

hour power outage

• Exemptions
• Covered vehicle exterior entrances;
• Exterior exits from buildings;
• Parking structures “Where needed for safety, security or eye

adaptation”

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power

• Installed interior lighting power cannot exceed interior

lighting power allowance as determined by either:

• I. Building area method; or
• II. Space‐by‐space method
• Cannot be mixed

Methods of Compliance

• Prescriptive path
• Trade‐off path
• Performance path

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power Includes:

• all power used by luminaires, both permanent and

supplemental or task‐related provided by movable or plug‐in luminaires

• ‘Maximum’ rated power consumption
• Doesn’t include Essential Element lamp usage
• higher wattage allowed when more than one system provides

lighting but not simultaneously

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power Exemptions

• lighting for TV broadcasting in sporting activities
• lighting for retail or educational demonstration
• lighting integral to equipment
• casinos
• lighting used during medical or dental procedures
• lighting in retail displays in fully enclosed spaces
• lighting integral to refrigerator and freezer cases
• special lighting for visually impaired and other conditions
• lighting integral to food warming and food preparation
• lighting integral to advertising or directional signs

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power Exemptions

• lighting for plant growth
• exit signs
• lighting in historic landmarks
• lighting for theatrical purposes
• mirror lighting in dressing rooms
• accent lighting in religious areas
• display or accent lighting essential for galleries, museums,

monuments

• where it can be shown that the inclusion will adversely affect

the intended function or use

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power

• I. Building area method: Select building type or equivalent from

table based on primary use

• Multiply lighting power density by gross lighted area to
• btain interior lighting power allowance
• If 10% or more of gross lighted area can be classified as

another type or if no equivalent building, must use space‐ by‐space method Table values updated in NECB 2017.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Installed Interior Lighting Power

• II. Interior Lighting Power Allowance – Space‐by‐space Method:
• For each enclosed space:
• Find lighting power density from table based on

intended use of space

• Multiply lighting power density by gross interior floor

area

• Sum results for all spaces
• Ensure total interior lighting power is less than (<) total

allowance Table values updated in NECB 2017.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path – Interior Lighting Controls Automatic shut‐off

• Time‐of‐day operation
• Occupant sensor
• Control system

Exemptions

• 24‐hour operation
• Patient care is rendered
• Safety or security issues

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path – Interior Lighting Controls

• At least one control for general lighting in enclosed spaces
• Space types listed below must use automatic controls based
• n space occupancy:
• Offices up to 25 m2
• Classrooms and lecture halls, excl. shop and laboratory

classrooms

• Conference, meeting and training rooms
• Employee lunch and break rooms
• Storage and supply rooms up to 100 m2
• Copying and printing rooms
• Dressing, locker and fitting rooms
• Washrooms

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path – Interior Lighting Controls Toplighting

• Daylight area
• photocontrol to reduce

general lighting in response to available daylight

• Exemptions
• light blocked
• insufficient skylight aperture
• small enclosed space above 55⁰N latitude
• Provisions on how to calculate daylighted area

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path – Interior Lighting Controls Sidelighting

• Sidelighted area
• photocontrol to reduce

general lighting in response to available daylight

• Exemptions
• light blocked by adjacent building
• insufficient sidelight aperture
• retail spaces
• Provisions on how to calculate sidelighted area

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Prescriptive Path ‐ Controls Commercial Temporary Lodging (NECB 2017)

• All lighting and all switched receptacles in guest rooms and

suites shall be controlled to turn off power supply 20 minutes after people leave.

• Exception night lighting ≤ 2 W
• Captive key systems, where used, located at entrance to guest

room or suite

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Trade‐off Path

• Applies to interior lighting only
• More detailed calculations required
• Used when prescriptive path (building area and/or space‐by‐

space method) power limits are exceeded

• Building owner requires higher light levels, yet doesn’t qualify

for exemptions

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Trade‐off Path

• Compliance is based primarily on energy (kWh) as opposed to

demand (W)

• Compliance achieved when:

Installed Interior Lighting Energy (IILE)

≤

Interior Lighting Energy Allowance (ILEA)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Trade‐off Path Installed Interior Lighting Energy (IILE)

• Sum of the annual energy consumption of the proposed

interior lighting designs

• Includes:
• Daylighting Controls
• Personal controls
• Time of operation
• Dimming
• Occupancy Sensor

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 4: Lighting

Performance Path

• NECB Part 4 Lighting ‐ no limitations
• Whole building energy modeling
• Criteria found in Part 8 “Building Energy Performance

Compliance Path”

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Scope

• Piping and ducts forming part of the system
• HVAC control systems
• Air‐conditioning equipment
• Ventilating equipment
• Heating equipment
• Except systems used exclusively for smoke control in fire event

Methods of Compliance

• Prescriptive path
• Trade‐off path
• Performance path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Points of Note

• Covers sizing, installation, and equipment
• Duct leakage covered
• Pumping, piping, and controls
• Lots of minimum equipment efficiency standards to be found

Watch out for: trade‐off calculations a little bit tricky, lots of tabled data to sort through, some table values updated for NECB 2017

2/1/2019 44

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Air Distribution

• Ability to balance
• Duct Sealing
• Constructed, installed, and sealed to SMACNA Standards

Sealed for the static pressure classes ≤ 2” (C), > 2” and < 4” (B), and ≥ 4” (A)

• Exemptions

Duct and Plenum

• Insulation Requirements based on temperature difference
• < 5 oC
• 5 to 22 oC
• > 22 oC

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Cooling with Outdoor Air

• Ability to cool with outdoor air when
• Mechanical A.C. capacity > 20 kW (5.5 tons) or
• Air handler > 1500 L/s
• Exception for dwelling units and hotel/motel rooms
• Direct use of outdoor air reducing mechanical cooling energy

must be capable of mixing up to 100% outside air (economizer)

• have equipment that can operate at less than full with

lowest stage not more than

• > 20 tons = 25% capacity
• > 6 and ≤ 20 tons = 50% capacity
• Water Economizer = provide 100% cooling

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Fan Systems

• Constant Volume (supply plus return)
• 1.6 W per L/s (0.75 W per cfm)
• Variable Air Volume (supply plus return)
• 2.65 W per L/s (1.25 W per cfm) and,
• ≤ 55% design W at 50% design air flow when > 7.5 kW and

< 25 kW

• Commercial kitchen ventilation systems demand controls new

in NECB 2017.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Piping

• Ability to balance all hydronic systems
• Minimum piping insulation
• By temperature range (design) Table 5.2.5.3.
• Thermal conductivity requirements of insulation
• Minimum insulation thickness by pipe diameter and fluid

temperature

• Protection of insulation (subject to damage)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Pumping System

• Variable Flow Pumping
• HVAC Pumping – control valves
• Variable fluid flow pumps > 7.5 kW (System Total)
• Reduce system flow ≤ 50%
• Nameplate power rather than break power
• Does not apply
• Minimum flow > 50% (chiller or boilers)
• Systems with single control valve
• Reset fluid supply temperature based on outdoor air temp
• r system loads

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Temperature Controls

• Installations of thermostats
• 1.4 – 1.5 m above floor, accurate to 1˚C
• Exposure to sunlight or heat source
• Away from drafts and dead air
• Heat Pump Controls
• Prevention of supplementary heat if load can be met by

heat pump alone

• Space temperature controls in commercial temporary

lodgings adjust to set back temperatures within 15 minutes

• f people leaving room or suite (NECB 2017)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Space Temperature Controls

• Zone specific – heating and cooling
• Independent (de‐coupled) perimeter heating or cooling

systems allowed if:

• One thermostat for each exposure
• Heating and cooling controlled by control device in zone
• Vestibules require a device limiting temperature to

maximum 15˚C

• Dwelling units
• At least one thermostat

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Re‐heating and Re‐cooling Controls

• Supply Air Handler Leaving Air Temperature
• Controls required to achieve design supply air

temperature without:

• Heating previously cooled air
• Cooling previously heated air
• Heating outside air in excess of the minimum for

ventilation

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Re‐heating and Re‐cooling Controls

• Control of Space Temperature by Reheating or Re‐cooling
• HVAC systems that control temperature of a space
• by reheating previously cooled air shall
• be equipped with controls that automatically adjust the

temperature of the cool air supply

• to the highest temperature that will satisfy
• the zone requiring the coolest air.
• Similar statement for previously heated air.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Heat Energy (NECB 2017) Recovery System

• Exhaust Air System Sensible Heat >150 kW (NECB 2015)
• Shall be equipped with recovery apparatus ≥ 50%

efficiency

• Heat recovered shall be used in building system
• Exemptions: toxic, flammable, dust or corrosive fumes
• Where exhaust air system meets or exceeds applicable values

from Table it shall be equipped with energy recovery system. (NECB 2017)

• Table for non‐continuously operating system
• Table for continuously operating system
• Heat recovered used in building systems
• recovery apparatus ≥ 50% efficiency

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path – Energy Recovery System (NECB 2017)

• Energy recovery effectiveness, E, of at least 50%
• Determined as change in enthalpy of outdoor air supply

equal to 50% of the difference in the outdoor air and return air enthalpies at design conditions.

• Effectiveness of energy recovery apparatus determined in

conformance with AHRI 1061 (SI), CAN/CSA‐C439, or ANSI/ASHRAE 84

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Energy Recovery System

• Swimming pools
• 40% recovery of sensible heat from exhaust air
• Exemption if dehumidification system provides 80% of

dehumidification that would be accomplished by exhaust system

• Ice arenas
• Required if heating load elsewhere
• Allows use for either space or service water heating

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Energy Recovery System

• Dwellings with self‐contained mechanical ventilation

(except in climatic zones 4, 5 and 6)

• Principal exhaust only
• 2.5% January design temperatures which are less than

and greater than

• <‐10 oC and >‐30 oC require 55% sensible HR efficiency
• ≤ ‐ 30 oC require 45% sensible HR efficiency

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Shut‐off and Set‐back Controls

• Off‐hours Controls
• Dwelling units
• Systems > 5 kW heating or cooling
• Required to set back or up, or shut down
• Reduce or shut off outside air when space not in use
• Heat Pump – adaptive anticipation to prevent

supplementary heat during recovery

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Airflow Control Areas

• Size > 2500 m2 shall be divided into Air Flow Control Areas

(AFCA)

• Or systems shall serve < 2500 m2
• Shall have separate shut‐off and set back control
• Each AFCA limited to one storey
• Devices such as DDC controls and variable‐air‐volume systems

required to allow stable operation of all fan systems.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Boiler Controls

• Multiple Boilers
• >176 kW (600,000 Btuh)
• More than one boiler or,
• 2 stage or multi‐stage firing
• > 352 kW (1,200,000 Btuh) shall be fully modulating

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Loop Temperature Reset

• Chilled or Hot Water Systems > 88 kW (300,000 Btuh)
• Indoor/outdoor controller, or,
• Represent building load using return water temperature
• Exemptions
• where such controls would cause improper operation of

systems

• where designed with variable‐flow pumping

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Equipment Minimum Performance Efficiency Efficiency with referenced standards provided for:

• Boilers
• Warm‐air furnaces
• Duct furnaces
• Unit heaters
• Packaged water chillers
• Packaged terminal A/C
• Computer room A/C
• Air‐cooled A/C and heat pumps
• Water‐ and evaporatively cooled A/C and heat pumps
• Condensing units
• Ground water heat pumps

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Prescriptive Path ‐ Equipment Minimum Performance Efficiency

• Table 5.2.12.1 HVAC Equipment Performance Requirements
• Component groups and capacities
• Referenced Standards and Rating Conditions
• Minimum performance in EER, COP, IPLV, AFUE, Ec and Et
• Some equipment requirements set to median of current

practice

• Cannot be less than required by Energy Efficiency Regulations

(federal), or provincial/territorial requirements, if more stringent

• Back‐up equipment must comply with prescriptive path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Trade‐off Path

• Considered energy use throughout the system
• System efficiency approach considers HVAC system as a

whole

• Allows improvement in other system parts to compensate for
• ne component not meeting a prescriptive requirement
• Intended to permit flexibility for typical design

Total proposed ≥ Total reference system efficiency system efficiency

2/1/2019 54

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Trade‐off Path ‐ Components and Systems Considered

• Comparison: system to same system
• 27 common system types considered
• 32 components considered
• Energy sources used must be natural gas, propane, oil or

electricity

• Back‐up equipment must meet prescriptive requirements
• One of the 27 “traditional” systems

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Trade‐off Path ‐ Method Calculation coefficients: performance of typical system

BaVi – base prescriptive component efficiency ToVi – component efficiency to be traded

2/1/2019 55

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 5: Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning

Performance Path Limitations

• All appliances and equipment shall comply with applicable

minimum energy efficiency standard

• Cannot be used for back‐up HVAC systems which shall

comply with the prescriptive path.

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Scope

• Addresses service water heating (SWH)
• Heating equipment
• Piping insulation
• Controls
• Hot water discharge flow
• Associated pumping systems

“Service water means water for plumbing services, excluding systems exclusively for space heating or cooling or for processes”

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Points of Note

• Covers efficiency, installation, and controls
• Swimming pools included in this section
• Trade‐off calculations look more onerous than they really are
• Combination heating / service water also covered

Watch out for: probably the simplest chapter, largely an equipment and sizing check Compliance Paths

• Prescriptive path
• Trade‐off path
• Performance path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path ‐ Equipment Minimum Performance Efficiency

• Table 6.2.2.1 SWH Equipment Performance Standards
• Performance required shall not be lower than NECB, Energy

Efficiency Requirements (federal), or Provincial Requirements (most stringent shall apply)

• Standby losses (SL), Thermal Efficiency (Et), Energy Factor (EF)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path ‐ Equipment Insulation Equipment Insulation

• Storage Tank Insulation – maximum U‐value
• O.45 W/(m2∙K) or (0.08 Btu/h∙ft2∙F)

Combination SWH and Space Heating

• Permitted where input to combo unit is:
• < 22 kW (75,000 Btuh) or,
• < twice SWH load

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path ‐ Piping Insulation

• Required for
• Hot water circulation systems
• Hot water non‐circulation systems
• Without heat traps
• With heating elements or heat tracing
• Minimum thickness table for conditioned and non‐

conditioned spaces

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path ‐ Controls Systems with storage tanks

• Automatic temperature control
• Controls for heat maintaining system required
• Seasonal shutdown controls required

More than One End‐use Temperature

• Booster Heaters required when
• More than one end use temperature on system
• Design discharge temperature is > 60 ˚C, and,
• < 50% of the total design flow

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path ‐ Showers and Lavatories

• Individual Showers
• Maximum hot water discharge 7.6 L/min
• (1.67 Imp gal/min)
• Lavatory Faucets
• Private maximum hot water discharge 5.7 L/min (1.25

Imp gal/min)

• Public maximum hot water discharge 1.9 L/min (1.25 Imp

gal/min)

• Automatic shut‐off valves for assembly occupancies

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Prescriptive Path – Swimming Pools

• Device for heater shut‐off without adjusting thermostat, and
• Heater to restart without manually relighting the pilot light

(where applicable)

• Pumps and heaters to have controls to automatically turn‐off

when operation not required.

• Outdoor pools and hot tubs to have covers (90%)
• Pools above 32 oC covers to have nominal thermal

transmittance of ≤ 0.48 W/m2*oC

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Trade‐off Path

• System efficiency approach considers SWH system as a whole
• Allows improvement in other system parts to compensate for
• ne component not meeting a prescriptive requirement

Total proposed ≥ Total reference system efficiency system efficiency

• Only where occupancy is known, and
• information is known for the SWH components, and
• system is one of the types listed,

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Trade‐off Path ‐ Components Considered

• Factors considered
• Heat generator equipment efficiency
• Tank insulation value
• Piping insulation value
• Pump motor efficiency
• Pump efficiency
• Heat recovery
• Average flow of faucets and showers
• Ratio of showers to faucets

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Trade‐off Path ‐ Systems Considered

• Comparison: system to same system
• Three system types:
• Tank
• Instantaneous
• Originating from space heating boiler

Method

• Parameters enter into equation for system
• System complies if SWH‐TOI > 0

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Trade‐off Path Limitations

• One of the 3 “traditional” systems
• Energy sources used must be natural gas, propane, oil or

electricity

• Heat pump type is electricity
• Back‐up equipment must meet prescriptive requirements

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 6: Service Water Heating

Performance Path

• Equipment performance efficiency cannot be reduced below

those of existing energy efficiency regulations

• Back‐up equipment must comply with prescriptive path

Limitations

• All appliances and equipment shall comply with applicable

minimum energy efficiency standard

• Cannot be used for back‐up SWH systems which shall comply

with the prescriptive path.

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Scope

• Electrical power systems and motors connected to the

building’s electrical service

Source: Codes Canada

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Points of Note

• Monitoring of building systems for buildings distributing over

250 kVA

• Individual suite/tenant electrical metering required

Watch out for: only prescriptive chapter without a trade‐off path Compliance Paths

• Prescriptive path
• Performance path
• No trade‐off path in Part 7

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Prescriptive Path ‐ Requirements

• Electrical distribution system
• Voltage drop ‐ feeder conductors and branch circuits
• Transformers
• Electrical motors

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Prescriptive Path ‐ System Monitoring

• For systems greater than 250kVA, must have means to

monitor energy consumption of

• HVAC systems
• Interior lighting
• Exterior lighting
• Buildings with tenants or dwelling units, must have means to

monitor

• Total building
• Each individual tenant or dwelling unit

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Prescriptive Path – Voltage Drop

• Feeder conductors
• Maximum drop of 2% at design load
• Branch circuit conductors
• Maximum drop of 3% at design load

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Prescriptive Path – Equipment Efficiency

• Transformers
• Meet energy efficiency requirements of referenced

standards (CSA C802.1, CSA C802.2, or CAN/CSA‐C802.3)

• Motors
• Meet energy efficiency requirements of referenced

standards (CSA C390)

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 7: Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Performance Compliance Path ‐ Limitations

• Performance path ‐ a whole building modelling approach
• Can choose performance path, or
• May need to use because building does not meet the

prescriptive requirements

• No criteria or limitations on using the performance path

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Scope Part 8 provides an alternative to using the Prescriptive and Trade‐off Paths requirements of NECB Parts 3 to 7.

• Whole building approach
• Compliance is based on the annual energy consumption

Proposed

≤

Reference “Annual Energy Consumption” “Building Energy Target”

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Points of Note

• MUST use ASHRAE 140 compliant software (or equivalent)
• Proposed building must use the same or less energy than a

building of the same shape, size, use, operation, and consumption profiles as a building built to prescriptive standard Watch out for: Can use trade‐offs on reference building; modeling assumptions are paramount

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Compliance Performance Path ‐ Limitations

• Sufficient information must be known on
• Building occupancy type(s)
• Location
• Components, materials, and assemblies
• Where not known the prescriptive path shall apply

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Compliance Performance Path ‐ Limitations

• Building envelope
• Thermally active element above‐grade requires insulation
• Slab‐on‐grade permitted flexibility
• Designed to avoid air leakage, wetting or moisture by‐

pass

• HVAC and service water heating
• All appliances and equipment performance efficiencies

cannot be less than required by the applicable energy efficiency regulations

• Lighting and Electrical systems
• None

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Method

Source: Codes Canada

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Method

• Required detail
• Hourly time step during one year (8760)
• Climatic data files based on at least 10 years of real data
• Energy calculations must account for
• Effects of thermal mass
• Dynamic calculations of space temperatures
• Cross effects of the building systems and internal

loads

• Envelope assembly covering < 5% total assembly area

need not be modeled separately

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Method

• Framework for compliance calculation provided in Part 8
• No software specified
• Flexible to allow the use of various tools
• ANSI/ASHRAE 140 “Evaluation of Building Analysis

Computer Programs” or equivalent test method

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Method

• Canadian adaption of eQUEST
• Includes Canadian weather
• Supports metric and imperial measurements
• English and French interface
• Automatically generates NECB 2011 reference model
• Warning! NECB 2017 reference model not generated
• Available for free from NRCan
• Email info.services@nrcan.gc.ca to request a copy

Source: Codes Canada

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – General

• General building criteria held constant…
• Floor area and shape
• Thermal blocks
• Building types or space functions
• Building orientation
• Location of fenestration elements
• Occupancy density
• Service water heating loads
• Internal loads and schedules
• Supply, return and exhaust fan schedules

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – General

• Renewable and process energy
• Flexibility by silence on process load and energy from

renewable sources

• Guidance provided in Appendix for inclusion
• Industrial processes
• Medical imaging equipment
• Computer servers
• Cooking appliances in commercial kitchen or

restaurant

• No credit for efficiency of purchased energy

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – Building Envelope

• Thermal characteristics
• reference set to prescriptive
• Opaque building assemblies (walls, roofs and floors)
• Fenestration
• Requirement for vestibules
• Continuity of insulation
• Proposed building as per specification
• Credit or energy penalty depending on where design falls

with respect to prescriptive requirements

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – Building Envelope

• Impact of fenestration and door area allowances (FDWR)

Credits Reference Energy Penalty

Source: Codes Canada

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – Building Envelope

• Credits
• Thermal mass (reference set to lightweight construction
• Roof solar absorptance improvements (reference set to

factor of 0.7)

• External permanent shading devices
• No credits
• Whole building air leakage rate of 0.25 (L/s‐m2) same in

both models

• Exterior shading by tree or other structure

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – Lighting

• Credits
• Interior, site and exterior lighting power density
• Reference as per prescriptive requirement
• Proposed as specified
• Occupancy sensors
• 10% credit
• Daylighting
• Use trade‐off if none in software used
• No Credits
• Lighting power density allowances in dwelling units not

mandated in Part 4

• 5 W/m2 used in reference and proposed buildings

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – HVAC

• HVAC system selection for reference case
• Based on space function or building type
• System selection table

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – HVAC

• HVAC system types
• Seven system types to represent reference, based on

current practice

• ‘Fuel neutral’ means same as proposed building
• System selection table

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – HVAC

• Heat recovery credit
• Central exhaust > 150 kW, above 50% efficiency
• Ventilation
• Reference constant volume, except office type > 2 storeys
• Cooling with outside air above Part 5 requirements
• Radiant systems ‐ credit provided
• In‐floor, in‐ceiling or in‐wall radiant systems modeled with

2 ˚C difference in temperature set‐point (e.g. heating to 21 °C versus 19 °C )

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – HVAC

• Other credits optional
• Heating system
• Constant speed pumping
• Hot water supply temperature reset
• Cooling system
• For Hydronic, number of chillers based on plant size
• For direct expansion, number of stages based on size
• For cooling tower, number of cells based on size
• Temperature drops
• Fan part load performance characteristics

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation Rules – HVAC

• Other credits optional
• Equipment oversizing addressed
• Reference heating equipment not oversized by > 30%
• Reference cooling equipment not oversized by > 10%
• Part load performance characteristics
• Reference defaults provided
• Proposed values as specified can be used

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

Calculation rules – HVAC and SWH

• No credit
• Outdoor air rate same
• Except for displacement ventilation
• Demand control ventilation for heated parking

garages

• Space temperature throttling of 1 oC
• Equipment operation
• Supply and storage tank temperature
• Number of water heaters
• Priority order for use of equipment with multiple energy

type systems provided

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Part 8: Building Energy Performance Compliance

• Reference building linked to prescriptive requirements
• More consistent reference
• FDWR based on HDD
• HVAC selection based on building type
• Most flexibility and detail of all compliance paths in

acceptable solutions

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National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB 2017 – Significant Changes

• Reduce overall thermal transmittance of roofs, fenestration

and doors

• Reduce losses through thermal bridging in building

assemblies

• Reduce the allowable percentage of skylight area
• Introduce more stringent interior and exterior lighting

requirements

• Introduce more stringent requirements for energy recovery

systems

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB 2017 – Significant Changes

• Require temperature controls in individual guest rooms in

hotels and motels

• Require demand control ventilation systems in commercial

kitchens

• Clarify the lighting trade‐off path requirements in Part 4
• Make performance compliance requirements in Part 8

consistent with prescriptive requirements

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National Energy Code for Buildings

Other Implementation Notes

Implementation of Energy Codes

• Guide published by Building Standards and Licensing
• Stakeholders Committee involved in the development
• City of Regina Building Department
• City of Saskatoon Building Standards Division
• Regina and Region Homebuilders Association
• Saskatoon and Region Homebuilders Association
• Saskatchewan Building Officials Association
• Saskatchewan Association of Architects
• Association of Consulting Engineering Companies ‐

Saskatchewan

• American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Engineers

• Saskatchewan Chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council
• Numerous private sector participants

National Energy Code for Buildings

NECB Summary

An energy code is

• Is doing what we do more efficiently
• Requires design choices
• Needs an enforcement plan
• Has construction – & inspection – consequences
• Helps level the playing field
• Is an opportunity . . . .

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Summary

• Introduction
• History of Energy Code Development in Canada
• NECB 2017
• Approach
• Application
• The Basics
• Compliance Paths
• Performance Level
• Supporting Documentation and Tools
• Building Envelope
• Lighting
• Heating, Ventilating and Air‐conditioning Systems
• Service Water Systems
• Electrical Power Systems and Motors

Questions and Answers

National Energy Code for Buildings

Thank you

Building Standards and Licensing Branch

Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations 100 – 1855 Victoria Avenue REGINA SK S4P 3T2 Phone: 306‐787‐4113 Fax: 306‐798‐4172 building.standards@gov.sk.ca www.saskatchewan.ca/buildingstandards