Victoria | Duncan | Nanaimo | Courtenay

BC Energy Step Code

British Columbia introduced the BC Energy Step Code in 2017 to transition all new Part-9 residential buildings to Net Zero Energy by 2032. Unlike previous prescriptive Codes, the new BC Step Code is performance based requiring measurement of air-tightness by a Airtight Energy Advisor.

As of May 1, 2023 all BC Municipalities and Regional Districts are required to meet Energy Step Code 3, or higher by agreement. At the same time BC introduced a 4-tier Emissions Level measure called the Zero Carbon Step Code. As of July 1, 2024 Victoria, Saanich, CRD, CVRD, RDN, Duncan, Ladysmith, and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island have opted for Zero Carbon Step Code EL-4 that can be achieved using a Heat Pump plus electrical hot water.

New Home Construction Building Permits

1. Start by emailing your home plans to Airtight Energy in preparation for a Building Permit.
2. Have us test the mid-construction home after the envelope is insulated and sealed, but before the Gyproc boarding, to reveal any air leakage holes.
3. Book us to complete the Step Code testing and finalize the As-built reports to certify the efficiency and receive the Occupancy Permit.

F280 Heat Loss | Heat Pump Sizing as a Service

In British Columbia, a F-280-12 Heat Loss and Gain report is necessary when constructing a new home or retrofitting a heat pump in an existing residence to be eligible for BC rebates. Airtight can create the heat pump sizing report for you for a small fee.

For New Home Construction:

All municipalities in BC require a CSA F280-12 calculation report plus a Step Code checklist to support a Building Permit application, in accordance with Part 9.33.5 of the 2024 BC Building Code. A new 9.33.3 regulation on Overheating Protection stipulates that every new dwelling must provide room cooling. The CSA F280-12 calculation helps avoid the frequent mistake of oversizing the system. Extensive research shows that more than 50% of new installations are oversized, leading to increased installation and maintenance costs, as well as higher operational expenses annually.

For Existing Home Energy Rebates:

To qualify for Heat Pump rebates offered by BC Hydro and Fortis after May 1, a F280-12 Heat Loss calculation is required to prove that the heating system is appropriately sized to meet the home’s peak heating and cooling requirements and ensure optimal comfort. Airtight Energy can produce the F280 Calculation for the Heat Pump Contractor, or directly for the Homeowner by email request.