1. Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency
WELCOME
2014 ALBERTA BUILDING CODE
Section 9.36 Energy Efficiency

2. Optimize: to make useful or effective
HOUSEKEEPING
Fire safety
Restrooms
Break/Lunch
Questions
Optimize: to make useful or effective

3. awareness responsibility standards
AGENDA
WHY IMPORTANT
SECTION 9.36
CALCULATIONS
INSULATION
AIR BARRIER
GOING FOWARD
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4. awareness responsibility standards
AGENDA
Not against 9.36 or “energy efficiency”
Balance with other parts of Part 9 and ABC
Building code is a minimum, shouldn’t strive to meet the minimum
Practical, accept various design solutions for different projects
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5. WHY IMPORTANT

6. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Represents major update in the building code
32 pages
43 pages in Appendix
Total of 75 pages
For comparison
Acrylic stucco/EIFS – not in current ABC
Roof venting – 1 page
Roofing = 11
Section 9.27 Cladding – 11 pages
Part 5 “Environmental Separation” – 14 pages
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7. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Bigger overall impact in commercial, industrial and large buildings
Previously no standards and/or minimal requirements for energy performance
NECB
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8. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Large part of government policy
Easier to mandate and inforce for new construction
LEED started with original construction, now:
NC, CS, CI, EB, ND
First step to more comprehensive policies
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9. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Commercial all exterior insulation
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10. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Main concepts
Account for thermal bridging
Increasing overall insulation values
Improve airtightness
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11. awareness responsibility standards
IMPORTANT
Doesn’t account for:
human factors
renovations, modifications
mistakes or errors
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12. SECTION 9.36

13. awareness responsibility standards
SECTION 9.36
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14. awareness responsibility standards
SECTION 9.36
“Prescriptive” vs “Performance”
Performance references many parts of Prescriptive
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15. awareness responsibility standards
SECTION 9.36
Prescriptive
Simple - specific checklist
Tradeoff – “trading” better performance on some items for other items, only above ground
Performance
build a computer model
“reference” vs. “proposed”
NECB
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16. awareness responsibility standards
SECTION 9.36
Choose method early on in design
Build in a safety factor
Be aware of areas you have a buffer during construction
Concerned about performance method
very specific rules (almost “prescriptive”)
HOT2000 has 16% accuracy
What if assumptions inaccurate/change?
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17. awareness responsibility standards
SECTION 9.36
The performance option does not use the same glazing distribution in both the reference and proposed buildings.
NRCAN study showed “Savings depend largely on the type and cost of fuel used for heating, and the distribution of the window area by orientation.”
Allows software with accuracy of 16% and 0 safety factor.
Build same as before, doesn’t meet INTENT.
Major flaw in the methodology.
Caution, if other problems and can be shown that assumptions in model were incorrect, expensive problem to change all wall insulation.
Similarities between ½” stucco. Don’t do it because “everyone else is doing it”. Make an educated choice.
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18. CALCULATIONS

19. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
RSI vs R (thermal resistance)
RSI = Metric (K·m2/W)
R Value = Imperial (h·ft2·°F/Btu)
Convert = RSI X = R
U-value = Thermal transmittance = inverse
Actual material value if known
Code values from tables, not averages
Thickness important, performance varies at different thicknesses and conditions
Long term values
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20. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Previously nominal R values, only considered insulating materials
Now “effective RSI”, metric and whole assembly
Account for framing and all parts of wall assembly
More accurate, requires more up front info
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21. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Triple glazed in most cases
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22. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Previously R34 roof, now R50eff
Flat/cathedral R28.5eff
Previously R20 walls, now R17eff (R24+nominal)
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23. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
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24. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Considerations
Framing type and spacing
Cladding type
Changes from EIFS to stucco
Actual product data
Assume low values or code
Not averages
Check thicknesses, varies depending on thickness (spray foam)
Compressed insulation
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25. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
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26. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
All paths need to calculate effective RSI (needed for “reference” model)
Basic math rules
Convert all to RSI
Rules of significant figures (rounding errors)
Adding up all components
Parallel path method for layer with multiple components
Leave some leeway for construction errors/changes, expensive mistake
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27. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
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28. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
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29. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
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30. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Trade off
Most projects
Not below grade
Most effective for walls, unique windows
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31. awareness responsibility standards
CALCULATIONS
Likely to see increase in exterior insulation
Moisture barrier locations
Check for double vapour barriers
Complex wall assemblies
Stucco/stone over foam-fastening
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32. INSULATION

33. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Slab edge detail
Talk to structural
Suggest having interior and exterior option
*Manitoba Government 9.36 Presentation
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34. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
*Manitoba Government 9.36 Presentation
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35. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Sequencing
Moisture barrier
Strapping
Cladding support
Fire and limiting distance considerations
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36. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Structural penetrations
Specific insulation requirements
Section )
Structural steel
May or may not be accounted for
What if size/shape changes?
What if isn’t aligned?
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37. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
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38. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Insulation continuity
Check with trades on installation
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39. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Penetrations can’t decrease overall insulation value
Changing materials may not work
Potential air pockets, discontinuities, compressed insulation
*CHBA 9.36 Presentation
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40. awareness responsibility standards
INSULATION
Check with thermal camera, point temperatures
Flir makes Flir One for smart phones
check before drywall
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41. AIR BARRIER

42. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Airtightness
Construction of Air Barrier Details
Important to understand designers intent and system(s) used
Clarify on drawings
Air, vapour, moisture barriers
Easier with commercial, all in one systems
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43. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Air barrier is system
Requires continuity
Also refer back to
Vapour barrier material
Refer back to
Requires permeance not greater than 60 ng/(Pa.s.m2)
On wrong side of wall for several months of the year with A/C
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44. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Focus during poly/insulation inspections
*RDH Superinsulated Building Enclosures
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45. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Structurally supported
*City of Calgary 9.36 Presentation
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46. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Some key areas
Spray foam to poly joints
Around windows
If deficiencies called, clarify if air or vapour barrier and code violation
We can address correct issue
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47. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Thermal camera also helps
Blower door – overall value (ACH)
Smoke pencil
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48. awareness responsibility standards
AIR BARRIER
Trade damage
After occupancy
Hang tv, pictures = holes in poly
Run cables, especially in attic
Add an outlet
DOCUMENT
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49. GOING FORWARD

50. awareness responsibility standards
GOING FORWARD
POSITIVE
Potential for reduced energy use
More involvement of professionals due to complex design, calculation requirements and AHJ requirements
Potential for increased awareness about building envelope issues
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51. awareness responsibility standards
GOING FORWARD
NEGATIVES
Increased design cost and time
Increased first cost
Less time/money for site quality control and resources for critical details
Focus on airtightness and lack of focus on major failure areas
Lack of breathability of envelopes with moisture intrusion
Increase in insulation without consideration for human factor, design and embodied energy
Cost/benefit analysis
Lack of consideration for reduced energy use of proper design
Smaller footprint, south facing, thermal mass, etc.
Conflicts with other parts of the ABC
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52. awareness responsibility standards
GOING FORWARD
Strange things
Low density concrete
Double drywall
Changing joist spacing during construction
Framing spacing/amount verified by structural
Tall walls
Some areas can’t have 24” o.c.
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53. awareness responsibility standards
GOING FORWARD
Things to watch for
2020 NBC
Refinement of 9.36
Potentially even higher insulation amounts
Don’t ignore rest of Part 9
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54. awareness responsibility standards
QUESTIONS
Questions
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55. awareness responsibility standards
Thank you
If you have any further questions please contact us.
Dana Bjornson
awareness responsibility standards