Building Code Objectives

Transcription

1 Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministère des Affaires municipales et du Logement Building Code Objectives Time for a Change? Presentation to the Building Code Energy Advisory Council April 22, 2010 Building & Development Branch

2 Purpose of Presentation 1. Discuss existing objectives regarding resource conservation and environmental integrity 2. Discuss potential changes to these objectives 22/04/2010 2

3 Objective-Based Format Starting with the 2006 edition, Ontario s Building Code has been drafted in an objective-based format Code includes: Objectives and sub-objectives in Division A Functional statements in a Supplementary Standard to the Code that link the objectives to acceptable solutions in Division B Objectives can be used under the Building Code to evaluate alternative solutions that will achieve the same level of performance required by the acceptable solutions: Promotes innovation in building materials, systems and designs Alternative solutions approved by municipal chief building officials Disputes between permit applicants/holders and municipalities about alternative solutions heard by the Building Code Commission 22/04/2010 3

4 Existing Objectives: Resource Conservation Resource Conservation - OR An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of a building, a natural resource will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of depletion or the capacity of the infrastructure supporting the use of the resource will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of being exceeded. Water Conservation OR1 An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of a building, water resources will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of depletion or the capacity of the water supply, treatment and disposal infrastructure will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of being exceeded, caused by the consumption of water. Energy Conservation OR2 An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design or construction of a building, a natural resource will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of depletion or the capacity of the infrastructure supporting the use of the resource will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of being exceeded, caused by the consumption of energy. 22/04/2010 4

5 Existing Objectives: Environmental Integrity Environmental Integrity OE An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design, construction or operation of a building, the natural environment will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of degradation. 22/04/2010 5

6 Impact of these Objectives Current resource conservation objectives support acceptable and alternative solutions related to: Energy efficiency Use of green technologies that conserve energy (e.g., solar panels that use a renewable resource, thereby conserving non-renewable energy sources) Switching from inefficient to efficient fuel sources Efficiency of equipment 22/04/2010 6

7 Impact of these Objectives Current environmental integrity objective is general in nature No sub-objectives Currently, use is limited to supporting acceptable and alternative solutions related to small on-site sewage systems (e.g., septics) 22/04/2010 7

8 So what s missing? Currently, there are no specific objectives related to: Energy performance of buildings (the quantitative or qualitative rating of energy conservation or any component thereof, including energy efficiency) Green house gas reduction/climate change mitigation Environmental degradation Climate change adaptation Infrastructure capacity Energy demand management As a result, no explicit support for acceptable or alternative solutions for these outcomes 22/04/2010 8

9 Development of Energy-related Objectives for National Codes The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) is developing an updated National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB): Challenge: No national objectives in place related to energy In absence of agreed upon objectives, general direction in developing NECB has been to focus narrowly on energy efficiency In parallel, new energy-related objectives are being developed at the national level: To support NECB and proposed energy efficiency standards for buildings covered by Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada 22/04/2010 9

10 Provincial/Territorial Policy Work A Joint CCBFC/ PTPACC (Provincial/Territorial Policy Advisory Committee on Codes) Task Group was established to develop an energy efficiency objective Task Group developed interim functional statements and a sub-objective related specifically to energy efficiency However, broad concern from provinces/territories (and others) that the Task Group had not gone far enough This matter is being reviewed by PTPACC: Provinces/Territories being polled This issue is also reflected in comments solicited by CCBFC regarding the new NECB 22/04/

11 Moving Forward in Ontario Not entirely clear that national process will have a satisfactory conclusion It may be appropriate, therefore, for Ontario to review the issue of broader code objectives as a Provincial initiative MMAH wishes to seek the views of the Building Code Energy Advisory Council on whether broader objectives should be developed for inclusion in the public consultation scheduled for Summer/Fall /04/

12 Moving Forward in Ontario Potential direction for new objectives: Energy performance of buildings Green house gas reduction/climate change mitigation Environmental degradation Climate change adaptation Infrastructure capacity Energy demand management 22/04/

13 Moving Forward in Ontario Example of potential new sub-objective (GHG reduction): An objective of this Code is to limit the probability that, as a result of the design, construction or operation of a building, the natural environment will be exposed to an unacceptable risk of degradation due to green house gas emissions. 22/04/

14 . Comments? 22/04/