BUILDING CODES
The National Building Code - 2023 Alberta Edition
The National Building Code - 2023 Alberta Edition has officially been published. The implementation date is May 1, 2024. The 2023 Code will include new sections on energy efficiency, including energy tiers, based on the 2020 National Building Code, which was published in March 2022. Following the recommendations of BILD Alberta and the Safety Codes Council, the Government of Alberta has adopted Tier 1 province-wide. A builder, developer or customer may choose to build to a higher tier, but local authorities cannot require or order a builder to construct to a tier higher than Tier 1.
There is a transition period to allow industry, municipalities and other authorities the time to prepare for the new code changes. For this code transition period, Municipal Affairs has provided additional flexibility and time for when building projects can continue under the 2019 Code prior to the May 1, 2024 implementation date. The details of the implementation and transition period can be found here.
The Government of Alberta has released four comparison documents of the changes between the 2019 and 2023 Alberta editions of the National Building Code for Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, and Part 11 of the building code. These documents will assist industry members in identifying the changes in the code requirements to ensure compliance with the 2023 Alberta Building Code.
Municipal Affairs has provided the following material for educational purposes and does not make or imply any assurance or guarantee of the life expectancy, durability or operating performance of materials, appliances, systems and equipment referred to in the information.
BILD Alberta’s Provincial Residential Technical Committee reviewed the changes between the 2019 and 2023 Alberta Building Codes and identified the code change highlights that industry members need to be aware of. This document can assist in outlining some of the changes that industry members need to be aware of when complying with the 2023 Alberta Building Code. The code changes are rated based on impact, cost, and frequency. These code changes were identified with consideration of the Government of Alberta’s Part 9 comparison document of the 2019 and 2023 Alberta Building Code. The code change identified with the rating of “one” is considered to have the largest impact to industry. This document does not outline all the changes between the 2019 and 2023 Alberta Building Code and does not include all requirements for compliance.
As the 2023 Alberta Building Code has variances from the 2020 National Building Code, it is integral that Alberta builders refer to the 2023 Alberta Building Code for compliance.
Building Code Educational Resource Video Series
As part of an ongoing initiative between BILD Alberta, the Professional Home Builders Institute (PHBI) and the Alberta Safety Codes Council to educate industry on the 2023 National Building Code- Alberta Edition (2023 NBC(AE)), a six-part on-demand video series is in development. There will be six videos that will be additional resources that industry members can use to increase their knowledge and understanding of how to comply with the 2023 National Building Code – Alberta Edition.
Video 4 – Airtightness Testing
The fourth video in the 2023 NBC(AE) educational series “Airtightness Testing” is now available! This video provides details on the introduction of the new code section on airtightness, explains what airtightness is, how to measure and test it, and outlines the differences between NLR, NLA, and ACH. Additionally, it offers insights into increasing the airtightness of a home and explains how blower door tests are conducted.
Any questions on the video resources can be sent to education@bildalberta.ca
Video 3 – Building Envelope Improvement
The third video of the series “ Building Envelope Improvement” is now available on the BILD Alberta website. This video will provide insight into complying with the building envelope improvement requirements of the 2023 NBC(AE). It includes details on potential unintended consequences, compliance options, best practices, airtightness, and considerations for multifamily homes.
Any questions on the video resources can be sent to education@bildalberta.ca
Video 2 – Prescriptive vs Performance
The second video of the series “ Prescriptive vs. Performance” is now available. This video will provide an overview of the differences between the prescriptive and performance compliance paths, compliance and requirements, and helpful considerations for choosing a compliance path.
Any questions on the video resources can be sent to education@bildalberta.ca.
Video 1 – Overview of the 2023 National Building Code - Alberta Edition
This video will provide an overview of the 2023 NBC (AE), including how the National Model Building Code is developed, harmonization, and an introduction to the tiered energy requirements. This video serves as a primer for the Tiered Energy Section of the 2023 NBC (AE), and outlines what industry can expect, to comply with Tier 1. It does not include the important non-energy related changes, which can be found in BILD Alberta’s Code Change Highlights document.
Members interested in additional information and clarity on Tier 1 of the tiered energy performance, and peak cooling load requirements can review an overview here.
Any questions on the video resources can be sent to education@bildalberta.ca.
Introduction to the 2023 Alberta Building Code Webinar
This webinar provides an overview of the 2023 Alberta Building Code, including Tier 1 and future energy tiers, the transition period, and implementation. The webinar also provides details on the 10 code change highlights that BILD Alberta’s Provincial Residential Technical Committee has identified that industry members need to be aware of. This webinar is designed to supplement the resources that BILD Alberta already provided, which can be found on the BILD Alberta website. This is a great opportunity for you and your teams to learn more about the 2023 Alberta Building Code and begin preparation for complying with the 2023 Alberta Building Code.
Tiered Energy Codes
The 2020 National Building and Energy Codes were published in April 2022 and included Tiered Energy Codes as a pathway to Net Zero homes. The goal of the Energy Tiers is to progressively increase the energy efficiency requirements of new homes to be Net Zero Ready by 2030 and Net Zero in the future. For clarity, Tier 1 in the 2020 NBC is close to the existing Code and Tier 5 is intended to be Net Zero.
While Alberta has auto-adopted the Tiered Energy Codes, the Government of Alberta has the discretion to determine which Tier to start at and the timeline to adopt future Tiers. This process is managed by Alberta Municipal Affairs through advice from the Safety Codes Council, BILD Alberta and other stakeholders.
BILD Alberta's Provincial Residential Technical Committee (PRTC) has created a Tiered Energy Code Roadmap, which provides the costing, barriers and educational requirements associated with each 2020 National Building Code Energy Tiers.
New National Building, Energy, Plumbing and Fire Codes
The new National Building, Plumbing, Fire and Energy Codes have been published and are available for in electronic format for free through the NRC’s Publications Archive and for purchase, in printed format, from the NRC's Virtual Store. Previous editions of the codes also remain available through these websites.
Alberta has legislative authority over building design and construction within its jurisdiction, and adopts the National Model Codes into regulation in order for them to come into effect. Under the Safety Codes Act, new codes become provincial law and form the new provincial minimum standard 12 months from the date of code publication. However, Alberta publishes its own editions of the building and fire codes (through the National Research Council) based on national code provisions, which means the new codes would not become law until 12 months from the date the Alberta code editions are published.
Of note, the new National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) and energy efficiency for houses and small buildings in the National Building Code includes information related to energy efficiency tiers or levels, which will allow provinces and territories to choose the appropriate tier of energy efficiency requirements with the goal of a net zero ready standard for new homes and buildings by 2030.
BILD Alberta has been working with Alberta Municipal Affairs and the Safety Codes Council (through our membership on the building sub-council) to provide our input on the national code changes for adoption in Alberta over the past several years. We will continue our engagement with the Safety Codes Council to identify technical/capacity barriers associated with each tier that will need to be addressed.
BILD Alberta with the help of BILD Alberta’s Provincial Residential Technical Committee will continue to assess the energy efficiency code provisions of the 2023 Alberta Building Code. This will continue to form the advice we provide to the Government in their continued approach to the Code and future timing and adoption of the energy tiers.
Builders' Manual
For those who need to know how to build homes in one of the toughest climates on earth, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Builders’ Manual is the most authoritative guide you will find for building superior energy-efficient housing. And for the first time, this edition addresses Net Zero Housing – homes that produce as much energy as they consume each year. The new 2020 edition offers over 450 pages of concise information and easy-to-follow illustrations.
The concepts, building science, techniques, materials, and building details discussed in this manual are applicable to all houses, no matter their size, energy performance target, or method of construction.
Whether you’re a student or a seasoned builder, there’s always something new to learn.
Free User's Guides
To help ensure that the National Model Codes are properly understood and effectively implemented, the NRC is now offering free electronic access to the related user’s guides, including:
- Structural Commentaries (User's Guide – NBC 2015: Part 4 of Division B)
- Illustrated User’s Guide – NBC 2015: Part 9 of Division B, Housing and Small Buildings
- User’s Guide – National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2017
The user’s guides are designed to complement the National Model Codes by providing additional background information, as well as detailed examples and calculations.
NRC has now made the current and previous electronic editions of these publications available for download in PDF format from the NRC Publications Archive.
Renovators' Manual
The new definitive guide for home renovation in Canada
In Canada, the renovation sector creates great jobs and employs even more people than the new home building sector. Annually, Canadians invest more in renovation and repair of their homes than is invested in building new homes. Approximately 90% of Canadians have said they want to live in their homes as long as they possibly can. There are many opportunities in the renovation industry.
Home renovation starts with a building that may be decades old, sometimes with hidden problems from the wear and tear of time, weather, older materials and more. Renovators need to understand and apply building science to every project they undertake. Created as a companion text for the Builders' Manual, this first edition of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Renovators’ Manual takes a deep dive into applying building science to renovating for a wide variety of circumstances. Knowledge is a key element of any successful renovation and this manual delivers.