This is the first meeting of the National Model Codes Committee on Climate Change Mitigation (NMCC-Miti). The mandate is to “…complete work undertaken in the previous code cycle and expand operational greenhouse gas emission (GHGe) and energy efficiency requirements applicable to new and existing buildings and houses and develop requirements to minimize excessive embodied GHGe for new Part 3 and Part 9 buildings in the National Model Codes as described below and in accordance with Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) approved work plan.”

There was a lengthy discussion on how the new committee structure will work with an emphasis on how “consensus” works. An important distinction from the previous codes committee structure is CHBA's designation as an “Association Stakeholder” (previously non-voting, key stakeholder), which means that CHBA (and other association stakeholder members), can participate in the consensus building (committee discussions) but that CHBA is considered a “non-consensus” member when it comes to committee decisions (i.e. non-voting). In other words, CHBA has a seat at the table however we are not part of the final consensus decision. Furthermore, we can participate in Task Groups (TG) (as individuals not representing our Association) and cannot participate in Working Groups (WG).

Codes Canada presented several Code Change Requests (CCR) that are eligible to become Proposed Change Forms (PCF) for the 2030 Code Cycle.

The NMCC-Miti reviewed and addressed the Fall 2024 Public Review comments for the following PCFs (refer to sub-bullets for outcome of each PCF):

• 1823 — Thermal Characteristics of Fenestration and Doors
  • Consensus reached recommending this PCF to the CBHCC for publication in the next edition of the code.
• 1950 — Protection from Precipitation of the Rough Opening Sills for Windows and Doors
  • A member recommended deleting the reference to “Building Science” (PCF 1951) when reduced insulation is installed in the window rough opening and adding links to the NRC reports that show will not result in condensation. This is not the correct wording to describe what happens with reduced insulation at the rough opening as condensation may be present and the wording “building science” was deleted.
  • CHBA & other members word smithed the PCF for clarity mainly focusing on the protection of the “sill”.
  • Consensus reached recommending this PCF to the CBHCC for publication in the next edition of the code.
• 2026 — Operational GHG Emissions: Tiered Prescriptive Requirements in the NBC
  • Members suggested minor editorial revisions for clarity. Consensus reached recommending this PCF to the CBHCC for publication in the next edition of the code.
• 2056 — Energy Modeling Software Requirements
  • Minor editorial change was made (referencing Part 8 instead of ANSI/ASHRAE). Consensus reached recommending this PCF to the CBHCC for publication in the next edition of the code.
• 2067 — Documentation on Exceptional Calculation Methods
  • Consensus reached recommending this PCF to the CBHCC for publication in the next edition of the code.

A preliminary high-level schedule for activities of NMCC-Miti was presented along with all the Task Groups (TG) and their respective chairs. CHBA expressed their interest to participate in some of the TG including the TG on Energy Efficiency in New Houses (TG-EE-NewHouses) which will recommend code changes to further minimize excessive energy use in new Part 9 buildings, including prescriptive tiered energy efficiency packages for tiers 2, 3, and 4, and any additional energy conservation measures for the prescriptive trade-off path and the TG on Operational GHGe in New Buildings and Houses (TG-OpGHGe) which will Expand the intensity-based metrics to operational GHG emissions and review GHG emissions factors (GEFs) and prescriptive options for houses. The complete list of TGs is listed below:

• Public Comments
• Energy Efficiency in New Houses
• Operational GHGe in New Buildings and Houses
• Energy Efficiency in New Buildings in NECB
• Energy Modeling of Heat Pumps
• Embodied GHGe
• NECB Part 13
• NBC Subsection 10.9.36
• Energy and Emissions Performance of Small Buildings
• Lighting and Electrical Power Systems
• Thermostats in Dwelling Units

CHBA will continue to monitor all TGs as observers if not as members.

For more information please refer to attached agenda and/or contact Alex Bols, alex.bols@chba.ca