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In This Issue
- National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2011 to be published this fall
- Earthquake resistance provisions in the 2010 National Building Code
- Evaluating a new slag for use in concrete
- Survey gauges awareness of indoor air quality issues and improvement strategies
- Long-life bridges using NRC's new concrete technology
- Important change to NBC 2010 – Earthquakes and design of structural components
- Now available! User's Guide – NBC 2010, Structural Commentaries (Part 4 of Division B)
- Fall 2011 public review to focus on proposed changes to the 2010 National Model Construction Codes
- Stay informed using new RSS feed on National Codes website
- Code development priorities to be addressed by joint task groups
- New CCMC Evaluation Reports and listings
- Two new Construction Technology Updates now available
- New protocol for performance evaluation of portable air cleaners
- Protection of transportation infrastructure from fire damage
- Development of advanced bridge monitoring strategies
National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2011 to be published this fall
The energy efficiency of new buildings in Canada will be significantly better in the future thanks to the soon-to-be-released National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2011 (NECB).
Once adopted by the authorities having jurisdiction, the NECB will yield significant savings in energy costs of typical buildings, resulting in long-term benefits for both Canada’s economy and the environment. For the first time, the new code places Canada on a comparable footing with most countries that lead the world in energy-efficient building construction.
In releasing the NECB, which is 25% more energy efficient than the current Model National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 1997, the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) fulfills the energy code performance target expressed by federal, provincial, and territorial government leaders. The technical requirements of the NECB also accommodate the many new technologies and construction practices that have emerged in Canada over the past 15 years.
The new code contains close to 245 technical changes to address a host of issues such as: the building envelope; lighting; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning; service water heating; electrical power systems and motors; and building energy performance compliance.
The NECB is an objective-based code; it also offers compliance flexibility, meaning that engineers, architects and designers can follow multiple paths to ensure that their proposed building designs are compliant. Performance ratings for two of the compliance paths can be demonstrated through the use of special software that will soon be available on the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) website.
The new code is the result of an extensive consultation process involving stakeholders from Canadian industry, multiple levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal), the construction industry, and the general public. It was developed by the CCBFC, with technical support and funding provided by the National Research Council of Canada and NRCan as part of its commitment to improving the energy efficiency of Canadian buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The NECB will be published on November 18, 2011. It will be available in print in a full-size binder format and electronically via online subscriptions or as a downloadable PDF document. Free online presentations explaining the major changes in the NECB are scheduled to be made available on the National Codes website in December 2011.
To pre-order a copy, please visit the NRC Virtual Store starting September 30th, 2011.
