National baseline
The National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) and NBC Part 9 energy provisions set the minimum energy performance requirements that net-zero designs must exceed.
Canadian building code question
What are the building code requirements for net-zero and passive house construction in Canada?
Net-zero and Passive House construction must meet all baseline building code requirements plus enhanced energy performance targets that vary by province, with specific implications for envelope design, air tightness, mechanical ventilation, and thermal bridging.
Net-zero and Passive House construction goes beyond minimum building code energy requirements, but designers must still comply with all baseline code provisions for fire safety, structural integrity, accessibility, and means of egress. The challenge is integrating high-performance envelope design, extreme air tightness, and mechanical ventilation with other code requirements. Several provinces have adopted energy step codes that create pathways toward net-zero performance within the code framework.
What to check first
- Net-zero and Passive House buildings must meet all baseline building code requirements — enhanced energy performance does not exempt other provisions.
- Provincial energy step codes create tiered performance pathways that may be mandatory or voluntary depending on jurisdiction.
- Extreme air tightness requires mandatory mechanical ventilation, which must be designed to meet both energy targets and indoor air quality requirements.
Jurisdiction notes
Provincial energy step codes
BC, Ontario, and other provinces have adopted or are developing energy step codes that create tiered pathways toward net-zero performance.
Project variables
Climate zone, building type, energy source availability, and the specific certification standard (Passive House, net-zero) all affect design requirements.
Work through it in this order
- Confirm the applicable energy code and any provincial step code requirements.
- Verify that the enhanced envelope design complies with fire safety and structural provisions.
- Check mechanical ventilation requirements for air-tight construction.
- Ensure the design meets both energy performance targets and all baseline building code provisions.
Common questions
Is Passive House certification required by the building code?
No — Passive House is a voluntary standard, but provincial energy step codes may require performance levels approaching Passive House in higher tiers.
Do net-zero buildings need to meet the standard building code?
Yes — all baseline building code requirements for fire safety, structural, accessibility, and means of egress still apply regardless of energy performance targets.
What ventilation is required for an air-tight building?
Mechanical ventilation (typically HRV or ERV) is required to maintain indoor air quality, with specific capacity and distribution requirements in the mechanical and building codes.