In our last OBOA communiqué we identified who should be responsible for the information on the new Energy Efficiency Design Summary (EEDS) form. Recently it has been brought to our attention that some municipalities were experiencing issues with the declaration portion of the form. Additionally, a concern has been raised within the homebuilding and designer communities about signing off on the form.

The intent of the form is to capture information which would be contained in the design documents and specifications which form part of the permit submission. Since the form is not intended to replace information shown elsewhere, it was felt that a formal declaration was not needed and merely cross-referencing with the designer name would suffice (in most instances the designer information would be the same as that shown on the permit application form). A place on the form is also included for the Mechanical drawing designers name (again for cross-referencing purposes). While not implicit, the person filling out the form should have a reasonable understanding of the information being requested to ensure it accurately reflects the information on the drawings and specifications. For instance, the mechanical design of a building could be impacted even when choosing a slightly different option path under the prescriptive method; therefore it is important that the information being captured from both the Architectural and Mechanical documents is consistent. The Guide on the reverse side of the form also provides some additional information on completing the form.

Although the working group will be meeting again in late February to discuss the form and other implementation issues, it was felt this change needed to be dealt with sooner than later. Please refer to the attached link for an updated version of the form which incorporates the designer information change to the form. You will notice the revised form also includes a listing of the packages under the SB-12 Prescriptive option and the removal of the labelling requirement under the Energy Star option as this is not a requirement for permit submission. We have also included a revision date at the bottom of the form.

When updating your Building Bylaws, municipalities may want to consider including the Energy Efficiency Design Summary Matrix as part of the documentation requirements for permit application submissions (please refer to the Complete Application Best Practice Guide).

Dave Potter & Tim Benedict,

OBOA Representatives

OHBA / LMCBO / OBOA / MMAH Working Committee

The revised form is available as a PDF: (download)

• Best Practice Summary (Nov 28) (download) - zip file
• Occupancy Requirements for Houses Checklist (download) - zip file
• Final occupancy permit sample Revision 7 (download) - zip file
• Occupancy Permit Info Sheet (download) - zip file
• Residential Occupancy Permit Checklist (2) (download) - zip file

First observed in 1980, this annual global event is a ‘Building Safety’ campaign intended to raise public awareness and promote:

The month long campaign is a great opportunity to engage in a variety of related promotional activities through your local municipality and/or OBOA Chapter. Some ideas for observing and promoting Building Safety Month include:

Please visit the OBOA website at http://www.oboa.on.ca to download any of the following resource materials, available in both English and French:

Full size posters, are also available through local OBOA Chapters and the OBOA office.

Congratulations to all Building Officials for the valuable contribution in ensuring a safer quality of life for those who live, work, learn and play in our communities.  Please join the OBOA in recognizing and promoting Building Safety Month - May 2012. 

Founded in 1956, the OBOA is a self-governing not-for-profit professional association for Ontario's Building Officials. The OBOA is committed to maintaining the highest degree of professionalism in the field of building code enforcement and building safety, while promoting uniform code interpretation and enforcement through training and education services, and related committee work.  Please visit us at: www.oboa.on.ca

File: President's Message: Building Safety Month - 2012

• pdf (download)
• Word: (download) - zip file

2012 Energy Efficiency Requirements of the Ontario Building Code.

This two-day course (Part 12 (2012) - Assessing Housing Energy Efficiency Workshop for Building Officials) was developed by the OBOA in partnership with Lio & Associates who provided research and guidance to the new Building Code changes related to energy conservation in low rise residential buildings. This course contains the most relevant and up-to-date information on the energy efficiency requirements of Supplementary Standard SB-12 as well as the changes to air barrier requirements that came into effect on January 1st, 2012. A pilot was held in April and was well received. Course delivery will begin in May. See below for dates.

NEW - Part 12 (2012) - Assessing Housing Energy Efficiency Workshop for Building Officials | May 28 & 29 at the OBOA Office and in Hanover. 

Participants will be able to:

• Identify key regulatory documents and support materials that detail the energy efficiency requirements of the Code,
• Explain the transformation that housing is undergoing,
• Identify scope of the 2012 energy efficiency changes to Ontario Building Code.
• Discuss key terms needed to understand the energy efficiency changes,
• Explain ENERGY STAR® for New Homes, EnerGuide 80, blower door testing, HOT2000 and other key terms and concepts,
• Identify how the Part 12 energy efficiency requirements have been modified,
• Discuss the ERS 80 Performance compliance path,
• Discuss the ENERGY STAR® for New Homes compliance path,
• Describe the SB-12 compliance alternatives including the prescriptive path and the performance equivalence path,
• List the performance compliance simulation software that can be used.
• Describe the December 5, 2011 revisions to SB-12,
• Discuss the recent Ministry guidance on designer and rater qualifications,
• Identify pros and cons and cost impacts for the 2012 prescriptive options on a component by component basis focusing on zone 1 (or zone 2) natural gas,
• Describe the new energy efficiency requirements for building additions,
• Discuss and understand HOT2000 reports and air test reports.
• Describe the important changes to the air barrier requirements in the Code in 2012

An extensive amount of resource material is included in the Participant Manual.
Availability of this Course will begin late-May 2012.  Register through the OBOA Training Calendar.

Ontario's Building Code has been updated to include enhanced energy efficiency requirements for houses and large buildings and provides alternative compliance paths for achieving these benchmarks.

The following voice-over slideshows have been developed by the Ministry's Building and Development Branch and are based on the presentation given by the Ministry at the 2011 OBOA "Annual Meeting and Training Sessions."

The presentations are intended to provide highlights of the energy efficiency compliance alternatives, as set out in Supplementary Standards SB-10 and SB-12 of the Building Code. You can complete these modules at your own pace and, if you wish, pause and repeat any section.

The presentations are provided for information purposes only. Code users, and other interested parties, are advised to refer to the Building Code Act, 1992 and its regulation (the Building Code) for official documentation of these standards. Additional questions or concerns can be discussed with your local Building Official.

We hope you find these presentations informative.

Would you like to see the results of a joint Working Group charged with preparing a Complete Application Best Practice Guide? See below and please share with staff.

The Complete Application Best Practice Guide is intended to inform and serve as a resource tool for Chief Building Officials related to the regulation changes on Complete Applications (eff. January 1, 2011). The changes set out in the regulation allow greater flexibility for Building Departments across Ontario.........

The Best Practice Guide is enclosed as an attachment along with two separate attachments.

Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact any of the Working Group members directly.

Mike Seiling, Working Group Chair

519.741.2669

Attachments below:

• Complete Application Best practice Guide (download)
• 23 FAQ's (download)
• Attachments (download) - this is a zip file

Order Now
We are pleased to make this FREE CD available to you.