Future climate data and the code
Organizations such as Engineers Canada, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG), and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) have recommended projected future climate data be addressed in the National Building Code of Canada (NBC)—the basis of OBC. The National Research Council (NRC), which publishes NBC, has agreed, and is addressing climate change adaptations for the 2015 to 2020 code cycle, with completion anticipated in 2020.
These organizations have focused their attention on how projected changes in severe weather events, flooding, and wind patterns will impact the built environment—with good reason, as these changes can have major life safety and cost implications. However, little information is available to designers with respect to energy performance in the face of changing climatic conditions.
In typical commercial buildings in Toronto, projected temperature increases will significantly affect energy use. Creating building envelopes using design solutions proven to be effective in both current and projected climates can limit energy usage and the resulting GHG emissions contributing to accelerating climate change. To provide designers with the information necessary to inform their decisions, and to regulate industry practices, it is critical for codes to include climate data and envelope performance requirements more accurately accounting for projected climate conditions.
Paul Carter, B.Arch.Sc., CET, is a building envelope specialist at Entuitive with 12 years of experience. Carter has worked on numerous new and existing healthcare projects as a building envelope consultant, and is experienced in restoring historic building enclosures. He can be reached at paul.carter@entuitive.com.
Chris Van Dongen, B.Arch.Sc., LEED AP, is an Entuitive building envelope specialist. He has worked extensively on restoring existing building envelopes and as a building envelope consultant on new construction projects. With 10 years of experience, Van Dongen has considerable knowledge of thermal and hygrothermal modelling, and of restoration of brick masonry façades. He can be reached at chris.vandongen@entuitive.com.
