National Energy Code of Canada for buildings

• NECB Project Summary Form
• Prescriptive and Trade-off Checklist

• NECB Project Summary Form 
• Part 8 Summary Form

• NECB-minimum-prescriptive-requirements.pdf
• NECB_BETBG_Spreadsheet.xlsm
• NECB-Part-3-trade-off-calculator.xlsm
• NECB-Part-4-trade-off-calculator.xlsm

• Alberta Government
• Notice: New Alberta codes editions
• Safety Codes Council
• BILD Alberta
• National Building Code of Canada
• City of Calgary Building Advisory – Building Code Transition from NBC 2019 (AE) to NBC 2023 (AE)
• NRCan - resource for NECB compliance in Alberta
• NRCan - energy efficiency in buildings

• This path involves following the prescriptive requirements of Sections 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6.2 and 7.2  of the NECB. It is typically the simplest compliance path to follow but may not be appropriate for all building types as there is less flexibility in design. 
• Prescriptive path compliance for any part of the NECB requires meeting all the requirements in that part
• If your design cannot meet all requirements, another compliance path, such as the trade-off or performance path should be selected.
• Prescriptive path checklists are available to help applicants identify specific articles in the code
• To get an idea of what kind of requirements to expect from a prescriptive path, you can review the general compliance checklists at the end of each section in the user guide of the NECB

If you need more flexibility in your design, a trade-off path allows you to trade elements within the same part of the energy code and demonstrate an equivalent level of performance without meeting every prescriptive requirements found in the NECB. For example, if your design calls for more window area than prescribed by the code, you may be able to compensate by improving the insulation in the building envelope or improving the thermal performance of the windows themselves. 

The trade-off path is a calculation to demonstrate that while your proposed design may not exactly meet the prescriptive requirements found in the NECB overall, the amount of energy consumed will be the same or less than that consumed by a design following strict prescriptive compliance. 

It is important to note that trade-off path has limitations and rules on how to calculate what may be traded off within each Part. These limitations are found in Sections 3.3 and 4.3 of the NECB . To make the calculations easier, there are downloadable trade-off path calculation tools to assist you with this compliance path.

For the most design flexibility, you should choose to use the building energy performance compliance paths. This approach is found Part 8 of the NECB. 

For the current NECB, you must simply demonstrate that the proposed design will not consume more energy than an equivalent design built to prescriptive requirements using an approved hourly building energy simulation tool (computer software). Performance compliance can allow for trade-offs between building systems and might be the only compliance path available for certain building types.

NECB stands for the “National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings” and is a construction code that regulates the energy efficiency of new buildings constructed in Alberta. 

No, the addition can be considered independent of the existing building. However, at the discretion of the design team, there may be situations where there are benefits to upgrading elements of the existing building to achieve a more efficient overall building design aim.

For all submission requirements, please refer to the City of Calgary Complete Application Requirement List (CARL) for your application.

Not necessarily, LEED and the NECB are not the same and compliance with one does not assure compliance with the other. There are shared elements, particularly regarding energy modelling, however the specific requirements for the energy model are different. Most notably in ASHRAE 62 compliance, LEED allows the most current versions of ASHRAE to be used whereas NECB places certain restrictions on ASHRAE versions relating to the Canadian Climate.

If the application requires professional involvement under the Alberta Building Code, then a professional must stamp and sign the energy code submittals. Otherwise, a specific consultant for the energy code is not required.

If your building falls into occupancy classifications A, B or F1 or it exceeds 600 m² in a building area or 3 storeys in height, it is within the scope of the NECB. Additionally, at the applicant’s discretion, any project within the scope of Alberta Building Code 9.36 may choose to use the NECB technical requirements in lieu of ABC 9.36.

The NECB covers the above and below ground building envelope, interior and exterior lighting, HVAC and service hot water systems, power distribution, and motors. This can impact all the major disciplines involved in building design.

• If a building was required to meet the NECB at the time of its construction, future renovations must demonstrate that they do not reduce the level of compliance previously achieved.
• If the building was not required to meet the NECB compliance levels at the time of construction, then the renovations are not required to meet NECB standards.

It is mandatory that any additions greater more than 10 m² of conditioned floor space must meet the requirements of the NECB. This is a unique definition to the NECB. Additions are also unique in that the NECB allows some discretion in permitting applicants to demonstrate compliance for the addition by itself, or the addition in combination with the existing building.

Buildings with a heating system whose total capacity is less than 10 W/m² are exempted from Part 3 of the NECB, as are buildings that have no heating system. However, if a building is constructed so that it may be heated in the future, all parts of the NECB apply. Additionally, even an unheated building may be required to meet other parts of the NECB such as electrical lighting or ventilation requirements.

The shell building must be designed and constructed to energy code requirements, using prescriptive, trade-off or performance compliance. Any systems that are not designed and installed at the time of Core and Shell permitting must be modeled using the appropriate prescriptive requirements found in the NECB. Subsequent fit-out (Tenant Improvement) permits must also meet NECB requirements and may demonstrate compliance using the compliance paths found in the NECB.

While there is not a specific professional schedule dedicated to energy code compliance, the NECB is referenced from the National Building Code (Alberta Edition). Therefore, if a project requires professional involvement, the Professional(s) of Record are responsible for verifying NECB requirements are met.

Schedules are available on the Alberta Municipal Affairs Website.

Yes, the gross wall area calculation will include the areas of wall where the floor meets the exterior wall unless the floor fully penetrates and projects beyond the face of the building. This would be considered under the structural penetration requirements. 

Yes, the NECB provides requirements for the exterior lighting of the building and any exterior spaces associated with the building such as parking or pathways and communal space. It also includes lighting of unconditioned spaces such a certain parkades.

The NECB does not specify types of fixtures or systems. Energy consumption levels are set for building types or spaces. The choice of fixtures and systems depend upon the designer and must be within the overall energy consumption parameters laid out in the NECB.

Yes, provided the parameters used in the calculation are constant between the site-built system and a heat recovery ventilator e.g., flow rates and run times then it should be possible to model the site-built system.

Yes, any ducts not contained within a conditioned space must be sealed. Any unsealed ducts may be subject to a Safety Codes Officer requesting the results of an air leakage test to be submitted in accordance with ANSI/SMACNA 006, “HVAC Duct Construction Standards – Metal and Flexible”.

All ducts not located within the conditioned space must be insulated in accordance with NECB 5.2.2.5 and this insulation must be protected from the effects of condensation; and where applicable, mechanical damage.

The NECB references the climate data from Appendix C of the National Building Code. Currently the National Building Code- 2023 Alberta Edition uses the same data. However, the National Building Code will rule in any discrepancy. It is also possible to use local-measured climactic data if the published data does not cover the area of work.

Yes, suitable software is available from a number of commercial sources. The Government of Canada also provides a Canadian version of the E-Quest software called CAN-QUEST, available free of charge from Natural Resources Canada.