Featuring a beautiful High Performance Home by RDC Fine Homes | Information on the Indigenous Community New Home Program from FortisBC
Luke DolanOctober 8, 2021
What is backdrafting? Backdrafting is the reverse and unwanted flow of exhaust gases from fuel-fired appliances back into a home. Fuel-fired appliances use the oxygen present in air for the combustion process, and also use air to dilute toxic gases in the exhaust vent pipe or chimney. Combustion and dilution air can be supplied directly to the appliance (direct-vent) or can be pulled from…
Luke DolanFebruary 24, 2021
The difference between air barrier and vapour barrier systems is often misunderstood. These are two distinct components of a building’s assembly, and both have a different purpose. The function of an air barrier is to stop air leakage between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space, while the vapour barrier prevents the diffusion of vapour through an assembly. The National…
Luke DolanFebruary 19, 2021
We can’t stress enough the importance of airtightness. Durability, comfort, energy efficiency, and healthy homes all relate back to airtightness. If you haven’t read our blog post about airtightness, see HERE. Airtightness requirements in building codes and energy performance standards are becoming increasingly stringent. Recent codes and standards have now begun to include targets for whole-building airtightness as a way of achieving consistently higher levels of…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
What’s the difference and which one should I use? Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the white, black, and grey plastic pipes running through the walls and floors and around the perimeter of your home? Unless you’re a plumber by trade, probably not. But in case you’re curious, here’s a brief rundown of the difference in plastic…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
If you’ve been paying attention to the ever-evolving home building requirements throughout BC, you may have noticed that municipalities are asking more and more from their builders to achieve high levels of airtightness. Most people in the industry view this as a positive development that will expand the knowledge base and improve the quality of work delivered across the industry,…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
According to the Ontario Ministry of Environment, an average adult breathes in around 15,000 litres of air every day. Statistically, people spend 90% of their time indoors. The majority of that time is spent at home, therefore it is extremely important that our homes provide a healthy living environment. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within buildings…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
Climate adaptation is one of the major challenges of our time. Now more than ever governments at the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal levels are realizing the effects of Man-made climate change. Today is the time to find solutions for a more sustainable future. The Province of British Columbia has a strategy to transition to Net-Zero energy ready buildings by 2032.…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
Hard not to notice the thick smoke that has choked our sky for the past weeks. An Air Quality Advisory has been issued for most of BC including Metro Vancouver, due to concentrations of fine particulate matter. All those small floating particles are harmful to our lungs and hearts. Chronic exposure to those particles year-in and year-out can lead to…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
Today the City of Vancouver has introduced new updates to the Vancouver Building Bylaw 2018 (VBBL). Since 2014, only 1&2 Family residential housing were effected by the VBBL. Now, in the New Vancouver Building Bylaw 2018, all low-rise (less than 4 Storey) MURBs (Multi Residential Buildings) will require air tightness testing, EnerGuide Ratings, and Effective R-22 Walls. This will also…
Luke DolanFebruary 3, 2021
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