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BUILDERS’ CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION The definitive guide to building homes in Canada. Acknowledgements This edition of the CHBA Builders' Manual has been prepared through consultations with a wide range of technical specialists, building scientists, regulators and builders. The Canadian Home Builders' Association is grateful for the assistance provided for the advancement of Canadian housing technology. Technical Advisors Ineke Van Zeeland, Canadian Wood Council James Glouchkow, Jeremy Sager, and Conrad Baumgartner, Natural Resources Canada Terry Strack, Strack & Associates Cory McCambridge, APA - The Engineered Wood Association Jeff Baker, WESTLab Gord Cooke, Building Knowledge Inc. Norbert Senf, Masonry Stove Builders Builder Reviewers Jennifer Weatherston Steven Wright Certified Energy Advisor Reviewers Andy Oding Tyler Hermanson Lauren Lipka Project Team Gary Sharp, Project Manager, CHBA Jeff Culp, Independent Writer, Project Consultant Kevin Lee, Kathleen Maynard, Natasha Rombough, Jack Mantyla, Liz Wynder, Brett Cass, Frank Lohmann, Sonja Winkelmann, Andy Cockburn, Marvin Gorospe, and Reid Ferry, CHBA Accurate Design and Communications, graphics and layout The contents of this Manual do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Canadian Home Builders' Association. The mention of trade names and commercial products does not constitute recommendation or endorsement of use. ISBN 978-0-86506-066-1 Canadian Home Builders' Association All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2020 Canadian Home Builders' Association 141 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 500 Ottawa, Ontario KIP 5J31 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1.1 The Evolution of Canadian Housing Technology................................8 1.2 Features of Quality Housing..............................................10 1.3 The House as a System .................................................11 1.4 How to Use this Manual ................................................12 1.5 Updates to the Builders’ Manual ..........................................14 1.6 Net Zero and Net Zero Ready.............................................14 1.7 Suggestions for Further Information .......................................17 PART 1 — Building Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Chapter 2 Building Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 2.1 Heat Flow ...........................................................20 2.2 Airflow..............................................................26 2.3 Moisture Movement....................................................29 2.4 Factors Affecting Comfort ...............................................36 Chapter 3 Design Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 3.1 General Design Considerations ...........................................44 3.2 Siting and Lot Planning .................................................44 3.3 Affordability .........................................................45 3.4 Healthy Housing ......................................................47 3.5 Building Design.......................................................48 3.6 Housing Accessibility...................................................53 3.7 Design Considerations for Multi-unit Buildings................................55 Chapter 4 Indoor Air Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 4.1 Factors that Affect Air Quality ............................................64 4.2 Designing for Air Quality ...............................................68 4.3 Emissions from Materials ...............................................70 4.4 Homeowner Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Table of Contents2 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 5 Housing and the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 5.1 Features of Green Housing...............................................75 5.2 EnerGuide Rating System for Houses.......................................78 5.3 ENERGY STAR ® for Products..............................................81 5.4 Energy-efficient Lighting ................................................81 5.5 EnerGuide for Appliances ...............................................82 5.6 Water Conservation....................................................86 5.7 Water Filtration .......................................................90 5.8 Construction Waste Management .........................................92 5.9 Marketing Environmental Features ........................................96 PART 2 — Building Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 Chapter 6 Air, Vapour, Weather, Thermal, Moisture, and Termite Barriers . . . . . . . . .97 6.1 Air Barriers ..........................................................98 6.2 Vapour Barriers ......................................................102 6.3 Weather Barriers .....................................................103 6.4 Thermal Barriers .....................................................104 6.5 Basement Moisture Barriers and Foundation Dampproofing ....................105 6.6 Termite Barriers......................................................107 Chapter 7 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 7.1 Insulation Materials...................................................110 7.2 Vapour Barriers ......................................................113 7.3 Air Barriers .........................................................115 7.4 Weather Barriers .....................................................120 7.5 Dampproofing Materials ...............................................123 7.6 Moisture Barriers.....................................................123 7.7 Pressure-treated Wood.................................................124 Chapter 8 Air Barrier System Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 8.1 Introduction.........................................................126 8.2 Sealed Polyethylene Approach (SPA) ......................................130 8.3 Airtight Drywall Approach (ADA) .........................................135 8.4 Exterior Insulation Approach (EIA)........................................140 8.5 House Wrap Approach (HWA) ...........................................146 8.6 Special Details.......................................................1513 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION Chapter 9 Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153 9.1 Basement Fundamentals...............................................154 9.2 Cast-in-place Concrete Foundations ......................................164 9.3 Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs).........................................172 9.4 Preserved Wood Foundations ...........................................174 9.5 Crawl Spaces .......................................................176 9.6 Slab-on-ground Foundations ............................................177 9.7 Northern Foundations .................................................178 Chapter 10 Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185 10.1 Design Considerations................................................186 10.2 Cantilever Floors ....................................................190 10.3 Floors over Unheated Spaces ..........................................191 10.4 Floors in Multi-unit Buildings ...........................................193 10.5 Engineered Wood Floor Systems ........................................195 10.6 Modified Balloon Framing .............................................198 10.7 Steel-frame Floors ...................................................199 10.8 Telegraphing of Underlay in Finished Flooring .............................202 Chapter 11 Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .203 11.1 Features of Wall Systems ..............................................204 11.2 Minimizing Moisture Movement.........................................204 11.3 Minimizing Vapour and Heat Loss .......................................209 11.4 Design for Wind and Earthquake Loads ...................................210 11.5 Advanced Framing Techniques..........................................212 11.6 Single-stud Walls ....................................................216 11.7 Double-stud Walls....................................................219 11.8 Standoff Walls ......................................................222 11.9 Steel-framed Walls ...................................................224 11.10 Rigid Insulating Core Panel Walls .......................................226 11.11 Structural Insulated Panels ............................................227 11.12 Exterior Insulating Finish Systems ......................................228 11.13 Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Walls ....................................230 11.14 Party Walls in Multi-unit Buildings ......................................232 11.15 Partition Wall/Exterior Wall Junctions....................................238 11.16 Service Penetrations.................................................239 Chapter 12 Attics and Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .243 12.1 General Design Considerations .........................................244 12.2 Trusses ...........................................................248 12.3 Flat Roofs .........................................................251 12.4 Superinsulated Attics and Roofs.........................................251 12.5 Interior Partition/Ceiling Joints..........................................253 12.6 Ceiling Penetrations..................................................254 12.7 Northern Considerations ..............................................259 TABLE OF CONTENTS4 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 13 Windows and Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261 13.1 Windows..........................................................262 13.2 Selecting Windows ..................................................269 13.3 Window and Door Installation..........................................272 13.4 Window Flashings...................................................276 13.5 Skylights ..........................................................277 13.6 Doors ............................................................278 Chapter 14 Factory-Built Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .281 14.1 Advantages of Factory-built Housing .....................................282 14.2 Types of Factory-built Housing..........................................282 14.3 Modular and Manufactured Homes ......................................283 14.4 Certification Standards................................................286 14.5 Transportation and Installation .........................................288 PART 3 — Mechanical Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289 Chapter 15 Principles of Space Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289 15.1 Heating Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .290 15.2 Heating and Cooling Design Loads.......................................291 15.3 Ventilation Principles.................................................294 15.4 Energy Source Selection ..............................................295 15.5 Air Filtration .......................................................297 Chapter 16 Heating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303 16.1 Equipment Efficiencies ...............................................304 16.2 Gas-fired Furnaces...................................................307 16.3 Gas-fired Boilers (with hydronic or radiant distribution).......................308 16.4 Gas-fired Combination Systems (for air handler applications) ..................310 16.5 Gas-fired Integrated Mechanical Systems..................................313 16.6 Gas Fireplaces and Space Heaters .......................................314 16.7 Oil Furnaces (forced- or induced-draft)....................................315 16.8 Oil-fired Boilers (for hydronic or radiant applications) ........................317 16.9 Oil-fired Combination Systems .........................................317 16.10 Electric Furnaces and Boilers..........................................317 16.11 Electric Baseboard Heaters............................................318 16.12 Air Source Heat Pumps ..............................................318 16.13 Earth Energy Heat Pumps ............................................319 16.14 Wood-fired Space Heating Appliances ...................................3195 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 17 Heat Distribution Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325 17.1 Forced-air Systems ..................................................326 17.2 Convection Systems..................................................329 17.3 Radiant Systems ....................................................330 17.4 Controls...........................................................331 17.5 Humidification......................................................332 17.6 Heating System Design ...............................................334 Chapter 18 Ventilation Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .337 18.1 Ventilation and Building Standards.......................................338 18.2 Elements of an Effective Ventilation System ...............................340 18.3 Types of Ventilation Systems ...........................................340 18.4 Heat Recovery Ventilators and Energy Recovery Ventilators....................342 18.5 Fans..............................................................346 18.6 System Planning ....................................................348 18.7 System Installation ..................................................353 Chapter 19 Cooling Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .355 19.1 Cooling Principles ...................................................356 19.2 Cooling Equipment ..................................................356 19.3 System Design......................................................357 19.4 Other Approaches ...................................................359 19.5 Cooling and Indoor Air Quality .........................................360 Chapter 20 Domestic Hot-water Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .361 20.1 Reducing Energy Losses ..............................................362 20.2 Gas-fired Water Heaters...............................................363 20.3 Oil-fired Water Heaters ...............................................365 20.4 Electric Water Heaters................................................366 20.5 Heat Pump Water Heaters ............................................366 20.6 Solar Water Heaters..................................................368 20.7 Grey Water Heat Recovery.............................................368 Chapter 21 Mechanical Systems Sizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .369 21.1 Sizing Heating and Cooling Systems .....................................370 21.2 Sizing Domestic Hot Water Heating Systems ...............................377 21.3 Sizing Ventilation Systems.............................................379 Chapter 22 Renewable Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381 22.1 Solar Energy .......................................................382 22.2 Wind Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .387 22.3 Earth Energy .......................................................389 22.4 Heat Storage .......................................................392 22.5 Examples of Renewable Energy Systems .................................3926 CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 23 Home Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .397 23.1 The Benefits of Home Automation.......................................398 23.2 Characteristics of Home Automation Systems ..............................399 23.3 Home Automation System Components ..................................401 23.4 Energy Management .................................................411 23.5 Planning and Installation .............................................413 Chapter 24 Future Gazing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415 24.1 Introduction........................................................416 24.2 Affordability........................................................416 24.3 Things Builders Might Do..............................................417 24.4 Jobsite Innovations ..................................................418 24.5 Things Others Might Do to Support Affordability ............................426 24.6 Other Societal Changes to Factor In......................................427 24.7 Conclusion.........................................................428 Appendix 1 – Insulation Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .429 Appendix 2 – Vapour and Air Permeance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .433 Appendix 3 – Sample heat load calculations using F280-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437 Appendix 4 – Selecting the Building Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463 Appendix 5 – Ventilation System Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465 Appendix 6 – Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .469 Appendix 7 – Conversion Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475 Appendix 8 – Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .477CHAPTER 1 — INTRODUCTION 7 Canadians are recognized for building some of the best, most innovative and resource-efficient housing in the world. For more than 75 years, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), in cooperation with the federal government, has worked with manufacturers, suppliers and researchers to provide builders with information about state-of-the-art housing technologies, systems and processes. This edition of the Builders’ Manual is a recent initiative of CHBA to inform Canadian builders and other building trades of advanced construction techniques; techniques that will result in better-built housing that is more comfortable, more energy efficient, healthier and more environmentally responsible than ever before. The CHBA Builders’ Manual has drawn upon the knowledge and first-hand experience of leading Canadian builders, researchers and manufacturers in identifying practical and proven home building techniques. Many of the housing innovations introduced in recent years are the result of partnerships between CHBA and government, including the R-2000 Program, the Advanced Houses Program and the Healthy Housing Program. The Canadian Centre for Housing Technology and the EQuilibrium Housing initiative continue this tradition. The federal government’s technical and financial support of these leading-edge initiatives has helped to advance Canadian housing design and construction. Quality building requires care, attention to detail, and the application of the most efficient and up-to-date construction techniques and technologies. As every good builder knows, ensuring quality is essential, especially in Canada’s demanding climate. This Builders’ Manual is intended to help a wide range of people – from building trade students, suppliers and manufacturers, professional builders, designers and code officials, to learn and understand leading-edge house construction principles and techniques. It is neither an exhaustive treatment of building science nor a building code summary. It outlines fundamental principles for building high-quality, energy- and resource-efficient housing. 1.1 The Evolution of Canadian Housing Technology .................8 1.2 Features of Quality Housing ..........10 1.3 The House as a System .............11 1.4 How to Use this Manual .............12 1.5 Updates to the Builders’ Manual . . . . . . 14 1.6 Net Zero and Net Zero Ready .........14 1.7 Suggestions for Further Information....17 CHAPTER 1 IntroductionNext >