If you’re considering insulating the house but you are not sure that your house confirms the current building code, you’re not alone. The Ontario Building Code requires a certain standard of energy efficiency in new builds, additions, or major renovations. Insulating the foundation will minimize insects, moisture, and radon infiltration problems Navigating the Ontario Building Code When building a new home before backfilling the space you might want to insulate the foundation. So, you keep moisture, heat, and cold where they should be for durability.
In this way, you improve a home’s thermal performance and reduce energy consumption while reducing heating bills, and also improve a building’s comfort level. There are many advantages if you consider insulating the walls. Ceiling insulation leads to better living comfort, it is an efficient and cheap way to improve the energy performance of your house. Insulating the ceiling means that you avoid heat losses by keeping the warmth inside and reducing sounds. Attic insulation value requirements have been raised so that the density for new homes and additions in Ontario now has been raised from R-50 to R-60. It’s important to know that ducts should be sealed and insulated as well to reduce energy losses. It’s important to choose the right insulation for the attic and you may consider using spray foam insulation or blown-in insulation (fiberglass or cellulose) if you want to insulate the floor of the attic. If you are planning on insulating the attic then you should remember to seal any air leaks and complete necessary repairs. Installation of Loose-Fill Insulation – It must be covered by a membrane through which you can look, after installation it must not be moved and it must not swell and interfere with the internal finishes of the home.In case the insulation is exposed to atmospheric events, it must be protected by 6mm thick preservative plywood or 12mm cement parging. If the insulation material is vulnerable to water, then it must be at least at height of 2” above a crawl space floor. Installation of Thermal Insulation – In order to prevent the flow of air through the material from being compromised the insulation must be in contact with an air barrier.These are some of the rules regarding the installation of thermal insulation and Loose-Fill insulation: The Ontario Building Code deals in depth with the two main types of insulation, regulating them. So, never use second-hand material of dubious origin. All materials must meet the established requirements which material manufacturers are concerned with even before the insulation materials are marketed.
Also the code specifies which materials to use for insulation and how to install them. For example, the internal walls of a home must prevent condensation from forming in winter. It requires that each section of a house that separates the inside from the outside and vice versa, must have:Įach of these sections is thorough and everything is explained with precision. It serves to guarantee both builders and homeowners comfortable and safe homes. The Ontario Building Code Insulation Section was created to avoid unsafe construction practices, construction methods, and materials. The Ontario Building Code is a regulation made under the Building Code Act.