scope:

Preface

The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2017, together with the National Building Code of Canada 2015, the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015 and the National Fire Code of Canada 2015, is an objective-based National Model Code that can be adopted by provincial and territorial governments. Codes Canada⁽¹⁾ are developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC).

In Canada, provincial and territorial governments have the authority to enact legislation that regulates building design and construction within their jurisdictions. This legislation may include the adoption of the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) without change or with modifications to suit local needs, and the enactment of other laws and regulations regarding building design and construction, including the requirements for professional involvement.

The NECB is a model code in the sense that it helps promote consistency among provincial and territorial building codes. Persons involved in the design or construction of a building should consult the provincial or territorial government concerned to find out which construction requirements are applicable.

The development of the NECB 2017 has been a collaborative effort involving the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and other stakeholders. NRCan's financial and technical contributions will improve the energy efficiency of new buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The NECB 2017 will contribute to long-term benefits for both Canada's economy and the environment. Modeling for the changes in the 2017 edition indicated a potential energy efficiency improvement of 10.3 to 14.4% over the 2011 edition, which makes this edition an important step towards Canada's goal for new buildings, as presented in the "Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change."

⁽¹⁾ The National Model Codes are now collectively referred to as "Codes Canada."