I have a question for the group, regarding the BC requirements for keeping a room at 26C. It seems we don't have a specific method to show this, so I want to float this idea and get your thoughts.

• Using F280-12 room by room software:
• • Design conditions:
  • • Set design cooling temperature to 26C
    • Set cooling for all rooms
  • If any of the "habitable rooms" have 0 BTU/hr cooling load, designate that room as the heat refuge
  • The room could be further tested by:
  • • Remove cooling for all but the "heat refuge" room
    • Verify cooling load remains at 0 BTU/hr
  • Otherwise, recommend mechanical cooling
  • Limitations:
  • There is some heat transfer between floors, but not between rooms in the same level
  • A room that has no outside components would not have any measurable "heat gain" and would qualify under the above criteria, but likely not count as a real "heat refuge"
  • A heat refuge is meant to hold occupants for an extended period of time; if we model the rooms with occupants, it automatically adds a cooling load
• What would be a reasonable "proof of heat refuge" for an AHJ?
• • A modified room by room calculation could showcase this, but the targets are currently a bit arbitrary
  • Is there any way to demonstrate a room's target temperature?
  • • I.e. can we show in the software that a room stays at a constant temperature?
    • Is there a BTU/hr/ft2 target we could use in lieu of temperature?

Do you folk have any thoughts on this?

While each municipality/jurisdiction will have their own policies you'll need to determine, the Township of Langley has put out their policy that I expect many others will follow in principle:  Overheating Protection – Requirement 9.33.3.1(2)

BOABC has also indicated the onus will be on the builder/applicant to provide documentation that they are able to meet the passive cooling requirement which often will mean the services of a registered professional (outside the scope of EA's).  From my understanding, only northern regions of BC will likely be able to meet the ability of passive cooling. 

Also, see BSSB bulletin B24-08: Information Bulletin B24-08