In the green building industry, there is a heavy focus on airtightness. Afterall, an airtight home is likely an energy-efficient home. And while we’re all familiar with the benefits of energy-efficient homes, an airtight home delivers much more.

Airtightness is a measurement of how well a building resists air leakage. In the BC Energy Step Code, the highest step for Part 9 buildings (single-family homes) requires an airtightness rating of no more than 1.0 ACH50. However, many industry professionals achieve much lower airtightness ratings to meet other standards, such as Passive House.

ACH50 measures how many times the air inside a building is replaced by outside air in one hour when the pressure difference between the inside and outside is 50 Pascals (Pa).

A More Comfortable Home

When a home is airtight, there are no uncomfortable drafts or swings in temperature. The home is better able to maintain a consistent indoor temperature.

A Healthier Home

In a high-performance home, the air exchanges are controlled by the HVAC system, which includes a high-quality air filtration system that prevents pollutants, such as exhaust, pollen and wildfire smoke, from entering the home.

A Quieter Home

High-performance homes are quieter. Less noise from outside penetrates an airtight home.

To achieve an ultra-low airtightness rating, the building envelope needs to be prioritized.

Innotech Windows + Doors is a BC-based manufacturer of high-performance windows and doors that are engineered to deliver superior airtightness. Innotech products are tested to comply with—and exceed—both air infiltration and air exfiltration testing requirements.

Light-filled retreat in Squamish, BC

Blue Water Concepts is a full-service team in Squamish, BC, that specializes in designing and building high-performance homes. In a boat-access home on Gambier Island, the goal was to design and build a highly energy-efficient, comfortable and healthy home for their clients.

The team at Blue Water Concepts prioritized the overall design of the home. The team took the time to understand the sun’s path on the property, which guided several important decisions, including the orientation of the home and the overall design of the fenestration.

The home also features integrated solar panels on a metal roof and high-performance triple glazed windows and doors within a highly airtight and well insulated wall. The result is an all-season retreat that is a CHBA Net Zero certified home and meets Step 5 of the BC Energy Step Code.

Learn more about how Innotech Windows + Doors can help your project achieve ultimate comfort. Visit innotech-windows.com

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