Solar Hot Water Ready for Single Family Homes
Overview
The proposed Solar Hot Water Ready requirement for single family homes is one of the many steps the Province is taking in fulfilling its promise to take action against climate change.
A number of local governments have expressed interest in becoming Solar Ready Communities. Creating a Solar Hot Water Ready requirement that local governments can choose to adopt will provide consistent provisions across BC. The requirement will support individuals and communities to:
- Embrace green technologies;
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
- Increase energy efficiency; and
- Reduce costs at final solar panel installation.
The proposed Solar Hot Water Ready requirement for single family homes would apply in the following areas:
- Required roof space for solar collector
- Mandatory roof loading requirement
- Conduit specifications
We learned during the first phase of Greening the BC Building Code that industry and local governments prefer regulations that are flexible, support local governments as leaders in adopting provisions, and work for communities of all sizes. The Solar Hot Water Ready requirement would meet all of these criteria.
Solar Hot Water Ready Requirement
The Province is proposing an optional requirement that would enable local governments to mandate that all new single family dwellings within their communities be solar hot water ready. The Province acknowledges not all communities will benefit from solar hot water technology due to various limitations including weather restrictions, excessive shading and other challenges. The proposed requirement would only apply in local government jurisdictions that voluntarily adopt it.
Rationale
- Recognizes that not all communities will benefit from solar installations
- Supports sustainable innovation in construction
- Allows forward-looking communities to take the lead in implementing green technologies
Proposal
The proposed Solar Hot Water Ready requirement for single family homes would apply in jurisdictions where required by local government bylaw.
Areas Designated for Future Installation of Solar Collectors
In common construction practice, roof and wall spaces are not built with weight and space requirements in mind for a future installation of a solar domestic hot water system. By taking these aspects into consideration during the initial building phase, significant cost savings are made when the homeowner elects to install a solar domestic hot water system at a later date.
Rationale
- To maximize benefit from a solar domestic hot water system, the solar collector must not be shaded by adjacent objects or buildings.
- Required roof space would be outlined for the minimum size of collector needed to meet the hot water heating needs in an average single family home.
- The additional load imposed by a solar collector would be addressed in order to ensure safety of occupants.
Proposal
Would clarify the roof or wall area requirements for future installation of a solar panel, as well as roof and wall loading requirements for the additional weight associated with a solar collector.
Example of Possible Wording
1) An area designated for installation of solar collectors for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System shall allow for the installation of a solar collector that
- has unobstructed access to sunlight when construction of the building is commenced, and
- has an area of not less than 2.7m by 2.7m
2) Structural members of areas designated for installation of solar collectors for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System shall be designed to accommodate the anticipated load or a minimum additional load of 0.2 kpa in addition to design loads required by the British Columbia Building Code.
Conduit Requirements
A single straight pipe chase (conduit) from the utility room to the roof space allows installation of plumbing and electrical cables during solar system installation. Including the appropriate conduit requirements during the construction phase will save the home owner money and time at the point of installation.
Rationale
- It is necessary to provide a conduit for the future installation of the piping for the solar collector. This conduit should be as direct/straight as possible to facilitate future installation.
- This portion of the requirement would ensure the conduit is suitable for the future installation of a code-compliant solar domestic hot water system, and will not compromise the integrity of the building envelope.
Proposal
Would clarify requirements of the conduit runs which would later house the necessary plumbing and electrical cables for installation of the solar domestic hot water system.
Example of Possible Wording
1) One or more straight, continuous, conduits shall be provided that extend from the area directly adjacent to each dwelling unit’s primary service water heater to
- an accessible attic space adjacent to the roof area designated for installation of solar collectors for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System,
- the roof space designated for installation of solar collectors for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System, or
- the exterior wall surface directly adjacent to the area designated for installation of solar collectors for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System.
2) The conduit(s) described in Sentence 5.2.(1) shall
- be accessible at both ends,
- be capped or sealed at both ends to prevent water ingress and air leakage,
- be identified by markings that are permanent, distinct and easily recognized,
- have a minimum inside diameter of 50mm if two conduit runs are provided, or 100mm if only one conduit run is provided, and
- be able to accommodate the installation of insulated plumbing services for a Solar Domestic Hot Water System in conformance with CAN/CSA-F383-87.
Implementation
We are committed to providing lead-in time to allow those who use the code to prepare for the changes. Once analysis of the feedback is complete we will move forward with implementation.
