Step Code compliance
for BC builders and developers
Testing, advising, and compliance documentation — from Step 3 blower door testing to Step 5 Net Zero Ready certification. We work directly with builders and general contractors across BC.
What the Step Code requires
The BC Energy Step Code sets progressively higher performance targets for new residential construction. Meeting those targets means getting the right testing done at the right time — and working with an energy advisor who understands what compliance actually requires in the field, not just on paper.
CoEfficient Building Science provides blower door testing, energy advising, and air leakage assessments for Step Code compliance across BC. We work directly with builders, general contractors, and developers at every step of the process.
BC Energy & Zero Carbon Step Codes
How the two frameworks apply to new Part 9 residential construction
Step 3 — The current floor
Step 3 is where most builders meet the Step Code for the first time. The target itself is rarely the hard part; the shift is that airtightness is now confirmed by a certified blower door test at occupancy (a maximum of 2.5 ACH50 for most buildings), so envelope detailing and the order you build in start showing up as a pass-or-fail number. Get the air-barrier details and construction sequencing right and Step 3 is straightforward — leave them to chance and the test will find the gaps. (Steps 1 and 2 were removed from the BC Building Code in May 2023 and are no longer valid compliance paths.)
Step 4 — What’s coming next
Step 4 tightens the envelope and energy targets — airtightness drops to 1.5 ACH50 — and the energy model starts carrying real weight, with much less room to change materials mid-build without revisiting compliance. The encouraging part: most builders who hit Step 3 comfortably can reach Step 4 without exterior insulation or changes to their wall assemblies — good detailing, quality windows, and the right mechanical system usually get them there. Larger or more complex buildings may need multi-fan blower door testing to depressurize the full envelope, which is worth planning for early. Step 4 is expected to become the provincial minimum in 2027.
Step 5 — Net Zero Energy Ready
Step 5 is the top tier (1.0 ACH50 for most Part 9 buildings), and it’s less about any single upgrade than about coordination: the envelope, mechanical systems, and testing strategy all have to be planned together from the start rather than sorted out during framing. It’s very achievable, but only when it’s designed in from day one. The province’s target is Step 5 for all new homes by 2032.
Zero Carbon Step Code
Alongside the Energy Step Code, BC now runs a Zero Carbon Step Code that measures something different — not how much energy a building uses, but how much greenhouse gas it emits. It’s tracked in Emissions Levels (EL-1 to EL-4) rather than Steps. EL-1, which asks builders to model and report a building’s emissions at occupancy, is in effect province-wide as of March 2025; the higher levels — decarbonizing domestic hot water, then space heating, up to full electrification — are being adopted municipality by municipality and are already common across Metro Vancouver. Because the two codes apply at the same time, the Step and the Emissions Level your project needs both depend on where you’re building. We confirm both at pre-construction, so the envelope and mechanical systems are designed to satisfy them together rather than retrofitted later.
Municipal requirements vary — many BC jurisdictions now require Step 3 or higher. Confirm your municipality’s current requirements before design begins.
How CoEfficient helps
We work directly with builders, general contractors, and developers at every stage — from pre-construction review through to final compliance documentation.
Blower door testing
Certified airtightness testing for Part 9 residential and Part 3 commercial buildings. Multi-fan capability for Steps 4 and 5 — one of very few providers in BC equipped for this.
Energy advising under EnerGuide
Energy evaluations and HOT2000 modeling required for Step Code compliance, plus support for BC Hydro, FortisBC, and Canada Greener Homes rebate programs.
Pre-construction review
If we are a good match for each other, we will get you set up in our system, and there is no need for any paperwork from you.
Compliance documentation
Test reports, energy model outputs, and supporting documentation required for municipal Step Code sign-off — prepared correctly the first time.
Built on 17+ years in the field
We understand what Step Code compliance requires in practice — not just on paper.
- 17+ years as a registered Energy Advisor under the EnerGuide Rating System — among the most experienced in BC
- Multi-fan blower door testing for large and complex buildings — a rare capability in the province
- Master of Building Science with award-winning research in passive design and building performance
- Direct experience with builders across BC, including remote and Indigenous community projects
- Practical advice grounded in what’s actually achievable on a job site
Working on a Step Code project?
Get in touch to talk about testing, scheduling, and what compliance looks like for your build.