Enderby Step Code & AeroBarrier Air Sealing

Current Step: 3 | ACH Target: 2.5 ACH50 | Climate Zone: 5 | Permit Office: cityofenderby.com

About Enderby

Enderby is a small community of roughly 3,000 people on the banks of the Shuswap River in the North Okanagan. Situated between Armstrong to the south and Salmon Arm to the north, Enderby has become an increasingly attractive option for buyers seeking affordable land and a quieter pace of life while staying within reach of Vernon and Kelowna services.

New residential construction in Enderby is growing as families and retirees move to the area. Builders working here need to meet BC Step Code requirements just as they would in any larger Okanagan centre.

Current Step Code Requirements

Enderby requires Step 3 compliance for new Part 9 residential buildings:

• Energy model using Climate Zone 5 weather data
• Blower door test achieving 2.5 ACH50 or better
• Compliance reporting at both design and as-built stages

Enderby’s climate is comparable to Armstrong and Vernon within CZ5. Winters are cold enough that a poorly sealed envelope will result in high heating costs and persistent comfort complaints from occupants.

What Builders Need to Know

Enderby’s residential construction tends toward practical, affordable housing:

• Single-family homes on standard residential lots within town
• Acreage builds on larger parcels outside the city boundary (under RDNO jurisdiction)
• Retirement and downsizer homes taking advantage of Enderby’s lower land costs
• Spec homes from regional builders serving the affordable end of the market

Even modest homes need to meet the same 2.5 ACH50 target. Builders who have worked primarily in pre-Step Code environments sometimes underestimate how many leakage paths exist in a standard wood-frame house. The difference between a 4.0 ACH50 house and a 2.5 ACH50 house comes down to systematic attention to every penetration, joint, and transition in the envelope.

Common Air Leakage Sources

In Enderby’s typical residential construction, the most common leakage sources include:

• Electrical boxes on exterior walls — each one is a potential leak point
• Plumbing penetrations through bottom plates and top plates
• HVAC ducts and registers that pass through the building envelope
• Window and door rough openings where shims and gaps aren’t fully sealed
• The rim joist assembly — often the single largest leakage area in a home
• Attic access hatches that aren’t gasketed and latched

Our air sealing methods guide covers how different sealing approaches address these sources.

AeroBarrier: A Practical Solution for Enderby

AeroBarrier is applied between rough-in and drywall. The home is pressurized with a blower door while a water-based acrylic sealant is aerosolized inside. Air pressure drives the sealant particles toward every leak, sealing them automatically. The ACH50 number is displayed in real time on a monitor.

For Enderby builders, AeroBarrier provides:

• Predictable compliance without relying on perfect manual sealing across all trades
• Real-time verification so you know you’ve passed before closing up walls
• Time savings compared to chasing individual leaks with caulk and foam
• Reduced callbacks from homeowners complaining about drafts and cold spots
• One application that covers the entire envelope, including areas you can’t easily reach by hand

Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. services Enderby as part of our North Okanagan coverage area. We batch projects in the Armstrong-Enderby corridor to keep scheduling efficient.

The Cost of Failing a Blower Door Test

For smaller builders working on tighter margins in Enderby, a failed blower door test can be expensive:

• Diagnostic testing to locate leaks after drywall is installed
• Targeted repairs that may require cutting into finished surfaces
• Retesting fees for additional blower door tests
• Schedule delays that push occupancy and affect cash flow
• Warranty concerns if air leakage issues emerge post-occupancy

AeroBarrier eliminates this risk by confirming your ACH50 score before drywall is installed. If additional sealing is needed, it happens while the envelope is still accessible.

FortisBC Rebates

Enderby is served by FortisBC. New homes meeting Step Code performance targets qualify for FortisBC rebates. For builders targeting the affordable housing market, these rebates can be a meaningful offset to the cost of high-performance construction.

Check our rebate calculator for current program details.

Nearby Communities

Builders working in the Enderby area may also be active in:

• Armstrong — 15 minutes south, similar construction market
• Vernon — 30 minutes south, the North Okanagan hub
• Coldstream — adjacent to Vernon, rural-residential mix
• Lumby — east of Vernon through the Monashee corridor

All of these communities share CZ5 requirements and the same 2.5 ACH50 target under Step 3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Enderby have its own building department?

Yes, the City of Enderby processes building permits within city limits. Properties outside the city boundary fall under RDNO jurisdiction. Step Code requirements apply in both cases.

Is 2.5 ACH50 hard to achieve in a standard wood-frame home?

It’s achievable but requires deliberate air sealing. Without a strategy, most wood-frame homes test between 3.0 and 5.0 ACH50. AeroBarrier makes 2.5 ACH50 a routine result rather than a stretch goal.

How much does AeroBarrier cost for a typical Enderby home?

Pricing depends on house size and target ACH50. For a standard 1,500-2,000 sq ft home, contact us for a quote. The cost is often offset by reduced labour on manual air sealing and the avoided cost of a failed blower door test.

Can AeroBarrier help with an addition to an existing home?

If the addition is framed and the envelope is accessible (pre-drywall), AeroBarrier can be applied to the new section. The connection between old and new construction is often a major leakage source that AeroBarrier addresses well.

What’s the difference between ACH50 and natural ACH?

ACH50 is measured at 50 Pascals of pressure — an artificial test condition. Natural air changes are much lower and depend on wind, temperature, and occupant behaviour. A home at 2.5 ACH50 will have natural air change rates well below 1.0, which is why mechanical ventilation (HRV) is required. See our ACH targets guide for more detail.

---

Ready to hit your ACH target in Enderby? Call us at 250-864-8727 or get a free consultation. Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. — hello@okaerobarrier.com