Merritt Step Code & AeroBarrier Air Sealing

Current Step: 3 | ACH Target: 2.5 ACH50 | Climate Zone: 5 | Permit Office: merritt.ca

Why Merritt Builders Need to Take Air Sealing Seriously

Merritt sits in the Nicola Valley where the Coquihalla Highway meets Highway 5A, making it the gateway between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. The City of Merritt has been rebuilding steadily since the 2021 atmospheric river event and the 2021 wildfires, and new residential construction has picked up pace across the valley. Every new Part 9 residential build must meet BC Energy Step Code 3 requirements, including a 2.5 ACH50 airtightness target verified by a blower door test before occupancy.

Unlike the warmer Okanagan communities, Merritt sees colder winter nights and a higher heating degree day count. That makes air leakage more consequential for both energy costs and comfort. A leaky Merritt home costs more to heat, feels drafty in January, and fails the blower door test just as easily as any other Step Code build.

Merritt’s Nicola Valley Climate Realities

Merritt is in Climate Zone 5 but sits at the colder end of that zone. Winter lows regularly drop below -15°C and the valley funnel effect can drive wind chill considerably lower. This has real implications for builders:

• Envelope performance matters more in Merritt than in Penticton or Osoyoos
• Window specifications should lean toward better U-values and lower SHGC on north faces
• Mechanical system sizing must account for deep winter conditions
• Air leakage penalty is magnified by wind-driven infiltration in exposed sites

The blower door target of 2.5 ACH50 is the same as everywhere else in the province, but the cost of missing that target is higher in a colder climate.

Common Merritt Construction Types

Residential construction in Merritt spans:

• Rebuild homes replacing those lost in 2021 flooding and wildfires
• Single-family custom homes on valley-floor and hillside lots
• Ranch-style agricultural homes on larger acreages outside town
• Infill and duplex projects in established Merritt neighbourhoods

Rebuild projects are particularly common and often have tight budgets and accelerated timelines. Getting air sealing right the first time matters even more when the homeowner is trying to get back into their home.

How AeroBarrier Solves Merritt’s Air Sealing Problem

AeroBarrier is an aerosol air sealing system that pressurizes your home and sprays a water-based sealant mist into the air. The mist travels to every gap and leak, depositing sealant exactly where air is escaping. The system runs a blower door in real time so you watch the ACH number drop on screen from whatever you started at (typically 4-8 ACH50 for a rough-in stage home) down to whatever target you set.

For Merritt builders, that means:

1. No more guessing about whether your tape and caulk held up to the target
2. One trip instead of three - seal and test happen at the same time
3. Lower final ACH than traditional methods can reliably achieve
4. Access to Step 4 and Step 5 rebates through tighter airtightness results

Typical residential projects in Merritt can reach 1.0-1.5 ACH50 after an AeroBarrier treatment, well below the 2.5 ACH50 Step 3 requirement and inside Step Code 4 territory.

FortisBC Rebates for Merritt Projects

Merritt is within FortisBC’s service territory. Builders can stack rebates significantly by building above code:

• Step 4 (1.5 ACH50): Up to $15,000 in FortisBC rebates per dwelling unit
• Step 5 (1.0 ACH50): Up to $20,000 per dwelling unit with hybrid heat pump pathway
• Multi-unit projects: Rebates apply per unit, so a duplex at Step 4 can net $30,000

Use our rebate calculator to estimate your Merritt project numbers.

Common Air Leakage Points in Merritt Homes

Based on our work across the BC Interior, the failure points we see most often include:

• Rim joist cavities - the band joist between floors is a notorious air leak zone
• Plumbing stack penetrations - especially at the main floor to attic transition
• Electrical panel backs - unsealed drywall behind service panels
• Attic hatches - often forgotten in air sealing plans
• Sill plate to foundation - gasket gaps or uneven concrete

AeroBarrier addresses every one of these without requiring individual detail work on each. The sealant finds the leaks automatically.

Permit Process

Building in the City of Merritt follows the standard BC Energy Step Code workflow:

1. Design stage: Energy advisor prepares HOT2000 model and compliance report using Merritt climate data, submitted with your building permit application
2. Mid-construction (recommended): Pre-drywall blower door test and AeroBarrier seal (if using) to verify airtightness before drywall
3. Final: As-built blower door test at or below 2.5 ACH50 plus as-built compliance report, required before occupancy permit

The rebuild program homes in Merritt may qualify for additional provincial and federal funding programs. Your energy advisor can help identify those alongside Step Code rebates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Step Code level is required in Merritt?

Step 3 is the current provincial minimum and is required for all new Part 9 residential buildings in the City of Merritt. This means a maximum airtightness of 2.5 ACH50, verified by a blower door test before occupancy. Builders can voluntarily target Step 4 or Step 5 to access higher FortisBC rebates.

Is AeroBarrier available in Merritt?

Yes. Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. services Merritt and the Nicola Valley as part of our regular service area. We make the trip from Kelowna on a scheduled basis. For Merritt projects, we typically need 2-3 weeks lead time to coordinate.

How does Merritt’s climate affect Step Code compliance?

Merritt’s colder winter climate means a poorly sealed house costs more to heat and feels significantly worse than the same house in Penticton. The 2.5 ACH50 target is the same, but the energy penalty for missing it is higher. We recommend Merritt builders aim lower than the minimum - target 1.5 ACH50 and capture Step 4 rebates at the same time.

Can AeroBarrier be used on rebuild homes?

Yes. Rebuild homes from the 2021 disasters are subject to the same Step Code requirements as any new build. AeroBarrier works well for rebuilds because it is fast (typically 2-4 hours on site) and the process integrates with a normal pre-drywall workflow. Many rebuild projects are on tight timelines, and AeroBarrier can help you hit your airtightness target without adding weeks to the schedule.

What happens if I fail the final blower door test?

A failed test means no occupancy permit until you remediate the leakage. At that point, most of the wall assemblies are closed up and hidden leaks are expensive to find. The best insurance is a pre-drywall test (with or without AeroBarrier) so you catch problems before drywall goes up.

How much does AeroBarrier cost for a Merritt home?

Cost depends on the target ACH and home size. A typical single-family home in Merritt targeting Step 3 compliance runs $3,500-$5,500 installed, and most projects recover that investment through FortisBC rebates when combined with Step 4 compliance. Call us at 250-864-8727 for a project-specific estimate.

Nearby Communities We Serve

Merritt sits between the Lower Mainland and the Interior, making it accessible for our crews traveling between regions. We also serve Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, and Penticton on regular rotations.

Ready to Hit Your ACH Target in Merritt?

Whether you are rebuilding from 2021, building a custom home in the Nicola Valley, or taking on a rural acreage project, air sealing is the one Step Code requirement that can cost you your occupancy permit if you get it wrong. Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. has done 100+ verified residential seals and we have achieved results as low as 0.24 ACH50.

Call us at 250-864-8727 or get a free consultation.