Peachland Step Code & AeroBarrier Air Sealing

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

Building in Peachland: Steep Terrain, Tight Targets

Peachland is a small lakeside community of roughly 5,500 people tucked between Kelowna to the north and Summerland to the south. Despite its size, the District of Peachland has seen consistent residential construction activity, driven by demand for lake-view and hillside custom homes along the steep terrain rising from Okanagan Lake.

Every new Part 9 residential building in Peachland must meet BC Energy Step Code 3, which requires a maximum airtightness of 2.5 ACH50 verified through a blower door test. This is a measured result, not a modelling assumption. Your house either passes or it does not.

The Peachland Building Challenge

Peachland is not a flat subdivision community. Most building lots feature significant grade changes, and the dominant construction type is the hillside custom home with one or more walk-out levels. This creates specific air sealing challenges that builders working on flat lots rarely encounter:

• Multiple foundation-to-wall transitions at different elevations on the same house
• Step-down and step-up foundations that create complex geometry at the air barrier plane
• Retaining wall integration where the building envelope meets retained earth
• Exposed concrete on uphill elevations transitioning to framed walls on downhill faces
• Cantilevered decks and balconies that penetrate the building envelope for lake views

These details are where blower door tests are won or lost. A house on a flat lot in West Kelowna might have one simple slab-to-wall connection. A Peachland hillside build could have four or five distinct foundation conditions on a single project.

RDCO Services and Permit Process

Peachland has a limited local building department and uses the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) for certain building services. Builders should confirm the permit submission process and inspection schedule with the District office, as timelines can differ from larger municipalities like Kelowna.

The Step Code compliance process itself follows the standard BC framework:

1. Pre-construction: Energy advisor models the design using HOT2000 with Peachland-specific weather data and produces a compliance report for the building permit application
2. Mid-construction (recommended): Pre-drywall blower door test to verify air barrier performance before drywall closes everything up
3. As-built (required): Final blower door test confirming 2.5 ACH50 or better, plus as-built compliance report for occupancy permit

Why AeroBarrier Makes Sense for Peachland Builds

Given the complexity of hillside construction in Peachland, traditional air sealing methods face an uphill battle — literally. Every step in the foundation, every transition from concrete to framing, and every cantilever is a potential leak point that requires precise detailing by your crew.

AeroBarrier takes a different approach. The system pressurizes your home and injects a water-based, non-toxic sealant mist that finds and fills gaps from the inside. It does not care whether the leak is at a simple window rough opening or a complicated multi-level foundation transition. The sealant finds air movement and seals it.

For a typical Peachland custom home of 2,500-3,500 sq ft with walk-out levels, AeroBarrier is applied in 2-4 hours at the pre-drywall stage. Most homes sealed with AeroBarrier reach 1.0-1.5 ACH50, far exceeding the 2.5 ACH50 minimum and positioning the project for Step Code 4 compliance.

Climate Zone 5 in Peachland

Peachland sits in Climate Zone 5, similar to neighbouring Kelowna and West Kelowna. The lakeside location moderates winter temperatures somewhat, but higher-elevation building sites on the benches above town experience colder conditions and more wind exposure.

Your energy advisor will account for site-specific conditions in the HOT2000 model. For builders, the practical takeaway is:

• Lakeside lots (lower elevation): Standard CZ5 insulation and window specs typically work well
• Bench and upper hillside lots: May require upgraded insulation values and better-performing windows on north-facing walls
• All elevations: The 2.5 ACH50 airtightness target does not change based on your lot’s elevation

FortisBC Rebates for Peachland

Peachland is served by FortisBC, making builders eligible for energy efficiency rebates:

• Step 4 at 1.5 ACH50: up to $15,000 per dwelling unit through FortisBC programs
• Step 5 at 1.0 ACH50: up to $20,000 per dwelling unit

For Peachland builders constructing duplexes or secondary suites (where ALR regulations allow), rebates multiply per dwelling unit. A duplex built to Step 4 could receive $30,000 in combined rebates.

Use our calculator to run the numbers for your specific project.

Hitting Your ACH Target on Steep Lots

The ACH targets are the same regardless of terrain, but the effort to reach them varies significantly. On a Peachland hillside lot, pay special attention to:

1. Foundation waterproofing and air barrier coordination — these are often separate systems that need to work together
2. Step-foundation transitions — seal every change in foundation height with continuous membrane or spray foam
3. Walk-out door and window sills — where the wall meets exposed foundation, flashing details must be airtight as well as watertight
4. Cantilever floor framing — any floor system that extends beyond the foundation wall creates a cold bay that must be sealed and insulated
5. Garage-to-house connections — attached garages on hillside homes often have complex shared walls

Frequently Asked Questions

What Step Code level does Peachland require?

Peachland requires Step 3 for all new Part 9 residential buildings. This means a maximum air leakage rate of 2.5 ACH50 verified by blower door test. Builders can voluntarily build to Step 4 or Step 5 to access FortisBC rebates.

Does Peachland have its own building department?

Peachland has a local permit office but uses RDCO for some building services. Confirm the submission process and inspection schedule with the District of Peachland directly. Step Code compliance requirements are the same regardless of which office processes your permit.

How does steep terrain affect air sealing?

Steep lots create more complex building envelopes with multiple foundation transitions, walk-out levels, and retaining wall interfaces. Each transition is a potential air leak path. Traditional sealing methods require meticulous detailing at every junction. AeroBarrier simplifies this by finding and sealing gaps regardless of geometry.

Is AeroBarrier available in Peachland?

Yes. Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. serves all Okanagan communities including Peachland, Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Summerland. Peachland is centrally located in our service area. Call 250-864-8727 or get a free consultation.

What happens if my blower door test fails?

If your final blower door test exceeds 2.5 ACH50, you will not receive your occupancy permit until the issue is resolved. This typically means cutting into finished walls to access and seal leaks — an expensive and time-consuming process. A pre-drywall blower door test or AeroBarrier application eliminates this risk by verifying airtightness before walls are closed.

Can I build to Step 4 in Peachland to get the FortisBC rebate?

Absolutely. Step 4 requires 1.5 ACH50, which is achievable with AeroBarrier on virtually any Peachland home. The FortisBC rebate of up to $15,000 per dwelling unit often covers the additional cost of tighter air sealing and upgraded mechanical systems. Talk to your energy advisor about the energy model implications early in design.

Get Started on Your Peachland Project

Peachland’s hillside lots produce beautiful homes, but they demand careful air sealing strategy. Whether you are building your first Step Code home or your fiftieth, Okanagan AeroBarrier Inc. can help you hit your target with confidence.

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