About BC Step Code Guide

Who runs this site

BC Step Code Guide is operated by Sebastian Edward-West, founder of Okanagan AeroBarrier, the certified AeroBarrier dealer serving British Columbia's Interior and Lower Mainland. The site exists because builders kept asking the same questions about Step Code compliance, ACH50 targets, and rebate eligibility, and the available answers online were either too thin or buried in 200-page government PDFs.

This is not a marketing site dressed up as a guide. It is the reference document I wish had existed when I started air sealing homes in 2022. The relationship to Okanagan AeroBarrier is disclosed openly throughout the site rather than hidden behind a generic "we" voice. Where AeroBarrier is the right answer for a builder, the site says so. Where caulk-and-tape, spray foam, or another method is more practical, the site says that too.

Why builders trust the numbers on this site

The performance data, ACH50 targets, climate zone advice, and compliance walkthroughs published here come from real residential projects, not modelled assumptions:

• 100+ verified residential blower door tests completed across BC between 2022 and 2026, including Step Code 3, 4, and 5 projects
• Best result on record: 0.24 ACH50, well below the 0.6 ACH50 Passive House threshold
• Median final result: 0.9 ACH50, comfortably inside Step Code 5
• 92% hit rate at the Step Code 4 target of 1.5 ACH50 on first attempt
• 64% hit rate at the Step Code 5 target of 1.0 ACH50 on first attempt
• 100% pass rate at Step Code 3
• Largest project base: Lytton First Nation rebuild, 20+ homes sealed as part of the post-fire reconstruction (CCDC formalization in progress)

When an article cites a number — wall assembly R-value, expected ACH50 outcome, rebate dollar amount — it has either come from one of these projects, or been verified against current utility and government program documentation on the date listed under "Last updated."

What this site covers

• Step Code requirements — what each step level means for your build, including ACH targets, TEDI limits, and MEUI requirements
• Air sealing methods — side-by-side comparisons of caulking, tape, spray foam, and aerosol sealing so you can pick what works for your project
• Rebate programs — current incentives from FortisBC, BC Hydro, CleanBC, and the Canada Greener Homes program, broken down by eligibility
• Municipality guides — city-specific Step Code timelines, climate zone context, and permit processes for 26 BC municipalities
• Real project case studies — first-hand reports from completed seals, including what worked, what failed, and what it cost
• Compliance tools — a rebate calculator and interactive resources to estimate costs and savings

Based in Kelowna, working province-wide

The site and the underlying business are headquartered in Kelowna, BC, with active project history across the Okanagan, Thompson-Nicola, Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky, and Vancouver Island. The Okanagan has been one of the earliest regions for Step Code adoption, with several municipalities running ahead of provincial timelines, which gives us a real-time view of the compliance issues builders run into before they become widespread.

Our climate zone perspective is grounded in actually testing in CZ4, CZ5, and CZ6 conditions. A wall assembly that hits 1.5 ACH50 in coastal Victoria does not always hit it in Kelowna or Revelstoke, and the site is honest about where those differences matter.

Editorial independence and disclosure

BC Step Code Guide is editorially independent. Okanagan AeroBarrier funds the site's hosting and content production, but no rebate program, manufacturer, or municipality pays for placement. When an article recommends a service or product, it is because the data supports the recommendation. AeroBarrier is mentioned where the technology genuinely solves the problem under discussion (typically when reaching ACH50 targets below 1.5 with consistency), and not as a default answer to every air sealing question.

Where the site links to a third party — a utility rebate program, a building code document, a manufacturer technical bulletin — those links are unaffiliated and provided for verification.

How content is kept accurate

Building codes, rebate programs, and municipal timelines change. The accuracy process:

• Articles are reviewed at least every six months, more often when a referenced program changes
• Rebate dollar amounts are verified against current utility provider publications before publication and on the dateModified line of every article
• Municipality-specific information is cross-referenced with local building department announcements and bylaws
• Performance data reflects results from completed Okanagan AeroBarrier projects, with project counts updated quarterly

This site is for educational purposes. Always confirm specific requirements with your local building department and registered energy advisor before finalizing a permit application or construction strategy. See our disclaimer for the formal version.

Get in touch

Builders, energy advisors, municipal staff, and anyone working in BC residential construction are welcome to send feedback, corrections, or article requests.

Email: [email protected]
Contact form: /contact/
Operating company: Okanagan AeroBarrier, Kelowna, BC