Revelstoke Step Code Requirements
Current Step: 3 | ACH Target: 2.5 ACH50 | Climate Zone: 6 | HDD: ~4,500 | Snow Load: 3 to 5+ kPa | Permit Office: revelstoke.ca
What’s required right now
Step 3 is mandatory for all new Part 9 residential builds in the City of Revelstoke. The airtightness target is 2.5 ACH50, verified by blower door test before occupancy.
What makes Revelstoke different from Okanagan municipalities at the same Step level is climate zone. Revelstoke sits in Climate Zone 6 with HDD around 4,500, materially colder than Vernon’s CZ5 ~3,900 or Kelowna’s ~3,715. The same house plan that passes Step 3 in the Okanagan often fails the energy model in Revelstoke without envelope upgrades.
What CZ6 means in practice
Climate Zone 6 changes assembly specs more than the airtightness target itself. For a typical Step 3 build in Revelstoke:
| Component | CZ5 (Kelowna/Vernon) | CZ6 (Revelstoke) |
|---|---|---|
| Wall (effective R-value) | R-22 + R-7.5 ext (~R-25 effective) | R-22 + R-15 ext (~R-32 effective) |
| Window U-value | 1.4 W/m²K | 1.2 W/m²K (often triple-pane) |
| Roof / attic | R-50 effective | R-60 effective |
| Slab edge | R-7.5 minimum | R-15 minimum |
| HRV recovery efficiency | 70%+ sensible | 75%+ sensible |
The blower door target stays at 2.5 ACH50. But every gap in a CZ6 envelope costs roughly 25% more in modeled energy use than the same gap would in CZ5. Air sealing discipline matters more here.
Snow loads, cold roofs, and air barrier integrity
Revelstoke gets 3 to 5+ kPa design snow loads, which drives heavy roof framing and creates specific air barrier challenges:
- Truss heel insulation crushing. Heavy snow-load trusses with deep heels need careful insulation depth out to the wall plate without crushing the air barrier
- Cold roof / vented attic strategies. R-60 insulation in a vented attic requires meticulous ceiling-plane air sealing to prevent stack-driven moisture into the attic
- Ice damming. A leaky thermal envelope drives snowmelt at the roof line that refreezes at the eave; the same air leaks that cost airtightness points cost shingles
- Roof-to-wall transitions. Classic CZ6 fail point at the eave where wall-top air barrier meets ceiling air barrier
See common air leaks for diagnostic patterns and wall assemblies for cold-climate build-ups.
Construction patterns in Revelstoke
Revelstoke’s residential build mix:
- Ski chalets and second homes. High-end custom builds, often with cathedral ceilings and large glazing
- In-town single family. Established neighborhoods near downtown
- Newer subdivisions. Big Eddy and Arrow Heights expansion areas
- Worker housing. Cheakamus-style affordable initiatives in development
Cathedral ceilings, exposed timber framing, large window assemblies, and complex rooflines are all more common in Revelstoke than in Okanagan tract construction. Each adds air barrier complexity at intersections that don’t exist in standard truss roofs.
Permit process at the City of Revelstoke
- Pre-construction. Submit energy compliance report with permit application. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for permit issuance during peak construction season (May to September); shorter in shoulder months
- Mid-construction (optional but recommended). No municipal blower door rebate, but pre-drywall testing at a CZ6 site is essentially mandatory if you want to hit 2.5 ACH50 reliably on a complex chalet plan
- As-built. Final blower door test plus updated compliance report before occupancy
Construction season is shorter in Revelstoke than in the Okanagan; many builders frame in summer and finish through winter. Plan blower door tests around heating season when stack effect makes leaks easier to find.
Rebate stack for Revelstoke projects
| Source | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FortisBC New Home Program | $9,000 to $15,000 | Step 4 with hybrid heat pump |
| FortisBC New Home Program | $11,000 to $20,000 | Step 5 with hybrid heat pump |
| CleanBC Better Homes | $4,000 to $10,000 | Heat pump rebate, stacks |
| Greener Homes Loan | up to $40,000 | Interest-free for energy upgrades |
Revelstoke is in FortisBC service area. Cold-climate ASHP-rated heat pumps (down to -25°C operation) are the standard play for hybrid pathway eligibility. See the Step Code rebates guide for stacking rules.
What’s coming in 2027
Step 4 is expected provincially in January 2027 at 1.5 ACH50. For Revelstoke builders, the airtightness drop is one challenge; maintaining the CZ6 wall thickness and window quality at the new TEDI target is the bigger one. Most builders here targeting Step 4 are planning double-stud or thick-exterior-insulated walls with aerosol air sealing for predictable results.
Next steps for your Revelstoke project
- Plan around the short construction season; book trades and blower door tests early
- Run the rebate calculator for project-specific numbers
- Review wall assemblies for CZ6-appropriate build-ups before pricing your envelope