Full HVAC Design & Mechanical Drawings for Your Ontario Building Permit
Your Ontario building permit application requires more than a heat loss number. It requires a complete mechanical design package — duct layout, equipment schedule, ventilation summary, and BCIN-stamped drawings. We deliver the full package in 48 hours. Not sure whether you need just the CSA F280 heat loss report or the full package? The comparison table below makes it clear.
- CSA F280 heat loss & gain calculations
- Full duct layout drawings (supply & return)
- Equipment schedule & sizing
- Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary
- HRV/ERV design & selection
- Ontario Schedule 1 Form
- BCIN designer stamp & signature
- One revision included at no charge
For residential building permits in Ontario, the OBC requires four primary documents plus supporting forms. Our full HVAC design package includes all of them — stamped, signed, and ready to submit. See our guide on why permit applications get rejected to understand what missing documents cause the most delays.
CSA F280 Heat Loss & Gain Calculations
Room-by-room heating and cooling load calculations using your actual floor plans, wall assemblies, window specs, and Ontario design temperatures. The foundation of every permit package. Available as a standalone service if you only need the heat loss report.
Required — every Ontario permitFull Duct Layout Drawings
Dimensioned supply and return duct layout drawn over your floor plans. Includes trunk and branch sizing, CFM airflow for every room, register and grille locations — all per HRAI residential mechanical design guidelines.
Required — every Ontario permitMechanical Ventilation Design Summary (MVDS)
The OBC-required ventilation summary showing whole-home fresh air calculations, HRV/ERV selection, principal and non-principal exhaust fans, and CAN/CSA-F326 compliance documentation. See our standalone HRV/ERV design service if you need this separately.
Required — every Ontario permitOntario Schedule 1 Form — Designer Declaration
The mandatory designer declaration form that identifies our BCIN-registered designer, their qualification number, and their formal responsibility for the design. Required on every Ontario building permit application — this is the form most applicants forget and the most common reason for rejection.
Required — every Ontario permitEquipment Schedule & Sizing
Complete list of specified mechanical equipment — furnace or heat pump model and output capacity, HRV unit, exhaust fans — with sizing justification based on the calculated heating loads. If you're specifying a cold-climate heat pump, the equipment schedule includes rebate qualification documentation.
Included in full packageBCIN Designer Stamp & Signature
All drawings and calculations are stamped and signed by our BCIN-registered HVAC designer (qualification: Building Services, HVAC-House). This is the legal requirement that makes your package valid for permit submission in every Ontario municipality — from Barrie to Muskoka.
Included in full packageMany homeowners order a heat loss calculation and then discover their building department requires a complete mechanical drawings package. By that point, they've already paid for the heat loss report and now need to pay again for the full design — and start the process over.
Ontario Building Code Part 9, Sections 9.32 and 9.33, requires not just a heating load calculation but a complete mechanical system design. This means your permit reviewer needs to see how the heat is distributed throughout the house — not just the total load number. You can read the specific Ontario Building Code requirements directly if you want to verify what applies to your project.
Our full package gives your building department everything they need in one submission — calculated loads, duct drawings, ventilation design, equipment schedule, and the BCIN-stamped Schedule 1 form. First-time acceptance, every time.
If you're building in Barrie, Collingwood, Oro-Medonte, Muskoka, or anywhere else in Ontario, the full package is almost always what your permit office requires. For ICF builds specifically, ICF homes require specific heat loss calculation inputs that a generic designer may miss — we account for this in every calculation we produce.
If you're in any of these situations, the full package is what your building department needs to issue your permit. Check your municipality's specific portal and pre-conditions on our local area guides.
New Custom Home Builds
Every new residential home permit application in Ontario requires a complete mechanical design package. Your building department will not accept an application without BCIN-stamped duct drawings, a ventilation summary, and the Schedule 1 designer declaration. Read our guide on permit rejection causes to understand what's commonly missing.
Additions Over 400 sq ft
Large additions that affect the home's heating system typically require an updated HVAC design. If your addition changes the duct layout, adds zones, or requires new equipment, your permit will need updated mechanical drawings. Contact us with your addition details and we'll confirm what's required for your municipality.
Builders Without In-House HVAC Design
Most small and mid-size builders don't employ a BCIN-registered HVAC designer. Your HVAC installer can size the equipment but cannot stamp the engineering drawings. We provide the complete permit-ready package your builds need — especially important for ICF builds where the heating system selection is different.
Send us your architectural drawings. We handle everything else — calculations, duct design, ventilation, forms, and the BCIN stamp — all delivered within 48 hours of payment.
Upload Your Floor Plans
Send us your architectural drawings in any format. Include wall assembly specs, window details, and insulation values.
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When you're readyReceive Complete Package
All documents delivered by email — CSA F280 report, duct drawings, MVDS, Schedule 1, BCIN stamp. Ready to submit.
Within 48 hoursOur Delivery Guarantee
Complete package not delivered within 48 hours of payment? Full refund, no questions asked.
Everything Ontario builders and homeowners ask before ordering their mechanical permit package. For questions about heat pump sizing specifically, see our heat pump sizing service page.
What is the difference between the heat loss report and the full HVAC design package?
The heat loss report (CSA F280) calculates your total heating load — it tells you what size furnace or heat pump you need. The full package goes further: it shows exactly how the heat is distributed throughout the house via a duct layout, documents your ventilation system design, and includes the Ontario Schedule 1 designer declaration. Most permit offices require the full package, not just the heat loss number.
Does my HVAC installer provide these drawings?
Most HVAC installers are licensed to install equipment but not to produce engineering drawings for permit purposes. Producing mechanical drawings for a building permit requires a BCIN registration in the HVAC-House category. Always ask for your installer's BCIN number before assuming they can provide permit-ready drawings.
What is the Ontario Schedule 1 Form and why do I need it?
Schedule 1 is the Ontario Building Code's designer declaration form. It identifies the BCIN-registered designer who takes professional responsibility for the mechanical design. It must be signed and stamped by a qualified designer and submitted with every building permit application. Without it, your application will be incomplete and rejected — it's one of the top causes we cover in our rejection causes guide.
What is the Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary (MVDS)?
The MVDS is an OBC-required form documenting your home's whole-home mechanical ventilation system. It covers the HRV or ERV selection, principal and non-principal exhaust fans, outdoor air supply, and compliance with CAN/CSA-F326 ventilation standards. It must be included in your permit submission alongside the heat loss calculations and duct drawings. See our HRV/ERV ventilation design service for more detail.
How detailed are the duct layout drawings?
Our duct drawings are produced over your actual floor plans and show the furnace or air handler location, main trunk ducts, all branch ducts with sizing, supply register locations and CFM airflow for each room, and return air grille locations. They follow HRAI residential mechanical guidelines and are fully dimensioned — exactly what your building inspector needs to review.
Can you design for heat pumps, radiant systems, or in-floor heating?
Yes. We design for all residential heating systems — gas furnaces, cold-climate heat pumps, dual-fuel systems, hydronic radiant floor heating, and boilers. If your system type requires a different distribution approach, let us know when uploading your plans and we'll confirm the scope and pricing.
What files do I need to provide to get started?
We need your architectural floor plans (any format), wall assembly details, window specifications, ceiling insulation R-value, foundation type, and your municipality. The more complete your drawings, the more accurate and faster our design process. Contact us if you're unsure what to include.
Will this package be accepted by my local building department?
Yes. Every package we produce has been accepted on first submission. Our designs comply fully with Ontario Building Code Part 9 (Sections 9.32 and 9.33), use CSA F280-12 for load calculations, follow HRAI guidelines for duct design, and include all required forms stamped by our BCIN-registered designer. We also know the specific portal requirements for every municipality — see our local area guides.
Everything your Ontario building permit needs — one package, one price, delivered in 48 hours. Stop chasing multiple designers.
- CSA F280 heat loss & gain calculations
- Full duct layout drawings — HRAI compliant
- Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary
- Ontario Schedule 1 designer declaration
- Equipment schedule & sizing
- BCIN designer stamp & signature
- One free revision if your plans change
Drag & drop your floor plans here
PDF, CAD, JPG, PNG — any format works
Standalone services available if you only need part of the full package, or want to add specialized design.