Ventilation Design (HRV / ERV) in Aurora
HRV and ERV ventilation design for Aurora homes — including the Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary (MVDS) that Ontario building permits now require for new homes. Designed to CSA F326, stamped by a BCIN-registered designer.
Modern Aurora homes are built tight — good for energy, but a tight house can’t breathe on its own. Without engineered ventilation you get stale air, excess humidity, condensation on windows and poor indoor air quality. Proper ventilation design solves that, and since 2025 it’s also a permit requirement.
ON Point HVAC Design is based in Aurora and prepares residential ventilation designs and the permit documentation that goes with them, for homeowners, builders and renovators across York Region.
Why tight modern homes need engineered ventilation
Older homes leaked air through every gap and seam — accidental ventilation. Newer homes are sealed tight to save energy, which means fresh air has to be brought in deliberately, and stale, humid air exhausted deliberately. Leave it to chance and the house tells you:
- Condensation on windows in winter
- Stale, stuffy air that never clears
- Excess humidity — and the mould and comfort problems that follow
- Lingering cooking, bathroom and off-gassing odours
- Poor indoor air quality overall
An HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) or ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) solves this by continuously swapping stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering most of the heat (and, for an ERV, some of the moisture) from the air being expelled — so you ventilate without throwing your heating away. Which one is right, and how it’s sized and distributed, is what the design determines.
What our ventilation design includes
- Total ventilation capacity calculation — sized to the home, per CSA F326 and OBC 9.32
- HRV vs. ERV selection — the right technology for the home and climate
- Specific equipment selection with the required performance figures
- Fresh air supply and exhaust design — where air comes in, where it leaves, and how it’s balanced
- Duct routing and integration — standalone, or integrated with the forced-air system where they share ductwork
- Airflow balancing so the system actually delivers the design rates
- The MVDS, BCIN-stamped, ready for your permit submission
Whether you need the full design or just the MVDS to complete a package, we can help. Deciding between an HRV and an ERV? Here’s how the choice works in Ontario homes.
Serving Aurora & York Region
Residential ventilation design for Aurora and surrounding York Region communities including Newmarket, King City and Richmond Hill. Aurora is our home base. Most design work is done from your drawings and delivered digitally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an MVDS for my Aurora building permit? For a new home, yes. Since OBC 2024 took effect on January 1, 2025, the permit package must include a Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary documenting the HRV or ERV system. An application without it is returned as incomplete, so it’s worth confirming your package includes one before you submit.
What’s the difference between an HRV and an ERV? Both swap stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering heat. An ERV also transfers some moisture between the two air streams, which affects indoor humidity. Which is better depends on the home and how it’s used — the design makes that call rather than guessing.
Do I need ventilation design if I already have an HRV? For a permit, having the equipment isn’t the same as having the documentation. The MVDS documents and justifies the system, and it’s the document the permit requires. We can prepare it for your installed or selected equipment.
Is this required for renovations, or only new homes? The MVDS requirement centres on new homes, but major renovations that significantly tighten the envelope can change the ventilation requirements too. Tell us the scope and we’ll tell you what applies.
Can you do the ventilation design and the heat loss calculation together? Yes, and it’s the efficient way to do it — the same BCIN-registered designer prepares both, coordinated into one permit-ready package.
What areas near Aurora do you serve? Aurora, Newmarket, King City, Richmond Hill and the surrounding York Region area.