Since 1960, there has been a revised document about every five years up to 1995. The 2000 edition of the building code was supposed to be an objective or performance-based building. However, this took considerably longer to write than foreseen and the next edition of the National Building Code of Canada was not published until 2005. The 2010 National Model Construction Codes was published on 29 November 2010.[6] and the National Building Code of Canada 2010 incorporates energy efficiency requirements.[7]
On behalf of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) the National Research Council (NRC) Canadian Codes Center publishes national model codes documents that set out minimum requirements relating to their scope and objectives.[9] These include the National Building Code, the National Fire Code, the National Plumbing Code, the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) and other documents. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) publishes other model codes that address electrical, gas and elevator systems.
The National Building Code is the model building code that forms the basis for all of the provincial building codes. Some jurisdictions create their own code based on the National Building Code, other jurisdictions have adopted the National Building often with supplementary laws or regulations to the requirements in the National Building Code.
Prior to the enactment of the first Ontario Building Code Act in 1974, individual municipalities were responsible for developing their own building codes, resulting in a fragmented and potentially confusing regulatory environment. The introduction of a provincial Building Code Act and a provincial Building Code addressed this problem by providing for uniform construction standards across Ontario.[25]
The Quebec Code de Construction is not compulsory in the province. Municipalities have the option of adopting the code of their choice, with or without modifications. In fact, many municipalities do not have any building code officially in effect.
For example, since 2013 the RÃgie du bÃtiment du QuÃbec has adopted a new code (Bill 122) that requires all owners of buildings that are 5 storeys and higher which are older than 1958 to conduct a facade inspection of the building by an engineer. This code is exclusive to the province.
Part 1 gives the definitions and describes how the building code is applied. Houses and certain other small buildings (less than 3 storeys high and 600 m2) are considered "Part 9 Buildings" and Part 9 drives the majority of the code requirements, with references to other parts where the scope of Part 9 is exceeded. Larger buildings are considered "Part 3 buildings" and parts 1 through 8 apply. Part 3 is the largest and most complicated part of the building code. It is intended to be used by engineers and architects. Part 9 is very prescriptive and is intended to be able to be applied by contractors.
The building code also references hundreds of other construction documents that are legally incorporated by reference and thus part of the enforceable code. This includes many design, material testing, installation and commissioning documents that are produced by a number of private organizations. Most prominent among these are the Canadian Electrical Code, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada[38] a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, documents on fire alarm design, and a number of National Fire Protection Association documents.
Building Codes are legal requirements governing the construction of new buildings, as well as major renovations and changes in use of existing buildings. However, building codes are poorly understood, even by many in the construction industry. This article will explain the structure behind building codes: what they are, who writes them, who passes them into law and who enforces them.
Once the building permit is issued, construction can begin. During the construction process, the local authority will send inspectors to make sure that the building is being constructed to code and according to plan. They will look at various systems and assemblies at various points in the construction process, and they will generally let the builder know in advance when to contact them for an inspection. In some jurisdictions, the local government also needs to issue a certification of completion in order for the building to be legally ready to use.
Another critical modification to the code removes the 2-story constraint for flat ICF walls in Part 9, residential occupancies. So, whereas earlier versions of the building code limited above-grade ICF walls to two stories, now builders have the option of building up to 3 stories, with a maximum floor-to-floor height of 3 meters.
Whereas older code versions left much ambiguity about lateral support requirements for the tops of ICF foundation walls, the 2020 code finally has some firm answers to builders and building officials alike.
This code change will reflect the current practice of using specific types of fasteners for interior attachment of gypsum and exterior cladding. In the past, some building officials have challenged the use of fasteners in the plastic webs, both inside and outside. These changes will no longer require engineering stamps if questioned in the field, but rather offer options and spacings, which will vary by region in Canada.
Therefore, this subject should always be discussed by the electrical designers and contractors with the building code experts (with architects of fire protection consultants), as electrical safety regulators may not have expertise in this specific area.
Around the world, energy codes are recognized as one of the most cost-effective tools for achieving energy efficiency in buildings. In Canada, the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) was developed as part of a commitment to improving the energy efficiency of Canadian buildings and reducing GHG emissions. The NECB applies to large buildings and sets out the technical requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of new buildings and additions.
The NECB is published along with a suite of National Model Codes. These model codes address the design and construction requirements for buildings, and ensure new construction meets minimum health, safety, and performance standards.
In Canada, provinces and territories regulate the design and construction of new buildings. While the national model codes are prepared centrally by the independent Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, with input from stakeholders across the country, adoption of the codes is the responsibility of provincial and territorial authorities having jurisdiction.
In 2011, the MNECB was renamed the National Energy Code for Buildings (NECB) for consistency with the other model national construction codes (National Building Code of Canada, National Plumbing Code of Canada , National Fire Code of Canada). The NECB 2011 outlined the minimum energy efficiency levels for all new buildings, including an average 25 % performance improvement over its predecessor, and offered more flexibility for achieving code compliance.
Prior to issuing a building permit, municipal code officials will generally require evidence that the design is code compliant. Code compliance is an important part of ensuring actual energy savings are realized. The NECB offers three compliance paths: prescriptive, trade-off and performance. These compliance paths allow for buildings to comply with the energy code in different ways.
We spend the majority of our lives in buildings. Our houses, offices, and community centres require heating, cooling, and lighting. In Canada, buildings produce 12 percent of our national emissions, mostly for space and water heating. If you add indirect emissions from using electricity, that share jumps to 17 percent. And in making them more energy efficient, they represent a big economic opportunity.
The Canadian construction industry has a long history of building codes that have developed over many decades, with the first National Building Code being published in 1941. There have been many versions of the NBC published since then, as well as codes for fire protection starting in 1963, and the first Model National Energy Code published in 1977.
Looking down from 30,000 feet, provinces that publish their own version of Building Codes are British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The rest adopt the NBC, with some, such as Manitoba, making minor amendments. Generally speaking, even those provinces publishing their own building codes base them on the NBC, making modifications deemed relevant to the specific characteristics of each province.
A unique code application in Canada is from the City of Vancouver, which is the only city in Canada that publishes its own building code bylaw, the VBBL, with specific requirements for construction and energy efficiency. The Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) enforces building and energy codes at the local level. This can make for confusion and interpretation variations from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, checking with the local AHJ can save a lot of headaches. There are plans in the works to harmonize the application of building codes across the country.
Provinces that publish their own codes are also making them available online and can be found easily by Googling the province and building code. Resources can also be found at the bottom of this article.
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