 |
CodeNews
is pleased to announce that Renata Antoniuk has joined Dolden Wallace Folick LLP as an associate in April 2018. Dolden Wallace Folick LLP is proud of its focus and expertise on specialty lines of insurance. Congratulations, Renata...! |
City of Ottawa Building Official - Building Code Services Project
Officer |
DATE |
PROVINCE OR JURISDICTION |
NEWS |
| 19-MAR-2019 | ONTARIO Ontario Building Code Next Edition | On March 6, 2019, Richard Lyall, President of RESCON (Residential Construction Council of Ontario), reported in his RESCON Blog,
that the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing for Ontario, delivered a speech at RESCON's annual general
meeting in February, 2019, where the Minister addressed the next
edition of the Ontario. The Minister is reported to have said: “Also,
we were just talking about the building code and the fact that about
harmonizing our code to the national code is something that is very
important to our government." “So we have a number of balls up in the air that we are working on right now. We have to leave our house in better fiscal order … We have to do things differently …" “The previous government consulted on the changes but as of Jan. 1, 2019, the changes weren’t finalized, they didn’t come into effect. The code was the same on Jan. 1st, 2019, as it was on Dec. 31st. We’re working again to update the building code to reflect some of the technological consultations and some of the changes, some of the expert research, some of the input that was done as part of the national construction code that was released in 2015. I’ve been pretty consistent when I’ve spoken (previously) to say that we need to catch up. We need to have that harmonization. We need to do it for jobs, we need to do it for inter-provincial trade, we need to do it to make it easier for Ontario manufacturers and developers and business to be operating in our province, and for people to have that consistency to be able to keep costs down. Reducing red tape, having efficient regulations, putting health and safety in the window is something that our government puts as our priority." CodeNews.ca graciously thanks Richard Lyall for permission to copy the above quotes from the RESCON Blog. So, there you have it folks:
|
| 18-MAR-2019 | ONTARIO 2007 Ontario Fire Code |
In its Bulletin #001/19, dated March
18,2019, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management
(OFMEM) announced that Ontario Regulation 33/19, a
regulation made under the Fire
Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, to amend the 2007
Fire Code (Ontario Regulation 213/07) by making housekeeping changes
(to update or clarify requirements) and by adding requirements for the
following:
For more details, see Fire Marshal's Communiqué 2019-02, dated March 15, 2019. |
| 14-MAR-2019 | ALBERTA Gas Safety STANDATA Gas Safety Information Bulletin Fire/Electrical Interpretation Fire/Building Variance |
On
March 14, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced that the
following Gas Safety Information Bulletin has been revised: This Bulletin lists nationally recognized certification bodies or inspection bodies, currently operating in Alberta, that are accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to inspect and approve uncertified gas-fired appliances and equipment. On March 14, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs also announced that the following Fire/Electrical Interpretation had been issued: This Interpretation identifies the applicable requirements where a building fire alarm system requires inspection, testing, maintenance,or the installation of devicesor other equipment. It also defines who is able to inspect, test, maintain and install fire alarm systems in Alberta. On March 14, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs also announced that the following Fire/Building Variance had been issued: This Variance sets out the conditions for the use of antifreeze solutions in sprinkler systems that are located in -20°C or colder climates within the Province of Alberta. |
| 08-MAR-2019 |
 Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 Fuels Safety Program Advisory |
On March 8, 2019, the Technical Standards and Safety
Authority (TSSA) issued an Advisory (FS-243-19) titled "Cell Phone Use
at Gas Station Dispensers" to announce that it will permit
cell phones to be used for payment at dispensers at licensed gasoline
facilities in Ontario. This was in response to a risk assessment related to “Risk Associated with Cell Phone Use During Refueling”, dated February 4, 2019, by Adrian Pieroraio, P. Eng. & Syed Taha of BakerRisk, that was commissioned by the Canadian Fuels Association. The assessment concluded that the chance that a cell phone will ignite the vapours generated at the pumps is negligible (i.e. one chance in 10 billion). |
| 08-MAR-2019 | National Research Council of Canada CCBFC Construction Codes of Canada |
Joe
Rogers, P. Eng., Building Code Coordinator for the Province of Nova
Scotia, forwarded the following update issued by Martin Thériault,
Director Built Environment Regulations and Specifications, Construction
Research Centre, NRC: "On February 28,
2019, the Government of Canada confirmed funding that
will support ongoing and future building code development work. This is
good news that will allow NRC to continue to support the building code
development system and to provide free access to the national model
codes.
For more information, contact:Starting in spring 2019, NRC will offer free online access to the National Building Code, the National Fire Code, the National Plumbing Code, and the National Energy Code for Buildings, as well as the provincial codes published by NRC. Paper copies of the Codes, along with other supporting documents including the Guides, will be offered at a reduced cost. Due to these changes, longer term subscriptions are not currently available. Please touch base with us again in April for an update and more information." Martin Thériault,
Director Built Environment Regulations and Specifications
Construction Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Government of Canada E-mail: martin.theriault@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca Tel: 613-991-9952 |
| 26-FEB-2019 | QUÉBEC Le chapitre III, Plomberie du Code de construction du Québec |
On
February 25, 2019, the Corporation of Master Plumbing Mechanics
of Québec and the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, in
collaboration with Réseau Environnement and the Montreal chapter of the
American Society of Plumbing Engineers, announced the publication of the "Backflow Prevention Device Guide: Protecting
Drinking-Water Systems from Cross-Connection". This 88-page reference guide (5.5MB pdf) covers the use of backflow prevention devices in Québec and covers:
|
| 24-FEB-2019 | UL Standards ULC Standards UL ISO Standards |
Underwriters
Laboratories Inc. has now posted its entire library of UL-authored
Standards for open-access online viewing
capability for any interested individual or organization globally, for
the first time in its 125 years. As part of its long-term
vision,
UL has announced that this is a natural next step on the path that it
have been on for many years. Philip Piqueira, Vice President
Global Standards, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. has stated that: "The
best way to continue to build upon our mission is to offer this new
digital view to provide basic access to UL Standards for everyone.
Through this measure, global users of any economic means will be able to find, reference and employ our comprehensive UL Standards library. We believe that providing greater access and transparency to our Standards is the right way to continue to build trust deep into the next century." Individuals can view all UL and ULC standards by logging into the UL Standards Sales Site. Meanwhile, as reported in the 18-JUL-2018 News at CodeNews entry, Public.Resource.Org (PRO) successfully fought efforts by the ASTM, NFPA, and ASHRAE to prevent it from publishing standards that are incorporated by reference into law. Congratualtions to UL for setting an example! |
| 20-FEB-2019 | ALBERTA 2018 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA |
On February 20, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced that the electrical STANDATA have been updated to the 2018 Canadian Electrical Code and are now available on the Municipal Affairs website. |
| 15-FEB-2019 | ALBERTA 2019 Alberta Edition of the National Building Code 2017 Edition of the National Energy Code for Buildings 2019 Alberta Edition of the National Fire Code |
On February 14, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced that the following codes
were adopted in February 2019 by provincial regulation:
Mandatory code update training is not required for updates to the 2019 Alberta editions of the National Building Code and National Fire Code or to the 2017 edition of the National Energy Code for Buildings. An overview of key code updates is posted at the National Research Council site. A new 74 page slide deck presentation of the building and energy code changes is available on the Alberta Municipal Affairs web site. |
| 05-FEB-2019 | ONTARIO 2018 Ontario Electrical Safety Code (27th edition) |
Ontario Regulation 478/18 was
filed on November 16, 2018 to adopt the 27th edition of the
Electrical Safety Code, which consists of:
The Electrical Safety Authority has published a document concerning "Frequently Asked Questions about the 2018 Ontario Electrical Safety Code – 27th Edition". The 2018 edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code reflects changes in technology and the marketplace, and incorporates feedback from stakeholders, technical reviews and new safety insights. The new edition includes changes designed to enhance electrical safety and protect workers and the public including:
|
| 01-FEB-2019 | ALBERTA Electrical Code |
On January 31, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced
that the Twenty-fourth edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part1
I (CSA-C22.1-18) was published in January 2018 by the Canadian
Standards Association and automatically comes into effect on February
1, 2019 throughout the Province of Alberta. |
| 30-JAN-2019 | ALBERTA Building Code Variance STANDATA |
On January 30, 2019, Alberta Municipal Affairs
announced the publication of the following Building Code
Variance: The variance sets out the conitions for the use of sprinkler protected glazed assemblies used in fire rated wall assemblies. Ontario Building Code users already have the luxury of a made-in-Ontario requirement to address these systems, which are found in Article 3.1.8.18. of Division B of the current Ontario Building Code. |
| 01-JAN-2019 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #272, dated December 24, 2018, to announce new
Building Code related fees for registrations for building practitioners
regulated under the Building Code Act, 1992, effective on January 1,
2019: - $114 Initial Registration/Reinstatement and Annual Renewal for Building Officials & Independent Designers & Septic System Installers - $181 Initial Registration/Reinstatement for Design Firms - $136 Annual Renewal for Design Firms - $39 Updating class of registration for Design Firms - $430 Initial Registration/Reinstatement for Registered Code Agencies - $317 Annual Renewal for Registered Code Agencies - $73 Updating class of registration for Registered Code Agencies Other fee increases: - Applications to the Building Code Commission: $189 - Applications for Minister’s Rulings authorizing the use of innovative products: $621 - Applications to the Building Materials Evaluation Commission: $11,000 (no increase) |
| 28-NOV-2018 | ONTARIO Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing |
On November 28, 2018, Ontario's "Government for the
People" announced a public
consultation on increasing housing supply in the province. You are invited to download: The consultation document includes a number of Ontario Building Code related question: "How
do we encourage homeowners to create legal second units and new rental
supply?"
"How do we encourage innovation in the building industry while maintaining high standards of safety and efficiency?" The consultation closes on January 25, 2019 and the responses will help inform the government's Housing Supply Action Plan that will address the barriers getting in the way of new ownership and rental housing. |
| 22-NOV-2018 | National Research Council of Canada CCBFC Construction Codes of Canada |
Free National Codes Coming Soon - the National Research Council is learning from Ontario!On Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018, Finance Minister Bill Morneau introduced the Canadian federal government's 2018 Fall Economic Statement. The statement includes a proposal to make the National Building Codes freely available to all Canadians.Page 71 of the 2018 Fall Economic Statement states: "For small
businesses—which account
for approximately 99 per cent of Canada’s construction industry—the
cost of purchasing building codes, and the lack of harmonization
between provincial/territorial codes and national codes, make it harder
to succeed and grow. The Government is proposing to provide $67.5
million over five years to the National Research Council of Canada,
with $13.5 million ongoing, to make access to the National Building
Codes free, and to provide sufficient resources for the federal
government to address provincial, territorial, and other stakeholder
code development priorities in a more timely way."
Ontario has had its Building Code available on-line for free, as a regulation, for many years. |
| 05-NOV-2018 | ALBERTA Building Code Variance STANDATA |
On November 14, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the
following
Building Code Variance: This variance addresses concerns that the current under slab insulation provisions of Section 9.36. of Div. B of the Alberta Building Code are excessive and discourage the use of hydronic heating. |
| 05-NOV-2018 | CCBFC Construction Codes of Canada |
Revisions and Errata packages are
now available from the NRC Construction Research Centre for the
following documents: 2017 print
publications:
National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2017 – Revisions and Errata – Sept. 2018 (PDF, 514 KB) 2015 print publications: National Building Code of Canada 2015 – Revisions and Errata – Sept. 2018 (PDF, 2 MB) National Fire Code of Canada 2015 – Revisions and Errata – Sept. 2018 (PDF, 416 KB) National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015 – Revisions and Errata – Sept. 2018 (PDF, 1.3 MB) National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2015 – Revisions and Errata – Sept. 2018 (PDF, 234 KB) Please e-mail Alek Antoniuk to obtain a direct link to download the files. CodeNews.ca thanks Joe Rogers, P. Eng., Building Code Coordinator for the Province of Nova Scotia, for this update. |
| 31-OCT-2018 | NOVA SCOTIA Building Code |
Joe
Rogers, P. Eng., Building Code Coordinator for the Province of Nova
Scotia, has announced a public consultation on proposed amendments to
the Nova Scotia
Building Code Regulations pursuant to the Building Code Act,
R.S. N.S. 1989, Chapter 46 . Schedule “A” of the proposed amendments will offer additional compliance options to the Nova Scotia Building Code for the construction of tiny homes and recreational cabins and, subject to the public consultation, will come into effect on April 1, 2019. Schedule “B” of the proposed amendments will add "adaptable housing requirements" for certain houses, duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, row houses, and boarding houses and, subject to the public consultation, will come into effect on September 1, 2019. The consultation period will run from October 31, 2018 until December 14, 2018. Comments or questions on these changes can be sent by:
|
| 22-OCT-2018 | ONTARIO 2007 Ontario Fire Code |
In its Bulletin #006/18,
dated October 22, 2018, the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency
Management (OFMEM) announced that it is conducting a public
consultation on proposed amendments to the Fire Code related to floor
areas or portions of floor areas containing hazardous extraction
operations, associated with cannabis production. In farm buildings, the requirements would apply where hazardous extraction operations specifically pertain to cannabis processing. These proposed amendments were supported in principle by a Technical Advisory Committee comprised of various stakeholder groups that was convened by the OFMEM as part of the consultation process. Public comments must be submitted before the consultation period ends on November 21, 2018. Follow this link to the consultation on the Ontario Regulatory Registry. The proposed changes may entail a consequential amendment to Ontario's Building Code to reference applicable provisions in the Fire Code as they apply to new or renovated farm buildings that contain cannabis extraction processes where flammable liquids, combustible liquids or flammable gases are used as extraction solvents. This consequential amendment, should it proceed, would be consulted on separately by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs at a future date. |
| 04-OCT-2018 | ALBERTA Building Code Variance Building Code Interpretation Fire Code Interpretation STANDATA |
On October 4, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the following
Building Code and Fire Code
STANDATA: Building Code Variance
Building Code and Fire Code Interpretation |
| 02-OCT-2018 | ONTARIO Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing |
 On
Monday, October 1, 2018, the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of
Municipal Affairs and Housing for Ontario, addressed the 2018 annual
convention of the Ontario Building Official’s Association in Kingston,
Ontario..A copy of Minister Clark's speech is available here. Minister Clark specifically stated: "During the election campaign and at the recent AMO conference, people told me that our regulations can be too cumbersome and complicated." "Business owners and municipalities alike told me that they are drowning in paperwork… Struggling to keep up with regulations… And are being held back by red tape from innovating or taking advantage of business opportunities." "For too long, excessive regulations have discouraged business owners and some have walked away from operating in our province. Others never bothered to invest in the first place." "Our government is committed to shortening development and building approval timelines, so that we can unlock development." "I look forward to working closely with you as we update the Building Code, reduce red tape, and make sure that the people of Ontario are safe." |
| 19-SEP-2018 | ONTARIO 2007 Ontario Fire Code |
In its Bulletin #005/18
issued on September 10, 2018, the Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency
Management (OFMEM) announced that Amendment Package No. 2018-1
is
now available for the “2015 Fire Code Compendium” publication in
cooperation with ServiceOntario Publications. The amendment
package relates to the content of O. Reg. 108/18 that amends the Fire
Code in relation to testing of standpipe fire department
connections. The Fire
Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 has also been updated
with the latest amendments, including three new regulations made under
the Act. The revised pages are available from the ServiceOntario Publications site. The document may be retrieved by typing document number “112128” in the Search bar and then may be directly downloaded at no cost. |
| 20-JUL-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
Ontario Regulation 388/18, which
amends the Ontario Building Code, was filed on July 20, 2018 under the Building Code Act, 1992, S.O.
1992, c. 23. The regulation was made, filed, and published on the e-Law website on July 20, 2018. It is scheduled to be printed in The Ontario Gazette on August 4, 2018. This scope of this amendment is limited to Toronto's Lower Don area, specifically identified as land outlined in red on a map numbered 230 and filed at the Toronto office of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing located at 777 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The amendment specifies the conditions for occupancy of buildings on this land, including a requirement that hydraulic modelling demonstrates that the lot or parcel of land on which the building is constructed is no longer susceptible to flooding due to the completion of the flood protection features described in Section 4.5 of Waterfront Toronto's , “Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure Due Diligence Report”. |
| 18-JUL-2018 |  |
In a July17, 2018 article in The Register,
Thomas Claburn has reported that the US Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday vacated
injunctions that
prohibited Public.Resource.Org (PRO) from
publishing copyrighted
technical standards online. PRO
was sued for intellectual
property violations in mid-2013 by the ASTM
and was joined by the NFPA, ASHRAE,
and
the American
Educational Research Association. The
standards published by these standards development
organizations
(SDO's) are referenced by government legislation. The court's ruling addressed only the statutory fair use issue – which may provide a full defense to some, if not all, of the SDO’s infringement claims in this case – and leave for another day the question of whether the United States Constitution permits copyright to persist in works incorporated by reference into law. It is likely that this case will be decided, eventually, in the U. S. Supreme Court. If publication of standards referenced by legislation (such as the Ontario Building Code) is deemed fair use, then it would be a lot easier to comply with the legislation because the standards could be referenced at almost no cost. |
| 11-JUL-2018 | ALBERTA Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA |
On July 11, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the following
Canadian Electrical Code
STANDATA: This STANDATA was published in response to requests for clarification on solar photovoltaic (PV) dc arc fault protection and how this relates to rodent protection requirements. |
| 04-JUL-2018 | ONTARIO Planning and Building Regulatory Policy |
On July 4, 2018, the Residential
Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) released its report, titled "Streamlining the
Development and Building Approvals Process in Ontario". Richard Lyall, RESCON President, has characterized the report's recommendations as follows: "This
is low-hanging fruit for Premier Doug Ford and the new Ontario
government. One of their platform planks was to cut red tape to help
industry thrive – we recommend they start here."
The report's key recommendations are directed mainly at the Province but also the municipal sector, and are as follows:
|
| 03-JUL-2018 | ALBERTA Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA |
On July 3, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the following
Canadian Electrical Code
STANDATA: |
| 29-JUN-2018 | ONTARIO Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing |
Ontario
Premier Doug Ford has appointed Steve Clark,
who represents the riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands
and
Rideau Lakes, to be the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
for Ontario. Steve Clark served as mayor of Brockville from 1982 to 1991. He was first elected at age 22 and was the youngest mayor in Canada at the time. He later worked as an advertising salesman for the Brockville Recorder and Times, as an administrative assistant to Bob Runciman, and as the chief administrative officer of the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands. He was first elected to the provincial Legislature in a by-election on March 4, 2010. CodeNews.ca congratulates Steve Clark and wishes him success in implementing the long overdue changes required to make Ontario an affordable place to build safe buildings for people. |
| 29-JUN-2018 | ALBERTA Fire Code Variance |
On June 29, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the following
Fire Code
STANDATA: |
| 16-JUN-2018 | ONTARIO Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000 Amusement Device Code Adoption Document |
The Technical Standards & Safety Authority
(TSSA) announced, on June 14, 2018, that it is hold a public consultation on proposed
amendments to the Amusement Device Code Adoption Document (CAD). The Code currently adopted in Ontario for amusement ride design is the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) published Z267-00 Safety Code for Amusement Rides and Devices. This standard was last updated in 2000 and CSA has no active working committees to maintain or modernize the Z267 Code. The CSA and ASTM’s F24 Committee created a subcommittee that developed a new amusement ride standard referred to as the F2783 Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Amusement Rides and Devices in Canada. The draft CAD amendments are available for viewing on the TSSA website. Should you have comments, questions or feedback to share with TSSA, please fill out and submit the CAD Feedback Form no later than June 27, 2018. |
| 31-MAY-2018 | ALBERTA Fire Code Interpretation Fire Code Bulletin Building Code Interpretations Building Code Bulletin STANDATA |
On May 30, 2018,
Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication of the following
Fire Code
STANDATA: Interpretation
Bulletin
Alberta
Municipal Affairs also
announced the publication of the following Building Code
STANDATA: Interpretation
Bulletin
|
| 04-MAY-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs issued Ontario CodeNews
e-bulletin #264, dated May 4, 2018, to
announce revisions to
the existing Appendix Notes. The revisions
affect existing Appendix Notes A-8.6.2.2. and
A-8.6.2.2.(5). The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs has advised code users that an electronic version of the updated pages of the Building Code Compendium will be available through ServiceOntario Publications. A copy of the revised Appendix Notes, that was provided by the Ministry, is available for readers of CodeNews. |
| 02-MAY-2018 | ALBERTA STANDATA Joint Code Interpretation |
On May 2, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the
publication of the following STANDATA: Code Interpretation: 14-FCI-003 Mobile/Temporary Cooking Equipment The purpose of this interpretation is to assist owners/operators of mobile cooking operations and safety codes officers with the minimum requirements under the Safety Codes Act for mobile cooking operations. The joint interpretation was signed by:
|
| 30-APR-2018 |  |
A decision by Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward M.
Morgan was released on April 27, 2018, in a case
where the Toronto Star newspaper challenged the application of the
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) to 14
administrative tribunals, all of which are designated as “institutions”
in the Schedule to the FIPPA General Regulation. Among other things,
FIPPA sets out terms on which access is granted to documents held by
government and wider public sector institutions. The Toronto Star
contended that, by applying FIPPA to tribunals that preside over
adversarial processes, adjudicate disputes, and act judicially or
quasi-judicially, FIPPA violates the open courts principle embedded in
s. 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The learned Justice issued a declaration that the application of ss. 21(1) to (3) and related sections of FIPPA pertaining to the presumption of non-disclosure of “personal information” to Adjudicative Records held by the institutions named in the Notice of Application infringes s. 2(b) of the Charter and is not justified under s. 1. It is therefore of no force or effect. Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward M. Morgan's ruling applies only to requests for Adjudicative Records from the 14 institutions named in the Toronto Star's Application and, by extension, any other analogous institution listed in the Schedule to FIPPA that operates in an adjudicative capacity and that holds Adjudicative Records. THEREFORE, THE RULING APPLIES TO THE BUILDING CODE COMMISSION. The impact of this decision is that the Building Code Commission will have to be more open to requests for information from the public. It will not be necessary to file FOI requests to obtain BCC rulings. The BCC will have to release ALL BCC DECISIONS in a timely manner, as well as the Applicant's and Respondernt's written arguements. The learned Justice suspended the declaration of invalidity of this aspect of FIPPA 12 months in order to allow the government to change its rules. The citation for this case is: Toronto Star v. AG Ontario, 2018 ONSC 2586 |
| 24-APR-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs issued Ontario CodeNews
e-bulletin #261, dated April 24, 2018, to announce that it has
developed the following tools to help designers and building officials
implement and enforce the current requirements of Supplementary
Standard SB-10 "Energy
Efficiency Requirements", as amended on December 22, 2016: 1. Checklists •
The Ministry has developed checklists that can be submitted with
building permit applications for all buildings other than Part 9
residential buildings.
2.
COMcheck• The checklists highlight the key energy efficiency requirements to help designers and building officials ensure designs comply with the current set of requirements. • The Ministry strongly advises users to consult with the authority having jurisdiction, if the checklist is going to be submitted to that authority. • The checklists are available for downloading by visting the buildrightontario website. •
MMA has secured updates to COMcheck software developed by the Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory (US Department of Energy).
3.
Energy Modelling Guidelines• The COMcheck software helps designers calculate trade-offs using the ASHRAE 90.1 compliance path. • Updates for Ontario reflect the energy efficiency values included in the SB-10 that was released in December 2016. • The customised version of the COMcheck software for Ontario is available from the United States of America's website. •
MMA has developed guidelines to help improve the consistency in annual
energy use simulation results following questions from stakeholders
about rules and assumptions used in calculating building energy use.
• The guidelines aim to support designers in fulfilling their professional and contractual obligations to produce designs that meet the energy efficiency requirements and building officials to verify that designs meet these requirements. • In supporting compliance with the Building Code’s energy conservation requirements, these guidelines also support broader government efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the buildings sector. • The Ministry has indicated that these guidelines are likely to undergo changes in the future as opportunities for further synthesis are identified. (or, alternatively, when the current money squandering Liberal government is voted out of office on June 7, 2018 by voters who have had enough of climate change experiments paid by fleeced taxpayers) • You can obtain a copy of the guidelines, including requests for this document to be produced in alternate formats, by contacting: codeinfo@ontario.ca |
| 19-APR-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs held a webinar for "selected"
code users on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to provide further information
on electric vehicle charging requirements. CodeNews Consulting Corporation, Consulting Architect, is pleased to provide a copy of the slide deck prepared by the Ministry, for the unwashed masses who were not privy to the contents of the webinar. |
| 24-MAR-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
Ontario Regulation 79/18, which
amends the Ontario Building Code, was published in The Ontario Gazette
on March 24, 2018. The regulation was:
Although the Building and Development Branch has not made any announcements concerning this change to the Ontario Building Code, CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, is an avid reader of The Ontario Gazette and we are pleased to be the first publication to announce this code change to our esteemed readers. |
| 22-MAR-2018 | ONTARIO 2007 Ontario Fire Code |
In its Bulletin #004/18
issued on March 20, 2018, the Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency
Management (OFMEM) announced that Ontario Regulation 108/18 has been
filed. This regulation was made under the Fire Protection and Prevention
Act, 1997
and comes into force on July 1, 2018. It amends the 2007 Fire
Code (Ontario Regulation 213/07) with changes related to the checking,
inspection, and testing of hose standpipe systems. Enquiries regarding the new regulation may be directed to the Technical Services Section of the OFMEM. Staff members may be reached by telephone at (647) 329-1100 or by e-mail at FireSafetyStandards@ontario.ca |
| 15-MAR-2018 | ALBERTA STANDATA Building Code Interpretations Building Code Bulletins Building Code Variance Energy Codes Information |
On March 15, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced
the publication of the following STANDATA: Interpretations:
• 14-BCI-019/14-FCI-002 - Occupancy Classification for Buildings Used For Parking, Repairing and Servicing Tank Vehicles • 14-BCI-020 - Non-Liquid Disposal Systems Bulletins: • 14-BCB-004/14-FCB-003 - Occupancy of Buildings Under Construction • 14-BCB-005/14-FCB-004 - Commissioning of Life Safety and Fire Protection Systems (Integrated Systems Testing) Variance: • 14-BCV-018 - Sprinkler-Protected Glazing in Fire-Resistant Wall Assemblies Information related to Energy Codes: • ABC Section 9.36 – Q & A – Performance Path |
| 13-MAR-2018 | QUÉBEC Le chapitre Plomberie du Code de construction du Québec |
On
March 13, 2018, La Régie du bâtiment du Québec announced that the
Master Plumbing Mechanics of Quebec, in collaboration with the Régie du
bâtiment du Québec, has prepared a Good Practices sheet on the removal of
condensate from appliances.
This document provides details and solutions on the different ways
to safely remove condensate from a heating, ventilation or air
conditioning system to the drainage system. The good practice sheets are available only in the French language...... tant pis, anglophones! |
| 08-MAR-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs issued
Ontario CodeNews e-bulletin #260, dated March 8, 2018, to announce that:
|
| 08-MAR-2018 | ALBERTA Building Code, Fire Code, Energy Efficiency Code, & Elevating Devices Code |
On March 8, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced that the next editions
of the Alberta Building, Fire and Energy Codes (that are currently
based on the 2010 editions of the National Building Code and National
Fire Code, and the 2011 National Energy Code for
Buildings) are planned to be updated to the 2015 national code
editions, including the 2017 interim changes to the National
Energy Code for Buildings. The currentl 2013 edition of the Elevating Devices Codes will also be updated. |
| 06-MAR-2018 | ONTARIO Electrical Safety Code |
The
Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is seeking the views of
contractors, consumers, businesses and other stakeholders on 25 proposed amendments to the
Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). The ESA has provided instructions (.pdf format) and a template (in MS Word .docx format) for comments and other feedback. The consultation runs from Tuesday March 6 to Friday April 20, 2018. The Electrical Safety Code regulation (O. Reg. 164/99) under the Electricity Act, 1998 provides for the adoption of the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) together with Ontario specific amendments to the CEC as the OESC. If approved, the Electrical Safety Code regulation would be amended to adopt the updated OESC. |
| 05-MAR-2018 | NOVA SCOTIA Electrical Code Regulations |
David MacLeod, C.E.I., P.Eng., the Provincial Chief
Electrical Inspector, Province of Nova Scotia, issued Electrical Bulletin 2018-01
announcing that, effective May 1, 2018, the 2018 Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1-
24th. edition will be adopted per Nova Scotia's
Electrical Code Regulations, which are made under the authority of
section 6 of the Electrical
Installation and Inspection Act. Questions regarding the bulletin may be forwarded to the Provincial Chief Electrical Inspector: David MacLeod,
C.E.I., P.Eng.
Phone:
902-424-8018
Email: David.MacLeod@novascotia.ca |
| 24-FEB-2018 | ONTARIO Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 |
In
its Bulletin #003/18 issued on February 20, 2018, the Ministry of
Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS), Office of the Fire
Marshal and Emergency Management announced that it is holding a public
consultation on proposed regulation under the FPPA that is intended to
increase transparency and accountability by requiring all fire
departments report to the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency
Management (OFMEM) on a number of standard response times. This new regulation is based on expert advice MCSCS received from a Fire Safety Technical Table that was established in January 2017 to help develop recommendations for modernizing the delivery of fire services in Ontario. Summaries of the proposed regulation and instructions on how to provide comments are available on the Ontario Regulatory Registry. MCSCS has announced that "public comments must be submitted before the consultation period ends on March 18, 2018". When some people run around in uniforms, they get the idea that others MUST do things ...... ! (Hint: try: "we ask you to .....") |
| 17-FEB-2018 | SASKATCHEWAN The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act (Adoption of Codes) |
The province of Saskatchewan has published an Order in Council #44/2018,
dated January 24, 2018 and filed on January 25, 2018, to revise
the
Appendix to The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Regulations. The revisions include:
When will civil servants realize that the design and construction industry needs TIME to prepare for changes to Building Codes? Projects take months, if not years, to design and here we have a case where a civil servant wants you to comply with a requirement BEFORE it is even published. |
| 17-FEB-2018 | BRITISH COLUMBIA 2012 Building Code |
The BC Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued
Ministerial Order No. M013 on
January 8, 2018, pursuant to the Building
Act, S.B.C. 2015, c. 2, s. 3
to amend Book I (General) of the British Columbia Building
Code,
established by the British Columbia Building Code Regulation, B.C. Reg.
264/2012. The changes to the Building Code include:
|
| 07-FEB-2018 | ALBERTA STANDATA Electrical Update Fire Code Bulletin |
On February 6, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs
announced the publication
of the following STANDATA: Electrical Update: Fire Code Bulletin: |
| 31-JAN-2018 | ALBERTA Interpretation STANDATA Energy Code |
On
January 30, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication
of the following new STANDATA Building Code Interpretation: Alberta Municipal Affairs has published an NECB 2011 Compliance Checklist (.xlsm format) for providing information required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction to show compliance with requirements to meet the National Energy Code for Buildings 2011 (NECB 2011). An electronic copy of this Checklist must accompany project plans and specification documents being submitted to the Authority Having Jurisdiction when applying for a building permit in Alberta. |
| 18-JAN-2018 | CCBFC Construction Codes of Canada National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2017 |
The 2017 edition of the National Energy Code of
Canada for Buildings is now available for purchase. CodeNews thanks Gary Chu, Construction & Standards Regulations Specialist at BASF Canada Inc. for providing the update. |
| 18-JAN-2018 | ONTARIO 2007 Ontario Fire Code |
In its Bulletin #001/18
issued on January 18, 2018, the Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency
Management (OFMEM) announced that it is holding a public consultation
on proposed amendments to the Fire Code related to new requirements
for: • Combustible Furniture Located in Corridors / Lobbies • Notification for Out of Service Firefighters’ Elevators The proposed changes to the Fire Code reflect feedback received from two Technical Advisory Committees led by the OFMEM and comprised of a wide range of stakeholder groups. Public comments must be submitted before the consultation period ends on February 20, 2018. Summaries of the proposed amendments and instructions on how to provide comments are available on the Ontario Regulatory Registry. View the proposed changes at: • Proposed Change to 2015 Ontario Fire Code - Table 1.2.1.A • Proposed Change to 2015 Ontario Fire Code - 2.4.1.1. and 2.4.1.2 • Proposed Change to 2015 Ontario Fire Code - 7.1.1.1 • Proposed Change to 2015 Ontario Fire Code - 7.2.2.2 |
| 12-JAN-2018 | ALBERTA Variance STANDATA |
On
January 12, 2018, Alberta Municipal Affairs announced the publication
of the following new STANDATA Building Code Variance: |
| 01-JAN-2018 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
On
January 1, 2018, the following requirements contained in Ontario
Regulation 139/17, as amended by O. Reg. 462/17 and O. Reg. 563/17,
come into effect:
+1-416-856-0241 or by e-mail. |
| 01-JAN-2018 | BRITISH COLUMBIA 2012 Building Code 2012 Plumbing Code 2012 Fire Code |
The
Building and Safety Standards Branch of the Office of Housing and
Construction Standards in the BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing has invited code users and other stakeholders to participate
in a public review to provide feedback on proposed changes
for the next edition of the BC Building, Plumbing, and Fire Codes. The proposed changes have been categorized as: BC Building Code - Area Calculation of Exposing Building Face - Asbestos - Energy Efficiency Standards - Exit Signs - Factory-Constructed Buildings - Fenestration - Heritage Buildings - Mid-Rise Combustible Construction - Outdoor Design Conditions and Air Cleaning - Radon - Stairs - Dimensions of Tapered Treads - Stairs - Handrails in Curved Stairs - Stairs - No Spiral Stairs BC Plumbing Code - Asbestos - Plumbing Fixtures BC Fire Code - Application - Fire Systems - Emergency Lighting - Smoke Alarms - Use of Elevators The public review started on December 12, 2017 and ends on February 28, 2018. A separate consultation is planned on proposed accessibility changes early in 2018. The next editions of the British Columbia Codes are anticipated to be available in 2018, with an effective date late in 2018. |
| 2017 | SEE 2017 NEWS ARCHIVES | Link to archives of News at CodeNews for items posted between January 1 - December 31, 2017. |
| 2016 | SEE 2016 NEWS ARCHIVES | Link to archives of News at CodeNews for items posted between January 1 - December 31, 2016. |
| 2015 | SEE 2015 NEWS ARCHIVES | Link to archives of News at CodeNews for items posted between January 1 - December 31, 2015. |
| PRIOR
TO 01-JAN-2015 |
SEE
NEWS ARCHIVES |
Link to archives of News at
CodeNews for items posted prior to January 1, 2015. |
DATE |
SEMINAR |
| Thursday 29-NOV-2018 |
Alek
Antoniuk was a speaker at The
Buildings Show 2018. The event took
place
on November 28 - 29 in the South and North Buildings of the Metro
Toronto Convention Centre. He spoke at Session, TS103 - Ontario Building Code Update: Three of the Most Recent Changes You Need Know, on Thursday, November 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room 715 of the South Building. THIS PRESENTATION WAS SOLD OUT DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION SLIDE DECK |
| Friday 22-JUN-2018 |
Due
to popular demand, Alek Antoniuk delivered a repeat seminar on
the recent major changes to the Ontario Building Code and Act that was
delivered at the 2018 AATO Annual General Meeting and Conference.
|
| Friday 27-APR-2018 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the recent major changes to the Ontario Building Code and Act at the 2018 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Architectural Technologists of Ontario, on Friday, April 27, 2018, in Vaughan, Ontario. |
| Wednesday 21-MAR-2018 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the major
changes to the Ontario Building Code,
contained in O. Reg. 139/17, for the
Golden Triangle Chapter of the OBOA on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. The Golden Triangle Chapter has opened the presentation to designers and other code users for a nominal fee of $40 for the seminar. |
| Thursday 25-JAN-2018 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the major changes
to the Ontario Building Code, contained
in O. Reg. 139/17, which came into effect on July 1, 2017, as well
as the changes that will
come into effect on January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2020, for the
Greater Toronto Area Chapter of the OBOA. Three slide decks
were
presented:
|
| Thursday 18-JAN-2018 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the major changes
to the Ontario Building Code, contained
in O. Reg. 139/17, which came into effect on July 1, 2017, as well
as the changes that will
come into effect on January 1, 2018 and January 1, 2020, for the
Niagara District Chapter of the OBOA.. Three slide decks were
presented:
|
| Tuesday 12-DEC-2017 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the major changes
to the Ontario Building Code, contained
in O. Reg. 139/17, which came into effect on July 1, 2017, as well
as the changes that will
come into effect on January 1, 2018, for the City of Niagara Falls'
Building and Fire Services staff.. Three slide decks were
presented
|
| Tuesday 14-NOV-2017 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a seminar on the major changes
to retirement homes and houses, contained
in O. Reg. 139/17, which came into effect on July 1, 2017, as well
as the electric vehicle charging station requirements that
will
come into effect on January 1, 2018, to a meeting of
the Wellington Waterloo District Chapter of the OBOA. CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, has prepared an additional presentation that will be of interest to architects, engineers, other designers, building officials, and builders on:
|
| Wednesday 26-JUL-2017 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a presentations on the major
changes to retirement homes and houses, contained
in O. Reg. 139/17, which came into effect on July 1, 2017, for the Town
of Orangeville's Building Department and its invited guests, including
selected architects, engineers, and municipal building officials. Presentations are now available for your organization. CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, is not aware of the general availability of any presentations on the recent OBC changes. Therefore, CodeNews has prepared the following two presentations that will be of interest to architects, engineers, other designers, building officials, and builders:
|
| Wednesday 08-JUL-2015 |
Alek
Antoniuk delivered a presentation titled: "Considerations for Building & Fire
Departments in Enforcing the Code" at the Fire and Life Safety in Modern Construction
Seminars, in Waterloo, Ontario, hosted by the University of Waterloo and Sereca
Consulting.
This presentation examines the implications of 6-storey wood
framed construction for building and fire officials.
Ontario's Exit
Cocoon Conundrum is explained. The slide deck for this presentation contains slides from a presentation titled: "Mid-rise Wood Frame Buildings", dated April 7, 2015, presented by Alan Shaw, CBO, City of Sarnia, Vice President of the Ontario Building Officials Associaiton (OBOA). Use of the OBOA's material in this slide deck is authorized by Mike Seiling, President of the OBOA. |
| 8:30-12:00 14:00-17:30 Friday 09-MAY-2014 |
Alek
Antoniuk delivered a presentation titled: “New Accessibility
Changes to the Building Code” at the 2014 OAA Conference. A morning session and an afternoon session were held at
the Queen Elizabeth Fairmont Hotel, 900 René-Lévesque
Boulevard West, Montréal. The “New Accessibility Changes to the Building Code” presentation consists of Slide Deck 1 and Slide Deck 2 and references the following documents:
|
| Tuesday 01-APR-2014 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a presentation titled: “Ontario Building Code - April 2014 Update” at the Dinner Meeting of the Toronto Chapter of Construction Specifications Canada. |
| Thursday 13-FEB-2014 |
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers,
National Capital Region Chapter, held its 32nd Annual Meeting
and Education Forum in Ottawa, Ontario. Keynote Speakers for the topic of Mid-Rise Wood Frame Construction were:
|
| Wednesday 22-JAN-2014 |
Alek
Antoniuk and David Johnson presented a seminar on "
Understanding the Impact on Multi-residential Construction of Changes
to Part 3, 2014 Ontario Building Code & the Announced
Requirements for
Accessibilty for 2015". This seminar is sponsored by RESCON
and buildABILITY. Alek Antoniuk's presentation is titled: "An Overview of the Accessibility Amendments to Ontario’s Building Code" and is intended to cover the highlights of the changes to the 2012 Ontario Building Code resulting from the filing of O. Reg. 368/13, as they apply to “Part 3" multi-residential buildings. The presentation references the following documents:
|
| Tuesday 10-DEC-2013 |
Alek Antoniuk delivered a NORR
ed presentation titled: “2012 Ontario Building Code Update”. The presentation referenced the following documents:
|
RESCON News Letter |
Alek Antoniuk is a contributor to the RESCON News Letter - Subscribe here |
| RESCON Industry News October 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #10 provides an update on current consultations on building related legislation and standards and provides further information on the "X" Permit proposal for Ontario. |
| RESCON Industry News September 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #9 examines whether it is possible to cut the Gordian Knot around construction regulations in Ontario and points to the example of Quebec and Alberta. |
| RESCON Industry News August 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #8 provides
a chronological list of changes to Building Code documents related to
the barrier-free changes and also asks the question: “Is Information on the OBC Accessibility (Barrier-Free) Changes Readily Accessible?” |
| RESCON Industry News May 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #7 reports on efforts to release the more than 92 unpublished rulings that have been made by the Building Code Commission since 2010, including recent rulings on standpipe and hose systems. |
| RESCON Industry News April 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #6 examines whether Ontario's building regulatory system is capable of efficiently adapting to new technologies, such as off grid buildings. |
| RESCON Industry News March 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #5 reports on a recent ruling by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that a municipality is not liable for any harm or damage resulting from any act or omission of a Registered Code Agency. |
| RESCON Industry News February 2015 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #4 reviews the new Ontario Building Code mid-rise combustible construction requirements of Ontario Regulation 191/14 and how Ontario's building exit rules may create problems for your design. |
| RESCON Industry News December 2014 |
From the December 2014 RESCON Industry News:Regulatory reform is long overdueI encourage you to read and comment on Alek Antoniuk’s latest RESCON CodeLetter #3. RESCON has long been an advocate of Regulatory Change in Ontario as we believe the current system that regulates Development/Building activities is no longer capable of responding in an efficient manner to the rapid changes in processing information and construction activities, resulting from the use of new and emerging technologies. I asked Alek to tackle this subject, given that the expertise he developed while at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing puts him in a unique position to share his perspective on this topic. RESCON believes it’s time to start a conversation between industry stakeholders and the regulators who control our Industry on how we can affect the changes that would benefit all by:
Join the
conversation. Now is the time for action.
Michael Steele. B. Tech. (C.M.) Director, Technical Standards / RESCON Email: michael.steele@rescon.com |
| RESCON Industry News September 2014 |
In this issue, Alek Antoniuk's RESCON CodeLetter #2 reviews the new Ontario Building Code accessibility and barrier-free design requirements of Ontario Regulation 368/13 and how they may affect your building project if you apply for a building permit after January 1, 2015. |
| RESCON Industry News August 2014 |
This issue includes Alek Antoniuk's first article of the RESCON CodeLetter, of a series of articles that will be released throughout the year. |
JURISDICTION |
CODE |
PUBLICATION |
 |
British Columbia Building Code | Technical Bulletins |
 |
Alberta Building Code | STANDATA |
 |
Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations | Announcements |
 |
Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner | Bulletins and Announcements |
 |
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing | Ontario CodeNews (Building Code, including plumbing) |
| Electrical Safety Authority | ESA Newsletters (Electrical) | |
| Technical Standards & Safety Authority | Corporate News (Boilers & Pressure Vessels, Elevating Devices, Hydrocarbon Fuels) |
|
| Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management | OFM e-Bulletin (developments of interest to the fire safety community, including items pertaining to fire safety standards, legislation and codes) | |
 |
Régie du bâtiment du Québec | Les nouvelles |
 |
Nova Scotia Labour and Advanced Education | Building and Plumbing Code Newsletter |
 |
This web site is developed by Alek Antoniuk, OAA, BCIN #14661 Toronto, Ontario, Canada cell: +1-416-856-0241 e-mail:  The e-mail address is a graphic to ward off spam robots .....! Note that there is a "." (dot) between "alek" and "antoniuk".! |
René Ivars, CBCO