DATE |
PROVINCE OR JURISDICTION |
ARCHIVED 2022 NEWS |
30-DEC-2022 | ONTARIO Building Code Act 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #336, dated December 30, 2022, to announce the
following revised Building Code related fees for registrations for
building practitioners regulated under the Building Code Act, 1992,
effective on January 1, 2023:
CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, has not raised its consulting fees since 2013 - If the Ontario government can raise its fees by 7% in ONE YEAR, it is time for CodeNews to raise its code consulting fees on Jan. 1, 2023. |
21-DEC-2022 | ONTARIO Building Code Act 2012 Building Code Public Consultation |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #335, dated December 21, 2022, to announce a public
consultation onhow to improve the current qualification program for
Ontario's building practitioners. ERO Notice Number 019-6433, posted on December 21, 2022 on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, provides:
The MMAH has acknowledged candidates taking the Qualification Exams have low exam pass rates and (as any bureaucrat would do) has hired a consultant to help examine the Qualification Program for building practitioners. Since not enough people are passing the exams, the government is now proposing RAISING THE BARRIERS to write an exam!!!!!!!! YUP, since there are not enough qualified building inspectors, the government wants to make it harder to write the exam to become an inspector. I'm not making this up: see Page 7 of the discussion paper. Nevertheless, the MMAH should be congratulated for opening this can of worms - some hard questions need to be answered but not necessarily those listed in the discussion paper. |
21-DEC-2022 | CANADA 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings Provincial Compliance |
Joe
Rogers has kindly advised that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is
conducting an on-line Canada-wide Building Energy Code Compliance Study to
collect information about energy code compliance for buildings. Industry professionals, practitioners and building officials with recent experience helping to demonstrate or enforce energy compliance for large buildings in Canada (commonly referred to as “Part-3 buildings”) are asked to provide feedback using the on-line questionnaire - it takes about 15 minutes to complete. Your responses will be used to estimate current rates of compliance with energy codes for large buildings, to understand current obstacles to compliance, and to inform future efforts to improve energy code compliance across Canada. NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency encourages industry participants to respond before January 2, 2023. |
19-DEC-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Fire Code STANDATA Fire Code Variance |
Tina Parker, Provincial Fire Administrator, has issued
the following STANDATA Building Variance: The purpose of this variance is to provide an effective option for confidential unpublished portable fire extinguisher policies and procedures at remote unstaffed energy transmission facilities for use by employees and/or contractors SPECIFICALLY for i3 Energy Canada in the event of a fire. |
19-DEC-2022 | CANADA National Model Codes |
Joe
Rogers and Trevor Nightingale, the Co-Chairmen of the Canadian Board
for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), have announced that the
Board is recruiting a candidate to serve as the
Chairman of
the new Advisory
Council for Harmonized Construction Codes. If you are interested in serving as the Chairman of the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes, you are invited to send a letter of application, along with a CV, to the CBHCC Secretary. The recuitment period ends on January 9, 2023. Note that the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes is composed of representatives of organizations representing municipal officials, emergency responders, the building industry and big business. Candidates who are employed by or have a leadership role within organizations that are members of the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes are not eligible to apply for the role of Chairman. |
14-DEC-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code STANDATA Building Variance |
Paul Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, has
issued the following STANDATA Building Variance: It is common for structural steel to be fabricated outside of Canada by fabricators who are not certified to the CSA W47.1 standard. In fact, very few fabricators outside of Canada are certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau to the CSA W47.1 standard. The requirement to comply with the CSA W47.1 standard stems from Clause 24.3 of the CSA S16 standard. The purpose of this variance is to provide an alternative solution to the construction industry in meeting the requirement of using qualified fabricators for the fabrication of structural steel as per CSA W47.1 – “Certification of companies for fusion welding of steel”. |
12-DEC-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code STANDATA Building Bulletin |
Paul Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, has
issued the following STANDATA Building Bulletin: This Bulletin withdraws STANDATA Building Interpretation 19-BCI-023. The effect of the withdrawal of STANDATA Building Interpretation 19-BCI-023 is that engineering stamps or seals are no longer a minimum requirement for truss layouts or profiles for Part 9 buildings, as was previously the case in Alberta prior to the issuance of STANDATA 19-BCI-023. This news demonstrates the validity of Alek's Second Regulatory Theorem©:
|
02-DEC-2022 | QUÉBEC 2021 Chapter I, Building, Construction Code |
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec announced
on December 1, 2022 the publication of an explanatory guide for the
main changes contained in the new edition of Québec
Construction
Code, Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2015
(amended) - Cahier
explicatif des principaux changements au Code de construction du
Québec, Chapitre I – Bâtiment, et Code national du bâtiment – Canada
2015 (modifié). A transitional period of 18 months is currently underway, where buildings built or renovated between January 8, 2022 and July 7, 2023 may conform to either the old or the new edition of Chapter I, Building, Québec Construction Code. |
02-DEC-2022 | QUÉBEC Chapitre B-1.1 Loi sur le bâtiment Code de sécurité |
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec announced on November 22, 2022
that a new version of the Explanatory
Guide for Facade Maintenance Requirements
has been published. This new edition takes into account the
most
recent advances in the field, including new inspection methods (drone
and thermography) and the ASTM E2270 standard. Québec's Building Chapter of the Security Code contains mandatory requirements for checking and maintaining the facades of buildings that consist of 5 or more storeys above ground. Poorly maintained facades constitute a risk to public safety, which can be reduced, or even avoided, by a rigorous preventive maintenance of the facades on the part of building owners. |
02-DEC-2022 | QUÉBEC 2021 Chapter I, Building, Construction Code |
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec announced on November 18, 2022
that Le décret 1721-2022 was
published on November 16, 2022 in the Gazette du Québec
to allow owners of existing Private Seniors Residences an additional
two-year period to install mandated fire sprinkler systems in their
buildings. The original deadline had been December 2, 2022. This postponement aims to:
|
30-NOV-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code ASME A17.1-2013/CSA-B44-13 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators CSA-B311-02 (R2012) CSA-B355-2009 CSA-Z185-M87 (R2011) STANDATA Joint Building Code & Elevating Devices Variance |
Paul
Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, and Dean Bruce,
Provincial Elevating Devices Administrator, have jointly
issued
the
following STANDATA: The purpose of this variance is to exempt elevator cars from the dimensions required to accommodate a stretcher in buildings where an elevator is installed instead of a lift, in situations where a lift would comply with the accessibility requirements of the 2019 Alberta Building Code. |
22-NOV-2022 | CANADA National Model Codes |
As
part of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement's Regulatory
Reconciliation and Cooperation Table, the Government of
Canada announced
a new governance model for the National Model Code development system
effective November 22, 2022. It replaces the Canadian Commission on
Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), the committee responsible for code
development in Canada since 1991. The new model integrates the
provinces and territories into the national process and claims to
better respond to code priorities from jurisdictions and harmonize
construction codes across Canada. The new federal-provincial-territorial governance model is structured as follows:
The construction materials industry will continue to influence policy on the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes. Regular day-to-day code users are essentially out of the picture when it comes to code development - you have no voice - period. I am sure that special exemptions will be made for rude arrogant clueless fanatic Swedish teenagers whose first name is Greta. |
10-NOV-2022 | CANADA A model standard for the built environment – accessibility |
Zachary
D. May, Executive Director, Building and Safety Standards Branch,
Office of Housing and Construction Standards of British Columbia's
Ministry of Attorney General and Ministry Responsible for Housing
announced on November 10, 2022 that Accessibility Standards Canada is
holding a public review of its November 2022 draft A model standard for the built environment –
accessibility from November 8, 2022, to 11:59 PM
EST January 7, 2023. The draft standard was developed by the Canadian Accessibility Standards Development Organization (operating as “Accessibility Standards Canada”), which claims that its standards are developed through a "consensus-based standards development process approved" by the Standards Council of Canada. Accessibility Standards Canada is a public organization that was created under the Accessible Canada Act. Accessibility Standards Canada is the first federal organization majority-led by persons with disabilities. It will be the federal government’s leader in creating accessibility standards. Keep in mind that, if you decide to comment on this draft standard, then Accessibility Standards Canada reserves all intellectual property and other rights in the revised document resulting from your comments. In other words: Accessibility
Standards Canada is the exclusive owner of your comments and may use
such comments as it sees fit.
If you are still motivated to comment, view the Accessibility Standards Canada consultation site. The B.C. government is reviewing this draft standard and may consider adopting portions in future British Columbia Building Codes. |
07-NOV-2022 | QUÉBEC 2021 Chapter I, Building, Construction Code |
Codes
Canada announced on November 4, 2022 that the Québec
Construction Code,
Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2015
(amended) is available now in electronic and print formats. The NRC Publications Archive contains free electronic formats of:
To purchase the documents in printed formats, place your order online through the NRC Virtual Store or the magasin virtuel du CNRC. |
01-NOV-2022 | ONTARIO Building Code Commission 2012 Ontario Building Code |
On
November 1, 2022, the Ontario Building Code Commission released its written decision
concerning Sentence 3.2.9.1.(7) of Div. B of the Ontario Building Code,
as it applies to the requirement for standpipe hose cabinets within
2-level dwelling units in a 4 storey stacked townhouse
project.
The BCC hearing was held on May 10, 2022 and a verbal ruling was
delivered on June 10, 2022. Alek Antoniuk, OAA, CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, was the agent for the Applicant at the BCC Hearing. BCC Ruling 22-12-1604 is significant for the following reasons:
“Today
there is only one principle or approach, namely, the words of an Act
are to be read in their entire context and in their grammatical and
ordinary sense harmoniously with the scheme of the Act, the object of
the Act, and the intention of Parliament.”
|
26-OCT-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Public Consultation |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #333, dated October 26, 2022, to
announce the entire scope of its third phase of the public consultation
on proposed changes for the next edition of
the Ontario Building Code. The third phase consultation is split into 3 separate registry postings:
Ontario Regulatory Registry
Proposal Number: 22-MMAH016
All
three "subconsultations" of the third phase of the public consultation
started on October 25, 2022 and end on December 9, 2022.Proposed Building Code Changes to Support Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan
General Proposed Changes
Proposed Changes to Sewage Systems and Energy Efficiency |
25-OCT-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Public Consultation |
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
has posted an announcement on the Regulatory Registry
(Proposal Number: 22-MMAH016) that
a public consultation on proposed changes for the next edition
of
the Ontario Building Code (OBC) is being held from October 25, 2022
until December 9, 2022. Following this third phase
of
consultations, it is anticipated that the next edition of Ontario’s
Building Code will to be filed in Spring 2023 and come into
effect
in Spring 2024. The code change proposals in this third phase are intended to help the Ontario government achieve its goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next ten years as part of More Homes Built Faster: Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan: 2022-2023. One key element of the plan is increasing the supply and mix of houses and other residential buildings. The Ontario government has proposed two groups of changes in this consultation:
To comment on all changes, download the Bulk Comment Form Template (.docx document), which can then be completed and e-mailed to: buildingcode.consultation@ontario.ca . Alternatively, use the on-line Fall 2022 - Proposed Code Changes Feedback Form to to leave comments and feedback. Nice work, Ontario! |
24-OCT-2022 | CANADA 2020 National Building Code 2020 National Fire Code 2020 National Plumbing Code 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings |
On October 6, 2022, Codes Canada announced
the first
public review of proposed changes to the 2020
editions of the National
Model Codes, including the National Building Code of Canada, the
National Fire Code of Canada, the National Plumbing Code of Canada, and
the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings. The public review will run from October 24 to 11:59 pm PST, December 23, 2022. Public reviews for future sets of proposed changes to the 2020 editions of the Codes are also planned to take place in 2023 and 2024. |
18-OCT-2022 | QUÉBEC Garantie de construction résidentielle |
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec announced on
October 17, 2022 that it is recruiting the following persons as
members of the Board of Directors of Québec's Residential
Construction Warranty Program (GCR):
If you are interested in contributing to the improvement of the quality of Québec's residential construction, send your application (curriculum vitae and cover letter) to the attention of Madame Caroline Hardy, Secrétariat général et affaires institutionnelles. The recuitment period ends on November 25, 2022. |
25-SEP-2022 | BRITISH COLUMBIA 2018 Building Code |
On
September 23, 2022, Jun‘ichi Jensen, Acting Executive Director of the
British Columbia Building and Safety Standards Branch announced a public consultation on proposed
revisions to the 2018 British Columbia Building Code.
The proposed changes include a minimum energy efficiency
requirements for most Part 9 and Part 3 buildings, as well as an opt-in
carbon pollution standard. The public review is intended to collect focused, technical comments on proposed changes, such as revisions to targets and values, and comments about scope or application. All relevant input will be considered and used to help inform the proposed changes before they are considered by the Minister. To learn more about the proposed energy efficiency requirements and the Building Carbon Pollution Standard, review the following documents:
Alternatively, email: BSSB.Public.Review@gov.bc.ca for further instructions. The public review period is scheduled to end on November 4, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. |
15-SEP-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Compendium |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #332, dated September 15, 2022, to
announce that an "easier to use, updated digital version of the Ontario
2012 Building Code Compendium" is now available. This version of the Ontario Building Code contains the latest amendment that came into effect on July 1, 2022, including: 1.
Amendments supporting the More
Homes for Everyone Act, which, according to the Ministry:
•
remove barriers to multi-residential modular construction projects
2. Exemptions for certain size sheds from
Ontario Building Code requirements;• allow encapsulated mass timber buildings to be constructed up to 12 storeys high • encourage the development of local building official internship programs; 3. Requirements municipal building departments to notify fire departments if a building, other than a house, will be constructed or renovated using a lightweight truss system; and 4. Provisions for temporary shelters and health facilities created to respond to COVID-19 from the Temporary Health or Residential Facilities Emergency Order are relocated to the Ontario Building Code. This updated digital Compendium now includes bookmarks, hyperlinked tables of contents throughout both volumes, and the ability to insert personal notes or highlight sections of the Code. To obtain an updated digital copy of Ontario's 2012 Building Code Compendium, fill out the form at the "Get the 2012 Building Code Compendium for non-commercial use" on the Ontario government web site. |
12-SEP-2022 | NOVA SCOTIA Building Code Act Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations |
Joe
Rogers, P. Eng., Building Code Coordinator for the Province of Nova
Scotia, announced on September 12, 2022 that the Honourable John Lohr,
Nova Scotia Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, made Novia
Scotia Regulation 116/2022 on June 24, 2022. The regulation, which was made pursuant to Section 4 of Chapter 46 of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, the Building Code Act :
|
06-SEP-2022 | BRITISH COLUMBIA Safety Standards Act Electrical Safety Regulation 2021 BC Electrical Code Information Bulletin |
British Columbia Ministerial Order #M241 was deposited
on August 11,
2022 to adopt the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, 25th Edition,
Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Standards
Association Standard C22.1-21. The Provincial Safety Manager – Electrical issued the following Information Bulletin on August 25, 2022, which is available on the Technical Safety BC website: The Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, 25th Edition, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations, Canadian Standards Association Standard C22.1-21 is adopted as the BC Electrical Code, effective on October 1, 2022. Technical Safety BC, through consultation and analysis with an Industry Advisory Group, has prepared a Table describing code changes that will likely have high impacts for designers, installers, engineers, and educators. The Canadian Electrical Code is developed over a three-year cycle in accordance with the CSA Group’s accredited consensus process. |
01-SEP-2022 | ALBERTA STANDATA Safety Codes Act Gas Notice |
The following updated Gas NOTICE has been issued and is
now available on the Alberta.ca website: The purpose of the notice is to advise that following gas codes were adopted under the Gas Code Regulation (AR 111/2010) and came into effect on September 1, 2022 under the Safety Codes Act:
|
08-AUG-2022 | ONTARIO Electricity Act, 1998 2021 Ontario Electrical Safety Code |
Sam
Loggia, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, of CSA Group’s Energy,
Electrical Sector, advised on May 18, 2022 that revised Ontario
Electrical Safety Code Bulletins, dated May, 2022) for the 2021 Ontario
Electrical Safety
Code (OESC) are available. The full Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) bulletin package is included as part of the purchase of the 28th edition of the OESC over the entire 2021 code cycle. If you need access to the OESC bulletin package and to receive notifications when new bulletins are released, you are required to purchase the OESC. When it comes to electrical safety in Ontario (as well as the rest of Canada) you have to pay to find out whether or not you comply with the law, as set out in the Electricity Act, 1998, Ontario Regulation 771/21, the Ontario Electrical Safety Authority's “Ontario Amendments to the Canadian Electrical Code Part 1, C22.1”, and the 2021 Ontario Electrical Safety Code. Imagine if you had to pay to find out what the speed limit was for each stretch of highway as you were driving on it, in order not to break the law.....! |
01-AUG-2022 | QUÉBEC BNQ 3009-500/2022 Standard Residential building - Inspection Practices in a Real Estate Transaction Context |
The
Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) announced on July 26, 2022 that the
Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) has published "BNQ Standard 3009-500/2022,
Residential building - Inspection Practices in a Real Estate
Transaction Context".
In December 2019, the Government of Québec had assigned the
power
to regulate home inspectors to the RBQ. Although the CSA A770 "Home Inspection"
standard had been published in 2016, the RBQ determined that this
standard was not appropriate for Québec. Therefore, the RBQ
requested the BNQ to develop the BNQ 3009-500 standard. The RBQ continues to work on the drafting and implementation of a regulation which will set rules for inspectors who wish to obtain an inspector certification for residential building. Moreover, a first version of the draft regulation for the inspection of a residential building was published in the official Gazette of Quebec on February 23, 2022. The BNQ 3009-500/2022 Standard is available for free, in English and French, from the BNQ web site. |
28-JUL-2022 | ONTARIO 2007 Fire Code |
The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal has announced
that a new amendment package has been developed for the “2015 Fire Code Compendium”
publication in cooperation with Publications Ontario. The
amendment package relates to the content of O. Reg. 319/22, an
administrative amendment to update a name change for a legislative
reference in the Fire Code. The amendment package also
contains a
correction for a typographical error. The revised pages are available from the Publications Ontario website. The document may be retrieved by typing document number “300993” in the Search bar and then may be directly downloaded at no cost. |
27-JUL-2022 | CITY OF VANCOUVER 2019 Vancouver Building By-law |
At its meeting held on May 17, 2022, Vancouver City
Council approved a staff report that recommends
updates to the Vancouver Building By-law on the pretext of addressing
the "climate emergency" [sic]. The staff report contains a number of recommendations, including:
In its desire to address the "climate emergency" [sic], the shameless virtue signalling City Councillors have mandated INCREASED energy use for new Part 3 dwelling units. It's like banning free speech in the name of diversity. It's too bad Alberta didn't cut off all petroleum supplies to those losers. |
14-JUL-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Bulletins Electrical Variance |
Clarence C. Cormier, P.Eng, Provincial Electrical
Administrator, has issued the following Electrical STANDATA
bulletins: The purpose of the
bulletin is to clarify Section 2 of Alberta's Electrical Code
Regulation.
The
purpose of the bulletin is to remind industry stakeholders and members
of the public in Alberta that all electrical incidents are required to
be reported to the Provincial Electrical Administrator.
The
purpose of the bulletin is to clarify Section 10 of the Canadian
Electrical Code (CE Code), Part 1, which deals with the grounding of
electrical systems and the bonding of its associated equipment.
Clarence C. Cormier, P.Eng, Provincial Electrical Administrator, has issued the following Electrical STANDATA variance: The
purpose of the variance is to simplify compliance with the grounding
electrode requirements of Section 10 of the Canadian Electrical Code,
Part 1, 2021.
|
12-JUL-2022 | CANADA Canadian Free Trade Agreement Canadian Code Development System |
Joe
Rogers, P. Eng., Chairman of the Transition Coordination Committee of
the federal/provincial/territorial Construction Codes Reconciliation
Agreement, has advised that working groups are conducting a survey
about the engagement and role of industry and interested parties in the
new governance model for a transformed Canadian code development system. The survey consists of 15 questions, takes about 15–20 minutes to complete, and is voluntary and confidential. Your answers will remain anonymous. Your input and feedback will help to shape the role of industry and interested parties in the proposed code development system, as well as the proposed role of the new Advisory Council in providing strategic advice on code development priorities, opportunities and impacts. The survey runs from July 7 until July 20, 2022. CodeNews.ca has edited an information update about the proposed transformation of the Canadian Code Development System. Many thanks to Jun’ichi Jensen, A/Executive Director, British Columbia Building and Safety Standards, for providing this information. |
11-JUL-2022 | CITY OF VANCOUVER 2019 Vancouver Building By-law 2019 Vancouver Plumbing By-law Revision 5 |
On July 4, 2022, BC Publications announced that the
consolidation of amendments to the 2019 Vancouver Building By-law (Book I and Book II), up to Revision 5,
effective as of July 1, 2022, has now been published online in its Public Library. A “Point in time” folder has been created which allows viewing the content as it read prior to July 1, 2022. The “Point in Time” folders are accessible within each Part, if applicable. For users of the binder versions of the By-laws, Revision 5 of the By-laws may be downloaded from: |
29-JUN-2022 | QUÉBEC 2021 Chapter I, Building, Construction Code |
The Régie du Bâtiment du Québec announced on May 18, 2022 that an
amendment (Décret 737-2022, 4 mai 2022) to
Chapter I, Building, of the Quebec Construction Code will come into
force on June 2, 2022. The amendment expands the scope of measures to protect against underground gas infiltration, including radon, throughout Quebec by removing the concept of "recognized risk areas". This amendment responds to the recommendations issued by the Public Health Authorities of Quebec and Health Canada. A transitional period will permit construction to comply with the previous edition of Chapter I until July 8, 2023. |
27-JUN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Bulletin |
Clarence C Cormier, P.Eng, Provincial
Electrical
Administrator, has issued the following revised Electrical STANDATA
bulletin:
The purpose of the
bulletin is to clarify how to apply the general rules in Section 2 of
the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I.
|
20-JUN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Bulletin |
Clarence C Cormier, P.Eng, Provincial
Electrical
Administrator, has issued the following revised Electrical STANDATA
bulletin: The
purpose of the bulletin is to clarify certain rules of Section 4 of the
Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (CE Code), which apply to conductors
for services, feeders and photovoltaic circuits.
|
10-JUN-2022 | ONTARIO Building Code Commission 2012 Ontario Building Code |
The
Building Code Commission (BCC) delivered a verbal ruling concerning the
application of Sentence 3.2.9.1.(7) of Div. B of the Ontario Building
Code regarding the requirement for standpipe hose cabinets
within dwelling
units in a 4 storey stacked townhouse project.
The BCC ruled that the hose cabinets are not required. While BCC rulings are generally considered site specific, many authorities having jurisdiction and designers use the rulings as guidance when applying code requirements to other projects. The written BCC Ruling, including reasons, will be made available within 2 - 3 months. Alek Antoniuk, OAA, CodeNews Consulting Corp., Consulting Architect, was the agent for the Applicant at the BCC Hearing. |
10-JUN-2022 | ALBERTA STANDATA Safety Codes Act Gas Bulletin Plumbing Bulletin |
Sidney Manning, Provincial Plumbing and Gas
Administrator, has issued the following Plumbing and Gas STANDATA
bulletin: The
purpose of the bulletin is to clarify that dual-purpose water heaters
must be certified and marked “Suitable for Water (Potable) Heating and
Space Heating” and can be utilized for either:
(a) conventional domestic water (potable) heating only; or (b) a combination water (potable) heating and space heating application. |
09-JUN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code 2019 Fire Code STANDATA Joint Building & Fire Code Bulletin |
Paul
Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, and Tina Parker, Provincial
Fire Administrator, have issued the following new joint Building and
Fire STANDATA bulletin: The
purpose of the bulletin is to provide a sample form for integrated
system testing (IST) that is referenced in Appendix C of the
CAN/ULC-S1001 standard. Copyright permission has been
provided by
ULC Standards to download the fillable ULC S1001 Testing Form.
Congratulations
to the Province of Alberta for providing access to this valuable
resource for code users throughout Canada! Alberta continues
to
be a leader in providing useful and practical tools and information to
code users! |
05-MAY-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act STANDATA Gas Codes Notice |
Alberta Municipal Affairs has issued a Notice
to advise that the following gas codes were adopted under the Gas Code
Regulation (AR 111/2010) and will come into effect on September 1, 2022
under the Safety Codes Act:
|
04-MAY-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code STANDATA Building Code Variance |
Alberta Municipal Affairs has advised that certain
Professional Schedules related to “19-BCV-024 Schedules of professional
involvement” are now available on the Alberta.ca
website. The NBC(AE) Schedules User Guide for the Schedules related to Standata 19-BCV-024 are available from the web site of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. |
03-MAY-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #331, dated May 3, 2022, to announce that Ontario Regulation 451/22 was
issued to amend the Ontario Building Code. This regulation was: • Made on April 28, 2022; • Filed on April 29, 2022; and • Published on e-Laws: April 29, 2022 The regulation will be "printed" in The Ontario Gazette on May 14, 2022. The following amendment came into effect on April 29, 2022:
|
28-APR-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #329, dated April 28, 2022, to explain that Ontario Regulation 434/22
(see below) was made to incorporate the "Temporary Health or
Residential Facilities" administrative requirements that had previously
been contained in Ontario Regulation 141/20,
made pursuant to the Emergency
Management and Civil Protection Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.9. Since Ontario Regulation 141/20 was revoked on April 27, 2022 and the Ontario government deemed that it was necessary to prolong the SCAMdemic, the requirements of revoked Ontario Regulation 141/20 were transferred to new Ontario Regulation 434/22. |
27-APR-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
Ontario Regulation 434/22 has been
issued to amend the Ontario Building Code. This regulation was: • Made on April 26, 2022; • Filed on April 26, 2022; and • Published on e-Laws: April 26, 2022 The regulation will be "printed" in The Ontario Gazette on May 14, 2022. The regulation came into force on April 26, 2022 and adds a new Subsection 1.3.7. Temporary Health or Residential Facilities to Division C of the Ontario Building Code. The regulation exempts a temporary health or residential facility and the conversion of all or part of an existing building or structure to a temporary health or residential facility from the requirement to: • comply with the Ontario Building Code; and • obtain a permit under section 8 or 10 of the Building Code Act. The regulation will be revoked on March 31, 2023. Yes, people ..... even the Ontario government knows that getting a permit and complying with the Ontario Building Code is a real pain in the .... Therefore the government has exempted itself from its own rules. You know: there are laws for "little people" like you - and there are no laws for the elite. |
27-APR-2022 | ONTARIO Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 |
Ontario Regulation 437/22 has been
issued to amend the Ontario Regulation 144/20. This regulation was: • Made on April 26, 2022; • Filed on April 26, 2022; and • Published on e-Laws: April 26, 2022 The regulation will be printed in The Ontario Gazette on May 14, 2022. The regulation will be revoked on March 31, 2023. The regulation contains further exemptions and requirements for a temporary health or residential facilities. |
27-APR-2022 | ONTARIO 2007 Fire Code |
Ontario Regulation 319/22 has been
issued to amend the Ontario Fire Code. This 1 page regulation was: • Made on March 11, 2022; • Filed on April 6, 2022; and • Published on e-Laws: April 7, 2022 • Printed in The Ontario Gazette on April 23, 2022. It will come into force on the later of the day section 204 of Schedule 1 (Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021) to the Providing More Care, Protecting Seniors, and Building More Beds Act, 2021 comes into force and the day this Regulation is filed. The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario issued a proclamation that Sched. 1, s. 204 came into force on April 11, 2022. This Minister's Regulation is administrative in nature and replaces the term: “Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007” with: “Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021” in Clause 9.4.1.1.(1)(b) of Division B of Ontario Regulation 213/07 (Fire Code). |
26-APR-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Code Variance |
Clarence C. Cormier, P. Eng.,
Provincial Electrical Administrator, has issued the
following STANDATA: The
purpose of this variance is to permit liquid-filled transformers to
deviate from Rule 2-024 of the Canadian Electrical Code, under certain
conditions.
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20-APR-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Building Code Interpretation Electrical Code Interpretation |
Paul
Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, and Clarence Cormier,
Provincial Electrical Administrator, have jointly issued the
following STANDATA: The
purpose of this interpretation is to clarify the requirements for
installing, altering, or adding to lightning protection systems.
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19-APR-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code STANDATA Building Code Variance |
Paul Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, has
issued the following Building STANDATA: The
purpose of this variance is to set out the conditions for a building
official to accept the use of an unvented roof assembly under Part 9 of
the National Building Code-2019 Alberta Edition.
The
purpose of this variance is to provide approximately equivalent
performance with respect to the thermal resistance for flat
and
cathedral roofs above attached garages and heated detached garages for
residential occupancies.
The
purpose of this 21 page variance is to recognize schedules of
professional involvement as an alternative solution to the requirements
in Articles 2.4.3.1, 2.4.3.2. and 2.4.4.1. of Division C of the
National Building Code – 2019 Alberta Edition.
The schedules of professional involvement were first introduced in the 1997 Edition of the Alberta Building Code (ABC 1997) at the request of the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA) and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). Recently, the AAA and the APEGA provided Alberta Municipal Affairs with revised schedules of professional involvement for use in the Alberta safety codes system. The revised schedules of professional involvement contain major changes to the content, including a different process from what is required by Section 2.4. of Division C of the NBC(AE). |
19-APR-2022 | SASKATCHEWAN The Construction Codes Act |
The
Construction Codes Act, S.S. 2021, c.9 (the CC
Act) came into effect on January 1, 2022 and
replaced the Uniform
Building and Accessibility Standards Act (the UBAS Act).
It is an Act
respecting building, accessibility and energy standards and the
inspection of buildings. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations published Explanatory Notes, dated January 2022, to provide users with an explanation of the provisions of the CC Act and the Regulations. The Building Code Regulations (Saskatchewan Regulations 124/2021) made under the authority of The Construction Codes Act, came into effect on January 1, 2022. The Energy Code Regulations (Saskatchewan Regulations 125/2021) made under the authority of The Construction Codes Act, came into effect on January 1, 2022. The Plumbing Code Regulations (Saskatchewan Regulations 126/2021) made under the authority of The Construction Codes Act, came into effect on January 1, 2022. |
01-APR-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 Fire Marshal’s Directive 2022-001 |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #328, dated March 17, 2022, to announce that Ontario Regulation 217/22, was
made under the Building Code Act, 1992 and will come into force on July
1, 2022. Ontario Regulation 217/22 requires municipal building departments to notify fire departments (or the clerk of a municipality that does not have a fire department) when a building (other than a house) will be constructed or renovated using lightweight floor or roof systems. On May 8, 2018, Ontario Regulation 378/18 was filed, and it came into force on July 1, 2019. The regulation requires that by July 1, 2024, every municipality and every fire department in a territory without municipal organization complete a Community Risk Assessment (CRA) and use it to inform decisions on the provision of fire protection services. On February 25, 2022, the Fire Marshal of Ontario had issued Fire Marshal’s Directive 2022-001 specifying that certain Assistants to the Fire Marshal are required to use information on the presence of truss and lightweight construction systems (commonly referred to as lightweight construction) in a community’s building stock, that is known and documented in the CRA, to inform fire suppression pre-planning activities. The intent of Fire Marshal’s Directive 2022-001 was to provide firefighters with the necessary information about a building’s structural composition to plan fire suppression activities and help ensure their safety. Enquiries regarding directive 2022-001, revised technical guideline TG-02-2019 or O. Reg. 378/18 may be directed to Office of the Fire Marshal via email or by Fire Services to their Fire Protection Adviser. This is not an April Fool's joke. In Ontario, it takes a provincial regulation to force municipal civil servants to share information and to talk to one another...! Will the CBO be fined is s/he does not talk to the fire chief? CodeNews is waiting for the next provincial regulation to force municipal civil servants to show respect for taxpayers. |
31-MAR-2022 | QUÉBEC La Régie du bâtiment du Québec Chapter I, Building, Construction Code |
The Régie du Building du Québec has announced the
publication of a new "Guide
sur l’accessibilité des bâtiments"
(PDF, 11.1 MB) to promote the accessibility of buildings to persons
with reduced mobility. This educational tool, designed for
architects, designers, contractors and other stakeholders, was
published as a result of the latest revision of Chapter I, Building,
Construction Code, which came into effect on January 8, 2022. A transitional period of 18 months following the entry into force of the new Chapter I, Building, Construction Code is planned. Construction started after July 7, 2023 must comply with the new standards for the accessibility of buildings to persons with disabilities. |
31-MAR-2022 | QUÉBEC La Régie du bâtiment du Québec |
The Régie du Building du Québec has announced the
publication of the revised 2022 edition of the "Bâtiments
de construction massive en bois encapsulé d’au plus 12 étages
-Directives et guide explicatif - Version révisée 2022".
(PDF, 5.3 MB) This updated edition, which incorporates the latest advances in the field of encapsulated timber construction, is available for free download on the RBQ website. This new version of the document is based on the changes that will be made to the National Building Code 2020 and the National Fire Prevention Code 2020. |
28-MAR-2022 | CANADA 2020 National Building Code 2020 National Fire Code 2020 National Plumbing Code 2020 National Energy Code for Buildings |
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has published, on March 28, 2022, the following national model codes, developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, for free, in electronic format:
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04-MAR-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Compendium |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #326, dated March 4, 2022, to
announce that a digital English language version of the 2012 Building
Code Compendium available upon request for personal, non-commercial,
and commercial uses (under a ministry-approved licensing agreement). The digital version is the Building Code, current as of January 1, 2022, includes recent amendments relating to: • building permits and inspections for tiny homes • remote inspections for all buildings Visit the Ontario government website to request a free copy of the digital English language version of the 2012 Building Code Compendium. Amendment packages for the hardcopy version of the Compendium will be made available through Publications Ontario. |
02-MAR-2022 | ASC/CSA B651, Accessible Design for the Built Environment | Joe
Rogers, P. Eng., Building Code Coordinator, Province of Nova Scotia has
kindly advised that the Canadian Standards Association is holding a
public review, from February 23, 2022 until April 24, 2022, of
the
draft of the next edition of the ASC/CSA B651, Accessible Design for the Built
Environment standard. The purpose of the standard is to specify technical requirements on how to make buildings and the exterior built environment accessible and safely usable by persons with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities. Registration is required to view the draft standard and submit comments on the ASC/CSA B651 Public Review Site |
15-FEB-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Variance Electrical Interpretation Electrical Bulletin |
Clarence
C. Cormier, P.Eng., Provincial Electrical Administrator, Alberta
Municipal Affairs – Technical and Corporate Services, has issued the
following Electrical STANDATA: Electrical STANDATA Variances:
Electrical STANDATA
Interpretations:
Electrical
STANDATA Bulletins:
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14-FEB-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Public Consultation |
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing posted an
announcement, dated February 11, 2022, on the Regulatory Registry, that
it is consulting on Proposal 22-MMAH003, which
proposes amendments to the 2012 Ontario Building Code to
support the More
Homes, More Choice: Ontario's Housing Supply Action Plan.
The proposed amendments address:
Comments on the proposed change are due by March 14, 2022 |
13-FEB-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Public Consultation on Sheds |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing posted an
announcement, dated February 9, 2022, on the Regulatory Registry, that
it is consulting on Proposal 22-MMAH002, that
would exempt certain sheds that are under 15 m2
in area from Ontario Building Code requirements, including building
permit requirements. Refer to the Ministry's draft wording of the proposed change for more details. Comments on the proposed change are due by March 12, 2022. |
27-JAN-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code Public Consultation |
The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
has posted announcements on the Regulatory Registry and the Environmental
Registry
that a public consultation on proposed changes for the next
edition of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) is being held from
January 27, 2022 until March 13, 2022. This is the second phase of consultations for the next edition of Ontario’s Building Code. The code change proposals in this phase are intended to align the Ontario Building Code with the 2020 National Construction Codes, in order to minimize new variations between the next edition of Ontario’s Building Code and the National Construction Codes. The main topics in this phase of consultation include:
"There
are no new administrative costs anticipated for regulated entities."
The above statement is almost as good as: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you." Who are they fooling..........! |
25-JAN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act STANDATA Gas Codes Notice |
The following STANDATA Notice is now available: The Notice reminds users of the Alberta Gas Code Regulation that following gas codes were adopted under the Gas Code Regulation (AR 111/2010) and came into effect on February 1, 2021 under the Safety Codes Act:
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24-JAN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Building Code 2019 Fire Code STANDATA Building Code Variance Building Code Interpretation Fire Code Variance |
Paul Chang, Provincial Building Administrator, has
issued the following Building STANDATA: The purpose of this Variance is to clarify the intent of off-site review as applicable to off-site construction of buildings. The purpose of this Interpretation is to further clarify when a request for relaxation of barrier-free requirements is appropriate. Tina Parker, Provincial Fire Administrator, has issued the following Fire STANDATA: The purpose of this Variance is to provide an effective alternative solution that ensures portable fire extinguishers are available at Paramount Resources' remote unstaffed energy transmission facilities for the use by employees and/or contractors in the event of a fire. |
18-JAN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2021 Canadian Electrical Code STANDATA Electrical Notice |
The following STANDATA Electrical Notice is
now available: The 2021 Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (twenty-fifth edition) automatically comes into force on February 1, 2022 throughout the Province of Alberta. Persons who have received permission (or a permit) by the authority having jurisdiction to undertake electrical installations regulated under the previous 2018 Canadian Electrical Code, Part I (twenty-fourth edition) prior to February 1, 2022 will be considered in compliance with the Safety Codes Act. Installations permitted on or after February 1, 2022 are required to conform to the new 2021 edition of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I. |
18-JAN-2022 | ALBERTA Safety Codes Act 2019 Alberta Fire Code 2019 Building Code 2015 National Plumbing Code of Canada STANDATA Fire Code Interpretation Building Code Interpretation Plumbing Code Interpretation |
The following joint fire, building, and plumbing joint
Interpretation STANDATA, issued by: • Tina Parker, Provincial Fire Administrator • Paul Chang, Provincial Building Administrator • Sidney Manning, Provincial Plumbing Administrator is now available: The purpose of this Interpretation is to clarify the intent of the National Fire Code – 2019 Alberta Edition (NFC(AE)) service provider qualifications for the verification (where applicable), installation, inspection, testing and maintenance of the following fire protection and life safety systems: • special fire suppression systems, • portable fire extinguishers, • fire alarm and voice communication systems, • sprinkler systems, • water-based fire protection systems, and • integrated fire protection and life safety systems. This Interpretation also provides guidance regarding the qualifications of service providers for the cleaning of commercial cooking equipment exhaust systems and certification of contractors that conduct installations, removals, maintenance, and repairs of aboveground and underground storage tank systems. |
18-JAN-2022 | ONTARIO 2012 Building Code |
The
Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued Ontario
CodeNews e-bulletin #321, dated January 18, 2022, to
announce that Ontario Regulation 867/21, made
under the Building Code
Act, 1992, came into force on January 1, 2022. O. Reg. 867/21 was:
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05-JAN-2022 | BRITISH COLUMBIA 2018 Building Code |
Dan Coulter, British Columbia Parliamentary Secretary
for Accessibility, announced on January 5, 2022, that the on-line survey
on how to make new buildings in British Columbia accessible has been
extended from December 9, 2021 until January 13, 2022 at 4pm. The on-line survey is now available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, French, and English. |
04-JAN-2022 | CITY OF VANCOUVER 2019 Vancouver Building By-law 2019 Vancouver Plumbing By-law |
On January 4, 2022, BC Publications announced that
Revision 3 to the 2019
Vancouver Building By-law (Book I) and the 2019 Vancouver Plumbing
By-law (Book II), that includes the consolided
amendments effective as of January 1, 2022, has now been
published on the BC Publications web site (select
"Vancouver Building By-law 2019" or "Vancouver Plumbing By-law 2019",
as applicable). For users of the binder version of the By-laws:
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