National Code review 2020

he National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is looking for input into changes being proposed to several Codes Canada publications—and it wants your assistance.

NRC is asking code users and stakeholders to provide feedback on amendments to the National Building Code, the National Fire Code, the National Energy Code for Buildings, and updates to the documents referenced in the 2015 and 2017 National Model Codes. In so doing, the agency hopes to provide code users with a detailed look at its proposed technical changes, and to get a sense of whether or not proposed changes should be approved, adjusted or rejected.

This consultation will ultimately shape the roll-out of the 2020 national codes. Subsequent, and likely similar, amendments to Ontario’s Building Code will follow. The territories, provinces and the federal government have signaled their desire to harmonize technical code requirements.

Some of the more significant changes open for discussion include:

• improving the accessibility of buildings by revising the minimum dimensions of building elements to accommodate persons using various types of mobility devices,
• updating seismic hazard values and seismic design parameters in various locations across the country, adding new site designations and updating design to accommodate new wood-frame wall types,
• amending air-leakage requirements for building envelopes,
• updating the performance requirements for HVAC and service water heating equipment,
• amending requirements for inspecting mechanical and electrical equipment, and controlling flammable gases and vapours in large farm buildings, and
• updating lighting power density values to better align with the efficacy of new lighting products.

Consultations close on March 13.