National Building Code of Canada

The National Building Code of Canada is the model building code of Canada. It is issued by the Institute for Research In Construction (IRC)],^[1] a part of the National Research Council of Canada. As a model code, it has no legal status until it is adopted by a jurisdiction that regulates construction.

History

The Constitution of Canada includes the regulation of building construction as a provincial responsibility. In a few cases municipalities have been given the historic right of writing their own building code. In the early years of regulating building construction this caused a patchwork of building codes across Canada.

In 1941 the federal government of Canada published the first National Building Code. This was adopted by the various provinces and municipalities in Canada during the next 20 years.

Since 1960 there has been a revised document about every five years up to 1995. The 2000 edition of the building code was supposed to be an objective or performance-based building. However, this took considerably longer to write than foreseen and the next edition of the National Building Code of Canada was not published until 2005. The 2010 National Model Construction Codes was published on November 29, 2010.^[2]

Implementation

The National Building Code is the model building code that forms the basis for all of the provincial building codes. Some jurisdictions create their own code based on the National Building Code, other jurisdictions have adopted the National Building often with supplementary laws or regulations to the requirements in the National Building Code.

Alberta

By agreement with the National Research Council of Canada,^[3] Alberta is committed to using the National Building Code of Canada as its base document with changes and modifications to suit Alberta needs in regulating the design, construction, alteration, change of use and demolition of buildings.

The Alberta Building Code 2006 was established by the Building Technical Council, a technical council of the Safety Codes Council,^[4] after consultation with municipal authorities, provincial government departments, associations, other affected parties and Code users. The Code is published for Alberta by the National Research Council of Canada.

The Alberta Building Code 2006^[5] was adopted by provincial regulation on September 2, 2007.^[6]

The Alberta Building Code 2006 is developed and administered by Alberta Municipal and Public Affairs.^[7] In addition to the production of the Alberta Building Code, Municipal Affairs is responsible for the development and dissemination of code interpretations and alternatives known as STANDATA^[8] which come in three forms:

1. Building Code Variances - acceptable alternative solutions to the prescriptive requirements (known as Alternative Solutions) in Division B.
   
2. Building Code Interpretations - interpretations on Code items
   
3. Building Code Bulletins - additional explanatory information on Code items or general Code topics

Ontario

The 2006 version of Ontario's Building Code^[9] has introduced many changes meant to increase the level of harmonization between Ontario, the National Building Code and other Canadian jurisdictions.^[10]

Vancouver

Under the Vancouver Building Bylaw, Vancouver has developed its own building code based on the National Building Code.

Other provinces

Prince Edward Island,^[11] Nova Scotia,^[12] and Newfoundland and Labrador^[13] have legislation enforcing the current version of the National Building Code of Canada. The Code de construction du Quebec^[14] is based on the 2005 National Building Code, amended and includes Part 10 for existing buildings. Manitoba,^[15] Saskatchewan^[16] and British Columbia^[17] have adopted the 2005 National Building Code as regulations under provincial acts.

Federal jurisdiction

For most construction under federal jurisdiction the National Building Code of Canada is the applicable Code. Property under federal jurisdiction includes military bases, federal government land, first nation reserves and airports.

Content

The intent of the Building Code is to detail the minimum provisions acceptable to maintain the safety of buildings, with specific regard to public health, fire protection, accessibility and structural sufficiency. It is not a textbook for building design. The Building Code concerns construction, renovation, and demolition. It also covers change of use projects where the change would result in increased hazard and/or maintenance and operation in the existing building. The Code sets out technical requirements for the aforementioned project types and does not pertain to existing buildings.

The 1995 National Building Code is split into 9 parts.

• Part 1 Scope and Definitions
• Part 2 General Requirements
• Part 3 Fire Protection, Occupant Safety and Accessibility
• Part 4 Structural Design
• Part 5 Environmental Separation
• Part 6 Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning
• Part 7 Plumbing Services
• Part 8 Safety Measures at Construction and Demolition Sites
• Part 9 Housing and Small Buildings

Part 1 gives the definitions and describes how the building code is applied. Houses and certain other small buildings (less than 3 storeys high and 600 m²) are considered "Part 9 Buildings" and only parts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 apply. Larger buildings are considered "Part 3 buildings" and parts 1 through 8 apply. Part 3 is the largest and most complicated part of the building code. It is intended to be used by engineers and architects. Part 9 is very prescriptive and is intended to be able to be applied by contractors.

The building code also references hundreds of other construction documents that are legally incorporated by reference and thus part of the enforceable code. This includes many design, material testing, installation and commissioning documents that are produced by a number of private organizations. Most prominent among these are the Canadian Electrical Code, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada^[18] a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, documents on fire alarm design, and a number of National Fire Protection Association documents.

References

1. ^ IRC Website
2. ^ http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irc/ci/v15no3/1.html
3. ^ National Research Council of Canada
4. ^ Safety Codes Council
5. ^ http://www.lrc.education.gov.ab.ca/pro/resources/item.htm?item-no=683161
6. ^ http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/Regs/2007_117.cfm?frm_isbn=9780779724154
7. ^ Alberta Municipal Affairs
8. ^ STANDATA
9. ^ Building Code Act 1992 of Ontario Online
10. ^ "Preface". 2006 Building Code Compendium of Ontario. 1. Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. pp. i. 
11. ^ http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/pdf/p-24.pdf
12. ^ http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/legc/statutes/buildcod.htm
13. ^ http://www.hoa.gov.nl.ca/hoa/statutes/b08.htm
14. ^ http://www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca/dirEnglish/BuildingCode/SafetyCode.asp
15. ^ http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/pdf/b093-127.06.pdf
16. ^ http://www.sboa.sk.ca/
17. ^ http://www.bccodes.ca/bccode_building.htm
18. ^ Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC)