600 changes
introduced in
National Model Construction Codes
Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Canadians are demanding safer, healthier and more ac-
cessible construction where they live, work and play. To
address these demands, some 600 changes were intro-
duced in the National Model Construction Codes, now
known as Codes Canada. The 2015 edition of the codes
respond to the changing needs of Canadians
and to new technologies, materials, and re-
search. • All buildings in Canada will now be de-
signed for earthquake forces regardless
of the level of hazard;
• New design requirements will improve
accessibility of stairs and washrooms;
• Increased run dimension of steps inside
houses from the current minimum of 210
mm to a new minimum of 254 mm could
reduce fall incidences by up to 64 per
cent; • New requirements to flow rates in show-
ers will reduce water usage in buildings;
and • Additional protection measures such as higher stan-
dards for automatic sprinkler systems will allow for
the construction of six-storey wood buildings.

“I am very pleased to announce the launch of the 2015
editions of Codes Canada,” Douglas Crawford, chair of the
Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, said in
a statement. “Their development is the result of a great
deal of work from over 600 dedicated volunteers, broad
consultations, and the excellent staff support provided by
NRC’s Codes Canada. This work has benefited from, and
been informed by, our ongoing partnership with the
provinces and territories and strong working relationships
with key stakeholders.”
In response to climate change, the Government of
Canada has announced an additional $40 million over five
years to integrate climate resilience into building design
guides and codes. Funding will support revised national
building codes, and guides integrating climate resiliency
into the design and rehabilitation of public infrastructure
will be ready for adoption in 2020.

“For over 75 years, the National Research Council has
supported an open and collaborative development
process,” said Philip Rizcallah, director of building regula-
tions at the National Research Council of Canada. “Our
goal is to produce effective building and safety regulations
that are harmonized across Canada by collaborating with
Canada’s provinces and territories and the Canadian Com-
mission on Building and Fire Codes.”
Codes Canada are developed by the Canadian Commis-
sion on Building and Fire Codes and are published every
five years by the National Research Council of Canada
(NRC). This includes the National Building Code, the Na-
tional Fire Code, the National Plumbing Code, and the Na-
tional Energy Code for Buildings.

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes
is an independent and public committee of volunteers es-
tablished by the National Research Council (NRC) and re-
sponsible for developing and updating the National Model
Construction Codes.

Under Canada’s constitution, provinces and territories
regulate the design and construction of new houses and
buildings, as well as the maintenance and operation of fire
safety systems in existing buildings.

Anyone can submit a code change request at any time
through NRC’s website. These requests are reviewed and,
if approved, help improve the codes.

Codes Canada are published in print or electronic for-
mat under a variety of price points, including: student dis-
counts, bulk discounts, and short term online subscription
rates. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — September 2016 – 5