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Archer, J. W.; Gallagher, J. F.
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Coming soon to a site near you – the new building codes
Archer, J.; Gallagher, J.
NRCC-47689
A version of this document is published in / Une version de ce document se trouve dans : On-Site Heavy Construction News, Jan/Feb. 2005, pp. 33-34
New National Construction Codes Coming Soon in 2005
By John Archer and Jim Gallagher
Submitted to Heavy Construction News On-Site Magazine
It should come as no surprise that a great deal of organization, research, consultation and coordination goes into providing the quality that designers, builders and citizens have come to expect of the National Building Code (NBC) and other national model codes used in Canada. Throughout 2005, Heavy Construction News On-Site will examine these model codes from several standpoints. This issue provides background information about the code development process in Canada and the transition that will take place upon publication of the 2005 model codes this year, likely in late summer.
The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) develops the national model codes through a consensus-based process that relies on the voluntary contributions of public and private sector experts from across Canada. Committees review and develop proposed technical changes to the codes before they are submitted for public review. On behalf of the Commission, the National Research Council (NRC) provides technical and administrative support and publishes the codes.
The NBC was first published in 1941 and today it is the basis for all of the provincial and territorial building codes in Canada. In the past decade, the NBC and its companions, the National Fire Code and the National Plumbing Code, have undergone extensive reviews and changes that will make the 2005 codes clearer, more flexible, more accommodating to innovation, and abreast of international regulatory and economic trends. The changes were driven by a number of new economic realities – increasing globalization,
innovation, and increasing activity in the renovation of existing buildings – which had identified the need to make the codes more responsive and able to accommodate
innovation. With these changes, the 2005 national model codes will now be referred to as “objective-based” codes.
The widespread support for these changes from the provinces and territories – which have the constitutional responsibility for construction regulation – speaks well of the long-standing cooperation between NRC and the provinces and territories that has marked the development and use of the model codes. Indeed, the adoption of the model codes to become the basis of provincial and territorial regulation over the years reflects the reality that there are benefits to Canada’s economy in general, and to the construction industry in particular, from uniformity in code requirements. These benefits include: - a uniform level of health and safety for all Canadians;
- one large domestic market with common requirements, facilitating the movement of goods and services across provincial boundaries;
- a minimizing of duplication of effort, allowing for cost sharing of technical development;
- credibility for Canadian technologies in international markets;
- a reduction in design and compliance verification costs for those working in multiple jurisdictions.
In its decision to restructure the three codes into an objective-based format for the 2005 editions, the Commission sought to make a good product better, by making the codes clearer and easier to use, more responsive to the market place, and more open to
technological advances. The first step in the restructuring was to carry out an exhaustive review of the intent and application of all the provisions in the three codes. The next step was to develop the objective-based format, followed by conversion of the three codes to the objective-based structure and an extensive public review.
How Will the 2005 Objective-Based Codes Work?
Before the introduction of the objective-based concept, the NBC, the National Fire Code and National Plumbing Code were referred to as prescriptive-based codes. For the most part, the codes “prescribed” what was necessary to satisfy a requirement such as fire safety. However, all three codes have always permitted what are called equivalencies. In fact, it is clearly stated in the General Requirements that the provisions of these codes are not intended to limit the appropriate use of materials, appliances, systems, equipment, methods of design or construction procedures not specifically prescribed. It has always been possible for designers and builders to show that an alternative solution, called an equivalency, could be used to satisfy a requirement. When something new is proposed, however, it must be demonstrated that it provides a level of performance at least equivalent to that achieved by the prescribed solution.
The new objective-based codes will make available to the construction industry much more information to assist both in understanding code provisions and in evaluating alternative solutions. What is also important about objective-based codes is that the construction practitioner and the official who assess code conformance will have a better common understanding of the issues, thus promoting informed discussion and decision-making.
The objective-based approach is an innovative approach to modernizing the codes, one that minimizes disruption to construction practitioners while at the same time opening the codes to the realities and opportunities of the modern global economy.
Objective-based formats offer the following advantages for users: Better understanding of the intent behind each requirement More information to evaluate alternative approaches
More uniform interpretation of requirements and their application Greater flexibility to accommodate innovation
Retention of already existing prescriptive and performance requirements (meaning minimal disruption to users who prefer the old way)
Compatibility with international trends in performance-based regulation.
Training for the 2005 Codes
The provinces and territories, along with NRC and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, are funding the development of “transition training” on the objective-based features of the 2005 codes. The training materials will include a two-day workshop course for each of the building, plumbing, and fire codes, to be delivered by the provinces and territories or their designates once they adopt the model codes. The training materials are developed to meet the needs of building, fire and plumbing officials; the provinces and territories may adapt the course materials for use by designers, builders, and other code stakeholders. A self-study course will be available on CD. A short version of all three courses will be available on-line.
Training with regard to the technical changes in the codes is being addressed separately. The NRC plans to present seminars in coordination with the provinces and territories starting in December 2005.
John W. Archer is with the Canadian Codes Centre of the National Research Council’s Institute for Research in Construction (IRC) and is Secretary of the Canadian
Commission on Building and Fire Codes. Jim Gallagher is Manager of Publication Services at IRC.
Further details on the objective-based codes and the training that will be offered are available at http://www.nationalcodes.ca.
