Important

This public review is now closed.
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This national public review ran from October 24, 2022 to December 23, 2022. The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) invited Code users and stakeholders to participate in the fall 2022 public review of proposed changes to the National Model Codes:

  • National Building Code of Canada 2020 (NBC)
  • National Fire Code of Canada 2020 (NFC)
  • National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 (NECB)
  • National Plumbing Code of Canada 2020 (NPC)

The purpose of this public review was to:

  • provide Code users and stakeholders with a detailed look at proposed technical changes
  • seek comment on each proposed technical change as to whether it should be approved, altered, or rejected.

The public review closed at 11:59 pm EST on December 23, 2022, after which comments will no longer be accepted. The relevant committees of the CCBFC will review every comment that was received up to that date. The committees will then either withdraw the proposed change; recommend that it be reviewed further for possible re-submission in revised form in a future public review; or recommend that it be approved by the CCBFC, with or without modification. If approved by the CCBFC, the technical changes will be published in the 2025 editions of the National Model Codes.

Updates to referenced documents

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Updates documents referenced in the National Model Codes.
Description of the updates to referenced documents.

National Building Code of Canada

Fixed seating in assembly occupancies (Part 3)

Updates the requirements for fixed seating in assembly occupancies to further align with common industry practice and the requirements of NFPA 101, “Life Safety Code.”

Gendered washrooms (Part 3)

Clarifies the requirement for a minimum number of water closets and that non-gendered washrooms are permitted in buildings.

Penetrations (Part 3)

Clarifies that, where a fire alarm system is required, the permitted service penetrations in a portion of a building are required to be firestopped in accordance with Subsection 3.1.9.

Size limit for open stringers in stairs (Part 3)

Limits the size of the triangular openings formed by the stair risers and treads and bottom element of a required guard to align the requirement with existing Part 9 provisions.

Tactile direction indicators (Part 3)

Introduces the requirement that tactile direction indicators, where used, should be configured and installed in accordance with CSA B651, “Accessible design for the built environment,” for consistent and appropriate directional messaging.

Self-service storage buildings (Part 9)

Clarifies that the applicable fire-protection requirements for self-service storage buildings fall under Part 3.

Structural design (Part 9) – wall studs

Updates Table 9.23.10.1. to clarify that 38 mm × 140 mm studs spaced at 400 mm on centre may be used in exterior walls to support only a roof or a roof plus one floor.

National Fire Code of Canada

Non-fixed seating in assembly occupancies (Part 2)

Updates the requirements for seating in assembly occupancies to further align with common industry practice and the requirements of NFPA 101, “Life Safety Code,” that apply specifically to non-fixed seating.

Vent pipe outlets for storage tanks (Part 4)

Harmonizes the requirements for vent pipe outlets of aboveground and underground storage tanks; and clarifies that emergency vent outlets connected to a secondary containment of a double-walled storage tank are not required to discharge outside buildings.

National Plumbing Code of Canada

Protection of potable water (Part 2)

Adds references to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, “Drinking Water System Components - Health Effects,” to address the protection of potable water from chemical contamination.

Relief valves on hot water tanks (Part 2)

Introduces the requirement that relief valves for hot water tanks be connected to a discharge pipe that runs down the length of the tank to divert the steam or hot water that may be released to a proper discharge location.

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings

Part-load performance of boilers and furnaces (Part 8)

Incorporates return-hot-water temperature into the calculation of the part-load performance of boilers and furnaces.

To receive the proposed changes for this public review, please contact the Secretary of the CCBFC.