Overview

Revisions to the National Model Codes are considered through a process. The Harmonized Code Development Process consists of the following key steps (see figure below) and include:

  • strategic direction setting;
  • work planning;
  • change development and reporting;
  • public review and approval for publication; and
  • publication.

The operating procedures for each part are detailed in subsequent sections.

The Canadian Table for Harmonized Construction Codes Policy (CTHCCP) sets the strategic direction by agreeing to priority areas that will be the focus of code development activities over a code cycle. The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) organizes and operationalizes code development activities to achieve the strategic priorities. The CBHCC makes decisions throughout the process based on recommendations from development committees (Standing Codes Coordination Committee (SCCC), national model codes committees and their task groups and working groups, minor task working groups, and policy working groups) constituted to consider an issue. Codes Canada, an administrative unit within the Construction Research Centre of the National Research Council Canada, provides administrative, technical, policy, production and communications support. The process is enriched by advice from the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes (ACHCC) and broad input from the public through engagement mechanisms built into the process such as participation in public meetings and public review.

The process operates continually and results in publication of National Model Codes approximately every five years.

Operating Procedures for Process Review Request
Figure 1: The National Model Codes development cycle

Strategic direction setting

The objective is to set strategic priority areas for the code cycle to focus code development activities. Setting the strategic direction includes consideration of:

  • Outstanding work related to strategic priorities from the previous code cycle;
  • Individual provincial, territorial, and federal government priorities; and
  • Input on key priority areas for industry and interested parties.

The process results in a list of harmonized strategic priority areas that would be the focus of the code cycle. The strategic priority areas are set by the CTHCCP, based on advice from the CBHCC, which considers input from the ACHCC. The strategic direction is set in advance of the code cycle and informs work planning.

Work planning

Work planning is required to organize the code development activities for a development cycle. The objective is to develop a comprehensive work plan to achieve the code cycle strategic priorities. The CBHCC, with input from the ACHCC, translates the strategic direction into actionable code development priorities to inform the development of a work plan for the code cycle. The work plan is developed by the CBHCC with the support of Codes Canada. The Standing Codes Coordination Committee (SCCC) provides input on sequencing and coordination. The work plan is approved by the CBHCC in advance of the code cycle.

Work planning includes consideration of:

  • identification of tasks planned to be worked on;
  • alignment of code change requests received with strategic direction and priorities;
  • non-controversial and non-complex code change requests;
  • work required as part of task terms of reference;
  • sequencing of tasks;
  • national system resource availability; and
  • opportunity for provincial-, territorial- or federal-led change development.

The result of the work planning process is a code cycle work plan that includes:

  • a list of priority tasks to be completed;
  • a planned schedule outlining the sequencing of the tasks for the entire code cycle;
  • assignment of tasks to a development committee, namely a:
    • national model code committee; or
    • minor task working group; and
  • terms of reference for the national model code committees.

Codes Canada drafts terms of reference for the national model code committees as part of the work plan. The SCCC provides input on terms of reference to ensure the work to be undertaken is well coordinated. Codes Canada starts the work of the development committees at a time in accordance with the approved schedule as part of the approved work plan.

Approved work plans are made available at public CBHCC meetings and are shared for information with the ACHCC. The CBHCC keeps the CTHCCP informed of the approved work plan. Codes Canada and development committee chairs provide regular updates on progress. The work plan may be amended as deemed necessary by the CBHCC and is provided to the CTHCCP for information.

Requests to update standards already referenced in the Codes are received from the provinces and territories, the public and standards development organizations. A recommendation is developed by Codes Canada, in consultation with relevant expertise as needed, and forwarded to the CBHCC for consideration for public review.

Change development

Changes to the content of the Codes are developed in accordance with the approved work plan. The objective is to develop consensus-based recommendations for the National Model Codes.

Policy working groups are struck at the discretion of the CBHCC to undertake the policy work that informs technical development. Development of policy direction includes consideration of:

  • F/P/T public policy;
  • whether the Codes are the right instrument to address the issue;
  • impact on stakeholders, including consultation with the ACHCC as needed;
  • regulatory and enforcement implications; and
  • the scope of technical development work.

Proposed changes to the Codes are developed by development committees in accordance with the Operating Procedures for Development Committees.

Development of proposed changes includes consideration of:

  • direction from the CBHCC;
  • the issue to be addressed;
  • impacts of introducing changes to the Codes in accordance with the Guidelines for Impact Analysis for CBHCC Development Committees; and
  • enforcement implications associated with implementation of the changes.

The SCCC functions as hub for code development technical activities by providing a forum for regular gatherings of the national model code committee chairs to update each other on progress, to foresee and address coordination issues, and to facilitate coordinated development including considerations of potential consequences and implications on other code requirements. The SCCC also considers the cumulative impact of proposed code changes as directed by the CBHCC.

The CBHCC considers proposed code changes following the recommendations of the development committees. The CBHCC may choose to:

  • forward the proposed change to public review with or without modifications;
  • defer a proposed code change pending further development; or
  • withdraw a proposed change from further development.

The CBHCC’s decision is made available at public CBHCC meetings.

Public review and approval for publication

Broad consultation on proposed code changes is achieved through public review. The objective is to solicit comments from the code user community across the country through a nationally coordinated consultation.

Comments on proposed code changes are solicited for a time-limited period at regular intervals during the code cycle. Proposed code changes are accessible electronically in English and French during public review. Provinces and territories share information with stakeholders and the general population to facilitate their participation in the coordinated national public review wherever possible.

The result of the public review process is a collection of comments on proposed code changes. The comments are sorted and analyzed by Codes Canada staff, who also develop a draft resolution to each comment. The draft resolutions are validated or modified by the responsible development committees, which inform the recommendations to the CBHCC. The development committee’s recommendation could be one of the following:

  • approve for publication – with or without editorial revisions;
  • approve for publication with technical changes – in this case the development committee provides justification on why the technical changes should not be subjected to a subsequent public review for the CBHCC’s consideration;
  • defer publication pending further development – subject to subsequent public review; or
  • withdraw proposed code change – no further development.

The CBHCC decides which changes would be published in the next editions of the National Model Codes based on the recommendations of the development committees.

CBHCC approval for publication considers:

  • whether the code development process has been followed; and
  • recommendations of the development committees.

The CBHCC, for all proposed code changes, decides to either:

  • approve for publication with or without modifications;
  • defer publication and reconsider after further development;
  • withdraw with no planned further development; or
  • take another action.

The CBHCC decisions are made available at public CBHCC meetings.

Publication

The last step in the cycle is publication of National Model Codes, revised in response to the strategic direction, as well as additional material to support effective implementation. The CBHCC informs the CTHCCP of the proposed changes approved for publication prior to publication of the National Model Codes.

Codes Canada consults with relevant provincial officials and industry representatives with broad knowledge of Codes terminology and linguistic competence in both official languages to verify the translation of significant or complex technical content of all French language versions of Codes to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Publication of the Codes is supplemented by the development of additional material to support implementation. Codes Canada, in conjunction with supplemental expertise as needed, prepares guides and other tools to facilitate implementation.

Publication of the Codes is targeted to occur every five years. Publication of the support material is targeted to occur within 18 months following the publication of the National Model Codes.