This national public review runs from April 27 to June 22, 2026.

The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) invites code users, the Codes community, and the public to participate in the spring 2026 public review of proposed changes to the 2025 editions of the National Model Codes. The proposed changes included in this public review address the following topics in the National Building Code of Canada, the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, and the National Plumbing Code of Canada:

National Building Code of Canada

  • Accessibility
  • Automatic sprinkler systems
  • Energy efficiency for houses
  • Fire protection
  • Modular construction
  • Plumbing materials and equipment

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings

  • Airtightness
  • Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems

National Plumbing Code of Canada

  • Drainage systems

See the summary of key proposed changes below for more details.

The purpose of this public review is to:

  • provide code users, the Codes community, and the public with a detailed look at proposed technical changes, and
  • seek comment on each proposed technical change as to whether it should be approved, altered or withdrawn.

The public review will close at 11:59 pm PT on June 22, 2026, after which comments will no longer be accepted.

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 are familiar with the development of the proposed changes, and who develop a draft resolution to each comment. The draft resolutions are validated by the responsible code development committees, which form the recommendations to the CBHCC.

The recommendations could be one of the following:

  • approve for publication,
  • revise for publication,
  • defer publication pending further development – subject to subsequent public review, or
  • withdraw proposed code change.

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

Steps for submitting comments on proposed changes

Step 1: Read the guidelines for writing comments.
Step 2: Read the instructions for submitting comments.
Step 3: Read the proposed changes.
Step 4: If you have a comment, click the “Submit a comment” link located at the beginning of each proposed change, which will take you to the online comment form. Only comment forms that are submitted online will be accepted.

You may submit other related documents, such as reports, by email or mail.
Important: submit one comment form per proposed change. If you are commenting on more than one proposed change, use a separate form for each one.

Thank you for contributing to the development of the National Model Codes.

Important links:

 

National Building Code of Canada (NBC)

Modular construction compliance (Part 1 of Division A and Part 2 of Division C)

Introduces an administrative provision in Division C that permits prefabricated buildings, modules, or panels certified to CSA A277, “Procedure for certification of prefabricated buildings, modules, and panels,” to be deemed to comply with existing off-site review requirements.

Lavatory supply fittings in public washrooms (Part 3)

Adds an explanatory note to clarify that faucets in public washrooms must comply with the requirements for lavatory supply fittings in the National Plumbing Code.

Accessible controls on menstrual product dispensers (Part 3)

Introduces a requirement that, where menstrual product dispensers are provided in barrier-free washrooms, the operating controls must be usable without tight grasping, pinching with fingers, twisting of the wrist, or applying a high operating force.

Accessibility terminology (Parts 3 and 9)

Modernizes the language related to disabilities affecting vision and hearing so that the terminology used is consistent, is free of outdated language, and accurately reflects the functional considerations underlying relevant code provisions.

Firestops at perimeter joints (Parts 3 and 9)

Replaces the references to ASTM E2307, “Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-story Test Apparatus,” with references to CAN/ULC-S115, “Standard Method of Fire Tests of Firestop Systems,” as the test method to be used to rate firestops installed at perimeter joints.

Prescriptive compliance for Energy Performance Tier 2 (Part 9)

Provides a set of prescriptive energy efficiency requirements for demonstrating compliance with Energy Performance Tier 2 in Section 9.36.

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB)

Fan motor power threshold (Part 5)

Lowers the fan motor power threshold at which the prescriptive requirements for the design of HVAC fan systems apply.

Airtightness test standard (Part 8)

Aligns the references to standards for whole building air leakage testing in the prescriptive and modeling requirements of the NECB to only refer to ASTM E3158, “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Air Leakage Rate of a Large or Multizone Building.”

National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC)

Backwater valve installation (Part 2)

Clarifies requirements for the installation of a backwater valve to protect fixtures from backflow

Combined proposed change forms are available in PDF file format

Spring 2026: Proposed changes to NBC 2025, NECB 2025, and NPC 2025 – combined file (PDF – 7,829 KB)

Spring 2026: Proposed changes to NBC 2025, NECB 2025, and NPC 2025 – supporting documents (PDF – 266 KB)