Public Review of Proposed Changes to the 2020 National Model Codes

November 4, 2024

The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) is inviting code users, interested parties, and the broader public to take part in the next public review of proposed changes to the 2020 editions of the National Model Codes.

The public review runs from October 21 to December 19, 2024. Those interested in participating in the review can access the proposed changes on the CBHCC’s website and provide feedback.

The public review is an opportunity for all Canadians to participate in the code development process. The CBHCC encourages anyone who is interested to review and provide feedback on the changes being considered. Following the public review, all comments will be considered by the relevant code development committees, and recommendations on the proposed changes will be made to the CBHCC. If approved, the changes will be included in the 2025 editions of the National Model Codes.

Feedback on the proposed changes helps shape the National Model Codes, which are adopted, with or without modifications, by the provincial or territorial authorities having jurisdiction over the regulation of construction of buildings and houses.

For more information, please contact the CBHCC at CBHCCSecretary-SecretaireCCHCC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

National Building Code of Canada

  • Fenestration
  • Building envelope
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
  • Updates to referenced documents

National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings

  • Performance compliance – Energy modeling software requirements
  • Performance compliance – Exceptional calculation methods
  • Updates to referenced documents

National Fire Code of Canada

  • Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction
  • Updates to referenced documents

National Plumbing Code of Canada

  • Updates to referenced documents

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,
  • seek comment on each proposed technical change as to whether it should be approved, altered or withdrawn, and
  • seek comments on updates to documents referenced in the National Model Codes.

The public review will close at 11:59 pm PST on December 19, 2024, 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.

Go HERE for more information

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