Ontario is set to make changes to its Building Code that will allow the construction of wood-frame buildings of up to six storeys, according to a government release.
"Building Code changes to mid-rise wood construction will give builders and the public even safer, more flexible building options. Our made-in-Ontario model for mid-rise wood provides the highest requirements for fire safety in Canada," said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McKeekin.
The government says the changes will give builders a safe option that can help make building a home more affordable and the flexibility to construct pedestrian-oriented buildings that enhance landscapes while maintaining safety for pedestrians.
The changes are scheduled to officially kick in Jan.1, 2015.
The revised Building Code will also roll in new safety requirement for wood frame building that include, building stairwells with non-combustible materials and roofs that are combustion resistant.
The Ontario government says these regulations are the most rigorous in Canada.
A Private Member’s Bill was introduced in 2012 by MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan, Bill Mauro, to allow six-storey wood frame construction in Ontario.
It is gratifying to see Ontario listening to the needs of Northern communities with today’s announcement," he said in a press statement. "The goal of increasing the use of wood in Ontario’s construction industry has been achieved. As the Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry, I am pleased by the jobs that will be created through expanded use of this sustainable resource."
Some members of the building industry are applauding the recently announced amendment.
"Communities across Ontario, from London to Thunder Bay, will all benefit from the housing, rental and office opportunities that this building code decision provides," said Ontario Home Builders’ Association CEO Joe Vaccaro. "And we look forward to seeing Ontario’s first six-storey wood projects completed in 2015."
British Columbia if the first province to approve six-storey wood buildings in 2009, constructing over 100 building projects and 5,000 new housing and rental options,
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