Feds announce new regulatory regime for building codes

OTTAWA — The federal government has announced effective now, the new Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) has been given responsibility for the development of Canada’s National Model Codes.

The CBHCC replaces the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), the committee responsible for managing the national code development system in Canada since 1991.

The creation of the CBHCC is part of a broader set of governance changes including the dissolution of the Provincial/Territorial Advisory Committee on Codes, which previously advised the CCBFC on policy matters, stated a release. Under the new governance model, policy will be set by the Canadian Table for Harmonized Construction Codes Policy, which will oversee the CBHCC and include deputy-minister-level decision-makers from provincial, territorial and federal governments.

The governance changes will facilitate adoption of harmonized construction codes in Canada, stated the release.

The new governance model will also include an Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes consisting of members from industry, the regulatory community and other interested organizations who will provide policy advice to the CBHCC.

The National Research Council of Canada will continue to publish the codes and provide administrative, technical and policy support to the code development system.

Canada’s National Model Codes include the National Building Code of Canada, the National Fire Code of Canada, the National Plumbing Code of Canada and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings.

“In developing the new governance model, it was important that we maintain strong engagement with industry and the code community, which have been hallmarks of the Canadian system” said Joe Rogers, chair of the transition efforts, in a statement.

The new code system governance approach was developed collaboratively over the last two years by provincial, territorial and federal officials under the Construction Codes Reconciliation Agreement.