BURNABY — The British Columbia Ministry of Housing has announced proposed changes to the building code, aiming to expand the use of mass timber in construction.
These modifications are expected to permit the construction of taller buildings, including residential and office buildings, up to 18 storeys, surpassing the current limit of 12 storeys.
The changes would also facilitate the use of mass timber in various building types such as schools, shopping centres, and housing.
According to a press release, this initiative is part of the province’s efforts to create more sustainable housing options, particularly near transit hubs.
The proposed changes, which are available for public comment on the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes website, will allow for greater architectural flexibility by permitting more exposed mass timber in construction, the released reads.
The B.C. government, in collaboration with Quebec, has accelerated the development of these proposed code changes. After the public comment period, these changes will be offered to other provinces and territories for adoption and will also be considered for the national building codes.
This move coincides with the province’s Homes for People action plan, which aims to address the housing crisis by increasing urban housing density and promoting transit-oriented development. It complements the government’s ongoing efforts to streamline housing permits and authorizations.
Linda Buchanan, mayor of North Vancouver, and Guido Wimmers, dean of the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment, have expressed support for these changes, citing benefits in housing delivery, design innovation and carbon emission reduction. The mass timber sector in B.C. is expected to grow significantly, reaching a valuation of $403 million by 2035 and creating thousands of jobs.
Recent Comments
comments for this post are closed