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Building Services Notice

2018 Building Code Changes

Attention: Architects, contractors, designers, engineers, home builders

November 15, 2017

The Building Code was recently amended by O.Reg. 139/17. The amendments have staged implementation dates which include July 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018.

Amendments include retirement homes, two-unit houses (accessory apartments), water

service pipe sizing, gravelless leaching chambers and electric vehicle charging stations.

The City has prepared a summary the Building Code amendments. The document is attached

and will be posted at guelph.ca/building under the Building Services Notices section.

For a full list of Building Code requirements and amendments, please refer to the e-Laws website (free), or contact Publications Ontario to purchase copies of the Building Code.

For more information

Nicholas Rosenberg, Technical Services Specialist Building Services

City of Guelph

519-837-5615 extension 2285 nicholas.rosenberg@guelph.ca

2018 Building Code Amendments Regulation: O.Reg. 139/17

Disclaimer: The information provided here within is not guaranteed to be accurate. Reference should always be made to the Building Code, as amended, for information on the construction and use of buildings. Reference should also be made to all other applicable reference documents and guidelines. This publication should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or design advice.

November 15, 2017

Alternate formats are available as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act by contacting Building Services at 519-837-5615 or building@guelph.ca

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing Section 2: Housing

Overview

Administrative

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 2

The Building Code (O.Reg. 332/12) was amended by O.Reg. 139/17. The amendments have staged implementation dates, which include July 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018.

The amendments include retirement homes, two-unit houses (accessory apartments), water service pipe sizing, gravelless leaching chambers and electric vehicle charging stations.

For a full list of amendments, please refer to e-Laws (free), or contact Publications Ontario to purchase copies of the Building Code.

This document has been divided into two sections.

» Section 1 is applicable to all occupancy types except for houses » Section 2 is applicable to houses

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective July 1, 2017 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after June 30, 2017

» Regulated under Parts 3, 4, 5 and 6, not Part 9. [Division A, [1.1.2.2.(1)(c)]

» Now defined in the Building Code as “… a building that is a retirement home as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.”

» Definition of residential occupancy (Group C) revised to include retirement homes; definition of care occupancy (Group B, Division 3) revised to exclude retirement homes.

» Not permitted in mid-rise wood buildings. [3.1.3.2.(5)]

» Not permitted to contain combustible elements in partitions when noncombustible construction is required. [3.1.5.13.]

Retirement homes

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 3

» Required to be deemed a separate major occupancy. [3.2.2.4. to 3.2.2.8.]

» New classification articles created which are specific to retirement homes. [3.2.2.48A to 3.2.2.48E.]

» Smoke alarms or detectors in a retirement home shall provide an audible and visual signal to staff serving those suites so the suite can be easily identified. [3.2.4.22.(16)]

» Sprinkler systems in a retirement home shall be in compliance with NFPA 13, except NFPA 13R is permitted in retirement homes up to three storeys in accordance with 3.2.2.48D and 3.2.2.48E classifications. [3.2.5.13.(2)]

Retirement homes

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 4

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective July 1, 2017 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after June 30, 2017

» High building requirements of 3.2.6. apply to retirement homes where the highest story of the retirement home is more than 18m above grade. [3.2.6.1.(1)(e)]

» Emergency lighting is required for at least one hour in a retirement home not within a high building. [3.2.7.4.(1)]

» Emergency power for a fire alarm system is required for at least one hour in a retirement home not within a high building. [3.2.7.8.(3)]

» No additional door release hardware is permitted on doors to retirement home suites, such as security chains, night latches, dead bolts, etc. [3.3.1.12.]

» Current requirements for fire separations between retirement homes and storage garages remain. [3.3.4.2.(4)&(5)]

Retirement homes

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 5

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective July 1, 2017 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after June 30, 2017

» New article 3.3.4.11. contains specific requirements for retirement homes with more than 10 residents, which include:

• At least two fire compartments are required. • 45 minute / 1 hour fire separations. • Each fire compartment shall be not more than 1,000m². • Fire compartments shall be large enough to also

accommodate the occupants of the largest adjacent compartment.

• Weatherstripped doors required in fire separations. • Maximum dead end corridor length of 3.0 meters. • All doors serving residents shall have a minimum clear

width 860mm, including within each suite. • Required to have a voice communication system.

Retirement homes

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 6

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective July 1, 2017 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after June 30, 2017

» Leaching chambers can now be used instead of distribution piping. [8.2.1.6.]

Gravelless leeching chambers

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 7

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Electric vehicle charging

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 8

» New Subsection 3.1.21., Electric Vehicle Charging.

» Not applicable to multi-residential buildings* such as apartment buildings and stacked townhouses.

» Not less than 20 per cent of parking spaces located within a building shall be provided with electric vehicle supply equipment. (charging stations)

» The remaining 80 per cent of parking spaces located within the building shall be provided with rough-ins for future electric vehicle supply equipment. (charging stations)

» Rough-ins shall include appropriately sized conduit and electrical boxes.

Section 1: All occupancies, except housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

* Changes to the Code are currently being considered to apply electric vehicle charging requirements to all multi-residential buildings in 2019.

» Building Code amendments related to purpose-built two-unit houses came into effect July 1, 2017. However, the City of Guelph will not be recognizing these requirements until January 1, 2018. Until this time, change of use requirements for two-unit houses will remain status quo.

» Although the Ministry has provided relief to certain Code requirements, purpose-built two-unit houses will still require numerous items which may deter some applicants. For example, separate development charges, 45 minute fire resistance ratings, sound transmission ratings, etc. Therefore, it may still be desirable to submit a building permit application for a second unit after occupancy has been granted for the host unit.

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 9

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

» House is now defined in the Building Code as “a detached house, semi-detached house or row house containing not more than two dwelling units.”

» Only the change of use from a single dwelling unit to a two-unit house after occupancy may utilize the compliance alternatives listed in Part 11 of the Building Code.

» The following slides related to two-unit houses include;

• Purpose-built Code requirements in effect prior to 2018 • Purpose-built Code requirements coming into effect in 2018 • Change of use requirements which have not changed

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 10

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 11

Separation of residential suites

Purpose-built:

Pre-2018: 1 hour fire separations required. [9.10.9.14.(4)]

2018: 45 minute fire separations required. [9.10.9.14.(4)]

Note: Construction requirements for sound ratings may exceed construction requirements for fire resistance ratings.

Change of use: 30 minute vertical fire separation required (½” regular drywall on both sides of walls), as permitted under compliance alternative C152(a).

15 minute horizontal fire separation required (½” regular drywall on ceilings) with interconnected smoke alarms, as permitted under compliance alternative C152(b).

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 12

Sound ratings

Purpose-built:

Pre-2018: STC rating of at least 50*. [9.11.2.1.(1)]

2018: STC rating of at least 50*. [9.11.2.1.(1)]

* Ceilings require sound absorptive material, resilient metal channels and 2 layers of 5/8” Type X drywall. * Walls require resilient metal channels and 2 layers of 5/8” Type X drywall on one side and 1 layer of 5/8” Type X drywall on the other side. Refer to Supplementary Standard SB-3.

Change of use: Sound ratings are not applicable. ½” regular drywall permitted on ceilings and walls.

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 13

Smoke alarms in common areas

Purpose-built:

Pre-2018: Not required in common areas.

2018: Required in common areas. [9.10.19.3.(2)] Change of use: Required in common areas under compliance alternative C136.

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 14

Spatial separation

Purpose-built:

Pre-2018: Required to use Subsection 9.10.14. which may require noncombustible construction and/or cladding.

2018: Now permitted to use Subsection 9.10.15. which permits combustible construction and cladding. Change of use: Not applicable.

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Two-unit houses

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 15

Shared furnaces

Purpose-built:

Pre-2018: Separate furnaces required.

2018: Shared furnace permitted with a duct-type smoke detector* in supply or return system which would turn off the fuel supply and electrical power to the furnace upon activation of the detector. [6.2.4.7.(14)]

* As an alternative to the duct-type smoke detector

required by 6.2.4.7.(14), a relay switch may be installed between the smoke alarm and the furnace to shut down

the furnace upon activation of the alarm.

Change of use: Shared furnaces permitted under compliance alternative C195.

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 16

Water service pipe sizing

» Amended water service pipe sizing requirements [7.6.3.4.(6)] to permit a 3/4" pipe, but only under the following conditions:

• Serving a single dwelling unit only (n/a to two-unit houses)

• Not more than 26 fixture units • Minimum 3/4" supply pipe in the basement shall be

extended to the base of every riser that serves a maximum of one bathroom group

Gravelless leeching chambers

» Leaching chambers can now be used instead of distribution piping. [8.2.1.6.]

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Electric vehicle charging

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 17

» Definition of electric vehicle supply equipment in Building Code:

“electric vehicle supply equipment as defined in Rule 86-100 of the Electrical Safety Code adopted under Ontario Regulation 164/99 (Electrical Safety Code) made under the Electricity Act, 1998.”

» Definition of electric vehicle supply equipment in Electrical Safety Code, Rule 86-100:

“a complete assembly consisting of conductors, connectors, devices, apparatus, and fittings installed specifically for the purpose of power transfer and information exchange between the branch circuit and the electric vehicle.”

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

Electric vehicle charging

O.Reg. 139/17 November 15, 2017 18

Section 2: Housing

Effective January 1, 2018 Applicable to building permit applications submitted after December 22, 2017

» New Subsection 9.34.4., Electric Vehicle Charging.

» Every new single detached, semi-detached and row townhouse shall be provided with a rough-in for future electric vehicle supply equipment. (charging station)

» Rough-in shall include;

• A minimum 200 amp panelboard, • Conduit that is not less than 1-1/16” (27mm) trade size, and • A square 4-11/16” (119mm) trade size electrical box.

» Electrical box shall be installed in the garage, carport or adjacent to the driveway, and shall be fumeproofed from the house.

City of Guelph

Building Services

519-837-5615

building@guelph.ca