Ontario’s 2024 Building Code: Latest Resources Released
The 2024 Building Code Compendium is available as a two-volume hardcopy set. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has also issued amendment #1 to Ontario’s Building Code (OBC) 2024, which has new technical provisions allowing encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) up to 18 storeys high.
Amendment #1 to the 2024 Building Code
As announced in CodeNews 364 (November 5, 2024), amendments to the new 2024 OBC, which will come into effect on January 1, 2025, have recently been made by the MMAH. The changes are to:
- expand new technical provisions allowing EMTC buildings to be constructed up to 18 storeys high, expanding the occupancies where EMTC can be used as the primary structural material, and relaxing the amount of mass timber that must be encapsulated;
- move administrative provisions from the 2012 Building Code into the 2024 Building Code to continue to allow Temporary Health and Residential Facilities; and
- make some minor housekeeping and editorial changes and update some standards referenced in the Building Code.
The Ontario Amendment Document has been revised to include these changes. Members may request a copy of this document via email to Ontario.Amendment.Document@ontario.ca. Note: the changes from the April 5 version of the document have not been highlighted.
New In-person Information Sessions
MMAH has announced various in-person training sessions to provide further information to explain key technical and administrative changes in the new Code and address questions. Via CodeNews 365 (November 13, 2024), four new dates have been announced:
Registrations will be made on a first come, first served basis. Due to space limitations, attendees will be required to show proof of registration.
Hardcopy and Digital Copy Now Available and Amendments are Expected Later this Fall
The hardcopy of the 2024 OBC compendium for Ontario’s 2024 Building Code is now available for purchase on the Publications Ontario website. Note that the website also advises Amendment #1 to OBC 2024 will be forthcoming, and is expected to be published sometime in late-November to mid-December 2024. Refer to the Publications Ontario website for further details so that the amendment package can be shipped to you at no additional cost, when available.
The two-volume digital 2024 Building Code Compendium is available online as a free download. It includes bookmarks, hyperlinked tables of contents, and the ability to insert personal notes or highlight sections of the code.
Training and Resources
As announced in CodeNews 362 (Oct 17, 2024), the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) started its “road show” to offer in-person information sessions on the new building code. The first four sessions have already taken place in Toronto, Clarington/Newcastle, Huntsville, and Barrie. Four other sessions are planned for Ottawa, London, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay. Members are reminded to subscribe to CodeNews to receive timely notification of the registration links, as capacity is limited.
In CodeNews 361 (September 10, 2024), the recordings and slide deck of the five webinars previously hosted by the MMAH were made available to download. These webinars provide an overview of the issued code changes, including an explanation of the key 2024 technical and administrative updates.
The OAA’s ConEd Webinar, “Navigating Ontario’s New 2024 Building,” held on September 26, 2024, is also available on the OAA’s YouTube channel.
Timing, Transition, and the Importance of Anticipating Changes
The 2024 edition of Ontario’s Building Code comes into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month transition period until March 31, 2025 for permit applications under the 2012 OBC for which the working drawings were substantially complete before 2025. Then, on April 1, 2025, all permit applications will be reviewed using the 2024 OBC.
Architecture practices anticipating the required changes may be best positioned to assess the impact on projects and discuss with clients its affect on projects.
The OAA’s Practice Advisory Services (PAS) team is currently focusing on updating the OAA’s Building Code Data Matrices, as well as other practice resource document0s related to the building code.
This article was originally in an issue of the Practice Advisory—a newsletter developed by the OAA’s Practice Advisory Services team, which offers numerous resources for both members and the public. The OAA does not provide legal, insurance, or accounting advice.
Readers are advised to consult their own legal, accounting, or insurance representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.