Major Changes to the
2010 National Construction Codes
Contractor’s Breakfast
January 2014Philip Rizcallah, P. Eng.
NRC-IRC Canadian Codes Centre
Presented by
Stan Dueck CRBO
Overview
• Where are the major changes?
– Changes to Parts 3 & 9 of the 2010 NBC
– Changes to Parts 4, 5 & 6 of the 2010 NFC
• Issues Addressed:
– Fire Protection
– Use and Egress
– Hazardous Materials & Activities
– Part 9 – Housing & Small Buildings
Not covered in this presentation; changes to Part 4, 5 & 6 of the
NBC, water pipe sizing changes to the NPC, the Revisions of
December 2012 (incorporated energy efficiency requirements)
2
Overview
• More information about the
2010 National Construction Codeshttp://www.nationalcodes.nrc.gc.ca/eng/news/2010_codes_information.html
• News release providing
information regarding the
nearly 800 technical changes
made to address technological
advances, health & safety concernshttp://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/news/releases/2010/construction_codes.html
3
Overview
• Check out the
Frequently Asked Questionshttp://www.nationalcodes.nrc.gc.ca/eng/faq/questions.html
• The Significant technical changes in the 2010 National
Model Construction Codeshttp://www.nationalcodes.nrc.gc.ca/eng/news/2010_codes_significant_chang
es.html
• The Online Presentations on the 2010 Codeshttp://www.nationalcodes.nrc.gc.ca/eng/presentations/2010_codes_presentati
ons.html
4
Overview
• The Construction Codes now have
10 Standing Committee’s that report to the
“Canadian Commission on Building & Fire Codes”
• 4 of these 10 Standing Committee’s are involved
in the areas being addressed in this presentation:
– Standing Committee on Fire Protection
– Standing Committee on Use and Egress
– Standing Committee on Hazardous Materials & Activities
– Standing Committee on Part 9 – Housing & Small Buildings
5
Code DevelopmentWhat’s the Process?
• From Change Request to Code Requirement:– Code Change Request (CCR)
– Standing Committee – Decision to address issue
– Standing Committee – Proposed change (PCF) – Development
and Decision
– Public Review
– Standing Committee – Final Recommendation to CCBFC
– Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC)
decision
– Publication of National Model Codes
6
Code Process UpdateWhere are we now?
CCBFCSCSCSCCCR PCF
CCBFCSCSCSCCCR PCF
SCSCCCR PCF SCPublic
Review
2007
Public
Review
2009
Public
Review
2008
Oct 2008 Apr 2009
Sep 22-23
Nov 12-13
Feb 21-22
Dec 2010
7
Major ChangesSubjects
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetrations (Fire Stop now called Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Parts 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
8
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
9
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation is more commonly
known as a set-back from a property line
• Spatial Separation could be a measurement
to a property line or to an imaginary line between
two buildings that are located on the same property
• For more information about required set-backs see
our document regarding the Area Development Regulations
and the 2010 NBC
10
Changes can be summarized as:
limiting distance & fire department response
time of 10 minutes for both Part 3 & Part 9 buildings;
unprotected openings;
construction of exposing building faces; and
projections.
Edmonton Fire
Nature of Technical
Changes (Spatial Separation)
19
Limiting Distance (LD)Spatial Separation
• Clarification of the relationship between fire
department response time and Limiting Distance
(LD) – between buildings and also to property lines;
– 10-min response time
– Harmonization between Part 3 and Part 9 language on LD
when the 10-min is exceeded
– The 10-min response has been a requirement
for Part 3 buildings in previous editions of the NBC
20
Limiting Distance (LD)Spatial Separation
• LD values indicated in the Code provisions must be doubled on
site where:
• 10-min fire department response can not be met in 90% of
calls to the building
• any storey in the building is not sprinklered
22
LD x 2
Area of Unprotected
Openings (Spatial Separation)
– Limits on individual unprotected openings where the LD is 2 m or less;
– Area = 0.24 [(2 * LD) – 1.2]2
23
LD (m) Maximum Area of Individual
Unprotected Openings, m2
1.2
1.5
2.0
0.35
0.78
1.88
Area of Unprotected
Openings (Spatial Separation)
(Part 9 Differences)
Buildings:
– Exception for openable bedroom or sleeping room
windows having an unobstructed area equal to 0.35 m2
– Individual unprotected openings
Dwellings or homes:
... individual glazed openings or group of glazed openings in
exposing building face not exceed 50% max. allowable
For more information regarding bedroom egress windows
see Advisory #2 – Egress Windows or Doors for Bedrooms
24
Area of Unprotected
Openings (Spatial Separation)
• Horizontal and vertical distances between individual
unprotected openings:
– 2 m horizontally of another unprotected opening that is on
the same exposing building face and serves the single room
or space, or
– 2 m vertically of another unprotected opening that serves the
single room or space, or another room or space on the same
storey with a separation wall that is less than 1.5m.
See Sentence 9.10.14.4.(5) of the NBC
25
Unprotected OpeningsSpatial Separation
26
2m
2m
2m
2m2m
2m 2mWindows
Single Room or Space (Elevation View)
Unprotected OpeningsSpatial Separation
27
2m
Two or more adjacent spaces having a full-height separating
wall extending at least 1.5 m from the interior face of the
exterior wall, or . . .
1.5 m from exterior wall and full-height
Space Space
Wall
Windows
Single Room or Space (Plan View)
Unprotected OpeningsSpatial Separation
28
. . . Two or more stacked spaces that are on the same storey.
2nd Floor
Ground Floor
2mWindows
Stacked Spaces (Sectional View)
Combustible ProjectionsSpatial Separation
– Roof soffits can not be
constructed above the
exposing building face
(EBF), where the EBF
has a LD of not more
than 0.45 m (18”) ;
– Roof soffits not to project
to less than 0.45 m from
the property line where
the EBF has a LD of
more than 0.45 m (18”);
29
Combustible Projections Spatial Separation
• LD ≤ 0.45 m • LD > 0.45 m
30
LD > 0.45 m
LD soffit ≥ 0.45 m LD soffit ≥ 0.45 m
LD ≤ 0.45 m
Soffit ProtectionSpatial Separation
31
LD < 1.2 m (4’)Protected,
unvented and
no openings in
the soffit
Construction of
Exposing Building Face Spatial Separation
• Maximum Area of Unprotected Openings (MAUO)
– > 25 to 50
• Fire-Resistance Rating (FRR)
– 45 minutes, same rating as in the 2005 NBC
• Type of Construction
– Combustible or Noncombustible, same as 2005 NBC
• Cladding
– Noncombustible, new for > 25 to 50%
in the 2010 NBC
32
Construction of
Exposing Building Face Spatial Separation
• MAUO 25-50% there is an exception
for Noncombustible Cladding where:
– LD > 5 m ***
– The building or the fire compartment
is Sprinklered through-out including attic/roof spaces ***
– Cladding conforms to Section 9.27. of the NBC
33
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
34
Major ChangesSubject
• Residential Care Facilities
is the second subject area being covered
in this presentation of the major changes
to the 2010 National Construction Codes
• For more information about Classification of Care Facilities
within Yukon, see Advisory #6 – Classification of Care Facilities
which explains the 4 Major Occupancy Groups
35
Residential Care
FacilitiesCare Occupancy
• Group B, Div. 3 care
occupancy
• New in the 2010 NBC
• Care occupancy means the
occupancy or use of a
building or part thereof where
care is provided to residents.
• NBC Appendix A-1.4.1.2.(1)
Defined Terms for
Care Occupancy
36
Residential Care
FacilitiesTreatment Occupancy
Treatment occupancy
(Group B, Div. 2) (or B2 Full)
means the occupancy or use of a building
or part thereof for the provision of treatment
and where overnight accommodation
is available to facilitate the treatment.
NBC Appendix A-1.4.1.2.(1)
Defined Terms for Treatment Occupancy
37
Residential Care
FacilitiesTreatment
Treatment means
• the provision of medical or other health-related intervention to
persons,
• where the administration or lack of administration of these
interventions may render them incapable of evacuating to a
safe location without the assistance of another person.
• NBC Appendix A-1.4.1.2.(1) Defined Terms for Treatment
38
Residential Care
FacilitiesMain Requirements
Group B, Div. 3 (care occupancy) (or B3 Light)
• More stringent than Group C or Group A2
– Part 3 compliance applies
– Sprinkler & Fire alarm system
• Less stringent than Group B, Div. 2 (or B2 Full)
(treatment occupancy)–Relaxations . . .
Yukon Classifies Care Facilities into 4 Major Occupancy Groups
• Family Dayhomes (Group “C”) – Part 9 Buildings
• Day Cares (Group “A2”) – Part 3 Buildings
• Care Occupancies (Group “B3” – Light) – Part 3 Buildings
• Treatment Occupancies (Group “B2” – Full) – Part 3 Buildings
39
Residential Care
FacilitiesSmoke Detector Relaxation
. . . Permits the use of smoke alarms
within sleeping rooms and suites of
residential care facilities in lieu of smoke
detectors.
40
Residential Care
Facilities Sprinkler Relaxation
• NFPA 13R permitted
for up to 3 storeys
and 10 occupants in a
B3 Care Occupancy
• NFPA 13D permitted with
no more than 2 suites in
the building & 5 residents
in a B3 Care Occupancy
41
Residential Care
FacilitiesConstruction Relaxation
• Combustible construction
permitted up to 3 storeys
with limited occupant load
in a B3 Care Occupancy
42
Residential Care
Facilities Corridor Width Relaxation
• Corridor width reduction to
1100 mm & not 1650 mm as
required in a Group B2
Occupancy, where the
occupant load does not
exceed 10 persons
43
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
44
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Fire Protection–Fire Alarm System
Resolved Technical Differences
between Part 9 and Part 3
45
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Use and Egress–Smoke Alarm
Smoke Alarm shall be
installed in every bedroom
• Fires in sleeping rooms
are the second highest
causes of fire deaths
46
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Use and Egress–Smoke Alarm
• Smoke Alarm shall
meet the temporal pattern– improve audibility and
early detection
47
Fire and Smoke Alarms
Use and Egress–Smoke Alarm
• Smoke Alarm
shall minimize
potential tampering
with smoke alarm (silencing)
48
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
49
Exit SignsUse and Egress
• Exit Signs
– green pictograms
conforming to ISO
standards
– conform to universal sign
– language independent
– internationally recognized
– harmonizing
internationally
50
Exit SignsUse and Egress
• Exit Signs
– Recognizing that
photoluminescent technology
• continues to function when
building emergency power fails
• provides options to designers
and easier installation,
– All exit signs need to be listed
51
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
52
Combustible Penetration New definitions
Fire stop:
• a system comprised of material, component
and means of support, used to fill gaps
between fire separations, to fill gaps
between fire separations and other
assemblies, or used around items which
wholly or partially penetrate fire separation.
53
Combustible Penetration New definitions
Fire block:
• a material, component
or system installed in a
concealed space in a building
to restrict the spread of fire within
that concealed space, or from that
concealed space to an adjacent space.
55
Combustible PenetrationFire Protection–Penetrations through Fire
Separation
• Properly identify systems
– new definitions (fire block/fire stop)
• Clarifications
– how F- and FT-rating apply to fire stopping
– generalize explanation of “cast-in-place”
– sprinklers are exempted from having to be fire-stopped
• Penetrations in fire separation without FRR shall be smoke tight
• Relaxation:
– allow larger diameter combustible piping to penetrate a rated
assembly
57
Combustible PenetrationPenetrations
• Penetration of Wires/Cables and
Outlet Boxes– Single conductor metal sheathed
cables > 25 mm can penetrate if:
• not grouped
• separated 300 mm
58
Combustible PenetrationPenetrations by Water Closet
Combustible Piping PenetrationsCombustible drain piping is permitted to
penetrate a horizontal fire separation
provided it leads directly from a noncombustible
water closet through a concrete floor slab.
Therefore a combustible water closet drain is no
longer permitted unless a “Fire Stop” System is used
59
Combustible PenetrationPenetrations
• Through a Fire Separation it requires
F rating = rating of closures
• Through a Firewall it requires
FT rating = rating of Firewall
60
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
61
Plenum Cables
• Buildings of Noncombustible
Construction– Plenum cables FT-6 rating
• Buildings of Combustible Construction– Plenum Cables FT-4 rating
62
Plenum Cables
Exceptions cables and wires used for:– signals for fire alarm
– security
– radio
– television
63
Fire ProtectionPlenum Cables and Wires
– Proliferation of cables and wires
– Combustible construction:
• FT-4 rating
– Noncombustible construction:
• FT-6 rating, or
• FT-4 rating when enclosed in
noncombustible raceways.
Difference between FT-6 and FT-4:FT-6 rated cable has limited smoke development characteristics
64
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
65
Stairs, Ramps, Handrails
and GuardsGeneral
• Rationale
– Resolve Differences Between Parts 3 & 9 Buildings
• Changes
– Clarification as to where to measure
• height over stairs & tolerances
– Harmonize Rise and Run Dimensions
For more information about Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and
Guards, see our Advisories #1, #4 & #5 at: http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/buildingsafety/building_inspections.
html
66
Stairs, Ramps, Handrails
and GuardsLandings in Garages
2005 NBC
• Landings were required at the top of stairs in
attached garages
2010 NBC
• Requirements that apply to stairs, ramps, handrails and guards within dwelling units also now applies to stairs, ramps, handrails and guards within an attached garages.
• Landings are not required at the top of stairs in attached garages where the door opens away from the stairs, regardless of the number of risers.
67
Major ChangesSubject
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
68
Secondary SuitesRationale
2005 NBC (duplex/semi)
• –too onerous
• –too costly
• –not uniform across Canada
2010 NBC
Intent is provincial harmonization
• –limit the size of secondary suites
• –relax fire separation requirements
• –add concept of "secondary suite"
throughout Part 9
• –addresses fire separation, smoke
tightness, sound and ventilation
69
Secondary SuitesApproach
Requirements for Secondary
Suites were determined based on
5 principles:
• requirements for single dwelling
units are adequate for houses
with Secondary Suites
• reduction in performance
acceptable
– trade-offs
– no change required
– increase in performance
required
Intent was to:• accommodate the construction
of Secondary Suites at a
reasonable cost
• not compromising the health &
safety of ALL the occupants
70
– single real estate entity
– located in a building or portion
of a building of residential occ.
1
Secondary SuitesDefinition
– A Secondary Suite is a
dwelling unit …
– not more than two dwelling units. . . and common spaces
2
– where there are two dwelling
units, one is a Secondary Suite
2– with a prescribed floor area
80% of andmax = 80 m²
71
Secondary SuitesAppendix Note
• Secondary Suites:
– are typically created within an existing dwelling
unit, commonly called a “house”
– may have more than one storey, be on the same
level as the principal suite in the house or be above
or below the principal suite in the house
– may include individual detached houses, semi-
detached houses and freehold row houses
NBC Appendix A-1.4.1.2.(1) Defined Terms for Secondary Suite
72
Secondary SuitesFirewall Exception
Party Walls on Property Line
between Houses with Secondary Suites– A party wall does not have to be a firewall,
provided it is constructed as a fire separation (1 h FRR)
where the party wall separates:• two dwelling units with no dwelling unit above another,
• a dwelling unit and one house with a Secondary Suite and their
common spaces, or
• two houses with Secondary Suites and their common spaces
– In buildings with more than 2 houses, a party walls shall be
constructed as a firewall to create separate buildings,
each having not more than two adjacent houses with a Secondary
Suite.
73
Major ChangesSubjects
• Spatial Separation
• Residential Care Facilities
• Fire and Smoke Alarms
• Exit Signs
• Combustible Penetration (Fire Stop, Fire Block)
• Plenum Cables
• Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards (Part 3 & 9)
• Secondary Suites
• NFC
74
National Fire CodeConstruction and Demolition
Sites
• Fire losses on construction sites
are 6 times greater than for
completed buildings
• Expand scope of Code
to require protection
of adjacent buildings and facilities
• Request active and/or passive
fire protection systems for adjacent
buildings and facilities exposed to
fire originating from construction
and demolition sites.
– e.g. water curtains, gypsum
sheathing, temporary fire
barrier, fire watch, etc.
75
National Fire CodeInside Building Storage Tanks
for Combustible Liquids
• 2005 NFC does not apply to CSA-B139 appliances
• 2010 NFC now references CSA-B139 – limits maximum tank size
to 2500 L (5000 L aggregate)
– refers to NFC
• Storage tanks inside buildings are now
permitted in all occupancies where
combustible liquids are stored and
used as fuel for – Oil-burning equipment,
– Emergency generators, and
– Fire pumps.
76
• Current Table applies to industrial occupancies only
• New table lists maximum quantity of combustible liquids allowed
in a storage room for all occupancies.
– Storage room needs to be protected by a fire suppression
system.
• Required storage tank construction varies based on their
capacity:
– Double-walled construction ( 2500 L and 20 000 L), or
– Protected tank assembly in conformance with ULC-S655
standard (> 20 000 L).
• Monitoring of the secondary containment for leakage
National Fire CodeInside Building Storage Tanks
for Combustible Liquids
77
National Fire CodeOutside Storage Tanks–flammable
and combustible liquids
• Increased demand
dictates increased capacity
• Facilitate delivery in remote areas
• Increased capacity at fuel-dispensing
stations for aboveground storage tanks
– Individual from 50 000 to
80 000 L, and
– Aggregate from 150 000 to
200 000 L.
• Compartmentalized storage tanks now
treated as one tank to evaluate their capacity.
78
• double-walled construction
– becoming good practice
– reduced costs (savings for leak detection)
Harmonization across Canada, as in Yukon, ALL
underground storage tanks and ALL underground
piping is now required to be double-walled
construction complete with sumps for inspection &
monitoring reasons.
New requirements &
new definition for:
– Dispenser sump,
– Turbine sump.
– Spill containment sump, and
– Transition sump.
National Fire CodeOutside Storage Tanks–flammable
and combustible liquids
79
National Fire CodeRelocation and Cross-Referencing
• Relocate “building design” requirements from the NFC into the
NBC,
• Introduce cross-references in the NFC to new NBC provisions
to maintain their applicability to existing buildings, and
• Create new Sections in the NBC to accommodate requirements
from the NFC that cannot be incorporated in the existing NBC
structure.
For more information about the relocation and cross referencing
of the changes to 2010 NBC & NFC, see
http://www.nationalcodes.nrc.gc.ca/eng/presentations/2010/Reloca
tion_NFC_NBC.pdf
80
Task Groups on
• CAM (Component Additive Method)
• Security Systems that Affect Egress
• Fire Alarms
• Way Guidance Systems
• Stairs, Guards and Railings
• Farm Building Code
• Smoke Tightness of Closures
• Use and Protection of Foamed Plastics
• Relocation and Cross-Referencing (Technical Issues)
• Next Code Cycle
– Address outstanding issues
Outlook
for 2015
81