New building code takes affect this year 2014 in Ontario

New building code takes affect this year in Ontario

There are new rules and regulations that come into affect this year for building houses in Ontario, the changes were made back in 2012 but where not implemented until this year so that all parties would have the time to understand and prepare for the new rules. All the changes to the building code that were made in 2012 will not come into effect this year, some will come into effect next year (2015) and two years after that in (2017).

Here are some of the changes that will affect you if you are planning to build a house in 2014:

• Hard wired smoke alarms with battery back-up will be required in all sleeping rooms in houses and large buildings.

• Window screens are no longer an acceptable fall protection device in windows.

• Homes being constructed in 2017 will have to be 15% more energy efficient then houses built in 2012.

• New toilets have to be high efficiency for water conservation.

• New shower heads have to be high efficiency for water conservation.

• Drain less composting toilets will now be allowed in places that have municipal services.

• Tightening in rules on on-site septic systems.

• The new building code will allow more performance-oriented method design and installation of some building elements.

• All ministry rulings that authorize the use of innovative building techniques are to be posted at the build site.

• You must have thermal protection for foam plastic insulation as condition for your residential occupancy.

• Removes the need for final grading for your occupancy permit in certain residential sectors.

Overall what does this all mean?

It means that Ontario is asking builders to build a more energy efficient home that uses less resources overall.
It also means that they are adding more safety features to the home to help protect people from the hazards that can befall people in a home.

A lot of these rules and regulations will not affect most high end custom home builders because they are already going way beyond the code when it comes to insulating homes and the plumbing fixtures that they use. It will affect the tract home/ sub-division builders, they will now have to build a better smarter home and that will cost more, if it costs the builder more then it will cost the purchaser more.

The government is hoping that the energy and water saved will help offset the cost, it will but not until years down the road. People will have to understand that new homes are now a little more expensive to build or buy and that in the long run it should save them money.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.