Consultation on proposed Building Code Amendments to expand provisions of Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction

To view the proposed Building Code change to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction please follow this link: Advancing EMTC Provisions

Ontario's Building Code is a regulation under the Building Code Act, 1992 which sets out minimum administrative and technical requirements for new construction, renovation, and change of use of buildings.

Responding to the need for more housing and calls for more flexibility around Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), Ontario participated with other provinces, Codes Canada and the National Research Council in a joint task group that has been investigating the expanded use of EMTC to develop these proposals. By exploring ways to increase wood use in construction, this proposal also supports the implementation of Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy and its actions associated with increasing wood use and supporting innovation in construction.  

These Building Code proposals are being posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario because mass timber products have environmental advantages. Sustainable forest management, supported by Ontario’s forest policy framework, maintains healthy and diverse forests that can withstand the impacts and reduce the effects of climate change. With Ontario’s sustainable forestry practices, wood is a renewable, sustainable resource and it helps mitigate climate change by storing carbon in forests and forest products.

Unlike the established process where National Construction Codes change first and the provinces follow, this is a pilot initiative that aligns provinces that adopt proposed changes, anticipating future National Code adoption of the proposals. It is the first time that provincially led proposals have been hosted by the body responsible for the development of Canada’s National Model Codes, in advance of the typical national process, for review and consultation. 

While the Canadian Board of Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) is hosting this public consultation to amplify its reach as part of a pilot to foster harmonization, neither the CBHCC nor its committees have undertaken a technical review of the proposed changes. Ontario has not decided whether to adopt proposed changes based on this initiative.

Please use the link to the National Public Review to submit your comments. Comments received from Ontario’s stakeholders will be analyzed along with comments from other provinces and territories. Comments from Ontario’s stakeholders will also be separated and provided to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on the proposed EMTC changes until February 14, 2024