This consultation was open from:
January 12, 2024
to February 16, 2024
Decision summary
The Ministry updated the Ontario Building Code to allow 18-storey Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) buildings. These changes expand the use of mass timber in various building types, reduce drywall encapsulation, speed up construction, minimize site disruption, and offer environmental benefits.
Decision details
- Ontario made changes to the 2024 Building Code to expand the use of EMTC buildings to speed up home building and increase housing supply, reduce costs, and support jobs in forestry and innovative technology.
- The new technical provisions come into force on January 1, 2025 and will allow 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.
- EMTC provides an environmentally friendly, quieter, and faster construction method than traditional materials (concrete and steel) with equivalent fire and structural protection.
- A building is considered a mass timber building when the primary load bearing structure is made of mass timber (solid or manufactured wood products).
- “Encapsulated” means that most of the mass timber elements need to be covered with fire rated material, such as fire rated drywall.
- EMTC supports forestry sector initiatives like Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, which is the province’s plan to create jobs and encourage economic growth in the forestry industry, supporting Indigenous, northern, and rural communities that depend on the sector while ensuring our forests are managed sustainably for generations to come.
- EMTC offers a way to increase the use of wood in construction which provides a lower carbon footprint and supports the northern economy. By using an innovative building system that uses largely prefabricated and modular system techniques, EMTC reduces disruption to surrounding neighbourhoods because it is a quieter and quicker process compared to buildings constructed of traditional materials.
- Expanding EMTC provisions in the Building Code will leverage advanced wood construction, enabling a shift towards offsite factory production. This approach will utilize renewable forestry resources grown and harvested in Ontario by local workers for Ontario families.
- As a result of these changes, the provisions for mass timber will further support ongoing innovation in the province, providing designers, developers, and municipalities with increased opportunities to pursue high-performance, low-carbon construction in a greater number of buildings.
Effects of consultation
The Ministry’s decision to move forward with the proposed changes to the Ontario Building Code regarding expanding provisions for Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) was influenced by broad public support for the environmental, economic, and energy efficiency benefits associated with the use of mass timber. Limited concerns were expressed regarding deforestation, the use of alternative materials, and the tax regime of modular homes were raised.
These concerns were taken seriously and ensured that the proposal continues to emphasize sustainable forestry practices, resource management, and a balanced approach to building materials. Public participation helped reinforce the decision to expand EMTC provisions in the province of Ontario.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
12th Flr, 777 Bay St,
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Connect with us
Contact
codeinfo@ontario.ca
12th Flr, 777 Bay St,
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
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
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
12th Flr, 777 Bay St,
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from January 12, 2024
to February 16, 2024
Connect with us
Contact
codeinfo@ontario.ca
12th Flr, 777 Bay St,
Toronto,
ON
M7A 2J3
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
4By email
2By mail
0