Ottawa, ON — New amendments were made to Ontario’s Building Code. The amendments, which are in effect immediately, were made by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Firstly, building permits are now required for demountable stages and associated sound and lighting equipment towers. These stages must comply with specific technical requirements for stage safety. This amendment responds to recommendations from a coroner’s inquiry and an expert panel on strengthening safety standards in the live performance industry following two-stage collapses that resulted in injuries and fatalities in 2011 and 2012.
The second highlights how fire damper requirements are being streamlined to facilitate the construction of certain buildings, such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. These changes will reduce construction and ongoing maintenance costs for large, complex buildings that are currently being designed and constructed.
The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes is continuing the consultation on the proposed changes for the 2025 National Construction Codes. Comments will be accepted until April 27.
This is the second of seven planned public reviews for the 2025 National Construction Codes.