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2024 Ontario Building Code

Effective January 1, 2025, the Ontario government introduced a new Ontario Building Code aimed at reducing regulatory burdens, improving building safety and quality, and facilitating housing construction. The 2024 Code streamlines sector processes and enhances alignment with the National Construction Codes by removing many variations between provincial and national requirements.

Key Changes

This update introduces several important changes, including:

  • Enhanced requirements for fire protection
  • Improved means of egress
  • Updated regulations for mezzanines
  • Guidelines for roof-mounted solar panels
  • Barrier-free provisions
  • Protection against radon and carbon monoxide
  • Coordination of plumbing, heating, and ventilation standards with the National Code

Good to Know for Housing and Renovation Projects
Effective April 1, 2025

Here are are some key updates on housing and renovation projects. Note that this is not a complete and final list of changes.

  1. New regulation for openings in guards 
  2. Pipe rough-in for radon control
  3. Application of Carbon Monoxide alarms 
  4. Outdoor intake and exhaust opening requirements 

See key highlights of changes below.

Openings in guards – 9.8.8.5.
Except for guards that serve industrial occupancies, the triangular openings formed by stair risers, stair treads and the bottom element of a required guard shall be of a size that prevents the passage of a 150mm (6″) diam sphere.
Providing for the Rough-In for a Subfloor Depressurization System – 9.13.4.3
2) The rough-in referred to in Clause (1)(a) shall include
  1. a) a gas-permeable layer installed in the space between the air barrier and the ground to allow the depressurization of that space,
  2. an inlet that allows for the effective depressurization of the gas-permeable layer, and (See Note A-9.13.4.3.(2)(b) and (3)(b)(i)
  3. an outlet in the conditioned space that
  1.  permits connection to depressurization equipment,
  2. is sealed to maintain the integrity of the air barrier system, and
  3. is clearly labeled to indicate that it is intended only for the removal of radon from below the floor-on-ground.

 

3) The rough-in referred to in Clause (1)(b) shall include
  1. a) clean granular material installed below the floor-on-ground in accordance with Sentence 9.16.2.1.(1), and
  2. b) pipe not less than 100 mm (4″) in diameter installed through the floor, such that
  1.  its bottom end opens into the granular layer required in Clause (a) at or near the centre of the floor and not less than 100 mm (4″) of granular material projects beyond the terminus of the pipe measured along its axis,
  2.  its top end permits connection to depressurization equipment and is provided with an airtight cap, and
  3. the pipe is clearly labeled near the cap and, if applicable, every 1.8 m and at every change in direction to indicate that it is intended only for the removal of radon from below the floor-on-ground.

 

 

 

 

 

Application, Location Installation, and Conformance to Standards of Carbon Monoxide Alarms – 9.32.3.9., 9.32.3.9.A & 9.32.3.9C.

Application of Carbon Monoxide Alarms (9.32.3.9.)

(1) Article 9.32.3.9A. applies to every building that

(a) contains a residential occupancy, and contains a fuel-burning appliance or a storage garage, or

(b) contains a residential occupancy and is served by a forced-air fuel burning appliance not contained within the building.

(2) Articles 9.32.3.9B. and 9.32.3.9C. apply to every building.

 

Location of Carbon Monoxide Alarms 9.32.3.9.A

(1) A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in a suite of residential occupancy where

  1.  a fuel-burning appliance or a flue is installed in the suite,
  2.  a forced-air fuel-burning appliance provides heated air directly to the suite,
  3.  a fuel-burning appliance or a flue is located in a room, suite or area that shares a common wall or floor or ceiling assembly with the suite, or
  4.  a storage garage shares a common wall or floor or ceiling assembly with the suite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Where a carbon monoxide alarm is required by Sentence (1) to be installed in a suite of residential occupancy, other than a suite that consists of a combined living and sleeping area, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed

  1. adjacent to each sleeping room in the suite, and
  2. on each storey without a sleeping room in the suite.

3) Where a carbon monoxide alarm is required by Sentence (1) to be installed in a suite of residential occupancy that consists of a combined living and sleeping area, a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in the combined living and sleeping area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) In addition to the carbon monoxide alarms required to be installed in a suite of residential occupancy in accordance with Sentence (2), a carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed in each sleeping room within the suite where the sleeping room

a) contains a fuel-burning appliance or a flue, or

b) shares a common wall or floor or ceiling assembly

  1. with a room, suite or area that is located outside the suite and contains a fuelburning appliance or a flue,
  2.  with a storage garage, or
  3. that is adjacent to an attic or crawl space to which the storage garage is also adjacent.

 

Installation and Conformance to Standards – 9.32.3.9C

1) The carbon monoxide alarms required by Articles 9.32.3.9A. and 9.32.3.9B. shall

a) be permanently connected to an electrical circuit

b) be provided with a battery as an alternative power source

c) be wired so that

  1. activation of one carbon monoxide alarm…will activate all carbon monoxide alarms within the suite,
  2. activation…within a house with a secondary suite will activate all carbon monoxide alarms within the house with a secondary suite including their common spaces, and
  3. activation of one carbon monoxide alarm located in a public corridor serving suites of residential occupancy will activate all carbon monoxide alarms within the corridor.

d) be audible within sleeping rooms when the intervening doors are closed, where located adjacent to a sleeping room in a suite of residential occupancy, and

e) conform to
i. CAN/CSA-6.19, “Residential Carbon Monoxide Alarming Devices,” or

ii. UL 2034, “Single and Multiple Station Carbon Monoxide Alarms.”

3) Except as permitted in Sentence (2), the carbon monoxide alarms required by Articles 9.32.3.9A. and 9.32.3.9B. shall have a visual signalling component conforming to the requirements in 18.5.3. (Light, Color and Pulse Characteristics) of NFPA 72, “National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code”.

5) The visual signaling component required by Sentence (3) need not

a) be integrated with the carbon monoxide alarm provided it is interconnected to it,

b) be on battery backup, or

c) have synchronized flash rates, when installed in a dwelling unit.

 

 

Outdoor Intake & Exhaust Openings – 9.32.3.13
4) Except as provided in Sentences (5) and (6), exhaust outlets that discharge air containing moisture, such as bathroom ventilation and clothes dryer exhaust outlets, shall be located at least 1 800 mm (6′) from air intakes and vented soffits.
5) Where an exhaust outlet referred to in Sentence (4) is located within a soffit, the soffit shall either be unvented, or if vented, the full depth of the soffit shall be blocked for a distance of 1 800 mm (6′) on each side of the exhaust outlet.
6) Where an exhaust outlet referred to in Sentence (4) is located in a side wall less than 1 800 mm (6′) from a soffit, a section of the soffit above the exhaust outlet shall be unvented, or if vented, the full depth of the soffit shall be blocked in accordance with the widths stipulated in Table 9.32.3.13.-A, centered over the location of the outlet.


Government of Ontario – 2024 Ontario Building Code

Government of Ontario – 2024 Building Code Compendium Request (Non-commercial Use)

Municipality of West Nipissing – Building and Renovating

Municipality of West Nipissing – Permit Application Guide

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