Codes Canada staff provide opinions on the requirements in Codes Canada publications only to regulatory officials (building, plumbing and fire officials responsible for enforcing the codes) and employees of the National Research Council of Canada’s Canadian Construction Materials Centre. These opinions are based on their understanding of the intent of the standing committee responsible for writing the requirement and should not be considered as official interpretations of legislated code documents based on the national codes. The responsibility for issuing an official interpretation rests with the authority having jurisdiction.
In Canada, it is the provinces and territories that have authority to enact laws and regulations pertaining to buildings and facilities. Provincial and territorial governments modify, interpret and enforce the codes, and most of them adopt or adapt Codes Canada publications to suit their needs. Typically, they delegate responsibility for enforcement to the building, plumbing and fire officials employed by your local municipality.
Important:
If you seek a technical opinion on the intent of a requirement in adopted codes, you should approach the appropriate municipal, provincial or territorial official.
Codes Canada staff cannot provide advice on whether a specific design, construction material or system conforms to a Code. Conformity decisions are the responsibility of the provincial, territorial or municipal authority. All related questions should therefore be sent directly to the appropriate municipal, provincial or territorial official.
Codes Canada staff also cannot provide advice on the content of standards or other documents referenced in the codes. These documents are the responsibility of the standards development organizations, and all related technical inquiries should thus be sent directly to the appropriate standards development organization.
There are several good sources of technical information on design and construction on the Internet. You might find the following useful:
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – general topics related to buildings
- Natural Resources Canada – topics related to energy efficiency for buildings
- Canadian Wood Council – topics related to wood-frame construction and materials
If the appropriate municipal, provincial or territorial official seeks additional information, please ask them to submit an enquiry form.