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CONSTRUCTION INNOVATION, Dec. 2009
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Numerous significant fires involving multiple buildings over the past five years in Edmonton and Calgary have resulted in the development of new requirements for the 2010 National Building and Fire Codes of Canada. These requirements will address fire safety of buildings constructed in close proximity to each other. The earlier fires prompted the City of Calgary to undertake a study of construction materials typically found in exposed building faces and led to the adoption of interim changes to the 2006 Alberta Building and Fire Codes. This also led to the submission of code change requests to the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) for revisions to the National Construction Codes.
The CCBFC responded by setting up a joint task group of the Standing Committees on Housing and Small Buildings, and Fire Protection in fall 2006 (see Construction Innovation June 2007). The task group's mandate was to evaluate the current requirements in the 2005 Codes with respect to the new code change requests and develop proposed technical changes, if needed. Proposed changes were submitted for public review in the fall of 2008 and officially approved by the CCBFC in September 2009, after the public comments were addressed.
The new provisions impose additional fire protection requirements for the construction of all buildings and houses that are in close proximity to one another or to the property line. For instance, limiting distances (i.e., spatial separations) may need to be increased depending on fire department response times, percentages of unprotected openings in the exposing building face, or construction type. Both exposed soffits and building faces may also require additional protection. The changes may have an impact on all facets of construction, including how close buildings and/or homes are constructed to each other, the nature of exterior construction materials used, and lot sizes in subdivisions.
Working together, Alberta and the CCBFC have moved quickly to address this matter of wide concern. The new requirements for the 2010 Codes, as well as guidance provided on options for meeting them, will make it easier for other Canadian jurisdictions to deal with the issue of conflagration.
For more information, please contact Philip Rizcallah at 613-993-4064 or philip.rizcallah@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
