| Abstract | The NBC sets technical requirements for the design and construction of new buildings as well as alterations, change of use, and demolition. The requirements address safety, health, accessibility, the protection of buildings from fire and structural damage, and the protection of the environment The 2025 edition of the NBC includes the following updates:
- Expansion of the accessibility objective to apply to all types of dwelling units, with flexibility for jurisdictions to adjust how the requirements are applied to suit local needs
- Expansion of the objective of protecting adjacent buildings or facilities from fire to apply to large farm buildings, along with the introduction of related technical requirements
- Increase in the permitted exposure of mass timber elements and the maximum physical height for encapsulated mass timber construction, in certain conditions
- Introduction of a requirement for a passive vertical radon stack in dwelling units and home-type care occupancies, helping to mitigate radon exposure for Canadians
- Inclusion of projected climatic data, which anticipates climate trends over the next 50 years, so buildings are better prepared for future climate conditions in Canada
- Expansion of the environment objective to address greenhouse gas emissions Introduction of a harmonized framework that aims to reduce the operational greenhouse gas emissions of houses and buildings, providing a harmonized pathway for provinces and territories to reduce emissions over time by choosing the performance level that best suits their needs Introduction of energy efficiency requirements for the alteration of existing buildings, offering building officials a harmonized framework to enforce code requirements in retrofits
- Updated requirements for resistance to lateral loads from earthquakes and wind to maintain structural performance, while responding to modern day trends in housing design and construction
- Completion of the points-based prescriptive trade-off path for all energy performance tiers, maintaining flexibility for builders to choose energy conservation measures that are the most cost-effective for their design
- Introduction of an energy use intensity path for compliance with energy performance tiers, providing builders with an additional option to demonstrate compliance that recognizes the inherent efficiencies of smaller, more compact housing forms
- Provision of simple, optional prescriptive packages for builders to demonstrate compliance with energy performance tiers 1 and 5 |
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