Three Canadian Provinces Collaborating to Expand Opportunities for Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction

Construction Business News, part of the REMI Network, reported on Tuesday that British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec are collaborating in an effort to open more doors for encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC).

The three provinces have jointly developed proposed code changes that would allow for taller mass timber office and residential buildings than are currently permitted and introduce new eligibility for EMTC in long-term care, retail, and low-to-medium-hazard industrial facilities and some assembly occupancies.

The proposed changes establish varying height and total floor space thresholds for seven different occupancy categories, along with other design and safety conditions. According to Construction Business News, office and residential buildings would both be allowed to rise up to 18 stories, with offices given leeway for larger total area, maxing out at 77,500 square feet (7,200 square meters) versus 65,000 square feet (6,000 square meters) for residential.

Public feedback is invited through the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) portal until February 16. The exercise is the first time provinces have worked together to harmonize their codes ahead of a triggering initiative from Canada’s model national code developers. National review and adoption could occur later, but, for now, the CBHCC is acting simply as a facilitator and has not contributed to the proposed changes.