Ontario Building Code 2024 !!exclusive!! -
Title: Ontario Building Code 2024: What You Need to Know About the Major Shifts
- Clarified alternative solutions process (evidence and testing expectations) and acceptable documentation for permit applications.
- Updated forms, schedules, and administrative provisions for building permit applications, inspections, and declarations by registered design professionals.
- Alignment with provincial policy instruments to accelerate permit timelines and standardize interpretations across jurisdictions.
will officially switch to testing against the 2024 standards. ontario.ca Key Technical Changes ontario building code 2024
- Blower Door Tests: For many new builds, you now must prove the building is airtight. A target of 2.5 Air Changes per Hour (ACH) at 50 Pascals is the new benchmark for houses.
- Windows: U-values (insulation value) have been lowered. Triple-pane glass or high-performance double-pane is becoming standard in colder zones.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Ready: Any new home with a private parking space must have a dedicated 240V outlet (Level 2 charging capability) roughed-in.
4. Innovation in Structural Materials: Tall Wood Buildings
The 2024 OBC significantly expands the permissions for "mass timber" construction. Following global trends and extensive fire safety testing, the code permits encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) for buildings up to 12 storeys (previously limited to 6 under specific conditions, or 18 storeys under an alternate compliance path in the 2022 amendments). Title: Ontario Building Code 2024: What You Need
Exception: Larger, more complex buildings (e.g., Part 3 major occupancies) have a delayed mandatory date of January 1, 2026 to allow design and engineering transitions. will officially switch to testing against the 2024 standards
