Manitoba Government Updates National Codes, Harmonizing Codes Across Canadian Jurisdictions and Reducing Internal Trade Barriers

July 7, 2023

Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Manitoba Government Updates National Codes, Harmonizing Codes Across Canadian Jurisdictions and Reducing Internal Trade Barriers

Permitting and inspections authorities responsible for adopting and enforcing the Manitoba Building Code, Manitoba Plumbing Code and Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings will be required to approve building and plumbing permits based on the 2020 national model codes starting January 1, 2024. Inspections based on permits approved before January 1, 2024 must ensure compliance with approved plans based on the previous codes.

The 2020 editions of the national codes have numerous updates, including:

National Building Code 2020

• Technical requirements for large farm buildings are added, which address fire protection, occupant safety, structural design and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning.
• Encapsulated mass timber construction is introduced, enabling the construction of wood buildings with up to 12 storeys.
• Accessibility requirements are updated to reduce barriers related to anthropometrics, plumbing facilities, signage, entrances and elevators.
• Design requirements for evaporative equipment are revised to minimize the growth and transmission of Legionella and other bacteria.
• A home-type care occupancy is introduced to allow safe and affordable care in a home-type setting.
• Energy performance tiers are established to provide a framework for achieving higher levels of energy efficiency in housing and small buildings.

 

National Plumbing Code 2020

• Fibrocement pipe and fittings are included as alternatives to asbestos-cement materials, which were removed from the National Plumbing Code 2015 as an interim change.
• Other new plumbing materials are added as options, including polyethylene of raised temperature (PE-RT) tube, cellular core polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and their fittings.
• The maximum temperature for water discharging from shower heads or into bathtubs is reduced in health-care facilities and seniors' residences to prevent scalding.
• Gate valves and screw caps, which require manual intervention, are removed as options for backflow protection to reduce the risk of basement flooding.
• Design requirements for non-potable rainwater harvesting systems are introduced to facilitate the collection and use of rainwater.

 

National Energy Code for Buildings 2020

• The application of the Code is extended to cover alterations, such as tenant improvements, to buildings originally constructed in accordance with the National Energy Code for Buildings.
• Maximum overall thermal transmittance values for opaque building assemblies and fenestration are reduced to improve the thermal performance of the building envelope.
• Whole-building airtightness testing is introduced as an option for complying with air leakage requirements.
• Lighting power densities are updated to reflect improvements in the efficacy of lighting products.
• Performance requirements for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) and service water heating equipment are updated to align them with relevant standards and regulations.
• The trade-off compliance paths for HVAC and service water systems, which were complex and not widely used, are removed.
• A new compliance path with four energy performance tiers is introduced to provide a framework for achieving higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings.

 

National Fire Code 2020

• Technical requirements for large farm buildings are added, which address the inspection of mechanical equipment and electrical systems, the control of flammable gases and vapours, and the storage of flammable or combustible liquids.
• Fire safety plan requirements are consolidated to facilitate compliance and enforcement.
• Classifications are established for five widely used water-miscible liquid mixtures to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are applied in their storage, handling, use and processing.
• Measures are included to address fire safety during the construction of encapsulated mass timber buildings.

 

For further information and resources regarding Manitoba's adoption and enforcement of the 2020 national model codes, please visit Province of Manitoba | Labour | Labour and Immigration | 2020 Construction Codes Adoption (gov.mb.ca)

 

---

View More