The Building Code; An Overview

Now that we’ve got a basic idea of who the Building Official is – and the role that they fulfill in the construction process, It’s time to take a look at the tools they use to do their job – and no, I’m not talking about a clip board or a flashlight. Let talk about the Code!

In the broadest sense, the National Codes – Fire, Plumbing, Building, and Energy – are a collection of requirements – think of them as rules – that apply to the construction, renovation, maintenance, and occupancy of all Buildings; if it’s used to house people, animals, or equipment that could be around either – The Codes will outline how each part of that Building needs to function. Obviously, not all Buildings are the same – the size, types, and use of each Building, can differ from one to another – which means so do the requirements. You wouldn’t expect that a school would be built in the exact same way that a brewery was, or that a hospital just like a car dealership – because each use demands different things of the people using it. Because of this, the Code identifies which requirements apply to which type of Buildings, and, where or when other requirements don’t apply.

It’s not enough though, to just outline how something needs operate – there needs to requirements for the quality of the parts that go into the Buildings themselves. Because of this, the Code also looks at the standardization of materials, and outlines the baselines they need to meet, in order to be used in any application within the Building.

But rules only work if everyone follows them, right? You can post speed limits, stop signs, and crosswalks wherever you like – but if drivers ignore them, it’s an absolute disaster waiting to happen. That’s why the Code isn’t just an index of rules – it’s written as a Legal document; the language it uses, and the structure its written in is designed so that it can be enforced – this means that by adopting it for use by a province or other jurisdiction – builders, engineers, architects, and any other professional engaged in the construction process, can be held accountable to meeting the same requirements – effectively, leveling the playing field for what needs to be done as part of construction.

Keep in mind, though, that in talking about requirements, baselines, and construction – we’re really talking about the minimum; that’s all the Code is intended to cover – the minimum requirements that a Building, in its design and construction, need to meet to be considered acceptable. It is, essentially, the formula for a passing grade only – that doesn’t prevent designers or builders from going above and beyond though, it just means that when the Code outlines a requirement that needs to be met, anything less is considered failure.