Around Town Climate change updates for Canada’s building code
As reported by CBC News, Canada’s building rules are being rewritten to address climate change. If no changes are made to the way we build, it’s estimated that infrastructure failures linked to climate change could cost Canada $300 billion over the next decade.
Some of the new rules for construction are nearly ready, while others remain in the planning stages. The new code will be the “first substantive” introduction of climate change considerations for buildings and crucial infrastructure in Canada.
Some of the changes under discussion include:
- Guidelines for certifying the resiliency of roofs to extreme weather events, planned for 2020.
- Specifications to optimize concrete mixes for pavement to mitigate flooding, expected to be ready for 2021 following field trials underway now.
- Structural design rules for buildings to take into account the changing climate should be ready for adoption by the 2025 building code.
- Guidelines for climate resilience for existing storm water systems will be developed for 2021.
Excerpt from CBC News – April 12
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