The Province just announced that going forward, the BC Building Code has been amended to allow buildings to be constructed taller than ever before while using mass timber.
Mass timber is comprised of multiple solid and load-bearing wood panels bound together to create extraordinary strength and stability.
This wooden material is much lighter than steel or concrete, requiring smaller foundations in new builds and allowing for easier, cheaper construction that the government hopes will contribute to easing the burden of the housing crisis going forward.
This is in an effort to increase sustainability, affordability and ease of construction.
According to BC, the update to the building code also will extend to schools, libraries and retail spaces.
“These changes will help reduce carbon pollution, support the forestry sector, create jobs, build more homes and lead to more vibrant communities,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
“We know mass timber looks great, and now we can use it in larger buildings and more types of buildings.”
Specifically, the new updates allow:
- Mass timber constructed buildings to have as many as 18 storeys, an increase from the previous limit of 12
- For the expansion of the scope of mass timber constructed buildings to include schools, libraries, retail, light- and medium-industrial occupancies and care facilities
- Mass timber to be exposed on a residential building’s exterior, up to eight storeys tall
The Province says that these code changes were developed by a national joint task group co-chaired by BC and Quebec.
They also say that the code changes had to be reviewed by an expert technical advisory group comprised of representatives from numerous provinces, fire services and safety engineers, building code experts, regulators and industry members prior to their implementation.
In the coming years, the BC government anticipates other provinces will follow suit.
Going forward, the Province also says they will submit these changes into the national code system for future national building code consideration.
