Are you ready for mid-rise? The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) announced today that starting January 1, 2015, mid-rise wood-frame buildings will be allowed to go up to six storeys. That’s a 50% increase in sellable square footage for mid-rise wood-frame projects throughout the province. Learn more on our new site: 6wood.ca.
See the news release below:
Ontario Creating More Choice for Wood Frame Construction
Province Allowing Wood Frame Buildings up to Six Storeys
September 23, 2014 10:50 A.M. | Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Ontario is introducing safer, more flexible and affordable design options for the construction of wood frame buildings.
Through changes to the Ontario Building Code, wood frame buildings can now be built up to six storeys high, raising the limit from four storeys.
The changes give builders a safe option that can help make building a home more affordable and support more attractive, pedestrian-oriented buildings that enhance streetscapes while continuing to protect the safety of residents and firefighters.
New safety requirements for wood frame buildings that include building stairwells with non-combustible materials and roofs that are combustion resistant now make Ontario’s regulations the most rigorous in Canada.
Safe and flexible building options that help make housing more affordable and support our forest industry is part of the government’s plan to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate.
Quick Facts
- Changes to the Building Code allowing up to six-storey wood-frame buildings start Jan. 1, 2015.
- Ontario’s mid-rise wood frame construction requirements offer the highest degree of public and firefighter safety in Canada.
- Most European Union and several North American jurisdictions allow wood-frame buildings up to six storeys. In British Columbia, over 50 wood frame buildings have been built since its building code was changed in 2009.
- More demand for mid-rise wood buildings may help generate new demand for forestry products, which currently supports more than 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in more than 260 communities across Ontario.
These buildings require advanced engineering design that is beyond what is typically needed for conventional Part 9 wood-frame buildings. British Columbia adopted this change in 2009 and has already completed 58 six-storey buildings with another 202 in progress.
Moses Structural Engineers has been a longtime participant and supporter of the push to mid-rise wood-frame buildings and is ready to work with you on your next exciting new development!
Contact us today and we’ll help you take wood-frame construction to new heights.
