October 26, 2026
The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) has opened a national public review of proposed changes to the 2025 editions of Canada’s National Model Codes, giving construction industry professionals, code users and the public an opportunity to provide feedback on changes that could influence future building requirements across the country.
The fall 2026 public review runs from October 26 to December 21, 2026, and covers proposed technical changes to the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), National Fire Code of Canada (NFC), National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) and National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC).
The National Building Code proposals cover a broad range of areas affecting building design, construction and performance.
Topics include accessibility, building fire safety, conformity assessment, energy efficiency for houses, greenhouse gas emissions, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, piping and duct insulation, radon and soil gas mitigation, structural design and updates to referenced standards.
Several specific proposals could have direct implications for residential construction.
One proposed change would simplify accessibility requirements for buildings intended for public use by establishing one set of minimum requirements for Part 3 and Part 9 public buildings.
Other proposals include introducing an active side-wall radon stack as an option for certain dwelling units, clarifying roof load transfer requirements for braced wall panels and updating energy modelling rules for heat pumps.
The review also proposes setting Energy Performance Tier 1 as the minimum energy-efficiency performance level and providing prescriptive compliance requirements for Energy Performance Tier 3.
Another proposed change would increase the minimum thermal resistance value required for duct insulation.
Proposed changes to the National Fire Code of Canada include requirements related to flammable and combustible liquids, hazardous processes and operations, piping and transfer systems, and the storage of combustible products and dangerous goods.
Among the specific changes is an update to the testing method and fire-hazard classification of water-miscible liquid mixtures.
The Fire Code proposals also introduce references to additional standards covering aboveground piping for flammable and combustible liquids, containers and tanks, and portable oil-burning equipment.
Changes under consideration for the National Plumbing Code include drainage systems, potable water systems, conformity assessment and plumbing requirements.
One notable proposal would add the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Water Demand Calculator as an acceptable tool for designing potable water systems.
Another proposed change introduces requirements for the spacing of cleanouts in vertical stacks serving drainage systems.
Several new standards covering plumbing fixtures, press-connect fittings, press connections, drinking water system components and emergency eyewash and shower equipment are also proposed for reference.
The public review also includes proposed conformity assessment provisions affecting the National Building Code, National Fire Code and National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings.
These provisions would address the acceptance of Code conformity assessments issued by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre.
Referenced documents throughout the National Model Codes are also being reviewed and updated.
The CBHCC public review is designed to give code users, construction industry stakeholders and Canadians an opportunity to examine proposed technical changes and comment on whether individual changes should be approved, revised or withdrawn.
Comments must be submitted through the CBHCC online comment process, with a separate comment form required for each proposed change.
The public review closes at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on December 21, 2026.
Following the consultation, Codes Canada staff will analyze the comments and prepare draft responses. The responsible code development committees will then validate those responses and make recommendations to the CBHCC.
Recommendations may include approving or revising a change for publication, deferring it for further development and a subsequent public review, or withdrawing the proposed change.
The CBHCC will ultimately determine which changes are published in the next editions of Canada’s National Model Codes.
For construction professionals, designers, engineers, manufacturers and other stakeholders affected by building regulations, the public review provides an opportunity to participate directly in the continuing development of Canada’s construction codes.
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