HRAI Joins the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes

On March 2, 2023, HRAI attended the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council for Harmonized Construction Codes (ACHCC).  

As a member, HRAI will advise the ACHCC on the strategic priority areas for the 2030 National Model Codes.  

The draft strategic areas identified for technical development are as follows: 

  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g., continuation of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation work, continued work on provisions for adaptation and emerging technologies).  

  • Accessibility (e.g., building on 2025 codes work for public buildings, provisions for dwellings, and egressibility).  

  • Alterations to existing buildings (e.g., finalizing energy efficiency and expanding into other areas of the codes).  

  • Collection of targeted topics (e.g., harmonization of specific provisions, care occupancies, small treatment occupancies, ventilation, combustible construction, including expanded provisions for the use of encapsulated mass timber, provisions for small farm buildings).  

  • Performance-based codes (e.g., developing performance-based provisions to build on existing, prescriptive provisions).  

The ACHCC is part of a new governance model for harmonized construction code development.  

It provides policy advise to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC), which is responsible for developing, approving, and maintaining the National Model Codes based on the strategic priorities set by the Canadian Table for Harmonized Construction Codes Policy (CTHCCP).  

Beginning this spring and into the fall, the CBHCC will start submitting preliminary member input to the CTHCCP, i.e., the Deputy-Minister’s Table.  

Below are the key dates for the 2030 National Model Codes public review period: 

Public Review Description 
Deadline for PCF Submission 
Pre-Public Review Estimated Start Date 
Timing 
Winter 2023 public review  
---  
---  
February 27 – April 27, 2023.  
Spring 2023 public review  
N/A.  
N/A.  
N/A.  
 
Fall 2023 public review  
 
June 12, 2023.  
 
September 18, 2023.  
 
October 17 – December 18, 2023.  
Winter 2024 public review (last public review accepting new PCFs)  
October 2, 2023.  
January 15, 2024.  
February 20 – April 22, 2024.  
Spring 2024 public review (optional)  
January 8, 2024.  
April 22, 2024.  
May 27 – July 29, 2024.  
Fall 2024 public review (for re-submitted PCFs and referenced standards)  
June 17, 2024.  
September 16, 2024.  
October 21 – December 20, 2024.  

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Stephen Chartrand at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 276 or email schartrand@hrai.ca. 

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