Topic 5 – Interpret Building Codes

National Building Code

A carpenter deals with many sources of information on the job. One important source is the National Building Code or NBC. The NBC is a set of requirements for all aspects of constructing any building in Canada. For any technical question, the NBC is the ultimate reference source. So, carpenters need to know how to find any specific requirements within the NBC.

How do you find information in the NBC?

The best tool to use is the Index at the back of the NBC (Volume 2). An index is a combine list that identifies any term and its location in a book, usually a page number. In the NBC, the location is a number code not a page number. For example, for “required ventilation” the code is 9.32.1.2.

9 – part number – Housing and Small Buildings (Division B Acceptable Solutions, Volume 2)

9.32 – 32 is section number – Ventilation

9.32.1 – 1 is sub-section number – General

9.32.1.2 – 2 is the article number – Required Ventilation

So, to find this, you go to Volume 2 and scan through the pages using the code numbers at the top of the pages. The codes at the top indicate a range of what is covered in the pages below. The code at the top right of page on right shows the first article below it. The code on the top right of right page shows the last article below. Using the range, you can then find your specific code on the page below.

Summary:

Find your term in the index at back of Volume 2.

Record the location code.

Scan for that code using range of codes at top of the pages.

Locate your code on the page below.

Read the requirement.

Another method is to use the Table of Contents (TOC). So, for “Required Ventilation”, you would go to the TOC at beginning of Volume 2, Part 9 – Housing and Small Buildings. Topics are outlined using section and sub-section, and with a page number provided. So, first look for the larger topic of Ventilation which is section number 9.32.

Now look for “Required Ventilation”. And, it is not there. Only the sub-sections are listed: General, Non-Heating -Season Ventilation, and Heat-Season Mechanical Ventilation. So, to find “Required Ventilation”, you would go to the first sub-section General (9.32.1) on page 9-203. Page numbers are on the bottom of each page. Starting on that page, you search for the article “Required Ventilation” (9.32.1.2) which in this case happens to be on that first page. It is not always.

Drawbacks to using the TOC:

May miss other references in other Parts of the NBC. There is no comprehensive TOC, each Part has its own TOC. So, you need to search all the TOCs for your term.

The Index provides all references for a term. For example, in this case, in the index there are other references identified from other Parts, 6.2.2 and 6.3.1.1.

May take longer to find specific articles not identified. You need to scan through the pages to find the specific article.

For more information, review Instruction Sheet (IS) on Brightspace:

BPRT 100 Learning Outcome 2 Learning Step 1 (p. 27-31):

IS 1.2 Introduction to the National Building Code of Canada

Review Questions

Use the National Building Code of Canada to answer the following:

Where are crack control joints needed?

In concrete that is placed in cold weather, how long should it be kept above 10°C?

How should concrete stairs with more than two risers and two treads be supported?

What is the minimum lap for rebar in concrete ICF forms?

When using slab on grade for the foundation, what is needed between an attached garage slab and main building slab?

What needs to be done to the bottom of excavations in cold weather?

What is the maximum height of finish ground above basement floor or crawl space ground cover? (Solid concrete 20 mpa, 200 mm wall thickness, supported at the top, 2.75 m high)

When placing concrete on top of an existing concrete floor, what is the minimum thickness the new floor can be?

What is the minimum ceiling height for a basement?

What is the minimum size of door required for a bathroom?

What is the minimum depth for a foundation in clay with good soil drainage?

When a sump pump is used, what is the minimum area (sq. m) for the sump?

When are columns not required to have lateral support?

What size and spacing of bolts are needed to fasten built up wood beams?