Recent Changes to the Building Code and Calgary Zoning

KS

Changes We Have Seen This Year

•Alberta Building Code 2006 • Replaces Alberta Building Code 1997

•Land Use By-law 1P2007 Takes Affect

•Revisions to the Streets By-law• Hoarding Permits for Sidewalk and Lane

Closures

KS

Significant Changes to the Alberta Building Code

•Areas of Change As It Applies to Section 3• 3.1 – Combustibility, Firestopping, Firewalls and

Exposing Building Face• 3.2 – Building Fire Safety, Fire Alarm Systems,

Water Supply, Sprinkler Systems, and Emergency Lighting

• 3.2 – Mezzanines, Interconnected Floor Spaces, and Mezzanine Egress

• 3.3 – Public Corridors, Ramps, and Stairways• 3.4 – Exits• 3.5 – Elevators• 3.6 – Service Rooms• 3.8 – Barrier Free Design

KS

3.1.5.1. Non-combustible Material

•ABC 1997• Defined as meeting ULC-S114• Excludes materials that are marginally

combustible and laminated materials with combustible components

•ABC 2006• Allows testing to ULC-S135• Allows marginally combustible materials including

laminations• Does NOT determine these materials are non-

combustible

KS

3.1.5.11 Gypsum Board

•New Article addressing gypsum board:• Not a “minor component”• Recognition of a role in fire protection of building

components• Paper facing limited to 1 mm• Flame-spread rating of not more than 25

KS

3.1.5.12.(7) Insulated Panels

•Panels tested in full scale to ULC –C376•Limited flame-spread rating•Permitted in sprinklered building not more than 18 m high

KS

3.1.9. Fire Stopping / 3.1.10.2(3) Firewalls

•3.1.9 Fire Stopping• ABC 1997

• Tightly Fit• ABC 2006

• Cast in Place

• 3.1.9 Fire Stopping• ABC 1997

• Masonry of Concrete Only• ABC 2006

• Materials other than Masonry permitted to a maximum 2 hour fire separation

KS

3.2.1.8 Height of Residential Buildings

•ABC 1997• Combustible Residential limited to 4 storeys• Mezzanines and basements allowed for 6 floor

levels• This was higher than municipal fire departments

could reach

•ABC 1997• Limited to 9 m from the lowest level to the highest

occupied floor level

KS

3.2.4. Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

•ABC 1997:• FA System required for buildings greater than 3

storeys high including storeys below grade•ABC 2006

• FA System required for buildings greater than 3 storeys high including storeys below first storey

• Clarification on sequence of events with 2 stage fire alarms between alarms and alerts

• Clarification that FA systems include voice communications systems

• Owners must submit Fire Protective Signalling Certificate from certified listing agency

KS

3.2.4. Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

•ABC 2006• Manual Stations required in every floor area near

every exit• Sound pattern required to conform to temporal

pattern for Audible Alarms• Clarification that minimum 65 dBA applies to all

residential occupancies• New requirement for separate circuits on each

floor• Silence feature of alarm signal in single stage

reduced from 60 sec to 30 sec. Silence feature of alarm signal in two stage reduced from 60 sec to 30 sec and from 30 sec to 10 sec in Health Care Facilities

KS

Corridor and Egress Changes

•3.3.1.4. Public Corridor Fire Separation• ABC 1997: 1 hr• ABC 2006: 45 min

•3.4.2.6. Principal Entrance as Exit• New Requirement:

• At least one door at every principal entrance to a building to be designed as an exit

• Exit sign and manual station required•3.4.3.2(8). Minimum Door Width

• ABC 1997: 790 mm• ABC 2006: 800 mm

KS

Corridor and Egress Changes (Continued)

•3.4.3.3.(3) Exit Width Reduction• ABC 1997: 50 mm reduction in width allowed for

doors• ABC 2006: no reduction in width allowed for doors

•3.4.4.2.(2) Elevators in Exit Lobbies• ABC 2006 permits elevators in exit lobbies if

passenger elevator only and doors remain closed when not in use

•3.4.6.3.(5) Ramp Landings• ABC 1997: Landings for stair flights only• ABC 2006: Landings for stairs and ramps

•3.4.6.4(3) and (8). Handrails• Clearance from Wall increased from 40 mm to

50mm and handrail diameter changed to 30-50

KS

Barrier Free Design

•3.8.1.4.(4) Long Barrier-free Path of Travel• Space for passing or resting is a minimum 1.5m X

1.5m every 30 m under ABC 2006 applies to exterior and interior

•3.8.1.5(1) Height of Controls• Maximum height decreased to 1200 mm from

1400 mm and a new minimum height for controls of 400 mm

•3.8.3.8(1)(b)(ii) - Door and Doorway Widths• WC Stall or enclosure door increased form 760

mm to 800 mm

KS

Barrier Free Design (Continued)

•3.8.3.3(5) – Power Door Operation• Installed on all doors inn series and operate in both directions

•Landings at Doors• Length of barrier free counter:

• ABC 1997: Not specified• ABC 2006: Greater than or equal to 760 mm

•3.8.3.14 – Barrier Free Counters• Maximum height decreased to 1200 mm from

1400 mm and a new minimum height for controls of 400 mm

KS

Calgary Land Use By-law 1P2007 (Highlights)

•Commercial Districts• Greater emphasis on sidewalks and pedestrian connections• Some areas in proximity to LRT have parking stall reductions• New concept of a commercial use area references the size of a use

to the character of the area (i.e. a retail store in a neighbourhood commercial district would have a limited use area where as a retail use in a regional commercial district would be unlimited)

KS

Revisions to the Street By-Law

•Effective June 23, 2008• Sidewalk closure rates increased almost 1000%• Street lane closure rates increased almost 500%