Today starts the first day of our public notice period for changes to the Building Code Regulations (NSBCR).   This period will close on April 29, 2022.  Everything can be found on this website:  https://novascotia.ca/building-code-regulations-public-notice/

Here is a quick summary of the changes.

• The regulation has been reformatted into the Nova Scotia standard regulatory format for numbering and wording.  While the wording may have changed it was solely to bring it into compliance with regulatory wording used in other regulations or to provide clarity to the provision.  The revised regulation has been approved by the Registrar of Regulations.  Without these changes going forward, no further changes can be made to the regulations.
• Where authority exists in the Building Code Act, it has been removed from the regulation so there is no duplication.
• The Letters of Undertaking (LOU) have been revised to standard regulatory wording.
• To ensure consistency between Building Code Regulations and Fire Safety Regulations, the Building Code Regulations now reference Section 12 of the FSR on what types of plans need to be submitted to the OFM for review rather than repeat the requirements. 
• Defined terms (definitions) have been moved to the beginning of the regulation.  
• Defined terms within the regulation are no longer italicized.  Where provisions replace those in the National Codes, those defined terms are italicized
• All the Codes have specifically been adopted in the regulation, i.e. Building, Energy, Plumbing and Farm Codes.

The planned in effect date is October 1, 2022.  We believe this will allow the industry enough time to become familiar with the revised format and will avoid changes during the summer construction season.

Any questions please contact myself or OFM@novascotia.ca

Thanks

Joe Rogers P.Eng
Building Code Coordinator
NS Office of the Fire Marshal
Department of Municipal Affairs
250 Baker Drive, Entrance C
Suite 210
Dartmouth, NS B2W 6L4

Mailing Address:
PO Box 231, Halifax Central
Halifax, NS, B3J 2M4