what is the ontario building code ?
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) is a document issued by the Authorities that prescribes minimum building standards that must be met when constructing a building. These requirements are enforced by local building departments at two stages; (1) the building permit application, where the construction drawings must comply with the OBC, and (2) during construction, by the building inspectors. The OBC is updated periodically often becoming more restrictive.
The Ontario Building Code is a regulation made under the Building Code Act. It is a set of minimum provisions respecting the safety of buildings with reference to public health, fire protection and structural efficiency. Its primary purpose is to promote public safety in the design and construction of a building. It is based, for the most part, on the National Building Code and is a source or companion document for the Ontario Fire Code and other public health and safety regulations. It also references some 400 other documents on construction materials, practices and standards. It is an ever-evolving set of regulations, the latest of which came into effect on September 1, 2003.
