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The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) has been in existence since 1941 when the Canadian Government compiled the first edition. From 1960 onwards, the NBC has been revised and improved every 5 years, up to the most current edition in 2025.

The government bodies responsible for Code updates and compilations are:

• The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC)
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

WHAT IS THE CODE?

• The National Building Code publications are "model" codes, acting as guidelines for adoption by the provinces and territories.
• The provincial and territorial building codes are LAW. These are the mandatory rules for construction and renovation.
• The code is a REFERENCE book, like a dictionary.
  
• It contains STANDARDS for construction materials and their placement.
• The code provides MINIMUMS - for structural material thickness, width and length, insulation value, and other fundamental parts of a building.
• The code also provides MAXIMUMS - such as allowable spacing for structural parts, vapour and air permeance and many other parts of construction.

ALL WORKERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FOLLOW THE BUILDING CODE!