Ontario to raise the roof on mass timber construction

by jason_cramp | April 10, 2024 11:47 am

 

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Ontario plans to expand its use of advanced wood construction, particularly mass timber, for tall buildings.

The province will revise its construction regulations to allow encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) buildings to reach heights of up to 18 storeys, up from the current limit of 12 storeys.

The move aims to accelerate home construction, reduce costs, and bolster the province’s forestry sector, which generates close to $21 billion in annual revenue and supports more than 142,000 direct and indirect jobs. Encapsulated mass timber construction, where wood components are enveloped in fire-rated treatments such as drywall, minimizes construction-related disruptions in surrounding neighbourhoods because it is prefabricated and easy to assemble.

To ensure a comprehensive review, the province participated in a national consultation on proposed changes to the Ontario Building Code in January and February, focusing on expanding the use of mass timber. Feedback from this consultation will inform the implementation of the code changes, facilitated by a multi-province Joint Task Group. “The use of mass timber can help the sector build more homes faster, keep the cost of construction down and boost our northern economy,” says Paul Calandra, minister of municipal affairs and housing. “As we work to cut red tape in order to increase housing supply, we’re taking an innovative approach to help our partners get shovels in the ground.”

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/ontario-to-raise-the-roof-on-mass-timber-construction/

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