A08 - BUILDING CODE ISSUES
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A08-1 Building and fire codes
A08-2 Reference standards and tests A08-3 Hazardous products act A08-4 Flammability requirements A08-5 Slip resistance requirements A08-6 Acoustical requirements |
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Preface:
This reference guide covers building code issues in regard to floor covering materials. Specifiers and other persons using this guide should verify all facts relative to the particular project requirements.
As both building codes and references standards are periodically revised, and not all at the same time, specifiers and other persons using them are advised to review the building code requirements and then consult with the standard issuing organization as to the current edition of applicable standards as well as with the appropriate local authorities having jurisdiction as to what specific standards are applicable. If a reference standard is no longer valid or is of a newer date than that noted in the building code then the acceptance of the newer standard or an alternate standard must be verified with those authorities having jurisdiction.
1 • BUILDING AND FIRE CODES
.01 Building Codes have been in existence since the Babylonian king Hammurabi's ancient law of retaliation. The first recorded building codes, dating from as early as 2000 B.C., concentrated on the prevention of building collapse. Modern building codes focus on protecting life and property from fire.
.02 Canada's Building Codes have been developed by our government to help ensure the safety, health, accessibility, and welfare of all our citizens. They set forth the minimum requirements in this regard. They do not contain criteria to assure an efficient or an aesthetic environment.
.03 National Codes of Canada
This reference guide covers building code issues in regard to floor covering materials. Specifiers and other persons using this guide should verify all facts relative to the particular project requirements.
As both building codes and references standards are periodically revised, and not all at the same time, specifiers and other persons using them are advised to review the building code requirements and then consult with the standard issuing organization as to the current edition of applicable standards as well as with the appropriate local authorities having jurisdiction as to what specific standards are applicable. If a reference standard is no longer valid or is of a newer date than that noted in the building code then the acceptance of the newer standard or an alternate standard must be verified with those authorities having jurisdiction.
1 • BUILDING AND FIRE CODES
.01 Building Codes have been in existence since the Babylonian king Hammurabi's ancient law of retaliation. The first recorded building codes, dating from as early as 2000 B.C., concentrated on the prevention of building collapse. Modern building codes focus on protecting life and property from fire.
.02 Canada's Building Codes have been developed by our government to help ensure the safety, health, accessibility, and welfare of all our citizens. They set forth the minimum requirements in this regard. They do not contain criteria to assure an efficient or an aesthetic environment.
.03 National Codes of Canada
- The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) prepares and maintains Canada's national model codes, which are published by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada. These are recommended model codes, which may be adopted with or without modifications and enforced by most provinces and territories, and by those municipal jurisdictions authorized under Charter (such as the City of Vancouver) to issue their own Code (such as the Vancouver Building By-Law).
- There are three primary Codes that have a bearing on floor coverings:
- National Building Code of Canada (NBC) applies to the construction of buildings, including extensions, substantial alterations, buildings undergoing a change of occupancy, and upgrading of buildings to remove an unacceptable hazard.
- National Housing Code of Canada (NHC) contains the NBC requirements that specifically apply to detached, semi-detached, and row houses without shared egress and where there is no dwelling unit above another.
- National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) establishes an adequate level of fire safety for both occupants and emergency responders - inside and outside of buildings and facilities.
- The administration and enforcement of these and other construction codes is typically performed by local authorities having jurisdiction (i.e., Provincial or Municipal building, fire, health, and other departments, including inspectors). Such authorities issue applicable permits, and conduct reviews during and after completion of construction to ensure compliance to applicable code requirements.
- The design of a building and the choice of materials is performed by a design authority (typically a registered professional Consultant) and approved by the Owner. It is the design authority's responsibility to ensure that the design and materials used conform to all applicable Codes and By-Laws. The design authority must therefore review and apply all applicable National, Provincial, and/or Municipal Codes and local By-Laws and regulations in regard to each specific project.
- In determining a Code's application to a particular project, both the type of construction as well as the use or occupancy of the building must be established. Typical occupancy designations include assembly, business, educational, hazardous, institutional, and residential. The type of construction is determined by the building materials used and the fire resistance rating of the structural elements and other building components.
- Our Codes are kept to a workable size by referencing standards, rather than including the detailed descriptions of materials, tests, and rating systems. Such Reference Standards can be classified as material standards, engineering practice standards, and testing standards. These material specifications, practices, or test methods are based on technical research and testing by recognized third party public and private agencies. Both publish these standards. Such standards are not "laws" unless they are incorporated by reference into a Code.
2 • REFERENCE STANDARDS AND TESTS
.01 For a detailed (but not necessarily complete) listing of specific and current applicable reference standards and tests that apply to each type of flooring refer to the NFCA Reference Manual Parts B02B (Resilient Flooring), C02B (Carpet Flooring), D02B (Hardwood Flooring), E02B (Laminate Flooring), and F02B (Other Flooring).
.02 Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
.03 Canadian General Standards Bureau (CGSB)
.04 Underwriters Laboratory of Canada (ULC)
.05 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
.06 American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
.07 ASTM International
.01 For a detailed (but not necessarily complete) listing of specific and current applicable reference standards and tests that apply to each type of flooring refer to the NFCA Reference Manual Parts B02B (Resilient Flooring), C02B (Carpet Flooring), D02B (Hardwood Flooring), E02B (Laminate Flooring), and F02B (Other Flooring).
.02 Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
- The Canadian Standards Association tests products for compliance to national and international standards, and issue certification marks for qualified products. CSA certification marks tell potential customers and users that a product has been evaluated by a formal process-involving examination, testing and follow-up inspection-and that it complies with applicable standards for safety and performance.
- The CSA standards for resilient floor coverings are now obsolete and have been replaced by ASTM standards.
.03 Canadian General Standards Bureau (CGSB)
- The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), a part of the Federal Government of Canada (Public Works and Government Services Canada), is mandated to provide a range of standardization and conformity assessment services in support of government procurement and other government requirements. CGSB offers the following services:
- The development of standards, specifications, manuals, guides (currently, some 1,600 separate publications available, in both English and French). CGSB standards and specifications are used extensively by the Government of Canada, other levels of government, and the private sector.
- CGSB Qualification and Certification Listing Programs - Listings of prequalified products and services: these lists are used by the federal government, and other levels of government in Canada and elsewhere to source qualified suppliers. Currently CGSB has some 27 lists referencing some 280 companies.
- Quality Systems Division - CGSB was one of the first organizations accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to register to the ISO 9000 series of quality management system standards. CGSB has registered some 210 companies to date.
- CGSB is an active participant in the National Standards System of Canada, a federation of organizations providing standardization services to the Canadian public. The National Standards System is managed by the Standards Council of Canada (a Canadian government agency). CGSB is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a standards development organization and an ISO 9000 registrar.
- Applicable CGSB flooring categories (Refer to NFC Manual Resilient Flooring, and Carpet References for applicable standards):
- Adhesives (types).
- Flooring (Conductive and spark resistant flooring, and seamless (e.g., epoxy) flooring).
- Rubber products and carpet cushion.
- Textiles (carpet fibre, textile test methods, residential and commercial carpet types and installation methods, etc.).
.04 Underwriters Laboratory of Canada (ULC)
- The standardization of fire safety requirements and safety testing in the United States coincided roughly with the widespread introduction of electricity at the end of the nineteenth century. Insurance industry concern over the staggering number of fire-related claims was the driving force behind the development of objective safety standards. This led to the founding of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) in the United States in 1894 with UL's sole objective being the promotion of public safety. Faced with fire hazards at the Palace of Electricity (featuring more than 100,000 incandescent light bulbs) at Chicago's World Exposition, city fire officials sought to perform tests on these new electrical devices. After the Exposition, with the support of insurance underwriters, the testing laboratory became the Underwriter's Electrical Bureau, later renamed Underwriters Laboratory in 1901.
- The Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (UL Canada) is an independent, non-profit third-party Canadian product safety testing and certification organization that has been affiliated with UL of the United States since 1995. ULC has tested products, systems, components, and processes for public safety in Canada since 1920 and is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, under the National Standards System.
- The term "listed" in ULC and UL markings means that sample products have been tested and evaluated with regard to fire, electric shock, and other safety hazards. It is important to note that where a material is required to meet a resistance rating in accordance with Code requirements that the applicable reference standard be verified, as a "UL" rating (versus a ULC rating) may not be acceptable in Canada.
- The ULC/UL's field representatives make unannounced visits to manufacturing facilities to confirm that materials and products continue to comply with appropriate ULC / UL standards. Each product is listed in one of the product directories, such as the following:
- Building Materials Directory.
- Fire Resistance Index.
- Classified Products List.
- Flammability Standards.
- The surface burning characteristics of flooring materials is tested under CAN/ULC-S102.2.
.05 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- The NFPA is an international non-profit membership organization founded in 1896 in the United States and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). NFPA serves as one of the world's leading advocates of fire prevention and is an authoritative source on public safety. NFPA's 300 safety codes and standards influence every building, process, service, design, and installation in the United States, as well as many of those used in other countries.
- NFPA 1, Fire Prevention Code, addresses basic fire prevention requirements necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire safety and property protection from the hazards created by fire and explosion.
.06 American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- Founded in 1918 by five engineering societies and three government agencies, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit organization supported by a diverse constituency of private and public sector organizations that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system.
- ANSI Standards include those for acoustics and sound, and quality (control) management.
.07 ASTM International
- Founded in 1998 by a group of engineers and scientists who got together to address frequent rail breaks in the burgeoning railroad industry. The organization expanded and became the American Society for Testing and Materials, a private, non-profit organization supported by private and public sector producers, users, consumers, government and academia from over 100 countries.
- ASTM Standards include those for materials, installation, and testing for all types of flooring as well as applicable substrates materials.
3 • HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS ACT
.01 This Act, established in 1969, deals with consumer goods and through its regulations prohibits or lays down conditions for advertising, selling, or importing products into Canada. Carpet flooring and related materials was included in 1975 in terms of permissible performance in relation to the risk of spreading a fire. For an explanation of this refer to Part A08A - Flammability Issues.
.02 The National Building Code and other Provincial and Municipal Codes also regulate the performance of floor coverings particularly in buildings and areas of greater risk such as in high-rise buildings, and in means of egress (exit corridors and stairways), elevators, and service rooms.
.03 It is therefore important that the design authority and specifier takes these regulations into account when defining the flooring system that will be employed (and specified and installed).
.01 This Act, established in 1969, deals with consumer goods and through its regulations prohibits or lays down conditions for advertising, selling, or importing products into Canada. Carpet flooring and related materials was included in 1975 in terms of permissible performance in relation to the risk of spreading a fire. For an explanation of this refer to Part A08A - Flammability Issues.
.02 The National Building Code and other Provincial and Municipal Codes also regulate the performance of floor coverings particularly in buildings and areas of greater risk such as in high-rise buildings, and in means of egress (exit corridors and stairways), elevators, and service rooms.
.03 It is therefore important that the design authority and specifier takes these regulations into account when defining the flooring system that will be employed (and specified and installed).
4 • FLAMMABILITY REQUIREMENTS
.01 For flammability issues in regard to flooring refer to Part A08A - Flammability Issues.
.01 For flammability issues in regard to flooring refer to Part A08A - Flammability Issues.
5 • SLIP RESISTANCE REQUIREMENTS
.01 For slip resistance issues in regard to flooring refer Part A08B - Slip Resistance.
.01 For slip resistance issues in regard to flooring refer Part A08B - Slip Resistance.
6 • ACOUSTICAL REQUIREMENTS
.01 For acoustical issues in regard to flooring refer to Part A08C - Acoustical Issues.
.01 For acoustical issues in regard to flooring refer to Part A08C - Acoustical Issues.