Small changes to Ontario Building Code affect elevators, washrooms and wall reinforcement

The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has announced new regulations amending the 2006 Building Code.
Ontario Regulation 137/07 was filed on April 2 to make the code apply to the new City of Toronto Act, 2006 and to accommodate changes to the Planning Act.
The regulations also introduce minor technical changes such as the requirement to have wall reinforcement to provide for the future installation of grab bars in at least one washroom in dwelling units in large residential buildings. Previously, the requirement was only for small buildings.
The new regulations remove the requirement to have non-firefighter elevators in certain small care homes. It will still be mandatory to have a fire fighter’s elevator for care facilities above a building’s third storey.
Also the number of people that can be served by one washroom in restaurants, recreation and work camps has been clarified and made consistent with what was required in the 1997 building code.
See www.obc.mah.gov.on.ca