National Building Code (NBC) – Part 2

CANADIAN FARM BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL FARM BUILDING CODE OF CANADA

TASK GROUP MEMBERS

The CFBA sincerely thanks our Task Group Members

• Bram Van den Heuvel (Co-Chair)

• Tyler Griffith (Co-Chair)

• Terry Rothwell

• Dan Reymer

• Trish Douel

• Chet Liu

• Ed Podniewicz

• Sam Bradshaw

• Ken Worsley

• Matt Farrell

• Herman Post

• Gary van Bolderen

TASK GROUP OBJECTIVES

• Review of the proposed changes to the National Building Code (NBC) – Part 2

• Identifying areas of concern for the farming industry

• Collaboration between task group and CFBA members

• Preparation and submission of responses back to the NRC on behalf of the CFBA.

BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONOCCUPANCY

• All large farm buildings will be classified as (Group G) Occupancy

• Divisions of Group G:

– (Division 1) High Hazard

– (Division 2) Agricultural Occupancies not elsewhere in Group G

BELOW FLOOR MANURE STORAGE (DIVISION 1) HIGH HAZARD IMPLEMENT SHED (DIVISION 2) – ALL OTHER

(DIVISION 3) - GREENHOUSES FEED BUNKERS (DIVISION 4) – NO HUMAN OCCUPANTS

• Divisions of Group G:- (Division 3) Greenhouses- (Division 4) No Human Occupancy

• Allowance for other occupancies other than farm within same building.

BUILDING CLASSIFICATIONOCCUPANCY

SPATIAL SEPARATION

• Currently not included in legislation

• Focus of National Code is human life safety

• No protection for primary or secondary residences, or other non-farm occupancies, could affect human life safety

• No spatial separation requirements could raise human life safety concerns on adjacent properties

SPATIAL SEPARATION

https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/8646480-fire-destroys-barn-in-springwater-township/

SEISMIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

• Low Seismic Zones IEF(0.2)Sa(0.2) < 0.35, and

• Seismic factors for Ductility Rd & Overstrength Ro– RdRo > 5.0

• OSB or plywood panel based, nailed shear walls allow for no seismic analysis

• Wood diagonal bracing would require seismic analysis.

• Significant use of wood diagonal bracing in farm buildings today. CFBA will respond to allow for diagonal braces to be used without the need for seismic analysis.

SEISMIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

DIAGONAL BRACES SHEARWALLS

EXITING REQUIREMENTS

• Exit door swing currently required in the direction of travel (outward)

• Sliding or roll-up type doors are no longer permitted as an exit type

• CFBA is proposing to change door swing to inward due to low human occupancy and potential ice / snow blockage preventing exiting

• Proposing increases to travel distances for egress

EXITING REQUIREMENTS

https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/winter-brings-out-the-best-and-worst-of-life-on-the-farm

https://www.freshdaily.ca/culture/2020/01/canadians-snow-doors/

ATTIC FIRE BLOCKING

• Identifying need to used area based calculation in determining locations of firestops (900m2). Buildings wider than 98’-5”.

• Materials to be used as the fire block remain the same.

• (1/2”) 12.5mm OSB is a special order item (expensive)

• (1/2”) 12.5mm Plywood (4’x8’ sheet $25)

• (7/16”) 11.1mm OSB (4’x8’ sheet $12)

• (5/8”) 15.8mm OSB (4’x8’ sheet $19)

• CFBA will propose allowance for use of standard (7/16”) 11.1mm OSB to used as fire block material

ATTIC FIRE BLOCKING

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/barnfire/section3.htm#3

FIRE SUPPRESSION / DETECTION

• Option to sprinkler farm buildings

• On site water requirements for sprinkler systems and other applicable requirements

• Fire alarm requirements for farm structures of two storeys or greater

• CFBA is proposing to increase to greater than two storeys for fire alarm requirements

• Longevity of suppression and detection systems in farm buildings

FIRE SUPPRESSION / DETECTION

https://durangoherald.com/articles/90084

https://www.grainger.com/product/NAPCO-Fire-Pull-Station-54TT19

FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCESS

• Access for the fire department equipment shall be provided to each farm building by means of a street, private roadway or yard.

• Where access is provided by means of a roadway or yard, the design shall take into account

- connection with public thoroughfares

- weight of firefighting equipment

- width of the roadway, radius of curves

- overhead clearances

- location of fire hydrants and fire department connections

- vehicular parking

• CFBA response to proposed more detailed description of the requirements. 6m road width, 12m radius of curve, 5m OH clearances. Elaboration on “shall take into account”.

https://www.barricadetrafficservices.com/products/fire-access-route-sign

http://free.bcpublications.ca/civix/document/id/public/vbbl2007/building_b_appa_p3

ONGOING INSPECTIONS / FIRE CODE

• Mandatory electrical and mechanical inspections including thermal imaging are required

• Required upgrades to mitigate fire risks

• New fire code implementation with potential fire orders on farm properties for non-compliance

ONGOING INSPECTIONS / FIRE CODE

https://farmtario.com/news/finding-hot-spots-in-the-barn/

https://www.thermalimaging.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Circuit-Breakers1.jpg

TASK GROUP - NEXT STEPS

• Finalize proposed changes and reasoning to identified articles by the CFBA task group

• Final review by task group on all proposed changes

• All proposed changes to be formatted for submission to NRC

• All proposed changes to be submitted before March 13, 2020 deadline