Changes to BC Building Codes
Effective December 15th, 2006 the BC Building Code has been changed to reflect changes made to the National Code. It contains requirements to ensure that homes, townhouses and condominiums can keep out the rain and rot that adversely affected homeowners in the 1990’s.
One requirement of the new code is that wherever different exterior building surfaces meet (i.e. brickwork adjoining vinyl siding) measures have to be in place to prevent water penetration, providing the home isn’t already being built with rain screen. A similar prescriptive approach goes for preventing water from entering the home at dryer outlets, balconies or bay windows.
BC Building Code changes will require home designers to provide City Hall with more information then they did in the past. The designers are required to provide uniform checklists so that all requirements are met. The new code requires some “fairly dramatic” changes for home construction.
All new homes built by builders licensed by the B.C. Homeowner Protection Office are now covered by real two, five, and ten-year warranties that cover both water penetration and structure failure. The only homebuyer who would not be covered would be someone buying from an individual homeowner who builds a house not covered by the warranty.
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