Canada changes its building code to tackle climate change

Canada's building code is heading towards environmental sustainability. The new regulations will be implemented by 2025.

The effects of climate change have been intensified in Canada and, therefore, officials have suggested a new regulation code which will include concrete carbon-reducing policies. Without the alterations, the risk of natural disasters such as wildfires and flooding could have a devastating cost on the country's economy.

On average, Canada is experiencing global warming twice as much as the rest of the world. The average temperature in Northern Canada has increased by 2,3°C while global average temperatures have increased by 0,8°C according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The changes have brought an increase in precipitation, water supply shortages, extreme fire weather and hazard of coastal flooding. A report, issued by Fisheries and Oceans and Natural Resources of Canada, government scientists and university experts, suggests that warming in Canada is a result of both natural processes and human activity (mostly caused by greenhouse gas emissions).

The aforementioned report suggests that building's design should change in order to protect people from climate change. The alterations include changing the standards about roofs, building materials and the procedure that concrete is mixed. 

In particular:

1. Roofs must be constructed in order to protect residents from extreme weather conditions. 
2. New regulations will be implemented in basements in order be protected from flooding
3. New systems tackle large quantities of storm water will be developed
4. The design of pavements and their concrete's quality will change in order to address flooding 

According to the director of climate resilience at the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre, Natalia Moudrak, the most severe issue that residents have to deal with is flooding. The design codes could incorporate modifications to protect constructions. Those would include constructing new buildings in less hazardous areas, placing developed shingles to the roofs and obliging owners to install back-flow preventers. 

Sources: Shupilov.com Cbc.ca