Transparency and efficiency in building code review. The case of Ontario, Canada.

The paper reports findings from a study of building codes and the code change process in Canada. The context is attempts by insurers to change building codes at the national and Province of Ontario levels to make housing more resilient to high winds. The paper focuses on one code update intended to strengthen the roof-to-wall connection in low-rise wood-framed dwellings. The research began with an extensive review of research and government documents followed by discussions and interviews with key stakeholders in the process. The paper concludes that the process of upgrading residential building codes, especially in Ontario, could be more transparent and efficient by incorporating innovations and technology utilized by the International Code Council in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]