N.S. set to adopt current national building codes nearly 2 years after pledge to do so

After making the promise nearly two years ago, the Nova Scotia government has announced it will begin to adopt the most current national building codes beginning next April.

This news comes nearly two months after Halifax Mayor Mike Savage sent a letter to Housing Minister John Lohr that urged the province to commit to the 2020 National Building Code of Canada and the 2020 National Energy Code of Canada for Building standards. 

National building codes in Canada are developed as a model that provinces and territories can adopt and modify.

Chris Benjamin, the senior energy co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, said the move is long overdue.

"It's a relief that they're finally doing it," said Benjamin. "I still don't fully understand the delay, but I'm glad they've done it." 

The province had promised to adopt the codes in late 2022 in accordance with the provincial climate change plan. Delays in adopting the codes were announced by Lohr a year later, citing labour shortages and supply chain issues, and that more time was needed to plan.  

"We listened to the feedback from our industry partners and provided more time for them to adapt and plan for the new requirements," Lohr said in the release. "It's time to move ahead."

The province's climate change plan includes five tiers to improve energy efficiency, with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions at the fifth level. Nova Scotia has previously promised to reach the third tier by 2028, which marks a 50 per cent improvement in energy efficiency. 

The news release states the codes will be phased in over four years.

"That's pretty much exactly what they had planned to do before, which as we said is good progress," Benjamin said.  

The province made a recent investment of nearly $22 million to sustainable development and energy-efficiency programs. 

Benjamin says he is optimistic the province will implement the national codes according to the timeline.

"I do think they can pull that off. I think they can get to Tier 3 and from what I understand of the industry, there is a lot of willingness already among developers," said Benjamin.