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Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code

Course Overview

This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings. From there, code experts from Morrison Hershfield will discuss the new building code provisions related to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), which is a new construction type in the code, that permit mass timber structures up to twelve storeys in building height. Participants will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the CWC’s recently published “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code” authored by Morrison Hershfield.

Learning Objectives

An overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests:

The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Project which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research on the fire performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. Each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design.

Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code:

Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) showcases recent advancements in fire safety engineering. These advancements are reflected in recent adoptions of EMTC as a new construction type across various jurisdictions and specifically in Ontario, through O.Reg. 451/22, which became applicable as of July 1, 2022. This presentation introduces designers and authorities to the “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code.”
The purpose of the guide, and this presentation, is to introduce users to the new provisions governing EMTC in Ontario, so that readers are aware of the content, intent, and application of the new provisions. The guide introduces the new provisions and highlights where new EMTC features align with similar well-known provisions of the OBC for noncombustible construction and where the new provisions differ or are unique. Through highlighting these differences, this guide seeks to broaden awareness of OBC application to the design of this new building type.

Course Video

https://vimeo.com/1046519332

Speaker Bio

Marc Alam
Senior Manager, Codes & Standards – Fire & Acoustics
Canadian Wood Council

As Senior Manager of Codes and Standards in fire and acoustics, Marc participates in CWC’s building code and standards fire and acoustics related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire and acoustics research projects. He is finalising a PhD in Fire Engineering from Carleton and has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Management.

Dana Scherf, P.Eng.
Senior Code Consultant, Director of Code and Life Safety Group
Morrison Hershfield

Dana has been applying Building and Fire Codes across Canada since 1997 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2001. She has extensive experience in interpretation and application of the Codes to new and existing buildings, development and negotiation of Alternative Solutions, resolution of unusual fire protection construction issues, fire hazards analysis, and application of fire and smoke modelling to support design solutions. She started her career as a plans examiner with the City of Hamilton. Dana supports clients in applying the Building Code to achieve their project vision while providing the level of safety required by the Code.

Trisha Ashworth, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Senior Code Consultant, Department Manager of Code within the Code and Life Safety Group
Morrison Hershfield

Trisha has been working in the building consulting industry since 2007 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2017. Trisha actively applies her knowledge of Building and Fire Codes across various Canadian jurisdictions for both new building designs and existing building retrofits across a range of occupancy types. Trisha’s fundamental knowledge of fire dynamics and fire protection design, inherent in the formation of the Building Codes, allows her to apply judgment in the application of prescriptive requirements of the Codes and develop alternative solutions to meet the areas of performance required by the Codes.

Events

WoodWorks at The Buildings Show 2026

WoodWorks returns to The Buildings Show in 2026 bringing technical expertise and industry insight through a new partnership with CWC.

Moisture & Decay, Treatments

Working With Wood

Controlling Termites

Fortunately for Canada, most of this country lies north of the limit for termites on the North American continent. However, because termites and people both prefer the warmer parts of this country, 20% of Canada’s population live in areas where termites are present. Long winters limit termite activity in the wild, but the warmth provided by our buildings seems to encourage more serious problems in urban environments. Damage caused by the Eastern subterranean termite, (Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar), has reached economically important levels in areas of Toronto and other cities in Southern Ontario. There are some suggestions that the Western subterranean termite, (Reticulitermes hesperus Banks), may be causing significant damage in the Okanagan region of British Columbia.

Termites are a much more serious threat in many of our export markets such as the Southeastern USA, Japan and Southeast Asia. While termite control measures appropriate to each region are specified in local and regional building codes, an overview of such measures may be of use to Canadian marketers of wood products and manufactured homes. Termite control measures can be broadly grouped into six categories:

Suppression
Site Management
Soil Barrier
Slab/foundation details
Structural durability
Surveillance and Remediation

Click Here for more details on the 6 strategies

More Information

Termite Control and Wood-Frame Buildings– 11-page illustrated bulletin from CWC, further covering the 6-point integrated strategy discussed. Includes photos of termite control products.

Integrated Control of Subterranean Termites: The 6S Approach. This 20-page Forintek paper introduces and thoroughly discusses the 6-point integrated strategy. Includes very specific design and maintenance advice.

Termite Map of North America

Combatting Termites – very short and simple summary fact sheet from Forintek.

Treatments

Working With Wood

Applying Treatment

Holes drilled to apply depot, supplementary or remedial treatments should be on vertical surfaces or undersides, where possible, to avoid creating additional routes for moisture entry. In the case of supplementary treatment, cut ends should be placed so they are not in ground contact where possible.

Holes for treatment should not be drilled below ground level if it can possibly be avoided. All holes should be closed with a tight-fitting plug. Ideally this should be removable to allow re-treatment. Holes for water-soluble treatments should be placed in the right locations to intercept moisture close to its points of entry. Look carefully at the structure and think about moisture sources, water traps, moisture entry points, moisture flow and signs of moisture entry.

Moisture sources include direct rainfall, diverted rainfall (via windows, cladding, balcony and walkway surfaces, roof overhangs, flashing, parapets, eavestroughs and downspouts), rain penetration of moisture barriers via nail holes, splits, failure of joints or deterioration of caulking, rain splash, blowing snow, ice dams, condensation, concrete foundations, soil contact, irrigation systems, drain and plumbing leaks.

Water traps include metal “shoes”, V joints, checks, appressed boards, cupped horizontal surfaces and anywhere a rim is created at the edge of a horizontal surface. Accumulation of dirt and debris often indicates a water trap. Growth of algae also indicates locations where moisture hangs around longer after rain.

Moisture entry points include all locations with end grain, around nails, screws and bolts plus any other holes or penetrations, checks and delaminations.

Moisture flow in wood may be 100 to 1000 times faster along than across the grain. Patterns of moisture distribution in wood are therefore commonly elongated cones or lens shapes centred on the point of entry.

Signs of moisture entry include swelling, darker colouration, fungal stain, iron stain around fasteners, nail popping and flaking of film-forming surface finishes. Confirmation of moisture contents conducive to decay can be made using electrical-resistance type moisture meters. Capacitance-type moisture meters may also be useful, but these can give erroneous results in the area of metal fittings.

Click Here for more information of field treatment

Mass Timber, Woodworks

Feasibility of Point-Supported Mass Timber

Tall wood buildings offer tremendous potential for low-carbon, high-performance construction, but they also introduce a distinct set of challenges not typically encountered in conventional approaches. Design teams new to this form of construction may be unfamiliar with the systematic approach needed to enhance affordability and efficiency in these buildings.

Within the spectrum of structural solutions for mass timber, point-supported CLT is a compelling option for tall building applications. Teams must understand how to harness its unique benefits and navigate its limitations to unlock its full potential. When applied effectively, point-supported approaches can improve efficiency, reduce material usage, and unlock new pathways to cost-competitive tall timber construction.

Structural Engineering, Wood Design

Alternative Solutions Guide

While alternative solutions have been an important feature of the National Building Code of Canada since 2005, there remains a lack of understanding among building professionals on how to approach their use. As the construction industry evolves, with increasing innovation in design and construction capabilities, new ways of building that may not be well addressed by building codes will emerge. At the same time, tools for performance testing and simulation are becoming more widespread. In light of the diverse and evolving building industry, alternative solutions that enable new ways of building are likely to become more commonplace. A critical area where alternative solutions may be employed is in the use of mass timber construction. The introduction of mass timber construction techniques, enabled by a range of engineered wood products, associated connection technologies, and fabrication methods, has resulted in a wide range of possible building solutions that may not have been considered by building codes.

Residential Buildings, Woodworks

80 Atlantic Avenue – Toronto, Ontario

Ontario’s first mass timber commercial building in over 100 years, 80 Atlantic pioneers a new urban office typology for potentially many more timber-frame projects across the province, and the country. Comprising four storeys of mass timber above a one-storey concrete podium, the 8,825-sq.m. (95,000-sq.ft.) building completes a courtyard with 60 Atlantic to create a paired commercial development. Revisions to the Ontario Building Code in 2015 made it possible to build commercial wood buildings up to six storeys high. The developer and architect saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the rapidly developing field of mass timber, and to attract tenants seeking a premium workplace environment associated with innovation and sustainability. The client requested that the building harmonize with the Liberty Village neighbourhood, noted for its wealth of converted factories and warehouses, which attract high-calibre, creative tenants in this section of downtown Toronto.

Civic Buildings, Woodworks

Green Gables Visitors’ Centre – Cavendish, PE

Mark Twain called Anne of Green Gables, “The sweetest creation of child life yet written.” He sent the author Lucy Maud Montgomery a letter of praise, congratulating her on her writing. This was over 100 years ago and, ever since, the story of Anne has captured the imaginations of people from all over the world.

Green Gables, the name of a 19th-century farm in Cavendish, Prince Ed – ward Island, is the setting for the popular Anne of Green Gables novels by L.M. Montgomery. The property has become one of the most visited Federal Parks in Canada, and an iconic tourist destination. Visitors travel here to reconnect with their own childhood memories of Anne, or to create new ones. Part of Parks Canada since the 1930s, the property includes the main Green Gables house, the Haunted Wood trail and Lovers Lane.

A 2015 study revealed a need for more exhibit space and enhanced amenities on site to not only tell the story of Anne, but also that of her creator, Lucy Maud Montgomery. Parks Canada acted on the study by creating an extensive program which would be constructed in three distinct phases. Phase I was completed in the spring of 2017. The Green Gables Visitors’ Centre, Phase II, consisting of an exhibit hall, gift shop, ticket/ information areas, offices and new washrooms and lobby, was completed in the spring of 2019. Phase III was to decommission the temporary gift shop in Phase I and transform it into a new café and commercial kitchen.

Civic Buildings, Woodworks

The Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce – Edmonton, Alberta

Located in Edmonton, Alberta, the Mosaic Centre for Conscious Community and Commerce was designed to be the province’s first “net-zero energy” commercial building and demonstrate the feasibility of low-energy-use buildings in cold climates. The owners challenged the design team to deliver a net-zero energy building capable of gaining certification by the Living Building Institute and LEED® Platinum. In addition, feasibility analysis favoured wood construction to meet all building science challenges and also provide an enhanced interior work environment. Construction started in mid-March 2014 and was completed in the fall of 2015 — three months ahead of schedule and on budget. The 2,790 m2 (30,000 ft.2) building is located in the emerging southwest Edmonton community of Summerside.