On complex projects—tall buildings in Vancouver, essential facilities in higher seismic zones, or structures with unusual geometry—the prescriptive NBCC pathway can start to feel limiting. Performance-Based Design, or PBD, is the framework that lets us define how the building should behave and then design backwards from those objectives.

We spend a lot of time ensuring our structures are strong enough (hello, ULS!). But what about how they feel and perform day-to-day? That’s where Serviceability Limit States (SLS) come in. Sagging floors, cracked partitions, or that annoying bounce when someone walks by – these are all SLS concerns. The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020 has brought SLS criteria more formally into the main body of the code (Article 4.1.3.4.), underscoring its importance.

Ever wonder how we landed on the structural design provisions we use today in Canada? The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) hasn’t always looked the way it does. It’s a living document, evolving with research, experience, and a continuous drive for safer, more reliable structures.

Navigating load combinations can sometimes feel like a complex dance. Get one step wrong, and the whole routine can fall apart. The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020, specifically Article 4.1.3.2. and its associated tables, lays out the choreography for ensuring our structures are safe under various loading scenarios. Whether you’re getting to grips with principal and companion loads or double-checking a tricky overturning case, a solid understanding here is non-negotiable.

Questions about whether a community centre really needs that post-disaster designation, or how much wiggle room the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) actually has, come up on many projects. The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020 brought some important clarifications and refinements to Importance Categories, and getting them right is crucial for both safety and project viability. It’s about more than picking a label from a table; you need to understand the intent and the real-world implications for your designs.