The Long Road to Code Changes: Celebrating Industry Efforts that Led to More Railing Design Choices

Did you know horizontal railing is code compliant in Canada? In April 2015, the National Building Code for Canada (NBC) dropped the restrictions for guard design. It took nearly eight years of comprehensive and diligent voluntary effort by industry proponents to realize a consensus-based code change. This change is significant and means that horizontal guard infill such as cable railing is now approved for all but one of Canada’s provinces and territories. Bezdan has been a leader in pursuing research and evidence to support new code changes, and the future of ornamental guards is looking brighter than ever.

What Changed?

Prior to the Canadian Code change, prescriptive articles meant to prevent climbability applied to all guards. Now, with the change, greater design freedom is possible for guards that protect a level of 4.2m (13.78 ft) or less including designs with horizontal elements.  

Clarifying Misconceptions

There’s a perception by some that the code changes present a safety risk, however this isn’t supported by evidence. Although Bezdan’s original goal was to align the NBC with the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), to provide design freedom at any height, these changes represent a significant step in that direction.

While in many cases an update to a building code can make construction more restrictive and costly, the NBC updates to guardrail requirements provide design freedom without increasing costs while also reducing the burdens on inspectors.

The new code allows for greater design freedom for guard infill, which means a whole new world of guardrail design options. Change, in this case, is a very good thing.

Photo Source: Bezdan

Horizontal railing installations, like cable railing, are a safe option for guardrails and are approved by the National Building Code 2015. Horizontal railing installations, like cable railing, are a safe option for guardrails and are approved by the NBC. Stainless steel cable posts and infill seamlessly complement a variety of interior styles, from industrial style to modern farmhouse, adding a clean, stylish touch to any space. Get the look: Bezdan Cable surface mount posts, through-post fittings and black oxide cable.

The Rationale for Code Changes

The provision to limit climbing was first introduced in the NBC in 1975 and applied only to guards around balconies in Part 3 residential buildings. At that time, this new requirement was not supported by any documented injury related to climbable guards.
During the following editions of the NBC, the scope of the requirement was expanded to include more locations without being supported by evidence (statistics, coroner reports or documented incidents). These provisions were unnecessarily restrictive, negatively impacting the ornamental guard industry in Canada. With a lack of evidence to support the claim, Bezdan, along with industry proponents, pursued the change that is reflected in NBC 2015. 

Bezdan's Pivotal Role in the Code Changes

Safety has been Bezdan's first and foremost directive. As parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, the protection of children is of utmost concern. Throughout this process, Bezdan has actively engaged in dialog with industry professionals that have questions about the change to help educate and inform.

 “Our research revealed that people too often believed that it was safe to leave children unsupervised on stairs or balconies if the guardrails were up to code, and this gave parents a very false sense of security” explains Margaret Bezdan, CEO of Bezdan Railing Solutions, who was advocating for almost a decade before the change came into place. “However, no building code can replace real parental supervision...which is why we pushed for a systematic change.” The new code, now more evidence-based and developed with thorough research, is similar to building codes in the U.S. and Australia, providing design choice while also providing a safe environment.  

Photo Source: Bezdan

Horizontal railing installations are a safe option for guardrails and are approved by the NBC. Steel tube lengths complement a variety of interior styles, from industrial to modern farmhouse, adding a clean, stylish touch to any space. Get the look: TimeLine® Horizontal 60” Length Steel Tubes.

Photo Source: Bezdan

Horizontal cable rails can work in a variety of spaces: inside and out, modern or traditional. Cable railing for decks is an ideal choice as it keeps views clear and requires minimal maintenance. Get the look: Bezdan Cable fascia mount posts, through-post fittings and stainless steel cable.

Celebrating Code Harmonization for the City of Vancouver

Bezdan is celebrating the recent harmonization of the City of Vancouver’s railing code with the National Building Code (NBC) for guard infill. CEO, Margaret Bezdan, actively engaged with council members to educate them about the changes at a national level, ensuring they understood the implications of the new code. These efforts helped shape updated guidelines that now allow horizontal railings for stairs and decks in the city of Vancouver.

Advocacy Continues in Ontario

Bezdan has been a driving force in advocating for the harmonization of the Ontario Building Code (OBC) with the NBC on guard infill.                                                                                       

As Ontario remains the last province in Canada to adopt these code changes, our next step is to present our case to the governing bodies and advocate for an amendment to the current OBC. 

Bezdan is committed to continuing this work, and we are optimistic that with the ongoing support from industry partners, we will make significant strides toward achieving this long-awaited change.

The Last Word: More Choice for Guardrail Design

The change to the building code offers two key benefits: Canadians now have a broader range of design options without compromising safety. Horizontal and ornamental guardrail designs can now be easily adapted to meet the new NBC requirements.

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