The Quebec government has allowed the construction of taller wood buildings, a decision that the Cement Association of Canada (CAC) calls questionable, as it bypasses the usual rigorous building code development process and compromises public interest. The taller wood buildings would be built on the basis of a guide developed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec and FPInnovations, a private research centre, and is not recognised by the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC).
According to the CAC, the Quebec government is permitting measures that are not recognised by the codes or standards developed by accredited organisations in order to directly support the wood industry, to the possible detriment of public safety.
Edited from press release by Angharad Lock