On April 10th, the Ministry of Housing announced amendments to the 2024 BC Building Code that will permit taller mass timber buildings, up to 18 storeys for encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC).  

EMTC will now be allowed in a wider range of building types including schools and light-medium industrial facilities. Exposed mass timber will also be allowed in more applications, such as residential up to eight storeys.  

The specific revisions are available on the Ministry of Housing's website, alongside updated technical bulletins providing more details on the changes. 

UDI is encouraged by this announcement and continues to work with the Ministry on Mass Timber construction as part of BC’s Mass Timber Advisory Council.