Regulations governing the field of plumbing in Québec are those of Chapter III of the Construction Code and Chapter I of the Safety Code.
Latest amendments to Chapter III of the Construction Code
On February 10, 2021, the regulation amending Chapter III, Plumbing of the Construction Code was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec. This regulation came into force on March 27, 2021 and called for a 6-month transition period from that date during which it was possible to use either the 2010 edition or the new 2015 edition of the code. However, the use of both editions on a given project was prohibited during the transition period.
Since September 27, 2021, the Chapter III, Plumbing of the Construction Code (chapter B-1.1, r. 2) has incorporated, by reference, the 2015 edition of the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015 (NPC), with amendments to reflect the specific needs of Québec. Most of the Québec amendments made to the previous edition have been retained.
Among others, amendments include:
- stricter, more comprehensive requirements relating to the conservation of potable water
- the introduction of articles providing a better framework for the increasing use of stainless steel pipes
- the removal of any asbestos-based pipes and fittings.
- the updating of previous editions of reference standards
- the introduction of a standard for the manufacturing and performance of oil separators in order to limit oil discharge into sewers (for mechanical maintenance garages, among others)
- the inclusion of additional reference standards in order to meet requirements for the sale of certified plumbing products. This requirement serves to ensure the quality and performance of the products to be installed.
The following measures were retained:
- harmonization of the NPC 2015 with the regulation respecting the quality of potable water as it relates to potable water supplied to the lavatories of some tourist establishments
- recognition by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) of the Réseau Environnement for the accreditation of backflow prevention device testers installed to prevent the contamination of drinking water systems
- prohibition of the sale of unapproved plumbing products
- requirements relating to devices for the treatment of potable water
- requirements relating to the control and limitation of bath and shower water temperature in health care facilities as well as private seniors’ residences.
To learn more, you may download from the website of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
the new edition of Chapter III, Plumbing of the Québec Construction Code and a version of the National Plumbing Code of Canada 2015 which includes the changes adopted by Québec.
Intervention process
To ensure compliance with the regulations affecting plumbing, the RBQ:
- issues licences authorizing owner-builders to carry out plumbing work
- conducts administrative and technical assessments in connection with any licence application, or follows up on complaints, former records, unusual construction sites, etc.
- in cases where assessments reveal issues, takes special remedial actions. The RBQ’s levers for action in this respect are as follows:
- more stringent verification of an installation or construction at its different stages
- notifications to agent corporations and professional bodies.
