Building Permits for Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems Ted Van Vliet Toronto Building October 1 st, 2008 Presented at Solar Neighbourhoods Contractor Workshop

Presentation Outline Who we are Ontario Building Code and Zoning By-laws Building Permit Applications and Submission Requirements Questions

Toronto Building: Who we are and What we do...

Who we are and What we Do: Toronto Building: Enforce the Ontario Building Code, the City of Toronto's zoning by-laws and other applicable law, including: Reviewing Building Permit applications; Issuing Building Permits; and, Conducting Inspections Divided into 4 Administrative Districts within the City of Toronto

District Office Locations and Contact Information Toronto and East York District Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West Wards: 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 North York District North York Civic Centre 5100 Yonge Street Wards: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34 Etobicoke York District Etobicoke 2 Civic Centre Court Wards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17 Scarborough District Scarborough Civic Centre 150 Borough Drive Wards: 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44

Why get a Building Permit for SDHW Systems To avoid structural failure of the building; Fire Protection; To ensure that the system will not separate from the building; To avoid contamination of potable water; To avoid water damage i.e. leaky roof, improper water shedding, improper plumbing connections Because it is a legal requirement!!!

When you need a Building Permit Construct a new building Any addition to an existing building Structural alterations Renovate or repair a building Make new openings for, or change the size of, doors and windows Install or modify HVAC systems New or altered plumbing An accessory structure larger than 10 square metres in area

The Ontario Building Code and Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems

Building Code Objectives Safety Health Accessibility Fire, Structural, Water & Sewage Protection of Buildings Resource Conservation Environmental Integrity Conservation of Buildings

Building Code Requirements Structural Sufficiency: Requirements for Housing - Part 9; Requirements for Large Buildings – Part 3 and/or Part 4 Plumbing Connections; Collector Design and Installation Requirements: Part 7 for all buildings Fire Protection Part 3 and 5 for all buildings

Packaged vs. Non-Packaged SDHW Systems ‘Packaged’ System (Off the Shelf) : Equipment must conform to CAN/CSA-F379.1 Installed in conformance with CAN/CSA-F383 ‘Non-packaged’ Systems (Custom Design): Designed and installed in accordance with ‘good engineering practice ’

Zoning By-laws and Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems

Zoning By-laws Zoning By-laws set out rules governing land use and the placement of buildings on a lot. It states exactly: Land and building uses; Building size, height, or density; Location of buildings and other structures; Minimum lot sizes and dimensions.

Zoning By-law Requirements for Solar Energy Devices For zones that allow dwelling units: When located on a building, it is subject to the zoning requirements for the building on which the device is located; and, When not located on a building, it is subject to the zoning requirements for an accessory or ancillary building or structure on a lot in which the device is located.

Sample Zoning Requirements Requirements for the Main Building Front Yard Setback6.5m Side Yard Setbacks1.0m Rear Yard Setback9.5m Building Height9.0m Requirements for Accessory or Ancillary Structures Must be located behind the main building Side Yard Setbacks0.3m Rear Yard Setback0.9m Building Height4.0m

Applying for the Building Permit

Requirements for Submission Application forms; CSA Certification documents or alternative solutions documentation; Building and Site Plans (2 copies); and, Payment of Building Permit Fees In many cases, separate permits are required for Plumbing and Structural work

Building Permit Application Form May require 2 applications Designer Information Sheet Declaration for Time Frames Tree Declaration Form Required Forms:

Designer Requirements Since 2006, the Ontario Building Code has required that all plans are prepared by a ‘qualified person’ Qualified person is: A Licensed Engineer; A Licensed Architect; or, A person who has passed exams prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Professional seals/stamps or BCIN numbers must appear on all submitted documents and plans Homeowners who prepare their own plans are exempt from qualification requirements However, the City has the right to ask for an Engineer to prepare or review plans as necessary

Requirements for Plans 2 copies of: Site Plan; Roof Plan; Building Elevations; Details on the Hot Water Tank and all new and existing Plumbing Connections; Sufficient information should be provided on all plans to deem compliance with the Ontario Building Code and Applicable Laws Toronto Building has the right to ask for information deemed necessary to determine compliance with the Ontario Building Code and other Applicable Laws

Sample Site Plan

Sample Roof Plan

Sample Elevations

Connection and Piping Details Photo Credit: NRCan

CSA Certification Documents For Packaged Systems a copy must be provided as part of the application – including all supporting documents CSA certification information may be required for equipment in other types of installations

Alternative Solutions For Packaged Systems that do not have CSA certification, design alternatives may be considered Most alternatives require an Engineer to prepare; Alternatives must demonstrate equivalent or superior performance to systems certified under CAN/CSA-F379.1; Toronto Building may be able to ‘certify’ plans in some cases; If received; approval of alternative solutions or certified plans are good in Toronto only, and may be heavily restricted

Payment of Fees Fee By-law is currently being reviewed for SDHW permits Fees for small residential installations is $92.94 (includes all permits) For more complex installations and certified plans, additional fees may be charged All fees must be paid prior to the issuance of a Building Permit !

Building Inspections Open for Discussion The City is required to inspect all work for which a Building Permit is issued; It is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure the Building Inspector is notified that work is ready to be inspected; Any deviation from the approved permit plans, may result in work being stopped

For copies of Forms and Other Information Please visit our website at

Questions ? Toronto and East York District Toronto City Hall 100 Queen Street West North York District North York Civic Centre 5100 Yonge Street Etobicoke York District Etobicoke 2 Civic Centre Court Scarborough District Scarborough Civic Centre 150 Borough Drive