This marks the forty-ninth and final meeting for the Standing Committee on Use and Egress (SC-UE) during this code cycle, during which the Committee reviewed and approved the draft minutes for the 48th November 26, 2024 meeting with no changes.

Etermadi Behnoush with the National Research Council (NRC) provided an update on NRC's research on "Single Egress" and noted that NRC will share their report with future Task Group on Single Egress in March 2025.  

Codes Canada staff presented a proposed new note to article 3.2.4.10 Fire Detectors that would provide clarity on the intent of sentence 3.1.8.11.(3) and explains that the requirement for smoke dampers to be activated by fire detectors should not trigger the installation of a full fire alarm system if one doesn't already exist. 

Staff presented a draft memo from the SC-UE to the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) highlighting that provinces and territories will need to determine specific application requirements for adaptable and visitable dwelling units, and take into consideration the challenges faced by some building types where these new requirements may apply.

Under Other Business, the Committee heard from a representative with the tile and membrane industry who advised the warranty for membranes installed behind tile will be void if the membrane is punctured.  This directly relates to one of CHBA’s public review comments on the proposed requirements for grab bar backing in bathtubs and showers. The Committee agreed to share this information with the CBHCC.