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The City of Yorkton is changing its Building Bylaw to enhance home safety.

鈥淎n amendment to the City of Yorkton Building Bylaw is being proposed in this report pertaining to the enhancement of current National Building Code requirement,鈥� explained Jeff Fawcett, Building Official, with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.

Fawcett said the changes are related to residential occupancies with attached garages.

鈥淭he National Building Code currently requires that only a poly gas barrier be provided between an attached garage and the living space of a single family dwelling. There have been examples in Yorkton of fires starting in a garage that quickly spread to the rest of the home. The unimpeded spread of fire in homes puts at risk the lives of the home鈥檚 occupants and those of neighbouring properties,鈥� he told Council.

鈥淭he proposed 45 minute fire separation requirement in new construction will result in a safer building with occupants being better protected from a fire that starts in the garage. Saskatchewan鈥檚 neighbouring provinces have already adopted this amendment to the code on a province wide basis. In Saskatchewan, the City of Prince Albert has already adopted this amendment to their (Building) Bylaw.鈥�

The amendment was drafted in close consultation with Yorkton Fire Protective Services.

The Building Standards division of the Government of Saskatchewan was also extensively consulted.

鈥淭he proposed 45 minute fire rating between the garage and the home would require the builder to install 5/8鈥� gypsum board in lieu of the current practice of using 陆鈥� gypsum board. The 5/8鈥� gypsum board would be installed on garage side walls and ceilings that divide the garage space from the living space. In single storey homes, the gypsum board will be required to extend to the underside of the roof framing,鈥� continued Fawcett.

鈥淟ocal home builders that would be affected by the proposed change were also consulted. Building Services found that there were no negative reactions to the proposal. A local builder calculated the price of this requirement and found that it would add less than $1,000 to the price of a home with a double car garage.鈥�

Council was unanimous in supporting the amendment.