Barrier-Free Design Provisions Expand Under the 2020 Codes

Barrier-free design covers the physical features that let someone using a wheelchair, a walker, or another mobility aid navigate a building independently — ramp slopes, door widths, clear floor space at fixtures, and accessible route continuity, among others. The 2020 model code cycle expanded the scope of buildings and building areas where these provisions apply, building on requirements that had been broadening for years.

As with other model code changes, the practical effect depends on when and how each province adopts the 2020-based edition — some jurisdictions had already gone further than the national minimum through their own provincial amendments. The direction of travel across the country has been consistently toward broader accessibility requirements over successive code cycles, not narrower ones.