POTENTIAL CHANGES TO ONTARIO…

POTENTIAL CHANGES TO ONTARIO’S BUILDING CODE ( Sewage Systems and Energy Phase 3 Efficiency): B-08-07-07

This proposed change is “a bit weak”. The term "unsaturated" soil does not really define a suitable material. I presume the material would be imported, since the code requirement deals with “native soil” having a T time greater than 15 min.

I suggest having a defined term aaaa

Where aaaa means “imported soil having a T time less than 5 minutes”.

(buildings branch can pick a suitable human understandable word or phrase to substitute for aaaa )

Replace "unsaturated soil" with aaaa.

The proposal is a little weak on the thickness of the mantle (soil layer) also. The word depth might be common usage, however typical (correct usage) refers depth to a layer or a thing; depth, being the distance measured down to "it" from a reference level (typically "grade" or "ground surface").

John Este, P.Eng., CBCO (retired)

PS - This might need an appendix note, since T time depends on compaction. Further, as I understand, over a native soil with T time greater than 15 minutes, the “real” purpose of “the mantle” is to provide storage volume for the effluent over a suitable time period, during which the effluent can evaporate or be taken up by ground cover. Not much of it is going into the ground.