Building extension : Brigning existing building up to code.

[canadiancastor]

I have a project where I am adding a 150 square meters extension to a more than 1500 square meter industrial buildling. Since there is no fire seperation between my extension and the existing building, I told client (contractor) that we were going to have to either :
#1 Add a firewall in between buildings to create two distinct buildings.
OR
#2 Bring the 1500 square meter building up to code, since I am doing major modifications to it.
My client told me that since the building is industrial, there is no need to have a firewall or the bring the existing up to code. His architect seems to agree with him, I'm wondering if maybe there is a clause somewhere in the CNBC that excludes industrial buildlings bringing up to date industrial buildings?

 

[canwesteng]

Up to code for what? Fire protection, occupant safety, structural adequacy?

 

[OldBldgGuy]

I'm not sure where you are but in Ontario we use the OBC instead of the NBC so that's what I'm familiar with, but it's based on the NBC so they are pretty much the same. Read Part 11, it is reasonably clear and very specific when, where, and for what purpose you have to upgrade when doing additions and alterations.

 

[canadiancastor]

Up to code structurally speaking (reanalyse the whole building for new loads and clauses (especially seismic)). I am in Quebec. We too have our own add-on to the CNBC (QCC-Chapter 1). For us the existant buildings are treated in Part 10 and basically it says that if my addition is less than 10% of the building area, I don't have to bring it up to present day seismic code. However, when I go in the CNBC-10 part 4 user guide - Commentary L, line 18 states that if I have a 30 + year old building, I can simply inspect it and if all loads paths are continuous and there is no deterioration in the structure, I don't have to reasses the whole building for new loads EXCEPT SEISMIC. What i'm wondering now is if the part 4 user guide is part of the actual code and must be followed? Also if the user guide is also adopted by the provinces?