The Ontario Building Code | Anchorage of Floor or Roof Assemblies
9.20.11.1. Anchorage of floor or Roof Assemblies
(1) Where required to receive lateral support, masonry walls shall be anchored to each floor or roof assembly at maximum intervals of 2 m, except that anchorage of floor joists not more than 1 m above grade may be omitted.
(2) Anchors required in Sentence (1) shall be corrosion-resistant and be not less than the equivalent of 40 mm by 4.76 mm thick steel straps.
(3) Anchors required in Sentence (1) shall be shaped to provide a mechanical key with the masonry and shall be securely fastened to the horizontal support to develop the full strength of the anchor.
(4) When joists are parallel to the wall, anchors required in Sentence (1) shall extend across no fewer than three joists.
In Plain Language
Floor or roof assemblies must be anchored to the masonry wall they bear on, as set out in this article, ensuring the connection can resist wind, seismic, and other lateral forces.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.