The Ontario Building Code | Prevention of Damage Due to Frost
9.8.10.3. Prevention of Damage Due to Frost
(1) Suitable precautions shall be taken during backfilling and grading operations to ensure that subsequent freezing of the soil will not cause uplift forces on the underside of cantilevered concrete steps to the extent that the steps or the walls to which they are attached will be damaged.
Section 9.9. Means of Egress
9.9.1. General
In Plain Language
Exterior stairs and similar elements must be protected from frost-related damage, such as heaving, as set out in this article, since ground movement from freezing can crack or shift these structures over time.
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.