The Ontario Building Code | Moisture Protection for Interior Finishes
9.13.2.6. moisture Protection for interior Finishes
(1) The interior surface of foundation walls below ground level shall be protected by means that minimize the ingress of moisture from the foundation wall into interior spaces where,
(a) a separate interior finish is applied to a concrete or unit masonry wall that is in contact with the soil, or
(b) wood members are placed in contact with such walls for the installation of insulation or finish.
(2) Except as provided in Sentence (3), where the protection of interior finishes required in Sentence (1) consists of membranes or coatings,
(a) the membrane or coating shall extend from the basement floor surface up to the highest extent of the interior insulation or finish, but not higher than the exterior finished ground level, and
(b) no membrane or coating with a permeance less than 170 ng/(Pa·s·m2) shall be applied to the interior surface of the foundation wall above ground level between the insulationhttp://thehandyforce.com/insulation/" title ="Toronto home insulation">insulation and the foundationwall.
(3) Where insulationhttp://thehandyforce.com/insulation/" title ="Toronto home insulation">insulation functions as both moisture protection for interior finishes and as avapour barrier in accordance with Subsection 9.25.4., it shall be applied over the entire interior surface of the foundation wall.
In Plain Language
Interior finishes need moisture protection as set out in this article, addressing dampness that could otherwise migrate through a foundation wall and damage interior materials.
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.