The Ontario Building Code | Lateral Support
9.17.2.2. Lateral support
(1) columns shall be securely fastened to the supported member to reduce the likelihood of lateral differential movement between the column and the supported member.
(2) Except as permitted by Sentence (3), columns shall be laterally supported,
(a) directly, or
(b) by connection to the supported members.
(3) columns need not be provided with lateral support as described in Sentence (2) where,
(a) the length of the columns are not more than 600 mm measured from the finished ground to the underside of the supported member, and
(b) the columns support a deck with no superstructure.
9.17.3. Steel columns
In Plain Language
Columns need lateral support as set out in this article, preventing them from buckling sideways under load.
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.