Hey everyone! I'm looking into joist hole reinforcement or repair kits and I'm wondering if these are approved for use in Ontario. Do I need to go through a bunch of red tape to get an engineer's approval, or is the manufacturer's spec sheet sufficient? I want to run a 3" ABS pipe through an old growth 2x10 (which actually measures 1-3/4" x 9-1/2"). I've seen some kits that claim you can cut up to a 6" hole in a standard 2x10 by using a 10-gauge steel plate with approved fasteners. Any insights would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Check this out! [Here’s](https://imgur.com/a/fRpxpMC) what I'm working with. It might give a better idea of how to approach it!
If you’re getting it inspected, definitely just ask the inspector directly. If you're not having it inspected, go for a quality reinforcement kit and you should be fine. You can technically make a 3-1/8" hole in that joist as long as it's 2" from the edge, and since you’re just a tad larger than that, it shouldn’t be an issue as long as the kit is reputable.
I've used a similar kit for a 4" hole in a 2x8. The technical bulletin for that kit had an engineer's stamp, but it was from Illinois. Technically, you'd need approval from a Professional Engineer here in Ontario to be fully compliant, but honestly, my building inspector didn't bat an eye about it.
Oh, and just a heads-up, the Ontario Building Code is being phased out. Any permits after 2024 will follow the National Building Code instead.
This is super helpful, thanks! It's good to know about the code changes too. Just when I thought I had the OBC figured out, lol.