Permitted Building Materials and Colours
Jasper National Park
Permitted Building Materials
If you are building in the Jasper townsite, your choice of building materials must follow certain rules set out in the Town of Jasper Land Use Policy (LUP) and Architectural Motif Guidelines for the Town of Jasper (AM). These rules are in place to preserve the character of the townsite and make buildings more resilient to wildfires.
The table below is meant to clarify which materials you can build with in Jasper. It also summarizes FireSmart best practices that go beyond the minimum requirements.
Policy requirements vs. FireSmart best practices
In some instances, what Parks Canada policy requires is not as strict as what FireSmart recommends. This is to balance fire resilience with construction cost and feasibility. Where feasible, proponents are always encouraged to go above the minimum and follow FireSmart best practices.
Technical Standards & Specification Sheets
Many building materials are tested against standardized criteria to understand how fire-resilient they are. In some instances, using materials that meet technical standards is required (e.g. exterior roof cladding requires Class A, or CAN/ULC rating). If your material needs to meet a specific standard, you might be required to provide proof (like a material specification sheet provided by the manufacturer.)
Key terms
- Non-combustible: Materials that do not ignite or burn when exposed to fire, such as concrete, brick and most metals. Non-combustible products should meet CAN/ULC S114 or ASTM E136 standards.
- Fire Resistant: Materials or structures designed to withstand fire for a period of time without losing structural integrity. Heavy timber is considered fire-resistant.
- Heavy Timber: Heavy timber refers to construction with large-dimensioned wood where no dimension is less than 150mm.
Minimum Material Requirements and FireSmart Best Practices
| Building component | Requirements | Additional recommended FireSmart best practices | Acceptable standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior roof cladding |
Non-combustible materials such as metal, cement, fibre-cement, slate or Class A rated asphalt or rubber shingles in subdued natural colours. Tiles must be flat (not “Spanish” or “Mediterranean” style). |
All material gaps in metal roof products should be sealed with non-combustible material or 3 millimetre non-combustible metal screening. Chimneys connected to a solid-fuel burning appliance are fitted with a mesh screen with perforations not larger than 12mm, to prevent sparks. |
Required: Class A (ULC S107/ASTM E108/UL790) |
| Exterior siding |
Non-combustible materials such as stone, stucco, brick, fibre-cement designed to emulate wood, pre-cast concrete panels, stone veneer, or metal (excluding aluminum) in subdued, natural colours. Non-combustible siding must extend all the way to the base of the building, at least 15 cm above grade. Heavy timber is acceptable. Wood (other than heavy timber), acrylic stucco, vinyl, and aluminum siding are not permitted. |
Non-combustible siding, with no exceptions. | Recommended: CAN/ULC S114 or ASTM E136 |
| Foundations | Refer to Exterior Siding requirements. |
The exposed foundation and covering should be made of non-combustible material. Cover any Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) foundation with cement board and parging, or non-combustible veneer. Any material gaps over 3mm must be sealed or a 3mm metal (non-combustible) screen is to be placed over it. |
Recommended: CAN/ULC S114; ASTM E136 |
| Gutters and downspouts | N/A | Non-combustible materials such as metal, with metal gutter screens or covers to prevent debris buildup. | Recommended: CAN/ULC- S135, CAN/ULC- S114 |
| Roof flashing | Metal flashing only, painted or finished to blend with the roof colour. | N/A | N/A |
| Fascia | Fascia must be non-combustible. | Aligns with policy. | Recommended: ASTM E2957, CAN/ULC S114 |
| Eaves and soffits | N/A |
Use non-combustible soffit materials such as metal, fibre cement and stainless steel or aluminum. Soffits should have perforations less than 3 mm in diameter. |
Recommended: ASTM E2957 |
| Decorative Trim |
Trim must be non-combustible, with the exception of heavy timber. Decorative trim can incorporate brighter, contrasting colours for variety and interest. |
Non-combustible trim, with no exceptions. | Recommended: CAN/ULC S114 or ASTM E136 |
| Windows (frames, mullions and trim) |
Non-combustible materials such as metal, aluminum, fibreglass and thermally broken steel. Metal-clad wood and metal-clad fibreglass are acceptable. Fire-resistant materials like uPVC (unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride), also known as Rigid PVC, are also acceptable for frames and mullions. Unclad wood is not permitted. |
Use at least double-pane (triple pane is better) glass with a minimum of one tempered pane for enhanced resistance to heat and embers. | Recommended: CAN/ULC-S104 SCM 12-7a-2 |
| Building attachments (e.g. decks, steps, porches) | Within 1.5 metres of a building, attachments such as decks, steps and porches must be surfaced with fire-resistant materials, such as composite that meet Class A standards. | The spaces under decks, steps and porches should be kept clear of debris and should be enclosed with non-combustible material. Screening should not have perforations larger than 3mm. |
Required: Recommended: |
| Mobile Home Skirting | Non-combustible skirting such as metal or fibre cement board, in neutral colours. | N/A | Required: CAN/ULC S114 ASTM E136 |
| Fencing |
Within 1.5 metres of a building, fencing must be non-combustible, such as metal and stone. Wooden fences are permitted beyond this 1.5m buffer. If using metal, the design and finish must not be overly industrial; chain link is unacceptable.
|
N/A | N/A |
| Exterior doors |
Exterior entry doors should be finished with non-combustible material such as steel.
|
Aligns with policy. | Recommended: If cladding with fire resistant material, look for CAN/ULC-S104 or SCM 12-7a-2 |
| Garage doors |
Garage doors attached to or closer than 10 metres of a dwelling must be finished with non-combustible material. |
Window and door frames should be a non-combustible finish (e.g.: metal clad wood, fiberglass, thermally broken steel). Ensure all door seals are tight, with no gaps or cracks. This includes the garage doors. |
Recommended: CAN/ULC-S104 SCM 12-7a-2 |
| Venting (e.g. roof vents, dryer vents, etc.) | N/A |
All roof/external vents are made of non-combustible material such as aluminum or stainless steel. Install 1/8-inch (3mm) stainless steel or aluminum mesh at vents and openings to reduce ember intrusion. |
Recommended: ASTM E2886 or ASTM E2886M20 |
| Accessory buildings < 9 m2 | N/A |
Use non-combustible materials such as fibre cement, stone veneer or metal for siding and roofing. Maintain 1.5m non-combustible perimeter surrounding building. |
Recommended: CAN/ULC- S114 |
Acceptable Exterior Colours
Colours in the built environment in Jasper should blend with nature and allow the setting to dominate. Colour is an attribute that - if not skillfully handled - can cause a building to appear out of place.
Examples of acceptable colours for exterior materials include:
Please note: final colours and materials must be approved by the Development office at 780-852-6123 or jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca.
Exterior Colour and Material Permit Process
A Parks Canada Development Permit is required for changes to roofing and / or siding that result in a change of colour, material, and/or texture. The permitting process for a change to exterior cladding is a two-permit process consisting of the following:
- obtaining a Parks Canada Development Permit, and
- then after the work is in place, obtaining a Parks Canada Completion Certificate.
To obtain a Parks Canada Development Permit submit the following items to jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca:
- Parks Canada Development Permit Application – General application for a Permit form (PDF 395 KB)
- Exterior Cladding Checklist – Exterior Cladding Checklist (PDF 145 KB)
For development inquiries, or to request a meeting with a development officer, please contact the Development Office at jasperdevelopment@pc.gc.ca or (780) 852-6123. Please note that your inquiry or meeting request may be directed to a planner from the Municipality of Jasper or from Parks Canada. If you would prefer to meet with a specific organization, please state this in your call or email.
Disclaimer: This document is used as a resource to navigating the permit process and does not supersede the requirements as stated in the Town of Jasper Land Use Policy or the Architectural Motif Guidelines for the Town of Jasper.
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