Building and Major Renovation Standards
The standards, guidelines and manuals contained in this site are intended to assist the new building and major renovation planning process. These resources are to be used in addition to applicable municipal, provincial, federal and industry standards and regulations. These standards shall be reviewed and adhered to by consultants, engineers and architects of record undertaking work on behalf of the University. External resources will provide project-specific documentation and building specifications based on local building code, applicable standards and engineering analyses.
These building standards represent minimum technical requirements that provide a minimum level of quality assurance for the university. Where and when it is deemed appropriate, the project budget permits and with the review and formal authorization of the university, architects, engineers and consultants of record can exceed the minimum posted standards and recommend changes and amendments to the posted university building standards.
Building standards organization
The University building standards are organized in accordance with the Master Specification Master Format Divisions, 2004 edition.
Standards and guidelines governance
The University's building standards, guidelines and manuals are regularly developed by various subject matter experts (SMEs) from Facilities Services, University Information Technology (UIT), Health, Safety & Employee Well-being, Human Resources, and Security Services, Department of Community Safety.
The Office of the Vice President Finance and Administration (VP FA), and the Office of the Assistant Vice President, Facilities Services coordinate the collection of information and drafting of standards and guidelines, and where necessary develop new standards, guidelines and manuals. Draft standards and guidelines are submitted to university SMEs for peer review. Once reviewed, the draft building standards are finalized by the AVP's Facilities Services Executive Management Team for final consideration. For draft standards that are not Information Technology related, once this final review is completed the draft building standards and guidelines are officially authorized by the AVP Facilities Services and are then posted on the University's building standards web site.
The Official York University building standards, guidelines and manuals are iterative and evolving documents that are maintained by Facilities Services in conjunction with other contributing university departments (including but not limited to: UIT, Security Services, and Health, Safety & Employee Well Being).
Proposed new building standards and updates to existing university Building Standards, Guidelines and Manuals are submitted to the AVP Facilities Services Executive Management Team for review and updated as needed.
All York University, Facilities Services departments and units, UIT, Health, Safety & Employee Well Being collectively have the responsibility for enforcing the official university building standards for all new construction and renovations.
Information technology standards and guidelines are developed by UIT SMEs and reviewed and authorized by the Director, ICT Infrastructure & Information Security Officer. Office of the Chief Information Officer, University Information Technology (UIT)
Architects, Engineers and Consultants of record are required to comply with all posted York University building standards, manuals and guidelines throughout all phases of project design and development.
Deviations, amendments or variances from a posted university standards, guidelines or manuals must be submitted in writing with a rationale to the Director, Planning and Renovations, Facilities Services who will review the request with the relevant university SMEs
Application of Standards, Manuals and Guidelines
Building Standards, technical and functional guidelines and manuals apply to all projects involving University-owned facilities, and infrastructure. This includes academic, and administrative buildings and student housing operated by the university. York's standards, guidelines and manuals also apply to university infrastructure, parking lots and grounds. These Standards, guidelines and manuals must be applied to all new construction and renovations regardless of project value. The Standards, guidelines and manuals apply to on going maintenance as well as major renovations and new construction.
Building Standards
Division 1 General Requirements
Division 2 Existing Conditions
Division 3 Concrete
Division 4 Masonry
Division 5 Metals
Division 6 Wood, Plastics, Composites
Division 7 Thermal and Moisture Protection
Division 8 Openings
Division 08 14 00 111019 Wood Door and Frames ver 1.2 (PDF)
Division 08 71 00 Door Finish Hardware ver 4.2
Division 08 74 00 130402 Access Control Standard ver 3.2 (PDF)
Division 08 81 00 111028 Glazing for interior applications ver 1.0 (PDF)
Division 9 Finishes
Division 09 29 00 151027 Gypsum and Cement Board Final ver 1.0
Division 09 30 00 130121 Ceramic Tile ver 2.3 (PDF)
Division 09 51 10 120716 Acoustical Ceiling Tile ver 1.2 (PDF)
Division 09 62 00 160302 Specialty Flooring - Lab floors Final
Division 09 68 00 120430 Carpet Tile and rolled carpet ver 2.4 (PDF)
Division 09 91 00 151005 Painting ver 1.5 (PDF)
Division 10 Specialties
Division 10 14 23 Interior Signage Standards Manual 2014-10-15
Division 10 17 00 161104 Emergency Telephones Ver 1.4
Division 10 22 00 Washroom Compartments FINAL ver 2.3
Division 11 Equipment
Division 11 82 00 151017 Waste Management Containers Final ver 1.0
Division 12 Furnishings
Division 12 48 16 120425 Entrance Floor Grille ver 1.2
Division 12 56 00 Institutional Furniture ver 2.0
Division 12 93 13 Bike Racks ver 1.3
Division 13 Special Construction
Division 14 Conveying Equipment
Division 21 Fire Suppression
Division 22 Plumbing
Division 22 45 13 & 16 Emergency Eyewash and Safety Showers
Division 22 47 00 Water Bottle refill and water fountains ver 1.2
Division 23 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
Division 25 Integrated Automation
Division 26 Electrical
Division 26 51 00 Interior Lighting ver 2.3
Division 26 56 00 Exterior Lighting ver 1.4
Division 27 Communications
27 05 00 Communications Overview V3.2 20181123
27 05 01 Basic Requirements V3.2 20181123
27 05 05 Communication Rooms v5 20200921
27 15 00 Horizontal Cable requirement v5 20201207
27 13 00 Communications Backbone Cabling v3.1 20181122
27 21 33 Data Comm WIFI AP v3.2 20180726
Division 27 42 19 Digital Messaging System ver 1.3
Division 27 51 16 120326 Public Announcement System ver 3.4
01 Communication and Network Symbols Oct 2016
UIT-ICT-02 WiFi Symbols 2018 07 18
UIT-ICT-03 Comm Room Layout Shell Build Out 20180718
UIT-ICT-04 Comm Room Layout Equipment 20180718
05 Backboard Construction Oct 2016
06 Back Board Layout Oct 2016
07 Horizontal Terminations Oct 2016
08 Pigtails Oct 2016
UIT-ICT-09 Architectural Components 20180719
UIT-ICT-10 Permanent Link Test 20180726
UIT-ICT-11 Faceplates 20180726
Division 28 Electrical Safety and Security
Division 31 Earthwork
Division 32 Exterior Developments
Division 33 Utilities
Division 34 Transportation
University Guidelines
University Guidelines
Laboratory Design Guidelines March 2013
Mail Services Building Guidelines ver-1.0 Sept. 2004
Space Allocation Standards
Constructor Contractor Manual Jan. 2011 Part 1 Introduction
Constructor Contractor Manual Jan. 2011 Part 2
Constructor Contractor Manual Jan. 2011 Part 3
Constructor Contractor Manual Jan. 2011 Part 4
YU Drawing and Room Numbering Standard 2011
Roof Antennae Criteria.Revised July12 2011
Memo Adopting Criteria for the Consideration of Cellular Antennae on Roofs Feb 15, 2011
Official Building Names, city addresses and abbreviations (PDF)