Opening the door to high performance in extreme temperatures

Air leakage and air exchange are two of the biggest issues facing architects, designers, and facility managers when it comes to specifying commercial rolling doors for conditioned warehouse spaces across the country. To improve energy efficiency and save time and money as well as meet increasingly stringent environmental laws and regulations, industry professionals are turning to high-performance doors.

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Restoration of a heritage brick clock tower

During the restoration of a clock tower in Huntsville, Ont., the contractor uncovered significant deterioration within the multi-wythe clay brick exterior walls. The project was expanded to include: demolition of the deteriorated brick walls, reconstruction of the tower walls one corner at a time, replacement of the steel roof, and recladding of the tower exterior walls.

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The air/vapour barrier must die

The terms “air barrier” and “vapour retarder” (or “vapour barrier”) are perhaps some of the most poorly understood concepts in the construction industry. A general lack of understanding of the functions of these materials has resulted in simplistic rules-of- thumb. It is crucial the industry agrees on terminology that communicates the specific functions and purpose of these materials to avoid confusion and costly errors.

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Fire and sound control solutions for tall wood buildings

As we move toward taller timber buildings, fire and acoustics considerations for dwelling units above dwelling units is increasingly important. This article shares the results of National Research Council of Canada testing of various sound control assemblies to comply with new National Building Code of Canada (NBC) requirements. The results are beneficial for architects and specifiers working on wood-framed, multifamily structures.

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Construction and silicosis: What you need to know

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 160 million people suffer from work-related diseases, with some two million dying annually as a result. About eight per cent of these occupational disease deaths can be directly attributed to respiratory complications. What exactly is silicosis, though, and what should design/construction professionals know to help reduce its impact on those in the industry?

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