Gaining traction: Preventing falls with slip-resistant grab bar surfaces

November 15, 2019 sadia_badhon

The 2015 version of the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) requires grab bars to have a ‘slip-resistant’ finish. The 2015 NBC defines ‘slip-resistant’ as “provides additional traction in wet areas.” A slip-resistant finish provides surface traction, enabling secure gripping of a grab bar.

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LEED for glaziers: Maximizing green credits for building projects

November 14, 2019 sadia_badhon

As the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) continue to grow—with registration opening for LEED v4.1 as recently as January 2019 in Canada—glazing contractors (GCs) must stay on top of this evolving sustainability guideline to serve as a knowledgeable resource for their clients.

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Fireproofing hot-dip galvanized steel

November 12, 2019 sadia_badhon

As specifiers of commercial buildings look to achieve durable and long-lasting structures, many are turning to hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) as a method for protecting structural-steel members against atmospheric corrosion for many decades.

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Building code requirements for structural concrete

November 8, 2019 sadia_badhon

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) published ACI 318-19, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, in July. ACI 318 presents requirements for design and construction of structural concrete that are necessary to ensure public health and safety. It is addressed to the engineer or the building official who is responsible for the contract documents.

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Protecting flat roofs from extreme weather conditions

November 7, 2019 sadia_badhon

Roofs, and particularly flat ones, face unique issues when dealing with sudden downpours. Builders are discovering sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) can contend with the ‘new normal’ extreme weather that is being witnessed.

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B.C. building insulates interior slabs from balconies with thermal breaks

November 1, 2019 sadia_badhon

At 52 storeys, 3 Civic Plaza is the third tallest building in British Columbia, and an anchor to the fastest growing metro centre in the province. It houses a luxury hotel, an urban campus for Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a rooftop garden, and 348 residential condominium units, all accessed by an expansive central lobby linking the building’s many uses.

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The Well in downtown Toronto

August 23, 2019 nithya_caleb

In a city where construction is constant, developers are looking for opportunities to incorporate green energy solutions into their projects. Case in point: The Well project in Toronto. This new addition to Toronto’s downtown core will feature seven towers of mixed-use space, all sitting atop a new thermal energy facility.

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The practical side of window replacements

July 28, 2019 nithya_caleb

During a window replacement project, setting realistic expectations, keeping stakeholders informed, selecting a means of execution that is specific to the building, and starting the process within realistic timeframes will increase the potential for success.

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The multiple purposes of air barriers

July 27, 2019 nithya_caleb

While improving energy efficiency is the key goal, the other benefits of air barriers, such as helping control the interior environment, providing a durable design, and creating a high-performing building, should all be closely considered in air barrier material selection.

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Understanding flooring performance data to optimize specifications

July 26, 2019 nithya_caleb

Specifying resinous flooring systems involves crunching numerous performance data points, such as compressive strength and abrasion resistance, to select the optimal flooring system for a given environment. A major goof in picking a system could mean years of lost durability.

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