Category
Buildings
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Where does your province stand? Construction slows, but jurisdictions take different approaches
(Editor’s note: the following story was originally published by our sister publication, On-Site, and we thank them for allowing us to share it with our readers.) Little more than a month into the crisis already guaranteed to define the early…
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CCA supports keeping health-compliant federal construction sites open
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) supports the federal government’s decision to keep construction sites open during the COVID-19 pandemic for projects that involve defence, security, infrastructure and the administration of justice and government, so long as compliance with public health…
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Feds list engineering among essential services during COVID-19 crisis
On Apr. 2, federal minister of public safety and emergency preparedness Bill Blair released “Guidance on Essential Services and Functions in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a non-binding, advisory document intended to assist jurisdictions and businesses in determining which employees…
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ASHRAE responds to COVID-19 with new epidemic task force
In an effort to respond to the current global COVID-19 pandemic and provide guidance for preparing the built environment for future epidemics, ASHRAE has established a new epidemic task force. The group-within-a-society will help deploy technical resources to address current…
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Engineers Canada transfers PIEVC Program to ICLR
Today, Engineers Canada announced an agreement to transfer ownership of its Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Program—including the protocol for infrastructure climate risk and vulnerability assessment—to the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). ICLR has partnered with the Climate…
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NIST tests could bolster fire safety for office buildings
Engineers and technicians at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have investigated how fires cause office buildings’ floors to collapse, conducting tests that are hoped to lead to stronger building codes and improved design tools. The engineers…
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Reviewing Ikea’s geothermal chiller
In 2011, furniture retailer Ikea commissioned and implemented a frictionless magnetic levitation (maglev) centrifugal chiller to heat and air-condition a major distribution centre in Brossard, Que., by means of geothermal energy. The system achieved unprecedented energy efficiency for the facility,…
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PM Springfest rescheduled
Given ongoing developments with the COVID-19 crisis, the organizers of PM Springfest—an annual event for buildings’ engineers, property and facility managers, developers, owners and operations and maintenance (O&M) staff—have rescheduled the show from early April 2020 to late March 2021.…
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CCA recommends keeping construction operational
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA), which represents more than 20,000 member firms across the country, is recommending construction and related manufacturing activities remain operational, for the time being, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The association points out, as part of…
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ASHRAE addresses COVID-19 crisis with infection control course
On Apr. 7, ASHRAE will offer a timely online course focusing on the role of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in infection control for health-care facilities. “Although COVID-19 is not considered an airborne contagion, it appears it can be…
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Developing earthquake resistance for OFCs
Only recently have codes addressed seismic design of buildings’ non-structural systems.
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Building Lasting Change conference postponed
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has postponed its 2020 Building Lasting Change (BLC) conference due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The event was planned to take place in Toronto in early June. CaGBC made the decision earlier this week,…
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Reliable Controls introduces SSE deep backplate
The accessory is designed to avoid having to cut an opening in the wall.
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New Brunswick introduces legislation to standardize building codes
New legislation was introduced yesterday to put modern building code standards in place across New Brunswick. Dubbed the Building Code Administration Act, the legislation is designed to help ensure the same safety standards are met throughout the province, in alignment…
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Quebec outlines 10-year infrastructure plan
Yesterday, Quebec’s provincial government presented its second Quebec Infrastructure Plan (QIP), representing a record $130.5-billion investment over the next 10 years, up $15.1 billion over the first QIP. Looking ahead from 2020 through 2030, the government outlined four key priorities:…
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CaGBC updates zero-carbon building standard
Today, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) launched Version 2 of its Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard. The update is intended to accelerate the adoption of ZCB practices, help Canada meet its climate-change targets and spur both innovation and job…
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Canadian universities receive ASHRAE grants for undergrad engineering projects
ASHRAE has announced a total of US$153,000 in undergraduate program equipment grants to fund 34 projects around the world, including three at Canadian universities. For the 2020-21 society year, 92 applications—the largest number in the program’s history—were submitted from all…
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Canadian Consulting Engineer helps celebrate Women In Construction
Canadian Consulting Engineer joins sister publications On-Site, Rock to Road and Crane & Hoist Canada in celebrating women in the construction industry with a special new website, sponsored by John Deere. Launched last week, in time for International Women’s Day, the site features…
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Scholarships honour engineer who championed wood construction
During the Ontario Forest Industries Association’s (OFIA’s) 77th annual meeting and conference on Feb. 26, the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) recognized recipients of its 2019 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships. Established 14 years ago, the scholarships are awarded to graduate students…
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Awards honour wood construction across Ontario
On Feb. 26, during the Ontario Forest Industries Association’s (OFIA’s) 77th annual meeting and conference in downtown Toronto, the Canadian Wood Council’s (CWC’s) Wood Works! Program recognized the winners of the Ontario Wood Design Awards. “We’re happy to partner with…
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ASHRAE addresses COVID-19 in buildings
To help address coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns with respect to the operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, ASHRAE has launched a new ‘preparedness resources’ webpage for building industry professionals. “The recent escalation in the spread…
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Biocomposite ventilation unit recycles plastic water bottles
Annexair plans to phase out its steel HVAC units next year.
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The next evolution of warehouses
Can heating bills reach $0?
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2020 AHR Expo showcases tools for improving building operations
Last week’s three-day AHR Expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., drew more than 50,000 attendees, from more than 160 countries, to check out 506,090 sf of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC+R) products from more than…
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NRCan calls for building commissioning proposals
Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) office of energy efficiency is calling for proposals as it facilitates the development of a national framework for existing building commissioning (EBCx) programming. While EBCx entails low- or no-cost improvements, NRCan reports it remains an underused…
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RFQ issued for Toronto and Brampton courthouse project
On Jan. 14, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the province’s ministry of the attorney general issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a consortium to design, build and finance the renovation of an Ontario Court of Justice (OCJ) facility in Toronto…
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Design unveiled for Ottawa’s OPL-LAC joint facility
A ceremony last week revealed the design for the new Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joint facility, which is scheduled to go to tender at the end of this year and eventually open in 2024.…
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Revitalized biosciences complex opens at UBC
On Jan. 17, the University of British Columbia (UBC) opened the second phase of its revitalized biosciences complex in Vancouver, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSA) with engineering firm Henningson, Durham and Richardson (HDR). The new four-storey east wing and…
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Steel-toppings celebrated for Newfoundland long-term care facilities
Pomerleau, part of a consortium with SNC-Lavalin and Fengate, has completed the steel structures for two long-term care facilities in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L. Last month, the consortium’s partners, collaborators and team members attended steel-topping ceremonies for the two…
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Radica introduces browser-based electrical CAD software
The company says it is a world first.
