One of the greatest sources of energy loss in a building is through an open door. For years, facilities have been losing substantial amounts of energy and money, while occupants suffer the discomfort of cold drafts blasting in when the doors are open. What some people do not know is there is a technology on the market that can create a significant energy-efficient seal on open doors by simply re-circulating facility air across the doorway.
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Beyond the traditional homes, multi-family buildings, and institutional/commercial/industrial (ICI) facilities, many design/construction professionals are regularly engaged with work on major infrastructure. Whether roads, sewers, transit systems, power utilities, dams, or telecommunications networks, these often high-profile and large-scale projects can be far more complex than a typical building.
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Some would argue specification writers are an endangered species. Over the years, it has become apparent fewer people are showing interest in this area of design, leaving architects and engineers (or the technicians working for them) attempting to write specifications themselves in-house.
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The building sector accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of global energy use, making it the largest annual contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. (This statistic comes from work conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme [UNEP]). Here in Canada, the country’s commercial building sector accounts for 14 per cent of end-use energy consumption and 13 per cent of national carbon emissions.
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The 2010 editions of the National Model Construction Codes—the National Building Code of Canada (NBC), the National Fire Code of Canada (NFC), and the National Plumbing Code of Canada (NPC)—were released last November. Published by the National Research Council Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC), the new codes contain about 800 technical changes.
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Construction site theft, vandalism, and arson on commercial and residential building projects comprise numerous serious problems for contractors. According to insurers Zurich Canada, the country’s builders suffer an annual loss of $46 million because of theft and damage to construction sites. Pre-emptive action against construction site crime is critical to mitigate the significant risk presented by current crime rates.
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Although contractors and designers have separate functions in the construction process, it is important that each understand the role of the other to ensure the timely completion of work. This is especially true when industry volumes increase and designs become more complex, as they have in Manitoba in recent years. During the past three years, Manitoba’s masonry industry has experienced a strong demand for its services in both the industrial/commercial sectors and in multi-family dwelling construction.
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Attending a musical performance can be captivating. Listening to the beautiful sound and spectacle, the effortlessness of the musicians’ skills, it can be easy to forget the hours, months, and even years of practice that make the memorable performance possible. In a similar way, the factors behind successful auditorium acoustics often go unrecognized, including one of the most visible elements: the acoustical shell. The most important considerations in a successful installation—acoustics, function, and esthetics—are illustrated in a unique project at the University of Western Ontario (UWO).
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Churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues are hubs of activity in the communities they serve. Far beyond the weekend worship service, they are home to civic meeting spaces, classrooms, auditoriums, and other community uses. However, as congregations and communities change, so must worship spaces. Many traditional churches are contending with aging congregations, while other denominations are increasing or following development patterns into growing communities. While some churches may be dealing with falling attendance, others are expanding their role in the community.
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Sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) is gaining global recognition because it provides superior insulating properties by creating a tight building envelope that reduces unwanted air infiltration. Achieving a tight building envelope is the foundation for an energy-efficient building. According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN), “air leakage represents 25 to 40 per cent of the heat lost from an older home.” Creating a tight, well-insulated building envelope by insulating and air-sealing with SPF will reduce energy bills significantly when compared to traditionally insulated buildings.
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