Designing for efficiency: Slimming down shelf angles

By Mark D. Hagel, PhD, P.Eng.

The invention of skeleton frame construction, which creates the building’s primary load-bearing role using a concrete or steel frame “skeleton,” led to the removal of the load-bearing function of masonry in the late 19th century. The first building to use a steel-frame skeleton in North America was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885. It is also considered the world’s first skyscraper (Figure 1).

The removal of …

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Uncovering the unseen: Blindside waterproofing

By Rockford Boyer, B. Arch. Sc., MBSc, BSS

In the construction industry, much attention is given to the visible and esthetically pleasing aspects of buildings. These elements often win awards and gain recognition, while the hidden components that do not catch the eye are frequently overlooked. However, this focus on the visible can have serious implications, especially regarding critical building systems such as below-grade waterproofing, building enclosures, and low-sloped roofing.

These systems are often overshadowed …

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Key changes in NBC 2020: New code requirements for joint firestopping

By John Valiulis

The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) requires some walls and floors in a building to have a fire-resistance rating. Those rated assemblies are termed “fire separations.” They prevent fire and smoke from spreading prematurely to adjacent areas above or near the point of fire origin, allowing for safer evacuation from the building and a relatively safer fireground for firefighters.

There is no quick or easy way to describe which floors and …

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