There has always been a quest to incorporate esthetically pleasing elements into building façades. The most prolific examples are found in early Greek and Roman architecture. Affluence in these two societies was deeply rooted and expressed through lavish building exteriors. These designs were so impressive many elements of modern-day architecture can be traced to those eras.

Urban development significantly alters the natural landscape of Canadian communities, creating hardscape surfaces that prevent infiltration of water into soil surfaces and the subsequent increased runoff. These impervious surfaces disrupt rainwater from soaking into the ground, causing it to run across parking lots and streets, where it collects used motor oil, pesticides, fertilizers, and other pollutants on its way to local streams.

When building owners and facility managers review roofing options, there are many things to consider including performance, maintenance, weather-resistance, long-term cost, and energy efficiency. Choosing an appropriate roofing material has extended consequences. Today, manufacturers are making better and more versatile asphalt roofing systems for low-slope applications suitable for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings.

Construction specifiers are in a unique—and often demanding—position on the building team. Not only must they be familiar with various low- and steep-slope roofing systems, but they also need to address code requirements, sources of moisture not related to the roof, and a plethora of cladding, masonry, and sealant issues.

For most Canadians, the lead issue is dated. In the 1980s, the North American plumbing industry opted to limit lead content to eight per cent in an attempt to lower exposure to the chemical. There was then a consolidated effort of manufacturers and policy-makers to determine what would become of the plumbing code on both sides of the border.

This article focuses on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B651-12, Accessible Design for the Built Environment, and the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards, which describe their respective national standards. Standards are not the same as codes, and most construction industry professionals understand the difference. Codes are considered law and are established by the government, such as the provincial building codes. Standards, on the other hand, are more or less considered guidelines describing established rules or the basis of construction, such as for example the case of washroom accessories.