As architects, engineers, and builders push toward using sustainable, ‘green,’ and cost-effective building materials, National Building Code of Canada’s (NBC’s) tight framework with regard to combustible construction is coming into the spotlight. Combustible and non-combustible construction, and combustible elements in buildings required to be of non-combustible construction, are terms with which most industry professionals are all too familiar. Materials permitted for use in construction depend on the occupancy, height, and area of the proposed structure.

Most construction site fires can be prevented. However, for those that do occur, the impact can be significantly lessened with knowledge, planning, and diligence. Understanding and addressing hazards and risks for each construction site requires education and training, as well as preparation and perseverance.

A comprehensive moisture management plan for any construction detail must include moisture-resistant materials (e.g. dampproofing, water-resistant barriers [WRBs], and waterproofing) and a slope-to-drain—a designed elevation change to direct liquid water to a desired low point away from, off of, and out of the construction detail. It also involves an unobstructed pathway/void for liquid water to exit the construction detail.

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.