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Past Seminar Presentations & Documents

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HST...	Darren Taylor Grant Thornton	May 2010
MONITORING THE ENVELOPE - ON STUCCO CRACKING	Pierre-Michel Busque Busque Engineering Ltd.	Mar 2010
ROOFING: WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW	Josh Jensen JRS Engineering Ltd.	Nov 2009
FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICS OF HEAT, AIR AND MOISTURE MANAGEMENT	Maria Spinu Dupont	Oct 2009
BCIT TEST HUT RESULTS - MASONRY VENTILATION AND BEST PRACTICES	Bill McEwen Masonry Institute of BC	Sept 2009
BUILDING SCIENCE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: COQUITLAM TEST HUT RESULTS - THE USE OF SPRAYFOAM IN ATTICS AND THERMAL TESTING OF FULL-SCALE WALL ASSEMBLIES	Chris Schumacher Building Science Corporation	Sept 2009
GREEN VALUE: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR SUSTAINABILITY	Chris Corps Fidelis Resource Group Inc.	Sept 2009
CMHC'S EQUILIBRIUM SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE FEATURING HARMONY HOUSE, BURNABY	Allan Dobie Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation	Sept 2009
CMHC'S EQUILIBRIUM SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE FEATURING HARMONY HOUSE, BURNABY	Chris Mattock Habitat Design and Consulting Ltd.	Sept 2009
FORESIGHT 2020: BUILDING A BETTER TOMORROW BEGINS TODAY	Kim Pressnail Department of Civil Engineering - University of Toronto	Sept 2009
REAL-WORLD INTEGRATED DESIGN PRACTICE AND TOOLS: EFFECTIVE ENERGY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS APPROACHES	Curt Hepting Enersys Analytics Inc.	Sept 2009
WHOLE BUILDING AIRTIGHTNESS TESTING: THE TIME IS NOW	John Lovatt Architectural and Building Engineering Technology - British Columbia Institute of Technology	Sept 2009
EFFECTIVE RESIDENTIAL VENTILATION - WHAT WORKS? WHAT DOESN'T? AND WHY?	David Hill Eneready Products Ltd.	Sept 2009
BUILDING AIR LEAKAGE	Steven Tratt Zerodraft (Division of Canam Building Envelope Specialists Inc.)	June 2009
NEW WINDOW REGULATIONS	Andrew Pape-Salmon B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources	May 2009
MID-RISE WOOD FRAME BUILDINGS - APEGBC BULLETIN & EXPERIENCES FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST(Part 1 of 2)	Dave Ricketts RDH Building Engineering Ltd.	Apr 2009
MID-RISE WOOD FRAME BUILDINGS - APEGBC BULLETIN & EXPERIENCES FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST(Part 2 of 2)	Mike Steffen Walsh Construction Co.	Apr 2009	Part A Part B Part C
CONTINGENCY RESERVE FUND STUDIES AND CAPITAL PLANNING	Kevin Grasty Halsall Associates Limited	Feb 2009
EVALUATING REAL 'R' VALUES OF EXTERIOR INSULATED WALL ASSEMBLIES	Patrick Roppel Morrison Hershfield Limited	Jan 2009
BUILDING ENVELOPE PERFORMANCE AND BC HOUSING'S SUSTAINABILITY PLAN	Craig Edwards BC Housing	Oct 2008
BUILDING ENVELOPES AND THE 2030 CHALLENGE	Stephen Pope National Resources Canada	Sept 2008
MINIMIZING CAPITAL AND ENERGY COSTS THROUGH ENVELOPE DESIGN	Mark Blamey Cobalt Engineering	Sept 2008
GREENING THE BC BUILDING CODE	Murray Frank Constructive Home Solutions	Sept 2008
UPDATE ON RESEARCH RELATING TO ENERGY CONSUMPTION	Duncan Hill Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation	Sept 2008
THE HOMEOWNERS PROTECTION ACT - NEW TOOLS FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION	Ken Cameron Home Protection Office	Feb 2008
ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS AND THE BC GREEN BUILDING CODE	Andre Pape-Salmon Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources	Jan 2008
THE INTEGRATION OF LEED AND THE BUILDING ENVELOPE	Jamie McKay Morrison Hershfield Limited	Dec 2007
UPDATE ON WOOD TREATMENT AND CORROSION RESISTANT FASTENERS	Prof. John Ruddick Dept. of Wood Science, UBC	Sept 2007
GREEN ROOF TECHNOLOGY	Karen Liu BCIT	Feb 2007
SOUTH EAST FALSE CREEK 2007, VANCOUVER OLYMPIC VILLAGE: DESIGN FOR NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS	Albert Bicol Cobalt Engineering	Jan 2007
DURABILITY AND HYGROTHERMAL PERFORMANCE OF BUILDING ENVELOPE	Dominique Derome Concordia University	Nov 2006
CHANGES TO THE PART 5 AND PART 9 OF THE BUILDING CODE AND THE IMPACT ON THE BUILDING ENVELOPE INDUSTRY (3 different documents)	Bob Thompson and Jeff Vasey Office of Housing & Construction Standards of B.C.	Oct 2006	Part 5 Section 1 Part 5 Section 2 Part 9
HPO UPDATE AND IT'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTENANCE	John Bell, M.E.S. Homeowner Protection Office (HPO)	Sept 2006
BUILDING RESEARCH COUNCIL UPDATE	John Bell BRC Representative	May 2006
ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WALL-TO-WINDOW INTERFACE DETAILS TO MANAGE RAINWATER	Michael Lacasse, IRC Silvio Plescia, CMHC	May 2006
MONITORING OF RAINSCREEN WALL ASSEMBLIES: EXPLORING FINDINGS OF CONDENSATION	Brian Hubbs RDH Building Engineering Ltd	May 2006
THE DIRT ON GREEN ROOFS: WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GETTING OUT OF YOUR ROOF?	Jamie McKay Morrison Hershfield	May 2006
GREEN ROOF BEST PRACTICES	Maureen Connelly BCIT	May 2006
NINTENDO ENGINEERING: WHERE ARE WE WITH OUR MODELING?	Achilles Karagiozis Oak Ridge National Laboratory	May 2006
RAINSCREEN PERFORMANCE MONITORING: CONTINUING RESEARCH	Graham Finch University of Waterloo	May 2006
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WALL PERFORMANCE	Mark Lawton Morrison Hershfield	May 2006
DRAINAGE AND DRYING: THE YIN AND YANG OF MOISTURE IN CLADDING SYSTEMS	Barry Craig CMHC	May 2006
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOISTURE CONTENT AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GYPSUM SHEATHING	Alex McGowan Levelton Engineering Limited	May 2006
INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF VAPOUR RETARDERS IN THE DRYING RESPONSE OF WOOD FRAME WALLS	Anik Teasdale-St. Hilaire Morrison Hershfield	May 2006
LEGAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS	Ujjval Vyas Foran Glennon Palandech & Ponzi PC	May 2006
ENERGY TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN BC RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION	Innes Hood Sheltair Group	May 2006
STUDY OF POURED-IN PLACE CONCRETE WALLS: UPDATE ON CURRENT TRENDS	Brian Hubbs RDH Building Engineering Ltd	May 2006
WINDOWS BEST PRACTICE GUIDE: UPDATE ON DEVELOPMENT	David Ricketts RDH Building Engineering Ltd	May 2006
MITIGATING SKILL SHORTAGE RISKS FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES	Brian Clewes Industry Training Authority	May 2006
BC BEC WINDOW SEMINAR	Alex McGowan Levelton Consultants Limited	Nov 2005
LITIGATION AND THE BUILDING ENVELOPE	Glen Boswall Clark Wilson	Jan 2005
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE CHANGES (three documents in one)	Bob Thompson Building Policy Branch Province of B.C.	Nov 2004
POURED-IN-PLACE CONCRETE WALL PERFORMANCE	Dave Ricketts, BEP, P.Eng. RDH BUILDING ENGINEERING LTD	May 2004
MONITORING PERFORMANCE OF RAINSCREEN WALLS	Dave Ricketts, BEP, P.Eng. RDH BUILDING ENGINEERING LTD	May 2004
THE CANADIAN WOOD PRESERVATION INDUSTRY	G.E. Brudermann, M.Sc.F. FRIDO CONSULTING	November 2002

BC Building Envelope Council
One-day Conference & AGM
"Building the Future"
Tuesday September 22nd, 2009
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
Vancouver, BC

This one-day conference by the BC Building Envelope Council will cast a look forward to new technologies and research at the leading edge of the construction industry. Experts and researchers will share the latest methods and trends the building industry is moving towards; from green building updates and mechanical system strategies to test hut research results.
Conference & AGM Schedule

Victoria Luncheon:
The Effective Use of Daylight in Buildings
Monday, September 21st, 2009
The Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC
12:00 noon - 1:45 pm

About the presenter:

Tony Grice is a Senior Engineer with Applied Engineering Solutions who specializes in sustainable buildings, day lighting and electric lighting design. Some of his interesting lighting projects include: Alberta Pavilion at Expo 86, Canterra Office Tower, Sunlife Office Towers, Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre ( a world class heritage site in Alberta) , Jasper Train Station, Calgary Olympic Saddledome and many more. Tony was elected as one of the top ten leaders in the Alberta Construction Industry in 2005 by Alberta Construction Magazine and he's one of the original founders of the Alberta Sustainable Building Symposium 1999-2005. His Lighting Design Awards include: 1983 - Grant Mac Ewan College; 1990 - Parkland Library; 1991 - Lago Lindo School; 1992 - St. Mathews Lutheran Church – Special Citation. He has prepared a number of lighting courses and is currently preparing “Day lighting and Electric lighting” sections of the Syllabus course for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

About the Topic:

Today's building designs are often required to conform to an increasing number of performance levels and standards for providing energy efficiency, controlling air and water migration, avoiding condensation, and providing good lighting through the optimized use of artificial and natural day-lighting. Windows that were selected for their water tightness and thermal resistance ratings are also being selected (or rejected) on the basis of the amount of daylight they will admit into the living space. There are limitations to how much of the natural daylight can be successfully admitted into our interior spaces, so we need to employ methods that optimize the utilization of the available light, and artificial lighting methods that will properly compliment the daylight throughout the year. To tackle these issues requires both a theoretical approach and great amount of experience to achieve the desired results. Tony is well versed on this subject and has a wealth of experience from an impressive project record. Please join the members and guests of the Vancouver Island B C Building Envelope Council and take in this informative presentation on fulfilling today's diverse and sometimes, competing requirements for day lighting design

Vancouver Luncheon:
Building Air Leakage
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
Plaza 500, 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Steven Tratt is in charge of material sales and services for the Zerodraft division of Canam Building Envelope Specialists Inc. Zerodraft manufactures and distributes a comprehensive range of weatherization materials including one and two component polyurethane foam insulating air sealants, door and window weather-stripping, fire stopping systems and air tightness testing equipment. Steven has had over 25 years experience in sales and marketing. He has had considerable experience training Building Envelope Retrofit Contractors in both Canada and the U.S.A. and has presented to Associations including Construction Specifications Canada, Construct Canada, Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario, Toronto Better Buildings Partnership and Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. In the U.S. he has trained and presented at National and Regional Affordable Comfort Conferences and Certified Contractors Network (CCN) conferences. Steve is currently involved in organizing and presenting seminars for Architects and Engineers throughout Canada and the Eastern United States .

Steve will be speaking about how uncontrolled air leakage, through the building envelope, can lead to condensation, moisture damage in hidden cavities, rain penetration, poor indoor temperature and humidity control, and unnecessary heat loss in winter or heat gain in summer.

Victoria Luncheon:
Windows, Doors & Skylights,
How Do We Comply With the New Regulations?
Monday, May 25th, 2009
The Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC
12:00 noon - 1:45 pm

About the presenter :

Andrew Pape-Salmon is the Director of the Energy Efficiency Branch with the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. He is responsible for implementing the Province's Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy (EEBS) which includes the LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program, support for green provisions in the BC Building Code, the development of regulated standards for equipment and manufactured building components under the Energy Efficiency Act, a net zero energy homes and buildings program and last but not least the Community Action on Energy and Emissions Program.

About the Topic:

Andrew's topic this month is specific to the regulation of energy efficiency of windows, doors and skylights that form part of the building envelope. This is a follow-up of the overview of the changes in the regulation of energy efficiency for buildings which Andrew presented about 18 months ago. Now the regulations are in place and his presentation will help us to understand and implement them in our design and construction of buildings. His talk will focus on the changes in regulations for fenestration systems as they apply to both new and existing buildings. It will provide a detailed overview of the specific changes in the regulations, and steps required to test and label the products to comply with them. Please join the members and guests in learning more about the new laws that govern the energy efficiency of our buildings and the steps we need to take to comply.

Vancouver Luncheon:
New Window Regulations
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Plaza 500 , 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Andrew Pape-Salmon is the Director of the Energy Efficiency Branch with the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. He is responsible for implementing the Province's Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy (EEBS) which includes the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive Program, support for green provisions in the BC Building Code, development of regulated standards for equipment and manufactured building components under the Energy Efficiency Act, a net zero energy homes and buildings program and the Community Action on Energy and Emissions Program.

Andrew will be speaking about new regulations for windows, site-assembled glazing, doors and skylights for new and existing buildings.  He will provide a detailed overview of the regulations, along with steps required to test and label products.

Vancouver Luncheon:
Mid-Rise Wood Frame Buildings - APEGBC
Bulletin & Experiences from the Pacific Northwest
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
Plaza 500 , 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

The Province of British Columbia, through the Building and Safety Policy Branch, has made changes to the BC Building Code that allow for the construction of wood frame structures for up to 6 stories.  This change from 4 to 6 stories introduces additional complexities for the design and construction team particularly with respect to the structure, fire protection systems and the building enclosure.

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) received funding from the Province to produce a technical bulletin that alerts practitioners to the unique complexities associated with 6 story wood frame construction.  Dave Ricketts, from RDH Building Engineering Ltd., will present a summary of the APGEBC bulletin related to the building envelope.  

Mike Steffen of Walsh Construction Co. will review issues associated with the design and construction of mid-rise wood frame buildings within dense urban settings in Oregon and Washington, based on his experience.  While this talk will be primarily focused on building enclosure design and construction, related structural, mechanical and fire resistance issues will be covered as well.     

Mike Steffen, LEED® AP, AIA, CSI is Vice President and General Manager of Walsh Construction Co./OR, based in Portland, Oregon.  Walsh is a Pacific Northwest general contractor specializing in all types of multi-unit housing, renovation, educational facilities, and resorts - with a commitment to being a leader in the construction of energy-efficient, healthy and durable buildings.

Victoria Luncheon:
Exterior Insulation Finish Systems - A Critical Review
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
The Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria , BC
12:00 noon - 1:45 pm

About the presenters :

Chris Chown has been involved in many sectors of the construction industry for the past 30 years. He has focused on exterior finish systems for the last 15 and recently became the Western Canada Regional Sales Manager for Dryvit Systems Canada. He has hands-on involvement in EIFS and acrylic-cement coatings, including technical services, marketing, distribution and system development. Currently he is involved with the national listing program for contractors and conducts training programs for qualified applicators. He enjoys being involved with the architectural community and building envelope design, through lunch-and-learn presentations. Chris will demonstrate his broad knowledge of the systems by including in his presentation interesting projects such as the 1.6 km Whistler Sliding Center built for the 2010 Games and other challenging exterior envelope restoration projects.

Martin Gevers is the director of BCBEC for Vancouver Island. He was a charter member at BCBEC's inception in 1988 when he was construction technology advisor with the NRC's IRAP Program. He developed and taught BCIT's Building Science Option for most of the 1990's and returned to engineering as a senior building envelope consultant with Levelton Consultants Limited, where he has worked for the last 10 years.

About the Topic: EIFS covers a lot of our real estate, so it needs to be understood. The presentation will begin with Martin Gevers, reviewing some past experiences with EIFS and using those experiences to pose questions to Chris that we face as owners, designers, and contractors who deal with the product in its various forms. Topics such as achieving conformance to the Building Code requirement for capillary breaks and drainage will be discussed. Chris will also focus on some of the failures and successes of the past so that attendees can learn to differentiate appropriate and inappropriate techniques and applications of the systems. The presentation is designed to answer questions about: servicing old EIFS, different EIFS assemblies, components and accessories, as well as unusual applications. Please join the members and guests for lunch by taking in this informative presentation on the evolution and use of EIFS.

Vancouver Luncheon:
Design and Construction of Metal and Zinc Architectural Panels
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
Plaza 500 , 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

The presentation is intended as an information primer for Designers , and Installers on the use, detailing and design considerations when using architectural metal and zinc specifically in exterior and interior applications. A number of internationally recognized signature building solutions featuring RHEINZINK lead the presentation followed by a brief history of zinc, its development and current manufacturing technology. The material standards for zinc, quality standard certifications, environment aspects and testing results of the material are explored. For roofing and cladding systems, the presentation reviews joining techniques and connections in metal and the implications of these conditions. The building physics portion of the seminar includes moisture, ventilation and condensation as these relate to building envelopes. Additional design considerations covered include: expansion and contraction, fastenings, standard details, compatibility, patination and roof drainage systems.

This seminar is presented by Georg Koslowski , Architect and Director of Technical Services – Canada , for RHEINZINK America, Inc . Mr. Koslowski is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author and authority on architectural metal.

Victoria Luncheon:
The Mechanical Engineer's Approach to the Envelope
Friday, February 27th, 2009
The Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC
12:00 noon - 1:45 pm

About the presenter : For the past 28 years, Tom Wilson, P. Eng has worked for large multi-discipline consulting engineering firms. He started his professional career as a junior designer in Winnipeg and in 1990 he moved to our West Coast environment where he joined Keen Engineer as a project manager. He became a principal of Keen and assumed the responsibility of their local Victoria office in 2000. Later Tom joined the AME Group as a director responsible for the operation and management of the firm. Tom's extensive knowledge of the building and mechanical design industry and his specialized skills in plumbing, fire protection, HVAC and controls experience have been employed in many sustainable designs. He is also a LEED® Accredited professional who has participated in numerous projects in a broad spectrum of the construction market. The projects include innovative strategies ranging from natural ventilation, earth tube, solar/thermal chimney, solar water, storm water harvesting/reuse, geothermal and in-slab heating designs.

About the Topic: The presentation will focus on the Mechanical Engineer's approach to assisting the design team to fulfill the requirements and optimize functions of the building envelope. He will begin by discussing the mechanical engineer's first goal: maintaining proper indoor air conditions, and what those conditions are. This will be followed by a discussion on penetrating the envelope with mechanical services (pipes, ducts, and equipment). He will discuss examples of pipes and ducts through the roof; roof curbs and sleepers; ducts, pipes and louvers through various wall constructions as well as pipes below grade. He will also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the priorities of other disciplines (whether complementary or competing) for their place in the envelope as well as sequencing and schedule challenges. Please join the members and guests for this informative presentation by a local professional with many years of experience in integrating the building enclosure with its mechanical systems.

Vancouver Luncheon:
Contingency Reserve Fund Studies and Capital Planning
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
Plaza 500, 12th and Cambie, Vancouver , BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Contingency Reserve Fund Planning for Stratas is a hot topic in BC as our legislation is weak, resulting in the need for special levies to manage repairs and replacements. Reserve Fund planning is a form of Capital Planning which has been embraced by many commercial and institutional property owners for years. In Alberta , Ontario and Nova Scotia , Reserve Fund Studies are mandatory for all Strata type properties. Some feel that BC is suffering from a "Reserve Fund Crisis" as much as our past (or on-going) "Leaky Condo Crisis". Proper Reserve Fund planning helps to ensure that adequate funding is available to cover future repair and replacement costs.

Kevin Grasty is a project manager for Halsall Associates Limited working out their Vancouver office. Kevin specializes in capital planning, contingency reserve fund studies, pre-purchase and warranty reviews. Kevin is a member of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of BC.

Vancouver Luncheon:
Evaluating Real 'R' Values of Exterior Insulated Wall Assemblies
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Plaza 500, 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Patrick Roppel , P.Eng. is a building science engineer and project manager with Morrison Hershfield in the Vancouver office. Patrick specializes in the analysis of building envelope performance through research and heat-air-moisture modeling.

Thermal performance of the building envelope has not been a high priority in the past in our temperate climate; however the requirements of sustainability programs such as LEED, energy codes such as ASHRAE 90.1 and new regulations are leading architects to ask for building envelope systems that provide high levels of thermal resistance.

Morrison Hershfield has begun to catalogue the effective thermal resistance of some typical building envelope assemblies used in high-rise residential buildings. They have evaluated the impact of slab edge detailing and a variety of secondary structural elements needed to support the cladding. This session will present work that they have completed and briefly discuss a current project where a catalogue of thermal performance values for building envelope details for mid- and high-rise buildings using time-transient dynamic 3D heat transfer software will be produced.

Victoria Luncheon:
"Another Brick in the Wall"
Wednesay, December 10, 2008
The Ambrosia Centre, Victoria, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

About the presenter: Bill McEwen is a Professional Engineer who has over twenty-five years of experience in the Canadian masonry industry. This includes technical and management positions with producers of concrete block and clay brick, and serving as the Executive Director of both the Masonry Institute of B.C. and the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association since 1995.

He chairs the CSA A371 committee on Masonry Construction, and is a member of the CSA S304.1 Masonry Design, and CSA A370 Masonry Connectors committees. He has also served on the Structural Design committee of the National Building Code of Canada. He is a member of Board and the Sustainability committee of The Masonry Society and is a LEED® Accredited Professional.

About the Topic : For many centuries we have utilized masonry to support and enclose buildings. Much of this ‘age-old-trade' was passed on informally. In the past century, conventional practices were applied and adapted for buildings of larger size, greater energy needs, and greater complexity in general. The Building Code and building standards often referenced therein have been upgraded to address the seismic, wind, thermal and moisture loads on masonry building enclosures. Bill has a wide-ranging list of topics for discussion this month including changes in the latest B.C. Building Code and CSA Masonry Standards. Bill we also be covering the MIBC on-line Technical Manual; Brick & Block: production, types and standards; Mortar, Reinforcement and Grout: materials, standards, installation; Structural Masonry construction (+ project examples); Masonry Rainscreen cladding construction (+ project examples); Wall Details: wall configurations with masonry claddings (membranes, insulation, flashings, weep-holes, support angles, movement joints, coatings); Masonry ties: types, corrosion resistance and installation; and last but not least Sustainable design using masonry (LEED).

Vancouver Luncheon:
RGC Research Development and Guarantee Standards
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Plaza 500, 12th and Cambie, Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

This presentation will provide an update on the Research projects that RCABC is presently engaged in as well as a review of the recent changes to the guarantee standards for roofing & sheet metal installed in the RGC Guarantee Program.

Jim Watson has been in the commercial roofing industry for 40 years. Mr. Watson is a trade qualified Journeyman who spent 16 years as Co-owner and President of a Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC) member commercial contracting firm on Vancouver Island.

Jim has been involved with RCABC for over 25 years. During that time he served 11 years on the Association's Board of Directors which included terms as both Ethics Chairman and President in 1988 - 89. Mr. Watson has been in his current position, as the RCABC Technical Manager, since March 1995.

Mr. Watson also represented British Columbia for five years on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA), serving three years on that National Associations executive. In addition, Jim has been a member of the CRCA National Technical Committee since 1995.

In 1989, Jim was among the first eight RCABC contractor members to be awarded the Professional Roofing Contractors designation (PRC). The PRC is the association's most prestigious award that presented to RCABC professional members for their service and leadership in the British Columbia roofing industry.

Jim is also a member of RCI Inc. and holds the Registered Roof Observer (RRO) status with the Roofing Consultants Institute and he is one of a growing number of Canadian roofing professionals to do so.

At RCABC today, Jim makes good use of both his paid and volunteer roofing industry experience by managing the associations guarantee program as well as providing technical services and advice to people requiring assistance with British Columbia roofing industry issues.

Vancouver Luncheon:
Building Envelope Performance and BC Housing's Sustainability Plan
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Plaza 500, 12th and Cambie, Vancouver , BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

BC Housing has developed an environmental sustainability plan that includes aggressive targets for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in their housing stock.  This presentation will focus on BC housing's experience in trying to meet these aggressive targets in low income new construction and renovation projects including building envelope related sustainability measures.   

Victoria Luncheon:
Anatomy of a Roof Failure
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Ambrosia Centre, 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

About the presenter : As a founding member of BCBEC and its' first president in 1988 John Wells has been responsible for the dissemination of a considerable amount of knowledge in the building envelope field, not only in the Lower Mainland and BC but across Canada and the US. Mr Wells has contributed a great deal to the development of roofing practices through his involvement with the Roofing Contractors Association of BC (RCABC). John has been in private practice for the last 16 years and is currently the senior partner and president of Wells Klein Consulting Group Inc. As a roofing consultant, Mr. Wells has specified, designed and reviewed a wide range of roofing systems on the Island and Lower Mainland of BC. His experience in analysing past roofing failures and understanding their root cause has been invaluable in helping to prevent future roof tragedies. His energetic and humorous presentation is guaranteed to get the message across.

About the Topic: This is a look at the investigative process following the failure of a new single ply roof membrane on an up-market condominium building. The failure led to a number of major damage claims to the insurance company and a requirement for a replacement roof after less than 6 months of service. The initial failure on the surface appeared to be wind related but a more complete analysis proved that components of the roof had failed prior to the wind event. The investigation pointed out fundamental problems with the roof and building envelope design, all of which were exacerbated by poor workmanship and the poor application of “value engineering” which was a contributing factor in the demise of the roof.

The presentation will lead us through the investigative process with sketches and photographs. The audience will be invited to take part in an interactive forensic analysis from which the failure mode conclusions are drawn. The intent of the presentation is to show how even proper building processes can go astray when driven by misplaced “value engineering” in conjunction with inexperience and poor workmanship and how they can be avoided in the future.

BC BEC One-day Conference and AGM
"Energizing the Industry"
Friday, September 26, 2008
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
900 Canada Place Way
Vancouver, BC

A one-day conference by the BC Building Envelope Council to explore issues and options for energizing the construction industry.  The conference will focus on energy considerations as they relate to the building envelope.  Industry experts from across North America will convene to discuss such topics as the 2030 Challenge, zero energy homes, energy modelling and Part 10 of the Building Code.on major HPO initiatives.

Conference & AGM Schedule:

ASHRAE 90.1 and the Building Envlope
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Plaza 500, Vancouver
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Proposed revisions to the BC Building Code will reference ASHRAE 90.1 for Part 5 buildings. This presentation will outline the ASHRAE 90.1 Standard, with a brief sidebar discussion on R-values and U-factors. The focus will be on implications of adopting ASHRAE 90.1 in the design and construction of the building envelope.

Alex McGowan is the Office Manager in the Victoria office of Levelton Consultants Ltd. He is also the Practice Area Leader for the Building Science Division of Levelton Consultants Ltd.

He is a licensed professional engineer in British Columbia and Ontario , and a member of the BC Building Envelope Council, the Ontario Building Envelope Council and ASHRAE.

He is a member of ASHRAE Technical Committees 4.4 (Building Materials and Building Envelope Performance) and 4.5 (Fenestration). He is also a member of ISO Technical Committee TC163 (Thermal Performance and Energy use in the Built Environment). He has also conducted several ASHRAE-funded research projects related to the performance of the building envelope.

He has been in the engineering consulting field for over 20 years.

The Envelope as a Noise Barrier
Acoustical Considerations for Building Enclosures
Friday April 11, 2008
Ambrosia Centre, Victoria
12:00 Noon - 2:00 pm

About the presenters:

Clair Wakefield is a professional engineer with a lifetime of experience in acoustics. Clair obtained his Bachelor and Masters of Applied Science degrees in mechanical engineering from UBC. He is the principal of Wakefield Acoustics Ltd. a local engineering firm specializing in Architectural Acoustics and Building Noise Control. They also consult for public sector transportation projects including highway and airport noise impact assessment.

Duane Marriner earned his honours physics degree from UVic and a Masters of Applied Science in mechanical engineering from UBC. In the pursuit of their professional services they have measured numerous transportation noise sources and provided solutions using sophisticated modelling software.

They have presented papers on topics of their expertise including Noise and Annoyance, Quiet Pavement and Environmental Noise Mapping.

About the Topic: Since its inception in 1988, the BCBEC has been a forum for the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas relating to the evolution of the building envelope. We have hosted luncheon seminar topics on technical and legal issues of many sorts, mostly involving keeping water out of the enclosure and optimisation of thermal performance. However, the building envelope separates the indoor (conditioned) environment from all of the elements contained in the exterior environment. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: heat, light (and other forms of electro-magnetic radiation), humidity, precipitation (in a number of forms), wind, pressure and sound . The mitigation of noise generation and transmission through the building envelope must be taken into consideration. When the envelope is designed, upgraded or repaired for controlling rain penetration or thermal resistance, the acoustic characteristics are often affected by the design decisions and not necessarily for the better. The speakers will introduce us to the basics of noise generation, transmission and mitigation, inside and out. They will lead a discussion and generally upgrade our knowledge in dealing with unwanted noise. Please join us in this informative and interesting presentation on the science and engineering of acoustics and how we can benefit from considering acoustics in our building designs.

Masonry Update
What's New With Our Oldest Rainscreen
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Plaza 500, Vancouver
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Bill McEwen is a Professional Engineer who has over twenty five years of experience in the B.C. masonry industry. He chairs the CSA A371 committee on Masonry Construction, and has served on CSA S304.1 Masonry Design, CSA A370 Masonry Connectors and the Structural Design committee of the National Building Code of Canada. He is a former director and long time BCBEC member, and is also a LEED ® Accredited Professional.

He has provided technical assistance to designers in his role as the Executive Director of the Masonry Institute of B.C., and the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Masonry Contractors Association since 1995.

The presentation will emphasize building envelope issues in a review of recent projects and changes to the six CSA standards on masonry.

Topics include:

Masonry units, mortar and grout
Structural masonry construction
Masonry rainscreen cladding construction
Cladding details, flashings, support angles, brick ties, movement joints, weep holes and vents
Sustainable design with masonry

Building Science 101
How Houses are Failing and How Part 9 has Responded
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Plaza 500, Vancouver
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Just when we though there was light at the end of the tunnel, the performance of the building enclosure of houses has come into question. This presentation has two functions: first as a reminder of the mechanisms of how any building envelope actually works including the factors that affect performance, and second as a summary of the new requirements of Part 9 for all of Canada . Is it possible that designing and constructing the building envelope under Part 9 requires more than for Part 5?

Murray Frank is a founding director and Past President of BCBEC. He is a respected consultant and educator in the field of Building Science and has been an instructor at UBC, BCIT, Camosun College and other institutions throughout BC. In addition to his active Consulting Practice with a recent focus on single family structures (ranging from the simple to the simply bizarre), Murray has been delivering several education modules to licensed builders throughout the Province as part of the HPO series of Building Smart seminars. Murray also developed the new Building Envelope Guide for Houses which is a 3D image-rich publication that clearly describes industry accepted solutions for home construction, available through the Homeowner Protection Office in Vancouver .

This presentation will be relevant for individuals new to the field as well as the old guard. A reminder of the basics is always enlightening and what's happening in the Part 9 world is often not the focus of the Building Science community. This presentation will be very informative, very multi-media, and very entertaining!

The Weather Report
Climate Variations and the Envelope
Friday, February 29, 2008
Ambrosia Centre, Victoria
12:00 Noon - 2:00 pm

About the presenter: Dr. Bob Humphries obtained his Bachelor of Science in (Honours, Physics) at the University of Alberta in 1967; a Master of Science (Nuclear Physics) at U of A in 1969, Doctor of Philosophy in Meteorology at McGill University in 1974. As a Canadian Certified Environmental Practitioner (CCEP) his work in air quality modeling projects have generated a great quantity of wind-driven rain data in a number of locations of interest to designers and builders of building enclosures. He has over 30 years of experience in air quality modeling and assessment, meteorology, research, project management, and marketing to clients throughout Canada, the United States, South America, China and Europe. He has presented the findings of his climatic variation research many times in the past and attendees have asked the BCBEC Executive repeatedly to have Dr. Humphries present updated information since those early, very popular presentations.

About the Topic: The changes in climate over time and the significant differences in climactic loads due to only slight variations in geographic locations are typically not well known and often completely misunderstood. The natures of the impacts of these changes on our built environment are important to the designers and constructors of our buildings. Research already undertaken in BC and elsewhere provides valuable climatic data on which our designs should be based. The impact of ‘global warming' is complex with dramatic implications on the climatic loads on the building envelope. In pondering the future with a meteorologist, a number of concerns come up. Will today's designs stand up to tomorrow's loads? Should we design for warmer and/or wetter conditions? What about wind speeds? Will the windows and air barrier details in place be sufficient? Please come and join the members and guests in this informative presentation and discussion on the local variations and the potential changes in weather patterns on our buildings.

The Homeowners Protection Act
New Tools for Consumer Protection
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Plaza 500, Vancouver
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Ken Cameron joined the Homeowner Protection Office as the Chief Executive Officer in September 2004 after 26 years in senior planning and management positions in local government in the Greater Vancouver area, most recently as Manager of Policy and Planning with the Greater Vancouver Regional District. In addition to his role at the HPO, Ken is the Past Chair of the International Centre for Sustainable Cities, a member of the Board of the Residential Construction Industry Training Organization and Chair of Simon Fraser University's Urban Studies Program. With former Premier Mike Harcourt and local writer Sean Rossiter, Ken is the author of a book titled “City-Making in Paradise : Nine Decisions that Saved Vancouver,” which was published by Douglas and McIntyre in September 2007.

Presentation Topic: "The Homeowner Protection Act - New Tools for Consumer Protection." This presentation by Ken Cameron, CEO of the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) will focus on important legislative changes that came into force on November 19, 2007. These changes represent a major milestone for everyone committed to strengthening consumer protection for new homebuyers and enhancing the standard of residential construction in BC. Find out about new licensing requirements for builders and developers, including owner builders, and other obligations and provisions contained in the new Act . Ken will also provide an update on major HPO initiatives.

The ASHRAE Energy Code 90.1
Understanding Compliance with Energy Regulation
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Ambrosia Centre, Victoria
12:00 noon - 2:00

About the presenter: Alex McGowan, P. Eng. is a professional engineer with a diverse background in modeling energy loss in buildings. Alex is the co-author of the FRAME and FRAMEPlus software package used to model the energy performance of glazing and frames, and developed a whole-building energy simulation program called ENERPASS. He is a member of the CSA A440.4 Window Standard Committee and a member of ASHRAE technical committees TC4.4 (Building Materials and Building Envelope Performance) and TC 4.5 (Fenestration). He was also a member of the Canada Green Building Council Task Force that developed the Durabiilty Credit MRc8.

About the Topic: Our last speaker, Andrew Pape-Salmon, discussed the updates that will become reality in the BC Building Code with respect to energy efficiency of our buildings. New standards and regulations are being applied to design and construction. The first step in moving in the direction mandated by these new regulations is to understand the content of documents such as ASHRAE 90.1 which are referenced by these new regulations. Builders and designers will need to understand thermal bridging, alternative methods of reducing heat loss and how the energy efficiency of a building enclosure can be assessed and optimized to conform to regulations.

Please come and join the members and guests for this important and informative presentation and discussion on the ASHRAE Standards.

Andrew Pape-Salmon is the manager of energy efficiency initiatives with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. He is a professional engineer with training in energy system technologies, economics and policy. He is the provincial lead for energy efficiency initiatives, including equipment standards under the Energy Efficiency Act, and input to the BC Building Code on energy efficiency standards. Andrew has also worked extensively with local governments and First Nation communities across BC to promote energy efficiency and clean energy supplies.

Mr. Pape-Salmon's presentation will focus on energy efficiency for new and existing buildings, highlighting achievements from the 2005 Energy Efficient Building Strategy and new policy actions under the 2007 Energy Plan and Speech from the Throne. He will outline the key components of the Province's market transformation strategy for energy efficient products and buildings, and provide an overview of proposed energy efficiency standards for the BC Green Building Code.

There has been a recent trend in the North American building market towards green buildings. This trend has resulted in the development and increased popularity of green building assessment tools. The tools attempt to measure the "greenness" of a project, typically by awarding points or credits for achieving certain prescriptive or performance based requirements.

The majority of green building assessment systems focus on the design to the constructed building, with little focus on the effect of the building system's life during operation. This tendency has resulted in a failure of many rating systems to properly consider durability, lifecycle cost, and the effects of premature building envelope failures.

Jamie McKay, P.Eng., LEED AP from Morrison Hershfield will discuss green building assessment tools, their prime focus areas, the importance of designing for durability, and a proposed basis for evaluating durability. He will also review Canadian green assessment tools, the degree to which they include durability of the building envelope, and suggestions for future improvements.

RCI Complete Building Envelope Protection Seminar
Thursday, November 08, 2007
RCABC, Langley, BC
All Day Seminar

Location: RCABC, 9734 - 201st Street, Langley, BC
Registration: 8:30 am - 9:00 am (coffee, juice & muffins available)
Seminar: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm (lunch included)

Topics:
Membrane Air Barriers in Wall Construction
Waterproofing Membranes
Green Roofs - Basic Design Principles

Speakers:
Brian Carey and Kenneth Sedo of Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing

This symposium is scheduled for April 30 - May 1, 2009

Call for Papers
Deadline: November 1, 2007
Please click pdf icon for more information:

The Architectural and Building Engineering Technology program at BCIT is hosting an industry/student mixer evening.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet with the students eligible for graduation in May 2008, as well as providing industry networking opportunities.

For more information, please click on the following icon: :

About the presenter: Mr. Kunimoto is a structural engineer, registered in BC, Washington State and California where he gained more than 20 years of experience with seismic requirements for buildings and structural requirements for the envelope. The two most powerful earthquakes hit California during Mr. Kunimoto's residency in the State. The assessment of the resulting building failures provided invaluable knowledge to engineers and architects about the seismic characteristics of old and recently-built structures. Since returning to Vancouver to
assume control of Kunimoto Engineering, his father's practice, he has provided structural consulting on a large number of building envelope remediation projects as well as new construction.

About the Topic: The presentation will discuss earthquakes and the building envelope. The first portion of the presentation will look at the damage observed in bridges, parking structures and buildings after the Northridge Earthquake in 1994. The second portion will look at an overview of some typical problems found in building construction that would likely have reduced the severity of the seismic damage. The last portion of the presentation will look at the building envelope remediation work from a structural perspective. Dan's work with primary and secondary structural support for our building enclosures underscores the need to integrate the envelope's structural design with its other requirements to achieve performance and durability.

Update on Wood Treatment and Corrosion Resistant Fasteners
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Ambrosia Centre, Victoria
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm

Update on Wood Treatment and Corrosion Resistant Fasteners
Monday, September 17, 2007
Plaza 500 Vancouver, BC
12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

BCBEC 2007 AGM & Conference "The Full Circle"
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, Vancouver, BC

The About-Face of Rain Screen
Monday, April 30, 2007
Ambrosia Centre, Victoria
12 noon - 2:00 pm

Building Envelope Solutions Conference
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Hyatt Regency, Vancouver

Vancouver Building Envelope Solutions will provide insights into how's and why's of design problems and successes and examined new technologies and proven strategies to help you improve the service life of a building.
For more information on the Building Envelope Solutions Conference and the Registration Form, please follow this link:

Building Envelope Solutions Conference Information

Update in Research
Friday, November 24, 2006
Plaza 500, Vancouver
8:00 am - 12:00 noon

Changes to the Part 5 and Part 9 of the Building Code
and the Impact on the Building Evelope Industry
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Plaza 500, Vancouver
12 noon - 2 pm

• Review Committee on "Building Requirements for Persons with Disabilities" for the B.C. Building Code (Section 3.7)
• Building Code Advisory Committee for the 1985 B.C. Building Code.
• Secretary for Building Code Appeal Board
• Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes
• Canadian Commission on Construction Materials Evaluation
• NBC Standing Committee on Fire Safety and Occupancy
• Provincial/Territorial Subcommittee on the Building Code (current)
• CCBFC/PTCBS Task Group on Implementation of a New Code Development System
• ULC Advisory Council (current)
• ULC Air Barrier Standard Committee

Jeff Vasey will be addressing the "Modernization Project"

The provincial government has committed to rationalize the building safety system, resulting in a set of recommendations for an integrated, more efficient system, balancing safety concerns, social impact and economic interests, now know as the Modernization Strategy.

The Modernizations Strategy is planned to bring all facets of the building safety system together so that it will work more effectively. This modernized system will be better equipped to address emerging issues like rapidly changing building technology and rising construction costs. A more consistent, coordinated building safety system will create efficiencies reduce delays and building project costs.

Jeff Vasey is the current Director of Building Policy Branch, ministry of Housing, responsible for coordinating Consistent Code Compliance & Enforcement Processes. The project is intended to improve compliance with standards for building safety and to establish more efficient, predictable regulatory processes.

Dr. Eric Burnett
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Plaza 500, Vancouver Noon to 2 p.m.

Parkades...let them leak...Wise advice?
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Plaza 500, Vancouver Noon to 2 p.m.

Points of view regarding CCDC documents and contracts...
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Plaza 500, Vancouver Noon to 2 p.m.

Tenth Conference on Building Science and Technology
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Canada, May 12 and 13, 2005

Energy versus the Envelope - All Day Building Envelope Seminar and Annual General Meeting
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre

Glazing and Details
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Plaza 500, Vancouver, noon to 2 p.m.

Wind Engineering And Building Enclosures
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Plaza 500, Vancouver, noon to 5:00 p.m.

Dr. David Surrey of the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel in London, Western Ontario, will travel to the coast to speak to BCBEC. Dr. Surrey is the Research Director and has studied and consulted on some of the most complex structures in the world. He was also responsible for the wetting patterns in the CMHC Wind Tunnel Study on Wetting Patterns.

Wind Engineering and Building Enclosures
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Venue - TBA, Victoria, noon to 2:30 p.m.

Dr. David Surrey of the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel in London, Western Ontario, will travel to the coast to speak to BCBEC. Dr. Surrey is the Research Director and has studied and consulted on some of the most complex structures in the world. He was also responsible for the wetting patterns in the CMHC Wind Tunnel Study on Wetting Patterns.

Believe it or Not!
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Plaza 500, Vancouver, 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Revisions to Parts 5 and 9 of the British Columbia Building Code
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Plaza 500, Vancouver, noon to 2 p.m.

Exploring Condo Rot
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Plaza 500, Vancouver, noon to 2 p.m.

Seabird Island Sustainable Community Demonstration Project
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Noon to 2 p.m., 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria

BCBEC investigates a unique local development where new technologies and products including Healthy HousingTM and FlexHousingTM concepts, rainscreen wall assembly, and passive energy systems have been brought together to create housing that serves the needs of a First Nation community. Allan Dobie (MRAIC), CMHC Senior Research Consultant will provide detailed information on this 7-unit, mixed multi-residential community in Agassiz, BC. This project combines two decades of accumulated knowledge in how to apply sustainable building concepts to low-rise residential construction in the coastal climate of British Columbia.

Preserving the Heritage Envelope in Victoria
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Noon to 2 p.m., 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria