Recent BCBC Appeal Board Decision #1682 (Use of combustible building materials in non-combustible wall assemblies)

Please come and join BCBEC members and guests by taking in this informative luncheon topic that affects all of us in the design and construction community! The BC Building Code Appeal Board (BCAB) issued a contentious ruling on December 16, 2010. This ruling directly implies that no combustible insulation can be used in non-load bearing exterior wall assemblies of buildings required to be of non-combustible construction unless the wall assembly has been tested to CAN/ULC-S134, “Fire test of Exterior Wall Assemblies” (the test that was intended for use on EIFS cladding systems). Furthermore, by extension, the logic used by BCAB for this ruling implies that other combustible components that are otherwise permitted by subsection 3.1.5 of the 2006 BCBC must also comply with Article 3.1.5.5 and therefore the S134 test. The ruling without more explanation or clarification of intent could have severe impact on common construction practices. Other related publications by Code Officials will be also discussed.

Speakers are: Mark Lawton , P.Eng. – Mark is a Vice President in the Building and Facilities Division of Morrison Hershfield, a multi-specialty engineering firm with offices across North America. Mark has over 25 years of experience in building performance assessment, forensic investigation, testing and design. Mark’s career has included projects in all kinds of climate regimes from the arctic to the tropics. He is widely published on building science issues including: durability and performance of building enclosure assemblies, moisture control, Indoor Air Quality, ventilation and managing the health impacts of mold in buildings.

Barry Thorson , P.Eng. C.P. – Barry is the president of B.R. Thorson Consulting Ltd. which provides project management, building code consulting and certified professional services to owners, developers and design professionals throughout BC. Barry has participated in the Letters of Assurance Committee with the Province and the City of Vancouver since 1981. He was also chair of the APEGBC Building Codes Committee from 1999 to 2005 and Co-Chair of the Building Policy Advisory Committee since 2003. He is a member of the BC Building Code Interpretation Committee representing APEGBC since 1999. Barry has recently completed an 8 year employment with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee as project manager for the Richmond Olympic Oval and the UBC Thunderbird Arena, and as VANOC’s building code consultant for the temporary Olympic Overlay installation at all of the Olympic Venues.

Seminar Presentation:

RECENT BCBC APPEAL BOARD DECISION #1682	Mark Lawton Morrison Hershfield	Mar 2011
RECENT BCBC APPEAL BOARD DECISION #1682	Barry Thorson B.R. Thorson Consulting Ltd.	Mar 2011