Lateral Bracing Guideline Review

CHBA - Alberta has recently begun reviewing the Lateral Bracing Guidelines that were issued for the 1997 Alberta Building Code, with the intention of revising the Guidelines to meet the requirements in the 2006 Alberta Building Code. CHBA - Alberta is requesting assistance from members in the review of the first draft of these Guidelines and requests interested individuals contact Michael Nyikes by Tuesday September 2, 2008.

Have Input on the Code

Yesterday, CHBA - Alberta sent out a Special Bulletin asking members to complete two surveys on the AMA website; one for the 2006 Alberta Building Code and one for the 2006 Alberta Fire Code. CHBA - Alberta has developed a perspective to help members make informed decisions as they complete the 20 minute online survey. It is important members take this opportunity to have an impact on the Codes. For full article click here.

Meeting with Minister Goudreau

On August 14, CHBA - Alberta President Vince Laberge, staff from CHBA - Alberta and CHBA - Edmonton attended a meeting with the Minister of Alberta Employment and Immigration, Hector Goudreau.

The meeting provided CHBA - Alberta with an opportunity to voice member concerns relating to skilled labour development. The Minister noted that he would represent CHBA - Alberta in future discussions with both his provincial and federal colleagues, specifically regarding a Framer trade designation and amendments to the Temporary Foreign Worker program. CHBA - Alberta will provide the Minister with details on the association's position on necessary changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, the need for government sponsored labour market forecasts, the availability of federal Labour Market Agreement funding, and the Framer trade designation.

For more information on this meeting or the related article, please contact Kathy Watson, Executive Officer, CHBA - Alberta.

Standata on Calculating Occupant Loads

The method of calculating occupant loads in assembly occupancies can vary greatly between jurisdictions and even between published Codes. This variance often leads to widely differing occupant loads figures being assigned to the same type and size of buildings in different municipalities. Alberta Municipal Affairs has created a Standata intended to clarify these requirements and recommend a method of calculation that satisfies both the Alberta Building Code and Alberta Fire Code. Standata FCB-08-02 can be downloaded by clicking here.

Electrical Code Conference

The Canadian Standards Association will be hosting a two-day conference series in Edmonton on October 21st and 22nd that will address changes in the 2009 Canadian Electrical Code, as well as launching the new CSA Z462 Standard, Electrical Safety in the Workplace. New rules and regulations, as well as the introduction of the updated Canadian Electrical Code in January 2009, highlight the increased impact of electrical safety on your company and your workers. More information can be found by clicking here.

McQueen to Address Delegates at BUILD

Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Dianna McQueen, will be addressing conference attendees at the Opening Breakfast Friday, September 19. She will be asked to comment on:
· the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan work that we are involved in with the Alberta Construction Association (ACA),
· Built Green
· Water for life strategy
Limited registration spots are still available for BUILD. To register for the event, click here.

Old Code Versus New Code

CHBA - Alberta has recently received a number of inquiries from members asking what the accepted protocol is for municipal building inspectors calling new code issues on houses with building permits pulled prior to September 2007. Provided the permit on the job was issued prior to September 2, 2007 and provided the permit did not lapse or was revoked (thereby requiring a new building permit be obtained), the contractor is permitted to continue under the provisions of the 1997 Alberta Building Code until such time as the permit is revoked or the project is completed. This is actually contained in the Government of Alberta's Building Code Regulation 117/2007 which can be viewed online.

CMHC Research Conference

This year's theme is True Value: Sustainability in Action and will focus on sustainable building costs, measures and impacts. Through presentations and unique group discussion periods, we will examine case studies and real-life examples. For more information about the CMHC Research Conference being held September 10, click here.