EQuilibrium Info Session

The EQuilibrium™ Communities Initiative is a three-year, $4.2M initiative of CMHC and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). It will provide financial, technical and promotional assistance to sustainable neighbourhood development projects across the country chosen through a national competition. A call for project submissions will be issued in early summer 2009, inviting developers, with their teams of planners, designers, and municipalities, to submit project proposals that address specific sustainability themes, including energy use, water use, land use, transportation and others. CMHC and NRCan will be hosting an on-line information session to provide more information on the Initiative, including eligible funding and selection criteria. If you would like to participate in the session on June 16, 2009, 1:30 PM EDT, please email EQuilibrium.Communities@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca.

Influenza on the Jobsite

Although the risk on most jobsites is low, the Alberta government has proactively released a “Best Practice Guideline for Workplace Health & Safety During Pandemic Influenza”. It provides information to workplaces on hazard assessment and control in preparation for and during pandemic influenza. Click here for more information.

Long Truss Lengths

It has recently come to the attention of CHBA - Alberta that exterior walls and footings for a house with roof truss lengths greater than 40’-0” cannot be designed to Part 9 of the 2006 Alberta Building Code (ABC). Understanding that each building structure operates as a system, the trusses used in the above mentioned scenario are outside the scope of the span tables provided and need to be loaded and designed according to Part 4 instead of Part 9 of the ABC. Furthermore, when one or more truss(es) exceeds 40’-0” then it is the requirement of the ABC that all trusses, girder trusses, jacks, hip rafters, nailing, sheathing, lintels, headers, beams, studs and conventional framing also be designed according to Part 4, and reviewed and stamped by a professional engineer in the province of Alberta.

2009 Electrical Code Conference

The annual Alberta electrical industry codes and technical conference will be held in Banff on June 10th. More information and registration form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Standata on Office Recycling

In response to concerns regarding the accumulation of combustible recyclable materials, the 1992 Alberta Fire Code introduced a number of requirements on the size and construction of containers for combustible recyclable materials; location of such containers; the number of permitted containers; and when such containers were to be emptied. With the advent of smoking restrictions in a number of municipalities and a province wide ban on smoking in 2008, all buildings accessed by the public and the recycling of a greater number of items consideration needs to be given to some of the problems now being encountered. Alberta Municipal Affairs has recently issued a standata regarding this issue, which can be downloaded by clicking here.

Safety Awards Call For Entries

Does your company strive to demonstrate a safe work culture? Get the recognition you deserve by entering for the CHBA - Alberta Safety Awards. Letters will be mailed to CHBA - Alberta members calling for entries for this year's Safety Awards sponsored by ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric. The awards will be presented to builders and trade and supply partner members at Saturday, September 19 at BUILD 2009. Watch for more information later this month.

Still Accepting Nominations for the PHBIA Crystal Awards

The Crystal Awards honor and recognize the two core areas in the residential home building business – the sales team and site managers. Both sales and site managers are judged by those with whom they work and interact on a daily basis. Show off your best in Jasper in 2009 – for more information and the entry forms click here. The closing date for nominations is June 26, 2009.

Shane Homes & Excel Homes Help Raise Money for Charity

Shane Homes and Excel Homes, in partnership with Ernest Manning High School and Sir William Van Horne High School are excited to announce that two playhouses designed and built by students will be auctioned on CJAY 92 and Vibe 98-5 with all proceeds raised going to their Kids Funds.

The playhouses will be auctioned off over a one week period on CJAY’s and Vibe’s morning shows and online at www.cjay92.com and www.vibe985.com. Guests will be able to bid on the playhouse starting June 15 with the highest bid winning the playhouse at 10 am on Friday, June 19. The money raised from the auction will go to Vibe and CJAY’s Kid’s Fund, a year round initiative of the radio stations, with a goal to assist less fortunate families and their children in and around the Calgary area.