Construction Solutions Conference |
Program
Presentations (in PDF format) are now available for download below. (Acrobat Reader is required to view PDFs.)
7:45am – 8:30am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30am – 9:00am
Conference Overview: Are Green Buildings Healthy Buildings?
Concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) in commercial buildings first surfaced in the mid-1970s. IAQ problems were then associated with misdirected efforts to reduce energy use in buildings. Now in the new millennium the real estate and development industries are once again faced with a significant energy management challenge. This time the focus of attention is on energy conservation and efficiency to mitigate the disparity between growing demand and declining supply of conventional sources; and to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions to reverse the effects of Climate Change. We are in the midst a massive paradigm shift toward “green” innovations in design and construction. To accomplish this, there’s been a rapid adoption of green building certification systems for both new and existing buildings.
But are all green buildings healthy buildings?
Elia Sterling, President, Theodor Sterling Associates (download presentation)
9:00am – 9:45am
National Building Code of Canada – Part 6 HVAC: New Ventilation Requirements to Address IAQ Problems
The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) identifies the development of explicit ventilation requirements in Part 6 of the National Building Code (NBC) as a technical priority. The issue highlighted is that this part relies primarily on good engineering practice. The intent of the priority is to ensure that a minimum level of indoor air quality is achieved when designing the ventilation system of a building.
Under the direction of the Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Services (SCBPS), a Task Group (TG) was formed to define and address the problems caused by the lack of explicit ventilation requirements. As a result, the TG has developed preliminary requirements that begin to set minimum indoor air quality limits when designing the ventilation system of NBC Part 6 type buildings.Diane Green, Technical Advisor – HVAC Canadian Codes Centre, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada (download presentation)
9:45am – 10:30am
Exposed To Claims – Uninsured – What To Do Next?
According to the media, attorneys and consultants, IAQ and mould and moisture problems continue to surface in public and commercial buildings, "affecting the health of its occupants", and "causing significant structural damage to the buildings and their contents". Faced with this dilemma, the liability and property insurance industry has responded by withdrawing coverage for mould and water ingress claims, leaving those responsible for the buildings' design and construction unprotected in a very hostile environment. It is of critical importance that regulatory authorities, builders, developers, property managers, designers and all those involved in the building and real estate industry be armed with the most recent and accurate information related to these problems to make effective risk management decisions. This panel will bring together technical, remedial and legal experts to discuss the design, construction, insurance and liability issues involved and to give some practical advice on how to navigate through these troubled waters.
Heather Sanderson, Counsel, MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP (download presentation)
10:30am – 10:45am
Coffee and Networking
10:45am – 11:30am
The Basics of Built Green™
The Built Green™ Society of Canada is an industry driven voluntary program that promotes "green" building practices to reduce the impact that residential building has on the environment. Operating in both Alberta and British Columbia through the Home Builders’ Associations this program focuses on environmental industry transformation for both small and large residential builders. The focus of this session will be on understanding the program beginnings and the focus of future growth both in terms of program development and geographical expansion.
Holly Chabidon, Built Green™ Business Manager, EnerVision (download presentation)
11:30am – 12:15pm
Critical Building Envelope Details: Where Are The Problem Areas
The presentation will review the critical building envelope details that commonly suffer from excessive water penetration. The proper design of these details will be reviewed with respect to low-rise, high-rise, wood-frame and commercial construction. "Concero Cautus Fragmentum"...Join the Pieces Carefully.
Mark Lawton, P.Eng, Morrison Hershfield Limited
12:15pm – 1:30pm
Table Top Tradeshow and Networking Lunch
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Emerging Guidelines That Will Regulate Mould in the Workplace
Mould growth is an acknowledged problem because of its potential to cause ill health in exposed occupants and its damaging effect on building systems. A legal or legislative framework was not available in most provinces until now. In Alberta the Calgary Health Region has published Mould Prevention and Remediation Guidelines (August 2007) which is being enforced in the public health jurisdiction as if it were law. The Provincial Government has drafted a Best Practices Guideline for managing mould. Once it is finished and published it is expected that Workplace Health and Safety Officers will enforced the document with the same fervor that they enforce the provincial asbestos guidelines.
Glyn Jones, Partner, M.A.Sc., P.Eng, CIH, CRSP, EHS Partnerships Ltd. (download presentation)
2:15pm – 3:00pm
Building IAQ Air Monitoring: A Forward-Thinking Approach
This presentation will discuss an alternative to traditional reactive IAQ management in commercial buildings. This proactive approach gives building owners and managers a way to maximize building performance and occupant satisfaction, while not waiting around until there is a problem. Discussed will be an internet based program which integrates indoor air quality data collected on a periodic basis, providing critical documentation for demonstration of regulatory compliance and risk management. Other points noted will be how this type of proactive approach fits more with the current focus on sustainability, energy management, and limiting a building's "carbon footprint".
Elia Sterling, President, Theodor Sterling Associates (download presentation)
3:00pm – 3:15pm
Conclusion and Closing Comments
updated June 19, 2008