Happy Holidays
from your GCABC
Board of Directors:
David Langton, President
Competition Glass
Todd Domstad, Past President
Nu-Glass Projects
Marty Nixon, Treasurer
National Glass
Leonard Pianalto
Read Jones Christofferson
Debra Dotschkat
GC Glass Canada
Brian Romanchuk
Flynn Canada |
SAVE THE DATES
January 5, 2010
HST and the Sub Contractor
More information to come
February, 2, 2010
Topic TBC
March 2, 2010
Topic TBC
April 13, 2010
Victoria Session
Topic TBC
May 4, 2010
Topic TBC
May 20, 2010
GCABC/WDMA Golf
Northview Golf Course
June 1, 2010
Topic TBC
September 14, 2010
Kelowna Session
Topic TBC
October 5, 2010
Topic TBC
November 24, 2010
AGM
December 7, 2010
Topic TBC
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Group Health Benefits
Bonding and Liability Program |
Click here for some information on their website.
If your company is looking at quotes for bonding or liability insurance contact Wilson Beck directly. Click here for contact information.
Remember it never hurts to get another quote! |
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BC Stats
Here is the summary of the stats
from December 4, 2009
- Unemployment remains unchanged from 8.3% in November.
- Residential construction investment in the province continues to fall in the Q3.
- The Canadian economy grew 0.1% in Q3, the first quarterly gain since Q3 of 2008
- REPORT - China Continues to by BC Goods.
For more information click here
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GCABC Annual General Meeting
BC Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations
By Leonard Pianalto, M.Sc, P. Eng. Leed (r)
Read Jones Christofferson
On November 19, 2009 The GCABC held its annual general
meeting. There were several speakers including Keith Sashaw of the VRCA; Mark
Longmore of the Finishing Trades Institute of BC; Lindsay Langill Dean of the
School of Trades at Thompson River University; Ray McGowan of the National
Fenestration Rating Council; and David Bruce consultant to the Ministry of
Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources.
The topics covered a financial outlook of the construction
industry, an overview of the current state of the glazing apprenticeship
program, as well as an update on upcoming regulatory changes.
It seems fitting that some special attention is given to the
BC Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations. The Glazing industry should brace
itself for significant changes that will become the law of the land effective
January 1, 2011. The details of these new regulations have been captured in the
companion article in this newsletter by David Bruce.
The Government of BC has been getting serious about energy
conservation. Consider one of their key policy action statements: "Set an
ambitious conservation target, to acquire 50% of BC Hydro's incremental
resource needs through conservation by 2020". The Government foresees an
energy shortfall by 2020 if British Columbians don't start using less energy.
The consequences of this will be varied but there is one certainty: the cost of
energy to the consumer will be expected to rise dramatically.
The glazing industry has been identified as a key player in
the development of this policy action. Windows represent a significant
opportunity to reduce mechanical heating load in winter, cooling load in
summer, and electric lighting load during daylight hours. Windows account for
one of the largest sources of heat loss during winter and heat gain during
summer. For example, in a typical multi-unit residential building, 31% of heat
loss is attributable to the glazing system while an additional 24% is due to
air leakage.
This is not only a governance issue it is something that we
as a society should be concerned with. Energy supply is a shared resource that
is becoming scarce. It is incumbent upon us to appropriately manage these
resources for ourselves and future generations to come. So, while it will
become the law, as an industry we have a greater obligation to become part of
the solution.
On a more pragmatic level there will be some things to watch
for when the regulations take effect on January 1, 2001. Projects not covered
by the energy efficiency criteria set forth in the building code will be
dictated by the BC Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation.
This may become most manifestly evident on large re-glazing
projects. Based on the age of many office buildings in downtown Vancouver, this
could become a significant body of work for the local commercial glazing
industry. The ASHRAE 90.1 requirements will not apply to these projects.
Instead, the maximum allowed U-Value for metallic frame commercial windows will
be 2.57 W/m2K per the Regulation.
New construction projects will be covered by ASHRAE 90.1
which means that glazing system thermal performance will be specified by the
Owner. Presumably the glazing contractor will work together with the Owner to
arrive at satisfactory performance levels that will integrate with the planned
heating, cooling, and electrical demands of the building. However, we should
expect that those values set forth in the Regulation will become the de-facto
industry standards.
There will be no denying that all companies that wish to
stay viable after January 1, 2011 will be affected by the minimum specified
thermal performance targets set by the government. I believe that we should
expect to see a revolution in the industry similar to the one that came about
in the late 1970's with the advent of widespread use of double glazing in
building construction.
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The BC Energy Plan and Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations
By David Bruce
Energy Efficiency Compliance Enhancement Coordinator
The 2008 Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy charts a course
for significant energy and emissions reductions in new and existing buildings.
This article will review the approach that the Ministry of Energy, Mines and
Petroleum Resources is pursuing to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
Targets
The strategy sets targets for commercial, institutional and
industrial buildings to consume 9% less energy per square metre by the year
2020. The target of an average 20% reduction in demand for energy of households
in BC has also been set.
BC Energy Efficiency Standards Regulations (EESR)
The regulation for Windows, Glazing and Sliding Glass doors
can best be summarized in the attached chart. Please note that the standards for high-rise buildings take effect
on January 1, 2011. This article and the
attached chart will help your company comply with the regulation by the
effective date.
Product performance (U-value) falls into one of two streams.
The first stream on the left side of the flow chart is largely residential but
does include non-residential buildings of less than 600 metres squared. The right hand side of the chart includes commercial,
institutional and industrial buildings of greater than 600 metres squared, and
residential buildings 5 stories and greater.
Residential door slabs and door glazing is also covered in
the regulation but has been excluded from this article since this product type
is not commonly provided by GCA-BC companies.
Testing Standards
Products may be tested using the most recent versions of
NFRC 100 or CSA A440.2 to determine the U-value of the products to be installed
in the building. It should be noted that the U-value takes into account the
framing systems including mullions, and the IGU's (sealed units).
Operable
vents are included in the analysis as well. A number of Canadian and American companies are capable of
providing the testing services. It should be noted that the testing is
accomplished with computer simulation programs.
Exemptions for Buildings over 600 Square Metres and
High-Rise Residential
Exemptions are noted on the chart. Click here for chart.
It is important to
note that if you are providing products to buildings larger than 600 square
metres or high-rise residential which are ASHRAE 90.1 (2007 or 2004) compliant, then your
products will be considered compliant.
All new construction as of September 2008 has to comply with ASHRAE 90.1
(2004) under the BC Building Code. ASHRAE 90.1 permits the building designer a
number of approaches to building performance.
Effective Date
Products manufactured after the effective date must meet the
EESR.
This is important since you must inform your clients of
this fact if their projects are being built or renovated after January 1st,
2011. Products manufactured after that
date are subject to the regulation. Products manufactured before January 1,
2011 which do not meet the standards can still be sold after the effective
date.
Verification
Glazing products that fall under the EESR must be verified
by certification organizations who are accredited by the Standards Council of
Canada or the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Under some circumstances, professional engineers and
architects registered in British Columbia may verify products.
Details of the Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation
For the complete regulation, refer to the official version
at www.bclaws.ca
For questions or comments - contact David.Bruce@gov.bc.ca
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Office Party Season is Time to Control Alcohol Consumption
It's the time of year when good boys
and girls look forward to gifts and their parents anticipate the seasonal
office party. Controlling alcohol
consumption at the office party substantially increases the odds of those
parents, and their employer, having a happy and healthy holiday season. The first
thing for employers to address is the risk of injury to an employee - or
someone else - as a result of alcohol consumption. Canadian court cases have firmly established
the employer's duty of care to take active steps to prevent injuries as a
result of its employees' alcohol consumption. If banning
alcohol from staff events altogether isn't satisfactory, there are many steps
the employer can take to reduce the likelihood of an accident. The employer should have a policy, governing service
and consumption of alcohol at company events. Read more - click here |
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