To Our Producer Members: Over the past few months, a number of problematic field issues have emerged pertaining to CMU block compressive strengths, required CMU markings, and compressive strength testing and compliance. Because of the oftentimes very unfavourable consequences of supplying under-strength, noncompliant product, affecting the designer, contractor, and producer, and the concrete block industry […]
By Gary Sturgeon, P. Eng., National Concrete Masonry Association The Objective-Based National Building Code of Canada gives too much leeway in what constitutes a reliable firewall, says the author. The 1995 National Building Code of Canada prescribed that all firewalls be constructed of masonry or concrete. The fundamentals for fire performance and structural integrity were […]
CCMPA’s national media campaign prompts consumers to think about the fire safety of today’s home-building materials — and the advantages of building with concrete block. Many Toronto-area residents will recall the city’s top news story on Wednesday, February 20, 2008: A six-alarm fire — one of the worst in Toronto history — that hollowed out […]
The Conestoga/OMTC building is nearing completion with the exterior work being completed by mid-June and interior work reaching completion this week. Please find below some recent shots of the building.
Order of Canada for Edmonton Fire Chief Wolsey Re: “The Edmonton Fire Chief fears public is at risk because new homes burn too quickly”. The Journal, April 13. If former USA Vice President Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for speaking out on global warming, surely Edmonton Fire Chief Randy Wolsey, deserves the […]
Edmonton fire chief fears public at risk because new homes burn too quickly Jim Macdonald, THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON – Lives are being put at risk in Alberta because inadequate fire and building codes mean that newly constructed homes are burning much too quickly, says Edmonton’s fire chief. Randy Wolsey says the codes that came […]
Today’s most popular cladding materials include vinyl siding, exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS), stucco and masonry. Here’s a look at how they compare for maintenance, cleaning, durability, life cycle cost and fire safety: Maintenance Cleaning Durability Typical Lifespan Fire safety Vinyl siding High, susceptible to mold Requires regular cleaning Vulnerable to damage from extreme weather […]
RE: “Georgia-Pacific’s paperless drywall gains foothold in new low-rise construction” Feb. 21, DCN Mar. 14, 2008 Letter to the Editor In the article referenced above, the real issues of firewall performance and compliance should have been identified and the associated technical issues factually revealed and discussed. Instead, the article focuses on the purported cost savings […]
The Ontario Masonry Contractors’ Association teamed up with industry leaders and Conestoga College in Kitchener to build a $2.5 million training centre. Like so many building trades, the field of masonry is facing a dire shortage of skilled workers in Ontario. Just look at the statistics. To keep pace with demands, the Construction Sector Council […]
According to Fire SAFE Ontario, 1 in 10 Canadians have experienced a home fire. While the cause of the fire may not always be in our control, how we choose to build our homes can keep us safe and minimize structural damage. Balanced design is a four-part approach to fire safety that includes active (fire […]
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