S U M M ER 2010 IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES: Asphalt warranties challenged.................................... 4 Profile: Al Sinclair, pioneer roofer............................. 5 The roofs of tomorrow.............. 8 Certi-Cedar “the real green” roof ................................ 14
THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS
RCABC aims for August completion The Roofing Contractors Association of BC will finish the new $1.2 million Architectural Sheet Metal training campus this August, though the official opening won’t be held until October 28. The complex is being built by KDS Construction, with CJP Architects at the Langley site of RCABC. Classes have already been held on the campus, with 16 registered apprentices completing six weeks of training. Watch our next issue for information about the grand opening ceremonies. ■
Vol. 7, No. 2 • SUMMER 2010
ASSOCIATION: President’s message .................. 3 INDUSTRY NEWS: First wood-framed 6-storey apartment building in BC ......... 6 Vicwest opens new Delta plant ....................................7 Montreal’s ‘Big O’ stadium to get new roof........................... 9 Infinity pool tops 55th floor .... 9 GAF meets high-wind test.......11 Safety fines hit record level ....11 HST fails to deter home builders ......................... 12 Firestone presents on-line design program........................ 12 Bidders sought for Evergreen Line.......................... 13 New truss connector ............... 13 BOMA BC names greenest buildings .................................... 14 Bullish report sees upturn in construction.......................... 15 Northerners hope for boom times ................................15 Native reserves eyed for commercial buildings ...............15 Public spending leads construction trend .....................15 COLUMN: LEGAL MATTERS Blunt answer to blunt question............................10
Asphalt warranty lawsuits Mounting lawsuits may threaten the future of Canada’s most popular residential roofing product. See p. 4
The Architectural Sheet Metal training facility will complete this August at the RCABC campus in Langley. Photos: RCABC
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40014608 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
Roofing Contractors Association of BC 9734 201 Street Langley, BC Canada V1M 3E8
Real green roofs Certified cedar shakes are the greenest roofing product on the market, says the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau. See p. 14
Active Members Professional Roofing Contractors that support an educated and committed workforce 101 Industries Ltd.
Interior Roofing (2001) Ltd.
Admiral Roofing Ltd.
Kelowna Roofing (1984) Ltd.
Advanced Systems Roofing and Waterproofing Ltd.
Laing Roofing Ltd.
Alpha-Duron Roofing Ltd. Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.
Associate Members companies focused on the manufacture and distribution of quality roofing products that meet or exceed changing industry standards A. Proctor Group Ltd. Atlas Roofing Corporation Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. Building Products of Canada Corp. Canada Metal (Pacific) Limited Carlisle SynTec Systems Canada Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau CertainTeed Corporation Convoy Supply Ltd. Dow Chemical Canada ULC Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. Firestone Building Products GAF/Elk Garland Canada Inc. Genflex Roofing Systems LLC Georgia Pacific Canada HAL Industries Inc. Henry Company Canada IKO Industries Ltd. Intertek InterWrap Inc. Johns Manville Corporation Louiseville Specialty Products Inc. Makin Metals Ltd.
Mansonville Plastics (B.C.) Ltd. Menzies Metal Products Mercury Metals, a Div of VicWest Mule-Hide Products Co., Inc. Owens Corning Canada Pabco Roofing Products Pacific Roof Centre Phoenix Vinyl Sundecks Ltd. Plasti-Fab (Div. of PFB Corp.) Posi-Slope Western Pro-Line Construction Materials Ltd RMAX, Inc. Roofmart Pacific Ltd. Roxul, Inc. Sika Sarnafil Simplex Asphalt Products
Aquaproof Membrane Services Inc. Arbutus Roofing & Drains (2006) Ltd. Arcona Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Arctic Roofing Ltd. Aurora Roofing Ltd. BF Roofing Ltd. Bollman Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Bond-A Ply Roofing Ltd. Broadway Roofing Co. Ltd. Cambie Roofing Contractors Ltd. Campbell & Grill Ltd. Cascade Roofing & Waterproofing (2007) Inc. Chilliwack Roofing Ltd. Coast Hudson Ltd. Continental Roofing Crown Roofing & Drainage Ltd. Design Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. D.M. Henderson Roofing Ltd. Eby & Sons Construction Ltd. Flynn Canada Ltd.
Siplast Slegg Lumber Soprema Inc. Steels Industrial Products Ltd. Tech-Crete Processors Ltd. Tremco Ltd. Western Wood Truss Association Westform Metals
G & G Roofing Ltd. GRC Columbia Roofing Inc. Harmon Roofing Ltd. Harvard Industries Ltd. Heritage Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Homan Contractors Ltd. Hunter Roofing Ltd.
Malarkey Roofing Company
BUILDING ON 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION 9734 - 201 Street • Langley, BC V1M 3E8 • Tel 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744 • www.rcabc.org
Laing Roofing (Vernon) Ltd. Lam Metal Contracting Ltd. Langley Roofing Co. Ltd. Mack Kirk Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Mainline Roofing Co. Ltd. Marine Roofing (1996) Ltd. Metro Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Mica Holdings Ltd. Mid-City Roofing & Sheet Metal (2008) Ltd. Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Nielsen Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Olympic Roofing Ltd. Pacific Restorations (1994) Ltd. Pacific Waterproofing Ltd. Parker Johnston Industries Ltd. Peter Magas Roofing Ltd. Pocklington Building Systems Ltd. Prince Sheet Metal & Heating Ltd. Raven Roofing Ltd. Roy Dennis Roofing (2005) Ltd. Standard Roofing Corporation Tomtar Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Top Line Roofing Ltd. Totem Roofing & Insulation Ltd. Trail Roofing Ltd. Transwest Roofing Ltd. Universal Sheet Metal Ltd. Villa Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Western Roofing (Master Roofers) Ltd.
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The fire sale: The process of locking the doors and turning over the physical assets to an auctioneer (or selling the assets on the open market). The gift: The process of handing control Vol. 2: Adding value (and sometimes ownership) of the when planning assets and working capital to a succession related third party – usually a We all have an family member. interest in ensuring Regardless of which the durability of our method of exit strategy businesses to is employed, it should be maintain a healthy considered that and vibrant roofing businesses with a high community. In component of human retirement planning capital, as well as solid from an operating and desirable assets, are business such as ours, the quickest and easiest there are a variety of to part with. Continual approaches that can re-investment in our be taken to either businesses is a sure fire Rod Parker plan a smooth way to ensure a transition, or an immediate exit. All successful succession strategy. approaches should be carefully While there can be value in a examined from both a taxation run-off, where the business is run strategy and emotional perspective. with little or no investment and then sold-off for residual value, this The sell out: generally results in little or no good The dream method of selling will value, little or no physical asset assets and/or shares to a third value, and little or no business party with no strings attached, and continuity. sailing off into the sunset. Most important to consider is The earn out: that all of the above methods – The process of selling assets and with the exception of the fire sale – continuing with employment to take a long time to come to earn out the goodwill, working fruition: the average small business capital, or over-book asset value, transition takes five to seven years. enabling a new owner to replace As such, if your time horizon for working capital out of future retirement is shorter than that, profits.
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From the President
Succession Planning
Tel: 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744
ADMINISTRATION Executive Vice President Brian Hofler, M.Ed. executivevp@rcabc.org Executive Assistant Barbara Porth bporth@rcabc.org Controller Johanna Kuker, CGA johanna@rcabc.org Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Adele LaRiviere roofing@rcabc.org RCABC Educational Foundation Education & Training Manager Shirley Caldwell, PID scaldwell@rcabc.org Registrar Michelle McKinnon, PID registrar@rcabc.org Instructor / Inspection Auditor David Rice, I.P., PID, RRO instructor1@rcabc.org Instructor / Risk Management Roger Sové, I.P., PID, Ad.Ed. instructor2@rcabc.org
succession planning should start now. Having a rough plan for retirement will no longer be enough, as employees, family, and outside managers see numerous opportunities in the marketplace as the guard changes. Having a concrete plan is critical, particularly given the human element of any transition. It is estimated that within 10
years, 70 percent of the small business owners in Canada will retire, leaving opportunity and chaos in their wake. Are you positioned to take advantage of this trend, or to buck it? The future vibrancy of our industry depends on it. Roderick M. Parker GSC, President, Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia ■
RCABC Guarantee Corp. Technical Manager Jim Watson, PRC, RRO technicalmgr@rcabc.org Assistant Technical Manager Rob Harris, RRO rharris@rcabc.org Guarantee Administrator Karen Esbensen guarantees@rcabc.org
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia is to provide its members with the training, support, and leadership required to enable them to offer customers the highest quality roofing practices, guarantees and business ethics in the roofing industry.
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ROOFING BC
SUMMER 2010
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Asphalt future threatened by lawsuits Example of shingle failure along a roof eave where water accelerates the washing away of the asphalt saturating the paper fiber of the “organic” shingles. Photo: D Mahalko
LANGLEY: A series of class-action lawsuits – and resulting intense media coverage – against major asphalt roofing manufacturers puts the future of the most widely used roofing shingle in doubt, according to industry veterans. But if asphalt fades out, what will replace a product that is used
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on about 70 percent of homes – and many commercial buildings – across Canada? “I think asphalt will be replaced,” said Al Sinclair, a retired BC roofer who once owned one of the largest roofing companies in the province, “we will be going to more torch-on roofing.”
Leonard Coughlin of Enercorp Inc., a supplier of roofing systems, said, “asphalt [fiberglass] laminates will probably never go away. They are an excellent product.” Coughlin also doubts that torchon roofing will catch on in residential roofing, because of liabilities. He points to a large
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condominium fire in Washington State that was linked to torch-on roofing. Coughlin sees TPO and EDPM gaining ground in the residential and commercial market if demand for asphalt shingles wanes. Others see metal products, particularly metal shingles, becoming more popular as an asphalt replacement. Some industry observers expect that most if not all manufacturers will no longer produce asphalt shingles in the near future. There are also rumblings that paperbacked asphalt shingles may be dropped for contractor insurance coverage. The asphalt controversy flared from complaints about the longterm warranties issued by asphalt shingle manufacturers, which often extend for 25 years to 40 years. But, as reports on CBC TV’s Marketplace, and CTV news coverage detailed, many consumers complain that their asphalt shingles fail prematurely. “We found consumers whose roofs are dying early deaths attempting to draw on their warranty to foot their roof repair bills,” CBC reporter Erica Johnson said in her study. “Unfortunately, the peace of mind warranties seem to provide don’t always come through as expected when the product falls to pieces.” Most of the shingles with problems appear to be paperbacked “organic” models, rather
than laminates backed with fiberglass. This year, CertainTeed Corporation settled a class-action lawsuit filed by homeowners who argued that that a type of organic asphalt shingle manufactured by the company failed prematurely and didn’t perform as well as the shingles should have. In the settlement CertainTeed continued to deny the allegations and maintains that the “vast majority” of the singles are defectfree and will last beyond the warranty period. It said it agreed to the settlement to avoid the expense and other negative aspects of protracted litigation. The settlement is not for a lump sum; instead, claimants will be paid an amount based on a formula. The dollar amount was not released. The settlement agreement covers only organic shingles, which the company made from 1987 through 2005, and then discontinued manufacturing and selling several years ago. The settlement does not include CertainTeed’s fiberglass shingles. Last December, plaintiffs from Ontario and Alberta filed class action lawsuits against IKO Industries Ltd. The plaintiffs claim that their IKO roofing shingles were defective and began to leak, curl, split, or crack before the end of the warranty period. IKO is facing similar lawsuits in the U.S., all related to warranties on IKO organic asphalt shingles. ■
ROOFING BC
Profile: contractor Al Sinclair
In those early days it was all magazine from cover to cover, torch-on and tar and gravel built up twice.” roofing on the commercial projects, We are grateful Al took the time a sector that became Sinclair’s to talk to Roofing BC and comment specialty over the next 50 years. “I on both his frontline view of never worked roofing history on residential,” and his Pioneer roofer has a he said. current simple plan for longevity outlook. Trained as a Al Sinclair, the former owner of sheet metal Think Mainland Roofing and Sheet Metal worker, roofing today Ltd. of Burnaby, now retired and Sinclair spent is tough work? turning 96 years old on September some time in When Sinclair 1, has a simple formula for Ontario before began his business success and longevity. returning to career in “Why worry?” he said in an the Vancouver Victoria in interview with Roofing BC area full time 1933, there magazine. “Worrying doesn’t get in 1936. were no you anywhere.” After pumps, Sinclair recalls how the phones working in the hydraulic lifts would ring on the first sunny day metal roofing or snap-on every spring since he started and siding roofing roofing in 1933. “Everybody would industry for materials. want you to start on their roof right many years, He recalls away. I would say we would get to he bought hauling them in time. Why worry about it?” Mainland buckets of Al Sinclair, pioneer roofing contractor. Photo: RCABC Sinclair retired as the owner of Roofing and gravel and his successful roofing company in went on to other material 1981, only to be hired as a lineup blue-chip clients, such as by cast-iron pulley and a 3/4-inch Northwest roofing Imperial Oil and BC Tel, where he rope to the top of inspector, a handled installation of a number of commercial “At one time roofers position he held towers across the buildings. “I were the lowest man weighed about 125 microwave until 1989. province. Mainland also worked on on the [construction] pounds then so I Today, the scores, if not hundreds, of veteran roofer and commercial roofs. would need a totem pole. Now I widower takes it We asked Sinclair about planted couple of guys to think they are easier, living with green roofs. “I don’t like them,” he help out,” Sinclair at the top.” his common-law said, “I don’t see any advantage for recalls with a wife in South them on commercial buildings.” laugh. There were Surrey and keeping an eye on the We asked him about the current no gravel spreaders, either: all the roofing industry. One of his asphalt shingle lawsuit controversy rock was shoveled into place by hobbies: “reading Roofing BC and what he sees as potential hand.
Why worry?
ROOFING BC
SUMMER 2010
replacement for the ubiquitous covering. “I think torch-on roofing will make a comeback,” he said. We asked him about the current concerns about BC’s economy. Coming from a man who started his career during the 1930srecession era, his comments are timely. “I don’t see any recession today,” Sinclair said, pointing out that both the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions sell out every game, and “every shopping mall parking lot is packed, even mid-week.” Sinclair is particularly proud of his industry safety record: he and his crews never had an accident on any project in half a century. “We always stressed safety,” he said. The veteran union roofer is also proud of what the Roofing Contractors Association has become, and credits the RCABC staff and executive for creating what he calls the “greatest industry association in the country”. “The RCABC has done a wonderful job of raising the standards and training for roofing,” Sinclair said. “At one time roofers were the lowest man on the [construction] totem pole. Now I think they are at the top.” ■
Roofing BC is published quarterly on behalf of the Roofing Contractors Association of BC and the professional roofing industry by Market Assist Communications Inc.
Roofing BC online at: www.rcabc.org Managing Editor and Publisher J. Michael Siddall Phone: 604-740-8369 E-mail: msiddall@eastlink.ca Editor Frank O’Brien Consulting Editor Brian Hofler, M.Ed. E-mail: executivevp@rcabc.org Phone: 604-882-9734 Circulation Barbara Porth Phone: 604-882-9734 E-mail: bporth@rcabc.org Production/Art Director and Advertising Associate Paddy Tennant Phone: 604-507-2162 E-mail: misspaddy@telus.net Contributing Writers: Dermot Mack Robert Smithson Rod Parker Brian Hofler While information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources deemed to be reliable, neither the publisher nor the RCABC will be held liable for errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the editorial and advertisements are not necessarily those of the publisher or RCABC.
WE HAVE MOVED! The new mailing address for the Roofing BC publisher is: Michael Siddall Market Assist Communications 6412 Marmot Road Sechelt, BC V0N 3A4
ADVERTISE IN ROOFING BC! MissPaddy@telus.net 604-507-2162
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Ground was broken this July in Richmond for the first six-storey wood-framed homes in BC. The BC Housing’s Remy building will deliver 188 units. Photo: BC Housing
BC’s first wood-frame six-storey residential building breaks ground Less than 18 months after the BC government approved them, the first wood-frame, sixstorey residential building has broken ground. The Remy, a 188-unit housing development which includes social and market rentals, is being built in Richmond by the province and the federal government.
The 33 social housing units cost the governments $4.75 million, or about $143,000 each unit. The City of Richmond will also provide $900,000 for an on-site daycare. In April of 2009, the province changed the Building Code to allow builders to build up to
six storeys out of wood for residential buildings. The code change also allows ‘hybrid’ buildings with wood-frame upper storeys on top of a concrete or steel lower floors, provided the overall building height doesn’t exceed the 18-metre height limitation. In much of Europe, wood-frame buildings
can go as high as eight floors, and in Washington state six-storey wood frame residential towers are allowed, provided the bottom floor is concrete. A number of BC developers, including the giant Polygon Group, have expressed interest in building six-storey condo towers. ■
ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
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ROOFING BC
Vicwest opens new Delta plant DELTA: On August 4th, Vicwest officially opened its new, state-of-the-art plant in Delta. To mark the day, Vicwest invited community leaders and key clients for a personalized tour of the plant and show room as well as an opportunity to learn product information. Founded over 100 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Vicwest has made a highly significant impact in Western Canada’s construction industry and is now the nation’s leading supplier of steel decking, metal roofing, metal siding, insulated metal panels, architectural panels and other building products.
The Delta facility will feature Vicwest’s first and only product showroom featuring an entire product portfolio designed for customers to view, learn, and plan construction projects. This new plant contributes to Vicwest’s large range of products including architectural metal panels, insulated metal panels, 3-inch steel decking, and various light gauge profiles used most commonly in residential and agricultural applications. Vicwest is an associate member of the RCABC, as Mercury Metals, a division of Vicwest Operating Limited. ■
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SUMMER 2010
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White roofs: scientists say if every urban roof was painted white, it would lower the “heat island” affect by 30 percent. Photo: Henry Company
Environmental concerns drive innovation: but torch-on primed for a comeback By Frank O’Brien
White roofs across major cities; solar panels integrated into residential roof shingles; roofs that can monitor and change with the climate; and smart roofs coated with recycled cooking oil. Such are the scientific forecasts for future roofs, but pragmatic contractors see traditional torch-on bitumen making a big comeback and metal covering more of tomorrow’s roofs.
White roofs A study by the American Chemical Society foresees a future where the majority of urban roofs are painted white. The research, the first computer modeling study to simulate the impacts of white roofs on urban areas worldwide, suggests that white roofs can help cities adjust to climate change. But the study team, led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), cautions that there are still many hurdles between the concept and actual use of white roofs to counteract rising temperatures. “Our research demonstrates that white roofs, at least in theory, can be an effective method for reducing urban heat,” says NCAR scientist Keith Oleson, the lead author of the study. “It remains to be seen if it’s actually feasible for cities to paint their roofs white, but the idea certainly warrants further investigation.” The study is slated for publication later this year in Geophysical Research Letters. The National
Science Foundation, NCAR’s sponsor, funded the study, The study found that asphalt roads, tar roofs, and other dark surfaces absorb heat from the sun, creating an urban heat island effect that can raise temperatures by 1-3 degrees Celsius or more, compared to rural areas. The study indicates that, if every roof were entirely painted white, the urban heat island effect in a major city could be reduced by 33 percent. The authors emphasize that their research should be viewed as a hypothetical look. In the real world, the cooling impact might be less because dust and weathering would cause the white paint to darken over time and parts of the roofs would remain unpainted because of openings such as heating and cooling vents. In addition, white roofs would have the effect of cooling temperatures within buildings, which could mean higher winter heating costs. “It’s not as simple as just painting roofs white and cooling off a city,” Oleson says. While the model did not have enough detail to capture individual cities, it did show the change in temperatures in larger metropolitan regions. The New York City area, for example, would cool in summer afternoons by almost 1˚ Celsius.
Roofs that change with climate Ben Wen, Ph.D, a vice-president with United Environment & Energy LLC in New York, presented research at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society this spring on a new smart roof that can read and adapt to temperature changes. His study was published in the
March issue of Physics & Chemistry, an industry journal. Wen reported the development of a “smart” roof coating, made from waste cooking oil from fast food restaurants that can “read” a thermometer. The coating automatically switches roles, reflecting or transmitting solar heat, when the outdoor temperature crosses a preset point that can be tuned to the local climate. “This is one of the most innovative and practical roofing coating materials developed to date,” said Wen, leader of the research project. “This bio-based intelligent roof coating, compared with a traditional cool roof, could reduce both heating and cooling costs as it responds to the external environment. It will help save fuel and electricity and reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds from petroleum-based roofing products. In addition, it will provide a new use for millions of gallons of waste oil after it is used to cook french fries and chicken nuggets.” Roofs coated with the material would reflect summer sunlight and reduce air-conditioning bills. When chilly weather sets in, the coating would change roles and transmit heat to help warm the interior, Wen explained. Tests on coated asphalt shingles showed that it could reduce roof temperatures by about 50 - 80 percent in warm weather. In cooler weather, the coating could increase roof temperatures up to 80 percent compared with the traditional cool roof. By changing the coating’s composition, Wen and colleagues can tune the substance, so that it changes from reflective to transmitive at a specific environmental temperature. “Even though the roof temperature is reduced or increased by a few degrees, depending on the outside temperature, this change could make a big difference in your energy bill,” Wen noted. In producing the coating, waste cooking oil is processed into a liquid polymer that hardens into a plastic after application. Unlike raw waste oil, which can smell like French fries or fish, the resulting polymer is virtually odorless. The material is also non-flammable and nontoxic.
SRS Energy’s Solé solar tiles are made to look like traditional clay shingles: the company claims they are cheaper and more effective than solar panels. Photo: SRS Energy
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The coating can be applied to virtually any type of roof, he said. Wen expects that the coating can last many years and can be reapplied when it wears off. If further testing continues to go well, he estimates that the coating could be ready for commercial use in about three years. Wen cautions, however, against pouring ordinary cooking oil on a roof in an attempt to mimic the energy savings. That’s because ordinary cooking oil won’t turn into a polymer, doesn’t contain the key ingredient for controlling infrared light levels, and could pose a fire hazard for the building, he explained.
Black to white and back Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has come up with its own temperaturechanging roof concept. MIT’s Thermeleon material is a composite of layers that makes it thermochromic – on exposure to heat it changes color from black to white. It works by sandwiching a common polymer between flexible plastic layers, with a black one at the back. When cold the polymer solution stays dissolved and the black rear face shows through, and when it heats up the solution condenses to form light-scattering white droplets, according to researchers. When the summer sun is shining, a roof tile covered in the material is white-coloured, scattering up to 80 percent of the sunlight back and thus keeping the building beneath the roof cooler. During winter, the black coloured tiles help keep the building interior warmer. The MIT team is working on micro-encapsulating the chemicals, so that in future they may work as a spray-on coating. There is no indication when it may become commercially viable. Styrofoam roof Billy Ellis Roofing, a Texas-based roofing company, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are collaborating to test a residential roof system with Thermadeck insulation, a Styrofoam piece specifically designed for air ventilation covered with foil that can be installed on top of a standard shingle roof. Taking advantage of the simple science that heat rises, the Thermadeck insulation equipped with air gaps helps move
hot air up and away from the roof in an effective, cost efficient way without compromising the quality of the roof, according to proponents. Billy Ellis Roofing is funding the research through a user agreement with ORNL’s Building Technology Center and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Solar shingles Solar shingles that look like normal roof shingles are hitting the market this year from Dow Chemicals (see the Summer issue of Roofing BC), but new solar competitors are turning up the heat and perhaps lowering the cost. One of the new innovations is battery-pack solar roofs that allow power to be stored for use at night. U.S.-based home builder KB Homes has installed the Chinese-made battery-pack solar roofs on five new demonstration houses in California this year. So far, the concept is not economical, but KB thinks the cost could be tacked onto new home prices, if and when the U.S. housing market recovers. The KB solar roofs look quite different from normal roofs, which could affect the commercial takeup. But, like Dow Chemical solar wafers, SRS Energy’s Solé solar tiles are made to look like traditional clay shingles. SRS models are a marriage of traditional clay tile and a photovoltaic cell developed by Bresselergroup. Instead of the rigid silicon crystalline wafers, Bresslergroup created a polymeric material that allowed them to make the curve of the tile. For the panels themselves, they used an extremely flexible triplejunction non-crystalline amorphous silicon cells made by Michigan-based UNI-SOLAR, known as a “thin film” technology. “They’re the first company to make a cost-effective, lightweight solar technology that’s ideal for the roofing space,” says Abby Nessa Feinstein, director of marketing for SRS Energy. Not only are the Solé tiles far cheaper to produce, the solar technology employed uses 99 percent less material than a traditional silicon wafer. And the curve in the tile allows air to freely circulate below it, preventing overheating, according to SRS. The ability to easily disassemble the thin film at the end of its lifespan also makes for easy recycling. Dow Chemical’s solar shingles use thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide technology to make them cheap and light, and they are designed to be intermingled with traditional asphalt tiles on a roof. That makes for easy installation, and lower visibility from the curb, the company claims But the cost is still rather hair raising. According to Dow, a rooftop solar shingle array for a typical house costs approximately $27,000, and offsets 60 percent of total home energy consumption. It’s an expensive upfront cost, but Dow believes the ROOFING BC
shingles could generate $5 billion in revenue by 2015 and $10 billion by 2020.
Back in the real world Back in the real world, BC roofing contractors have a different take on the roof materials of tomorrow – and they are very familiar products. Torch-on roofing, they say, could well replace asphalt shingles, which are currently the most popular residential roof material in the country. Also, architectural metal roofing – as
Dow Chemical thinks that solar panels that look like asphalt shingles could morph into a $5 billion market within five years. Photo: Dow Chemical
witnessed by its explosive use in BC – is seen as the most likely commercial roofing material of the future. ■
Montreal ‘Big O’ stadium to get new roof Don’t look down: A guest swims in the infinity pool atop Singapore’s new Marina Bay Sands hotel towers. Photo: Reuters
Pool tops world’s most expensive hotel SINGAPORE: An infinity pool 55 storeys above the streets of Singapore is among the signature items on the new ultra-luxury Marina Bay Sands hotel, which opened this summer. At three times the length of an Olympic pool and 650 feet up, it is the largest outdoor pool in the world at that height. It is perched atop the three towers that make up the world’s most expensive hotel, the Marina Bay Sands development, valued at over $6 billion. The hotel has 2,560 rooms priced at around $750 a night. ■
MONTREAL: Quebec’s Olympic Installations Board is moving ahead with a $300 million project to replace the decrepit roof covering Montreal’s infamous “Big O” stadium. The Board filed a notice of intent in July to seek approval from Quebec’s government to hire SNC-Lavalin for the job. The new steel roof will be rigid, fixed, and more durable than the current retractable fibreglass membrane that rips frequently, requiring expensive repairs. The current retractable structure will be dismantled to make room for the new steel structure. The project also includes major repairs and maintenance over the next 25 years. The roof of the stadium is in such rough shape that Montreal’s fire department threatened this year to shut the building completely. The membrane has lost almost half of its tear resistance and requires repairs as often as 50 times a year. The membrane roof, installed by U.S. company Birdair in 1998, cannot handle Montreal’s heavy snowfalls. ■
In January 1999, the Olympic Stadium’s roof tore, spilling tonnes of snow into an area where workers were preparing for the city’s annual auto show. Photo: CBC
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9
LEGAL MATTERS
Why is this place so f#%&ed up? Candid answers to blunt questions don’t constitute grounds for dismissal By Robert Smithson
Among the possible acts of workplace insubordination, criticizing your boss to his or her superior ranks high on the list of actions sure to generate a negative reaction. But what if the criticism was solicited rather than voluntarily offered up? Mau was an employee of the Canadian National Railway Co., in the position of Trainmaster, between 1999 and 2007. Initially, he was stationed in Sarnia, Ontario but later relocated to Kamloops, BC. In November of 2007, Mau began reporting to a new Assistant Superintendent of the Kamloops CN terminal, Roberts. Roberts reported, in turn, to the Superintendent of Operations of CN’s BC South Division. In December of 2007, the Superintendent of Operations visited the Kamloops terminal. The events of that visit led to the termination of Mau from his employment for “insubordination�
and “lack of professionalism�. During the visit to the Kamloops terminal, the Superintendent approached Mau in the yard and asked him some questions about problems that were being experienced at the Kamloops terminal. In particular, Mau was asked why the Kamloops terminal was “so f#%&ed up�. Mau answered this unusually direct question candidly, telling the Superintendent he should look at a calendar to see what had changed in the Kamloops operation. That comment was intended to be a reference to the recent arrival of Roberts to the Kamloops terminal. A little later, Mau was asked to attend at the office and was directed to go into Roberts’ office. There, Mau was informed by Roberts that he was being “relieved of his position for gross insubordination�.
“unreasonable demands and expectations, and his propensity to take undue umbrage� were at the heart of this relationship difficulty. The arbitrator noted that Mau had made statements critical of Roberts and that making critical comments “about one’s superior to higher members of management may very well constitute insubordination�. But, in the circumstances of this case, Mau’s comments did not. In particular, Mau did not volunteer his criticism to the Superintendent. He was asked questions pointedly seeking an explanation of why the Kamloops terminal “was so f#%&ed up�.
Complaint filed Mau filed a complaint of unjust dismissal pursuant to Part III of the Canada Labour Code. The arbitrator zeroed in on the
fact that the heart of the matter was the relationship between Mau and Roberts. It seems that the “artificial, detached, and rigidly hierarchical management approach� of the Assistant Superintendent, his
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Robert Smithson Robert Smithson is a partner at Pushor Mitchell LLP in Kelowna, practicing exclusively in the area of labour and employment law. For more information about his practice, visit www.pushormitchell.com. This subject matter is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honest candourâ&#x20AC;? As the arbitrator stated, â&#x20AC;&#x153;both the questions themselves and the language used to frame them, reasonably gave Mr. Mau the impression that his honest candour was being sought. Mau â&#x20AC;&#x153;simply communicated his view that the Kamloops terminal had ceased to function well coincident withâ&#x20AC;? Robertsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; arrival. The arbitrator commented that,
â&#x20AC;&#x153;at some point, a superior who asks blunt questions will be taken to have solicited blunt answers.â&#x20AC;? The arbitrator determined that none of Mauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conduct complained of constituted insubordination or insolence. The outcome was a finding that Mau had been unjustly dismissed and, as a result, CN was ordered to reinstate Mau to his employment. As in all things employmentrelated, this outcome was highly dependent upon the context in which the alleged insubordination occurred. For employers, the lesson is that employees should not be penalized for providing a blunt answer to a blunt question. â&#x2013;
SUMMER 2010
RCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional members have extensive experience in the science of roofing and waterproofing. Visit RCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website:
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WAYNE, NJ: With high winds forecast for much of eastern and central Canada this summer, the issue of roofs surviving hurricane-level blasts has become more pronounced. The two toughest wind tests in North America – ASTM D3161 Class F up to 177 kilometres per hour (110 mph) and ASTM Class H, which tests roof for winds of up to 240 kmph (150 mph) – recently put shingles from GAF Materials Corp. under the gun. The result? GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, confirms that every shingle it manufactures passed both tests. GAF may be the only shingle manufacturer that can make this claim. GAF credits its DuraGrip adhesive for allowing its shingles to pass the Class H test, after it breezed through the Class F winds. Under ASTM testing, the shingles must withstand the high winds for two full hours with no damage. In case some contractors think that wind may not be a major concern outside of obvious coastal areas, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (who develop wind guidelines for U.S. construction), high winds are not just a concern for coastal regions, as local geography can cause high winds at peaks, mountain passes, or large bodies of water. According to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, more than 60 percent of all homes in North America are vulnerable to damage from high winds generated by storms and heavy rains. ■
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Safety fines hit record level VANCOUVER: In 2009, WorkSafeBC imposed $4.4 million in penalties for safety violations, the highest dollar value ever in a single year. The vast majority of safety incidents were caused by inadequate training or supervision on the job site, according to WorkSafeBC. Some of the increase in fines comes from stepped up inspections, especially of companies with repeated infractions. Of the 211 penalized infractions last year, 16 of them involved the death of a worker. ■ ROOFING BC
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An accessible green roof tops the planned James condominium complex on Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South False Creek. The 150-unit building is among more than 1,817 new home starts in July after the HST came into effect. Photo: Cressey Developers
Firestone unveils virtual roof modeling
HST fails to deter home builders Despite fears of doom and gloom, the introduction of the harmonized sales tax has not had much effect on the British Columbia or Metro Vancouver housing construction, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Across BC, total housing starts soared 109 percent in the first seven months of 2010 and were 72.7 percent higher in July â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after the HST came into play â&#x20AC;&#x201C; than in July of 2009. So far this year, 13,392 homes broke ground, including 7,537 multi-family units. In Kelowna, for instance, 2010 starts are up nearly 180 percent than a year ago. The Metro Vancouver region recorded 1,124 housing starts in July 2010, and year-to-date starts hit 8,005 new homes, much higher than before the HST was introduced.
Total Vancouver area starts in July were up 117 percent from July of 2009. Since the start of the year, starts are 107 percent higher, at 8,005 homes, compared to 3,859 in the first seven months of 2009. In Vancouver, 1,819 homes started, compared to 819 in the same period last year, an increase of 217 percent. Burnaby starts jumped from 505 units to 707 and Coquitlam starts soared from 179 homes to 565, with 27 starts in July alone. Across the region, new detached houses so far this year account for 2,750 of the starts, while multiplefamily starts totaled 5,255 homes. Most of these starts are condominiums and townhomes, although 480 rental apartments were also started. The HST applies a 12 percent tax
on new homes, but most new homes are eligible for a $26,500 rebate. The HST is not applied to resale housing. However, the Canadian Real Estate Association blames the HST for a downturn in resale housing through MLS in July. The Association notes that both BC and Ontario, which both introduced the HST on July 1, had the biggest drop in home sales among all provinces. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A slowdown in demand had been widely expected in July, as many purchases were brought forward into the first half of the year in advance of the introduction of the HST,â&#x20AC;? the Association states. While the HST is not applicable to resale homes it is applied to many closing costs and fees associated with a resale home purchase. â&#x2013;
Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, is unveiling RoofGenuity, an online new roof modeling tool for the commercial roofing industry. The online tool enables architects, consultants, roofing contractors and building owners to design the roof of their building designs with various configurations of Firestone single-ply, asphalt and metal roofing systems and polyiso insulation virtual objects to create the optimal model for their commercial building needs. Firestone introduced RoofGenuity at the AIA 2010 National Convention in Miami, June 10-12. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just as each building project is unique, so are the roofing solutions necessary to address their distinct needs,â&#x20AC;? said Rick Ruppert, strategic account executive for specifiers at Firestone Building Products. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The
first-of-its-kind commercial roof modeling tool enables professionals to assemble every possible configuration of Firestone roofing solutions to accommodate their specific needs, export it to the most popular design programs and visualize the complete design of the building.â&#x20AC;? RoofGenuity can be used for a wide range of building types, including educational facilities; commercial, industrial and office buildings; entertainment venues; healthcare facilities and government buildings. To use RoofGenuity, roofing professionals can visit www.roofgenuity.com and register for a free account. After entering optional project location information, the user can begin the roof assembly process. â&#x2013;
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Bidders sought for Evergreen Line Simpson Strong-Tie new truss can be nailed or screwed into place. Photo: Simpson Strong-Tie
New truss for roof framers PLEASANTON, CA: Erecting or retrofitting valley trusses just got faster and easier for roof framers and truss installers with the introduction of the Simpson StrongTie VTCR valley truss connector. Installed on top of roof sheathing, or directly to the framing below, this single-sided valley truss clip eliminates the need to add a support wedge under the valley truss or to bevel the bottom chord to match the supporting roof pitch, according to Simpson Strong-Tie. The VTCR connector installs after the valley truss has been set, a time-saving benefit for new construction as well as for retrofits in high-wind areas. The connector conveniently installs from one side
with nails or with Simpson StrongTie Strong-Drive® SD structural connector screws, the latter resulting in a nearly 30 percent increase in uplift capacity. “With the introduction of the VTCR, Simpson Strong-Tie has addressed the need for a valley truss connector that doesn’t install under the valley frame as well as one that only requires front-side fastening,” explained Stan Sias, Simpson Strong-Tie national manager for the Plated Truss industry. The VTCR can be installed on either beveled or non-beveled bottom chords and is clearly marked for fast setup of pitches from 0:12 to 12:12. ■
VICTORIA: BC’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find private partners to design, build and finance the Evergreen Line, a $1.4 billion rapid transit P-3 project servicing the northeast quadrant of Metro Vancouver. The RFQ process closes on September 7, and the government will select up to three teams to participate in the Request for Proposals stage. The provincial government has already done planning and public consultation. The Evergreen Line will connect Coquitlam to
Vancouver via Port Moody and Burnaby and tie into the existing Skytrain and Canada Line systems. The federal and provincial governments have both committed about $400 million to the project. TransLink needs to come up with $400 million as its share of the line’s total cost. Construction of the 11-kilometre line is slated to begin early in 2011 and be completed by 2014. The project will generate an estimated 9,000 jobs. The Evergreen Line has six stations designated but up to four more could be added. If construction follows the lead of Skytrain, most stations will be above ground and clad and capped in architectural sheet metal. ■
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Certified cedar shakes are a beautiful – and some say the greenest – roofing option. Photo: Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau
With doubts growing about green roof claims in the midst of consumer demand for environmentally aware products, cedar roofs could emerge as a top green roofing choice, according to environmentalists and the BC-based Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau (CSSB). “When it comes to building materials, wood is the only material that is renewable,” notes Patrick jumping on the green bandwagon.” Moore, a forest ecologist and Certified labeled cedar roof cofounder of Greenpeace. “Steel, shingles, they suggest, go beyond concrete, plastic and aluminum are the green hype to all non-renewable deliver “an resources; and in environmentally “The only major particular require a building material responsible choice – lot more energy and that is renewable” renewable, emit a lot more recyclable and greenhouse gasses sustainable.” in their manufacturing. So far as an Here are some facts about cedar environmentally friendly building roofing as it relates to product, wood is the clear leader.” environmental decisions: Cedar, of course, has been • Wood is thermally efficient, easy successfully used as a roofing to insulate and the only major material for hundreds of years. building material that is In BC, perhaps the top green renewable. Tests have shown choice in wood is the Certi-label that wood roofs can keep a cedar roofing from the West Coast residential attic 2.2˚C cooler in Lumber Manufacturers Association. summer heat, since the cells in As the CSSB notes, “usage of the wood allow the shakes to term green is not regulated or function as a natural insulator. monitored: it seems like everyone is • The energy use and global
warming potential for a square (100 square feet) or heavy handsplit and resawn cedar shakes is equal to the energy released and the greenhouse gas emitted by burning 7 pounds of propane for a barbecue – in other words, very low. • Each year, more than 175 million seedlings are planted in BC to reforest logged or burnt or insect-damaged forest lands. More than five billion seedlings have been planted so far. Cedar shake roofs are also well ahead of the recycling curve. The roofing industry has only begun to recycle asphalt shingles, but wood shakes can be easily recycled in wood chips or even kindling. Also, a well-installed cedar roof can last for 50 or 60 years and the roofs are easy to repair, the Bureau notes. ■
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VANCOUVER: The Building Owners and Managers Association of BC (BOMA) presented its Earth awards this June at its Green Buildings Gala. The retrofit of AXA Place (managed by Polaris Realty Canada) in downtown Vancouver won in the existing building category, and ‘3383 Gilmore Way’ Burnaby, (managed by Morguard Investments) won in the new building category. This five-storey, campus-style building includes 146,000 square feet of office space and accommodates more than 850 employees for HSBC Technology. The new building has also been awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the US Green Building Council Thirty-five of the most recent BOMA BESt certified buildings (which meet BOMA’s standards for recycling and other green measures) were also recognized at the gala. ■ SUMMER 2010
ROOFING BC
Bullish report sees upturn in construction demand
LOOKING FORWARD
“There will not be enough new workers to fill labour requirements” RICHMOND: British Columbia’s construction industry could emerge from the steep downturn that began in 2008, based on the potential of government stimulus and the resurgence of private-sector-led projects, says a newly released report by the Construction Sector Council (CSC). In its annual report on the supply and demand for construction labour in BC, the CSC estimated that construction employment fell by 15 percent with the loss of over 21,000 jobs during the downturn. M.J. Whitemarsh, chief executive officer of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC, notes that in general, construction workers faced 10 to 15 percent job losses (21,000 jobs) in the downturn. But the provincial Construction Looking Forward report estimates the return of stronger labour markets for much of the forecast period.
Native reserves eyed for commercial buildings NORTH VANCOUVER: First Nation communities in BC and across Canada have been granted property rights that could allow large-scale commercial real estate developments on reserve lands. The federal government and the Squamish Nation in British Columbia have said Bill C-24’s amendments to the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act gives reserves more flexibility in attracting investor interest for commercial real estate projects. The bill passed through Parliament in June with unanimous support from all parties. Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said these rights, which include a land title system and title assurance fund, close an “important regulatory gap that has so far hampered the development of large commercial real estate projects on reserve land.” The certainty of land title granted by such a regime would increase investor confidence, making the value of the property comparable with similar developments off the reserve, Strahl explained. Previously, there was no certainty of land title on First Nations land on ROOFING BC
An example of the importance of public construction, the new $966 million RCMP E-Division Headquarters project began this summer on a 24-hectare site in Surrey. Designed by Kasian Architecture of Vancouver and being built by Bird Construction and Bouygues Building Canada Inc., the complex is being built to LEED environmental standards. It will open in December 2012. Photo: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.
“Industry and governments must also consider that the demographic challenge is here today and that we need to continue to address our labour market needs,” said Wayne Peppard, executive director of the British Columbia and Yukon Building Trades. Looking ahead until 2018, the BC scenario indicates 28,000 workers
will retire, 3,700 positions will be lost due to mortality, and 27,400 new jobs will be created. And it estimates that the 24,000 new entrants will not be enough to meet demand. “There will not be enough new workers to fill labour requirements, so our priorities will be on recruiting, training and career
promotion that targets all potential sources of labour,” said Manley McLachlan, president of the British Columbia Construction Association, who also noted that, “Construction managers, contractors and supervisors will be in high demand throughout most of the forecast period. The CSC compiles reports for
each province following consultations with industry leaders, as well as governments and educational institutions. The national and regional scenariobased forecasts are released annually and are available online at www.csc-ca.org. In addition, all forecast data is available at www.constructionforecasts.ca ■
reserve. First Nations officials had complained it hindered them from finding financial backing for onreserve development opportunities. The Squamish Nation already has plans to build condominium units on prime undeveloped reserve land in West Vancouver.
over last year – and we expect this to continue. Affordable housing and low unemployment rates will continue to lead the north into a healthy economy,” said BCNREB president Claudia Holland. The confidence is mostly linked to the recent news that the Site C dam project would be moving to the next stage of approvals. If it goes ahead, the $6 billion plus project would create thousands of construction jobs. Talk of the power project has been rife for years, and the project is seen as a potential driver of the North’s resource-oriented economy. The two-year approval process the province is undertaking promises to spur speculative activity, say brokers in both Fort St. John and Dawson Creek. “You’ll see a lot of people buying investment properties in this area,” said Trevor Bolin, owner of Re/Max Action Realty in Fort St. John and Re/Max Dawson Creek Realty in Dawson Creek, an hour’s drive east.
Public spending to lead construction trend
employment rose 1.2 percent in June 2010 from May to an estimated 91,000 persons working in the industry. This is down 7 percent from June 2009. In Abbotsford, construction employment increased for the sixth consecutive month, up 2.9 percent in June to 10,800 persons. Yearover-year employment in the area was up 45.9 percent. Province wide, seasonally adjusted construction employment levels declined 2.7 percent in June to 192,600, its lowest level in more than a year. Compared with June 2009, the number of people employed in BC construction was down by nearly 5,000 workers. Private non-residential building construction does not offer much upside for construction employment in 2010, says the VRCA. Public sector construction has more potential since more government stimulus funds have to be spent and should peak in 2010 before fading in 2011. ■
Housing uptick heralds North’s recovery PRINCE GEORGE: There could be a boom building in northern BC, and the first signs are starting to show in the residential market. Sales through the BC Northern Real Estate Board (BCNREB), which track everything from lots to detached homes, mobiles and condominiums, shot up about 40 percent in the first half of this year, compared to 2009. Total sales volume was nudging $490 million, up from $365 million a year earlier. “Listings are up and sales are up
VANCOUVER: Construction employment in the Lower MainlandSouthwest region grew slightly in June, but the entire province is more dependent on government projects than private construction this year, according to the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA). Statistics Canada reported that June saw 111,900 persons working in construction in the region, up a slim 1.9 percent from May 2010. “We expected to see a higher gain in construction employment, but regional employment continues to edge higher and has likely seen the bottom for this cycle,” said Keith Sashaw, Association president. “The trend seems to indicate that the worst is over for the industry.” In Metro Vancouver, construction
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SIMPLEX ASPHALT PRODUCTS Calgary AB Surrey BC Tel: 604-591-1606 Fax: 604-591-2282
Tel: 403-207-3400 Fax: 403-207-3404
London
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613-260-5402 Sales 613-260-1742 Fax
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Tel: 780-436-5577 Fax: 780-439-9797
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509-533-1531 Sales 509-533-1819 Fax
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425-678-4983 Sales 425-678-4994 Fax
503-416-4266 Sales 503-416-4272 Fax