RoofingBC Summer 2011 by RCABC

S U M M ER 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES: Member profile: Chilliwack Roofing.......................1 Women in roofing.....................14

THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS

Vol. 8, No. 2 • SUMMER 2011

ASSOCIATION: President’s message .................. 3 RCABC now COR ....................... 4 Steep roof training /licensing initiative in works ......................4 INDUSTRY NEWS: Update: BC Place Stadium roof ..............................10 VRCA gears for awards .......... 10 Telus tower: 10,000 sf of green roof ........................... 11 Surrey hospital expands..........11 Largest warehouse under construction............................... 12 Instant town in Cumberland.. 12 Cube design takes wood honours .................................... 12 New metal cutting tool ............13 Fire resistant shingles ..............13 Steep slope roofing safety..... 18 AIBC names architectural winners........................................19 BOMA awards top projects.....19 Fire levels first 6-storey wood building .......................... 20 Solar power future in doubt.. 21 Horizontal high rise ................ 22 Princeton welcomes new copper mine ............................ 24 International Roofing Symposium set......................... 24 Oxford starts new tower ........ 24 Kelowna recovers from downturn ................................... 25 Building permits up, but residential slowing .................. 26 COLUMN Legal Affairs: Hiring foreign workers? ........ 26

Melvin, Oscar and Howard Schlamb

Member profile: 50 years in the fight Chilliwack Roofing celebrates a milestone with a “bring it on” attitude By Frank O’Brien

Chilliwack Roofing Ltd. celebrates 50 years of service to the Fraser Valley roofing industry in 2011, and president Howard Schlamb doubts the next half-century will be any easier than the last.

“It’s a dog fight out there,” Schlamb said, “The roofing market is super competitive right now.” But if you bet on a fight, the smart money would be on the contender with experience and backed by a top crew of veterans who have overcome tougher challenges in the past. Howard Schlamb knows roofing. He started work with his father and company founder Oscar Schlamb

back in 1979 after a brief stint in the oil fields. In 1992 Howard and his brother (company vice-president Melvin) bought the company from their father. From their Chilliwack location, Chilliwack Roofing has grown into one of the leading roofing contractors in the Fraser Valley, running trucks and up to five crews as far east as Hope and working all across the Valley.

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“We go anywhere the work is,” Howard Schlamb said. Oscar, now 75, still lends a hand, an indication of the commitment that has driven Chilliwack Roofing from the beginning. When Roofing BC caught up with Howard, his crews were finishing a 100,000 square foot torch-on roof for the new Rosedale Elementary School in Chilliwack. Other recent CHILLIWACK continued on page 6

Women in roofing Gender bias is becoming a thing of the past as more women enter the trades. See page 14

Active Members Professional Roofing Contractors that support an educated and committed workforce

Associate Members companies focused on the manufacture and distribution of quality roofing products that meet or exceed changing industry standards AR EPS Foam Atlas Roofing Corporation Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. Building Products of Canada Corp. Canada Metal (Pacific) Limited Carlisle SynTec Systems Canada Cedar Grove Roofing Supply Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau CertainTeed Corporation CGC Inc. 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 Grace Construction Products HAL Industries Inc. Henry Company Canada Hunter Panels IKO Industries Ltd. Intertek InterWrap Inc. Johns Manville Corporation Louiseville Specialty Products Inc. Makin Metals Ltd.

Malarkey Roofing Company 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 Protecto Wrap RMAX, Inc. Roofmart Pacific Ltd. Roxul, Inc. Sika Sarnafil Simplex Asphalt Products Siplast Slegg Lumber SFS intec Fastening Systems Soprema Inc. Steels Industrial Products Ltd. Tech-Crete Processors Ltd. Tremco Ltd. Western Wood Truss Association Westform Metals

101 Industries Ltd. Admiral Roofing Ltd. Advanced Systems Roofing and Waterproofing Ltd. Alpha-Duron Roofing Ltd. Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc. 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. Broadway Roofing Co. Ltd. Cambie Roofing Contractors Ltd. Campbell & Grill Ltd. Cascade Roofing & Waterproofing (2007) Inc. Chilliwack Roofing Ltd. Coast Hudson Ltd. Coastal Roofing Ltd. Continental Roofing Crown Roofing & Drainage Ltd. Design Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. D.M. Henderson Roofing Ltd. Eby & Sons Construction Ltd. Flynn Canada Ltd. G & G Roofing Ltd. GRC Columbia Roofing Inc. Harvard Industries Ltd. Heritage Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Homan Contractors Ltd. Hunter Roofing Ltd.

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Interior Roofing (2001) Ltd. Kelowna Roofing (1984) Ltd. Laing Roofing Ltd. 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.

From the President

a workforce that is diverse, more educated and trained in good work habits as well as safe work procedures. We are fortunate that staff at the RCABC school is focused to work with the public school system, an investment that has resulted in sound recruitment strategies of new workers for RCABC members. Whether in Once again it is my privilege to roofing, architectural sheet metal, offer some comment on the building envelope or steep roofing activities of RCABC during the past training, RCABC remains a leader few months. I hesitate to call this and a yardstick by which other issue a summer edition considering associations are measured. that there has been little evidence It was with this leadership in of warm and dry weather of late. mind that the RCABC took the Luckily, living in Prince Rupert I unprecedented step of mandating have become somewhat immune to that all contractor members the vagaries of the weather and like complete the Certificate of all good farmers (I mean roofers), I Recognition (COR) Program continue to pray for dryer weather facilitated by the BC Construction in order to get to the fields. Safety Alliance as an ongoing In this issue of RBC membership the primary focus is on requirement. This safety and risk decision, as with any management issues as significant policy well as change, was not acknowledgement of undertaken without the increased considerable discussion participation of women by the RCABC Board. not only in the roofing There is no doubt that trade, but generally in it has cost each and trades traditionally every member considered as male significantly, whether it Tony Caputo dominated. This requires a Small or a coincides directly with the Large Company Audit (under or increasingly rapid changes in our over 20 employees). However it is a industry, as new owners take over cost that will have significant return established companies and the by reducing time lost to accidents, competition for qualified personnel greater productivity, and better becomes even more challenging. morale among employees. Although These new owners will benefit from it may be considered a burden to

Diverse workforce changes the face of roofing

ROOFING BC

Tel: 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744

ADMINISTRATION Executive Vice President Brian Hofler, M.Ed. executivevp@rcabc.org Associate Executive Vice President Ivan van Spronsen, TQ ivan@rcabc.org Executive Assistant Barbara Porth bporth@rcabc.org

EDUCATION Education & Training Manager Shirley Caldwell, PID, TQ scaldwell@rcabc.org Senior Instructor David Rice, I.P., PID, RRO instructor1@rcabc.org

some, it is one that the RCABC member firms have taken on whole-heartedly. At the time of writing, nearly every RCABC member has completed the requirements and / or has received COR Certification. What an achievement, something to be truly proud of! This dedication to risk management, by the members of RCABC, is another indication of the value attributed to employees and the contribution they make to the company bottom line. As we move forward I am confident that the RCABC will continue to be viewed as an innovative risk taker, a leader that

SUMMER 2011

will remain a notch above other associations with a membership viewed as professional in the roofing industry. Personally, I would like to thank all the members for the hard work that went into this achievement. Thanks for your commitment and for putting your money on the table. Is that the sun I see poking through? Summer is coming and so I wish every professional roofing contractor best wishes for the harvest and a safe and productive season. Regards, Tony Caputo, President, Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia ■

Registrar Cindy Grantham registrar@rcabc.org

TECHNICAL Technical Manager Rob Harris, RRO rharris@rcabc.org Technical Advisor Severin Wolf, ME swolf@rcabc.org Guarantee Administrator Karen Esbensen guarantees@rcabc.org

RISK MANAGEMENT Safety & Risk Management Supervisor Roger Sové, I.P., PID, Ad.Ed. roger@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.

RCABC: safety at the COR 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 Tony Caputo Don Schouten Paddy Tennant 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.

Roofing Practices Manual now online The RCABC Roofing Practices Manual (RPM) is now available online. It is the most comprehensive roofing manual available in Canada, and a must for all roofing contractors and specifiers requesting the RCABC Guarantee for workmanship and materials. The RPM includes the Guarantee Standards for application, accepted material list with the manufacturer’s description of products, and typical detail drawings for the RGC Guarantee Program. It has over 1200 pages and is divided into 12 sections related to the different material groups and details. The manual is updated twice yearly, including newly accepted roofing products, with input from RCABC’s Technical Committee. Anyone writing a roofing or waterproofing specification can now access this manual free of charge on the RCABC website: www.rcabc.org ■ 4

LANGLEY – The Roofing Contractors Association of BC has made the Certificate of Recognition (COR), issued by the BC Construction Safety Alliance, a condition of new and ongoing membership in the association. The certification was required to have been completed no later than June 30, 2011. In a letter to RCABC’s members this spring, Associate EVP Ivan van Spronsen stated, “Most of our members have already invested the the time and energy to receive the certification, and I am confident that each firm will complete this in the allotted time frame.” As van Spronsen pointed out, the RCABC’s “strong message about safety has not gone unnoticed in our industry,” citing an article in WorkSafe’s March-April magazine, which made reference to the policy about COR requirement. RCABC members have had plenty of help to get the COR designation.

“Roger Sové, our Risk Manager, has been working diligently in walking members through the process,” said van Spronsen. “BSSCA has also offered to give preferential assistance in program support and to fasttrack an application or audit submitted by an RCABC member.” Stephen Peszel, Manager of Programs for BCCSA, explains that the only cost associated with acquiring COR designation is paying the

auditor, who is charged with ensuring that each company has followed specified criteria in establishing their own health & safety program and manual, and that the employees have been educated about, and are adhereing to, safe work practices that meet or exceed the procedures outlined by WorkSafeBC. The fee for the audit varies depending on the number of days required to conduct it, and how far afield the auditor must travel in order to inspect the firm’s job site practices.

Peszel is pleased to see the number of firms that have recognized the importance of putting an in-depth safety program into practice. The initial monetary investment will pay off in reduced injuries and improved morale, not to mention huge savings in WorkSafeBC premiums. “If you think safety is expensive, wait till you see what happens if you have an accident,” he says. ■

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Steep roof training / licensing initiatives in the works The RCABC has been working with industry stakeholders on a proposal for a Registered Steep Roofer License and Certification Program (RSRLCP) for contractors who work in the (residential) steep roofing sector. In a bid to improve work practices and reduce injuries in residential roof construction, the RCABC hopes that the training and subsequent licensing of steep slope roofers would be mandatory within the province. WorkSafeBC reports dramatic statistics about the incidence and cost of steep-roofing injuries, which are higher than any other sector of the construction industry. See Don Schouten’s article on page 18. The Council of Construction Associations (COCA) was quick to lend its support for this timely initiative by agreeing that, with the assistance of president Grant McMillan, COCA would lobby for a WorkSafeBC regulation to require the training and certification of workers in the steep slope roofing industry. The timeliness of this proposal is prophetic considering that RCABC has also petitioned the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to move services for residential steep roofing from the Residential Construction Industry Training Organization (RCITO) to the Construction Industry Training Organization (CITO). COCA provided a letter in support for RCABC’s request in view of its previous endorsement of a licensing program, which included a review of the current Residential Steep Roofing Program Outline. If the proposal is accepted by the ITA, the development of the pilot program could be started as early as this Fall. RCABC EVP Brian Hofler believes it would take a minimum of one year to develop the necessary resources to run a pilot project. He estimates the finished program may be four weeks in duration (depending on stakeholder input), and include instruction in technical applications as well as any risk reduction strategies that protect workers as well as improve the quality of the roofing work. The CITO would work with the RCABC to develop the training criteria, and the resulting licensing program would be overseen by WorkSafeBC. Hofler, who was hoping for a decision from the ITA by the time Roofing BC went to press, speculated that if approval is given then RCABC, working with industry stakeholders, would help to guide the process of redeveloping the current training materials. Although the Roof, Damp and Waterproofing Interprovincial (IP) training program currently includes a steep roofing component, a new dedicated program could be of value to individuals who prefer to remain employed strictly in the steep roofing sector. It may be possible to develop a program of shared competencies, thus allowing steep roofers the opportunity to earn an IP Red Seal designation in the future, Hofler says. ■

The BC Construction Industry Training Organization (BCCITO) is here to help our industry train for the future: the right workers, with the right knowledge and skills, the right standards, at the right time for the right needs. Visit our website:

www.westernroofing.ca SUMMER 2011

ROOFING BC

SUMMER 2011

CHILLIWACK continued from page 1

projects include a new Toyota dealership, the GW Graham Secondary School, and scores of both single-family and multi-family residential roofs. Chilliwack Roofing handles torchon systems, fiberglass shingles, EDPM roofing, TPO single-ply systems and metal flashings, trim and cladding. The company has a metal shop as part of its 2,300square-foot Chilliwack headquarters.

[The crews] have adapted well to the new safety regulations... They have learned to step back, and take five or 10 minutes to make sure everything is being done right. Like the president, many of Chilliwack Roofing’s 30-person staff have been with the company for years, some for two decades or more. The ability to provide steady work has helped Chilliwack retain top tradespeople, many of whom have received training through the RCABC campus in Langley. Chilliwack Roofing drew on its own staff to implement the COR safety program. Company

Three generations of Schlambs – L-R: Nathan, Melvin, Oscar, Howard, Cody, Curtis Melvin’s son Nathan, 23, who works for the company full time, has completed his first year of apprenticeship. Howard’s son Cody, 24, whose goal is to be a teacher, has completed two years of his apprenticeship, and works summers in Chilliwack Roofing’s estimating department. Meanwhile his brother Curtis, 19, is on the rooftops, paying his way through his Engineering degree.

Fifty-two modular homes from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Village in Whistler are being reconfigured into Timber Grove Apartments, permanent affordable subsidized rental homes in Surrey for seniors and people with disabilities who are at risk of homelessness. The building envelope and other associated work is being done on-site by Heatherbrae Builders Co. Ltd., which sub-contracted the roofing to Chilliwack Roofers. The structure was completely tarped overhead to keep everything dry while the roof was being worked on.

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ROOFING BC

SBS vapour retarder being applied to the steel Q-deck at a new Shoppers Drug Mart being built in Abbotsford

Laying of acoustic insulation at the new Rosedale Elementary/ Middle School in Chilliwack

Health & Safety Officer Phyllis Nachtigal with Chilliwack Roofing’s safety manual, which is “over 1,000 pages, and constantly undergoing changes and updates.” Nachtigal adds that with institutional and government contracts where the RGC guarantee is specified, their customers are now asking to see the company’s health and safety program before work commences. The entire document has been put on disk to easily and economically satisfy those requests.

accountant Phyllis Nachtigal took on the COR audit training and the role of Health & Safety Officer. “We felt that having an in-house health and safety officer would allow more direct control,” Nachtigal said, adding that the crews have adapted well to the new safety regulations. “They have learned to step back, and take five or 10 minutes to make sure everything is being done right,” she said. The company has never had a serious accident.

Slowdown seen Schlamb always keeps a close eye on infrastructure work as a harbinger of construction, and he sees a slowdown coming. “Crews have to be putting pipes in the ground before there is any building,” he said, “and there is less pipe going into the ground.” Schlamb says the recession that rocked most of Canada in 2009 is just now being felt in the Fraser Valley. For example, Chilliwack has seen the largest decline in housing starts of any urban centre in British Columbia this year. For the first four months, there has been a total of 86 home starts, down 69 percent from 2010. Multi-family starts are down 75 percent. This represents a challenge to Chilliwack Roofing, which runs three residential crews. The answer: go after jobs further afield and compete for government contracts, such as the $77.5-million prison expansions planned for the Fraser Valley over the next three years. This includes expansions at both the Kent and Matsqui institutions. ROOFING BC

The Rosedale project continues with acoustic insulation, vapour retarder, Polyisocyanurate insulation and tapered EPS crickets

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A muti-family strata complex in Surrey undergoes a cedar shake conversion

“We will have to wait for the private sector to start up again,” Schlamb said. Meanwhile, Chilliwack Roofing will do what it does best: offer competitive pricing and a sterling reputation for quality service. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau and a long-time member of the RCABC, Chilliwack has an edge against many in the construction arena. Schlamb is a director of the RCABC and he is proud that his company was one of the first to sign on for insurance coverage with RCA Indemnity Corp, one of many advantages he sees in RCABC membership. “Being a member of RCABC puts you into the top echelon of the industry,” Schlamb said, “and without the RCABC guarantee you can’t really compete on the bigger projects.” When Schlamb is not working his typical 12 hour days, he likes to help friends with construction projects, fishing on the Fraser River, and sharing time with Alison – his wife of 28 years – his two sons and one daughter, all three of whom are in university. Secession planning? The 50-year old may think about it later – but whoever succeeds him will have a very strong foundation to build on another fifty years of successful business. Meantime, he has another fight to win. ■ 8

A single family residential project underway in Chilliwack

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ROOFING BC

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BC Place Stadium to open this September. Photo: The Sports Market

BC Place Stadium roof over budget Montreal-based Canam Group says it is facing a $25 million cost overrun for the steel structure for the new BC Place Stadium roof. Marc Dutil, chief operating officer of the Canam Group, told the Vancouver Sun that the installation of the cables ended up costing “several, several times” the estimated cost in order to keep the project on schedule. The company is absorbing the loss. “Vancouver is going to have the largest retractable cable-roof in the world and the largest of something always comes with new things,” he said

of the difficulties encountered in attaching the cables to their towers and stringing them over the stadium. Dutil said Canam has set aside $25 million to cover the cost over-run and that he expects there will be no impact on either the cost to BC taxpayers or on the scheduled September 30 opening of the stadium for a BC Lions game. The overall contract for the retractable roof was awarded to PCL, which sub-contracted the steel fabrication and cable assembly to the Canam Group for $120 million. The Canam Group, in turn, sub-contracted the cable assembly to French company Freyssinet. Dutil said Canam is attempting to work out a plan to recover some of the losses with its sub-contractor, according to the Vancouver Sun report. ■

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In 2010, a Landmark Award was given to ITC Construction Group for the Woodward’s Redevelopment project, only the third time in the 22 year history of the VRCA awards that the Landmark Award was presented. Photo: VRCA

VRCA gears for industry awards VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Regional Construction Association has received all the entries and will be presenting the 2011 annual Awards of Excellence on October 19 in Vancouver. The 18th annual awards, which often include projects that involved members of the RCABC, will be presented at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. Categories include construction projects valued at up to $15 million; projects between $15 million and $40 million; and projects over $40 million. ■

ROOFING BC

Telus tower: 10,000 square feet of green roof

$512 million Surrey hospital expansion breaks ground

By Dermot Mack

Roofing contracts – which will include a heli-pad – will be called this year

The new Telus headquarters in downtown Vancouver will not only cost $750 million and include one million square feet of space, it will also sport two forests as part of a large green roof. The project is being developed along Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver and, according to Telus, will be one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced sites of business and urban living in the world. Telus has partnered with Westbank Projects Corp. on the project. The design is by Henriquez Partners. The general contractor is Icon Pacific Construction Corp. of Vancouver, the construction division of Westbank. The Telus development will create half a million square feet of new office space for multiple tenants and 500 new residential units. All the units will set new standards for environmental sustainability. The 22-storey signature office tower will be the first building in Canada built to the new 2009 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standard, and the 44-storey residential tower will be built to LEED gold standard. “Telus Garden will be a breathtaking place to live and work,” said Telus CEO Darren Entwhistle. “It will be an architectural icon that will consume 30 percent less energy thanks to its responsible, leading edge design.” The new head office will feature 10,000 square feet of green roofs, providing organic produce for local restaurants, and two “elevated forests”, 22 floors above the street. The project’s construction will pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy and create three million person-hours of employment during construction, Entwhistle added. Work is scheduled to begin this fall and be complete in 2015. ■

ROOFING BC

By Dermot Mack

in keeping both a Surrey and provincial government “wood first” policy for institutional General contractor EllisDon has been chosen to construction. build the $512 million expansion to the Surrey Memorial Hospital – the largest health care project in BC’s history. And while site work has begun, the roofing contractor has yet to be named, according to EllisDon project engineer Ahmad Tadbin. “It will not be a green roof,” Tadbin said, adding that he expected the roofing contracts to be awarded “within a few months.” The hospital The biggest health care project in BC history, the Surrey Memorial Hospital expansion will be expansion is a complete by 2014. The roofing contracts have yet to be awarded. Photo: EllisDon public/private partnership between BC Finance Minister Kevin Falcon said: the provincial government via Fraser Health “Combined with the new $237 million Jim Authority and a private consortium, Integrated Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre Team Solutions. The design is by CEI that is set to open in June, we will have added Architecture Planning Interiors and Parkin over three quarters of a billion dollars to Architects. Surrey’s health-care infrastructure.” The hospital addition includes an eight storey The expansion at Surrey Memorial will also critical care tower and a new, larger emergency include a roof-top helipad and renovations to department about five times the size of the the existing hospital. existing building. The new emergency department will be The project is designed and will be built to completed in 2013 and the critical care tower achieve LEED gold certification. It will also will open in 2014. ■ maximize the interior and exterior use of wood

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Largest single level warehouse under construction

Rendering shows scale of development of Cayet project at Cumberland. Tenders for construction should be called next year. Photo: Trilogy Group

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Instant townâ&#x20AC;? planned for Cumberland COMOX â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Vancouver-based Trilogy Group is proceeding with an â&#x20AC;&#x153;instant townâ&#x20AC;? at the Village of Cumberland, about six miles

southwest of Courtenay on the Island Highway. The biggest real estate development planned in BC, the 640-acre project is called Cayet and has been approved for 1,300 homes and 800,000 square feet of retail and other commercial space. It is also the site of a planned regional hospital. John Evans, president of Trilogy, and one of the original Whistler Village developers, says the company will spend about $110 million preparing the property for

development, including adding interchanges on the Island highway and Comox Valley Parkway. The land is the only point on the Island Highway, which runs north from Nanaimo, that allows commercial development within 1,000 feet of the highway. Trilogy has provincial approvals for the infrastructure work and expects to begin tendering in the first quarter of next year, Evans says. He said the retail development will include a mix of big-box stores

and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;lifestyle mallâ&#x20AC;? such as Larco Developments has built in South Surrey and West Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Park Royal expansion. Some 50 developers have expressed interest in the project, including seven from Alberta. The provincial government forecasts that the population of the Comox Valley will increase by 43 percent over the next 25 years, compared to a growth rate of 34 percent for the province of BC in the same period. â&#x2013;

The Beedie Group is planning the largest single-level warehouse ever built in the Lower Mainland, a 504,000-square-foot building in the Queensborough area of New Westminster. Kruger Inc., a tissue manufacturer, has contracted the building, and it is expected to continue a trend towards big industrial projects. Krugerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future warehouse wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be Metro Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest. That title belongs to the 685,000-squarefoot warehouse near New Westminsterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Braid Street SkyTrain station that Woodwardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s built in the 1980s and is now used in part by Best Buy Canada. It was completely reroofed last year. Avison Young principal Rob Gritten believes the recent boom in warehouse construction marks the end to a lull that started during the 1990s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the last few years there have been several million square feet built in the 400,000-squarefoot size range alone,â&#x20AC;? Gritten said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really unusual for our market. We havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen that before.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2013;

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Chuck Bailey Centre made primarily out of wood Photo: City of Surrey

Cube design takes wood honours BURNABY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The City of Surreyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 20,000-square foot Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre, designed by CEI Architecture Planning Interiors, has been selected as one of five recipients of the prestigious Wood WORKS! Awards. Michael McNaught, the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design architect, said wood is the predominant element in the Centre. It is used structurally to support a 40foot glass cube that serves as the entrance to the building. Wood also forms the swooping edge shape of the roofline. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts called the Centre â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a beautiful architectural landmark in our City Centre. By incorporating a lot of wood and environmentally-friendly features, the facility is more sustainable and efficient.â&#x20AC;? Wood WORKS! is a national initiative of the Canadian Wood Council. Its goal is to support innovation and provide leadership on the use of wood and wood products. â&#x2013; 12

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ROOFING BC

IDEAL TKO hole cutter. Photo: IDEAL

New metal cutting tool launched SYCAMORE, IL – A new carbidetipped hole cutter that can drill through metal roofs will fit any standard drill, according to IDEAL, which introduced the TKO hole cutter this spring. It can be used for drilling holes for electrical, HVAC or maintenance work. An ejection spring wrapped around the drill cleanly ejects slugs and creates burr-free openings, the company claims. IDEAL TKO hole cutters are available in a full range of sizes up to two-and-half-inch. ■

DaVinci Bellaforté polymer roof tiles. Photo: DaVinci Roofscapes

Fire resistant shingles touted KANSAS – DaVinci Roofscapes is promoting its fire-resistance polymer shingles as a replacement for residential cedar shake roofs. According to the company, its Bellaforté snap-fit tiles, made from

a polymer to look like slate, are rated Class A for fire retardance. Backed by a 50-year limited warranty, the Bellaforté 12-inch slate roofing tiles include an integrated rain gutter, leading edge

tab and rain dam. The roofing tiles use 20 percent less material than traditional synthetic and natural slate shingles, saving resources and reducing the tile weight, DaVinci claims.

A square of Bellaforté roofing tile weighs 185 pounds, and helps reduce both installation time and landfill load due to reduced construction waste, the company said in a release. ■

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Tell 6604 Te 04 8882 82 99734 734 Fa Fax x 6604 04 8882 82 1744 1744 EEmail mail rroofing@rcabc.org oofing@rcabc.org SUMMER 2011

w www.rcabc.org ww.rcabc.org 13

Above: Misty Mcinnis of Raven Roofing, applying cap stripping to a curb on a new Save-On-Foods being built in Abbotsford

by Paddy Tennant

Phyllis Nachtical, Health & Safety Officer of Chilliwack Roofing

Anyone who has watched the RCABC’s recruiting video “Show Me The Money” will have seen interviews with a few of the remarkable young women who have gone through the roofing apprenticeship training program. They are strong, hard working and determined to be very good at what they do. One common thread we have heard from these women is that most of their male counterparts are embracing their presence on the job site – not because of their gender, but because of their skills and work ethic. The video is aptly named – the wages can be very attractive, and are enough of a carrot to be the main reason most roofers were initially drawn to the trade. But the work isn’t suited to just anyone. In fact, very few people have “the right stuff”. “If you don’t prove that you can do it, and be there every day with them, and not take days off because you broke a nail, they don’t want you there,” says Kristeen (Cullen) Coyle of Raven Roofing. In order to keep up with the physical demands of roofing, the women build and maintain a high level of fitness. Tiffany (McLain) Newman of Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal in Victoria says “you develop strength on the job,” and adds that she does Taekwondo

with her daughters “to stay limber and keep strong.” It has paid off for McLean, who stands just over five feet tall. Newman’s boss, Alpha superintendent Albert (Abby) Desloges, comments “She convinced me that she would pull her share and that I would not be disappointed.” Newman has not let him down – she was recently named BC’s top roofing apprentice for 2010. When not teaching, RCABC roofing instructor Simone Ballard renovates her house and works in the garden. Misty McInnis, a thirdyear apprentice with Raven Roofing in Surrey, goes swimming to keep in shape. Flynn’s Heidi-Lynn Froehler learned how to handle the potentially back-breaking aspect of the trade through the RCABC’s apprenticeship training program. “I was concerned about things like heavy lifting, but they don’t let you lift anything too heavy any more – you’re supposed to have a buddy system,” she says. “A lot of it is very heavy, and it’s hard on the body, but if you work smart you’re not going to get hurt,” adds Ballard. In addition to the demands of trade work itself, women with children are faced with extra burdens, such as balancing a workday schedule with child care. In order to work around the summer heat, roofing crews start early – 5:30 or 6:00am if possible. Anyone with young children knows that day care providers don’t start that early in the day. Newman is fortunate – her husband gets their three daughters to day care and school, and she is off work early enough in the afternoon to pick them up. But most mothers in trades aren’t that lucky. Many spend hours every day getting children to and from school and, when working at a remote job site, arranging day care and transportation. SUMMER 2011

“I’ve never encountered a boy that has ever tried to put me down because I’m a female... never” Heidi-Lynn Froehler

Pride and prejudice Like most trades, roofing has traditionally been a maledominated field. And there are still a few die-hard men who would like to keep it that way. “The older guys push you really hard to make sure you can do it,” says Coyle, echoing the sentiments of her female peers. “Some guys think that because they’re stronger than you they’re superior. You just have to outshine them in other areas.” says Newman. Women currently represent just 4 percent of construction tradespeople, estimates Abigail Fulton, vice president of the BC Construction Association. “We probably need to see that figure at 15% before women will no longer feel stigmatized, and we’ll see more female-friendly construction sites. Fulton is optimistic however, speculating that there is “probably less sexism” in construction than in many other professions, and that the numbers are increasing, albeit slowly. Rebecca McDiarmid, past president of Canadian Construction Women, has seen a change in attitude countless times. “As soon as they understand you know what you’re doing, [the negativity] stops.” Ballard had encountered some

“If you that yo and be day wit not tak because a nail, want y

Kristeen

negativity from a few men who hadn’t gotten to know her and recognize what she could do. “Some guys want to be big and tough. They feel like it takes away from them when there are women on the jobsite, and will do whatever it takes to try and show you that you can’t do your job.” McInnis related how she has had a few unpleasant experiences with [older] men who are not open to women in trades. “I think they feel that their jobs are threatened if a woman can do the same thing they can,” she says. These women all dealt with perceived inequality the same way – by proving that they could do their job just as well as the men. ROOFING BC

“Women currently represent just 4 percent of construction tradespeople... We probably need to see that figure at 15% before women will no longer feel stigmatized, and we’ll see more female-friendly construction sites.”

“We’re all part of a team – we help and complement each other... like a big family” Tiffany (McLain) Newman Show Me The Money – top left: Heidi-Lynn Froehler of Flynn Roofing; below, left: Kristeen (Cullen) Coyle of Raven Roofing; above: Tiffany (McLain) Newman of Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal with a fellow apprentice at RCABC’s training facility. Photos: Wendy Bancroft, It’s About Us Productions

McInnis is now very happy at Raven. Her employer, Neil Rook, describes her as “a really good worker.” It’s a win-win situation, according to McInnis: “I really like my crew, and they view me as worker, not a woman.” n (Cullen) Coyle Newman describes herself as “very lucky” to be working with her “awesome crew and company.” Some female roofers are fortunate in that they haven’t had to prove themselves in order to be accepted as an equal. Heidi-Lynn Froehler, who has completed two years of her apprenticeship with Flynn, says happily, “I’ve never encountered a boy that has ever tried to put me down because I’m a female... never, ever.” As it turns out, Froehler’s comments are illustrative of the healthy camaraderie that can be enjoyed by today’s mixed-gender roofing crews. McInnis comments with bemusement, “Once they get to know me, they almost baby me – they won’t let me do any heavy lifting. They like to be gentlemen.”

don’t prove ou can do it, there every th them, and ke days off e you broke , they don’t you there.”

ROOFING BC

“You get a lot of attention when you come on at first.” says Coyle. “The guys wonder what you’re doing there.” Now that she’s proven herself, she says “It’s mostly good – [the men] want to help you with the heavy lifting and stuff.” Newman speaks fondly of her close-knit crew. “We’re all part of a team – we help and complement each other... like a big family.”

“Women and men see things differently – we have different perspectives. The women I had [as students] took their training very seriously, as did the ESL or other minority apprentices. They feel like they have to work harder in order to be taken seriously.” Simone Ballard, RCABC roofing instructor

RCABC Risk Manager (and former instructor) Roger Sové concurs. “Their work is as good as the men, but they work harder to prove themselves,” he says. Raven Roofing’s Neil Rook has hired four female roofers, one of whom he says was with the

Sugar and spice It would appear that today, especially at the apprenticeship level, any preconceived notions and gender bias are quickly dashed. RCABC Education and Training Manager Shirley Caldwell points out that “By the time [women] come here they are at the end of their first apprenticeship year, so have already integrated with the men.” In the classroom setting, Caldwell has observed, “Women are often more focused. They take their training seriously.” Ballard believes that rather than one gender being stronger in some areas than the other, “Women and men see things differently – we have different perspectives. The women I had [as students] took their training very seriously, as did the ESL or other minority apprentices. They feel like they have to work harder in order to be taken seriously.”

company “for nine or ten years.” Coyle, currently on maternity leave, has been with Raven for five years. According to Rook, the women who have worked for him “pay more attention to detail and take more pride in what they do.” Does female presence affect

men’s behaviour? Rook claims “The guys act better, the language changes – the women are a positive influence.” RCABC’s Sové agrees, with one humorous observation: “Usually they try to clean [the language] up a bit, but I’ve known some women

RCABC’s Shirley Caldwell talks with female students at a career fair SUMMER 2011

whose language was worse than that of the men!”

Focus on safety Although it is difficult to find statistics regarding gender and roofing safety, there is a feeling among women in the industry that they are probably more safety conscious than many of their male counterparts. For example, safety is paramount to Phyllis Nachtigal, Health and Safety Officer for Chilliwack Roofing (also profiled in this issue – see page 7). Nachtigal shows off a binder that sits four inches thick on her desk. It is full of information that “is constantly being added to,” and she is proud to say that the company has never had a serious accident. Nachtigal quotes her employer, Howard Schlamb, as saying that “women are well suited for safety – they are ‘pickier’ and more diligent.” She also speaks with amusement

“Shirley and Simone were my role models.”

Misty Mcinnis working at an Olympic site

at her “boys” on the roof, who say an exaggerated “yes, Mom” in response her mother-hen approach to their well-being.

A path of stepping stones Caldwell attends career fairs at

secondary schools, and encourages more women to get into roofing “for the financial stability and independence. But it also opens up doors for other things. It’s a ticket to mobility. A ticket of qualification

ticket is ensuring both a good in trades training is equal to two income and a stepping stone to a years towards a college diploma on better future – she plans to work your resumé,” she says. “The towards a combination of training and field construction experience is a management valuable asset degree from BCIT. Ballard has when it comes to gone from the roof furthering your to the classroom – education at the she had been on university level.” call as a fill-in McInnis, who instructor at will write her IP RCABC’s Langley red seal in campus until December, got earlier this year, into RCABC’s when she was apprenticeship asked to take over training through the position on a the EFry program. full-time basis. At “Shirley and the time, one of Simone were my RCABC’s Education and Training Manager her supervisors at role models,” she Shirley Caldwell Parker Johnston says, referring to Industries was overheard to say the life-changing experience of with audible despair, “I’ve just lost being mentored in a well-paying my best guy.” ■ trade. For McInnis, her roofing

“Tiff is a real asset to the team and I think the other co-workers look up to her.”

Above: Gord Burdge, Alpha Victoria’s managing partner presenting Tiffany with her IP certificate

Right: Tiffany Newman with her crew: “They are awesome... the best,” she says.

A tip of the (hard) hat to Tiffany Tiffany (McLain) Newman of Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal in Victoria was recently named BC’s Top Roofing Apprentice for 2010. She and a guest will stay in a suite at the River Rock in December. She will be presented with a plaque at the RCABC Annual General Meeting Awards Lunch and is invited to the Roofer’s Reindeer Rampage (Christmas Party). Newman will also receive a bursary cheque 16

for $400.00, a plaque and a gift, in addition to lunch with her crew, courtesy of RCABC’s training manager. The honour is bestowed annually on the apprentice who has most successfully completed all three levels of training and passed their IP exam. Alpha superintendent Albert (Abby) Desloges is thrilled. “She is a delight”, he says,

“Tiff is a real asset to the team and I think the other co-workers look up to her.” He adds that Newman “is now in the process of heading up Alpha’s in-house pre-apprentice program for all our new flat roofers belonging to our local 276 here in Victoria.” Francis Gallichan of Alpha’s Kamloops branch also commented favourably: “The Kamloops and Vancouver branches are proud

SUMMER 2011

of Tiffany’s efforts and accomplishments.” Success stories like Newman’s help pave the way for more women who are interested in a roofing career. “If I were to meet any other women that could do this work, then I would consider them for employment,” says Desloges. As for Newman, she says simply “I like to call myself a journeygirl.” ■ ROOFING BC

Stepping stones Where do we go from here? Abigail Fulton, Vice President of the BC Construction Association (BCCA), says she would love to see more women get into construction trades. With the lack of skilled tradespeople in the province, she is confident that they would never be out of work and would be better able to provide for their families than many other women in more traditional jobs. As a roofer, Cullen is passionate about encouraging roofers to go through the apprenticeship process and get their IP ticket. “It’s important for every [roofing apprentice] to go to school. You get a taste of every aspect of roofing,” she says, and adds “The RCABC training is wonderful.” Ballard observes with visible dismay, “The younger generation [of both genders] don’t want to get into physically hard trades. The schools don’t push the trades either. That’s silly. We need trades more than professions for survival. We can live without a lawyer, but not without a roof. Roofing is an essential service. People pay big bucks for their roof, and they want it done properly.” If Caldwell has her way, the countless hours of hard work will pay off in the form of more young people entering the RCABC’s apprenticeship program, and with

increasing numbers of women among them. The BCCA offers two programs funded through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), which are designed to help people get into the skilled trades, and specifically in a field best suited for them.

Women’s Trades Training Initiative The Women’s Trades Training Initiative (WTTI) is geared towards helping BC’s employers get the skilled workers they need by matching them up with women who have some experience or who want to start a career in the trades. The WTTI also connects women with the training they may need to start out in the industry. WTTI is currently funded through the Industry Training Authority of BC’s ‘Women in Trades Training’ program. This is a Canada-BC Labour Market Agreement funded pilot program targeted towards women who are not EI clients or who are employed in a low skilled position and lack certification, a high school diploma or essential skills. WTTI works with women who have an interest in entering the skilled trades as well as those women working in a skilled trade who may need support or guidance in furthering their careers. WTTI is also working to develop a mentoring network for women across the industry to assist with better retention on the worksite.

Skilled Trades Employment Program The Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP) is a no-fee employment program that works to match potential workers with employers. It assists eligible clients by presenting them with training and employment opportunities, and continuing to work with new employees and employers to ensure a good fit. STEP was originally launched as a partnership between the BCCA and the Construction Sector Council in 2006 to help foreign-trained skilled workers find employment in the construction industry where there was a lack of available workers. This laid the groundwork for what has become a very successful employment program. Since that first project, the STEP Network has grown to include employment programs that serve all Canadian residents wanting a career in any of the Industry Training Authority recognized trades. STEP works with people and industry; with direct access to employers across the province its Trade Employment Specialists connect skilled workers with employers in need of those skills. Each Trades Employment Specialist, or TES, has experience working with the trades. They understand the work, the industry and the challenges faced in getting into the skilled trades. They research the nature of each specific trade, and are able to provide job profiles

to clients interested in any given line of trade work. “Each year, people get into the wrong trades for the wrong reasons,” says Randy Garon, who manages STEP at BCCA’s provincial head office in Victoria. By assessing each individual client’s aptitudes, interests and skills, the TES’s ensure that workers get into the trade that’s right for them, and then introduce them to an employer who will be a good match. The relationship forged between the worker, the employer and the TES is the real strength of the STEP program, according to Garon. “We’ve had huge success”, he says. In fact, STEP has developed such a strong reputation for matching qualified workers with new employers that some companies rely solely on the STEP staff for referrals when they are ready to hire. TES’s continue to work with clients and employers even after they have been placed, providing guidance and support which reduces the risks associated with a new hire and easing the transition into the new position for the worker and employer. Garon estimates that in an average year STEP sees only “about three or four hundred women” seek assessment, training and job placement in skilled trades. Fulton hopes those numbers will dramatically increase, and looks forward to the day when “these women will go into business for

themselves.” Then, she will know that the BCCA has done its job well.

Women in construction supported, awarded Included among the Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s Annual Awards of Excellence is the Outstanding Woman in Construction Award. The award, sponsored by Super Save Group and Canadian Construction Women, is presented each Fall with the other VRCA Awards of Excellence. Canadian Construction Women (CCW) is an organization which provides its members with opportunities for support, mentoring, networking, community involvement, learning and development. It acts as a resource about construction and exists to attract and retain women in the industry. This year, the VRCA Annual Annual Awards of Excellence will be held Wednesday, October 19. Applications must be in to VRCA by August 22 for consideration by this year’s selection committee. Entry forms and criteria are available online at www.vrca.bc.ca/VRCAAwards/page/ entry%20forms.aspx ■

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SUMMER 2011

This man is hammering (steel on steel) so should be wearing eye protection.

Since there’s no guard rail, the roofer should be standing with his side to the roof perimeter. For the last 6.5 feet without a guard rail you must not turn your back on the edge.

There’s no guard rail here, and the roofer is not tied off.

There’s no guard rail here, and this man is not using fall protection.

There is no toe board or barricade in the work area to protect people below the working surface.

Reducing falls from heights: getting greater buy-in for tying off Prevent falls in steep slope roofing By Don Schouten

Having worked in the roofing industry for more than 20 years, I take it personally that safety continues to be a major concern in the steep slope roofing industry. In fact, it’s difficult to read the statistics, month after month, and see just how many workers are getting injured in this profession.

Let me share a few of the most sobering stats with you. In 2010, the steep slope roofing industry accounted for 34.7 percent of the total number of penalties WorkSafeBC issued that year — the highest out of any other classification unit (CU). Of the 256 penalties totalling more than $3 million imposed upon noncompliant employers, the steep slope roofing CU involved 89 of them.

One of the biggest reasons for the number of penalties in steep slope roofing comes from falls. Falls in steep slope roofing produce more than 40 percent of all construction claims and more than 80 percent of all claim costs. It has cost this CU $14.4 million over the last five years, with an average of almost $64,000 per claim. If this weren’t enough, falls tend to result in the most severe injuries to workers, who are off work for an

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Finally, there are fall arrest systems, average of almost three and a half which protect workers after they months. The most serious and fall by stopping them costly type of fall is “Falls in steep in mid-flight, before from a roof, which has slope roofing they hit the surface. an average claim cost WorkSafeBC has of $122,000 per claim produce more several resources on and, on average, puts than 40 percent falls to help you plan a worker out of work of all construction for safety. Check out for 160 days — that’s more than five months. [accident] claims.” the Construction page under Safety at Work Those are the on WorkSafeBC.com. Here, you’ll numbers. Grave as they might be, find safety books and bulletins, they’re not the most compelling slideshows and videos, toolbox argument to plan for safety and meeting guides, and much more. prevent falls. The most convincing There’s also information on struckreason is the potentially bys and overexertion, the other two devastating effect a fall injury can factors that contribute to the high have on a worker and the family of rate of injuries in steep slope that injured worker. Falls often roofing. result in the most serious injuries; I know how challenging it can be these injuries can be life-changing to meet all the demands placed on for both the worker and the you at work, to do a quality job worker’s family in all ways: under tight timelines, and to physically, emotionally, and incorporate safety into everything financially. you do. But I’ve also experienced The fallout from a work-related how devastating it can be when a injury is something no one can fellow worker gets injured on the attach a price tag to. When a job and you know they won’t be worker gets injured, it can going home in one piece. Don’t let irreversibly alter not only that’s an injury happen to you or the worker’s life, but the lives of his or people around you: make sure you her co-workers, friends, and family. plan for safety. ■ Planning safety You can’t avoid working at heights in the roofing business, but you can minimize or eliminate the chance of a fall occurring. Planning for safety is an essential part of preventing falls; in fact, it’s as important as having the right materials and tools to build the project. When you’re planning to prevent falls, a simple strategy to follow is the fall protection hierarchy. The fall protection hierarchy describes the different forms of fall protection, and ranks them in order of effectiveness. At the top of the hierarchy is the need to identify fall Don Schouten hazards that can be eliminated. The Don Schouten is WorkSafeBC manager of next most effective strategy is to build guardrails around the working Industry and Labour Services – Construction. Contact him on any construction safety matters area. Following that, a fall restraint at 604-214-6989 from the Lower Mainland, or system should be implemented to toll-free 1-888-621-7233. Or email prevent workers from falling. Don.Schouten@worksafebc.com. ROOFING BC

The Creekside Community Centre captured an AIBC architectural award for Walter Francl Architecture Inc. + Nick Milkovich Architects Photo: Bob Matheson

AIBC names architectural awards VANCOUVER – The Architectural Institute of BC (AIBC) has named the 2011 Architectural Award winners. The Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia – Merit Recipient went to Walter Francl Architecture Inc. + Nick Milkovich Architects Inc. for the green-roofed Creekside Community Centre, part of the Olympic Village complex in Vancouver. Other winners include: • Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia – Medal Recipient – Bing Thom Architects Inc., for the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theatre. • Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia – Medal Recipient – Patkau Architects for the Beaty Biodiversity Centre / Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory • An AIBC Special Jury Award for outstanding “place making” went to Henriquez Partners Architects for the Woodward’s redevelopment in Vancouver. • A special award for ingenuity went to Kobayashi + Zedda Architects Ltd. for the John Tizya Cultural Centre. ■

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BOMA names top projects

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The renovation of Pacific Centre, Vancouver, took the TOBY award from BOMA. Photo: BOMA

VANCOUVER – The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Pacific has named its winners of the BOMA BC Awards for 2011. The Pacific Centre renovation, by Cadillac Fairview Corporation, won for the TOBY Award in the over one million square foot category, while Oxford Properties won the EARTH award for environmental stewardship in managing the Guinness Tower, also in Vancouver. The contractor/supplier of the year went to HVAC supplier Haakon Industries.

ROOFING BC

SUMMER 2011

Before and after photos show destruction of BC’s first all-wood six-storey residential building. Photos: Masonry Institute of BC

Fire sparks debate on six-storey wood buildings Keep current with Roofing BC Canada’s “best trade magazine” only a few clicks away

S PRI NG 2011 IN THIS ISSUE:

THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS

Vol. 8, No. 1 • SPRING 2011

Member profile

FEATURES: Member profile: Parker Johnston Industries..................1,6 Project profile: BC’s first aircleaning roof installed ..............8 Innovation: TPO coated accessories ...........10 Vegetative roofing systems .. 12 Tying off for fall protection.... 14 Profile: Pro-Line .......................15 Roof Lifters: adding space ..... 21 ASSOCIATION: President’s message .................. 3 Crane certification in effect ...... 4 CRCA ROOFTech 2011 ...............4 Changing of the guard .............. 5 RPM now online ....................... 5 Subscribe to Roofing BC ........17

Capital impact

INDUSTRY NEWS: Reroofing dominates BC........... 4 Modular homes for BC? ......... 16 JM building EPDM plant.........16 Canada Place’s PTFE roof ...... 16 Blind leading the sighted ....... 17 RKW buys Danafilms.............. 19 Colourful roof shingles ........... 20 Architects’ festival coming.......18 Carlisle’s new Polyiso plant....18 Steels, Owens Corning deal... 18

Parker Johnston has shaped Victoria’s skyline By Frank O’Brien

Rod Parker, immediate past president of the Roofing Contractors Association of BC and general manager of Parker Johnston Industries Ltd., of Victoria, is no newcomer to the roofing industry. According to Parker, when his school principal “gave me a week off” at age 12 he landed a job packing half-buckets of tar to a Victoria rooftop. The education proved profound. Today Parker, 34, helps head one of Vancouver Island’s largest roofing contracting companies. With a staff of 250 with 35 field crews, Parker has been involved in some of the biggest – and most challenging – construction projects in BC’s capital city. In the past two years alone, Parker Johnston has completed roofing contracts for the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Tower, the 17-storey, glass-roofed Atrium office tower downtown, the University of Victoria Social Sciences and Mathematics, the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence and all four phases at the giant Dockside Green, said to be the most environmentally progressive development in the world. Currently, the veteran firm is working on contracts for the 80,000 square-foot Uptown Phase II shopping mall in Saanich; Land Rover Victoria and the North Saanich Middle School.

We’re proud to say that Roofing BC has been called “the best trade magazine in Canada” and “a must-read” by industry professionals. Roofing BC makes it easy to stay up to date with the roofing industry in western Canada. It’s free, and easy to get on the mailing list. Log on to www.rcabc.org then click on ‘Roofing BC’ on the left of the page, then on ‘Click here to join our mailing list’. Past issues of Roofing BC are also available on the site. ■ PARKER continued on page 6

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40014608

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

Roofing Contractors Association of BC 9734 201 Street Langley, BC Canada V1M 3E8

COLUMN Legal Affairs: Ugly Facebooks ....................... 22

RCABC: changing of the guard Not good-bye, but see you soon. See page 5

Strategic planning in Phoenix RCABC members map the future. See page 3

Clearing the air Rod Parker, general manager of Parker Johnston Industries Ltd., Victoria

Old technology finds new life in aircleaning Noxite roofing products. See pages 8-9

RICHMOND – A May fire that destroyed BC’s first six-storey residential building being built with wood has ignited a debate in the construction industry. The non-fatal Richmond blaze at the Remy, a 251-unit condominium and social housing project burned for more than five hours. The fire should convince the province to re-examine the recent decision to allow mid-rise wood frame construction, instead of fireresistant masonry materials such as concrete block, according to the Masonry Institute of Canada. The Richmond project was to be the first example of a six-storey allwood structure, as allowed under

the changes to the BC Building Code, which came into effect in 2009. “Human life and the safety are at question here,” said Bill McEwen, executive director of the Masonry Institute. “Engineered wood products, which are used extensively in these types of buildings, are fabricated with glue, and can burn faster than regular wood products. The firewalls in the Richmond project were made of wood and drywall. Concrete block walls could have protected these buildings, both during construction and more importantly during occupancy.” But the Canadian Wood Council says the fire could have happened at any construction site. “Wood is a safe, durable building material,” said Wood Council president Michael Giroux, noting that 90 percent of Canadian homes are made out of wood. “Wood mid-rise construction was common in the early 1900s, and some of these buildings in Vancouver are still in use today,” Giroux said. ”To suggest that the outcome of the fire at the Remy project in Richmond would have been the same if the building had been fully completed, is not plausible,” he said. The Council explains the fire occurred while the building was under construction.

This meant that fire safety features such as sprinklers and gypsum board protection, as well as fire doors in firewalls, all required in the completed building, had not yet been installed. “The firewalls in the Remy project were made of steel and two layers of one-inch-thick gypsum liner panels – with woodframe walls to protect them from day-to-day wear, as required by the British Columbia Building Code,” the Councils states. “The use of other types of noncombustible firewalls likely would not have stopped the fire under these same circumstances.” However, Paul Hargest, president of the Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association, argues that wood composite elements, such as oriented strand board, give off fumes when they burn, “increasing risk to firefighters on the scene and to occupants in the building.” Dana Westermark of Oris Consulting, the developer of the Remy, said the fire would not deter Oris from rebuilding the project from wood. “The fact it is a sixstorey [wood] project was not a factor in the fire. I am confident in our project and equally confident in wood as a construction material. My company has built hundreds of units in wood without incident,” Westermark said. ■

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Solar panels: sales and prices have fallen over past two years. Photo: DJH Multi media

Solar power future in doubt (PV) modules, and will emerge at BURNABY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The travails of one of the end of 2011 on solid ground. the leading Canadian companies in Day4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financial woes underscore the solar field underscores a the pitfalls of relying on challenge that threatens the entire government subsidies, said Ross solar industry: solar may not McKitrick, a Guelph University survive without continuous professor and Fraser Institute senior government funding. fellow who specializes in Day4 Energy Inc. of Burnaby, environmental economics. which makes photovoltaic modules, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would expect that any recently laid off 30 employees, company thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dependent on which will reduce the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public subsidies staff from 200 to 170. The company â&#x20AC;&#x153;Any company thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for its profitability is hoping the dependent on public is going to be in trouble.â&#x20AC;? layoffs will help it subsidies for its Day4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary stay afloat over profitability is going markets are in the next six to 12 to be in trouble.â&#x20AC;? Germany and months. Italy, which But Day4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own heavily promoted solar energy auditors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PricewaterhouseCoopers through feed-in tariffs. Those tariffs LLP (PwC) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are questioning the are now being scaled back. companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to survive. In McKitrick said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s folly for Day4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consolidated financial governments to subsidize solar statements for December 31, 2010, energy in the first place. and 2009, PwC expresses â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fundamentally, the problem is â&#x20AC;&#x153;significant doubt about the solar power is the most expensive companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to continue.â&#x20AC;? renewable at this point and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just George Rubin, Day4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president not competitive,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was and CEO, blamed a glutted market, never really clear why these falling prices and reduced governments all signed up for these government subsidies for the subsidy programs to begin with.â&#x20AC;? downturn. However, he said his Paul Kariya, executive director company is now well established as a premiere producer of photovoltaic for Clean Energy BC, said thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a

general glut of power generation. In the U.S., for example, he said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obama dollarsâ&#x20AC;? bolstered wind power to the point of saturation. He added that a looming natural gas rush resulting from new discoveries found in shale rock formations, in northern BC and elsewhere, could add to renewable energy company challenges. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re quite nervous that government is being pressured by industry â&#x20AC;Ś [to] go with the gas option, and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be done with all these expensive renewables,â&#x20AC;? Kariya told Business in Vancouver. â&#x2013;

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The Central mixed-use project on False Creek will include two towers linked by a third vertical “tower”. The Onni Group project has not named a roofing contractor or general contractor for the LEED Silver development. Photo: Onni Group

“Horizontal high rise” among huge roofing contracts Major projects will mean roofing work for years

links the two supporting towers, which are parallel to each other, and spans a 25,000-square-foot central courtyard. In all, the development will rise 18 or 19 storeys, and offer 304 residential units in two towers, including the horizontal section, and retail and office space in the other. Final Vancouver City approval is expected this July, with a completion date by 2013 at the earliest. Construction contracts are expected to be decided by this

coming September. The Central is designed as LEED Silver, which likely means some form of green or energy-saving roof system.

River District Meanwhile, ParkLane Homes and Polygon, two of BC’s largest home builders, will begin construction this year on River District, a 130-acre residential and commercial project on the Fraser River. The site is the former Canadian White Pine mill and is one of the last pieces of

undeveloped waterfront land in the city. The area was formerly known as the East Fraser Lands. The River District development plan features a mix of townhomes, low- and mid-rise apartments and high-rise towers. The future phases of the community will also include shops, a grocery and small format retail, a community plaza, two new schools and a community centre. In other words, work for roofing contractors for the next decade or more.

The City of Vancouver and ParkLane have already unveiled plans for the 6,000-square-foot community centre, which includes a green roof, an indication that environmentally aware construction will likely characterize the development.

Canada Safeway lands Canada Safeway has called for bids from 50 developers, mostly in BC, to purchase a 43-acre parcel of land it has for sale in Burnaby. The property runs along 11th

By Frank O’Brien

Members of the RCABC are likely sharpening their pencils as they prepare to bid on some of the large residential roofing contracts coming up this year. Projects that have not yet decided on roofing contracts include a “horizontal high rise” on False Creek, a 43-acre multi-family development in Burnaby and a 130acre waterfront project on the Fraser River. “We haven’t named a roofing contractor yet,” said a spokesman for Onni Group, as the developer began marketing Central, a mixeduse residential and office tower on Quebec Street at the site of a former Chrysler dealership. The design, by architects Bruce Haden and Joost Baker, is radically different than neighbouring highrises in South False Creek – and it translates into more roof space than on normal towers. The building is a tower laid horizontally across two smaller supporting towers. The top tower 22

River District will include thousands of homes, two schools and retail buildings on a 130-acre site on the Fraser River in south Vancouver. There should be a decade worth of roofing contracts yet to be awarded. Photo: ParkLane Homes

SUMMER 2011

ROOFING BC

A green-roofed, 6,000-square-foot community centre is planned as part of the massive River District development.

Avenue and 18th Street and is designated multi-family residential in the City of Burnaby’s official community plan. The parcel is within 800 metres of the Edmonds SkyTrain station, surrounded by six

major bus routes, adjacent to main roadways including Kingsway, 10th Street and Marine Drive and is in close proximity to five schools and a variety of other amenities, making it a prime location for

additional residential construction. The bids are being considered as of June 1, according to Trevor Lee, senior real estate manager for Canada Safeway. Lee said Canada Safeway is not interested in a joint

development for the land. “We want to sell it outright,” he said, noting it is the largest such land sale by the company in BC. If a winning bid is accepted in June, construction bids would likely

be called by 2012 at the earliest, sources say. The developer would have to go through a rezoning process from industrial to residential and then public hearings and the design process. ■

Canada Safeway expects high-density residential and retail development on a 43-acre site in central Burnaby, which will be sold to the highest bidder this June. Construction contracts will be awarded, at the earliest, in 2012. Photo: Canada Safeway

ROOFING BC

SUMMER 2011

Princeton welcomes new copper mine PRINCETON – The June opening of the $440 million Copper Mountain Mine just outside of Princeton has given the South Okanagan town an economic shot in the arm that should soon lead to more construction. For the past few years, the Copper Mountain Mining Corp. has been developing the mine again, bringing hundreds of workers on

site to build the infrastructure, and now employing 247 workers for

regular mine operations. It is the first new metal mine to start in BC in more than a decade. “It used to be that only Friday afternoon there’d be so much traffic, you have to wait to let cars go by before you could cross the street,” said Princeton mayor Randy McLean. “Now, every day is like Friday.” McLean points to the pine-beetle devastation as one reason why people are so excited about this project. “I think why there’s been this support [from government and

community] is that revenue from forestry is diminishing in the Interior so from a revenue perspective, they’re really interested in other communities seeing the positives about the mining industry.” The mayor sits on the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC), which has been given $3 million over three years to help towns whose economy is suffering due to the pine beetle epidemic. “We were expected to be one of the hardest-hit communities,” said McLean. “Then the mine came. I

said, ‘Folks, we don’t qualify [for help] anymore.” The new mine has already led to the opening of a Coopers Food Store and the start of three condominium projects and two detached-housing subdivisions. The town will hold a referendum this year on a new recreation centre as well, according to Mayor McLean. Copper Mountain has proven reserves of five billion tons of copper, plus gold and silver, and is expected to have a lifespan of at least 17 years. ■

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OTTAWA – Canada’s National Research Council is working with the U.S.based Oak Ridge National Laboratory in presenting the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s International Roofing Symposium. The event will be held September 7-9, 2011 in Washington DC. NRCA is hosting the symposium that focuses on emerging technologies and roof system performance. It will provide a forum for the formal presentation of roofing industry research and the latest information about the science of emerging technologies, including reflective roof surfaces, vegetative roof systems and roof-mounted photovoltaic systems. In keeping with the traditions of previous NRCA symposia, the 2011 symposium will bring together industry leaders, researchers and other industry stakeholders. Preferred topics include: • high-performance roof systems; • roof systems that incorporate renewable energy; • energy efficiency; and • life-cycle analysis of roof systems. For information, contact the conference chair, William Good of the NRCA. Email: nrca@nrca.net. ■

Oxford to start tower in Vancouver VANCOUVER – Oxford Properties Group has announced the development of a 35-storey, 270,000-square-foot office tower at 1021 West Hastings, Vancouver, the current site of the historic University and Quadra Clubs. Chuck We, director of leasing for Oxford, said the tower would be targeted LEED Gold Core and Shell. No word yet on the type of roofing. The tower is set for completion in the summer of 2014 under the direction of lead contractor Ledcor Group. The development of 1021 West Hastings is a joint venture between Oxford, which will oversee all aspects of the development and management of the property, and co-investor Canadian Public Pension Investment Board. ■

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New Oxford tower on West Hastings will aim for LEED Gold status. Photo: Oxford

SUMMER 2011

ROOFING BC

Model of Kelowna General Hospital expansion

expansion and the $25 million expansion of Okanagan College. Together with the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna has more than 11,000 university students during the school season. Retail is the strongest sector in Kelowna’s commercial real estate. Orchard Park Shopping Centre, the city’s main mall, is currently under

renovation to welcome Best Buy Electronics, which will open this year in about 34,000 square feet. The mall is 100 percent leased, as in Kelowna Crossing Shopping Centre, Spall Plaza and the big-box Central Park Power Centre on the edge of town. Kelowna also has 1,320 acres of zoned industrial land and a further 1,721 acres marked for industrial use under the official community plan. Colliers International expresses the optimism seen by the Chartered Accountants, noting that “increased consumer confidence, increased exports and increased federal and provincial spending” will allow BC’s third largest city to soon return to prosperity. ■

Across Northern BC and Alberta

Consulting Scuka Enterprises Ltd. handles the concrete pour for a new seniors residence in Kelowna. Photo: Scuka Enterprises Ltd.

Kelowna recovers from downturn KELOWNA – Kelowna is recovering quickly from the 2008-2009 recession with a series of new construction projects underway. Now, with even chartered accountants getting excited about the recovery, the city of nearly 100,000 is ready to reclaim its standing as one of the hottest construction zones in Western Canada.

Evidence is seen on Kelowna’s South Pandosy Street, where seven buildings were taken down for the construction of the $25 million mixed-use SoPa project by local developer Edgar Fenwick. SoPa, which started in the midst of the downturn, has already leased out all of its block-long ground-floor retail, which will open in 2013. Above the retail are 96 residential condominiums capped by large luxury penthouses, priced from $1.2 million to $1.3 million. Only three of the eight penthouses remain unsold, yet SoPa’s residential component won’t complete for four years. A report this year from the Chartered Accountants of BC forecasts a recovery that began in

Condition Reports

2010 is gaining traction right across the Thompon-Okanagan region. The report found that, after sustaining significant job losses in 2009, the regional economy rebounded last year with the addition of 9,200 new jobs. With a job growth rate of 3.7 percent, the region exceeded the average provincial increase of 1.7 percent, the study found. Also, the number of business incorporations and establishments increased in 2010, reflecting growing entrepreneurial and investor confidence. Government spending has helped to put a base under the construction economy, with a number of institutional projects going ahead. These include the $433 million Kelowna General Hospital

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extended unpaid leave, on parental leave, or was unemployed. After a foreign worker has reached his or her four year cumulative duration limit, he or she will not be granted another work permit in Canada for an additional four years (after that time has elapsed, the worker will again be permitted to work here).

LEGAL AFFAIRS

on the length of time some temporary foreign workers may work here. Job offers to temporary foreign workers will now be assessed taking into account the genuineness of the job offer, the consistency of the job offer with the terms of any federal-provincial/territorial agreement, the history of the New employment employer in hiring temporary safeguards now in effect foreign workers over the previous by Robert Smithson two years, and the length of time Temporary foreign workers in that the foreign national being hired Canada have had numerous has worked in Canada. employment standards The assessment of and administrative genuineness of the requirements in place job offer will look for their protection. specifically at whether Effective April 1, 2011, the employer is a range of new actively engaged in safeguards came into the business, whether effect. the job offer is At a high level, the consistent with the new safeguards needs of the comprise a deeper employer, whether the assessment of the employer is genuineness of the job reasonably able to Robert Smithson offer from the fulfill the terms of the Canadian employer, a two-year job offer, and whether the employer period of ineligibility from hiring has previously complied with temporary foreign workers for applicable laws regulating employers who fail to meet their employment in the jurisdiction commitments, and a four-year limit where the worker will be employed.

Hiring foreign workers?

Penalties Employers who have failed to meet commitments as promised in past job offers and who have failed to provide reasonable justification or to rectify the situation by providing appropriate compensation to the former employee may face the refusal of work permit applications or being deemed ineligible to hire foreign workers for two years and having their name displayed on a government website.

Many temporary foreign workers will now be subject to a four-year ‘cumulative duration’ limit on the length of time they may work in Canada. This regulation is not retroactive – the clock starts ticking on April 1, 2011 for all temporary foreign workers, regardless of how long they have already been in Canada. The four year limit may not, however, include periods during which the foreign worker was on an

Check exemptions Numerous categories of foreign workers will be exempt from the four year cumulative duration regulation, so federal websites should be consulted for the excluded categories. Temporary foreign workers have access to the same remedial mechanisms as Canadians when it comes to labour and employment standards. Provinces and territories have primary responsibility for enforcement of labour standards and have offices that can assist all workers regarding fair pay, hours of work, rest periods and general working conditions. Workers should contact the appropriate authority in the province or territory they work in if they have concerns about their working conditions. Ultimately, the protection of the rights and entitlements of vulnerable foreigner workers in Canada might be better viewed as our collective responsibility so we should all be on the lookout for possible abuses. ■ Robert Smithson is a labour and employment lawyer. This subject matter is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.

Building permits up, but residential slowing VANCOUVER – Building permit values in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region rose significantly in March, led by a surge in non-residential activity, according to a Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) analysis of Statistics Canada building permit report. Total building permit values in the region jumped 61 percent in March compared to February 2011, to $634.3 million. Non-residential permit values surged to $307.9 million, up 173 percent for the month, while the value of residential permits increased 16 percent to $326.4 million. Commercial building permits were at their highest value since May 2008, the VRCA reports. For the first three months, building permit values were up 12 percent in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region to $1.398 billion compared to the same period last year. The growth was led by a 56 percent increase in nonresidential permits to $504.1 million. Residential permit values declined to $893.7 million, down 4 percent compared to same period last year. ■ 26

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