WORN OUT

Ontario’s civic building inventory has fallen the farthest behind on capital repair and renewal among seven categories of municipal infrastructure assets scrutinized in a report from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO).

The analysis, which is part of the FAO’s efforts to identify vulnerabilities to climate change hazards, concludes that about 55 per cent of total municipal infrastructure is in a state of good repair, but fewer than 42 per cent of the assets in the “other buildings and facilities” category merit that rating.

That encompasses a varied roster of social housing, government administrative buildings, cultural/recreational/sports venues and solid waste handling facilities, with a current replacement value (CRV) pegged at nearly $75 billion. These assets represent about 15 per cent of the total value of locally held infrastructure throughout the province. Additionally, many large buildings such as transit terminals, water and wastewater treatment plants are itemized in other infrastructure asset categories.

The FAO estimates the current replacement value of all of Ontario’s municipal infrastructure at approximately $484 billion. Roads represent the largest share at that tally, at $130 billion or 27 per cent of CRV, followed by wastewater infrastructure (20 per cent) and potable water infrastructure (17 per cent). Transit accounts for the smallest portion — 2 per cent — of infrastructure value. However, nearly 30 per cent or $1.8 billion worth of assets in this category are identified as “buildingtype” structures, including commuter stations, route-side shelters, garages and other maintenance/storage depots.

Within the buildings/facilities category, approximately 122,770 social housing units are valued at more than $23 billion. Administrative headquarters and cultural/recreational/sports venues each carry a CRV of more than $19 billion, with the remaining assortment of buildings for justice, health, social services or solid waste management purposes estimated at $13 billion.

Reflective of broad-based municipal responsibilities, building/facility assets include 1,332 community centres, 813 libraries, 382 museums and archives, 76 galleries, 184 materials recovery facilities, 129 composting facilities and 18 anaerobic digestion facilities. Meanwhile, illustrative of the ongoing challenge to manage solid waste and resultant greenhouse gas emissions, Ontario municipalities currently own 242 dump sites, 181 active engineered landfills and 625 inactive engineered landfills and dumps, which are also tallied in this category.

INCONSISTENT DATA

Province-wide, the FAO concludes there is a $52-billion backlog of required spending, based on 2020 costs for bringing assets to a state of good repair. That presumption is drawn from multiple sources: municipally supplied data and/or local asset management plans (AMPs) where available; Statistics Canada’s Canadian Core Public Infrastructure (CCPI) survey; the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs’ Financial Information Return (FIR); and the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure’s Municipal Asset Inventory. FAO researchers then derived their own scale to support more consistent

ACCOLADES FOR VANCOUVER’S LEGIONELLA PROGRAM

The City of Vancouver, along with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), has received the 2021 Innovation Award for Legionella prevention from the Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP). The EOCP is responsible for certifying the thousands of water and wastewater operators across B.C. and the Yukon.

Over the last year in Vancouver, half a dozen instances of high Legionella concentrations in building mechanical systems were detected and immediately remediated. In each instance, VCH was notified and used this information to verify they were not linked to any lab-confirmed illness.

Vancouver’s Water System Operating Permit Program helps protect the public from waterborne health risks like Legionella. These operating permits also help health authorities and city staff to rapidly identify and respond to incidents of concern. Since the program’s launch, it has gained much support from both building owners and the tourism industry with more than 1,100 systems registered.

Equipment owners are required to complete regular water quality testing and reporting, and obtain a water systems operating permit for the following systems: cooling towers; decorative water features; rainwater harvesting and other alternative water systems; and building water treatment systems.

Recognized by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network as a leader in Legionella prevention, the city has been contacted by jurisdictions across North America for guidance on responding to and preventing outbreaks.

interpretation. Notably, too, no condition data was available for more than $47 billion worth of infrastructure assets, or roughly 10 per cent of the total CRV.

“There is a considerable degree of uncertainty associated with the reported condition data. In some cases, reported condition data was based on engineering site inspections, while in other cases the data may be imputed based on the asset’s age or may simply reflect the municipality’s judgement in the absence of a site inspection. Additional uncertainty comes from the standards by which condition is assessed across municipalities. For example, an asset assessed to be in ‘Good’ condition in one municipality might be assessed as ‘Fair’ based on another municipality’s framework,” the report acknowledges. “To account for this uncertainty, the FAO defined a broader boundary for the condition of each asset. For instance, an asset reported as ‘Good’ could take on a condition from ‘Very Good’ to ‘Fair’. Based on this approach, the FAO developed a range of condition estimates.”

The report also reminds municipal officials that they now have less than 11 months to meet the first reporting deadline in a 2017 Provincial regulation, which mandates them to prepare publicly available asset management plans that report the condition of their current infrastructure assets, projects future needs and sets out a strategy for capital upkeep. These are to be filed by July 2022 for core assets related to water, wastewater, storm water, roads and bridges/culverts, and by July 2024 for non-core assets, which include other buildings/facilities.

Generally, the FAO analysis found that potable water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure is in the best condition, with more than two-thirds of assets in the three categories classified in good state of repair. After the civic building inventory, roads are the in next worst shape on a percentage basis with more than 56 per cent considered in an inadequate state of repair.

On a dollar basis, roads account for 41 per cent of the spending backlog, requiring an estimated $21.1 billion of capital investment to achieve a full state of good repair. Buildings/facilities are REMOTE INSPECTIONS TO GET CODE CLARITY

Authority for remote building inspections could be enshrined in the Ontario Building Code beginning in January 2022. A proposed amendment, currently posted on the provincial regulatory registry, would explicitly allow for alternatives to inspectors’ physical presence on a building site.

As outlined in the accompanying discussion paper, some municipal building officials have asked for clarification following their experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, many scrambled to find ways to meet statutory timelines for conducting inspections while minimizing personal interactions on construction sites in keeping with public health protocols. In subsequent months, some building departments have developed their own procedures and policies for remote inspections.

The proposed amendment — to be labelled 1.3.5.3 (3.1) in Division C of the code — states that inspectors or code agencies “may choose” to use “alternate means” to conduct inspections rather than attend the site in person. The discussion paper suggests that could include “the use of drones, photos, video, live feed (Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc.), telephone discussions with on-site constructors or design professionals, reports from constructors or design professionals, or written statements from constructors and design professionals”.

Ultimately, building officials will bear responsibility for properly conducted inspections. “Regardless of the methods chosen by building departments and inspectors regarding inspection of construction, it is key that they are satisfied that compliance with the Building Code Act, Building Code and permit has been achieved,” the discussion paper reiterates.

estimated to need a $9.5-billion capital injection, equating to 18 per cent of the spending backlog.

BACKLOG-TO-CRV RATIO A TELLING METRIC

Roads and buildings/facilities also emerge notoriously when viewed in terms of the ratio of required repair costs to the current replacement value of the assets in the infrastructure category. The average ratio across all assets in all categories is 11.9 per cent, while the ratio is 17.2 per cent for roads and 13.5 per cent for buildings/facilities.

“The backlog-to-CRV ratio indicates the relative state of disrepair of assets. The higher the share, the worse condition assets are in,” the FAO report explains.

Interestingly, too, while transit and bridges/culverts contribute relatively modestly to the overall spending backlog — with 2 per cent and 8 per cent quotients respectively — their backlog-to-CRV ratios are much more pronounced at 11.3 and 11 per cent. Potable water infrastructure has the lowest backlog-to-CRV ratio at 7.3 per cent, with ratios for wastewater (8.8) and storm water (9.8) on the next rungs up.

Regionally, the Greater Toronto Area boasts both the highest percentage of assets deemed to be in a good state of repair (62.3 per cent) and the lowest ratio of repair backlog to CRV (9 per cent). Ottawa has the most catching up to do with just 38.7 per cent of infrastructure assets considered in good repair, while the collection of counties making up the neighbouring Kingston-Pembroke region registers the highest backlog-toCRV ratio at 19.7 per cent.

“Keeping assets in a state of good repair helps to maximize the benefits of public infrastructure, and ensures assets are delivering their intended services in a condition that is considered acceptable from both an engineering and a cost management perspective,” the FAO report advises. “Maintaining public infrastructure in a state of good repair is generally the most cost-effective strategy over an asset’s life cycle but is not the only consideration for asset managers with multiple budgetary priorities. However, further postponing repairs raises the risk of service disruption and increases the costs associated with municipal infrastructure over time.” | CFM&D

BETTER MATS, LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINTS

A Q&A With Executive Mat Service

ESG (Environmental, social, and corporate governance) has risen to the top of the facility management agenda. And for a good reason. Pursuing greener operations is not only the right course of action in light of climate change risks, but a proven way of saving money, attracting tenants, and futureproofing assets.

This ESG pursuit can take facility owners and managers in many different directions. That includes under one’s feet. For more insights, we reached out to Jeff Grabinsky, Vice President of Development & Sustainability with Executive Mat Service (EMS).

HOW IMPORTANT IS ESG FOR TODAY’S FACILITY MANAGERS? WHAT'S INCENTIVIZING THEM TO REDUCE THEIR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? ESG is a relatively new concept, but it's also becoming a top focus for all building stakeholders, be they investors, clients, or the building occupants themselves. As a result, facility managers (FMs) and property managers (PMs) are motivated to adapt quickly and follow suit.

Because there's a growing emphasis on ESG, FMs are incentivized to choose products and services that contribute to ESG objectives and, by extension, result in happier clients and a more sustainable planet. They're also seeing the value supporting companies that are equally committed to ESG values. That aligns well with our team here at EMS, where we are pursuing our own environment and social goals, such as supporting initiatives like the Indigenous start-up ASKIY floor matting, and fostering a diverse leadership team, which include our BC Managing Principal, Rhonda Harris.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF IGNORING ESG STRATEGIES OR FAILING TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES (GHGS)? There are reputational risks, for one. A majority of asset shareholders and clients recognize that climate change is real and that Scope 3 embodied carbon and decarbonization are issues that need to be addressed. Because of this, they also want transparency in the way their facilities measure and monitor the carbon-reduction progress and other ESG targets, as well as advice on how to take those goals even further.

HOW CAN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS MATTING AND MAT CLEANING SERVICES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT GOAL? Matting plays a significant role in reducing a facility’s carbon footprint and creating a healthier indoor environment. That’s been our philosophy from the start. For example, we produce mats made from 100% recycled products that reduce waste and offer a final product with 60% less embodied carbon than comparable, non-recycled mats on the market. We also rely on a patented mat washing system that uses far less water than traditional means. Additionally, EMS technology has been vetted and approved by the One Billion Pound Challenge while SAIT Polytechnic has validated EMS’s carbon reduction calculations methodology.

EMS's biomass basil modular farm

Lastly, it’s also worth pointing out that well-maintained mats also play a critical role in managing the dust, grime, and dirt that comes through the entrance of buildings and can negatively impact indoor air quality (IAQ). When you can prevent those elements from getting into the air, everyone breathes easier.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR FACILITY MANAGERS TO VALIDATE THEIR CARBON-REDUCTION CLAIMS? The days of making unvalidated claims are over. The climate crisis is real, and it is important for facility owners to show CO2 reduction with a validated process not only for their shareholders, but to participate in critical industry initiatives like reducing Scope 3 Carbon. To that end, there are initiatives like the One Billion Pound Challenge, where all CO2 meaningful reduction technology models can get validated, that offer a great way for FMs to ensure for stakeholders the data claims are validated.

INNOVATION PLAYS A LARGE PART IN "GREENING" OPERATIONS. HOW ARE YOU INNOVATING YOUR PART OF THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT/MAINTENANCE SECTOR? EMS is a specialist in facility floor matting and we are 100%

Organic and paper waste converted to biomass bricket

committed to tackling climate change head-on when it comes to Scope 3 embodied carbon and the War on Methane. Our 100% recycled matting is made from recycled plastic bottles, and our patented CDF wash process uses 95% less water than industry standards. Additionally, our Green thumb daily organics and paper waste recycling program for buildings have been piloted at some of largest managed facilities with great success and coverts everyday landfill waste into thermal energy. Highlighted in case studies through the BEIC.

HOW DO YOU ALSO MOTIVATE CLIENTS TO GO FURTHER WITH THEIR ESG GOALS? Providing cleaner and greener environments is already an incentive for ESG. When it comes to matting, however, EMS has taken it one step further by creating an electronic coin (aka e-coin) that customers can collect and redeem for service and material discounts. "To incentive low carbon behavior, building owners and FMs receive 'Pericoins,' which we award to clients based on the number of pounds diverted or reduced through floor matting projects," explains Grabinsky, adding, "Pericoin launch has been a great success and it is the new environmentally-friendly bitcoin. It's incentivizing building owners and managers to make real and sustainable changes."

FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, DO YOU SEE ATTITUDES ABOUT GHGS IMPROVING AMONG FACILITY MANAGERS? Yes, especially with the climate issues that we are all seeing first hand. There seems to be a big shift among FMs from focusing solely on price point to a more holistic procurement process that incorporates ESG criteria and building Scope 3 into their purchasing decisions.

Executive Mat Serviceis Canada’s only ISO14001 (Environmental) & COR Safety Certified mat rental company in Canada. For more, visit www.executivemat.com, email info@executivemat.com, or call 1-877-290-7711.