Construction Connect - Fall 2017 by Source Media Group

ISSUE

VOLUME

01 03

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

contents 9

F E AT U R E S

09 Big toys for big boys From Bobcats to bulldozers, it’s all about moving dirt

19 Towering heights Have you got what it takes to be a tower crane operator?

25 Habitat for Humanity Putting new roofs over families’ heads HOUSING MARKET

13 One last look Final quarter of 2017 holds promise for builders, buyers SAFET Y SIDEBAR

22 Safety fencing Some simple rules about securing construction sites INDUSTRY NE WS

29 Important information W H AT ’ S N E W

23 Decoding the code Calgary builders adapting well to changes CIT Y OF CALGARY

30 Spray foam insulation What you need to know about it REGUL ARS

04 06 06 07 26 27 28 31

Editor’s Message Cartoon At Your Fingertips Tool Time Trade Websites Word Search Events Laugh Out Loud

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017 CONST RUCTION CON N ECT

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Editor’s Message

History lesson Happy anniversary to us! Okay, technically Construction Connect magazine hasn’t been around for a full calendar year yet, but we did make it through our first year of publication  three editions  with each edition better than the one prior. Which would make this one, in my opinion, is our best yet! In the beginning, Construction Connect was launched in response to demand from members of Calgary’s residential construction industry  builders, developers, trades, suppliers and professional services. Many thanks to those companies who have recognized the value of delivering their marketing message directly into the hands of their potential customers and supported the magazine by advertising. It is our sincere pleasure to work with members of the industry to try to, as the magazine title suggests, keep everyone connected. In fact, just as soon as I’m done with this, it’s off to Jasper for the BILD Alberta conference. Things kick off, as always, with our Tool Time photo feature because, well, who doesn’t love looking at tools? From there we head straight to the good stuff with our main feature, ‘Big Toys For Big Boys’. We asked local social adventurer and blogger extraordinaire Richard White to try his soft writer-guy hands at something a little bigger than a pen or keyboard  like how about an excavator or bulldozer? “I can dig it,” he said. Not really, but he did agree to go on a shopping trip to price some of these items out and see what it takes to operate one. Kind of like playing in a giant sandbox! Discover the kid in you again on page 9. Look up, way up. Nope, it’s not the Friendly Giant (I’m dating myself here, I know), it’s our New Home Living magazine editor, Pepper Rodriguez, climbing to the top of a crane. Don’t stop, Pepper, and don’t look down! He may not have made it all the way to the top, but he’ll give you some good insight into what it takes to be a tower crane operator starting on page 19. Throw in some building code updates from Darrell Paul; mix in some important building industry news, events and websites; add a dash of safety; then top it all off with a little bit of humour in the form of a cartoon and some jokes  and you’ve got what we think is a pretty good edition for us to tuck under our arms and ride off into the sunset with until next edition. For now, however, as Porky Pig would say, “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”

PUBLISHER •

Source Media Group

Jim Zang Jean Faye Rodriguez GRAPHIC DESIGNERS • Dave Macaulay, Vivian Zhang PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR • Colleen Leier CONTRIBUTORS • Ainsley Ashby-Snyder, Andrea Cox, Richard White, Don Molyneaux, Pepper Rodriguez, David Shepherd, Darrell Paul ADVERTISING SALES • Andrea Glowatsky ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | EDITOR • ART DIRECTOR •

4 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

©2017 Source Media Group Corp. Material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the written permission from the publishers. All rights reserved. Construction Connect® is available free through select distribution points in Calgary. Source Media Group Corp. agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. Source Media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion. Contact: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1L9. E-mail info@sourcemediagroup.ca; Tel 403.532.3101; Fax 403.532.3109; Toll free 1.888.932.3101 Printed in Canada. Distributed by Gallant Distribution Services, Media Classified and Source Media Group. PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT NO. 41072011. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Source Media Group, 6109 – 6th Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1L9.

I L LU S T R AT I O N BY A I N S L E Y A S H BY- S NY D E R

Cartoon

At Your Fingertips Important building industry websites Alberta Building Code Information Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP) ATCO Gas BILD Calgary Region Built Green™ Canada Calgary Transit Calgary Women in Construction Call before you dig Canada Mortgage and Housing Corportation (CMHC) Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Alberta City of Calgary -Build Calgary -Bylaw Services -Calgary Housing Company -Real Estate and Development Services -Water Services Condo Living magazine Enmax New Home Living magazine Professional Home Builders Institute RenoMark™ Source Media Group

6 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca www.anhwp.com www.atcogas.com www.chbacalgary.com www.builtgreencanada.ca www.calgarytransit.com www.calgarywomeninconstruction.com www.albertaonecall.com www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en www.chbaalberta.ca www.calgary.ca/CS/build-calgary/Pages/home.aspx www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages/home.aspx www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ch/Pages/Contact-CHC.aspx www.calgary.ca/CS/OLSH/Pages/home.aspx www.calgary.ca/UEP/Water/Pages/Water-Services.aspx www.condolivingonline.com www.enmax.com www.newhomelivingonline.com www.phbi.ca www.renomark.ca www.sourcemediagroup.ca

Tool Time

2 4

1 Milwawkee concrete hammer with chisel attachment. Rents for $65/day at AA Rentals & Supply. 2 Honda GX 120 water pump. Rents for $60/day at AA Rentals & Supply. $72/day includes 50-foot discharge hose.

3 Stihl T5 420 concrete ‘quickie’ saw. Rents for $70/day at AA Rentals & Supply, $90/day includes diamond blade. 4 Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ chainsaw. $364.95 plus GST available at Martin Deerline, Bow Cycle & Motor, Greengate Garden Centre. 5 Hilti concrete drill with one bit attachment. Rents for $65/day at AA Rentals & Supply.

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017 2017 CONST RUCTION CON N ECT

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Feature

BIG TOYS FOR BIG BOYS From Bobcats to bulldozers, it’s all about moving dirt // BY RICHARD WHITE

think I might have missed out in getting the male gene that makes most men lust over big construction equipment. Maybe it has just been dormant, as over the past couple of years our neighbour boy (now three-and-a-half years old) has been enlightening me on the fascinating world of big machines. It all started when I found a book in a Little Library in Hillhurst titled “My Big Big Book of Machines” on my way home from yoga and grabbed it for him. I must have read it to him a hundred times since then. By age two, he knew the names of over 20 pieces of construction equipment — and so did I. So, when I was offered the opportunity to write a piece for Construction Connect titled “Big Toys for Big Boys,” I jumped at it. Specifically, the assignment was to pretend I was shopping for a Big Toy i.e. a

big piece of construction equipment, it couldn’t get much better. First stop: Cervus Bobcat. I thought I’d start small and work my way up, but boy was I in for a surprise. Who knew a Bobcat could do so many things? In fact, they have a 78-page glossy catalogue titled “We have an attachment for that”. Indeed, they have some 80-plus attachments that can convert a Bobcat into a backhoe, excavator, skid loader, grader, bulldozer, trencher and forklift. Think transformers on steroids. From a construction perspective, I am told the Bobcat, because of its smaller size, works great on sites with limited space for manoeuvring. The Bobcat’s versatility allows it to be used for everything from digging basements and small parkades to lifting trusses into place. It can even clear sidewalks of snow and dirt and then be used for landscaping and fence post digging. Heck, there’s even a 3D grade control system that allows the driver to quickly and accurately sculpt the land around a new house or larger buildings.

Above photo by Richard White. All other photos by Don Molyneaux.

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017 2017 CONST RUCTION CON N ECT

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Feature

I am beginning to wonder how I have lived without one for so long. Next stop, and next step up in size: Wajax Equipment. Their inventory includes nearly three dozen types of construction machinery; including backhoe loaders, skid steers, full size and mini excavators, soil stabilizers, articulated dump trucks, and earthmoving equipment, among many, many others. It is exhausting learning all the names and what they are used for let alone all the details — but fun. And, not only do they offer a huge selection of construction machines, but also a choice of brands with intriguing names like Yale, Hyster, Liu Gong, YMZ, Hamm, Hitachilike and Wirtgen. Buying big toys is truly mindboggling to a newb like yours truly. What I did learn, quickly, was that on any construction site, the excavator is KING. Able to be used for demolition, digging and lifting, they come in all different sizes: mini (.5 to 7 tons), midi (7 to 12 tons) and large (40 to 60 tons), and can be equipped with wheels or tracks. Did you know that some can do 60 kilometres per hour on the road? Me neither. AUCTION VS. EBAY VS. KIJIJI Ritchie Bros. auction website (www. rbauction.qc.ca/blog/when-to-buy-or-rent- Chris Peters of Volker Stevin heavy-equipment-%E2%80%93-five-factors-to-consider-) has a good blog on the five factors to consider when deciding to rent or buy heavy equipment. Some are pretty obvious: • Know your current financial situation; • Consider the length of project; • Consider how frequently will you be using the equipment (it depreciates even when sitting idle); • Consider the equipment’s availability to rent when you need it. The comment I found most interesting was that when you rent, you are often paying for the newest equipment with the latest technology, which can be more expensive and you may not need or use all of the features (sounds a bit like buying the latest smart phone). The blog also suggests purchasing well-main-

What I did learn, quickly, was that on any construction site, the excavator is KING. 10 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

tained used equipment can be more cost effective than renting over the long term. Ritchie Bros. sells thousands of pieces of heavy equipment every week through their live unreserved auctions and online marketplaces — IronPlanet and EquipmentOne. Established in Kelowna in 1958 and now headquartered in Burnaby, with 110 locations in 25 countries, they opened their first permanent auction site in Edmonton in 1976. Trent Vanderberghe, Vice President, Sales, at Ritchie Bros. thinks “one of the top reasons people buy equipment and trucks from us is selection. Our live auctions are often called equipment supermarkets, but without price tags. We conduct more than 350 live auctions around the world each year. We sell hundreds,

Feature

“Communication between buyer and seller is crucial: if a seller withholds information or does not answer questions, it is best to walk away.” if not thousands, of items in each auction, with each item being sold completely unreserved — no minimum bids or reserve prices.” He adds, “At our live unreserved auctions and IronPlanet’s weekly online auctions, buyers choose the final selling price; not us nor the seller. There are no price tags; every item is sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price. We offer clear title or your money back. We identify and arrange for the release of any liens or encumbrances on the equipment we sell. If we can’t deliver clear title, we offer a full refund of the purchase price.” Just this past June, Ritchie Bros. sold a 2013 Manitowoc 16000 440-ton self-erecting crane for $2.25M US at a Houston Texas auction. You can also learn things on eBay about the dos and don’ts of buying construction equipment. I loved the blog on buying Construction Excavators (www.ebay.com/ gds/The-Dos-and-Donts-of-Buying-Construction-Excavators-/10000000177329502 /g.html) which gives valuable tips like making sure you know about all of the excavator’s features, parts and functions before you go shopping and lists some of them for you. It suggests asking about things I never would have thought about — like an anti-vandalism feature. And yes, you can buy construction equipment on eBay — they even suggest search words to use. Who knew “zero tail swing excavator” was a good search term? The eBay article also provides tips for

buying used equipment. “The seller should be clear about owner history, how long, and in what capacity, the excavator has been used, and what the reason for selling is. Records of service and repairs should be available, as well as descriptions of any problems or issues. If buying online, the shopper should carefully inspect photos, which should be of the equipment for sale rather than stock images. Communication between buyer and seller is crucial: if a seller withholds information or does not answer questions, it is best to walk away.” Just for fun, I went on the Calgary Kijiji site and typed in “excavator.” Well, 305 ads came up. On the first page alone there was everything from a 2010 John Deere 350D LC Excavator for $94,900 to a HOC TE301 to a 2006 Hitachi ZX 270LC Hydraulic Excavator for $65,000. On the second page was a Cuso 5327 PD(13-Yard) Hydro-Excavator Truck for $194,000 — very tempting (the little guy next door would be impressed if I had one of these). ON SITE EDUCATION But I wasn’t done yet, more “field research” was definitely needed. So I asked some of my friends at University District if they could set me up with someone to chat with about all the big toys being used to prepare their site for their mega development. I met up with Chris Peters, Project — Supervisor/Estimator — Special Projects with Volker Stevin Contracting Ltd., who was wealth of knowledge. I learned that over this summer they had $2.3 million of equipment on site — Two Track Excavators ($1.1M), Track Loader ($300K), Track Dozer ($400K), Wheel Loader (250K), Padfoot Roller ($130K), Smooth Drum Packer ($80K) and Skidsteer ($60K). All of which they own outright. Peters also enlightened me as to what the sequence of events is that takes place to get a bare piece of land ready for housing developers to build their projects.

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Feature

For the deep utilities the sequence is: • Large Excavator: digs out the trench, places gravel on the bottom, drops the pipe to the crew, places gravel on top of the pipe, repeat; • Wheel Loader: feeds gravel to the bucket of the excavator with spoon, brings pipe to the side of the trench from storage area; • Track Dozer: pushes material back into the trench for backfill, smoothes out the dirt once backfilled to grade; • Track Loader: carries material for backfill, works in conjunction with the dozer, moves piles of excess dirt; • Padfoot Roller: compacts each lift of backfill as the track loader and dozer push it back in; • Small Excavator: compact in tight areas, around manholes and utilities. For the surface work the sequence is: • Grader: pushes clay and gravel from high to low areas, spreads dumped materials, sets material to grade; • Scraper: picks up and hauls excess material which grader has windrowed or places material for grader to spread; • Smooth drum roller: compacts the clay and gravel as the material is placed in lifts; • Paver: once curbs have been placed (either machine poured or hand formed) the paver lays out asphalt mix from dump trucks. As for what challenges they faced in preparing the University District site, I was surprised to learn some of the pipes were placed more than nine metres deep. I also hadn’t thought about the issue of their working adjacent to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, which meant keeping dust and noise to a minimum and working around traffic and pedestrians. As well, they had to maintain water and services to the all the buildings nearby while perform-

ing the upgrades. Peters invited me to come to the University District site and see the equipment for myself, even climb up onto one of their pieces of equipment for an “operator’s view” of what it is like to operate a big toy. I felt like I was the “king of the castle” as little boys would say. Tim, the real operator told me that a good shift is about 10 hours long with about nine of those actually sitting and operating the equipment. He said, “the bigger the toy, the easier it is on the body as you don’t get bounced around as much as you do on smaller equipment.” Good to know. LEARNING TO DRIVE Part of my assignment was to take at least one piece of equipment for a test drive and perhaps attend a training lesson. My first thought was to check to see what post secondary schools offered heavy equipment operator (HE0) training. I quickly found that Olds College has a 12-week program followed by a two-week practicum – that seemed a bit excessive for my needs. All I needed was a quickie lesson. And no, I couldn’t just train on one or two pieces of equipment either. You must successfully complete training and testing on six pieces of equipment — Grader, Skid Steer, Loader, Excavator, Packer and Rubber Tired Hoe. Also, certain my assignment editor wouldn’t spring for the $12,000 tuition and the next

12 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

class didn’t even start until September (my deadline was late August), Olds College was a “no-go.” Nonetheless, a quick call to Sharyl James, Trades Programmer at Olds College was enlightening. She told me they have had students as young as 17 enrolled in the program, but they must be 18 at the time of completion. And they also have had several students over 65 take the training. Guess I have a couple of years yet to take the training. Students have included retired bus drivers, outsourced IT specialists, correctional officers, landscapers, oilfield workers and of course, individuals wanting to start their own building company and do the excavating for their projects themselves. Olds College’s HEO program is also popular with new Canadians — with students from around the world, including Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Korea and Cameroon — signing up. James points out “one of the big advantages of our courses is that we are a college so we can help special needs students whose second language in English.” THE LAST WORD If you think buying, leasing or renting a new or used car is complicated, don’t even think about becoming a procurement officer for construction equipment. The options are mindboggling, and a mistake could be very costly. I think I might stick to buying Tonkas at Toys-R-Us. CC

Housing Market CHART A

Housing Starts

BY DWELLING TYPE BY MONTH AIRDRIE

ONE LAST LOOK Final quarter of 2017 holds promise for builders, buyers // BY JIM ZANG

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

July 2017

July 2016

2017 YTD

2016 YTD

55 16 14 12 97

60 18 0 0 78

289 98 109 12 505

214 98 127 56 495

9 2 0 0 11

3 0 11 0 14

70 12 0 0 82

44 0 33 0 77

27 22 30 0 79

22 14 0 0 36

149 76 99 103 427

134 42 21 0 197

CHESTERMERE Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All COCHRANE

eing that this is the final edition of Construction Connect before the end of the year, it’s worth taking one last look at the Calgary and surrounding area housing market – new home starts in particular. It’s been a real mixed bag of numbers this year, starting slow and gaining momentum which hopefully carries into 2018. Briefly, getting right to the point, Airdrie, Chestermere, Okotoks and Cochrane are all up from last year’s year-to-date totals. Cochrane’s up a bunch in multi-family, but also up in the key single-detached category, as were the others – a real good indicator of a resurgent market. Strathmore and Canmore continue to lag behind but, again, it’s mostly in the multi-family categories where a couple of projects can skew the numbers. Comparing single-detached starts to last year provides a more accurate reflection of the state of the market. In Calgary proper, just running down the list of survey zones reported by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the levels of new home activity are definitely not consistent around town. For example, the Beltline is up by over 100 starts – but it’s all apartment condos. Same for downtown, where 409 of this years 413 starts are apartment units, down a bit from last year. Chinook is up from seven homes

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All CHART B

Housing Starts

BY DWELLING TYPE BY QUARTER OKOTOKS Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

Q2 2017

Q2 2016

2017 YTD

2016 YTD

52 0 18 0 70

27 2 0 0 29

92 0 18 0 110

59 10 0 0 69

10 0 7 12 29

10 0 0 16 26

23 2 7 12 44

31 28 0 16 75

5 0 8 0 13

3 2 19 0 24

7 6 15 0 28

3 4 31 0 38

STRATHMORE Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All CANMORE Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017 CONST RUCTION CON N ECT

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Housing Market CHART C

Calgary Housing Starts

BY DWELLING TYPE BY SURVEY ZONE July 2017

July 2016

2017 YTD

2016 YTD

0 0 0 6 6

1 0 0 332 333

0 0 0 503 503

3 0 0 392 392

5 0 0 0 5

3 0 0 0 3

12 4 0 0 16

7 4 4 0 15

1 0 4 0 5

0 0 0 289 289

1 4 4 409 413

2 0 7 466 475

27 20 30 0 77

26 10 0 0 36

181 68 146 80 475

163 50 58 158 429

56 36 44 222 358

44 6 0 4 54

464 98 224 416 1,202

298 58 40 287 683

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

148 30 13 117 308

69 10 23 8 110

656 176 286 282 1,400

358 44 162 259 823

33 10 0 0 43

58 10 7 0 75

309 72 40 465 886

363 108 104 289 864

33 18 0 58 109

12 8 6 4 30

135 90 20 234 479

68 36 22 88 214

108 36 11 0 155

653 192 208 115 1,168

506 154 181 56 897

327 80 47 637 1,091

2,446 734 1,880 2,551 6,671

1,793 474 597 2,087 4,951

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

OTHER CALGARY

NORTH HILL Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

SOUTHWEST

FISH CREEK Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

2016 YTD

SOUTHEAST

DOWNTOWN Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

2017 YTD

NORTHWEST

CHINOOK Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

July 2016

NORTHEAST

BELTLINE Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

July 2017

6 8 0 0 14

6 0 0 0 6

35 30 12 47 124

25 58 40 287 683

Single detached Semi-detached Row Apartment All

121 44 44 12 221

CALGARY TOTAL

started in 2016 to 12 this year, but those low totals in an older neighbourhood basically have no impact on the overall market. Way down south in Fish Creek, single-detached and row units (townhomes) were both up, while semi-detached and apartment starts were down. Like I said, a real mixed bag. North Hill is down a whole bunch, including 240 fewer apartment home starts compared to last year. All told, North Hill is down more than 500

14 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

Single detached 440 Semi-detached 166 Row 135 Apartment 415 All 1,146

Housing Market

It’s a great note to end on as we wrap up this final housing market report for 2017. units from 2016, by far the biggest decline in town. The Northeast, in comparison, continues to boom, with 1,202 total starts, up more than 500 from last year. Likewise, the Northwest saw a total of 1,400 units started to-date, including an increase of nearly 300 in single-family! The Southwest, too, is up by more than double 2016 year-to-date totals, with increases in every category across the board. Across town in the Southeast survey zone, there’s been some ups and downs among the various categories but the totals are tracking just about even.

The bottom line: Compared to 2016 year-to-date totals, 2017 housing starts are actually looking pretty darn good, thank you. Single-detached starts are up by 653 homes; semi-detached are up 260 starts; townhomes are up an incredible 1,283 units; and apartment starts are up from 2,087 to 2,551 units, an increase of more than 22 per cent. When all is said and done, as we enter the fourth and final quarter of 2017, total starts are tracking at 1,720 starts — nearly 35 per cent up from last year at this time. It’s a great note to end on as we wrap up this final housing market report for 2017. Thanks for reading! CC

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The home builders’ — and owners’ — best friend

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“We try to keep it as simple as possible for our customers,” he says, “by the way we get the equipment to them and the way we service it. For some people, it might be a new way to think about how to deal with the mechanical equipment in your home. It seems to makes sense for people to not have to worry about it. Again, it’s all about having that peace of mind.” And that comes from giving people top-notch customer service. From using only licensed installers and brand name products, to helping bring builders up to speed on the various codes, to ongoing maintenance and guarantees, Reliance is there for their customers all the way. Often times they even end up training the builder’s contractor. It’s their equipment, but the builder’s contractor installs it, so Reliance is there to make sure it’s done right — every time. What’s more, their service actually continues to improve as advancements are made in technology and installation techniques. Reliance is always working to provide new products, including new water �iltration systems. They’re the largest water heater rental company in Canada, bar none, for plenty of good reasons. More and more people are choosing to rent their water systems these days, for both price and convenience. For starters, they don’t have to lay out capital for a product that’s only going to depreciate over time. Number two, all of their rental contracts include ongoing maintenance. It’s their equipment, not yours. You don’t have to worry about it, ever. And, third, Reliance uses the best products, with the latest technology, with installation either provided by or overseen by seasoned professionals. Today’s HVAC systems are far more ef�icient, saving energy and money. For builders and consumers, it can lower the bottom line hard cost of building the home. Reliance adds real value for builders that both the builders themselves and their customers will appreciate. It’s summed up perfectly in their company mantra: “We’re not comfortable until you are.” ■

18 | CONST RUCTION CON N ECT SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2017

Feature

TOWERING HEIGHTS Have you got what it takes to be a tower crane operator?

// STORY AND PHOTOS BY PEPPER RODRIGUEZ

he old saying was that Alberta’s provincial bird was the crane, because of a skyline crowded by tower cranes. Since the crash of the oil market though, they have become sort of an endangered species. But as the economic picture improved, they are making a comeback. In Calgary, especially, tower cranes are again flying over the downtown — maybe not as plentiful as the days of yore, but just one glance down East Village way and you can see them once again busily adding new spires, towers and skyscrapers to the horizon. With the tower cranes’ renewed presence in the city, it may be worth it to ask: do you have what it takes to be a tower crane operator? I did. And here’s what I found out. A couple of caveats before I proceed with the story; getting up the crane is not that simple. First you have to get permission from a construction firm and their partners at the job site, you have to be outfitted with hard hats and steel toe boots (sometimes a harness, if necessary) and you go through an intensive safety procedure class. When the operators think you’re ready, that’s the only time you go up. Only after weeks of working on these permissions and protocols was I finally allowed up. And, was it worth it! It couldn’t have been a better day to climb up one hundred-plus feet in the air at the Elite Formwork tower crane at the RADIUS condo construction site in Bridgeland. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and there was a light breeze, but I couldn’t help my knees from shaking once we got up to the top. It may be because I am spectacularly out of shape, but also a little scared of heights.

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Feature Elite Formworks VicePresident Eric Jensen (left) and crane safety co-ordinator, Dave Goller.

Which was why I declined going a further 10 feet or so up the crow’s nest of the crane. A decision I’ve now come to regret; can you imagine the selfies you could take from that vantage point and how many likes on Instagram you’d get? You’d blow up on Facebook, for sure! But then again, getting that high up — hand-over-hand up a metal ladder, mind you — is already a small victory over my fear of heights. Still, I can’t imagine doing this everyday, much less in the wintertime. Or when wind gusts hit 100 kilometre-per-hour and up, which they tend to do consistently in Calgary no matter the season. I spoke with Elite Formworks Vice-President Eric Jensen and crane safety co-ordinator, Dave Goller, for this story. The Calgary-based construction firm started operations in 1979 and they have completed over 50 mid- to high-rise concrete buildings in the last 20 years, Jensen says. Goller has been with them for 15 of those years, manning the cranes through most of that time. Clearly, they were the experts I needed to talk to. They both tell me that not everyone is made out to be a tower crane operator, and that it takes years of working on construction sites to even be considered for the job. But really, it starts with ambition. Goller says he just knew he wanted to work on the tower crane as soon as he set eyes on it, and all his endeavours were toward sitting at the crane’s cab. He doesn’t have a fear of heights and has even walked on the edge of the CN Tower in Toronto when he was a kid, which was part of the tour package at the time (although he’s not sure if that’s where he got his ambition to work on a tower crane). Jensen says there are a lot of steps needed to even be considered for the post. First, you have to be at least a high school graduate. “To become a Journeyman Tower Crane Operator, you have to learn the common construction practices and work your way up as a rigger, an apprentice operator, then meeting the requirements of becoming a journeyman crane operator,” he says. “As a rigger you must prove your understanding of how to lift and fly all types of construction materials in a safe and professional manner. During this process a worker can be indentured into the Alberta Crane Operator Apprenticeship Program. After enough experience is gained and the worker has proven reliability and professionalism, they will be given a chance to learn the crane functions first hand under the supervision of an experienced journeyman operator. It will take time to learn and demonstrate the desired

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attributes of a typical operator (knowledge, attention to safety, problem solving, patience, communications, etc.) Any hours of experience deemed suitable by the apprentice’s journeyman will be put towards their required hours of experience. Once the required hours are reached, the apprentice will be able to apply for advanced training and if successful will write the journeyman test.” Goller says it took him two years to go through the process and become a fulltime tower crane operator, “others can take up to 10 years or more. It all depends on their skill and ambition.” But for all intents and purposes, education

Feature

never stops for a crane operator. “Each day brings its own set of challenges, it may be the weather, it may be the particular placement of the crane on the construction site, or it may be mechanical. You have to have your wits about you the entire time you’re up there,” he remarks. Tower crane operators have to take their job seriously. Lives — and property — are in the balance, literally. The challenges Goller says are both physical and mental in nature. “Learning the book is the easy part, but knowing what to prepare for on the job site each day is different,” Goller says. Jensen says that for their part, Elite’s crane operators are all developed in-house. “This ensures they are fully knowledgeable of site activities and procedures.” Among the traits they look for are good character, dedication to work, and a high level of safety consciousness. Reliability is essential in this profession as there are few people who can replace you if you miss work.” It is easy to get sick in this job, sweltering in the heat or freezing in the winter. But after a lifetime of exposure to all kinds of weather, Goller says he’s used to it. Getting the feel for the machinery is another thing that he has developed an intuition to. To him, the crane is very much an extension of his arms.

But to Goller, what’s of upmost importance is the communication between the tower crane operator and the riggers below. “There’s a lot of teamwork involved, the rigger has to be the crane operator’s eyes on the ground and they have to be able to communicate reliably. Handheld radios aren’t enough — construction sites are noisy — and hand signals can only get you so far, but getting the message across to the operator is really important.” This is where experience plays a part. “Being able to anticipate conditions on the ground is key, and that’s something you just learn through experience,” Goller says. Jensen points out that the challenges are many and varied. “The amount of concentration and attention the operator needs to give all day every day is high, in order to maintain a safe and efficient work place. Everything from the direction of the sun, to wind, to the particular task taking place below, will change the way each and every aspect of the operator’s job is performed.” But if you do have what it takes, the job does pay well. Jensen says journeymen operators earn on average about $115,000 a year with some earning upwards of $150,000 annually. The way construction seems to have picked up in Calgary now, there is a chance for someone who has the ambition and guts to take on such a job. “We currently employ 12 journeyman operators, with several more currently in the apprenticeship program,” Jensen says. Looks like more will be needed. CC

Not everyone is made out to be a tower crane operator, and that it takes years of working in construction sites to even be considered for the job. But, really, it starts with ambition.

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Safety Sidebar

SAFETY FENCING

Some simple rules about securing construction sites

bviously, securing your construction site is a major concern — and if it’s not, it should be. Not just to prevent vandalism and theft, but injuries to passers-by and, yes, even trespassers (who are often children). The Safety Codes Act (SCA) holds the property owner responsible for ensuring public safety during the course of permitted construction activity. By definition, and ‘owner’ is anyone in care of the property, be they a titled owner, a builder company, a trade, or any worker thereof. Once work has begun, it is expected they will secure the property with fencing in such a way that access may be gained when people are present on site, but not when they are not. The strict requirements for safety fencing are set out in the Alberta

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Building Code (ABC), Division B, Part 8. This states such details as how far a site has to be from a public walkway to not require fencing, how high the fence must be, and where it has to be located (ie. within property lines). As a general rule, sites should be fenced whenever the Building Permit requires: • Demolition. • Open excavation or foundation • Framing. • Unsecured openings (windows, doors) • Climbable structures (stairs, ladders). • Control and containment of construction materials and debris. Similarly, there are guidelines as to when you can take down your fencing too. CC

What’s New

DECODING THE CODE

Calgary builders adapting well to changes

// BY DAVID SHEPHERD WITH DARRELL PAUL

Darrell Paul

ast November, section 9.36 of the 2014 Alberta Building Code came into effect, officially governing energy efficiency requirements for small buildings and residences. The City of Calgary has worked alongside home builders to help them understand the changes. Ross McDougall, the Chief Building Inspector for Calgary Building Services Planning and Development, explains. “Any time new code is introduced, it creates a lot of questions. But we’ve overcome this initial challenge thanks to our strong partnership with builders. We had numerous sites and office meetings within the industry to help them better understand the code, and the changes required in order to comply.” Darrell Paul, who runs Qualistat Building Performance Consultants, elaborates on the specific changes. “Home builders have to match their energy model with what their blueprints are saying. This means they have to spend more time putting information in their blueprints and they have to take the time to do some more calculations.” Section 9.36 of the Alberta Building Code focuses on increasing energy efficiency — think higher standards for insulation, more efficient furnaces, and better windows. The code offers home builders two main compliance paths: prescriptive and performance. “There’s a lot of builders that are going prescriptive, and there are a lot that are going performance,” says Paul. Each direction has its advantages and costs, leaving both home builders and buyers flummoxed: what’s the best way to build a home that meets the new code? The prescriptive path is the simplest option. Essentially, all you have to do is follow the code to the letter. But there’s a

drawback. “We’ve heard that the pathway builders choose between prescriptive and performance can impact overall cost,” says McDougall. By strictly adhering to the prescriptive path, builders may end up spending more than necessary in construction costs. Which leads to the performance-based compliance path. The major drawback of this path? It’s far more complicated. However, Calgary builders have been performing well. “Inspections have been very successful, in large part due to the collaborative approach we take with builders,” says McDougall. “The biggest issues that have been identified are related to understanding the different pathways builders choose, whether it’s prescriptive or performance.” That’s where an energy consultant like Paul enters the scene. He explains how the process works. “Let’s say your walls are R-20 and you want to put in a window. We make a copy of that and we convert all your insulation values to the code required values. The building code says you have to be rated on a minimum of 17% glass, but when we do an energy model, we’re looking at how much glass is actually in your house – so whenever you have less than 17% you get a big credit for it.” “It’s going to save you money,” says Paul.

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What’s New

The code offers home builders two main compliance paths: prescriptive and performance.

“Most single family homes have very few windows on either side, so you’re going to get a credit for that. You’re also going to figure out exactly how many studs are in the wall. So, instead of using the building code standard, which is approximately 23% of your wall is studs, when you calculate it out it’s probably closer to 11% — and you get all that credited back to you.” Which raises the question — if home builders are likely to reduce building costs by complying via performance, why aren’t they leaping at the opportunity? “It’s more work for performance,” says Paul. “You have to hire someone like me to do the energy model. So now you need to provide more details in your drawings. You’re going to spend $400 to $500 to do the energy model.” For home buyers, the new code likely means a slight rise in cost — particularly in new homes at the low end of the market. “But the nice thing about it is when you upgrade your hot water tank to a high-efficiency hot water tank, you can get rid of some of the insulation in your walls to offset that,” says Paul. “You can’t do that prescriptively. Same thing with the furnace or in-floor heating.” While most home buyers have yet to notice the impact of the changes, McDougall has received some positive feedback. “I have received a few calls indicating that people thought it was the right time to start building smarter,” he says. Paul’s final verdict? “Home builders will be able to divide and use their energy credits better with a performance model than they can prescriptively.” CC

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CONTRACTORS NOTICING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND DUE TO NDP’S REBATE PROGRAM While Alberta’s NDP government has yet to release official statistics on the results of its energy efficiency rebate program, early returns, at least from the contractors’ perspective, are promising. Colin Gnyp, the sales and estimating manager for IDEAL Insulation, explains, as quoted by EfficiencyAlberta. ca. “Since the rebate went live on April 28, there’s been an uptick in people choosing to proceed with upgrades compared to the previous two years when there was a recession, money was tighter, and people might not have had the disposable funds to invest in these types of improvements.” The NDP governments $24 million program provides rebates for energy efficient home improvements. Specifically, these rebates target Energy Star Triple pane windows, Energy Star tankless hot water heaters, and various forms of insulation. Funds for the rebates are paid by the government’s carbon tax. On June 21, the rebate program expanded to include rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) units on residential and commercial buildings. The goal of the Residential and Commercial Solar Program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half a million tonnes. By applying to the solar program, Albertans can expect rebates of up to 30 per cent of eligible costs for residents, and up to 25 per cent for commercial and non-profits. The amount of cash you save through the rebate program depends on the upgrade but could be up to $6,000, though the majority of homeowners will see less. To be eligible for a rebate, the work must be performed by a participating Alberta contractor. You can find a complete list of participating contractors at efficiencyalberta.ca/homeimprovement. CC

Feature

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Putting new roofs over families’ heads // BY ANDREA COX

ach year in southern Alberta, thousands of families struggle to put a roof over their heads. But thanks to Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta those numbers are decreasing. “The Habitat home ownership model is a permanent solution to poverty. We are giving families a path out of a non-sustainable rental situation,” says Bill Brunton, vice-president, marketing and external relations for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. Habitat for Humanity’s model is elegant in its simplicity. Partner families are selected based on need. They must have children, live in sub-standard housing and have the ability to pay a mortgage. The families purchase their homes at fair market value, with a no-interest loan and no down payment. “Given current rental conditions in Calgary, you can imagine if you had four or five kids how difficult it would be to find suitable living arrangements, even if you had two parents working both earning $30,000, it would be very challenging,” says Brunton. Research has shown that stable, affordable home ownership amplifies a long list of social benefits. “The strength that you get as a family from being able to own your own home is extremely significant — it’s empowering; it provides financial opportunities that you wouldn’t otherwise have and it gives children stability,” says Brunton. Since 1990 Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta has partnered with 253 families, building 180 homes in 22 communities, affecting the lives of 627 children. Habitat has several projects currently under way or in the planning stages in three Calgary communities — Pineridge (24, fourplex homes), Bowness (a series of four and fiveplexes) and Silver Springs (a 32-unit townhome project).

Typically local architects are contracted to design the projects, but often designs are recycled, changing up the external façades to meld with the architectural guidelines and streetscapes of each community. And with the rising costs of land, four-andfive-plexes are the most cost effective housing style. “It’s the only way that the math will work in a city like Calgary,” says Brunton. He notes, however, that in smaller communities the duplex style of home still makes financial sense. In 2019 a duplex project in Pincher Creek will break ground, and currently, a duplex in Olds is mid-construction. But regardless of style, all homes hover around the 1,110 square foot mark, featuring three or four bedrooms and an open-concept main floor living space. It is the power of volunteerism that generates and sustains the energy behind every Habitat project. In 2016 2,963 volunteers in southern Alberta contributed 67,000 volunteer hours in various facets of the operation from office administration to retail assistance and build time. Each Habitat family as part of their contract must also contribute 500 hours of sweat equity into the building of their home. Habitat’s ReStores — home improvement retail outlets that recycle and sell new and gently used furniture, building materials, appliances, doors, windows and home décor at greatly reduced prices — generate most of the not-for-profit’s operating costs.

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Feature The completion of every Habitat home is a celebration of the hard work of Habitat families and the coming together of volunteers and sponsors. In 2016 the two Southern Alberta (Calgary North and Medicine Hat) generated $3.3 million, diverting 1,700 tons of waste from local landfills and contributing $1.4 million to Habitat Southern Alberta’s administrative overhead. With the opening of a third ReStore in southeast Calgary in June of 2017, the opportunity for greater cost coverage can only increase. And corporate donations and sponsorships are the glue behind all of the builds. “When corporations donate to Habitat, almost all of those donations can go toward build projects,” says Brunton, adding that many corporate sponsors have been very generous, allowing Habitat to provide the pathway out of poverty for many families. Take for example, Calgary-based Star Building Materials. Spearheaded by vice-president Ken Crockett, the Ride through the Rockies, a four-day, fundraising cycling extravaganza in the foothills, raises close to $125,000 each year for Habitat for Humanity. Participants come from all segments of the building

industry — builders, developers, suppliers and each rider raises $5,000, either personally or through corporate sponsorship. Star Building Materials hosts and organizes the ride and covers all of the operating costs. “Supporting Habitat is a great fit for our industry. It provides an opportunity to raise some money in a really fun way and allows us to reach a lot of families throughout the Habitat world,” says Crockett. Certainly the completion of every Habitat home is a celebration of the hard work of Habitat families and the coming together of volunteers and sponsors. “Incredible things can happen when community and industry partners come together,” says Brunton. CC

Trade Websites Following are some other popular websites for people interested in learning a trade. ABOUT THE TRADES IN ALBERTA

MORE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

• Trades and Occupations list: tradesecrets.alberta.ca/tradesoccupations/trades-occupations-list • Labour market information for Alberta, including monthly statistical updates on the province’s labour force, and short and medium employment forecasts: eae.alberta.ca/lmi

• Available internships and programs: nextgen.org/ students/get-experience/internships • Apply for a program/get started: nextgen.org/students/ get-experience/get-started • Career camps: nextgen.org/students/career-camps • Success stories: nextgen.org/students/success-stories • Learn more about financial assistance options for apprentices and occupational trainees: tradesecrets.alberta.ca/ﬁnancial-assistance/

CHOOSING A TRADE AS A CAREER

• Find resources for planning and achieving educational and career success, including information on apprenticeships, occupations, and wages and salaries: alis.alberta.ca • Learn more about Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system: tradesecrets.alberta.ca • Find out if your skills, knowledge and experience meet Alberta’s industry standards: tradesecrets.alberta.ca/experiencedworkers HOW TO GET STARTED IN THE TRADES

• Learn about the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for high school students: tradesecrets.alberta.ca/learn-on-the-job/who-canlearn-a-trade/registered-apprenticeship-program • Learn about apprenticeships: tradesecrets.alberta.ca/learn-on-the-job

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WORKING IN THE TRADES

• Information for new and young workers, their parents, educators and employers on workplace health and safety: humanservices.alberta.ca/ working-in-alberta/5369.html • Alberta Worksprovides employment and training services to connect unemployed people to jobs, and employers to skilled workers: humanservices.alberta.ca/albertaworks CC

Word Search

BUILD BOBCAT BULLDOZER CHISEL CODE

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR CRANES ENERGY

EXCAVATOR FENCING FOREMAN FOUNDATION HABITAT

HILTI HONDA INSULATION OKOTOKS PAINTER

PORSCHE PUMP RELAINCE RENTALS SAFETY

SAIT SPRAYFOAM STIHL TONKA WAJAX

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Construction Industry Events

Professional Development and Networking Opportunities SEPTEMBER 20

SEPTEMBER 27

NOVEMBER 8–9

BILD Calgary Region luncheon on MGA & City Charter 11:30 a.m. at the

Construction Heat update- Builder Breakfast held at the Glenmore Inn, start

Carriage House Inn. For more information and to register visit bildcr.com.

time at 6:30 a.m. Visit bildcr.com for event info and to register.

Buildex Calgary at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park. Visit buildexcalgary.com for more information and tickets.

SEPTEMBER 21–24

SEPTEMBER 29

Calgary Fall Home Show at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park. For more information and tickets, visit calgaryfallhomeshow.com

Calgary Construction Association tailgate event at Stampeders vs. Alouettes

SEPTEMBER 26, 27, 28, 29 BILD Calgary Region safety barbecues

in Calgary, Airdrie and Okotoks. Check bild. ca for location details.

game. For details visit www.cca.cc

OCTOBER 20–22 Red Deer Home Renovation and Design Show at Westerner Park. For more

event information and tickets visit reddeerhomeshow.ca

Word Search Solution

BUILD BOBCAT BULLDOZER CHISEL CODE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR CRANES ENERGY EXCAVATOR FENCING FOREMAN FOUNDATION HABITAT

HILTI HONDA INSULATION OKOTOKS PAINTER PORSCHE PUMP RELAINCE RENTALS SAFETY SAIT SPRAYFOAM STIHL TONKA WAJAX

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NOVEMBER 16–17 Landscape Alberta Green Industry Show at the BMO Centre Stampede Park. Pre-Conference workshops available, visit greenindustryshow.com for more information

Industry News

IMPORTANT INFORMATION DID YOU MISS IT? From Dirt to Door: The Long Road to a New Home, a publication from the Smarter Growth Initiative (SGI), takes a look at the entire residential development process in Calgary, from when the land is purchased to the very moment an owner receives the keys to his or her new home. The booklet explores a number of questions, including: • What governs density requirements? • Who determines the next new community for development? • Who pays for which step and how do things move forward? • How long does it all actually take? • How can Calgarians help make housing more affordable — where do we all fit in? For copies of this or any of the other booklets produced by SGI, either for your employees or to display in your customer reception area, visit smartergrowth.ca CIVIC ELECTION 2017 If you’re reading this before the October 16th municipal election, there might still be time! As a citizen of Calgary, and a member of the building industry, it’s crucial to understand where the various candidates stand on some important issues. To that end, BILD Calgary Region has provided members with two key questions to ask (you can ask more, of course) before casting their ballots. The first is a general question about the housing industry as it relates to the economy, and the second has to do with how much control people believe City Council should have within the new home market — especially the matter of regulating what type of homes are built which, in BILD’s opinion, is slowly eroding choice and affordability for potential new home buyers. Their position is simple, let the market decide what homes get build where. The two questions to ask are: 1. If elected, how would you help the land development and home building industry to be more resilient, especially during tough economic times? 2. Which do you believe should drive development and housing choice: market forces or Council-approved policy and regulation? For more election information visit the BILD Calgry website or www.calgary.ca/election MUNICPAL GOVERNMENT ACT (MGA) At the provincial level, BILD Alberta has been actively involved in revisions to the Municipal Government Act legislation, especially

with regards to offsite levies — a program BILD says “could be disastrous for Albertans if implemented”, both in terms of housing prices and the health of the home building industry. What BILD doesn’t want is for Alberta to be a province where younger generations can’t afford a home — like what has happened in Toronto and Vancouver. They suggest that proposed new off-site levies, a provincial transportation levy, and inclusionary housing regulations could add as much as $60,000 to the cost of an average home which, obviously, is not good for either home builders or buyers. For more information, reach out to Scott Fash, Director of Planning & Development at BILD Alberta at scott.fash@bildalberta.ca CALGARY’S COMMUNITY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY COLLECTIVE BILD Calgary Region is one of the founding members of Calgary’s Community Housing Affordability Collective (CHAC), with Beverly Jarvis, BILD Calgary’s Director of Policy, Projects & Government Relations acting as Co-Chair. The group’s goal; to meet with other housing providers to advance a collaborative action plan with an aim to make housing more affordable in the city. The collective recently said goodbye to two individuals who have made significant contributions to the group. CHAC CoChair Kim O’Brien, from Horizon Housing Society, has accepted a new position as President and CEO with United Active Living. Meanwhile, CHAC Facilitator Jennifer Arntfield from the City of Calgary has been engaged by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. For more information about CHAC, visit www.chacollective.com. CC

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The City of Calgary

SPRAY FOAM INSULATION What you need to know about it

olyurethane spray foam insulation as a building material has been around since the 1970s and, with the new Alberta Building Code energy efficiency requirements, the interest in using it has increased. It has many advantages and can achieve higher thermal resistance values than other standard insulations. Spray foam insulation, or foamed plastic, is permitted to be used in combustible construction, provided it is protected from adjacent spaces with an approved interior finish, sheet metal or thermal barrier. It is available in open cell, closed cell, half-pound and two-pound varieties. This product expands to fill voids and is dense enough to prevent air movement through the material. With a thermal resistance of approximately R6.2 per inch for two-pound foam, it requires far less material in similar applications than blown glass batt, which has a thermal resistance of R3 to R4 per inch. Spray foam behaves as an air barrier and in some cases can also be used as a vapour barrier. There are many choices when choosing a spray foam product.

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It is important to select a product suitable for your application and approved for use by your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). In Calgary, this means selecting a foam that complies with CAN/ULC-705.1 or has a Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC) listing and is installed in accordance with that listing. Be aware that not all foam products are permitted to be in contact with residential heating ducts and combining different product types may not be allowed. When installed properly and in accordance with applicable standards, spray foam insulation is a long lasting, durable product that can help you meet the energy efficiency requirements of the Alberta Building Code. If in doubt about a product, always check with your AHJ before installin. CC

Laugh Out Loud

How many Alberta NDPers does it take to change a lightbulb? None. They hire a company from Ontario to do it. ❂ What are the only two seasons in Calgary? Winter and Construction. ❂ One morning a local highway department crew reached their job-site and realized they had forgotten all their shovels. The crew’s foreman radioed the office and told his supervisor of the situation. The supervisor radioed back and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll send some shovels … just lean on each other until they arrive.” ❂ What did one window say to the other? I can see right through you. ❂ There were three construction workers; one crane operator, one pole climber, one guide. The guide tied the crane to the end of a pole. The crane operator would then pick the pole up on end. The climber climbed to the top and dropped a tape measure which the guide promptly read and noted the measurement. The crane operator then lowered the pole to the ground and repositioned to pick up another pole. This went on several times when the foreman came over and asked why they couldn’t measure the poles while they were laying on the ground? The workers replied, “we need to know how tall the poles are, not how long”. ❂ Bumper sticker: Jesus was a carpenter.

Got a good housing industry or construction-related joke or story to tell? Email it to us at jim.zang@sourcemediagroup.ca

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