The Trowel October / November 2016

The Voice of the West Coast Wall and Ceiling Industry • October / November 2016

DRYWALL

Dust-up Tariffs on US-manufactured drywall cause industry concern over price increases and supply shortages

Also in this issue: Grasslands in Regina, SK The Green in Building

Publications Mail / Agreement # 40719512

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The Voice of the West Coast Wall and Ceiling Industry • October / November 2016

DRYWALL

Dust-up Tariffs on US-manufactured drywall cause industry concern over price increases and supply shortages

Also in this issue: Grasslands in Regina, SK The Green in Building

Publications Mail / Agreement # 40719512

Adding Millennials to Your Company

The Trowel team Lara Perraton, Group Publisher lperraton@pointonemedia.com

14

Jessica Kirby, Editor 877.755.2762 • jessica.kirby@pointonemedia.com

Image courtesy of Fastwalls.

Lara Perraton, Advertising Sales 877.755.2762 • lperraton@pointonemedia.com Christina Tranberg, Advertising Sales 877.755.2762 • ctranberg@pointonemedia.com

contributing writers Ron Coleman Andrew Delmonico Kyle Hamer Matthew Potomak Drew Smith

cover photo © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Feverpitched

Published bi-monthly by Point One Media, Inc. The Trowel P.O. Box 11, Station A Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4 t: 877.755.2762 • www.thetrowel.ca While information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources deemed to be reliable, the publisher may not be held liable for omissions or errors.

Contents ©2016 by Point One Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without prior written permission from the publisher.

CONTENTS • october / november 2016 10 Drywall Dust-up Tariffs on US-manufactured drywall cause industry concern over price increases and supply shortages.

14 Grasslands in Regina, SK Mixed-use building conquers tight timeline and fluctuating material prices with innovative building systems.

18 The Green in Building New report from CAGBC indicates green building can cut 19.4 million tonnes of GHGs by 2030, while boosting the economy by $32.5 billion.

20 Add Millennials to your Company to Boost Productivity and Profits

They are well-educated, tech-savvy, and ready to tweet your business down the road to success.

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Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: The Trowel Circulation Department

Departments & Columns 04 editorial

23 contractors 101

P.O. Box 11, Station A Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4 e: circulations@pointonemedia.com

06 drew’s rant

25 it’s the law

Journal of Record for

08 industry news

26 advertiser index

22 building science

The Trowel is a registered trademark of the BC Wall & Ceiling Association.

The Trowel is published six times per year expressly for members of the wall and ceiling industry.

In the next issue: Business Revival • Construction Outlook 2017 • Wall & Ceiling Trends

The Far-reaching Implications of the Lien Act

By Jessica Kirby, Editor All eyes are on Ontario these days as its government carefully considers more than 100 recommendations put forth in a recent review of the province’s lien act. With other jurisdictions, including BC, looking at ways to improve the lien system and potentially implement prompt payment legislation, any change that occurs in Ontario could have far-reaching implications.

vice-president and CEO of Mechanical Contractors Association of BC last year about the push for federal prompt payment legislation, and one of the key points was the delay of Bill 69 (Ontario’s Prompt Payment Act) for a number of reasons, including the potential overlap between what is covered by prompt payment and what falls under lien reform.

The Ontario government commissioned construction law experts from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP to review the Ontario Lien Act and a summary of their recommendations is in this issue on page 8. Overall, the objective was to establish the need and basis for modernizing lien and holdback rules, create regulation and rules around prompt payment, and decide the best way to streamline dispute resolution in an equitable way.

But Taylor said the difference in what is collected under each is clearly stated: the Lien Act provides a last line of assurance for failure to pay in the event of bankruptcy, while prompt payment is straightforward payment for work completed. At the time of interview, Taylor said a survey of federal political party leaders indicated strong interest in national prompt payment legislation and the delay of Bill 69 was a key area the BC industry was watching.

After lengthy review and the release of BLG’s report, the industry is set to review each recommendation and decide how to move forward considering the ripple effect of elongated payment cycles, the effect of inefficient dispute resolution, the disruptive nature of federal insolvency legislation, and general disgruntlement around the lien act’s purpose and scope.

However, it looks as though the landscape may be brand new after the report’s recommendations are considered, and it appears whatever comes of the Lien Act changes, standalone prompt payment legislation in Ontario is likely out of the question. In fact, one of the key takeaway messages from the report, according to the Canadian Construction Association, is the need for integrated legislation that considers lien action, prompter payment, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

The results are somewhat encouraging for BC, where the industry has had its eye on what Ontario is up to in discussion around lien reform and prompt payment legislation for a long time. The Trowel’s Susan Bryant spoke with Dana Taylor, executive 4 » The Trowel

Although the message may be changing, it is still positive because the issue is moving forward. There is still

a strong school of thought that says the best payment assurance is common sense—don’t work for people who don’t pay you. And while that might be true, there are many, many instances in which the circumstances simply aren’t so cut and dried, and for those cases, this legislation may be a godsend.

In any case, decision-makers in Ontario can rest assured their actions are on the national stage and any changes or amendments they adopt will surely be catalyst for discussion and most likely change around the country. ■

Wondering how to stay up to date between issues?

LIKE us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to read industry news and announcements from throughout Canada www.facebook.com/ wallandceiling.ca and twitter.com/wallandceiling

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drew’s RANT QUALITY CONTROL: BE PROACTIVE We must all agree quality control, or the lack thereof, is one of our major concerns as wall and ceiling contractors.

Revisiting a job considered complete to do remedial work costs money, loss of time, and therefore, loss of production moving forward on our project sites. And it is a loss, not just for ourselves, but for all parties involved in the project from the principal contractor to the end user.

I chose to write about this topic for this issue of The Trowel as it is a concern that rears its ugly head from time to time at our BCWCA office. For a nominal fee, the BCWCA offers an unbiased peer review or site review to wall and ceiling contractors and to general contractors as an industry service. The purpose of peer review requests is to call in a third party, a fresh pair of eyes if you will, to observe and document the quality of work viewed either ongoing and/or completed when either the general contractor or the wall and ceiling contractor has concerns

regarding the quality and/or scopes of work being completed at the project site.

I need to stress to the reader that this is a totally unbiased report where we document observed conditions and quality, and take into consideration and document (when available) historical factors of the project site such as inclement weather conditions, open sites, and other factors. The report can normally be generated within a calendar week. These peer reviews are generally requested at or after the taping and finishing stages of the project.

Trying to be somewhat positive, it is a tight wire we at BCWCA walk on this issue between general contractor and subcontractor. We have found that some contractors are starting to take a more proactive approach to quality control of their respective projects, which is great.

They are either utilizing their own inhouse experts to monitor concern areas/ scopes of their contracts or contacting

By Drew Smith, BCWCA Photo courtesy of Sarah Dunlop us at BCWCA for information, reviews, inspections, or other information. We are producing an unbiased written report that is confidential and the sole property of the organization that contacts us. This is one of the many reasons the BCWCA exists—to assist our industry.

These reports will be generated by myself and/or others certified in our trade and recognized by the board of directors at the BCWCA as Subject Matter Experts (SME) in the wall and ceiling installer trade. Therefore, the employer/contractor can feel at ease and can be assured to receive a complete and comprehensive report on the project concerns in question.

All projects require a level of quality expected by the owner and/or general contractor. In addition, our larger projects will have listed specifications included as part of the contractual obligations. We must achieve these obligations in order to get paid. A small concern, yes?

At the BCWCA, we are called upon to carry out peer reviews several times a year, either by the general contractor or the subcontractor. We travel throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, and we can also arrange for more distant travel should the need for our services arise.

Quality work for our quality contractors is the end game, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Keep up the great work and let’s be proactive. Please let us know at the BCWCA if we can be of assistance. We are here to help. Cheers! ■

6 » The Trowel

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industry NEWS Construction Climate Talks Episode 6 Focuses on How to Redefine Value The first five episodes in the Construction Climate Talks series have looked at sustainable development in the construction industry and the concept of green buildings. In the sixth film, released this fall, Roland Hunziker, director of the Sustainable Buildings and Cities programme at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), talks about how to redefine value and get businesses to understand how to drive sustainable outcomes.

Since November 2015, the web TV series Construction Climate Talks has aired five episodes. In the sixth episode, Hunziker leads the Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Zero Emissions Cities projects and manages the council’s relationships with key city networks and stakeholders. In his talk he addresses if there is a way to integrate other issues in businesses than financially driven ones.

“I think businesses need to get more comfortable in collaboration to really understand how to drive sustainable outcomes,” he says. ”The construction sector is particular because it is so fragmented with very local and many small players, so the collaborative pieces are very important in this sector. What we can do at a global level is to try to develop a better understanding of a green language so that we really can impact the supply chain. By simplicity we can really make the business care for using common language and common metrics etcetera that will help us towards sustainable outcomes.”

Initiator of the web TV series is the Construction Climate Challenge Initiative, hosted by Volvo CE. “We want to promote sustainability throughout the entire construction industry,“ says Niklas Nillroth, vice-president, Environment & Sustainability at Volvo Construction Equipment. “We are hopeful that our film series will work as a contributing factor in the matter of making people aware and to enhance crosssector collaboration throughout the construction industry value chain“.

Further information is available by visiting www. constructionclimatechallenge.com or contact info@ constructionclimatechallenge.com ■

BLG Completes Lien Act Review: Report available The Ontario government is planning to introduce legislation in spring 2017 that will modernize the province’s construction industry, which accounted for 6.7 percent of the Ontario’s GDP in 2015.

Over the past 18 months, Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) have led a thorough and

comprehensive review of the Construction Lien Act, and issued a report, “Striking the Balance:” Expert Review of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act.” The Construction Lien Act sets out the rules regarding who has a lien (security against the property) and the process by which lien claimants can administer their rights.

In their report, Reynolds and Vogel made over 100 recommendations addressing a wide variety of issues, such as elongated payment cycles causing a wide ripple effect to industry participants; inefficient dispute resolution resulting in a drain on judicial resources and the provincial construction economy; the disruptive nature of federal insolvency legislation on construction projects in the event of contractor insolvency; and, a variety of technical issues noted by stakeholders to be frustrating the purpose of the Construction Lien Act. According to Borden Ladner Gervais, the report was produced following extensive research and consultation with over 60 stakeholders from across Ontario’s construction industry, including more than 70 written submissions from industry groups and extensive stakeholder consultations.

In addition, Reynolds, Vogel, and the BLG team consulted with construction law experts from around the world.

The recommendations take into account the nature of Ontario’s construction industry and legal landscape, and the recommendations drew upon the foundational knowledge and experience of other countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

An advisory group of subject matter experts was also invited to participate in five meetings for the purpose of obtaining input in respect of the issues and working to achieve consensus on certain fundamental issues.

The proposed legislation would address the following key elements of reform identified in the report: •M odernization of the construction lien/holdback regime; •P romptness of payment; and, • Modernization of construction dispute resolution including through the use of adjudication. continued on page 26 CORRECTION: IMASCO Minerals Inc. should have been listed as a proud supplier to the YVR Outlet Mall project (Best Exterior) as part of the BCWCA Project of the Year Awards, showcased in the August / September issue of The Trowel.

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DRYWALL

Dust-up Tariffs on US-manufactured drywall cause industry concern over price increases and supply shortages

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / Feverpitched

by / Jessica Kirby

10 » The Trowel

Tariffs on US-manufactured drywall, established in accordance with Canadian anti-dumping laws, have the construction industry concerned about price increases and supply shortages in Western Canada.

Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) established a 105-267% tariff on drywall products on September 6, after CertainTeed Gypsum Canada’s dumping allegations against US drywall manufacturers were preliminarily confirmed.

CertainTeed is the only drywall board manufacturer in Western Canada.

In accordance with Canadian antidumping law, the case is currently before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT), which will investigate over the next several weeks alleged damages against CertainTeed’s Canadian manufacturing, mining, and commercial operations.

As a practice, dumping involves American manufacturers bringing US-made products to the Canadian market at less than typical US prices, undercutting domestic prices. Canadian law states a company is not legally entitled to sell a product in Canada for less than what it costs in the US. When

“Possibly the most complex component of the

issue is how individual members of the supply chain are affected.

”

this occurs, American plant business increases due to artificial inflation, and to the detriment of Canadian manufacturers.

answer depends on who is involved and at what stage; the age, length, and scope of the contract; and whether the contract is for a fixed price.

History holds no shortage of proven dumping cases in a variety of industries including manufacturing, consumer goods, and industrial materials.

“In some cases contractors may not be able to pass those increases on,” said BCWCA executive director, Jeff Triggs. “Part of the problem is people are still trying to understand the extent of the issue because they haven’t received invoices yet.”

Preliminary duties, set by the CSBA until the Tribunal completes its investigation, are high at 105-267 per cent—a preliminary amount that will be regulated and phased accordingly over the next several months as the case unfolds.

Tariff amounts are calculated to reflect the percentage of the price difference between how the products are priced in the US, and what they sell for in Canada.

Possibly the most complex component of the issue is how individual members of the supply chain are affected, as the

The other pressing concern for the moment is product shortages— contractors in Western Canada are concerned the tariffs will turn away American manufacturers, leaving a hole in supply and potentially driving further price increases.

The issue has made news headlines and had its day in the House of Commons, discussed in context of the price of building, particularly in communities such as Fort McMurray, which is facing a downturn because of oil prices, and wallandceiling.ca » October / November 2016 » 11

■

Drywall Dust-up

“ Drywall suppliers and

contractors can not absorb these duties; they must be passed on to the consumer who is free to make the decision to purchase the finished product.

”

rebuilding due to recent fires and floods.

According to CertainTeed Gypsum Canada, the overarching issue is about Canadian law and Canadian jobs.

“We filed an Anti-Dumping Complaint because drywall manufacturers based in the US were exporting large and growing volumes of products into Western Canada in the last few years at prices materially lower than those at which they are sold in the US,” said Matthew Walker, general manager, CertainTeed Gypsum Canada, in a statement released by the company to

address media- and customer-driven calls for boycotts of CertainTeed drywall products.

The company says the provisional duty is proof of the substantial price margin evident in dumping and points to the practice’s effect on the value of gypsum board in Western Canada.

CertainTeed claims economic and job loses at its Western Canadian manufacturing plants, mine operations, and business, and says the claim for legal redress is aimed at bringing a level playing field and fair competition to the Western Canadian marketplace.

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In a statement prepared by the BCWCA, Triggs explained the association’s position in support of contractors being exempt from absorbing the increased cost of provisional duty.

“On September 6, the Canada Border Services Agency sanctioned Preliminary duties of 105.2 to 276.5% on drywall imported into Western Canada, effective immediately,” said Triggs in the release.

“While the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) is conducting a Final Injury Inquiry process, the effects of the duty are being felt across

British Columbia and the rest of Western Canada.

“In addition to the rapid cost escalations to end users of gypsum board, there are concerns over shortages of material.

Drywall suppliers and contractors can not absorb these duties; they must be passed on through the general contractor and developer to the consumer who is free to make the decision to purchase the finished product.”

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Triggs said the price of drywall hasn’t changed significantly over the years, but as a commodity it responds to supply and demand, and indirect costs like transportation.

Most contractors will experience the tariff closer to the 105–144 per cent end of the range, and although the facts are not all clear at the moment, it is important to note there are places along the supply chain the price increase will be absorbed.

“We want general contractors and our members to know these are significant cost increases and drywallers can’t absorb them alone,” he said. “At the same time, there are places along the supply chain where the price gets marked up and the increase will proportionally shrink before they get to the consumer.”

By law, the tariff could be overturned, left to stand, or reduced at any time. Once the Tribunal investigation is concluded and results are released January 4, there may be the opportunity for the public to formally request a public interest inquiry, at which time the affect of the tariffs and related decisions could be investigated.

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www.fbmsales.com wallandceiling.ca » October / November 2016 » 13

Grasslands in Regina, SK

Mixed-use building conquers tight timeline and fluctuating material prices with innovative building systems

by / Jessica Kirby Image courtesy of Fastwalls

Grasslands project in Regina, Saskatchewan, constructed by developer Devereaux, is a mixeduse retail and residential building responds to its context with beauty and contemprary style. The project is a non-combustible steel and concrete building complete with one level of underground parking that accommodates 53 vehicles, 23,000 square feet of main floor retail, and 62 luxury residential apartments spread over three floors.

THE

© Can Stock Photo Inc. / angelp

Light-gauge steel stud bearing walls were used on the upper three levels with structural steel transfer beams above the main floor retail space. Cast-in-place concrete stair and elevator shafts were used for the building’s lateral resistance, and the floor framing consists primarily of concrete filled deck supported by composite open-web steel joists.

Lochsa Engineering, engineer of record on the project, created the cold formed steel (CFS) fabrication shop drawings.

The firm also completed structural design, which included augured concrete piles, cast-in-place concrete shearwalls, CFS bearing walls, and open web steel joist floor framing, said Lochsa principal, Jared Keller.

“For the CFS fabrication drawings, Lochsa co-ordinated with Fastwalls the location and cut length for every CFS component, including studs, tracks, and jambs, while considering shipping considerations for the pre-fabricated wall panels.”

Driving challenges for Lochsa’s scope of work on the project were the proposed construction schedule and fluctuating construction costs. Given the limited construction window for favourable conditions, the design of the building was split into various phases in order to remain in front of the contractors.

“This approach required Lochsa to submit an early foundation and structure package several months ahead of the other design team members,” said Keller. “To minimize changes, additional co-ordination was necessary to try and minimize the impact of post-bid changes.”

Fluctuating construction costs and labour availability also challenged the team, and there were multiple occasions in which Lochsa had to develop alternate plans to help bring the project back within budget, added Keller.

One of the project’s unique features was its design with a mixture of traditional construction methods and prefabricated components. The hybrid approach helped shorten the construction window while allowing for more of the work to be fabricated off-site by steel stud framing company, Fastwalls.

The Nucor Ecospan composite floor joist system was also selected as a cost effective, simplified floor framing system

“

One of the project’s unique features was its design with a mixture of traditional construction methods and prefabricated components.

”

capable of achieving a one-hour fire separation rating, said Keller.

Jim Freiberg, Ecospan sales representative, Mountain / North Central, said the floor system involves a steel, open web bar joist and structural metal deck, with a Shearflex® screw that connects the deck to the joists. Concrete is poured around the part of the fastener that protrudes above the deck, giving the floor its strength.

Given the project’s two-year timeline, the Ecospan product was a logical fit. “We have a very simple assembly,” said Freiberg. “You basically take an open web bar joist and one

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wallandceiling.ca » October / November 2016 » 15

■

Grasslands, Regina SK end bears on the outside bering wall and the other on the inside corridor wall. When all the joists are in place, sheets of decking go over all of it, and that is a simple installation that someone with a carpentry background can achieve.”

Because the job was pre-engineered, the Ecospan team had to fit its product into an earlier design that included plans for a different product. “There were some challenges, but we worked through those. Ecospan is relatively new to the Regina market so the people in the field had to be educated about what the installation looks like and how it fits together.

“We spent some time with them and team caught on quickly and mastered the process.”

The labour force worked quickly and efficiently, flipping a floor about every week and a half.

A significant help was the project’s concrete subcontractor.

“He was one of the best I’ve ever worked with,” said Freiberg.

“When he poured the concrete, the slab was all flat and level made the vertical construction go without a hitch because floors were level.”

Another key to the project’s success was the team’s implementation of a simple framing system. “It goes outside wall to corridor wall, which allows the building to go up much faster than another system that would go from party wall to party wall.”

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For more information about the Grasslands project, please visit the developer’s website at www.deveraux.ca/projects/ grasslands. ■

Architect: Alton Tangedal Architect, Ltd. Developer: Devereaux Engineer of Record: Lochsa Engineering Composite Flooring System: Nucor Ecospan Pre-fabricated Steel Framing System: Fastwalls

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The Green in Building New report from CAGBC indicates green building can cut 19.4 million tonnes of GHGs by 2030, while boosting the economy by $32.5 billion © Can Stock Photo Inc. / sellingpix

The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) has released a report titled “Building Solutions to Climate Change: How green buildings can help meet Canada’s 2030 emissions targets” that shows there is plenty of “green” to be made in constructing environmentally sustainable buildings—both for the earth and for the economy.

The Vancouver Declaration on Clean Growth and Climate Change set ambitious GHG reduction targets for Canada with the challenge to meet or exceed federal objectives to dip 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The CAGBC report responds to this Declaration with key recommendations focused on maximizing the potential of green building strategies.

“Building on a culture of innovation in Canada’s green building sector, this report demonstrates how we can achieve real results in the battle against climate change by investing 18 » The Trowel

in the building sector,” says Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the CaGBC. “Buildings represent the most cost-effective way to reduce GHG emissions, generate positive returns on investment, and stimulate the economy.”

Overall, a federal strategy must focus on support for the sustainable building industry, including attention on the retrofit market, which holds the potential to improve the energy efficiency and GHG output of existing buildings.

Research and development into net zero carbon building technology is also essential to the plan’s overall success.

According to the report, the four main recommendations are supported by research conducted by WSP Group and Acton White Associates. These groups were commissioned to, “examine the carbon savings potential of existing buildings and net zero buildings, and also to analyze the required investment

and economic benefits,” says a CaGBC news release about the report’s findings.

The first of four main recommendations includes meeting national climate change targets with investment in and incentives for energy efficiency improvements including recommissioning, deep retrofits, renewable onsite energy systems, and switching fuel sources to renewable options; in particular, in existing commercial, institutional, and highrise residential buildings over 25,000 square feet.

According to the report, taking these measures by 2030 will incur for Canada GHG emission reductions by 19.4 million CO2e tonnes (or 44 per cent) from the 2005 baseline, with energyrelated cost savings of $6.2 billion and direct and indirect GDP impacts of $32.5 billion.

The report also recommends strengthening building performance

by advancing building energy benchmarking, reporting, and disclosure initiatives, including expanding the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Program.

Although more than 13,000 buildings have used Portfolio Manager to date, investment is needed to expand this service to support a wider range of buildings types, and provide more dynamic reporting capabilities to help the industry and government advance energy conservation efforts.

A third key recommendation is investment in net zero buildings with support for a National Net Zero Building Initiative to create a Canadian standard to guide the industry. The report finds that if all new buildings above 25,000 square feet were built to be net zero carbon between now and 2030, GHG emissions for this sector would be 17 percent lower than those in 2005, equal to a 7.5 megatonnes GHG emissions reduction.

In terms of economic growth, the report indicates that adopting green building upgrades would stimulate 16 sectors across the supply chain in Canada – including manufacturing, professional services, trade, real estate, construction, and telecommunications – creating jobs and helping to develop green building expertise.

Employment gains from these initiatives would average 260,741 equivalent full-time jobs annually, with labour income peaks in 2030 at $26.8

billion (in current dollars). Additionally, construction activity in 2030 alone would generate $5.2 billion in taxes accruing to the federal, provincial, and municipal orders of government, and the social cost of the GHG emissions avoided would be $960 million (in 2030 dollars).

The full report and the Executive Summary are available at CAGBC’s website, www.cagbc.org. ■

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A final recommendation addresses the need for high-performance green building measures for federal building renovations, new construction and leased properties, and, where appropriate, net zero demonstration projects for new construction.

Implementing energy efficiency programs for federally-owned buildings over 25,000 sq.ft, which account for three to five per cent of building sector emissions, will result in 480,000 tonnes of GHG emissions reductions and cost savings of approximately $170 million, annually.

“Now is the time for governments at all levels to show leadership and commit to policy initiatives that meet stringent high performance standards, while engaging and supporting broader uptake of lower carbon measures across the existing building sector,” says Meuller.

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Add Millennials to your company to boost productivity and profits The construction industry has a reputation for being slow to adopt new technology. It’s true: the industry has seen a flat line in worker productivity for over 40 years. Meanwhile, other industries, especially manufacturing, have seen great gains by employing every advancement from computer automation, Lean Sigma, and just-intime supply delivery, to around-theclock assembly lines with robotics run by computers. Construction lagged in part, because robotics, early computers, and assembly lines were not portable to building sites. The old school way of paper plans, sticky notes, markers, 10-keys, and walkytalkies worked just fine in the 1960s and are still widely used. Computers have become much more powerful, portable, and continually shrink in size to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

Devices are now mobile and wireless, connected by Wi-Fi and cell towers.

Blueprints are being replaced by digital plans and construction software is increasingly used to reduce errors and costs, but construction is still behind in technology. Why in this digital age?

younger only account for two per cent, the Millennials. They are multitaskers, computer savvy, use social media, text, and tweet 24/7. Studies show Millennials work as hard as the Baby Boom generation. They are always on, emailing and texting into the evening. You don’t have to sell them on the benefits of software, the cloud, or digital plans. They use their own laptops, tablets, and smartphones, (called BYOD, bring your own device). They live and breathe digital technology and know how it eliminates waste, such as printing and storing paper plans, and the unproductive travel time and gas wasted driving back and forth to the office from the job site with rolls of revisions. Contractors could benefit greatly from recruiting some Millennials to their team to help empower legacy employees, not replace them. It strategically sets your company on a path to winning more jobs, reducing errors, and growing profits.

Age is a big factor. The average age of construction company owners in the walls and ceiling industry is 56, according to a 2016 survey. Seasoned pros in the 55 to 64 age range make up nearly 40 per cent and another 20 per cent are 65 plus. Those 35 and

• Place them on teams. Millennials perform best on small teams. Pair them with a seasoned pro with 30 years of experience. There will be immediate knowledge sharing.

20 » The Trowel

How do you merge Millennials with your experts?

• Listen to their ideas. They will offer their opinions on ways to work

By Kyle Hamer smarter, including the use of tablets and smartphones. Try not to say, “We don’t do things that way around here.”

• Avoid “my way or the highway” management. Tough, top-down supervision may send Millennials looking for other jobs. One report said they think of themselves as products on EBay, and will easily jump ship to a more technically advanced company.

• Have touch-base meetings. Offer Millennials some facetime. They are competitive and are keen on doing things better. Don’t be insulted if they laugh at you for doing takeoffs from paper plans.

For more depth on construction technology, talent and project management, visit www.oncenter.com. ■ Kyle Hamer, VP of Marketing at On Center Software (OCS), leads advertising, sales and marketing programs, brand and web development. Prior to OCS, Kyle worked in the coatings trade and for a GC. The last 15 years he has been a sales and marketing consultant for 40 companies.

Where’d the Wall Go?

Missing a Small Detail Can Cost You Big Time Searching through drawings for revisions is a contractor’s version of “Where’s Waldo?” Your profit depends on diligently tracking plan revisions or your crew gets walloped with days of rework on your dime, simply because a wall went from 20’ x 10’ to 10’ x 12’.

It’s time to go digital with the industry’s No. 1 solution, On-Screen Takeoff®. Instantly spot conflicts and details of changes with On-Screen Takeoff’s powerful color-coded overlay feature. The digital plans show you exactly what is new in blue and what is old in red. Hours of comparing paper plans are eliminated with this advanced, easy-to-use software.

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building SCIENCE NAIT STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM NEW INFRASTRUCTURE New money for infrastructure will help NAIT students prepare for success, while boosting industry and encouraging economic diversity.

acceleration and incubation space to enable prototypes for small and medium-sized businesses, and additional space to support applied research.

The Northern Alberta Institute for Technology will receive $34.9 million for a new Productivity and Innovation Centre under the federal government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). The centre will create modern and innovative training and research opportunities for students and industry to develop, test, and commercialize new technologies and products that will help Alberta and Canada diversify the economy, compete globally, and improve environmental sustainability.

The construction phase is expected to create an estimated 539 person-years of employment.

“These significant investments helps Alberta students put their best foot forward by maximizing new, modernized learning environments, while also addressing a need for new skills and research that are the cornerstone of a healthy, diversified economy,” said Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advanced Education.

The 15,000-square-metre facility will be home to NAIT’s Shell Manufacturing Centre. It will include construction of state-of-the-art manufacturing labs, development of

“Encouraging scientific awareness in Alberta and across Canada depends on supporting our world-class scientists and researchers,” said Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Investments like this can help make our country among the world’s leading nations in the development and use of clean and sustainable technologies and processes, while also creating well-paying jobs for Canadians.

“Through the Strategic Investment Fund we are helping to strengthen the foundation for building scientific excellence in Canada.”

Dr. Glenn Feltham, president and CEO of NAIT, agrees. “The Productivity and Innovation Centre will be the place industry comes for solutions and to succeed,” he said. “It will support industry in becoming more productive and innovative. It will provide a foundation for future prosperity.”

The project will cost $80 million. The federal government is providing $34.9 million and the balance of nearly $45 million will come from philanthropy and the institution’s own infrastructure dollars.

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Under Budget 2016, the Alberta Jobs Plan, the Government of Alberta made a commitment to invest $449 million for postsecondary capital projects and renewal across the province, including $28.6 million at NAIT in 2016-17. This investment, combined with federal funding, will help modernize student spaces, boost the quality of instruction, and enhance the research capacity and environmental sustainability at Alberta’s institutions.

The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund is a time-limited program that will provide up to $2 billion over the next two years to accelerate infrastructure projects at universities and colleges across Canada.

For more information about NAIT, please visit www.nait.ca. ■

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22 » The Trowel

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contractors 101 INVEST IN YOURSELF This is one of my favourite stories.

Young man, John, finishes a two-year college diploma course in sales and marketing and looks for a job. Time to start his career.

Answers an ad for a salesman with a wholesale supplier to contractors. Gets the job. Over the next 10 years he works hard. Always exceeds his sales quota and is now married with two children.

There is now an opening for the position of sales manager. He applies and is very optimistic about getting the position— better salary, nicer car. He interviews well and is very confident that he will get the job. He tells his wife about it and they are very excited about what this could mean.

He gets called into the office of the VP of sales who tells him, “John, I know you are very interested in the position of sales manager but I am sorry to have to tell you that you didn’t get the job. We are bringing in someone from outside.”

John is gobsmacked; he says to the VP, “I have 10 years’ experience.” The VP replies, “No, John. You have one year’s experience, 10 times.”

Let’s look at perspectives.

this

from

several

How do you think John felt? He is not a happy camper. He has done great work for the company over the past 10 years. Now he is very likely to dust off his resume and go job hunting. Losing someone with his industry knowledge and client contacts is not good for business.

If he had mentored John for the job then his Power of Influence would have stayed within the company. John would have been delighted and grateful, the company would have been better off with the greater continuity, and the sales manager would have felt very good about the legacy he created. The company would have been better off.

Promoting from within is usually a good policy and a lot less expensive than bringing in someone new.

This, of course, does not just happen with sales people but also with technicians. Are you grooming any of them to take on more senior roles like dispatch, technical support, supervision, estimating, or project management?

Ask most foremen what training they got when they went from being a journeyman to a foreman and the answer (too often) is, “you’re it.”

We all need to take responsibility for ensuring the next generation has the skills to take over. We must make them aware of what is needed and then provide the mentorship and training for them to get to the next level.

Make this the year you invest in those people within your Power of Influence so they don’t end up having “one year’s experience, 10 times.” Doing the same things over and over again will certainly make you feel comfortable

By / Ron Coleman

and in control; however, it should also be viewed as complacency and as time progresses you will become more vulnerable at work.

Most of the successful contractors I know are using technology now that wasn’t even available five years ago.

The people in those companies who resist the technology changes are getting left behind and not only will they fail to get promotions, they are at risk of losing their current jobs or becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their lot.

Technicians who are technologically intune and good at communicating with the customer are in big demand. These are additional skills that can mean the difference between enjoying a great career and a mediocre one. Not only are these traits important for the techs they are just as critical for everyone else in the organization. It’s not age that makes us “techno peasants”; it is having the wrong attitude. continued on page 24

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How do you think the sales manager felt? He has let John down by not mentoring him. A new person is going to come in and likely make lots of changes. The sales manager’s legacy will be gone on his last day of work.

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wallandceiling.ca » October / November 2016 » 23

contractors 101 I placed a bookkeeper with one of my clients on a part-time basis about 18 months ago. Her commute would be at least one hour each way, each day. He is a small business and only requires her for about four hours per week.

I asked her how she was getting on and she said she had only been to the office once and that was the first, and only time, she had met her boss. She has been doing the work using Quick Books Online and never has to “go” to work. It is all done remotely. This is just one of several examples of the changes in office procedures that I have seen in recent years. We are currently weaning a trade contractor from having a fulltime bookkeeper/office administrator in the office to having the bookkeeping done remotely and a part-time junior in the office. We are estimating an annual saving of $20,000 on a $65,000 position.

Do you know what a QR code Reader is? One of my HVAC clients puts a QR Code on every piece of equipment he services or installs. When his tech goes to service the equipment he scans in the QR Code and accesses a huge amount of information about that specific piece of equipment. Processes for diagnostics and dispatch are becoming a lot more automated.

There are numerous ways you can invest in yourself. Technology is just one.

Customer service, marketing, sales, management, leadership, mentoring are just a few examples of what you can work on to invest in yourself. . ■ Ron Coleman helps make the ownership transition of trade and specialty contracting companies more successful. He ensures that businesses are attractive to buyers so that both seller and buyer enjoy a winwin situation. His book “Becoming Contractor of the Year” will show you techniques you can use to make more money, have more fun, and make your business more saleable. Need a speaker for your next conference? Give Ron a call. Visit Ron at www. ronaldcoleman.ca and review his other publications and resource materials for contractors.

24 » The Trowel

News Bite First Woman in Quebec Awarded Most Prestigious Title in Sustainable Construction Josée Lupien Sole Canadian of 2016 Cohort to Win LEED Fellow

Josée Lupien, LEED AP BD+C & ID+C, has been awarded the status of LEED Fellow, the most prestigious distinction in the sustainable building industry.

The first woman in the construction industry from the Province of Quebec to become LEED Fellow and part of the professional green building industry for over 12 years, Lupien’s journey has been an exceptional one.

This honour recognizes her technical proficiency, leadership, commitment, and dedication to the advancement of the sustainable construction industry in Quebec as well as abroad.

A founding member of the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Green Building Council, her leadership has been recognized on more than one occasion.

“Josée Lupien has been a pioneer in educating the industry on sustainable building principles, and her tireless efforts have greatly advanced the green building industry and LEED in Quebec,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.

Ever since her humble beginnings as a paint specification manager, Lupien has been a strong advocate for an ecological approach and healthy living environments through sustainable construction.

She channelled these preoccupations into reducing the effects of the built

environment on health and the improvement of workplace quality of life. Thanks to her efforts and those of other devoted professionals, Quebec has made a place for itself in Canada’s sustainable construction industry.

Lupien foresaw the evolution of the market to launch her own company, Vertima, which manages thirdparty validation and certification of ecological materials for manufacturers. Now backed by a team with solid expertise in the environmental analysis of products, Lupien helps green buildings become a reality for manufacturers and builders alike. Today, the company is widely recognized for its leading-edge expertise in green building and LEED certification.

For many years, Lupien has been a tireless promoter of sustainability in giving numerous lectures and conferences to students, professionals, general contractors, government, and private organizations across Quebec. Driven by her passion, she continues to innovate and advance the industry while promoting awareness.

“It is rewarding to have all these years of effort recognized with this title, but it is by moving forward and inspiring women and the young generation that it will be really useful,” said Lupien.

Did you know Point One Media publishes four other trade publications? They are: forestindustry.com, Sheet Metal Journal, Solid Waste & Recycling, and TIAC Times.

Find out more online at www.pointonemedia.com

it’s the LAW THE COST OF SILENCE – A CONTRACTOR’S DUTY TO DISCLOSE UNSATISFACTORY SITE CONDITIONS In many cases, Owners are better placed than their contractors to understand the specific site conditions present at a job site.

However, this is not always the case. In the recent decision of Lottis v. Stansal, the BC Provincial Court clarified the extent of a contractor’s duty to inform a homeowner or general contractor of unsuitable site conditions.

By / Andrew Delmonico and Matthew Potomak

Facts In this case, the homeowners (the “Owners”) hired a contractor (the “Contractor”) to supply and install hardwood flooring in their new house (the “Work”), which was still under construction. After the Contractor began the Work, he became concerned that the house was not controlled for temperature or ambient moisture, which could negatively affect the installation of the hardwood flooring. The Contractor was also concerned because other tradespeople were still working in the house when the installation was to take place, creating the potential for dust, debris, and additional foot traffic that could damage the floor’s finish.

Notwithstanding his concerns, the Contractor never suggested to the Owners that the Work be deferred until adequate climate controls were in place, or that other tradespersons be excluded from the project until the flooring was finished.

Ultimately, the installation of the hardwood floors turned out to be deficient. Chattering, a wave-like deformation, was evident in large areas of the flooring. There was also debris and hairs found embedded in the hardwood’s finishing.

The Owners were required to hire another contractor to remedy these flooring defects. When the Contractor refused to reimburse the Owners for their additional expenses, they

sued him for $25,000, the maximum amount allowed in Provincial court.

The Contractor defended the Owner’s claim on the basis that improper site conditions caused (or contributed to) the deficiencies, rather than his poor workmanship.

The Decision The court ruled in favour of the Owners, awarding their damages in the full amount of $25,000. In its decision, the court recognized that certain terms are implied into construction contracts that make a homeowner responsible for providing adequate site conditions to a contractor; for instance, the general requirement that homeowners provide exclusive and uninterrupted site access necessary for contractors to carry out their work unimpeded.

However, the court also clarified that the responsibility for unsatisfactory site conditions does not lie entirely with a homeowner. Where, as in this case, a contractor elects to proceed with work under unsatisfactory site conditions and fails to bring these circumstances to the attention of the owner or general contractor, the cost of correcting deficiencies relating to those circumstances should be borne by the contractor.

Lessons Learned Be diligent in assessing site conditions before starting your work. If you discover that the site conditions are unsatisfactory, immediately inform the homeowner or general contractor of this fact in writing.

Consider adding a clause in your construction contract placing responsibility on the homeowner for additional costs arising due to unsatisfactory site conditions. ■ This article was written by Andrew Delmonico a lawyer, and Matthew Potomak,

Are you working on an interesting or challenging project? Tell us about it. Contact our editor, Jessica Kirby, at jkirby@ pointonemedia.com or by phone at 250.816.3671.

a summer student, who practice in construction law with the law firm of Kuhn LLP. This article is only intended as a guide and cannot cover every situation. It is important to get legal advice for specific situations. If you have any questions or comments about this case or other construction law matters, please contact us at 604-864-8877.

wallandceiling.ca » October / November 2016 » 25

advertiser INDEX INDUSTRY NEWS Continued from page 8

To view the report, please visit http:// www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/ english/about/pubs/cla_report. ■

2016 Gold Awards of Excellence Winners Announced Showcasing the Finest in BC’s Construction Industry The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) recognized the finest in BC’s construction industry at its 28th Annual Awards of Excellence, held last night at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

day,” says Fiona Famulak, president of the VRCA. Standout projects included the Audain Art Museum and Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre, each receiving two Gold Awards. In addition, multiple projects at YVR and UBC were recognized including YVR’s A-B Connector and Expedited Transfer Facility, and UBC’s Student Union Building, District Energy Centre, and the DES Phase 6-9 DPS & UBC Phase 6 & 7 ETS. For photos and a full list of awards and winners, please visit www. wallandceiling.ca. ■

Owens Corning Launches ComfortCertified™ Program

This year’s competition attracted more than 150 entrants and shone the spotlight on 45 projects representing approximately $1.3 billion in construction value. A total of 23 awards were presented including 14 Gold awards, 7 Outstanding Achievement Awards, a Judges’ Award, and a Heritage Award.

Owens Corning has announced its ComfortCertified™ Program, designed to help builders build above code and to deliver energy efficient and affordable homes in Canada built with sustainability in mind.

“Through these awards we shine a light on the dedication and professionalism that our members bring to their projects—the complex, state-of-the-art infrastructure that we citizens use every

“We are excited to combine our expertise with forward thinking builders across Canada to help them along their path towards building net zero homes and communities across Canada,” said

Advertiser Index

Salvatore Ciarlo, technical manager at Owens Corning Canada. The program is a great segue towards achieving additional certifications such as Energy Star, Net Zero Ready, or Net Zero labels.

The ComfortCertified™ Program is a two-tier Home Buyer Certification Program with minimum performance targets verified through third-party energy modelling and on site blower door testing for instant homebuyer credibility. Once the program standards are met and the third party certification is approved the home receives one of two Owens Corning ComfortCertified™ labels, depending on whether heating and cooling energy is reduced by 25 or 50 per cent.

This is the first program of its kind to be offered by an insulation manufacturer, and it will help provide Canadians with comfortable, durable and affordable energy efficient homes that will save energy year over year.

Get full details at www.thetrowel. ca/2016/10/15/owens-corning-focuseson-developing-building-solutionsfor-energy-efficient-homes-thatgo-beyond-standard-codes/ or learn more about the program at www. owenscorning.com. ■

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26 » The Trowel

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