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Six-storey wood-frame buildings approved
Applicants required to submit enhanced fire safety plans
http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/10/31/six-storey-wood-frame-buildings-approved
BY MYKE THOMAS, CALGARY SUN
FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2014 02:00 AM
The City of Calgary has approved the construction of six-storey, wood-frame buildings and is accepting building permit applications for already approved land use zones.
Up until now, the building code limited wood-frame construction to a maximum of four storeys.
The move comes after two years of participating in engagement with the building industry and responding to public review comments for the National Building Code, with the goal of providing more options to the development industry and to address the housing crunch that Calgary is experiencing while considering the safety of its residents, says Marco Civitarese, the city’s chief building official.
“Other jurisdictions have demonstrated that this efficient and cost-effective building style can be done while also addressing fire safety concerns,” says Civitarese. “Our priority is to keep Calgary competitive in the housing market by giving developers more options when they build.”
Six-storey residential wood construction allows builders to offer lower cost housing, with savings of between 10% and 15% when using wood rather than concrete, critical as a component of housing costs as the development community has cited Calgary as one of the most expensive places in Canada to construct from concrete.
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Calgary Region worked with the city and other partners to have six-storey wood-frame buildings approved.
“We continue to advocate for different housing options for people in all areas of the city and this will bring a new, cost-effective building form to the marketplace to do just that,” says Wayne Copeland, president of CHBA-Calgary Region.
“This type of construction is already available in Quebec and B.C. and will be in place as of January 1, 2015, in Ontario.”
The made-in-Calgary solution includes enhanced fire safety plans during construction.
“Our recent tour to Vancouver with representatives from the industry and the city showed the innovative projects that can be built and we are excited to see this building form here in the near future,” Copeland says.
All parties involved stress safety of these buildings is of primary importance and, similar to four-storey wood-frame construction, applicants are required to submit an enhanced fire safety plan. These plans vary based on the site and the application, but could include items such as additional site security during construction, garbage enclosures, additional fire extinguishers, no on-site smoking and other caveats.
Applicants required to submit enhanced fire safety plans
http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/10/31/six-storey-wood-frame-buildings-approved
BY MYKE THOMAS, CALGARY SUN
FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 01, 2014 02:00 AM
The City of Calgary has approved the construction of six-storey, wood-frame buildings and is accepting building permit applications for already approved land use zones.
Up until now, the building code limited wood-frame construction to a maximum of four storeys.
The move comes after two years of participating in engagement with the building industry and responding to public review comments for the National Building Code, with the goal of providing more options to the development industry and to address the housing crunch that Calgary is experiencing while considering the safety of its residents, says Marco Civitarese, the city’s chief building official.
“Other jurisdictions have demonstrated that this efficient and cost-effective building style can be done while also addressing fire safety concerns,” says Civitarese. “Our priority is to keep Calgary competitive in the housing market by giving developers more options when they build.”
Six-storey residential wood construction allows builders to offer lower cost housing, with savings of between 10% and 15% when using wood rather than concrete, critical as a component of housing costs as the development community has cited Calgary as one of the most expensive places in Canada to construct from concrete.
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association-Calgary Region worked with the city and other partners to have six-storey wood-frame buildings approved.
“We continue to advocate for different housing options for people in all areas of the city and this will bring a new, cost-effective building form to the marketplace to do just that,” says Wayne Copeland, president of CHBA-Calgary Region.
“This type of construction is already available in Quebec and B.C. and will be in place as of January 1, 2015, in Ontario.”
The made-in-Calgary solution includes enhanced fire safety plans during construction.
“Our recent tour to Vancouver with representatives from the industry and the city showed the innovative projects that can be built and we are excited to see this building form here in the near future,” Copeland says.
All parties involved stress safety of these buildings is of primary importance and, similar to four-storey wood-frame construction, applicants are required to submit an enhanced fire safety plan. These plans vary based on the site and the application, but could include items such as additional site security during construction, garbage enclosures, additional fire extinguishers, no on-site smoking and other caveats.