S PRI NG 2011 IN THIS ISSUE:
THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS
Vol. 8, No. 1 • SPRING 2011
Member profile
FEATURES: Member profile: Parker Johnston Industries..................1,6 Project profile: BC’s first aircleaning roof installed ..............8 Innovation: TPO coated accessories ...........10 Vegetative roofing systems .. 12 Tying off for fall protection.... 14 Profile: Pro-Line .......................15 Roof Lifters: adding space ..... 21 ASSOCIATION: President’s message .................. 3 Crane certification in effect ...... 4 CRCA ROOFTech 2011 ...............4 Changing of the guard .............. 5 RPM now online ....................... 5 Subscribe to Roofing BC ........17
Capital impact
INDUSTRY NEWS: Reroofing dominates BC........... 4 Modular homes for BC? ......... 16 JM building EPDM plant.........16 Canada Place’s PTFE roof ...... 16 Blind leading the sighted ....... 17 RKW buys Danafilms.............. 19 Colourful roof shingles ........... 20 Architects’ festival coming.......18 Carlisle’s new Polyiso plant....18 Steels, Owens Corning deal... 18
Parker Johnston has shaped Victoria’s skyline By Frank O’Brien
Rod Parker, immediate past president of the Roofing Contractors Association of BC and general manager of Parker Johnston Industries Ltd., of Victoria, is no newcomer to the roofing industry. According to Parker, when his school principal “gave me a week off” at age 12 he landed a job packing half-buckets of tar to a Victoria rooftop. The education proved profound. Today Parker, 34, helps head one of Vancouver Island’s largest roofing contracting companies. With a staff of 250 with 35 field crews, Parker has been involved in some of the biggest – and most challenging – construction projects in BC’s capital city. In the past two years alone, Parker Johnston has completed roofing contracts for the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Tower, the 17-storey, glass-roofed Atrium office tower downtown, the University of Victoria Social Sciences and Mathematics, the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence and all four phases at the giant Dockside Green, said to be the most environmentally progressive development in the world. Currently, the veteran firm is working on contracts for the 80,000 square-foot Uptown Phase II shopping mall in Saanich; Land Rover Victoria and the North Saanich Middle School.
COLUMN Legal Affairs: Ugly Facebooks ....................... 22
RCABC: changing of the guard Not good-bye, but see you soon. See page 5
Strategic planning in Phoenix RCABC members map the future. See page 3
Clearing the air Rod Parker, general manager of Parker Johnston Industries Ltd., Victoria
PARKER continued on page 6
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40014608 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
Roofing Contractors Association of BC 9734 201 Street Langley, BC Canada V1M 3E8
Old technology finds new life in aircleaning Noxite roofing products. See pages 8-9
Active Members Professional Roofing Contractors that support an educated and committed workforce 101 Industries Ltd.
Interior Roofing (2001) Ltd.
Admiral Roofing Ltd.
Kelowna Roofing (1984) Ltd.
Advanced Systems Roofing and Waterproofing Ltd.
Laing Roofing Ltd.
Alpha-Duron Roofing Ltd. Alpha Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc.
Associate Members companies focused on the manufacture and distribution of quality roofing products that meet or exceed changing industry standards A. Proctor Group Ltd. Atlas Roofing Corporation Blue Ridge Fiberboard, Inc. Building Products of Canada Corp. Canada Metal (Pacific) Limited Carlisle SynTec Systems Canada Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau CertainTeed Corporation Convoy Supply Ltd. Dow Chemical Canada ULC Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. Firestone Building Products GAF/Elk Garland Canada Inc. GenFlex Roofing Systems LLC Georgia Pacific Canada HAL Industries Inc. Henry Company Canada IKO Industries Ltd. Intertek InterWrap Inc. Johns Manville Corporation Louiseville Specialty Products Inc. Makin Metals Ltd.
Mansonville Plastics (B.C.) Ltd. Menzies Metal Products Mercury Metals, a Div of Vicwest Mule-Hide Products Co., Inc. Owens Corning Canada Pabco Roofing Products Pacific Roof Centre Phoenix Vinyl Sundecks Ltd. Plasti-Fab (Div. of PFB Corp.) Posi-Slope Western Pro-Line Construction Materials Ltd RMAX, Inc. Roofmart Pacific Ltd. Roxul, Inc. Sika Sarnafil Simplex Asphalt Products
Aquaproof Membrane Services Inc. Arbutus Roofing & Drains (2006) Ltd. Arcona Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Arctic Roofing Ltd. Aurora Roofing Ltd. BF Roofing Ltd. Bollman Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Bond-A Ply Roofing Ltd. Broadway Roofing Co. Ltd. Cambie Roofing Contractors Ltd. Campbell & Grill Ltd. Cascade Roofing & Waterproofing (2007) Inc. Chilliwack Roofing Ltd. Coast Hudson Ltd. Coastal Roofing Ltd. Continental Roofing Crown Roofing & Drainage Ltd. Design Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. D.M. Henderson Roofing Ltd. Eby & Sons Construction Ltd.
Siplast Slegg Lumber Soprema Inc. Steels Industrial Products Ltd. Tech-Crete Processors Ltd. Tremco Ltd. Western Wood Truss Association Westform Metals
Flynn Canada Ltd. G & G Roofing Ltd. GRC Columbia Roofing Inc. Harvard Industries Ltd. Heritage Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Homan Contractors Ltd. Hunter Roofing Ltd.
Malarkey Roofing Company
BUILDING ON 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION 9734 - 201 Street • Langley, BC V1M 3E8 • Tel 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744 • www.rcabc.org
Laing Roofing (Vernon) Ltd. Lam Metal Contracting Ltd. Langley Roofing Co. Ltd. Mack Kirk Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Mainline Roofing Co. Ltd. Marine Roofing (1996) Ltd. Metro Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Mica Holdings Ltd. Mid-City Roofing & Sheet Metal (2008) Ltd. Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Nielsen Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Olympic Roofing Ltd. Pacific Restorations (1994) Ltd. Pacific Waterproofing Ltd. Parker Johnston Industries Ltd. Peter Magas Roofing Ltd. Pocklington Building Systems Ltd. Prince Sheet Metal & Heating Ltd. Raven Roofing Ltd. Roy Dennis Roofing (2005) Ltd. Standard Roofing Corporation Tomtar Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Top Line Roofing Ltd. Totem Roofing & Insulation Ltd. Trail Roofing Ltd. Transwest Roofing Ltd. Universal Sheet Metal Ltd. Villa Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. Western Roofing (Master Roofers) Ltd.
From the President
Retreating to move forward Hello everyone, I am writing this a few weeks after the very successful members’ retreat and Strategic Planning event at the warm and secluded Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Conference Centre in Phoenix, Arizona. I can truly say that a good time was had by all. I was very pleased to meet most of the active members and their families, as well as some of the key managers who were part of the succession plan for specific companies. For this President’s Message I would like to focus on the three days in Phoenix, as well as the follow-up strategic meeting by the RCABC Board that will help to determine where we go from here. First of all, for those members that could not make it down, I can assure you that you were missed, but given the overall positive feedback that the Board and RCABC staff have received, this may not be a one-off event and hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet in a similar context in the future. There were a couple of key items discussed during the working portion of the event. The first focused not only on aging company owners facing succession planning
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issues, but also on the new values exhibited by young employees and the significantly different world views held by baby boomers, genx-ers, and others depending on which generation in which they were born. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Duxbury, provided a separate groups of 8 to 10 people wealth of information regarding who then identified and shared changing demographics and what it with their peers a list of the will mean to the hiring / managing Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, practices that roofing company and Threats (SWOT analysis) that owners are faced with today and they thought would affect the long more importantly, in the immediate term plans of the association. future. Believe me, it will not get Within that framework four major easier and if anything, greater items emerged; a renewed plan for emphasis on “growing our own marketing the RCABC brand; a professional workforce” is a lesson worth paying attention to. Company decision to convene a joint committee to address the owners who are prepared to alter acceptance criteria for new their management styles to deal inspectors; a renewed focus on with generational change in the expanding education and training workforce will reap the benefits of programs to meet the needs of a stable and professional employees changing demographic going forward. in the roofing industry; The other key item and to continue of discussion was the pursuing new actual strategic opportunities to make planning preparation every RCABC member session, lead by Kerry profitable. This, as well Jothen of Human as other information Capital Strategies. It was garnered from began with a review of Phoenix and will form the key findings from the basis of further the survey sent out to discussion by the all RCABC Members Tony Caputo RCABC Board at their prior to the Phoenix meeting of March 24, 2011. The gathering. The information outcome of that meeting will result provided an introduction that in a Strategic Action Plan with allowed all RCABC Members to specific goals designed to guide provide input into strategic both Board and staff to maintain planning for the RCABC as a whole. and improve the leadership The owners were placed into
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Tel: 604-882-9734 • Fax: 604-882-1744
ADMINISTRATION
position of RCABC. As you can see, it was not all fun and games; there was some very good and very important work done. However, I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the lighter moments and the importance of social communication as new members and new competitors learn the value of a strong and focused association. As an aside I should mention that the original vision of this event was put forth by Ross Laing (Laing Roofing). His idea to “pick a place, get everyone one down there and let’s meet each other” proved to be insightful. However, ever the sticklers for fiduciary responsibility, the RCABC staff got hold of this idea and made it a partial working event (can’t escape the accountants) which, in hindsight, made the sessions even more memorable. Going forward, I want to thank both the Board and the staff, and especially Barb Porth, for an event that will help shape the transition not only of RCABC, but of many member companies directly, and perhaps indirectly, of the entire roofing industry in BC. Tony Caputo, President, Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia ■
Executive Vice President Brian Hofler, M.Ed. executivevp@rcabc.org Associate Executive Vice President Ivan van Spronsen, TQ ivan@rcabc.org Executive Assistant Barbara Porth bporth@rcabc.org Controller Johanna Kuker, CGA johanna@rcabc.org Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Adele LaRiviere roofing@rcabc.org RCABC Educational Foundation Education & Training Manager Shirley Caldwell, PID, TQ scaldwell@rcabc.org Registrar Michelle McKinnon, PID registrar@rcabc.org Instructor / Inspection Auditor David Rice, I.P., PID, RRO instructor1@rcabc.org Safety & Risk Management Roger Sové, I.P., PID, Ad.Ed. instructor2@rcabc.org RCABC Guarantee Corp. Technical Manager Rob Harris, RRO rharris@rcabc.org Guarantee Administrator Karen Esbensen guarantees@rcabc.org
MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia is to provide its members with the training, support, and leadership required to enable them to offer customers the highest quality roofing practices, guarantees and business ethics in the roofing industry.
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Reroofing dominates
Crane certification in effect VANCOUVER – As of February 28th, 2011, all crane operators must have been certified, notes the BC Association for Crane Safety. Any operator who was not certified by February 28 cannot legally operate a crane in BC. Effective March 1st, 2011, the Level A crane operator practical assessment fee will increase to $750. Existing crane operators were provided with a two-year phase-in period to become certified. As the “incumbent operatorâ€? phase comes to a close, lower assessment volumes necessitate an increase in the Level A practical assessment fee. Assessment services will continue to be offered throughout the province and the application process will remain the same, the Association notes. â–
VANCOUVER – Reroofing, not new construction, is now leading roofing contracts in BC and across North America – and some consultants say the replacements often deliver a better roof. “In the U.S., most of the marketing done by Firestone is concentrating on the reroofing segment. They are way deeper in the doldrums vis-Ă -vis new construction [in the U.S.],â€? confirmed a spokesman for Firestone Building Products, which recently supplied material for the largest reroofing project in BC, a 400,000 square foot EDPM R.A.M. installation in New Westminster. The reroofing trend is apparent to anyone in the Lower Mainland roofing business. Building permits for non-residential construction in the region were down 47 percent month-over-month as of last November compared to October, according to Statistics Canada. Total building permit values in the Lower Mainland-Southwest were up 54 percent to $5.93 billion in the first 11 months of 2010 compared to $3.85 billion in the same period in 2009, but nearly all the increase was in residential construction. Nonresidential permits were up 13 percent to $1.72 billion, but this includes completion of Olympic work earlier in the year.
Said to be the largest EPDM R.A.M. roof installed in the past year in North America, this massive New Westminster project is an example of the strength of the reroofing market. Photo: Firestone Building Products
While new roof contracts rely on new developments, it is the thousands of acres of roofs already in place that fuel the reroofing industry. According to roofing consultant James Bourget of RDH Consultants in Vancouver, much of the replacement roofs are superior to what they are replacing. When developers are installing a new commercial roof, Bourget alleges, they often go for the lowest possible cost. He claims to have seen new roof contracts awarded to “impossiblyâ€? low bids. In comparison, when it comes time for reroofing, the decision is by the building owner and the consultant, who are looking at ways to make the roof last as long as possible, he said. This means detailing sealing and installation to ensure the roof won’t leak. “This is not value engineering,â€? Bourget said, “or should I say devalued engineeringâ€? which he claims dominates many new roofing contracts, where low prices trump quality of work and materials. â–
CRCA presents ROOFTech 2011 OTTAWA – The Canadian Roofing Contractors Association presents ROOFTech 2011, April 12-13 at the Palais des congrès de MontrĂŠal, Quebec. The 10th biannual event features more than 100 exhibits, free seminars and live demonstrations. The seminars include expert information on steep slope and low slope roofing systems, and special insight into roof insulation. Demonstrations will include actual installation of new roofing products right on the show floor. As well, the exhibits include the biggest names in the roofing industry, which will profile the latest in green roof products and other state-of-the-art roofing supplies and systems. For complete information, contact CRCA at 613-232-6724, or visit www.rooftech.ca. â–
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RCABC: changing of the guard LANGLEY – Ivan van Spronsen, a “lifetime” roofing contractor with years of experience in the industry, will be the Executive Vice President of the Roofing Contractors Association of BC after the retirement of Brian Hofler on August 31 of this year. Ivan joined the RCABC office staff as Associate EVP in October 2010, to facilitate a long and thorough transition period. He admits he has large boots to fill in replacing long-time EVP Hofler. “Brian has provided superb service to the RCABC,” van Spronsen said, “I have always been impressed with his intelligence and his energy.” He added that the RCABC and the entire construction industry “owes Brian a tremendous debt” for his effective and visionary management. Van Spronsen noted that Hofler had led the RCABC executive during the formation of the industry’s first effective membership insurance program, and the expansion of the RCABC campus with the addition of the only Architectural Sheet Metal Training facilities in Canada. Hofler, in turn, credited the entire staff and members for the success the RCABC has achieved over the years, and said the Association will
Anything but elementary, Watson For over 40 years Jim Watson has been in roofing, and even upon his retirement as the RCABC’s Technical Manager, a post he’s held for 16 years, he’ll still be in the industry. Watson first started roofing during high school summer vacation in the late 60’s, working for his father, a South Ontario roofing contractor. After gaining experience with other Ontario roofing firms, Jim, wife Terry and infant son James moved to Victoria in 1975 “to take advantage of BC’s longer roofing season and better opportunities”. The rest, as they say, is history – a very impressive one. Watson’s career has included 16 years as president of an RCABC member roofing & sheet metal contracting firm on Vancouver Island; 11 years on the RCABC Board of Directors as the Vancouver Island rep; terms as both the RCABC’s President and Ethics Chair; the BC representative on the Executive Committee of the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association; a member of the CRCA National Technical Committee on Roofing; and President and Board member of both the Vancouver Island Sheet Metal Contractors Association and the Nanaimo Construction Association. He has also been an Industry Rep on the CSA Technical Committees for A123 ROOFING BC
Roofing BC is published quarterly on behalf of the Roofing Contractors Association of BC and the professional roofing industry by Market Assist Communications Inc.
Roofing BC online at: www.rcabc.org Managing Editor and Publisher J. Michael Siddall Phone: 604-740-8369 E-mail: msiddall@eastlink.ca Editor Frank O’Brien Consulting Editor Brian Hofler, M.Ed. E-mail: executivevp@rcabc.org Phone: 604-882-9734 Circulation Barbara Porth Phone: 604-882-9734 E-mail: bporth@rcabc.org Production/Art Director and Advertising Associate Paddy Tennant Phone: 604-507-2162 E-mail: misspaddy@telus.net
L-R: Rob Harris, Brian Hofler, Jim Watson and Ivan van Spronsen
remain in good hands. “With Ivan as Executive Vice President, we can be assured that nothing is lost and much will be gained,” Hofler said. The RCABC is an association without equal in North America, Hofler said, noting that membership opportunities “are the envy of professional roofers across the country.” When asked what is his goal as the new EVP, van Spronsen joked, “First do no harm. I don’t want to mess up a great association.” One of van Spronsen’s recent duties was leading RCABC staff and
members into a strategic planning meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, where more than 100 people attended, representing 40 RCABC member companies. The session was a huge success, van Spronsen said, in hearing suggestions from members on the direction of the RCABC over the next few years. “It was very positive,” he said, noting that communication in the RCABC has to be both ways – from the members and to the members. Van Spronsen has roofing in his blood. The van Spronsen family
owns DM Henderson Roofing Ltd., one of the largest roofing contractors in Northern BC. Ivan’s childhood was spent “playing with kettles and roofing material” in his back yard, and later helping his father and brothers run the family roofing business. It is the kind of experience that should hold him in good stead as he takes the executive chair at the RCABC. RCABC’s Technical Manager Jim Watson has just retired (March 31st) and former Assistant Technical Manager Rob Harris took over on April 1st. See our story below. ■
“Changing careers at 45 was one thing; a whole new one at 62 will be even more of a challenge.”
While information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources deemed to be reliable, neither the publisher nor the RCABC will be held liable for errors or omissions. The opinions expressed in the editorial and advertisements are not necessarily those of the publisher or RCABC.
Roofing Practices Manual now online
– Jim Watson
Bituminous Materials and Wood Shingles & Shakes. When the RCABC was looking for a Technical Manager in 1995, Watson was the ideal choice, with years of extensive experience in the field and on the RCABC Board. Always on the lookout for new opportunities, Watson accepted the position. He is now considered by many to be the top roofing technical manager in Canada. For Watson, retirement does not mean relaxing – his new consulting business, J. Watson Roofing Consulting Inc., was launched in
Contributing Writers: Tony Caputo Mike McKenna
February, and he will hit the ground running. He and Terry plan to return to Vancouver Island, where they will see more of son James, now 37. His new business will be focused on industrial, commercial and institutional projects only – in order to maintain what he calls a “stressfree” semi-retirement. Watson plans to continue his relationship with the RCABC; he expects to sit on the Technical Committee, and hopes that his new venture will be one of RCABC’s Accepted Roofing Inspection Firms, allowing him to inspect work SPRING 2011
specified under the the RGC Guarantee Program. Watson expresses confidence in Rob Harris, the new Technical Manager. The men have worked closely for eight years, with Watson mentoring Harris for the last two in preparation for the change-over. Reflecting on his varied life in the roofing industry, Watson says “I’ve reinvented myself in three different careers, and I’m looking forward to the new one. “Changing careers at 45 was one thing; a whole new one at 62 will be even more of a challenge.” ■
The RCABC Roofing Practices Manual (RPM) is now available online. It is the most comprehensive roofing manual available in Canada, and a must for all roofing contractors and specifiers requesting the RCABC Guarantee for workmanship and materials. The RPM includes the Guarantee Standards for application, accepted material list with the manufacturer’s description of products, and typical detail drawings for the RGC Guarantee Program. It has over 1200 pages and is divided into 12 sections related to the different material groups and details. The manual is updated twice yearly, including newly accepted roofing products, with input from RCABC’s Technical Committee. Anyone writing a roofing or waterproofing specification can now access this manual free of charge on the RCABC website: www.rcabc.org ■ 5
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Parker Johnston’s flat roofing teams are experts in the traditional tar and gravel roofing system, modern torch-applied two-ply systems, and advanced rubber, PVC, and thermoplastics applications, Parker explained, noting that commercial and institutional roofs account for 75 percent of the company’s business. “Our residential roofing crews specialize in all types of pitched-roof finishing including shingle, metal, and cedar shake roofs,” he added, and they make up a quarter of all contracts. Parker is particularly proud that his company has earned the top A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, the highest rating that the BBB can award a company, and evidence of the respect Parker Johnston has earned. A family owned and operated business, Parker Johnston can tackle any roofing or cladding project, including siding, gutter installation and even maintenance. According to Parker, the biggest challenge facing Parker Johnston, and most larger roofing companies, is “attracting skilled labour, or labour willing to learn.”
Training Parker hires workers from the street and puts the best through training at the RCABC Langley
campus. The RCABC state-of-theindustry training, he said, is the greatest benefit the Association has provided to the roofing business. Parker was president of the RCABC as it completed its Architectural Sheet Metal training centre, the only one of its kind in Canada. The former president is confident in the future of the BC roofing industry, predicting “a slow and steady build into 2012.” With his experience at Dockside Green – the first buildings in the world to achieve LEED Platinum status for environmental measures – Parker is familiar with sustainable construction and green roofs. His opinion of the latter: “These are only for owner builders with experienced maintenance staff.” Parker spends his rare downtime hunting, fishing and enjoying time with his family. He also aids his company in its many community activities that involve working with the United Way, various community associations, sports teams and many charities. While recognized for providing strong leadership during a challenging time for the RCABC, Parker is characteristically glib when asked what his greatest accomplishment was as RCABC president. “The end of my 12-month sentence,” he joked. ■ Above: Foxborough Hills Phase I - a 1250 sq. residential complex. The roofer is Simone Ballard, who now teaches the roofing apprenticeship program at RCABC Below: Royal Jubilee Hospital, among Parker Johnston’s major cladding and roofing contracts Left: Glass-roofed Atrium office complex in downtown Victoria, among the challenging Parker Johnston projects Inset: Parker Johnston worked on all four phases of Dockside Green, the first buildings in the world to achieve LEED Platinum status for environmental measures.
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Eco-Activ roof membrane installed on a downtown Vancouver apartment building: roof granules break down nitrous oxide. Photo: Siplast
First Eco-Activ® roof installed in BC Siplast innovation neutralizes nitrous oxide By Dermot Mack
When it came time to re-roof a 25year old social housing project in downtown Vancouver, BC Housing opted for a new material that lays down like torch-on, and can help the environment. The Siplast Eco-Activ Noxite membrane was recommended to BC Housing by consultant RDH Engineering Ltd. and the flat roof was installed in Summer 2010 by Bollman Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd., an RCABC member. Siplast claims the material can “reduce atmospheric pollution” by
reducing the harmful affects of nitrous oxides produced by automobiles and light manufacturing. The technology Siplast used was discovered in 1967 by Akira Fujishima and published in 1972 (see sidebar). This discovery has led to the development of new products that include self cleaning windows, anti-fogging coatings and smog eating cement. “Siplast is recognized in the Roofing industry as a premium priced product but there was no
upcharge for this installation,” said Laurence Matzek, a partner in Bollman. Matzek said the sheets of EcoActiv product required no special handling, despite its unique granular coating. It is the coating that gives Noxite its environmental credibility. The Eco-Activ roofing membrane is surfaced with granules treated with titanium dioxide. The granules increase the speed of nitrous oxide degradation, transforming harmful molecules into a non-hazardous
nitrate salt through the process of photo catalysis. When sunlight hits Noxite, the granules absorb UV light and, like a solar cell, generate electrical charges that accelerate the breakdown of the nitrous oxides. The by-product of the decomposition is carried away by rainwater with no harm to the environment. According to Siplast, 500 squares of Eco-Activ roof membrane can reduce the nitrous oxides emitted by 23 automobiles, driven 12,000
miles each. The 113-square roof of BC Housing’s Jubilee House in Vancouver – an 87-unit apartment building for low-income people over 45 years of age – is the first in BC to have an Eco-Activ roof installed. James Bourget of RDH Engineering said the membrane would cost about 20 percent more than a conventional bitumen roof, but requires the same labour to install as conventional torch-on roofing materials. While new to BC, the Noxite roof
ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
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has created an industry buzz in Europe. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of the largest airports in the world, also has the most polluted air in Holland. In 2009, the airport management began a pilot project with Noxite roofing. Over 400,000 square feet of Noxite Eco-Activ membrane are now installed on the terminal’s roof as a way of counteracting the nitrous oxide emissions from airplanes, automobiles and heating production. According to Bourget, the Vancouver installation is an example of how innovative and quality new products are being used on re-roofing projects. “When it is the building owner and the consultant making the decision, it is different than when a developer is making a decision on the roof for a new building,” he said. According to Siplast, the City of Calgary has just completed a project at the Talisman Centre with a membrane using the same Noxite technology. ■
The technology behind Noxite Akira Fujishima is a Japanese chemist and professor emeritus at University of Tokyo, known for significant contributions to the discovery and research of photocatalytic and superhydrophilic properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2). In 1967, while working on his Ph.D. under the supervision of professor Ke’ichi Honda, he discovered the phenomenon of photocatalytic water decomposition (water photolysis) when he exposed a titanium dioxide electrode to strong light, later called the Honda-Fujishima effect. The discovery of selfcleaning properties of titanium dioxide by the group under his supervision initiated a revolution in the ceramic, glass and other industries. Siplast’s Noxite roofing provides a sustainable solution to neutralizing Nitrous Oxide (NOx) particles. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identifies NOx as one of six greenhouse gases harmful to the environment. NOx particles are a major component of acid rain, which can damage both trees and entire forest ecosystems, and they lead to an imbalance of ozone in the atmosphere that can be dangerous for humans. NOx is also believed to be a major aggravator of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Siplasts Eco-Activ Noxite roofing membrane offers a sustainable construction technology that can neutralize NOx particles because all Noxite roofing solutions contain special grades of titanium dioxide, which functions as a catalyst in the process of converting NOx particles into harmless nitrate. When ultraviolet radiation from the sun hits the roof, it works with the titanium dioxide in the roof membrane or shingles to effectively neutralize more than 90 percent of the NOx particles resting on the surface of the roof. This means Noxite roofing is able to reduce the number of dangerous particles before they are washed away by the rain or blown away by the wind. Siplast is a member of Icopal Group, a leader in the roofing and waterproofing industry.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: Over 400,000 square feet of Noxite Eco-Activ membrane are now installed on the terminal’s roof
SURREY, BC
CHILLIWACK, BC
MAPLE RIDGE, BC
CALGARY, AB
Tel 604 .596.3787 Fax 604.596.4559
Tel 604 .795.7355 Fax 604.792.2355
Tel 604.463.4553 Fax 604.463.1298
Tel 403.262.1008 Fax 403.262.1018
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I N N O V A T I O N :
N O U N ;
S O M E T H I N G
N E W L Y
Aluminum Clamp-Tite Drain with TPO coated flange
I N T R O D U
TPO Coated Breather Vent
Menzies’ new TPO strip passes test Roofing contractors couldn’t break the bond 5-Skin Plumbing Pipe flashing coated with TPO
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A recent test study undertaken by Surrey-based Menzies Metal Products to introduce its new Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO) coated roofing accessory products indicates Menzies likely has another success on its hands. The study provided a number of BC roofing contractors with a coated strip of sheet metal with TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) applied to it, with instructions to attempt to do a pull test to see how well the TPO bonded. Additional metal strips were
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also provided for installers to heat weld to TPO. The results were excellent. Not one coated test strip failed the bonding test. Also provided to participants was one of Menzies’ new TPO coated 5skin plumbing pipe flashings. The flashing seal can be sized according to a tear out chart that allows for five plumbing pipe sizes ranging from 1-1/4” to 4”. The new TPO 5-Skin Pipe Flashings eliminate the need to price individual pipe sizes and will be a
big time-saver when cost estimating a project, according to Menzies. When installation of the flashing is complete, the top and bottom seals are airtight, much like a double-pane glass window, and prevent moisture and the resulting condensation. And when used with TPO, there is no need for pre-made on-site cone wrap around flashings, saving additional time and money. The new TPO coated accessories are easy to install and are more esthetically pleasing when used with TPO roofing
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C E D ,
S U C H
A S
A
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I D E A ,
TPO coated BUR Vent
M E T H O D
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TPO coated B-vent Pipe Flashing
Aluminum Plumbing stack coated with TPO
systems, Menzies explained. Menzies is well known within the industry and it’s not the first time the company has come up with a winning product. In fact, company president Sam Menzies is credited with introducing the industry to 5-in-1 roof flashing, as well as retro-fit boxes to wrap around gas and electrical roof protrusions, without disconnecting, and an ingenious plumbing pipe extension kit.
Hotweld In 2005 Menzies introduced “Hotweld” – a weld that can withstand the high temperatures required for galvanized roofing products for torch on – without concern for melting the seal of seams. Until that time, products made of galvanized metal could only be sealed with a soft solder that utilized a
ROOFING BC
melting point of 375˚F to 425˚F. The average torch temperature for roofing is 600˚F. That meant that soft solder sealing was frequently unrealized, resulting in seal fatigue. Trapped air often caused cold adhesion that could eventually cause premature seal failure. The new Hotweld system increased the temperature for the Hotweld seam weld to over BUR Vent 800˚F, allowing metal seamed flashes to be torched for a durable seal that could last the lifetime of the roof.
Not so well known, perhaps, is Menzies’ willingness to work one-on-one with roofing contractors to develop issue-specific answers – and even custom products – to overcome difficult problems. This can lead to solutions that allow Menzies to often be first on the market with new, or newly improved, products for the entire roofing industry. Next year, Menzies Metal Products will be celebrating 25 years at its present location in Surrey. Menzies Metal Products website (www.menzies-metal.com) illustrates that the firm has also been fabricating products with a variety of materials for the construction, plumbing and ventilation trades for over 30 years. ■
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SkyScape from Firestone uses interlocking planting trays to create a quick vegetative green roof. Photos: Firestone Building Products
Innovation marks Roofing Expo New products showcased
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More than 8,000 Industry professionals, including BC roofing contractors, packed the North Halls at the Las Vegas Convention Center, February 16-18, for the 2011 International Roofing Expo. Many came to see new products, and they weren’t disappointed. The Product Showcase offered the
hottest industry trends and the latest new, cool and green products. From a selection of 27 products, a panel of industry experts awarded EverCo, LLC, with the “Best New Product” for its skylight guard. The guards consist of a metal screen that is laid down over skylights on metal roofs. “There is an inherent risk of falling
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through skylights on metal roofs, as they are on the same level as the roof and have the same profile as the metal. Skylights can quite easily be overlooked by anyone walking on or working on a roof,” noted an EverCo spokesman.
Quick green roofs One innovation that caught the eye
of Roofing BC is a new vegetative roof system from Firestone Building Products that appears easy to install with a series of interlocking trays. The SkyScape system ensures healthy plant growth, proper airflow and prevents decaying of various layers that often exists in vegetative systems, according to Firestone.
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“Building owners seeking ways to meet green building standards and transform their rooftops into landscaped environments have a number of options to choose from with Firestone’s new SkyScape vegetative roof system,” said Riaz Hasan, accessories marketing manager for Firestone Building
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Products. “With multiple system configurations and choices in vegetation, this system makes it easy to create a sustainable, environmentally responsible roof.” Plants can be installed from preplanted trays, vegetative plugs or sedum tile mats. They can also be hydro-planted with cuttings or seeds,
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according to Hasan. A similar vegetative tray system from Tremco Roofing took the ‘best green product” at the Expo. The product was selected from more than 20 eligible products featured in the Expo’s Product Showcase, a special area dedicated to “leading-edge” and new technologies.
Serving the Lower Mainland from the Fraser Valley to Squamish
M E T H O D
Tremco’s BioTray vegetated roof system is a natural, biodegradable, modular system for vegetated roofs. The modules are 17” square trays composed of natural latex and coconut coir, derived from coconut husks. Unlike other modular systems, the coconut fiber decomposes over time and the BioTray module is
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converted into soil. This eliminates the use of plastic in growing and installing vegetated roofs, increasing the sustainability of the roof, according to Tremco. The 2012 International Roofing Expo will be held February 22-24, 2012, in Orlando, Florida. See www.TheRoofingExpo.com. ■
s Full line of IKO commercial products s Safety equipment and tools s Atlas Roofing products s Feltex roofing underlayment s RoofAquaGuard UDLX high performance roofing underlayment s RoofRoc synthetic slate & cedar shake tile s MonierLifetile energy efficient concrete tiles s Chutes International construction debris chutes s US Tiles authentic clay tiles s Metro Roof Products s Mule-Hide Products s ArrowLine Roofing system s A.R. EPS foam silver rigid insulation board s Custom Flashing
One Stop Roof Shop s Same Day Delivery
10870 120th Street, Surrey www.roofingproducts.ca oror www.pacificwesternroof.com Tel 604-581-5863 s s Toll Toll Free Free 1-800-918-ROOF Tel Fax 604-581-5864 Fax Email pacificwesternroof@hotmail.com Email ROOFING BC
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Reducing falls from heights: Getting greater buy-in for tying off by Mike McKenna, Executive Director, BC Construction Safety Alliance
It’s a staggering statistic: In a survey conducted by the US-based National Safety Council, 89% of respondents had seen someone at their company violate proper PPE requirements. Though conducted a few years ago, the survey still puts some hard numbers to a grim reality: even though it’s no secret that work-related deaths and injuries are completely preventable, many are not taking the necessary precautions to stay safe. Despite regulatory requirements, company policies and jobsite programs, falls are still the number one killer in BC construction when it comes to traumatic incidents. While we cannot measure the human toll of any workplace tragedy, we do know that each fall in our sector costs an average of $38,000 and 72 days of lost production time. Statistically, falls are not only the most expensive accident-type in our industry, but also the most common – outranking other mechanisms of injury such as overexertion and being struck by something. In BC, jobsites are required to use fall protection if a possibility exists of falling 10 feet (three metres) or more. Preventing these falls from elevation is crucial as they do the most damage when it comes
to injuries, claim costs and recovery truth is that companies need to time. invest in the appropriate safety Because it only takes a second to system to maximize profits and be seriously injured or killed, sloppy productivity. A lifeline and a harness safety practices are short-sighted may be the cheapest fall protection and dangerous. Without the proper system available, but it may not be fall protection system, even for short the most effective solution for your distances, a worker may still suffer jobsite in terms of safety or serious injuries by landing production. It’s all about finding awkwardly, or on something like what’s right for the job and the concrete or rebar. options have greatly improved over Safety should never be a reaction the years. to incidents or Decades ago, penalties because safety belts were proper prevention used to catch practices avoid falling workers but them in the first often severe place. Careless injuries were still safety practices cost sustained in the money: in one process. Today, full recent instance of body harnesses non-compliance, better protect WorkSafeBC fined a workers during a roofing company fall by distributing over $145,000 – rather than because the jobsite concentrating – had no fall the force of protection in place. impact. Another company There are many was fined for other high-tech fall Mike McKenna unsafe practices protection when their workers solutions now were wearing fall protection available so workers don’t have to harnesses but were not tied off. compromise productivity for safety. There’s a myth out there that From puck-sized retractable safety systems negatively affect lanyards to vehicles that provide productivity or the bottom line. The mobile anchor points, today’s gear
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provides better mobility as well as improved safety. Even with the best fall protection system in place, we all have regulatory and ethical responsibilities to ensure workers get home safe at the end of the day. Employers need to: • Develop and implement an appropriate fall protection plan; • Invest in the proper fall protection system; • Ensure all equipment is available when required. Supervisors need to: • Ensure workers have been properly trained in the fall protection plan and properly use their fall protection equipment; • Document any instances of noncompliance; • Follow-up accordingly to ensure
the safety program is being properly enforced. Finally, workers need to: • Follow the fall protection plan; and • Inspect and use their equipment properly. Like any other workplace safety issue, preventing falls requires teamwork and cooperation from all corners of the company. Investing in workplace safety means not only that every worker comes home uninjured at the end of their shift, but also delivers better business practices that save time and money in the long run. The BCCSA is here to help construction employers improve workplace safety. Get expert advice from our safety team by calling us toll-free at 1-877-860-3675. â–
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Fast-track success story The term ‘managing partners’ has taken on a whole new meaning with Don MacAulay and Andy Mrak, who along with Jack Sentla, founded Pro-Line Construction Materials in March of 2000. The Surrey-based enterprise has been an Associate Member of the RCABC since its inception, serving professional contractors at all levels in the roofing, insulation and waterproofing trades. Now, as MacAulay and Mrak celebrate Pro-Line’s 11th anniversary, the company has expanded to include stores in Chilliwack and Maple Ridge, and as of this March, a fourth, in Calgary, Alberta. “We have plans to open an additional facility and possibly two in the next 12 to 15 months,” says MacAulay confidently, although he and Mrak are keeping those prospective locations under their hats for now. The company’s remarkable growth can be attributed to a combination of hard work, customer service, top quality products and very, very long hours. The days start early at Pro-Line’s Surrey shop, where the doors open at 4:30 a.m. Monday to Friday and at 6:00 a.m. on Saturdays, 52 weeks of the year. MacAulay explains, “I’d rather have a delivery truck waiting at a construction site for an hour before the crew arrives, than to have it sitting on the Port Mann Bridge for that hour.” Pro-Line operates a full fleet of company-owned delivery trucks ranging from flat beds to 30-ton mobile cranes. The driver-crane operators are visibly enthusiastic about their work, and happy to tell visitors about some of the challenges that keep their jobs interesting. “I am in my element,” said Chris Johnson, with a broad grin, when describing how he worked with Falcon Equipment to rearmount the 30-ton crane on his truck, maximizing its potential. “It’s the only one of its kind in North America” he said proudly. As a service to its commercial roofing customers, the company offers sloped, tapered insulation take-off and site plan drawings. Residential roofing customers also receive some assistance with blueprint take-offs. Pro-Line carries most of the big names in construction materials, including Firestone, IKO, Owens Corning, Henry Bakor, Roxul, Georgia-Pacific, Tremco, Garlock, Grizzly, 3M and many others. The company also exports products to New Zealand, Japan and Korea. Despite the diversity of their services and product lines, MacAulay and Mrak claim that the biggest thing that distinguishes Pro-Line from most of its competitors is their own hands-on approach. “All decisions are made on the spot, whether they have to do with competitive pricing requests or extraordinary service requirements” they say. Whether it’s products, services, diversity or a combination of factors, Mrak and MacAulay are clearly the authors of their own success story. ■
Pro-Line's 30-ton National mobile crane (back left) has a 120-foot boom, rear mounted for optimum reach. The 20 ton crane in the foreground is one of three, and the company also operates one 14 ton crane, two articulating Hiab trucks, one conveyor truck and one 5 ton flatdeck.
The trailer of Pro-Line’s 30-ton mobile crane is loaded with product at the Surrey yard. ROOFING BC
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Johns Manville boosts EDPM production
A Karoleena modular house is craned into a Calgary neighbourhood: a new house is finished in two to three weeks. Photos: Karoleena Homes
Instant urban houses aim at BC
CALGARY – Calgary-based Karoleena Homes is taking aim at the Vancouver market with a new modular home they say can be used in dense urban markets or recreational sites. Karoleena displayed its modern modular homes in early March at the BC Home & Garden Show in Vancouver. This past winter, a Karoleena home was craned into an inner-city Calgary neighbourhood to show it can be used for urban lots as well as recreational property. According to company founders Kurt and Kris Goodjohn, the Calgary house took six hours to crane into position and three weeks to finish on site, including the asphalt roof. The Goodjohns claim the energyefficient houses come in a variety of styles and are less expensive to build than conventional stick-built houses. ■
DENVER, CO – Johns Manville (JM), a Denver-based Berkshire Hathaway company and global building products manufacturer, is building a new commercial roofing single ply membrane facility in Milan, Ohio. The production facility will manufacture Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) roofing products. EPDM is a thermoset synthetic rubber single ply roofing membrane known for its durability, ease of installation and superior weathering characteristics. The new facility, a former rubber manufacturing plant, is scheduled to begin renovations in May 2011, with approximately 100 million square feet of manufacturing capacity and production scheduled for mid-2012. This will be the second new roofing systems facility opened by JM in three years. JM has annual sales of approximately $2 billion, employs approximately 6,500 people and operates 41 manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and China. ■
Canada Place roof replacement underway Vancouver’s Canada Place is receiving an updated tensile roofing system from Birdair, the manufacturer of its original sail fabric. Birdair is serving as roofing sub-contractor for the Vancouver landmark, replacing the structure’s current roof with 91,210 square feet of fabric membrane that matches the original five-sail design installed in 1985. The membrane is PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, fiberglass coated with non-toxic and flame-resistant TiO2 (titanium dioxide), which requires less maintenance due to its self-cleaning capabilities, according to Birdair. The material is also said to be highly durable, weather and fire resistant, and could have a project life expectancy exceeding 30 years. Ledcor Construction Ltd. is the construction manager for the project on behalf of Canada Place Corporation. ■
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Blind leading the sighted The BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) has joined the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), the BC Association of Optometrists and WorkSafeBC to promote vision safety for BC’s workers. A province-wide series of workshops on vision safety will be led by a blind CNIB staffer, Brad Waghorn, CNIB BC Manager, Industrial Eye Safety Program. Waghorn will blindfold the participants to allow them to experience how he lives on a daily basis. “When you lose your sight all of sudden you have to find a different way of identifying denominations of money to pay for things at stores and you have to plan carefully how to get around the city,� says Waghorn. “The BCCSA is showing leadership to the construction industry by encouraging employers and workers to increase their emphasis on vision safety as a part of their regular safety programming.�
In the construction industry, injuries resulting in blindness or permanently reduced vision can result from construction materials hitting a worker in the face or dust or other fragments coming in contact with the worker’s eyes. The Occupational Health A blind-folded participant in a CNIB and Safety Regulation workshop gets a feel for what it’s like to of the Workers live with vision loss. Compensation Act sets out workplace rules for the use of eye protection. “As a result of an increased emphasis on safety for the past few years, BC’s construction industry has an improving safety record, however we know we still have a long way to goâ€? said Mike McKenna, Executive Director of the BCCSA. “The daily use of eye protection on a construction site is an easy, low cost safety habit that can prevent devastating accidents that can result in blindness.â€? The BCCSA encourages all employers and their workers to attend these workshops when they are available in their regions: • Kelowna May 17, 2010 • Kamloops May 18, 2010 • Burns Lake June 21, 2010 • Terrace June 23, 2010 • Williams Lake June 29, 2010 • Cranbrook July 12, 2010 • Castlegar July 13, 2010 • Victoria Sept 26, 2010 • Vancouver Sept 27, 2010 • Fort Nelson Feb 21, 2012 To register for one of these workshops or to arrange an Eye Safety Workshop for your workplace call the CNIB at 1-800-563-2642. To learn more about the BCCSA programs and services call 1.877.860.3675 or visit www.bccsa.ca
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WI NTER 2010 IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES: Profile: Jack Lam.....................1, 6 RCABC’s ASM centre opens... 12 Asbestos’ deadly shadow....... 14 ASSOCIATION: President’s message .................. 3 RCABC takes safety award....... 5
THE VOICE OF PROFESSIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS
Vol. 7, No. 4 • WINTER 2010
Profile: Jack Lam From China’s gutters to Vancouver’s roof tops By Frank O’Brien
We’re proud to say that Roofing BC has been called “the best trade magazine in Canada� and “a must-read� by industry professionals. Roofing BC makes it easy to stay up to date with the roofing industry in western Canada. It’s free, and easy to get on the mailing list. Log on to www.rcabc.org then click on ‘Roofing BC’ on the left of the page, then on ‘Click here to join our mailing list’. Past issues of Roofing BC are also available on the site. ■Jack Lam at the Burnaby headquarters of Lam Metal Contracting Ltd. Photo: Richard Lam
In the early 1950s a starving young Chinese boy and his sister begged on the chaotic streets of Guangdong province and dug up wild potatoes for food in the former battlefields around their village. With China’s victorious communists holding summary executions – including a man shot dead within feet of the children – the boy’s father sold him at the age of six to a neighbouring family that was fleeing the violence. A year later, in 1956, Jack Lam arrived in Vancouver with his adoptive mother, joining his new father who was already in Canada. Lam would never see his birth mother again, though she searched for him for decades before her death. Yet Lam, now founder and president of 30-employee Lam Metal Contracting Ltd., remains thankful, not bitter, about the sacrifice his family was forced to make in those terrible times. Many other children perished from starvation in the revolution’s aftermath. “Canada is a great, great country, a country of wealth and opportunity,� he said. Lam defines that opportunity. He began working construction in the 1970s after graduating with a diploma in Building Technology from the BC Institute of Technology. Soon after he was working as a junior draftsman for Westeel Rosco, which led him into estimating for metal roof decking, metal wall cladding and metal siding. Founded own company Confident in his ability, Lam founded Lam Metal Contracting Ltd. in 1991 “at the back of my house in Burnaby.� As he modestly put it, “we gradually grew from there.� That is an understatement. Lam Metal was recently hand picked to provide the metal work on the Rise mixed-use building in Vancouver, which captured this year’s Urban Development Institute Award of Excellence for PCL Constructors. LAM continued on page 6
INDUSTRY NEWS: Steep slope roofers face more danger....................... 4 BC Place roof must leak .......... 4 PM backs solar roof innovations................................ 10 Roofing leads asphalt demand, despite prices .......... 10 Roofing Consultants elect Canadian president ................ 11 Below the roof membrane..... 16 HST could be killed...................18 CRCA issues chemical resistance bulletin .....................18 UDI picks top projects ............ 20 Housing starts to see modest rise in 2011................ 20 Vancouver green roof takes landscape award .......... 21 Metrodome roof collapses ..... 21 Auto-feed screw driving ......... 21 Towers to sprout in downtown Vancouver ............ 21 New Vancouver high-rises point to work ahead .............. 22 Pipe dreams in Major Projects inventory.................... 22 Football legend Joe Theismann keynote speaker ...................... 22 Building permits up ................ 22 COLUMN Legal Matters: Get your swagger back ......... 17
A very grand opening RCABC celebrates the launch of its Architectural Sheet Metal training centre in style. See pages 12-15
Asbestos still a clear and present danger Risky business: leave it to the pros. See pages 8 and 9
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Architects ready for 4-day “festival� VANCOUVER – West coast creativity will get special attention at the 2011 Festival of Architecture, coming soon to Vancouver. The four-day festival, a partnership of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia and Architecture Canada / Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, will take place May 24-27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Themed “Architecture on the Edge�, the festival will acknowledge the style and innovation that distinguishes BC architects and architecture. Participants will examine West coast approaches to place- and space-making, and explore the unique perspective from Canada’s western edge. “There’s no question that BC architects are continually inspired and challenged by our special surroundings and culture,� says AIBC President Pierre E. Gallant. “Our stunning landscape and unique climate allow us an ideal vantage point from which to explore new concepts in form and design, sustainability, livability, and social awareness.� It is anticipated the festival will bring together some 800 architects and allied professionals from around the province and across the country. Delegates will explore best practices, new challenges, and innovative ways in which architects are leaving their mark on BC’s environment.
“More than ever, architects are being called upon to find workable, lasting solutions to today’s environmental and societal challenges,� says Architecture Canada / RAIC President Stuart Howard. “By showcasing the latest trends and fresh perspectives, this festival will provide an ideal opportunity to both educate and inspire.� The program will include six streams of professional development sessions, numerous feature speakers and a selection of professional recognition celebrations. The festival will culminate with the Presidents’ Dinner & Awards Gala on Friday, May 27, where winners of the 2011 AIBC Architectural Awards and the Architecture Canada / RAIC Awards of Excellence will be celebrated. For detailed information, visit the 2011 Festival of Architecture web site at http://aibc.ca/vancouver2011/index.shtml.
Carlisle to open Washington Polyiso plant SEATTLE, WA – Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM), a single-ply commercial roofing system provider, has announced the upcoming construction of a new polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturing facility in Washington State. With operations targeted to commence in the first half of 2012, this new facility is being specified to the same high standards as CCM’s existing facilities in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, Texas and Utah. The new Washington State plant will allow Carlisle to provide materials for roofing contractors in BC and across Western Canada, according to Nick Shears, CCM’s VP of sales and marketing. “With the closest competitive plant being 600 miles away, CCM will offer the market’s fastest and most reliable access to Polyiso, a real benefit in a product that needs to be delivered on a just-in-time basis to job sites.â€? Carlisle Construction Materials has been a leading supplier of commercial roofing systems for more than 40 years, selling mainly through the Carlisle SynTec and Versico brands. Hunter Panels, added to CCM in 2002, sells and markets the Hunter brand of insulation across the U.S. and Canada. Its product offering consists of a full line of rigid polyiso roofing insulation for use in both commercial and residential construction. Carlisle Construction Materials is part of Carlisle Companies, a diversified global manufacturing company. â–
Steels inks deal with Owens Corning SURREY – Steels Industrial Products Ltd. has been appointed a dealer of FoamularÂŽ roofing insulation products by Owens Corning. Steels is already a Western Canadian source for Owens Corning exterior wall and roof insulation for commercial and industrial applications. “With a well established position in the industry and a longstanding relationship between our companies, Steels is well positioned to market the Owens Corning product,â€? explains Steels president Jim Sidwell. Steels now carries the Foamular line of products to meet the needs of roofing contractors. Foamular products are used for a diverse range of applications – from exterior wall construction and interior and exterior foundation walls through to cold storage facilities. “Insulated tilt construction is now standard practice in BC,â€? said Sidwell, “and Foamular insulation is an excellent solution for environmentally conscious builders as Owens Corning product contains over 70 percent recycled content.â€? Owens Corning is a world leader in building materials systems and composite solutions. A Fortune 500 company, it posts annual sales of more than $6.5 billion, with operations in 26 countries. Steels Industrial Products Ltd. is a division of the FAMA Group of Companies, and is headquartered in Surrey, BC. With nine locations across British Columbia and Alberta, Steels has provided contractors, builders and architects with construction supplies since 1955. â–
The West Vancouver Community Centre was a 2010 AIBC Architectural Awards winner. This year’s recipients will be revealed at the 2011 Festival of Architecture in May. Photo: Hubert Kang / Hughes Condon Marler Architects
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RKW buys Danafilms FRANKENTHAL, GERMANY – German film giant RKW SE has acquired Danafilms, Inc., a Westborough, Massachusetts film producer, to boost RKW’s RoofTopGuard II, its line of high performance roof underlayment products made with multi-layer polypropylene/polyethylene. The deal also provides RKW with its first North American manufacturing facility. The RoofTopGuard family of products is 30 percent faster to install than the competition’s equivalent underlayment, according to RKW. It is resistant to tears or rips in high winds; vapour permeable; repels moisture; mildews and mold resistant; and is 100 percent resistant to insects, vermin, mold, rot and the elements. “RoofTopGuard is suitable to use under all roofing materials and can be exposed to the elements for up to six months without degrading. It is guaranteed for 30 years,” the company reports. With the acquisition of Danafilms, RKW continues its leadership in industrial markets by adding a strong North American partner that enjoys a stellar reputation, an experienced team and a modern manufacturing process serving long-standing customers. With the existing RKW sales office near Atlanta, GA, the acquisition of Danafilms will provide RKW with three locations in the U.S. to serve the U.S. and Canadian markets. ■
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Installing coloured DaVinci roof shingles. Bold blue is among the roof colour options available. Photos: DaVinci Roofscapes
Going for colour Vibrant roof palette launched at Builders Show Roofing contractors visiting January’s International Builders’ Show in Florida likely did a double take when they passed by a display from DaVinci Roofscapes – as in, “did I just see a purple roof?” Kansas City-based DaVinci took advantage of the event to showcase what it calls the “the largest roofing colour selection in the industry.” While BC roofing contractors are familiar with roof colours, they are normally in the narrow range between grey and black. DaVinci hopes to kick off a colour revolution with nearly 50 shades that run from deep purple to green and blue, with a wide array in the black and grey variety. “Homeowners can now have a wide selection of colors to choose from – some with subtle shifts in color – so that they can create a look that reflects
their personality and style,” explained Ray Rosewall, president and CEO of DaVinci Roofscapes. “Our wide variety of standard colors, and our unique ability to offer custom colors, enables people to enhance the other exterior elements of their home like siding and trim.” The DaVinci line is available in polymer slate and shake roofing tiles with 49 colours and 28 blends. To help contractors and builders select colours, DaVinci has launched a colour design tool on its website (www.davinciroofscapes.com) to let clients mix and match colours. “Builders, roofers and homeowners can select from two to five colors to create their own custom blends,” said Rosewall. “We deliver their roofing choices to their location collated in bundles and ready for installation.” ■
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Raising the roof added 3.5 million square feet to this manufacturing plant. Photo: Rooflifters
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Roof lifting: adding space by jacking up roofs TORONTO – Toronto-based Rooflifters has raised the roof on a number of buildings across North America, but it recently raised the bar with a massive lift in Wyoming. Rooflifters expanded an auto parts manufacturing plant by 3.5 million cubic feet by raising the roof. The actual lift is being accomplished in two phases: 105,000 square feet and 115,000 square feet. With occupancy set for mid-March, the lift and additional modifications to suit the tenant’s use will be completed in approximately three months, a fraction of the time it would take to build a new facility or demolish and rebuild the roof of the existing plant. The expansion of the building is achieved by raising the entire existing roof from 16’ to 32’. By lifting the roof, while intact and with minimal demolition, the
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building will be effectively modernized to meet today’s distribution and warehousing standards. “After our initial conversations with Rooflifters, we felt confident that we could market the building as if it were already at 32 feet,â€? said Don Shoemaker, managing partner of Franklin Partners, the building’s owners. “Prior to roof lifting, this building was the definition of ‘functionally obsolete’.â€? “Our clients realized early on that the roof lifting process has significant advantages – it is cost-effective; completed in minimal time; creates a remarkable amount of additional clear height; and avoids many hurdles connected to building a brand-new facility,â€? said Mason Harris, VP of operations for Rooflifters. “I encourage anyone needing to add clear height to an industrial facility to investigate this method.â€? â–
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YOUR SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing and Building Envelope Professionals
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LEGAL AFFAIRS
like (and more often) dislike about their workplace? But communicating on the Internet is Disrespectful, dishonest fundamentally and derogatory messages different than can hurt your company’s catching up with someone on the reputation telephone or in by Robert Smithson person during It seems fitting to address one of your coffee the latest emerging problems for break. And what employers. Employees’ use of social the publishers media websites, such as Facebook, of these to make negative comments about comments don’t their employer has become a real seem to grasp headache. is that posting It seems to have become damaging comments on-line is fashionable for employees to worse than publishing them in a publish critical comments about newspaper because the range of their employer (or former employer) possible readers is unlimited. on the Internet. The nature of the The words of the comments often person doing the crosses the boundary posting are preserved into being legally in print, if only actionable for, as an electronically. They example, defamation. can (and will) be As Internet copied and forwarded networking sites and circulated became more verbatim. The really prevalent as a forum critical point is that an of social interaction, it Internet was perhaps “conversation” is in no inevitable that the way private. commentary they It has the potential Robert Smithson contain would stray (and likelihood) of over into workplace issues. After all, being accessed by many, many if the Internet is now just another Internet users and of being venue for “chat”, then why wouldn’t duplicated and forwarded to people want to mention what they unlimited potential readers. It’s easy
Ugly Facebooks
to see that making negative on-line comments about one’s employer can cause exponentially more damage than making the same comment in a one-on-one conversation.
Labour Board The BC Labour Relations Board recently dealt with just such a situation. The employer was the operator of West Coast Mazda in Pitt Meadows. The employees in question were members of a bargaining unit newly certified by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Between them, the two employees had almost 500 “friends” associated with their Facebook accounts. Commencing in August of 2010, a manager raised concerns about troubling on-line postings made by the two employees. As a result, the employer began
to monitor the similar impact here. employees’ ongoing The two employees were Facebook activity. dismissed for just cause reasons for Soon, the postings making disrespectful, damaging and began to speak of derogatory comments on Facebook. things like “unfair Their union complained that the labour practices”, terminations were evidence of anti“workplace union animus on the employer’s harassment”, part. responding to a Damages and dismissal “mental attack” The BC Labour Relations Board with stabbings, viewed the employees’ postings as and began using damaging comments about the obscenities to employer’s business and rejected describe the concept that the employees members of could, in the circumstances, have management. any serious expectation of privacy. Not The employees’ comments were satisfied to characterized as offensive, insulting stop there, the and disrespectful, amounting to employees began making highly insubordination. The Labour objectionable comments regarding Relations Board rejected the the sexuality and assertion that the sexual activities of The employees employer’s response supervisory staff and began making had anti-union animus then waded into objectionable as its inspiration, and openly obscene concluded that the comments chatter. The terminations were not regarding the out of proportion with commentary drew, in sexual activities the misconduct – there an extremely derogatory manner, of supervisors was proper cause for conclusions about the summary dismissal in employer’s business practices and these circumstances. accused it of being “f*#$in crooks” It is difficult to imagine that these and “greedy … lowlife scumbags”. two individuals thought their The employer conducted an employer wouldn’t ever come to investigation and interviewed the hear about their on-line two employees. They (surprise!) commentary. The fact is that people denied being the authors of the keep making the same mistake and, postings and claimed that others more and more frequently, the price could have accessed their Facebook for this misdeed is a loss of accounts without their knowledge. employment. ■ That form of “someone tampered Robert Smithson is a labour and employment with my water bottle” defence didn’t lawyer. This subject matter is provided for work for Ben Johnson at the 1988 general informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice. Olympics in Seoul, and it had a
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SPRING 2011
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