A group of construction industry experts that met in Calgary, Alberta called for more disaster-resilient infrastructure, citing recent floods and wildfires in Alberta.
The province experienced two of the worst natural disasters in its history in recent years. In 2013, a flood ravaged southern Alberta, and fires struck the area around Fort McMurray earlier this year. Both events caused billions of dollars of damage.
Weak building codes are resulting in major losses, said Aris Papadopoulos, founder and chair of the Resilience Action Fund. Current codes rely on providing rapid escapes for people to exit buildings. Stronger codes that prevent buildings from being destroyed can be cost effective, according to Papadopoulos.
The renovation of the ground floor of the Enmax District Energy Centre in Calgary, which was damaged by flood waters, provided an example of beefed up disaster resilience. Two-inch thick glass and steel-reinforced mullions were installed on all low-level glass to prevent the force of any future flood water from breaching the building's exterior.
Related Stories
Smart Buildings | May 1, 2015
FEMA to require states to evaluate risks posed by climate change
The aim is for states to do a better job planning for natural disasters they are likely to face in a warming world.
Codes and Standards | May 1, 2015
Department of Energy asks for feedback on cost-effectiveness of building energy codes
DOE’s RFI wants input on how to improve methodology on cost assessment.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
New York State renews design-build authority
Five state agencies are allowed to use design-build on certain projects.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
OSHA’s estimated cost of silica rule said to underestimate impact by $4.5 billion annually
The coalition says that OSHA’s flawed cost estimates point to flaws in the rule, and has urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
2016 Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings draft available for public review
The comment period is open until May 29.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
GBCI renamed Green Business Certification Inc.
The name change reflects the organization’s expanded certification and credentialing services.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 16, 2015
Seattle’s size restriction on micro apartments blamed for rise in rents
Seattle’s city planner recently said that the council’s new rules have made small apartments more expensive to build and charged the board with “overreaching” and not giving micro-housing “a fair shake.”
Green | Apr 16, 2015
New version of Building Energy Data Exchange Specification launched
BEDES is a dictionary that facilitates consistent exchange of building characteristics and energy use data between tools and databases in the building energy efficiency sector.
Codes and Standards | Apr 16, 2015
New York tops U.S. cities in walkability
Revitalization pushes Detroit and New Orleans up the rankings
Green | Apr 14, 2015
USGBC will recognize energy and water standards for the Living Building Challenge
This move means that projects achieving the energy and water requirements in Living Building Challenge will be considered as technically equivalent to LEED.
