Technical and Practice Bulletin Released for Mid-Rise Buildings

Changes to the BC Building Code came into effect on Monday, April 6, 2009, allowing mid-rise wood frame residential construction up to six storeys.  These code provisions were developed with input from leading experts and stakeholders from the residential building industry. With funding support from the Building and Safety Policy Branch, Office of Housing and Construction Standards, Ministry of Housing and Social Development, APEGBC has developed a technical and practice bulletin on engineering issues related to mid-rise buildings.

The bulletin (Technical and Practice Bulletin – Structural, Fire Protection and Building Envelope Professional Engineering Services for 5 and 6 Storey Wood Frame Residential) Building Projects) provides basic technical and practice guidance on structural, fire protection and building envelope professional engineering issues related to mid-rise buildings, setting out the standards of practice a member should following in providing services for such buildings. The bulletin provides sources of information and in some instances design options.

Examples of engineering design considerations which affect professional engineering practices in going from 4 storey to mid-rise building projects include:

    • Increased lateral loads (wind and seismic);
    • Increased environment loads on building envelope assemblies;
    • Increased cumulative effect of wood shrinkage;
    • Increased structural mass of the wood framing affecting such items as glazing and insulation which, in turn, impact the energy performance of the building; and
    • Enhanced requirements for fire and life safety with respect to building materials and fire suppression systems.

Owing to the added level of complexity involved in engineering considerations that need to be addressed in going from four storey- to mid-rise building projects, there is a need for an enhanced level of coordination of the engineering design between various engineering disciplines and with other design consultants.

The Technical and Practice Bulletin – Structural, Fire Protection and Building Envelope Professional Engineering Services for 5 and 6 Storey Wood Frame Residential is available online at www.apeg.bc.ca/ppractice/ppdocs.html.