Seminar

Changes to the BC Building Code (BCBC) enabling the construction of mid-rise wood frame residential buildings up to six storeys came into effect on April 6, 2009. These changes to the BCBC were developed with input from leading experts and stakeholders from the residential building industry. In response to this initiative, APEGBC has developed guidance on the provision of professional engineering services for five and six storey wood frame residential building projects entitled APEGBC Technical and Practice Bulletin - Structural, Fire Protection and Building Envelope Professional Engineering Services for Five and Six Storey Wood Frame Building Projects (Mid-Rise Buildings).

Consistent with one of the fundamental legislated objects of APEGBC which is, “...to establish, maintain, and enforce standards for the qualifications and practice of its members and licensees,” this bulletin has been approved by APEGBC Council. The bulletin  forms part of APEGBC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the quality of services that its members provide to clients and the general public. Funding assistance for the development of the bulletin was received from the Building and Safety Policy Branch, Office of Construction Standards, Ministry of Housing and Social Development.

This seminar will provide guidance on various engineering issues of a technical and practice nature as reflected in the content of the bulletin. The focus will be on professional structural, fire protection and building envelope engineering services for these types of wood frame mid-rise building projects. This seminar will be of interest to those involved in the engineering design, architectural design, development, construction and building permitting aspects of these types of mid-rise buildings.

*Webcast Instructions:
System requirements:

• Pentium class 600 MHz PC or better
• Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP
• Full-duplex sound card
• 28.8 kbps modem dial-up or better (Greater than 56K recommended)
• Internet Explorer 5.5 (or higher)
• Cookies must be enabled (no cookie mongers)

You will need speakers to hear audio. IE service packs should be current, and since a software download is required, your network, firewall and/or PC security must be set to allow this.

A few days prior to the seminar, you will be forwarded instructions on how to access the session.

Instructors

Andrew Harmsworth, P.Eng. - Principal, GHL Consultants
Andrew has over 20 years of engineering experience in Building Code and Fire Protection issues and Code compliance problem resolution.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from UBC. Andrew is a City of Vancouver Certified Professional who is the former Chair of the Building Codes Committee and represents APEGBC on the Building Code Modernization Strategy and Green Building Code task groups.  Andrew is the Certified Professional of Record for the Vancouver Convention Center Expansion project. and was the consultant retained by Building Safety and Policy to review the process and technical risks involved relative to fire safety and to recommend code changes to facilitate 6 storey wood frame. Mr Harmsworth is currently involved in the working design of several 6 storey wood frame residential buildings. He has assisted in developing fire modelling based alternate solutions for a large number of buildings including IKEA in Coquitlam, BC Cancer Research Center, the UBC main library and a number of UBC buildings in Kelowna

Rob Hunter, LLB - Bull, Housser & Tupper
Rob Hunter joined Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP in 1980 after serving as Crown Counsel in British Columbia's Ministry of Attorney General. He focuses on resolving insurance, construction, engineering, architectural, environmental and professional regulatory litigation with an emphasis on the representation of design professionals in liability claims and contractual disputes. Rob also acts on behalf of professional regulatory bodies and has an environmental defence practice.

Steven Kuan, Ph.D.,P.Eng. - Building and Safety Policy Branch
Steven is a Senior Seismic Engineer with the Building and Safety Policy Branch in the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. The Building and Safety Policy Branch is responsible for developing and maintaining building regulations in B.C., including the BC Building Code.  A graduate of The University of British Columbia, Steven has many years' experience in government, private consulting, teaching and research.  He is active in various professional organizations and committees.

Thomas Leung, P.Eng., Struct.Eng. - Thomas Leung Structural Engineering Inc.
Thomas is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, Civil Engineering. He’s been the Principal of a small consulting firm since 1989. As well, Thomas is a member, of the Technical Committee, CSA-086, Engineering Design in Wood, APEGBC’s Investigation Committee, APEGBC’s Building Code Committee and the City of Richmond’s Advisory Design Panel.

Robert Malczyk, P.Eng., Struct.Eng. - Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
Robert Malczyk obtained his Master’s degree from the UBC with a specialization in timber connections. He then acquired his MBA from SFU. Robert started his professional career with J. Novacek and Associates and in 1998, he co-founded Equilibrium Consulting Inc. His broad field of expertise and successful experience includes renovation work, upgrades and new construction on projects as well as high profile architecturally oriented public projects. Robert is a recognized expert in the field of timber engineering. He is also a regular nationwide lecturer for the Canadian Wood Council Woodworks! Program, and a member of the Canadian Timber Code Technical Committee (Engineering Design in Wood: O86.1).

Peter Mitchell, P.Eng. - APEGBC
Peter is the Director of Professional Standards and Development at APEGBC. His key responsibilities include the administration of the Practice Review Program, and providing staff support to numerous committees, task forces and boards dealing with professional practice issues including the Consulting Practice Committee, Building Codes Committee, Seismic Risk Task Force, Fee Guideline Task Force, Practice Review Committee, Certified Professional Committee, and the APEGBC/ABCPF Joint Practice Board. He also provides staff support to the Division of Engineers and Geoscientists in the Forest Sector (DEGIFS), and the Division of Structural Engineers (DSE).

David Ricketts, P.Eng. - RDH Building Engineering
Biography to be posted shortly.


Khash Vorell, P.Eng. - GHL Consultants
Khash has eleven years' experience in building code consulting, fire protection engineering in addition to his structural background.  He holds a Master’s degree in Fire Protection Engineering and a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from UBC. Khash is a member of  the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is the Chair of the APEGBC Building Codes Committee as well as a past board member of the Fire Protection Subcommittee involved in preparation of APEGBC Guidelines for Fire Protection Engineers. He participated on behalf of APEGBC in all Technical Advisory Committee meetings held by the Province during the Mid-Rise wood frame Code Initiative. Khash was also involved in the preparation of the Fire Protection section of APEGBC's Technical Bulletin for mid-rise wood frame construction.

Cancellation Policy

Registered attendees unable to attend the event may designate a substitute, provided APEGBC receives written notification at least one business day prior to the event. Registration information for the substitute attendee should accompany the notice. If notice of cancellation of registration is received:

•  5 business days or more prior to the event, a refund will be processed
•  Less than 5 business days prior to the event, no refunds apply

Substitute registrants are permitted up to the day of the seminar and member/non-member fees will be applied. The organizers reserve the right to cancel the event if less than the minimum required participants have registered. Liability limited to registration fee.

APEGBC is an AIBC/CES registered provider offering an AIBC-Accredited activity for 5.5 Core Learning Units.