• Cancellation Policy

Seminar Description

This seminar is intended to educate design and construction professionals as well as building authorities on the various issues surrounding person guards that are common on many residential and commercial projects in North America, with emphasis on B.C. codes and practices. The ultimate aim is to educate and help to improve the overall success rate and quality of guards on building projects in B.C. through cooperation and teamwork between disciplines and trades.

Agenda

Early Session: 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Designed for Professional Engineers (Structural Engineers who design guards, Structural Engineers who design building), Engineers-in-Training, Architects, Contractors, Guard Installers, Building Inspectors and Owners / Developers, this session will discuss:

1. Overview of the definition and function of guards including guard requirement triggers under Part 3 and Part 9 of the B.C. Building Code
2. Behavior of guards as structural systems as a function of top rail continuity and boundary support conditions
3. Part 3, Part 4 and Part 9 loading requirements; other loads on guards; US code loads
4. Validity of lateral loads – do the code loads make sense?
5. Serviceability requirements
6. Testing of guard systems
7. Basics of guard systems in various materials along with strengths and weaknesses of each system
8. Problems in the guard industry including design of support (known in wood frame projects as “backing”) and where responsibility for the support design, inspection and signoff belongs on building projects
9. Importance of professional responsibility for guard designs and where it comes into play
10. Procedures for successful guard projects / upcoming Guard Design and Construction Guidelines (work in progress by Guard Task Force)
11. Questions / Discussion period

Please note that all constructive input will be considered by the Guard Task Force for its upcoming “Guard Design and Construction Guidelines”, to be released 2008-2009.

Late Session: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Designed for Professional Engineers, Engineers-in-Training, (although all are welcome to stay), this session is more technical in nature and will discuss:

• Design example of aluminum top-mount guard system
• Design example of timber fascia-mount guard system
• Design example of rail-less top-mount aluminum guard system with glass infill panels
• Design example of commercial / industrial steel guard system
• Design examples of guard connection supports in wood frame (backing) and steel stud buildings
• Discussion about challenges of design of guard connections support in certain situations

Instructor

Robert Jirava, B.A.Sc., P.Eng, M.IStructE, Struct.Eng - RDJ Structural Designs Ltd.

Robert graduated from UBC in 1994 with a B.A.Sc. in civil engineering. He spent 10 years designing various structures including commercial and residential buildings, specialized steel structures and water park structures. In 2003 he helped found RDJ Structural Designs where he has been a principal for four years. His firm has diverse areas of expertise including industrial tilt-up, special indoor and outdoor theme park play structures, and aluminum guardrails. The firm performs designs for several dozen professional guardrail installers in Western Canada and the USA.

Robert has also been involved with the IStructE exam instruction for the past two years and is currently a member of the Technical and Communications Committees in the newly-formed SEABC.

What Previous Participants have said about this Seminar:

• “Presented relevant issues that face design professionals. It was good to see the problems that can be encountered.”
• “Good course – relevant issues.”
• “He made it simple and easy to understand for a non-member.”
• “Clear & precise, well prepared, knowledgeable.”
• “Obviously enthusiastic about guards!”
• “Very well presented and knowledgeable presenter. Excellent slides and very good speaker.”

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 2.75 Core Learning Units.

© APEGBC