Wednesday 30 December 2015

Trade Show Update - Specifier: December 2015

November 18th, 2015 was our fifth annual Trade Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre. First off, many thanks to all the exhibitors who participated this year, the volunteers the day of the event, the architects and members of the design community who walked the show floor and finally the Trade Show Committee responsible for countless hours of work throughout the year to make it all happen. The day featured three separate guest speakers; Murray Frank of Constructive Home Solutions, Brian Palmquist & Marsha Gentile of Ledcor, and Dirk Laudan of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP . In addition, we added wine draws throughout the day with three separate winners walking away with 10-12 bottles of wine. At the end of the show, an I-Pad was raffled off to eligible participants who visited and collected ten signatures from presenting exhibitors. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Glenn Chatten. In addition, Michael Apostolides from B + H Architects was the winner of the set of Vancouver Canucks hockey tickets. Special thanks to this year’s committee members: Todd Gerrard of Enercorp, Brian Maher of Dryvit, Ken Emsley of Soprema, Vince Smith of Cloverdale Paint, Jeff Dye of Tec Agencies, Ryan Foster of Roxul, and Calvin Lewis of Flextile . The team is now actively looking for new suggestions on how to make this event better, so if you would like to add your input into what happens in the future, please reach out to someone from the Executive and put your comments forward.


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Tuesday 29 December 2015

Spray Foam 101 - Specifier: December 2015

By: Scott Ruffett, CTR, LEED Green Assoc., ICYNENE

Over the last several years, provincial energy codes have changed to reflect the demand for more energy efficient buildings. The use of modern, cost effective insulation materials such spray applied foam insulation (SPF) can assist the building designer meet these new code requirements. Providing energy efficient buildings creates an opportunity to reduce energy consumption, lower our utility costs, improve occupant comfort and indoor air quality, and reduce pollution and greenhouse gases.

Choosing the right SPF product can be a challenge. Designers should carefully consider the project requirements to ensure a smooth and successful completion. Whether designing to meet minimum code requirements for thermal performance (R-Value) in a wall, roof or floor, or in a more complex commercial airbarrier system application, there is an SPF product that meet your project’s needs.

The two main SPF options for building designers are classified as light-density and medium-density. Both product types are excellent insulators providing superior air-sealing qualities and can be used in commercial, residential, new construction or renovation projects.

R-values for light-density products range between R-3.5 to R-4.1 per inch. These products can be considered air-barriers and require a vapour barrier in most applications. Light-density foams expand up to 100 times the liquid volume and are known for filling voids and cracks within the cavity making them an ideal choice for building reclamation and renovation projects or in details where there is a large and complex amount of framing that would difficult to insulate with traditional materials.

Medium-density foams have higher thermal performance, are air barriers as well as vapour barriers (VB in applications greater than 50mm). R-values of medium-density foams are higher than light density foams, ranging from 5.11 per inch to over 6 per inch. Medium-density foams are robust and can be used as a component of the building envelope. Furthermore, medium-density spray foams provide a water resistant barrier in cavity wall details. Other common applications are stud wall cavities, interior side of roof applications, below grade interior or exterior applications or under pour in place concrete floor slabs.

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Monday 28 December 2015

Words from the Chair - Specifier: December 2015

December is finally upon us, the Christmas party rush is here. This month Fiona Famulak is presenting at our December luncheon. Fiona will be presenting her insight on the outlook for 2016 and beyond. The industry keeps humming along and seems busier now than at this time last year. VRCA has been meeting with their membership over the last year with a goal towards improving the quality of construction documentation. CSC continues to strive towards the same objective and will be working closely with Fiona during the coming year to give our insight towards initiative being driven down by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA). In addition to this initiative CSC also plans to work closer with VRCA for education as well. Education is part of the mission for CSC and working closely with VRCA we hope to tap into a larger market. CSC will be hosting an in-class PCD course (proposed start date January 27th, 2016). These courses are held at the VRCA classroom, check the website for registration information or email Robert Jahnsen at (Robert@div7.ca). In addition CSC National is hosting a Winter Workshop in Vancouver for Construction Contract Administration (CCA) March 7-11, 2016. This gives people the option of completing the course in 5 days. This course will be held at the Pacific Gateway Hotel in Richmond. If you or someone you know is interested in any of these courses or the variety of online courses offered, please let us know.

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Monday 7 December 2015

Luncheon - BC Construction Industry Report Projections for 2016 and Beyond!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Presented by Fiona Famulak, President Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VCRA)

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) represents the industrial, commercial and institutional construction industry in the Lower Mainland, one of the most dynamic and forward-thinking industry sectors in British Columbia that drives significant economic benefit provincially, regionally and locally.

Recent statistics from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training show that growth across BC is strong with the estimated capital cost of proposed construction projects throughout the province hitting $270 billion. With $82 billion of construction currently underway in BC, the industry has a busy future ahead!

In this lunchtime conversation, VRCA President, Fiona Famulak, will highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in the coming years, and describe how the VRCA is working diligently to support those who operate in it. Fiona is passionate about business and has over 25 years international experience, gained in Europe, Asia Pacific and Canada, working in the private and not-for-profit sectors.

As a Chartered Accountant, Fiona’s expertise lies in financial control and risk management. However her professional experience is far broader and spans corporate governance and strategic and operational planning, with her passion being her love of connecting with people and identifying and building strategic partnerships in order to get things done! As a former small business owner, Fiona understands what businesses need to succeed in today’s tough economic climate. That insight helped her to deliver in her role as former CEO of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce and continues to help her today as she and her team reinvent the VRCA so that it is member-focused, relevant and invaluable to the construction industry.

LOCATION
Sandman Hotel, 180 West Georgia Street, Vancouver 
Enter Moxie’s Classic Grill escalator entrance. The ballroom is located straight through the restaurant at the back of Moxie’s.

AGENDA
11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Luncheon (full course self-serve buffet style)
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm - Chapter Business
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - Guest Speaker Presentation

COST
$32.00 plus GST for pre-registered CSC members / Association Executive Directors
$48.00 plus GST for non-members

PARKING
Sandman Hotel Parking: Enter off Cambie Street, pass the Sandman Hotel Breezeway, underground parking to the left, press buzzer to access parkade and take elevator to restaurant level. Cost is $1.25 per 15 minutes.
Easy Park: Across the street on the corner of Georgia and Cambie Streets. Cost is $1.50 per 30 minutes.

SKYTRAIN
Exit at Stadium-Chinatown Station. Walk 2 minutes.

REGISTER ONLINE
Online at Karelo by VISA, MasterCard, or Interac Online.

REGISTER BY FAX
The registration form is available at vancouver.csc-dcc.ca. Payment can be made at the door by cash, cheque, or VISA only.

PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-registration ends at 2:00 pm on the Wednesday before the meeting.

WALK-INS WELCOME
Missed the deadline? Did not pre-register? You may still attend at $50.40 per person, space permitting, BUT please call 604-868-8406 beforehand.  If you pre-register and do not attend, we may invoice you for the cost of the meeting. If you have special dietary (meal) requirements, please notify us at least 24 hours before the event.

RCI has approved this meeting for 1 RCI Continuing Education Hour (CEH).
Members to request attendance certificate.