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2024 Canadian Electrical Code to Allow Energy Storage Systems Inside Homes
CHBA
CHBA staff and members have been working with the electrical code community, the fire safety sector and building code authorities over the past year to develop a safe solution that permits the installation of battery-based Energy Storage Systems (ESS) inside dwelling units. The Canadian Standards Association technical committee responsible for the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC) approved the change to revise Section 64 accordingly at its meeting this week in Halifax.
Home battery-based Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are becoming more common as a resilience upgrade to protect against power outages and to optimize solar photovoltaic installations in cases where net-metering is not possible. Section 64 of the 2021 CEC currently limits installation of these systems to buildings detached from the home, on the building's exterior, or in attached garages. This is problematic for homes without garages, on narrow lots, or for rowhouses. The approved change to allow ESS inside dwelling units will be included in the 2024 edition of the CEC.
The proposal requires that the ESS is installed inside a dedicated room, where walls and ceilings are finished with gypsum board and where a smoke alarm and a door with self-closing device are installed. In buildings with more than one dwelling unit, the dedicated room will need a 1h fire resistance rating. The trade-off will increase flexibility for builders to integrate ESS in smaller spaces. For more information, contact Frank Lohmann, CHBA's Director of Building Science.
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Earn 14 CPD Credits Over Two Days at Education Summit 2023!
CHBA BC
Coming to downtown Vancouver on September 25 & 26, CHBA BC and the Building Officials' Association of BC (BOABC) are pleased to present this two-day Education Summit for builders and building officials.
The summit will take place at the Sheraton Wall Centre and feature inspiring keynote speakers and a wide range of technical education topics. The Summit is your chance to learn new skills, earn continuing professional development points, and network with other leaders in the industry!
Attendees can earn up to 14 CPD points over the two days of the summit.
All the details, including registration, the draft program and information on reduced room rates are available on the Education Summit 2023 website.
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Important Information Regarding Concrete Pump Operator Certification
WorkSafeBC
In just over six months — January 1, 2024 — the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requiring operators of concrete pumps to be certified will come into enforcement.
Since WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors approved the changes in December 2021, employers and workers have had the opportunity to obtain the required training and experience before going through the assessment, which is being overseen by the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA).
At this time, WorkSafeBC reports many operators still have not obtained their certification and they expect the demand for mandatory Certified Concrete Pump Operator (CCPO) certification to increase as the January 1, 2024 deadline gets closer. WorkSafeBC is encouraging employers to ensure their concrete pump operators obtain their certification as soon as possible.
Assessments for CCPO certification take approximately one day to complete and assessors travel anywhere in the province as needed. To learn more and register, visit www.ccpo.ca.
For additional information on the requirements, please read WorkSafeBC's primer on certification of concrete pump operators.
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Get on the Road to Red Seal
CFBC
The Construction Foundation of BC (CFBC) is helping current and future skilled trades apprentices to navigate barriers and successfully achieve their Red Seal Endorsement.
The Coast Capital Road to Red Seal is a program that offers a suite of tools and one on one support directly to apprentices to ensure they continue to progress in their apprenticeship and ultimately, complete their training and achieve their Red Seal Endorsement.
The program's services include tutoring support, plans to bridge learning gaps and skills to improve memory and enhance study skills.
If you or someone you know is looking for study or exam support, the CFBC team can help keep them on the road to Red Seal.
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Promoted by WorkSafeBC
Ensure workers, materials, and equipment are a minimum of 10 feet (3 metres) from high-voltage conductors. Identify the hazards | Assess the risks | Implement suitable controls. Watch Video
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Assessing Future Climate Risk with Design Value Explorer
CHBA
 An online tool created by the National Research Council and the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium can help builders and renovators looking to assess snow, wind, and rain loads as the climate changes over the lifetime of a building. The Design Value Explorer allows a builder, renovator, or designer to find out the typical, code-required design loads a building would be subjected to in the future, based on a chosen global warming potential. The tool allows users to view and download maps for any future design value and any region in Canada.
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Promoted by Centra Windows, Inc.
 Centra Windows' Master Class series promises to make you an expert and cut down on back-and-forth with suppliers.
Thermal performance is the most talked about concept when it comes to windows nowadays - but what is it, and how does it impact you? The Window Geeks are currently diving deep into the topic, helping their readers understand how to properly spec windows to streamline their projects in terms of time and cost efficiency.
With almost 40 years of experience, Centra understands that improving code clarity benefits everyone. Sign up for their Window Geeks newsletter to access this free, exclusive series. Read More
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The Canadian population hit the 40M mark on Friday, and at the same time, housing supply has plainly not kept pace. A new report from CIBC Economics delves into the particulars of Canada's housing shortfall, saying that while there is some debate on its extent, there's no denying that the situation requires immediate attention.
