Pushing the Envelope A publication of the Ontario Building Envelope Council Canada Spring 2011

Building Blocks: Bricks and Mortar

4 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council Pushing the Envelope 5

n n n Table of Contents

Pushing the Envelope A publication of the Ontario Building Envelope UP FRONT Council Spring 2010 Message from the President...... 11

Published For: OBEC FEATURES 2175 Sheppard Avenue, East Suite 310 Heritage Crossroads: Using Traditional and Innovative Methods to Repair Stone Toronto, ON M2J 1W8 Phone: 416-491-2886 Masonry...... 13 Fax: 416-491-1670 [email protected] Modern Materials and Techniques for Historic Masonry Structures ...... 18 www.obec.on.ca Masonry Systems: Greater than the Sum of their Parts...... 20

Published By: Masonry Walls: Flashed Before Your Eyes...... 23 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: Combustible Components in Exterior Walls in Non-combustible Buildings...... 28 52 Donald Street, Suite 300 Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L6 Toll Free: 1-866-999-1299 MOVERS AND SHAKERS Toll Free Fax: 1-866-244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net Stephen Carpenter: LEEDing Green Building...... 30 Publications Agreement Number 40609661

President & CEO NEWS AND VIEWS Jack Andress 2010 President’s Awards Gala...... 32 Senior Publisher 2011 OBEC Awards Nomination Forms...... Maurice LaBorde 33 Earth Rangers Centre: Green Operations Compliment Green Design...... 36 Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory CSA Standards Update...... 38 [email protected] Genge’s Gripe...... 41 Editors Lara Schroeder [email protected] TAKE ACTION Karen Kornelsen Alexandra Walld Attend the OBEC Masonry Standards & Construction conference...... 44 Finance/Administration Sponsor the OBEC Masonry Standards & Construction conference...... 46 Shoshana Weinberg, Nathan Redekop, Pat Andress Join the Ontario Building Envelope Council...... 47 [email protected] Director of Marketing & Circulation BUYER’S GUIDE...... 48 Shoshana Weinberg

Sales Manager – Winnipeg Neil Gottfred Sales Manager – Hamilton ON THE COVER: Jessica Potter The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce building in Team Leader downtown Toronto, which Albert Brydges was built in 1931 and is a Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account designated Ontario Heritage Executives site, is clad mostly in Indiana Brian Davey, Peter Schulz, Chantal Duchaine, limestone. When property Gary Nagy, Brian Macintyre, Chaise Norman- management discovered the Ball, James Steward, Rick Kuzie, Miles Meagher, cladding was deteriorating, Ken Percival, Benjamin Schutt, Robert Choi, Halsall Associates’ masonry Randi Cameron, Jim Hamilton, Declan specialists used traditional O’Donovan, Jeff Cash, Colleen Bell, Trish Bird and modern methods to repair the monument’s decora- Layout & Design tive stonework. Read more Travis Bevan about their work on page 13. Photo courtesy of GWL Realty Advertising Design Advisors. James Robinson

©2011 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. OBEC does not specifically endorse the editorial, products or services contained within this magazine. These products and services are Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or presented here as an indication of the various possibilities in the Marketplace. OBEC wishes to advise the reader that sound Building in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Science Practices should be applied to any and all product or service selections. OBEC does not make or imply any warrantees as to the The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily suitability of any of these products or services for any specific situation. Furthermore, the opinions expressed in this magazine’s editorial those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada. content may not necessarily reflect the opinions of OBEC.

Pushing the Envelope 7

n n n up front Message from the President

President Gerald R. (Jerry) Genge, P.Eng. C.Eng., BDS, BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med.

his issue of PTE Canada is our the danger of expecting others will as- Board of Directors third that “pushes the envelope” sume your Maslovian duties. T across Canada. It is also the The next issue of PTE Canada will be President issue that will be at the 13th Canadian my last as President of OBEC. It will, of Gerald (Jerry) R. Genge, P.Eng., BDS, Conference on Building Science and course, be a precursor to be GreenPrint BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med. Technology (CCBST) in Winnipeg from conference, a series that OBEC holds GRG Building Consultants Inc. May 10 to 13, and it promotes the On- each fall. It will also include a discus- President Elect tario conference on Masonry Standards sion of the 13th Canadian Conference Sandra Burnell, BES, BArch, OAA and Construction in Toronto on June 1. on Building Science and Technology and Revay and Associates Ltd. These are not-to-be-missed conferences maybe a magazine-friendly version of vitally important to anyone wanting to be some of the papers. Secretary/Treasurer up to date on building science research, From the outset, this group of OBEC Paul J. Pushman design standards, practice and construc- directors was determined to expand Trow Associates Inc. tion. Look for the masonry conference OBEC’s influence on our industry and Director of Marketing registration forms in this issue on page the information exchange opportun- Scott Wylie 45, and you can find out more about the ities offered to members. I’m proud to Wytech Building Envelope Solutions CCBST on their website (www.becwinni- report that OBEC is expanding its base peg2011.com). to include southwestern Ontario; we’ve Technical Committee This issue also has a focus — a theme also initiated a Facebook connection for Jeremy Nixon Brown & Beattie we hope to continue. Masonry is our our members, and we have rebooted our topic du jour and the authors have done Technical Committee structure. More Director of Academic/BSSO a wonderful job providing insight into can be learned on the OBEC website Committee topics ranging from new and innovative (www.obec.on.ca). Kim Pressnail products for drainage to restoration of If you like what you’ve seen (or even University of Toronto Dept. of Civil our historic masonry structures — from if you don’t), come to our meetings with Engineering contract documentation that will help your ideas, put your articles and experi- Directors at Large you avoid problems to a comprehensive ences into print through PTE, join the Alen Vrabec, P.Eng., BSSO review of masonry standards. The spring technical committees, or run for elec- Watters Environmental Group Inc. 2011 Pushing the Envelope Canada cov- tion to our board and be part of our ers it all. ever-developing OBEC. New blood, new Gauss Wong While masonry is the primary focus, opinions, and new energy are always Halsall Associates Ltd. it is not all that this issue covers. There welcome. is an article on the use of combustible Until next time, have a great summer. James McCann GRG Building Consultants Inc. components in non-combustible exterior walls and a case study of the “Green” de- Gerald R. (Jerry) Genge, P.Eng. C.Eng., Kazim Kanani sign incorporated into the Earth Rangers BDS, BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med. B & H Architects Centre in Woodbridge, Ont. Of course President, the “Gripe” feature is included, promot- Ontario Building Envelope Council Operations Manager ing the notion of getting involved in your “…The Source” Sherry Denesha OBEC building science industry and underlining www.obec.on.ca

Pushing the Envelope 11

n nn n n n up fea fronturet Heritage Crossroads: Using Traditional and Innovative Methods to Repair Stone Masonry By Sarah Gray, P.Eng., and Jia Shin, P.Eng., LEED AP

ompleted in 1931, the historic Canadian Imperial Bank of C Commerce (CIBC) building is a central monument in downtown Toron- to’s financial district and a designated On- tario Heritage site (Photo 1). Now known as Commerce Court North, the 34-storey building is the anchor of a four-building complex whose main tenant is still the CIBC. Designed by Toronto-based Dar- ling and Pearson Architects, it was the tall- est building in the British Commonwealth until 1962. When property management (GWL Realty Advisors) identified stone cladding deterioration, they entrusted heritage masonry specialists at Halsall As- sociates to develop an appropriate repair strategy using traditional and innovative methods.

Original Construction Details Most of the cladding is Indiana lime- stone. Architectural features include limestone bas-reliefs (depicting various in- dustrial themes), stone scrolls and carved “medallions” at the 23rd floor’s east and west elevations (Photo 2, next page). The tower’s 32nd floor crown includes four carved stone masks (Photo 3a, page 15). Archival research confirmed that the masks, affectionately known as the “lions” by the project team, symbolize courage, observation, foresight and enterprise. The exterior walls are thick-wall masonry over steel framing. The stone cladding is laterally connected to solid brick masonry back-up with steel strap anchors or pins. Steel shelf angles, an- chored to the steel column flanges, pro- vide vertical support. The stones and mortar joints resist water penetration. In turn, the cladding system’s durability depends on controlling corrosion of the steel supports. Photo 1. Commerce Court North is nestled in Toronto’s financial core.

Pushing the Envelope 13 condensation within the masonry wall The masonry was not contributed to the corrosion of embed- ded steel. Local inspection openings originally detailed to proved that most stone fractures were re- lated to corroding steel elements, includ- ing the shelf angles and stone anchors. accommodate and resist No original flashing protected the shelf angles throughout the wall or steel below thermal movement, window sills, and the adjacent mortar had carbonated and no longer provided pas- which was a particular sive protection to the steel. The resulting steel corrosion induced stress in the adja- problem at the parapets cent stones, causing stone fractures. For example, the 23rd floor stone medallions were cracked full-width in front of cor- with two-sided exposure roded support angles. The masonry was not originally de- to weather. tailed to accommodate and resist ther- Photo 2. A medallion stone at the 23rd floor mal movement, which was a particular Repair Strategy is reset after structural repairs were com- problem at the parapets with two-sided Based on our observations at sample pleted. exposure to weather. Unrestrained stones openings, the steel frame was not gen- allowed the parapet to “walk” outward, erally distressed and structural capacity Cladding Deterioration and displacements were up to 20mm out- to support the stone was not a concern. By the mid-1990s, the stone clad- ward at the seventh floor’s southeast cor- Therefore, removing all stone to expose ding presented signs of distress, includ- ner parapet. Similarly, lack of movement the entire frame was not required for ing cracks and spalls. Rainwater loads accommodation caused the 32nd floor structural reasons. Since most of the stone (entering the masonry wall through masonry buttresses behind the “lions” to could be repaired in-situ, Halsall and the open mortar and caulked joints) and crack. client agreed that wholesale replacement

14 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council Photo 3a. The “lion” buttresses at the 32nd floor. Photo courtesy of Photo 3b. “Blueskin” membrane slip joints are placed around the key- the CIBC archives. stones of one lion buttress. of the cladding system was impractical • Repointing non-moving joints or 32nd floor columns to the lower wall due to cost, site logistics, tenant disrup- cracks in stone blocks with mortar. columns. We had the contractor recon- tion and heritage designation. Project • Filling cracks where movement was de- struct the cracked inner brick vaulting objectives included mitigating fall hazards tected or expected with sealant. and install new “slip joints” (membrane due to loose stone, and preserving the • Replacing any unsalvageable stones flashing) at the arches’ keystones to ac- asset with targeted stone and steel repairs. with matching Indiana limestone. commodate movement (Photo 3b). Once General cladding repairs began in the • Cleaning and coating exposed structur- rebuilt, the contractor capped the outer late 1990s and were phased through 2008. al steel with high-solids epoxy primer. stone arches with lead-coated copper Currently all façades (except half of the • Covering shelf angles with water- flashing (Photo 3c) and inserted seal- south wall) have been repaired. proofing membrane. ant-filled movement joints on the stone Under Halsall’s leadership, the con- • Resetting stones using stainless steel cladding. tractor (Maxim Group General Con- anchors. tracting for most project phases) imple- At the 23rd floor medallions, we mented several repairs: cleaned and coated the steel angles, and • Remodelling fractured stone and re- the original stones were pinned together pairing small stone patches with pro- and reset. The “lions” were dismantled prietary colour-matched mortar. to reveal the buttresses that connect the

Figure 1. CP is an electro-chemical process that protects metals. When two dissimilar metals are coupled together in an electrolyte, the metal with the higher electronegative potential (the anode) corrodes in preference to the more noble metal. In a masonry building, the steel structure is the cathode, a new corroding anode is installed (titanium in this case) and the masonry’s mortar or grout becomes the electrolyte (Figure 1). The process is driven by applying outside electric current, since the impressed current flows opposite to the naturally occurring corrosion of the metal. Photo 3c. The restored lions look down on Toronto.

Pushing the Envelope 15 Bringing Innovation: failure of the sealant and mortar joints. every floor which are generally continu- Cathodic Protection Therefore, Halsall researched ways to ous and in good contact with masonry or Cleaning and coating corroded steel is actively protect the steel structure and mortar. However, we needed to confirm a labour-intensive process requiring stone reduce capital repairs over the building’s that stray current from the CP system removal. Less than five per cent of the fa- service life. would not adversely affect isolated steel çade stones have been removed for stone Cathodic protection (CP) is an in- elements within the stones (stray current or steel repairs, leaving untreated original novative way to mitigate steel corrosion in can accelerate corrosion if the steel is not steel within the facades. Steel not recently masonry-clad steel buildings. CP has been connected to the anode). repaired has some level of corrosion, but applied to heritage building walls in the To test the effectiveness of CP and further tests to assess corrosion extent United Kingdom with some installations the impacts of stray current, we installed have not yet been conducted. We expect on North American masonry buildings trial systems at Commerce Court in 2002. that future stone and steel repairs will (Figure 1, previous page). Trial #1 used discrete anodes embedded be required in 20 to 30 years as a result Commerce Court North is a good CP in holes drilled in the mortar joints. Trial of ongoing steel corrosion and eventual candidate: there are steel shelf angles at #2 used continuous ribbon anodes in the mortar joints. Both anode types were con- nected to shelf angles. After running the system for a few weeks, Trial #2 produced better results. We expect that CP would protect most of the shelf angles at Commerce Court, reducing the frequency of future steel and stone repairs, and reducing repair costs by up to 20 per cent over the next 50 years. The exact return is difficult to predict; es- timates would be refined after obtaining a clearer picture of the ongoing corrosion rates. Installing CP is still an option for consideration by the owners but has not yet been implemented on the façades. In the meantime, the trial system has been disconnected.

Looking Ahead Team members involved with Com- merce Court North have grown to know and respect this building and its place in Toronto’s history. Applying traditional masonry repair methods with more so- phisticated ways of protecting the embed- ded steel frame provides a sustainable way to maintain this treasured monument. n

Sarah Gray, P.Eng., works at Halsall Associates’ Burlington, Ont., office and is a Project Principal for cladding repair projects and property condition assessments. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and was on the To- ronto Preservation Board in 2005-2006. Jia Shin, P.Eng., LEED AP, works at Halsall’s Toronto office, with responsibilities includ- ing cladding evaluations, and construction review and contract administration on res- toration projects. She is also involved with sustainable design, property condition as- sessments, and has experience in new build- ing design.

16 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council Pushing the Envelope 17 Feature n n n Modern Materials and Techniques for Historic Masonry Structures

By Paul Jeffs, PJ Materials Consultants Limited

Traditional Masonry known as carbonation. This major dif- periods, entrance steps and stairways ex- Effective strategies for the conserva- ference compared to modern masonry posed to de-icing chemicals, and hard tion of historic masonry should consider mortars provided the following inherent stone masonry units, such as granite, many aspects. Perhaps the most import- beneficial properties: which are subject to excessive movement ant of these is the selection of restora- • Good “breathability” to contribute to from temperature change, etc. Although tion materials and techniques that are rapid drying of the masonry. most heritage conservation specialists are sympathetic to the differences between • Low shrinkage to avoid stress at the reluctant to use non-traditional materials traditional and modern-day masonry bond between mortar and masonry — which of course were not available to structures — both in terms of how they unit. our forefathers — the only modern-day were designed to perform and how they • Good adhesion to maintain a tight materials that have proven to outperform age and deteriorate. joint. masonry mortars in this regard have been The methods and materials used to • Compatible strength/modulus with the elastomeric joint sealants such as silicone build masonry in the 19th and the early masonry units to avoid stress transfer. or urethanes. parts of the 20th century were very dif- • Ability to “self-heal” cracks. ferent from those used for modern build- Failure to appreciate the difference The Aging Process ings. Traditionally, until concrete block between modern and traditional masonry It should be appreciated that all mor- or reinforced concrete became econom- mortars has often led to restoration that tars — regardless of the type of binder ically available, at least the foundations has been inappropriate, sometimes re- — will eventually weather and deteri- were constructed using natural building sulting in failure and more rapid deteri- orate, typically providing a passage for stone to form thick, solid masonry walls. oration. For example: water to infiltrate the masonry assembly In addition to the largely conservative ap- • Hard cement-based mortars can cre- and create further, hidden deterioration. proach to structural considerations, the ate a more rigid assembly that cannot Repointing deteriorated joints should thickness was considered essential to pro- accommodate movement without the therefore be considered a high-profile vide effective insulation value and limit development of cracks. maintenance process — together with the potential for moisture ingress to the • After becoming wet, hardened cement sealing joints with elastomeric sealants. interior. This approach was considerably mortars are slower to dry and,at critical It should also be appreciated that lime- different to the modern use of cavity wall times, can result in damage from freez- based mortars do get harder with age construction incorporating veneers, in- ing conditions (see Photograph 1). and eventually the ability of the masonry sulation, air and vapour retarders, cavity However, there are some occasions to accommodate the effects of natural drainage systems, etc. when even lime-based mortars have movement will diminish and cracks can never performed well and should not be occur — particularly since movement Masonry Mortar used for repointing work — in fact, nor joints were rarely incorporated into the Traditional mortars were predomin- should modern-day cement-based mor- design of traditional masonry. Consider- antly hydrated lime based; that is, un- tars. Examples include “skyward-facing” ation should therefore be given to wheth- like Portland cement, they did not set joints that become saturated for extended er the cracks are providing the function and harden by reactions with the mixing water — although techniques were some- times used to create hydraulic reactions by blending clay or ground brick. With- out the presence of Portland cement, freshly mixed hydrated lime mortar first undergoes a stiffening process, since a considerable amount of the mixing water is absorbed into the masonry materials — or it evaporates from the exposed “skin” portion. Then the mortar hardens over time by the lime reacting chemically with atmospheric carbon dioxide — a process Photograph 1.

18 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n feature of expansion and contraction joints, improve composite action across the preventing the development of further assembly — they can also be used for stress. In this event, simply repairing the crack-stitching repair techniques. cracks can sometimes lead to failure of • Stainless steel helical rods that can be the repair — or more cracks occurring. embedded in a high-strength grout It is also important to consider whether within horizontal joints to improve the cracks have been caused or influenced by distribution of gravity loads away from other factors, such as poor design of lintels window openings and/or cracked sec- and sills to inadequately extend beyond tions of masonry. window opening jambs (see Photograph • Cellular foam grouts and low-pres- 2), or destabilization of foundations. sure injection techniques that can be Water that infiltrates below-grade mason- used to fill voids and cavities within ry can often leach out the lime component the centre core of masonry walls from the centre core and this can result in and provide restored stabilization gravity loads being transferred to the ex- without changing the foundation’s terior wythe. These and other influencing ability to adequately accommodate factors should be included in the restora- movement. tion process, perhaps using some of the • Elastomeric joint sealants designed to materials and techniques discussed next. have a similar appearance to masonry mortar, for use where movement ac- commodation or resistance to de-icing chemicals is not provided by a traditional material.

Conclusions The biggest enemy facing the owner of an old building is a lack of awareness of the dangers that await, should the wrong ma- terials or practices be used to restore ma- sonry — no matter how well-intentioned the selection process may be. Oftentimes, the selection is based on the cheapest price without having regard for what the true cost will be should the strategy not work effectively. When faced with cracked masonry, deteriorated mortar joints, etc., it is important to understand just how ex- Photograph 2. pensive it can be to “fix it right,” using the right materials and the right techniques. Modern Materials for Oftentimes, the selection is based on the Traditional Masonry cheapest price without having regard for Conservation what the true cost will be should the strat- There are many products and systems egy not work effectively. n available today that have been specially designed, formulated or adapted for use Paul Jeffs, of PJ Materials Consultants during the restoration of heritage struc- Ltd., has worked in construction-related in- tures and older buildings. Some of these dustries for 40 years and for the last 20 years include: has been a consultant specializing in pro- • Prepackaged repointing and bedding viding technical advice and services for the mortars based on hydrated or hydraul- design, construction, investigation, restora- ic lime and designed to be compatible tion and protection of concrete and ma- with traditional masonry. sonry structures. He provides courses across • Prepackaged non-cementitious repair Canada for Dalhousie University’s College mortars designed to have compatibility of Continuing Education and has lectured with a variety of masonry substrates. at the University of Toronto’s Professional • Stainless steel helical masonry ties that Development Centre. He can be reached at can be used to stabilize masonry and [email protected].

Pushing the Envelope 19 Feature n n n Masonry Systems: Greater than the Sum of their Parts By David Stubbs, P.Eng., and Joe Wierzbicki, M.A.Sc.

he beauty and historical perfor- quality of the contract documents will pay information available to assist the design- mance of masonry is evident in off many times over in construction costs, er in determining the spacing, location T the significant size of building following the old adage of a penny spent, and type of movement joint required for stock in every Canadian city. Masonry a dollar saved. different masonry applications. Knowing continues to be the material of choice for Unfortunately, the Canada Masonry that there is no single movement joint new construction in Canada because of Design Centre continues to receive tech- solution for all cases, CSA A371-04 Ma- inherent properties such as structural per- nical inquires that arise from contract sonry Construction for Buildings provides formance, fire resistance, sound transmis- documents that have been created using requirements to the masonry contractor sion, ballistic resistance, energy efficiency, typical “off-the-shelf” details and speci- to install movement joints in accordance esthetics and durability. fications that in some situations refer to with the contract documents. Surpris- Today’s modern masonry is comprised codes and standards one or more cycles ingly, a significant number of contract of a multi-component system, working to- out of date. These “cut and paste” speci- documents provide limited information, gether to provide durable solutions with fications and details typically address the such as the maximum spacing between improved energy efficiency while main- needs of a single component in the system movement joints with no requirements for taining its beneficial properties. and do not examine the system in its en- the exact locations, joint materials and/ Throughout the design, specification tirety. In addition, inconsistent informa- or type of movement joint. This can have of contract documents, construction and tion is commonly found in these details detrimental effects on the long-term per- site review, it is important that the entire and specifications that can lead to a ma- formance of the masonry systems, which team use a holistic view of the masonry sonry system with a compromised long- could be avoided by including the location system in an effort to minimize onsite is- term performance. of movement joints on the drawings and sues and maximize the long-term benefits When contract documents are closely the type of joint, including all the material of masonry. A holistic view of the masonry examined to include specifications and to be used, within the specification. Dis- system can be complex, especially in walls details that integrate individual compo- tinguishing movement joints in the con- systems where the masonry interfaces with nents that work best together as a system, tract documents that must transmit out- other building materials and trades. In a long-lasting durable solution can be of-plane shear and/or fire resistance (type many cases, the complexity is exacerbated achieved. The following are some of the of joint and material to be used) can also by the segregation of responsibilities with- more common issues that arise onsite that significantly reduce any confusion onsite. in the project contract document’s Mas- could be avoided if addressed in the con- terFormat categories. Communication tract documents. Masonry Intersections between members of the project team is CSA A371 Masonry Construction for paramount to reducing onsite issues that Movement Joint Details and Buildings provides minimum require- arise during construction. Locations ments to the masonry contractor for con- One of the most important aspects that There are numerous technical publi- necting loadbearing walls to loadbearing must be addressed prior to the start of any cations and articles published on the im- walls and non-loadbearing walls to non- masonry work is to ensure that the design- portance of movement joints in masonry loadbearing walls at intersecting corners. er’s expectations are properly transmitted construction. In addition to providing In accordance with CSA A371, all other to the rest of their team through com- stress relief for differential movements, masonry intersections (i.e. loadbearing plete, correct, clear and concise project movement joints may also need to trans- walls intersecting non-loadbearing walls, contract documents (specifications, draw- mit out-of-plane shear across the joint “T” intersections, masonry/concrete in- ings, etc). In the majority of situations, and/or provide fire resistance. There is tersections, etc.) are to be installed as per spending an extra dollar to improve the an overwhelming amount of technical the contract documents. It is important

20 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n feature

of the brick can be compromised through freeze/thaw damage of saturated bricks. In other cases, it is a short-term esthetic issue caused by efflorescence of the brick after the masonry wall system has been made moisture tight (installation of roof capping and movement joints sealed) and the brick starts to dry out.

Conclusion The versatility and performance of ma- sonry systems is in a state of continuous improvement. Ongoing research at Can- adian universities into improved energy efficiencies, structural performance, occu- pant safety (blast and ballistic resistance), environmental impact, fire resistance and sound transmission to masonry systems is driving beneficial change for the indus- try. With these new innovations, it is crucial Photo 1. A narrow masonry pier with recessed Photo 2. Efflorescence can be seen on a that the entire project team take the time panel provides limited opportunities for a brick veneer caused by excess moisture en- to view the masonry system in its entirety skilled mason to accommodate unit tolerances tering the cavity through unfinished move- and ensure that the individual components due to the small number of head joints. ment joints and window openings. work together to create a durable building that lives up to its performance potential. n that designers consider the requirements to excessive amounts of water entering of the connection and provide an appro- through unprotected openings. These David Stubbs, P. Eng., is the Director priate detail. An example might be to openings typically result from unfinished of the Canada Masonry Design Centre provide a typical movement joint at a “T” work that has been segregated from the (CMDC). The Canada Masonry Design intersection where no lateral support is masonry wall system to other trades for Centre was established in 2003. CMDC required by the design. various reasons. Two of the most common provides masonry contractors and the de- locations for water penetration into the sign community in Canada with tools and Pier Coursing masonry wall system are through move- resources to facilitate the proper design and Accommodating masonry unit tol- ment joints that have not been sealed construction of masonry structures. David erances is one of the main functions of (Photo 2) and roof parapets that have can be contacted via email at dstubbs@ a mortar joint. Masonry elements that not been capped and are left unprotect- canadamasonrycentre.com. Joe Wierz- contain numerous head joints provide ed (Photo 3). In extreme cases this can bicki, M.A.Sc., is the Masonry Design Co- a skilled mason with the opportunity to be left for months, allowing significant ordinator at the Canada Masonry Design accommodate unit tolerances. Narrow amounts of moisture to enter and satur- Centre. Joe can be reached via email at piers that contain few head joints limit the ate the brick. As a result, the durability [email protected]. mason’s opportunity to adjust the size of head joints to accommodate any unit tol- erances. Medium-sized piers that contain an architectural feature such as a recessed panel (Photo 1) can also limit the op- portunity to account for unit tolerances. Smaller units typically have tighter unit tolerances and specifying smaller units in buildings that contain narrow piers may provide more head joints to accommodate unit tolerances and achieve the expected esthetics.

Roof Capping and Sealing Movement Joints It is very important that during con- Photo 3. Efflorescence along the top of a brick veneer that has been left unprotected for a struction masonry walls are not exposed period prior to installing the roof capping and flashings.

Pushing the Envelope 21

n nn n n n up fea fronturet Masonry Walls: Flashed Before Your Eyes By Steven Fechino, Mortar Net USA

s we all know, the economic flashings are usually a built-in job cost transportation to the job site. Though the downfall is not directly related for the contractor in labour, scaffolding/ brake metal flashings are typically supplied A to how we individually run our equipment and gathering of various ma- by others in new construction projects, the businesses. It does, however, create op- terials. For the mason, the choice of what restoration market in most areas takes portunities for our businesses to be oper- to use and who installs the flashing in the responsibility for the fabrication of this ated differently. For example, our yards field is a decision that is also important product. Fewer of today’s projects termin- no longer have surplus wall wire, anchors from the perspective of cost. ate the brake metal into a sawn reglet as or rolls of flashing lying around and I bet the termination bar has become a standard the payrolls are smaller than desired. Flashing Choices for attaching the metal to the backup wall. We are all affected by this and we have Many of today’s projects are con- A sealant bead at the top of the termina- to work through it. We have to be a bit structed using a cavity wall with a cavity tion bar is recommended for keeping water stronger and a bit smarter than before, so width of 1 to 3 inches. The chosen flashing from behind the flashing. For proper lap we can look back on this tough time later. must function as designed, be non-stain- splicing, sealing of laps typically is handled ing to the veneer and withstand exposure using single component polyurethanes, and Today’s Market during construction if left uncovered for terminations at the ends of the flashings A good mason contractor understands a long period of time. Many products in can be performed using a preformed boot that the value engineering that he brings the conventional application of flashing or using roll membrane to field fabricate to the table must work or the savings are require that the mason prime the flashing for each condition. Soldering brake metal not worth the efforts. Long-term weather surface, form fit the membrane or woven joints as necessary has become rare, but not can challenge the best design, and work- fabric directly to the cavity, cut, and cre- unheard of, and can become a valuable skill manship still prevails as the most valued ate special folded pieces for end dams and for a contractor in today’s market. asset in a project. corners that must have all the seams prop- Recently, Mortar Net took all the com- Masonry walls today vary in many ways erly sealed. A termination bar at the top ponents of a conventional system, com- from the past because of Engineered Rain of all flashing is required to keep it from bined it with the esthetics and functions Screen Systems, Cast Stone, Precast and sagging on the wall. This work requires of a brake metal system and patented Natural Stone veneers as well as many skilled supervision and should be respect- TotalFlash, a pre-assembled flashing sys- types of brick, concrete masonry unit and ed as critical in the wall’s performance. tem that has the full benefits of both sys- unlimited variations that combine materi- Walls that require brake metal such as tems as well as ease of installation and als. But masonry walls today are similar to copper or stainless steel have a different convenience. The factory-fabricated sys- those of the past, as well. We still need to set of preconstruction requirements as they tem has preassembled membrane flashing manage water infiltration and create path- take more time to plan due to varied lengths with a hemmed stainless steel or copper ways for the water to return to the exterior of materials, fabrication time and proper drip edge, termination bar and non-clog of the building in a timely fashion. As a masonry contractor, this is important be- cause this is in part what many call-backs stem from. There are many means for water to en- ter the walls of our projects. In restoration projects, it becomes an opportunity to re- pair a wall; in new construction, the goal is to keep water out of the wall. In either case, the mason needs to gain access to a cavity as his starting point. Flashings are familiar to masons; we install them using proprietary systems and we install them conventionally. Correctly installed Figure 1. Mortar Net’s TotalFlash.

Pushing the Envelope 23 drainage mat that will allow water to pass on the project. The system is completely unit wall has been an issue for masons out of the wall in weeps found under the furnished in the box and allows for one- for a while because of the start-and-stop veneer. The flashing system has predeter- stop shopping for flashing components method of using smaller dimensioned ma- mined lap spacing and can be engineered that can land directly on the jobsite. The terials turned on end. This method forms to specific projects at no additional expense system is supported by a hands-on repre- a path for the flashing to pass through the to the mason. The pre-engineering of the sentative that can work with the masons wall utilizing two bed courses one vertical system is completed prior to bidding on to help solve any flashing needs (Figure 1, course apart. The start-and-stop method the project to help reduce the waste on the previous page). can potentially create a bond break as the project and to allow job fabrication time Single wythe through wall flashing in a membrane is placed on the concrete ma- so the mason will not have wasted material standard dimensioned concrete masonry sonry unit directly, with the mortar then placed on top of the membrane to support the following courses. This method also requires the mason to return to the flash- ing course after the smaller unit (usually only one side) has set, before completing the main body of the wall. Often it can be weeks before the general contractor is ready for the mason to return, which can create a possibility for water to enter the foundation walls in areas where rainfall is prevalent. Blok-Flash, a single wythe through wall flashing alternative, is also available to contractors. The product is a drain- age pan that sits directly on the standard or decorative concrete masonry unit and protects each cell individually using a Figure 2. Mortar Net’s Blok-Flash. pitched and insect-protected weep joint.

24 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council The component bridges the gap between cells and has a removable tab for grouted joints. Simply place the pans on the wall, spread your mortar as you would typically and continue to lay directly on top of the flashing course. A quick precut piece of drainage material is placed in the course above to keep mortar droppings clear of the weeps. Sometimes a quick flip with a pointing tool is required to ensure that the weeps are clear(Figure 2, previous page). This method also requires the mason to return to the flashing course after the smaller unit (usually only one side) has set, before completing the main body of the wall.

Looking back on a project With all of the flashing options avail- able, whether metal, membrane or fab- ric, it is important to remember that flashings are a key ingredient in a well- crafted installation. When installed cor- rectly, they can repay the mason big divi- dends in the form of repeat customers and fewer project call-backs. The ability to look back at a project with pride in a job well done is what we work so hard for in this industry. n

Steven Fechino is the Engineering and Construction Manager with Mortar Net USA, makers of TotalFlash and Blok- Flash. For more information, call 800-664- 6638 or go to www.mortarnet.com.

This article first appeared in Masonry Magazine, December 2010.

Pushing the Envelope 25

Feature n n n Combustible Components in Exterior Walls in Non-combustible Buildings

By John Roberts, P.Eng

he Ontario Building Code requires many types of build- • Flaming on or in the wall assembly does not spread more than ings to be of non-combustible construction. The deter- five metres above the opening. T mination of whether a building is required to be of non- • Heat flux measured 3.5 metres above the opening during the combustible construction is based primarily on building size and test procedure does not exceed more than 35 kW per square occupancy. Even though a building may be required to be of non- metre. combustible construction, the Code does permit numerous com- There are a number of wall assemblies that now meet these bustible elements in such a building. requirements. Examples of exterior wall systems include: For non-load-bearing exterior walls, combustible components • Metal composite material panels: These are panels comprised are permitted provided the wall assembly successfully passes a fire of aluminum skins with extruded thermoplastic cores. The test conducted in accordance with the Standard CAN/ULC-S134, thermoplastics forming the core materials are produced with “Fire Test of Exterior Wall Assemblies.” fire retardant chemical additives in order to meet the require- The CAN/ULC-S134 test method was developed by the Na- ments of the fire test. These panels are used in curtain wall sys- tional Research Council of Canada. While it is currently only tems and in many low- and high-rise buildings across Canada. used to regulate combustible exterior wall systems within Can- • Phenolic-based composite panels: These panels are comprised adian building codes, it is also being used as the basis for an inter- of a high-pressure laminate formed of phenolic resins such as national standard. The test simulates a fire in the ground floor of melamine that can be produced with a finish simulating a wood a multi-storey building, which breaches the exterior wall of the grain appearance or any required architectural finish. Panels building through a window, with fire progression up the exterior are mechanically attached to a steel framing system and used face of the building. The Ontario and all provincial building codes with a variety of non-combustible insulation products. based on the National Building Code of Canada permit the use • Fire-retardant (F-R) treated wood products such as siding or of combustible exterior wall systems that, when subjected to the heavy timber elements are available that meet the require- simulated multi-storey fire test, satisfy the following criteria dur- ments of this test. Fire-retardant treated lumber products ing a 30-minute fire exposure: are produced by chemically impregnating the wood species in high-pressure kilns such that the fire retardant chemicals are disseminated throughout the thickness of the material. Since the fire-retardant treated wood forms the weather protection membrane on the exterior wall of the building, the Code re- quires systems incorporating F-R treated wood to be fire tested to CAN/ULC-S134 after the wood cladding system has been subjected to an accelerated weathering test. The purpose of the additional weathering test is to determine whether the fire- retardant treatment systems is stable under simulated weather- ing test exposures and will not leach from the lumber. • Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS): Exterior insu- lation and finish systems consisting of stucco, mesh and foamed plastic insulation or mineral-fibre based insulation products have been tested and can be used as combustible components in exterior wall assemblies. Designers can access descriptions of systems that have satis- fied the code requirements in listing published by Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and Intertek Testing Services (ITS). Listings are available free of charge at database.ul.com/ cgi-bin/XYV/template/LISCANADA/1FRAME/index.html and etlwhidirectory.etlsemko.com/WebClients/ITS/DLP/products. nsf/$$Search?OpenForm. Phenolic-based exterior panels clad a building in Calgary, where The Code requirements regulating the combustible compon- there is no limit on building height for complying panels. ents of exterior walls do vary across the country. The National

28 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n feature

Building Code of Canada, which is the model code on which all of the provincial codes are based, indicates that combustible exter- ior wall systems that satisfy the CAN/ULC-S134 test may be used in unsprinklered buildings not more than three storeys high or in buildings that are fully sprinklered. In Ontario, the use of comply- ing combustible components in exterior walls is limited to build- ings not more than six storeys in building height if sprinklered. Successfully tested combustible cladding systems meeting the performance requirements of the Ontario Building Code have been used in a few buildings greater than six storeys in height. Since these systems do not comply with the prescriptive requirements of the Ontario Building Code, it is necessary to make an Alternative Phenolic-based exterior panels that comply with the requirements Solution submission under the provisions of the Ontario Building of the Ontario and Canadian building codes cover a building in Code to use them. The Authority Having Jurisdiction may permit Toronto, where the cladding can only be used on buildings up to six the use of a system incorporating combustible components in the stories high. exterior wall that has passed the CAN/ULC-S134 test to be used in a building higher than six storeys in building height if it can be system that has not been tested in combination with a combustible demonstrated that the system meets the functional, objective re- underlying thermal insulation product. The Code requirement ap- quirements and the intent of the Ontario Building Code. plies to all combustible components of the exterior walls and, as Whenever a combustible components system is used, the such, a system incorporating a combustible cladding and a com- Building Code also requires that interior surfaces of the exterior bustible insulation product must be tested as a system and demon- wall assemblies are protected by a thermal barrier consisting of strate compliance with the acceptance criteria stipulated in CAN/ mechanically fastened gypsum board not less than 12.7 mm thick ULC-S134 and the Building Code performance limitations. Instal- or other tested thermal barrier materials that provide the equiva- lation details and limitations of the successfully tested system are lent of a 10-minute fire-resistance rating. provided in the certification listing and need to be followed. n Designers must be aware of the limitations of systems in- corporating combustible components. In some cases, the tested John Roberts, P.Eng., is a Senior Associate, Code Engineering and certified (listed) system incorporates a combustible cladding with Leber | Rubes.

Pushing the Envelope 29 Movers and Shakers n n n Stephen Carpenter: LEEDing Green Building

tephen Carpenter, P.Eng., is president of Enermodal Engineering, Canada’s largest consulting firm exclusively dedicated to creating green buildings. With S offices in Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Thornhill, and To- ronto, Enermodal is responsible for almost 40 per cent of LEED Canada NC certified buildings. Carpenter and his company have won numerous awards, and he was given the 2010 Anthony A. Woods Award of Excellence, known as the Beckie, a career achievement award that recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the design, construction and performance of the building envelope.

What inspired you to enter the field early days of personal computers!) Once What has been your biggest ac- Qof green building engineering? I started Enermodal Engineering in 1980, Qcomplishment to date in the field of Buildings are the largest users of one of the first initiatives I undertook was green building engineering? In the indus- energy globally when you factor in their creating the first PC software for simu- try as a whole? collective utility use and transportation lating the energy efficiency of building Enermodal was instrumental in bring- energy used to connect and get to these elements, using weather, solar radiation, ing LEED to Ontario in 2004. As a co- buildings. To address the energy and en- and heat transfer equations. I found it author of the original LEED Canada Ref- vironmental issues we face today (and fascinating to see how certain engineering erence Guide and one of the first LEED faced during the oil crisis of the 1970s, and design decisions could have dramatic Accredited Professionals in Canada, I when I first became interested in energy impacts on building energy use and util- realized early on that LEED was a great efficient building design), developers ity bills. This type of energy modelling is “carrot” to get building developers and need to know how to and have the de- the basis for the potential green feature owners to invest in energy-efficient and sire to improve the efficiency of their “shopping list” Enermodal still does to- green design. Enermodal promoted LEED buildings. Creating high-performance day as we advise clients on which energy to the building community as a marketing buildings that are still cost-effective and efficiency upgrades will have the largest incentive for owners who could then show functional has always appealed to me as it impact on energy use for the lowest cost. stakeholders, tenants, and employees that addresses this issue directly. With the advent of LEED (Leadership their building was certified by a third party When I was studying mechanical en- in Energy and Environmental Design), as being green. As the first LEED consult- gineering at the University of Waterloo, I North America’s premier green build- ant in Ontario, Enermodal was responsible was particularly interested in solar energy ing rating system, energy modelling has for 23 of the first 25 LEED Canada NC as well as predicting building energy become a part of the design process for certified projects in Ontario. use using computers. (This was in the nearly all green buildings. What is the most exciting or inter- Qesting project that you’ve worked on? Why? I may be biased, but Enermodal’s LEED Platinum Kitchener headquarters, A Grander View, completed in Septem- ber 2009, is my Number 1. Working here every day, I can see the benefits of the green features like daylighting and low- VOC finishes and furniture. And as the one paying the utility bills, seeing 82 per cent lower energy bills than those at com- parable buildings is definitely a plus! A Grander View is the most energy- Enermodal’s Kitchener headquarters, A Grander View, attained LEED Platinum status. efficient office in Canada, using a metered

30 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council 69 kWh/m2 compared with the Canadian As a veteran of a relatively new to attracting tenants and decreasing average of 375 kWh/m2. This was accom- Qfield, what do you see as the fu- operating costs. plished by using on-the-market technology ture of green building design? How The second trend I see is more build- (like variable refrigerant flow heat pumps will it fit into the building industry as ing developers will demand actual energy and earth tubes) and employing good a whole? savings, rather than just predicted energy engineering basics (like correct building The two emerging trends in green modelling savings, from design teams. I orientation and a well-insulated envelope). buildings I see are an increased focus have even seen contracts recently that I oversaw the project, with Enermodal on North America’s existing building give bonuses or penalties to design team performing the LEED, energy modelling, stock and an emphasis on actual building members for the energy use of the build- commissioning, and m/e design consulting. energy performance. ing. While this can be intimidating for the Besides A Grander View, the Toronto While an increasing number of new design team, I think this is a positive step Region Conservation Authority, Restora- buildings have energy efficiency features, for the building industry as a whole, as it tion Services Centre, still stands out as one they are still outnumbered by existing keeps the design team accountable and of our best buildings. It was the first LEED buildings. Building owners and operators demonstrates that the owner isn’t just Canada Platinum certified project in On- will increasingly need to upgrade their looking to “greenwash” the facility but tario and achieved 65 per cent energy sav- existing facilities to keep pace in regards create a legacy of efficiency. n ings and 85 per cent water savings through composting toilets and waterless urinals, a PV system, earth tube ventilation, and a ground-source heat pump system.

Is there anything about the industry Qthat you wish you could change? A common critique of the green build- ing industry and LEED is that many build- ings do not achieve the energy savings pre- dicted in design energy models. Achieving the energy savings of the calibrated energy model is not only possible, but should be the goal of every design team. I would say the “secret” key to getting a building that performs up to expectations is not flashy technologies or fashionable curtainwalls, but extended commissioning, and measurement and verification (both optional LEED energy points). Extended commissioning means a commissioning agent will check all building systems to ensure the building is performing prop- erly, while measurement and verification compares energy modelling data and actual, metered energy use to find and correct unexpected energy uses. Combin- ing these two post-construction services is a cost-effective way to reduce building energy use by 10 to 25 per cent. If build- ing owners want to see the payback from the extra money they’ve spent on creating a green building, they should be willing to invest a little bit of capital in these two ser- vices. Enermodal backs this principle by including these two services along with our LEED and energy modelling consulting to create a package called Delivered Perform- ance that we recommend for building de- velopers looking to create truly high-per- formance new and existing buildings.

Pushing the Envelope 31 News and veiws n n n 2010 President’s Awards Gala Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 OBEC awards. Nomination forms for the 2011 awards are on the following pages.

Fellow of OBEC John Straube was made a fellow of the Ontario Building Envelope Council, a lifetime membership given in recognition of his outstand- Building Science Specialist Ontario (BSSO) ing contribution to the council. Phillip Ciantar, Rockford Boyer, Luis Miguel Cebada, Zack Sal- man, Stephen Collette and Gerald (Jerry) R. Genge (left to right) were given the Building Science Specialist Ontario award for their dedication to the implementation and effective use of building sci- ence principles in the construction industry in Ontario.

OBEC Award of Distinction – Design John Gillanders, left, of Sweeny Sterling Finlayson & Co. Architects Inc., is handed the award by OBEC President Gerald (Jerry) R. Genge. The firm was recognized for its work on the Loblaw Com- pany Limited Headquarters.

Anthony A. Woods Award of Excellence (Beckie) Stephen Carpenter, left, receives the Anthony A. Woods Award of Ex- cellence from OBEC President Gerald (Jerry) R. Genge. The Beckie, as the award is commonly known, is council’s premier award and rec- ognizes the career achievement of an individual who has made a sig- nificant contribution to the design, construction and performance of the building envelope. It was previously called the President’s Award but was renamed for the late Tony Woods, who created the award and gave it its nickname. He passed away in May 2009. OBEC Award of Distinction – Materials Paul Locke and his group from DuPont Tyvek accepted this award, which identifies an individual or company that has introduced a 2010 President’s product or building system that has substantially improved the de- Awards Gala sign, construction, or performance of the building envelope.

32 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council

News and Views n n n Earth Rangers Centre: Green Operations Compliment Green Design By Andy Schonberger, Director, Earth Rangers Centre

appily, green buildings are becoming more ubiquitous. building’s operations to be continually tweaked and fine-tuned, No longer are they mere curiosities, but accepted mar- with the building operating under 10 ekWh/ft² in 2009 (a 90 per H ket practice, with standards like LEED and BOMA cent reduction over the Model National Energy Code for Build- Best providing value and visibility to owners, developers and ten- ings base level, and a 23 per cent improvement over design). ants alike. With a 10 to 20 per cent reduction in energy use realized Building a green or high-performance building is admirable, year over year for the last five years, the Earth Rangers Centre but by some estimates, 75 per cent of a building’s life-cycle cost (ERC) has net zero status as an achievable goal in the not too is in operations, with 25 per cent being initial construction and distant future. Not content to simply install more solar panels to design. Not only must a building be designed to be low impact, achieve this, Earth Rangers conservation and efficiency efforts but its occupants and owners must continue to actually run the are directed through a new building automation system, which building that way. is integrating security, lighting, HVAC and predictive mainten- The Earth Rangers Centre in Woodbridge, a LEED NC Gold ance. A new geothermal system has allowed for almost complete building, is testament to this reality. The 60,000-square-foot build- displacement of gas consumption. ing boasts such innovative technology as earth tubes, green roofs, Even with these tools in place, there is still much to be learned. white roofs, a world-renowned green data centre, solar thermal As part of its mission to “Bring Back the Wild” through outreach hot water heating, efficient lighting, a wastewater treatment plant, and empowerment of children, Earth Rangers wants to continue rainwater harvesting, radiant heating and cooling coupled with to show that our building embodies and showcases these values. thermal mass construction and a tight envelope, and an extensive The ERC is working towards LEED for Existing Buildings: Oper- energy and water metering system. All of these tools allow the ations and Maintenance certification, at a Platinum level. This

Staff at the Earth Rangers Centre in Woodbridge, Ont., a LEED NC Gold building, are working towards LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance certification at a Platinum level.

36 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n News and Views

This improvement process is complex, and should be ongoing for the entire life of a building, with opportunities constantly showing themselves, either through technological advances or simple tenant behavioural changes. The Earth Rangers Centre is an example of what can be achieved with good design coupled with conscientious and informed operations. The investment in design and construction of a green building is complemented by the way in which it is occupied and run, on a day-to-day basis. n

Andy Schonberger is the Director of the Earth Rangers Centre, leading its efforts towards energy neutrality, sustainable operation, and LEED certification. He is a Mechanical Engineer who recently completed an MBA with focus on Business and Sustainability, and Solar panels soar over the parking lot at the Earth Rangers Centre. a LEED Accredited Professional and Certified Energy Manager. process has showed areas where further conservation efforts can be focused, particularly on the building’s thermal envelope. Dur- ing the LEED-mandated performance period, an investigative infrared scan will be conducted on the building, possibly show- ing wasted energy at windows, thermal breaks, weather stripping in need of adjustment and repair, uninsulated roof penetrations and possible sources of moisture. Exterior maintenance issues are also addressed within the certification process. Care is taken to keep landscaping away from walls and entrances, to discour- age pest infiltration and damage to the building’s shell. Further efforts have been directed at purchasing and waste- management policies, such as waste lamp handling, local and organic food purchasing, green cleaning, waste diversion and re- cycling, pest control, landscaping, storm-water control and com- muting. There is no single solution or technology that will reduce a building’s operational impacts. Tenants play as big a role as operators in striving to achieve ongoing improvements in conservation, efficiency and environ- mental impact. The Earth Rangers Centre received recognition for this company-wide dedication from the Toronto Construc- tion Association, with its “Green Building Culture Award” — awarded to the organization that best demonstrates a Green Building Culture in its day-to-day business. There is so much that can be done to reduce the impacts of the operations of the buildings that we spend so much time in.

A green roof at the 60,000-square-foot Earth Rangers Centre.

Pushing the Envelope 37 News and Views n n n CSA Standards Update By Patrick Kelly

he CSA masonry standards saw their most recent publica- selected locations across Canada. This helps to more accur- tion in 2004 and it was the most radical update in decades. ately identify which areas require stainless steel ties. T Perhaps one of the biggest changes was the reduction in • For exterior exposures, the level of corrosion protection for the number of standards from 13 to the six current standards: connectors is now based on the height of the masonry above • S304.1-04 Design of masonry structures. building grade, rather than building height. The height limit for • A371-04 Masonry construction for buildings. determining the level of corrosion protection has also changed • A370-04 Connectors for masonry. from 11 to 13 metres. • A179-04 Mortar and grout for unit masonry. • To facilitate on-site inspection, ties are required to be labelled • A165-04 Concrete masonry units. or colour coded to indicate their corrosion protection level; • A82-06 Fired masonry brick made from clay or shale. yellow for level 2 protection (galvanized) and blue for level 3 This reduction was made possible by combining standards that protection (stainless steel). were similar in nature and withdrawing standards which were deemed to be obsolete. The remaining standards were updated CSA A179-04 Mortar and grout for unit to reflect new information and research and to clarify existing masonry clauses. Changes to this standard include clarification of the condition for which prequalification of property specification mortar and CSA S304.1-04 Design of masonry structures grout is required, and harmonization of flexural bond strength The new standard expanded to include new design provisions and compressive strength testing with the requirements of CSA for composite walls, masonry infill walls, and prestressed masonry S304.1-04. Also, “mortar cement” was recognized as an accept- for beams. New empirical design requirements for anchorage, able cementitious material for use in mortar. Currently, work is shear wall, dimension cut stone, manufactured stone veneer and being done to introduce Portland Cement Limestone (PCL) mor- column box outs were added to Annex F. tars into the standard as well. This new cement has a lower carbon The Canada Masonry Design Centre and the Canadian Con- footprint than previous cements. crete Masonry Producers Association have contributed to the de- velopment of a new structural design software package (MASS) CSA A165-04 Concrete masonry units and CSA that analyzes and designs masonry beams, out-of-plane walls, and A82-06 Fired masonry brick made from clay or shear walls in accordance with CSA masonry standards. The pro- shale gram quickly cycles through thousands of possible configurations Previously, the clay brick standard (A82) comprised seven (block size and strength, reinforcement size, configuration and standards. This is now consolidated into one standard, which spacing) to determine an effective design solution. It also provides incorporates both solid and hollow clay brick as well as the test detailed output identifying the CSA clauses and equations used in methods. The standards for calcium silicate and structural clay tile the calculations. have been withdrawn.

CSA A371-04 Masonry construction for New terms introduced buildings In the latest revision of CSA masonry standards, there were The standard has been arranged so that the clauses more two new terms introduced; “semi-solid” in A165-04 and “cored” in closely mirror those in the design standard for easier referencing, A82-06. Both of these terms are used to define masonry units be- with many of the requirements related to design moved to S304.1. tween 75 per cent and 100 per cent solid. Previously, these units had Other changes to the construction standard include: been defined as “solid.” The changes are listed in the table below: • More comprehensive construction tolerance requirements for unit masonry with improved illustrations. A82 & A165 (old) A165 (new) A82 (new) • Updates to air, water, thermal and vapour protection provi- Net area of 100% Solid unit Solid unit Solid brick sions pertaining to both installation and design. Net area > 75% • More comprehensive design requirements for thin veneer se- Solid unit Semi-solid Cored brick and < 100% cured by anchors. Net area < 75% Hollow brick Hollow brick Hollow brick CSA A370-04 Connectors for masonry The changes to the connector standard include: Other changes to the clay brick standard include: • The annual driving rain index (aDRI) map has been replaced • More severe freeze-thaw testing and durability requirements. with a table that provides the annual driving rain index for • Change in terminology for type and grade of brick.

38 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n News and Views

Other changes to the concrete masonry standard include: • Specified compressive strength of the unit is calculated ac- cording to mean strength and standard deviation, rather than mean strength as in the previous edition. Specified compressive strength is used in the Limit States design of masonry. • Units having a compressive strength greater than 15 MPa are now individually marked by the manufacturer, indicating the strength. While many changes were made, it is

believed that these changes will aid and encourage the design and use of masonry

as a building material.

In conjunction with these changes in terminology, a proposal has been submitted to the standing committee of Part 9 of the Na- tional Building Code to introduce definitions for “solid masonry construction” and “solid masonry units.” In closing, the CSA masonry standards saw many changes in 2004, the most noticeable of which was the consolidation of the number of standard from 13 to six. While many changes were made, it is believed that these changes will aid and encourage the design and use of masonry as a building material. n

Pushing the Envelope 39 By Gerald R. Genge, P.Eng., BDS, BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med

40 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council n n n News and Views Genge’s Gripe Collaboration vs. Competition Revisited By Gerald R. Genge, P.Eng., BDS, BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med

bout 10 years ago, the Ontario in the audience that evening received a To suggest that someone in another com- Building Envelope Council few abrasions as a result of my comments pany might have a skill set stronger than A honoured me with the presen- about the missed opportunity. I blamed someone in your own company would be tation of the Beckie — the President’s the “not-invented-here” barrier to collab- … well … career limiting, to say the least. Award now known as the Anthony A. oration in part on the alpha wolf model, Yes, my own engineering firm is just Woods Award. I was and still am hon- in which there can be only one leader of a as guilty. We have been swept up in the oured to be a recipient. My qualifications pack and the merging of two packs would “them vs. us” scenario and pat ourselves were compared with other well deserving be untenable to either of the alphas who on the back when we secure a large as- candidates and I understand that it came had to fight their way to that position. I re- signment over other firm(s). Still, it seems down to my having the best hair. Lucky for ceived a few “how dare you” remarks but counter-intuitive to the idea of strength- me, it was 10 years ago; I’d not make that far more “well, we know you’re right, but ening the technology through shared chal- cut today. …” comments. lenges and experiences, a notion I suggest But this Gripe is not about the award. So, fast forward a little more than 10 is the foundation of good engineering The award remains a great honour to any- years. Where are we today? What has practice. one that is fortunate enough to be singled changed? I can offer this viewpoint. There Incidentally, those huge changes that out by his peers as worthy. This is about have been huge changes to our indus- have occurred in the past 10 years are but the theme of my acceptance speech and try but, regrettably, not very much has another example of the alpha attitude. where we are now, 10 years later. The changed on the collaboration front — at Many smaller firms that were built by speech, titled “Collaboration vs. Compe- least among consultants having similar or hand by dedicated engineers and shown tition,” was generally well received, al- complementary skill sets. Sure, there are as examples of ingenuity, commitment, though a couple of individuals took public consulting teams assembled for projects and pride have been assumed by larger exception to my criticism of the building that have architectural plus structural plus firms. New corporate names are suddenly science consulting community. In a nut- mechanical plus … etc. But there hasn’t among us. From my perch, I am beginning shell, I said the consulting industry was been much, if any, headway in the build- to believe that this has not necessarily missing out on an opportunity to share ing science camp. Firm A still competes been a positive step for the development their wealth of information. I thought that head-to-head with firms B, C and D for of building science. In a couple of cases, this could be corrected if consulting com- the same assignments. Those assignments building science in the assumed firms has panies acted in a more co-operative man- may be project-, research- or association- lost the traction it had in favour of the re- ner and that the Building Envelope Coun- related, but the competitive notion seems direction imposed by the new corporate cil was a venue for those efforts if properly to remain paramount. Alpha attitude, I vision. Of course, now I have established a channelled and if the industry could shed guess. point of challenge and will receive distain just some of its “not invented here” mind- Of course, there’s not much support from people who have both assumed and set about other’s work. among our collective clientele for any been assumed. But realistically, is a per- I noted that OBEC (for that matter, other approach. Proposal calls are based son’s vision ever really allowed to move any of the BECs nationwide) was the on competition for the best individual forward unimpeded when another “al- ideal place to foster that co-operative be- company. They don’t normally ask for the pha” enters the picture? Don’t kid your- haviour and (admittedly) some of those best “team” and it is rarely, if ever, offered. self. It’s a business deal and if it were all

Pushing the Envelope 41 News and Views n n n about better opportunities, a collabora- shoulders and wallets behind our associa- corporate structure and that working with tion of skills would work as well as a buy- tions and for individuals to assemble and those people is not as evil a notion as you out. Sadder still, as support for the build- talk about their ideas and experiences. may have heard. Now, I’m not promoting ing science business unit has diminished That is why the BECs exist. That is why the view that people should jump around in some cases, support for the associations everyone who practices building science from company to company when they see that foster exchange of ideas, experiences must feel an obligation to support the a new idea from a “competitor.” That too and hands in friendship has grown weak- conferences the BECs put on. Unless you is counterproductive. And I’m not sug- er. Alphas with other incentives are in the do it, it’s not going to happen. gesting that intellectual assets should be mix now. If you do participate and attend meet- freely exchanged company-to-company. That is why it is so important to resist ings and conferences and your firm is There’s a heavy burden on all profession- the corporate imperative for profit by showing its support for the efforts of the als to protect their company’s value. What attending, sponsoring, sharing ideas at, BECs, you just might learn that there is I am hoping to promote is a boost in the etc., conferences where clients gather. It a lot of talent out there. There’s oppor- interest in companies working in support is absolutely vital that we put our minds, tunity to learn from others outside your of a common effort, whether that effort be a project, some needed research, or their association. By the way, if you aren’t supporting your industry and helping direct it, you could well be part of the reason it stutters and falls. So, if you believe me, if you be- lieve that you need to make an effort to collaborate with the “competition,” what can you do? Well to begin with, get out there and listen to what people have to say. Some of it may be brash marketing hype, corporate dogma, or technically immature, but some may be insightful, thought-provoking, and cutting-edge. You won’t know until you start listening, discussing, and forming you own opinions. Next, start to put your hand up when a group is asking for help. I commend anyone who steps up to say, “I’ll help with that. What can I do?” Finally, take a stand on something. A lot of people over the years have told me my opinions are claptrap. At least I know they’re lis- tening to my claptrap and as they say, a bad idea could engender a good one — so speak up. If we do all get involved, if we do stand up and say “Here’s what I think,” and if we do look for the value in the talents that other people have, we may yet find a col- laborative effort has some merit. n

Gerald R. Genge, P.Eng., BDS, BSSO, C.Arb., Q.Med., is President of the Ontario Building Envelope Council and has been active in standards development, education, and improvement in building science tech- nology for over 30 years. He is a Principal of GRG Building Consultants Inc. and Arbi- TECH ADR. He specializes in building sci- ence, litigation support, dispute resolution, and neutral evaluation, and can be reached at [email protected].

42 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council Pushing the Envelope 43

buyer’s Guide n n n

Air and Moisture Management Consulting Engineering Masonry Tremco Inc...... 40 Brown & Beattie Ltd...... 43 Mortar Net...... 22 Kleinfeldt Consultants...... 42 Air and Vapour Barriers Moisture Detection Certainteed...... 10 Contruction Management Guardian Home Inspectors Inc...... 40 Konstruktor Corp...... IFC Air Barrier Systems Quality Spray Foam BASF...... 8 EIFS and Restoration C.U.F.C.A...... 27 Products Air, Heat and Moisture Control Durabond Products Limited...... OBC Restoration Contractors Dryvit Systems Canada...... 12 Brook Restoration Ltd...... 14 Energy Saving Insulation KIB Building Restoration...... 43 Backwater Valves Solutions Mainline Backflow Products Inc...... 39 Owens Corning...... 26 Roof Consulting and Building Envelope Technology Building Consultants Engineering LVM Inc...... 37 GRG Building Consultants...... 48 SPG Engineering...... 40 Roofing Membrane GAF...... 6 Building Materials and Engineering and Technical Hardware Services Roofing Solutions SFS Intec...... 43 Peto MacCallum Ltd...... 25 Viana Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd...... 19

Building Products Engineering Consultants Roofing Systems Information Services SRP Canada...... 29 Korr Building Sciences & Consulting Ltd...... IBC TREMCO Canada...... 40 Thames Valley Brick & Tile Building Products...... 39 Engineering Consulting Safety Products Davroc & Associates...... 25, 40 Safebild...... 24 Building Restoration Royal Fort Restoration...... 25 Fiberglass Protection Spray Poly Urathane Foam Wall-Tech Restoration Inc...... 40 Inline Fiberglass...... 50 Lapolla Industries...... 5

Building Science and Restoration Green Roofing Systems Stone Consultants LiveRoof Ontario...... 43 Arriscraft...... 17 Read Jones Christoffersen...... 39 Infrared Thermography Testing Equipment Commercial Roofing Systems Guardian Home Inspectors Inc...... 40 RM Group LLC...... 42 Duro-Last Roofing...... 31 Insulated Concrete Forms Thermal Imaging Concrete Restoration and Amvic Building System...... 3 Fluke Electronics Canada...... 49 Rehabilitating Alto Restoration...... 17 Laboratory Services Vapour Barrier CAN-BEST...... 40 EI Dupont Canada...... 9 Concrete Restoration Contractors Locker Manufacturer Waterproofing Products Restorex Contracting Ltd...... 40 Group Lincora...... 40 W.R. Meadows...... 4

48 Spring 2011 • Ontario Building Envelope Council