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Construction Innovationis published quarterly by NRC-IRC. It provides news of new initiatives, recent research results, product evaluations and code developments to Canada's construction practitioners.
Construction Innovation, December 2010
Volume 15, Number 4
December 2010
Exporting Housing Technology
Exporting Wood-Frame Housing Technology to Japan
NRC Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC) researchers have recently completed a two-year project to develop acoustical design details that increase the potential for export of Canadian wood-frame technology to the Japanese market. This research is part of a larger initiative to export wood-frame multi-family housing technology and Canadian lumber to Japan.
Codes changes
Significant technical changes in the 2010 National Model Construction Codes
The recently published 2010 National Model Construction Codes contain close to 800 technical changes that were approved by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes.
Window condensation
Do sill pans pose risks to condensation on windows?
New research shows that the installation of sill pans in window framing minimizes the risk of water entry into walls and should be part of a moisture management and protection strategy.
Fireplace heating less efficient?
Does running your gas fireplace in winter cost you energy?
Heat from a fireplace, operated in close proximity to the house's central thermostat, can affect home energy consumption. Not only is the fireplace usually less efficient than the furnace, but it also directs heat to a single room, leaving other rooms cooler.
Rail tank car safety
Improving rail tank car safety
Transportation of dangerous goods such as propane, ammonia and chlorine is commonly done using rail tank cars. During a derailment, these tanks can be exposed to fire and may explode, endangering lives and damaging critical transportation infrastructure, resulting in significant economic losses.
Wood in mid-rise construction
Increasing the use of engineered wood in mid-rise buildings
A new strategic research network is developing design methods and construction technologies to enable the use of wood-based products as a primary structural material for mid-rise buildings of 5-12 storeys.
