Latest news with #buildingcode
CBC
04-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Climate-proofing homes more important than ever, say experts
A downburst that touched down on Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park on June 21 downed thousands of trees. Had the storm hit an urban area, the high winds could have caused significant damage to buildings. Connell Miller, the acting director of Western University's Northern Tornadoes Projects, said destructive storms are becoming more common because of climate change. But small changes to Ontario's Building Code could help protect people's homes from the powerful winds they produce. "We think for about $200 to $300 in parts and labour on new building house construction, we can prevent these roofs from being ripped off," Miller said. "Once a roof gets ripped off a house, the house is essentially a write off at that point." Miller said all that needs to change is for 12-inch screws to be used in wall-to-roof connections, instead of nails. Reinforcing those connections, he said, would allow homes to withstand 95 per cent of the tornadoes that touch down in Canada. Flooding and wildfires pose greatest risk But while strong winds can threaten homes, heavy rainfall and wildfires are responsible for the bulk of climate change-related damage. Blair Feltmate leads the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, which looks at ways to mitigate risks from flooding, wildfires and extreme heat to people's homes and communities. Feltmate said that from 1983 to 2008, home insurance claims in Canada related to catastrophic weather events – such as flooding and wildfire damage – would typically total $250 million to $450 million in a given year. But in the last 15 years, that yearly average has shot up to around $2.8 billion in insurance claims. "Things are getting worse faster," Feltmate said. There are now 1.5 million homes in Canada that no longer qualify for basement flooding insurance because they are located in floodplains. Feltmate said provincial building codes have just started to recognize these risks in recent years. But legislation is slow to update. The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation now publishes infographics that municipalities can freely share with residents that give homeowners tips on how to protect their houses from flooding and wildfires. Some of these actions, said Feltmate, are free or cost very little. If a home has a sump pump in the basement, for example, Feltmate said it's important to test if it works before there's a big storm. Sump pumps should also be connected to battery power or a generator in case of a power outage, he added. Protecting homes from wildfires includes steps such as keeping shrubs at least 1.5 metres from the outside of the house and replacing wooden fences with fireproof materials. "Over the last, I would say five to eight years, we've developed very good guidance that's practical, meaningful and cost effective that gives direction on how to prepare homes and communities for flooding and wildfire," Feltmate said. Building more efficient homes Extreme heat is another climate-related risk. According to Statistics Canada, "extreme heat events during the period from 2000 to 2020 were found to be associated with approximately 670 excess non-accidental deaths and 230 excess deaths due to cardiovascular and respiratory causes." Rob Fleury, the owner of HP Home Design in Sudbury, Ont., is certified in passive house design, which is a standard for more energy efficient homes. Through better insulation, strategic window placement and placing large overhangs over south-facing exterior walls, Fleury said it's possible to reduce reliance on air conditioning and cut energy costs by a significant margin. But in northern Ontario, passive houses are 20 to 25 per cent more expensive to build than homes that don't exceed the requirements of the Ontario Building Code. "You're putting upfront costs in the beginning and recouping those costs over time," Fleury said. Those higher upfront costs have meant lower demand for passive houses. Fleury said they only account for around five per cent of his business. But he hopes building more pre-fabricated homes could eventually help lower those costs.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- CTV News
Owner of buildings in 2 deadly Old Montreal fires fined for safety code violation
Firefighters stand next to a building in Old Montreal on Saturday, Oct., 5, 2024. A fire that tore through a century-old building in Old Montreal killed at least two people and forced dozens of others out of the area, city police confirmed Saturday as they continued to probe what caused the building to catch alight. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes The owner of two Old Montreal buildings that burned down in 2023 and 2024, killing nine people, has been convicted for violating the fire safety code at another one of his residential buildings. Emile Benamor, a lawyer and landlord who owns several buildings in Montreal, was found guilty on June 19 of failing to maintain a clear path to the emergency exit at 2321 De Hampton Ave., in the city's Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood. According to the judgment from the municipal court, two fire inspectors visited the three-storey apartment building for an inspection on March 23, 2023. They noted that, in one unit, one door leading outside had no handle. A door in another apartment had been held together by a chain and adhesive tape. When the inspector forced their way in, the tape was so dry that it cracked into pieces The building was sold to Benamor in 2020. The city took him to court after the inspection and a judge found him guilty of violating section 8 of the fire safety code. Justice Johanne Duplessis said maintaining exits and ensuring they are clear of obstructions helps occupants get out safely during an emergency. 'The risk of serious harm resulting from these breaches is high in the event of a fire, as they jeopardize the safety and lives of residents,' the judge wrote. Landlord plans to appeal judge's decision Reached for comment on Wednesday, Benamor's lawyer, Germain Caponi-Champagne, told CTV News that the door that was missing a handle was broken by the tenant, and that the tape that was installed on the door in the other unit was installed by the tenant. The court issued a fine of $650 for the violation, plus costs. He said Benamor intends to file a notice of appeal of the conviction, claiming that there are 'some mistakes in law in the judge's decision.' He declined to comment further. In his defence, Benamor told the court that the tenants had refused him access to the units and, because of that, he was unable to observe the deficiencies in the apartment and carry out safety checks. However, the judge rejected the argument that he exercised reasonable diligence, saying that the claim is not backed up by evidence, and that, given that he's an experienced landlord, he should have known that he could have contacted Quebec's housing tribunal (TAL) when he was denied access to the units. 'It is clear from the defendant's testimony that he never took any concrete steps with the tenants of units 6 and 7, in connection with the Fire Prevention Regulations,' the judge stated. '[Benamor] could have, for example, explained the regulations to the tenants or asked them for access, in order to ensure compliance with the regulations. Instead, the defendant simply repeated during his testimony before the Tribunal that the tenants were not giving him access, referring to the fact that they refused to sign the rent increase notice, a situation that has nothing to do with safety and fire regulations. 'The defendant took it for granted that if the tenants refused to accept service of documents relating to a rent increase and refused him entry at the time of his purchase, the same will apply to everything else.' Building inspected one week after deadly fire The building on De Hampton Avenue was inspected one week after the March 16, 2023, deadly fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people. Benamor owned the heritage building at Place d'Youville, where families of the victims reported that there were fire safety concerns. The father of one of the victims and a former tenant alleged that at least one of the units had no windows or fire escapes, while survivors of the fire have suggested the alarms never went off. On Oct. 4, 2024, another one of Benamor's buildings was allegedly set on fire, killing French tourist Léonor Geraudie and her seven-year-old daughter Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie. Two young men were later arrested. After the fire, former short-term rental guests who stayed there claimed there were safety issues in the building at 402 Notre-Dame Street. 'The door and the lock felt flimsy in the room. My room also had a smoke detector mount but no smoke detector,' one woman told CTV News at the time. On Oct. 8, 2024, Benamor's office was hit by gunfire. Three suspects were later arrested by Montreal police.
CTV News
17-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
New technology from UBC will help Vancouver high-rises endure major earthquakes
Vancouver high-rises aren't adequately protected under the current building code, says UBC structural engineering professor Dr. Tony Yang.
