Keyword
building code
Will building code changes affect farm fire severity?
November 2, 2023 by Jason ContantWith changes from the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) in the process of becoming law in Ontario next spring, farm insurance experts are raising concerns that the maximum barn size restriction will be removed and Ontario’s Fire Code (OFC)…
No way to enforce fire codes on First Nations, and new law would be costly: document
October 5, 2022 Stephanie Taylor - THE CANADIAN PRESSOTTAWA – There is no way to enforce building or fire codes on First Nations and pursuing a legislative fix would require significant time and money, federal officials warn in an internal briefing document. But Blaine Wiggins, the senior director…
Policy revamp might save lives in next heat dome, experts say
June 27, 2022 Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA -She died in the arms of firefighters. The 96-year-old woman now lingers in the memory of Chief Jim Ogloff of the Coquitlam Fire Department, a reminder of the impact of last summer’s heat dome disaster on vulnerable residents of…
The cheaper we build our buildings, the more they cost after an earthquake, wildfire or tornado
June 17, 2022 Keith PorterBy Keith Porter, adjunct research professor, civil and environmental engineering, Western University This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original…
Why Barrie’s 2021 tornado damage was “largely preventable”
May 4, 2022 by Jason ContantMore than 35 years after a deadly tornado in Barrie, Ont. – the site of another strong tornado last year – the industry is still looking for modernizations to the Ontario Building Code and tornado protection construction practices. “Since before…
Recent NatCats reveal need to boost construction standards
February 4, 2022 Greg MeckbachEnforcing existing building codes, bringing in new construction standards and improving community planning are among the measures governments can take to mitigate the cost of property losses from natural catastrophes, industry watchers say. And arming consumers with better information about…
Too little, too late? The devastating consequences of natural disasters must inform building codes
November 10, 2021 The Canadian PressBy Anastasia Athanasiou, Postdoctoral fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site.…
One simple way to reduce the severity of barn fires
March 4, 2019 by Jason ContantEnhancing building codes to include early detection systems could help generate a faster response in the case of farm fires, said Ken Worsley, who leads Cowan Insurance Group’s national agri-commercial industry practice. Early response systems include things like heat, fire…
Insurer involvement urged in the building code process
January 24, 2019 by Jason ContantThe Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) want to restore direct insurance industry involvement in the building code process. “At some point in the distant past, perhaps four decades ago or more, the Canadian…
Could this new construction method hike insurance costs?
August 27, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA client occupying a tall wood building could face higher insurance costs, a group of masonry producers claims, while one fire insurer confirms such a building deserves closer scrutiny from an underwriter. Your insurance premiums would be higher as an…
Property Loss Update: A review of recent cases, Part 2
November 17, 2017 Glenn GibsonThis is Part 2 of the property loss review that began in the Feb-Mar issue of Claims Canada. Carter et al V. Intact Insurance Company, Ontario Court of Appeal, December 6, 2016 On March 16, 2011 a fire caused…
How small code changes can reduce big water claims
November 15, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorWith severe weather expected to get worse in the years ahead, introducing small changes into building codes is critical, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’s (ICLR) managing director told Canadian Underwriter on Wednesday. “We are not talking about totally revamping…