With so many compelling reason to build with mass timber the question is no longer ‘why?’ but ‘how?’. As a construction method in its own right, mass timber construction has its own rules and regulations which need to be understood by all if mass timber is to achieve its potential of becoming the construction method of choice for most building types. This presentation will focus on best practices in terms of design, procurement and construction through a number of case studies of recent projects that Eurban has been involved in, particularly mass housing projects.
Learning Objectives
Understand what is being done in the UK in order to optimise the delivery of mass timber projects in terms of design and construction.
Understand the role of a CLT designer/specialist contractor on mass timber building projects and how knowledge and experience can inform design decisions and help deliver such projects effectively and safely.
Understand the risks associated with the design and delivery of large-scale mass timber buildings and how one might overcome such risks.
Understand how mass timber construction differs from concrete construction and stick build construction, particularly in terms of the perceived risks of fire and moisture, and how to design for them.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Liam Dewer Director Eurban Limited, London, England
Liam Dewar is a trained Architect and Director of Eurban Limited, a UK consultancy and construction company that specialises in the design, supply and installation of mass timber building structures. Having introduced solid timber construction to the UK market 12 years ago Eurban have considerable experience in the delivery of buildings using mass timber.
Mass Timber: Unlocking the Mysteries of Connection Design and Fabrication
Course Overview
Melissa will discuss the role of the specialty structural engineer in glulam connection design for your project. Tips will be provided to help streamline the work of the project architect and engineer of record, and also highlight specific detailing situations to help construction run more smoothly. Glulam fabrication will be discussed: from chisels to CNC machines. Some examples will be given to see what is possible during this timber connection renaissance, made possible by 3D fabrication models and CNC machines.
Learning Objectives
Mass timber fabrication processes and the role of shop drawings.
Detailing to accommodate for differing tolerances of different trades on the construction site.
Tailoring timber specifications to meet architectural needs.
Information required in construction documents for delegated design of mass timber connections.
New timber connection possibilities through use of CNC Fabrication.
How to communicate scope delineation for multiple suppliers of structural systems on your
project and where are the potential gaps / overlaps.
How involving your mass timber supplier early in the design process can create material and construction efficiencies.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C Structural Project Engineer ISL Engineering and Land Services
Melissa Kindratsky, P.Eng., LEED® AP BD+C, is a structural project engineer for ISL Engineering and Land Services. With 400 people in 14 offices in western Canada, ISL established a Buildings Group in 2012 with the acquisition of Cascade Engineering Group, and Melissa joined the growing team in the Canmore office in 2015.
Melissa supports the successful delivery of building engineering to a range of clients, from independent homes owners to internationally renowned architects, timber framers, and mass timber fabricators. With over 15 years of experience in design engineering and construction, Melissa has experience in commercial, residential, and industrial developments of various shapes and sizes. Her material of choice is timber and she focuses most of her time on both concept and detailed design of timber structures. These range from modern developments to repairs of heritage structures and even playgrounds.
She passionately believes that to engineer a structure in wood, one must respect the unique properties of this natural material and even use them to enhance the design, both structurally and architecturally. Close attention is paid to the contribution of the structure to the sustainability features of a building project and these are even more easily achieved when the structure is timber.
Demystifying Acoustics for All Wood Buildings
Course Overview
This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction.
Learning Objectives
Acoustic complaints & Law Suits.
Customer negative perception of your building (ex; wood frame vs concrete).
Code regulations (ex; need to reduce weight, acoustic requirements, etc.).
Abundance of possibilities and unclear information.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
André Rioux Co-Owner/Business Development AcoustiTECH
André has been working alongside building professionals for more than 15 years and is recognized for his passion for the field of acoustics and his expert knowledge.
Promoting wood construction across Canada and the US has been a great focus of his, participating in various organizations, giving conferences and joining innovation projects.
André’s experience with wood construction combined with over 20 years of research and development from AcoustiTECH has resulted in a group being able to bring invaluable expertise and knowhow.
Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code
Course Overview
This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings. From there, code experts from Morrison Hershfield will discuss the new building code provisions related to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), which is a new construction type in the code, that permit mass timber structures up to twelve storeys in building height. Participants will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the CWC’s recently published “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code” authored by Morrison Hershfield.
Learning Objectives
An overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests:
The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Project which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research on the fire performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. Each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design.
Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code:
Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) showcases recent advancements in fire safety engineering. These advancements are reflected in recent adoptions of EMTC as a new construction type across various jurisdictions and specifically in Ontario, through O.Reg. 451/22, which became applicable as of July 1, 2022. This presentation introduces designers and authorities to the “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code.”
The purpose of the guide, and this presentation, is to introduce users to the new provisions governing EMTC in Ontario, so that readers are aware of the content, intent, and application of the new provisions. The guide introduces the new provisions and highlights where new EMTC features align with similar well-known provisions of the OBC for noncombustible construction and where the new provisions differ or are unique. Through highlighting these differences, this guide seeks to broaden awareness of OBC application to the design of this new building type.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Marc Alam Senior Manager, Codes & Standards – Fire & Acoustics Canadian Wood Council
As Senior Manager of Codes and Standards in fire and acoustics, Marc participates in CWC’s building code and standards fire and acoustics related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire and acoustics research projects. He is finalising a PhD in Fire Engineering from Carleton and has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Management.
Dana Scherf, P.Eng. Senior Code Consultant, Director of Code and Life Safety Group Morrison Hershfield
Dana has been applying Building and Fire Codes across Canada since 1997 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2001. She has extensive experience in interpretation and application of the Codes to new and existing buildings, development and negotiation of Alternative Solutions, resolution of unusual fire protection construction issues, fire hazards analysis, and application of fire and smoke modelling to support design solutions. She started her career as a plans examiner with the City of Hamilton. Dana supports clients in applying the Building Code to achieve their project vision while providing the level of safety required by the Code.
Trisha Ashworth, P.Eng., M.Eng. Senior Code Consultant, Department Manager of Code within the Code and Life Safety Group Morrison Hershfield
Trisha has been working in the building consulting industry since 2007 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2017. Trisha actively applies her knowledge of Building and Fire Codes across various Canadian jurisdictions for both new building designs and existing building retrofits across a range of occupancy types. Trisha’s fundamental knowledge of fire dynamics and fire protection design, inherent in the formation of the Building Codes, allows her to apply judgment in the application of prescriptive requirements of the Codes and develop alternative solutions to meet the areas of performance required by the Codes.
Tallwood 1
Course Overview
Mass timber has garnered a lot of interest in Ontario in recent years and with the recent adoption of the encapsulated mass timber construction requirements into the Ontario Building Code, the path to approvals for these buildings has become less onerous. Building with mass timber has many benefits vs. conventional concrete or steel construction from sustainability to construction time to occupant health. However, cost is often a deterring factor, particularly for developers. There are many considerations that need to be made to make tall mass timber buildings a competitive option and we will share some with you in this presentation using the recently completed Tallwood 1 building in Langford, BC. Tallwood 1 is the first 12-story mass timber-steel hybrid building in Canada and located in one of the highest seismic zones in the country. In addition to sharing lessons learned from this project, we will also discuss how this building may be different if it were to be built in Ontario.
Learning Objectives
Understand the design and construction advantages of using mass timber in tall building projects like Tallwood 1 – structural benefits, aesthetic possibilities, and environmental impact.
Analyze the engineering challenges and solutions involved in the project, focusing on mass timber integration with other construction materials.
Evaluate the implications of prefabrication and modular construction techniques used in the Tallwood 1 project – to enhance construction efficiency, reduce waste, and potentially lower project costs.
Discuss the impact of innovative structural systems like point-supported CLT and hybrid seismic systems on the architectural design and functionality of tall buildings.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Mehrdad Jahangri, P.Eng., Dipl. Ing.(Germany) Principal ASPECT Structural Engineers
Mehrdad is a principal at ASPECT and has more than three decades of international experience on notable, architecturally oriented commercial, educational, recreational, and residential projects. He is internationally recognized for his innovative approach and consulting with North American and international architects. He has a sound knowledge of building physics and sustainable design concepts that allow him to actively engage in sustainable design challenges and decisions. Mehrdad understands the challenge of creating carefully detailed yet efficient structural designs and provides an unparalleled level of service to all his clients.
Eva Chau, P.Eng., M.Eng. Associate ASPECT Structural Engineers
Eva is an Associate at ASPECT and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in Structural and Earthquake Engineering from the University of British Columbia. Over the course of her career, she has worked on a wide range of residential, institutional, civic, and transit projects. Eva is proficient with all major building materials but has been strongly focused on mass timber building for the past 4 years. Eva is passionate about structural engineering and always strives to help clients realize their unique visions and achieve their project goals.
The Sara Cultural Centre
Course Overview
The Sara Cultural Centre broadens the application of a full timber construction and proves that timber is a viable solution for virtually any building type. This project has become a showcase guiding others in our collective transition toward carbon neutrality. Located in Skellefteå, Sweden, just below the Artic Circle, Sara Culture Center is home to a regional theatre, a museum, an art gallery, a hotel, and a public library. Together the institutions benefit from each other and empower the local community. Since the opening last year, the development has helped attract green energy companies resulting in 3000 + new jobs in the region. Time Magazine named Skellefteå one of the world´s greatest places 2022.
The cultural center is constructed of over 13 000 m3 of locally sourced timber. The diverse areas of use employ a range of innovative solutions in mass timber and steel construction to handle spans, flexibility, acoustics, and overall statics. At 20 storeys tall, the hotel section was constructed with premanufactured 3D-modules in cross-laminated timber, stacked between two elevator cores entirely made of CLT in each corner. The low-rise portion of the project is built with columns and beams of GLT and cores and shear walls in CLT. The prefabricated elements of the building are produced in a local off-site factory and assembled and screwed together on site. The integrated structural design has eliminated the need for concrete entirely from the load bearing structure, speeding up construction and drastically reducing the carbon footprint. LCA shows that Sara Cultural centre is carbon negative over a period of 50 years.
Learning Objectives
Coming Soon
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Robert Schmitz Partner White Arkitekter, Sweden
Robert Schmitz is an architect and partner at White Arkitekter. He has a long history of experience in complex design projects with an emphasis on commercial office projects, cultural buildings, hotels, and urban planning. Robert is the Stockholm Office’s Director of Competitions and is part of the Office Management Team. Robert has won many prestigious architectural competitions including Täby City Hall, for which he received an IDEA gold medal award in Los Angeles 2017 and, most recently, the internationally acclaimed competition about Skellefteå Cultural Centre, which at 73m is one of the tallest timber high rises in the world. Robert Schmitz was the project architect, together with Oskar Norelius, for the Sara Kulturhus.
Innovative Envelope Solutions for Mass Timber
Course Overview
As society strives toward lower-carbon construction and increased operational efficiency of the built environment, we know that a building’s envelope significantly impacts a project’s overall environmental performance. This panel presentation offers attendees a glimpse into three different façade systems being employed in three important mass timber projects in Toronto.
Industrialized exterior wall system for the 1925 Victoria Park project in Toronto, Canada.
From local to global, global to local – the CREE building system is used locally in various markets and continents. 1925 Victoria Park is an example of how you can use this exterior wall system. Since 2010, the CREE building system is constantly evolving and adapting to different markets. Now it is reaching North America. This presentation will give you insights into the project developments, design processes, challenges, and details of the exterior wall of the 1925 Victoria Park project in Toronto, Canada.
Learning Objectives
Understand the integration of wood products in building envelopes and their role in achieving high-performance in mass timber projects.
Analyze the challenges and technological solutions involved in combining wood products with other building materials for envelope construction.
Evaluate the impact of prefabricated wood product systems on construction efficiency and environmental sustainability – in terms of construction timelines, labor efficiency, and carbon footprint reduction.
Discuss the future implications and potential innovations in wood product applications in building envelope systems.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Chris Ertsenian, Dip. Arch. Tech. Associate Moriyama & Teshima Architects
Case study presentation on the façade at Limberlost Place, Georg Brown College’s 10-storey, mass timber, net zero carbon emissions academic building on Toronto’s waterfront.
Chris Ertsenian, a long-standing MTA Associate and Senior Job Captain, facilitates competitive contractor bids, expedites construction, and minimizes change orders by ensuring that the firm’s contract documents optimize constructability and are clear, complete, and well-coordinated. He brings a breadth of experience on a wide range of project types and has been an integral member of the production and quality control team on many highly complex and exacting projects.
Chris is currently serving as Job Captain for Ontario’s first institutional mass timber building, Limberlost Place (formerly “The Arbour”) at George Brown College; managing the consultant team and monitoring construction progress. He is also the Senior Technologist on the University of Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics Academic Building.
Previously, Chris has worked with all of MTA’s partners to realize many major college and university buildings, including the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government at St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia Community College’s Sydney Waterfront Campus, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Urban Innovation, and many more to name a few. He has also worked on several public and cultural projects, such as Place des Arts in the City of Greater Sudbury, the Government of Canada’s Visitor Welcome Centre Phase 1 on Parliament Hill, the City of Surrey (British Columbia) Civic Centre, as well as the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. With strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple complex projects at once, Chris’ impact on MTA’s portfolio is wide-ranging and highly influential.
He authored Moriyama & Teshima Architects’ CADD standards and user manual, as well as more recently authoring MTA’s Drawing Standards and assisting in BIM Standards which exemplify his organizational abilities, attention to detail and comprehensive knowledge of building technologies.
Kelsey Saunders, M.B.Sc., CPHD, LEED® AP BD+C. Project Manager and Building Scientist RDH Building Science Inc.
Case study presentation on the façade at the University of Toronto’s new 4-storey, 346-unit, mass timber student residence at Trinity College.
Kelsey Saunders is a Project Manager and Building Scientist at RDH Building Science and has been in the building science field for nearly 10 years. She holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science and a Master of Building Science degree from Ryerson University. She is a Certified Passive House Designer and a LEED AP in Building Design and Construction.
Kelsey’s work is focused on early-stage building enclosure consulting on new construction projects across North America with a particular specialty in low carbon buildings both in terms of operational and embodied carbon. She takes an enclosure-first approach to low carbon design and has worked on many Passive House, Net Zero Carbon, mass timber, and prefabricated panelized enclosure projects.
Kelsey has also been involved in numerous public and private research projects, including a current study of the embodied carbon impact of building enclosure systems in whole life carbon emissions to support early-stage decision making for low carbon design.
Tim Steffinger Structural Consultant specialized in Engineering and System Design CREE Buildings
Case study presentation on the façade at 1925 Victoria Park, an 11-storey, 154-unit mixed-use rental apartment building with ground floor commercial.
Tim Steffinger is a civil engineer from Germany specializing in Engineering and System Design. He studied at the University of Stuttgart and received his master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on structural design. At CREE Buildings, he is our expert in exterior wall systems and is constantly improving the CREE System with his expertise and ever-expanding know-how through practical experience and exchange with the international network. As Structural Consultant at CREE, he supports our license partners in the realization of timber hybrid structures and coordinates CREE projects worldwide.
From local to global, global to local – the CREE building system is used locally in various markets and continents. 1925 Victoria Park is an example of how you can use this exterior wall system. Since 2010, the CREE building system is constantly evolving and adapting to different markets. Now it is reaching North America. This presentation will give you insights into the project developments, design processes, challenges, and details of the exterior wall of the 1925 Victoria Park project in Toronto, Canada.
Practical and Advanced Modeling for Design and Performance of Mass Timber Structures
Course Overview
FPInnovations’s Modeling Guide for Timber Structures is the result of global collaboration from over 100 experts. This definitive guide for timber structure modelling is the first of its kind, bringing together the experience gained from recently built timber projects with the latest research development in the modelling of timber structures. Computer modelling is essential for analyzing and designing mid- and high-rise buildings and long-span structures. It is also a valuable tool for optimizing wood-based products, connections, and systems that improve structural performance. This useful guide supports the application and development of timber construction given that timber structures increasingly require demonstration of performance or equivalency through computer modelling, regardless of whether prescriptive or performance-based design procedures are used. This session offers an overview of the guide, which includes a wide range of practical and advanced modelling topics, such as key modelling principles, methods, and techniques specific to timber structures; modelling approaches and considerations for wood-based components, connections, and assemblies; and analytical approaches and considerations for timber structures during progressive collapse, wind, and earthquake events. It also presents the differences in the modelling approaches to timber, steel, and concrete structures.
Learning Objectives
Coming Soon
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Dorian Tung Manager Building Systems of Sustainable Construction Innovation Centres of Excellence FPInnovations
Dr. Dorian Tung is currently the Vancouver Manager for Building Systems of Sustainable Construction Innovation Centres of Excellence in FPInnovations. He has 20 years of experience in industry and academia. He has dealt with intellectual properties, knowledge transfer, and research dissemination. In addition to delivering research and development, he has been responsible for project management, sales, and marketing, as well as developing and maintaining business relationship. Dorian is a licensed professional engineer in Canada and USA, and also holds LEED certification, Building Design + Construction, from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). He has designed a variety of structural systems and is experienced with various construction materials. Dorian has a strong portfolio in developing innovative structural solutions to achieve resilience. He has ongoing collaborations with researchers and scientists around the world to apply state-of-the-art technologies.
Mass Timber Designs for Rapid Housing Projects
Course Overview
In 2021, YW of Kitchener-Waterloo (YWKW) obtained funding from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to construct supportive housing for homeless women in the community. The 41 compact yet accessible 1-bedroom transitional housing units on a narrow parcel of surplus land were designed, constructed, and occupied within 1-year of contract award.
The optimized mass timber design resulted in time and cost savings during construction. These savings helped meet the financial constraints of project while maximizing the climate action response through mass timber’s reduced carbon footprint. Exposed mass timber elements also impart a sense of warmth and well-being rarely seen in austere supportive/affordable housing projects.
This presentation shares best practices and lessons learned from this first completed project in Kitchener along with several other similar projects in various stages of design and development.
Learning Objectives
Understand the applications of mass timber in rapid housing projects and the related sustainability benefits.
Analyze the challenges and solutions in designing mass timber housing projects, including regulatory, logistical, and technical aspects.
Evaluate the design considerations and project management strategies essential for successful mass timber housing projects.
Discuss the future potential of mass timber in addressing housing crises, focusing on scalability and adaptability.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Matt Bolen Principal EDGE Architects
Matt Bolen is a Principal at Edge Architects in Waterloo, On. In addition to providing professional consulting services, the firm has been involved in several innovative research/development initiatives.
Matt’s area of expertise is multi-res building design ranging from mid-rise supportive housing to high-rise market rate. His professional interests include mass timber, modular/ prefabrication, and high-performance design.
Matt is a licenced Architect with the OAA and a certified Passive House Designer. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture program & has worked as an adjunct professor at the school since completing his master’s degree in 2009.
Overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Fire Test
Course Overview
The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research on the fire performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. A review of how each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design.
Learning Objectives
Understand the rationale and execution of the demonstration fire tests – why and how the tests were conducted, their significance in obtaining approvals for mass timber projects.
Analyze the fire performance of mass timber structures compared to traditional building materials under controlled test conditions – understand fire dynamics in mass timber projects versus traditional materials like concrete or steel.
Understand the role and results of compartment fire tests in analyzing fire dynamics in mass timber projects.
Explore the implications of mass timber fire test findings on future building code developments and construction practices – how could the results from these fire tests influence changes in building codes and impact mass timber design and construction practices.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Steve Craft, PhD, P.Eng. Principal CHM Fire Consultants Ltd.
Dr. Steven Craft is a founding partner of CHM Fire Consultants Ltd located in Ottawa. He served as an Adjunct Professor in the Fire Safety Engineering Program at Carleton University from 2010- 2019 and was a Research Scientist with Canada’s National Forest Products Research Institute, FPInnovations, from 2006-2011. He has an undergraduate degree in Forest Engineering from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD in Fire Safety Engineering from Carleton University. He is active in codes and standards development. He is the Chair of the ULC S100a Fire Test Committee and is on the Technical Committee for the Canadian Wood Design Standard, CSA O86, where he Chairs the Task Group on Fire Resistance.
Light Wood Frame and Mass Timber Hybrid Mid-Rise Construction
Course Overview
55 Franklin in Kitchener, Ontario, is a four-building complex of mid-rise residential buildings that the project team is using as an opportunity to explore new and different strategies for delivering quality affordable housing to our Region. Each of the four buildings will be designed as a prototype exploring different construction methodologies and solutions tested against their sustainability impacts. The first building constructed uses a combination of conventional wood framing and mass timber.
Learning Objectives
Understand the impact of mass timber construction on project timelines and the operational efficiencies it can provide.
Analyze the factors influencing the choice of construction methodologies in mid-rise building projects, with a focus on the efficiency and speed of different methods.
Evaluate the challenges associated with municipal approvals when using new building materials like mass timber, including the need for alternative compliance solutions.
Assess the practical benefits of using Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) in construction, particularly in terms of labor and time savings during the flooring installation process.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Mike Maxwell President Maxwell Building Consultants
Mike was drawn to Waterloo for his degree from Laurier University and has seen local real estate development potential ever since. A combination of zoning bylaw rules, site data chart statistics and construction knowledge produce unique results for projects that he is involved with. He loves the math and the problem solving. In an advisory position with local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and CMHC, Mike has created strong partnerships to move the cause of affordable housing forward.
Understanding the New EMTC Provisions in the Ontario Building Code
Course Overview
This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings. From there, code experts from Morrison Hershfield will discuss the new building code provisions related to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC), which is a new construction type in the code, that permit mass timber structures up to twelve storeys in building height. Participants will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the CWC’s recently published “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code” authored by Morrison Hershfield.
Learning Objectives
An overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests: The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Project which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research on the fire performance of mass timber construction will be reviewed briefly to provide the background necessary to understand how the latest tests support the design of taller and larger mass timber buildings. Each of the five tests performed will be reviewed along with what it means for future mass timber building design.
Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code: Encapsulated mass timber construction (EMTC) showcases recent advancements in fire safety engineering. These advancements are reflected in recent adoptions of EMTC as a new construction type across various jurisdictions and specifically in Ontario, through O.Reg. 451/22, which became applicable as of July 1, 2022. This presentation introduces designers and authorities to the “Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code.” The purpose of the guide, and this presentation, is to introduce users to the new provisions governing EMTC in Ontario, so that readers are aware of the content, intent, and application of the new provisions. The guide introduces the new provisions and highlights where new EMTC features align with similar well-known provisions of the OBC for noncombustible construction and where the new provisions differ or are unique. Through highlighting these differences, this guide seeks to broaden awareness of OBC application to the design of this new building type.
Course Video
Speaker Bio
Marc Alam Senior Manager, Codes & Standards – Fire & Acoustics Canadian Wood Council
As Senior Manager of Codes and Standards in fire and acoustics, Marc participates in CWC’s building code and standards fire and acoustics related initiatives and the development of CWC’s fire design tools, as well as code‐related fire and acoustics research projects. He is finalising a PhD in Fire Engineering from Carleton and has a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Management.
Dana Scherf, P.Eng. Senior Code Consultant, Director of Code and Life Safety Group Morrison Hershfield
Dana has been applying Building and Fire Codes across Canada since 1997 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2001. She has extensive experience in interpretation and application of the Codes to new and existing buildings, development and negotiation of Alternative Solutions, resolution of unusual fire protection construction issues, fire hazards analysis, and application of fire and smoke modelling to support design solutions. She started her career as a plans examiner with the City of Hamilton. Dana supports clients in applying the Building Code to achieve their project vision while providing the level of safety required by the Code.
Trisha Ashworth, P.Eng., M.Eng. Senior Code Consultant, Department Manager of Code within the Code and Life Safety Group Morrison Hershfield
Trisha has been working in the building consulting industry since 2007 and has been with Morrison Hershfield since 2017. Trisha actively applies her knowledge of Building and Fire Codes across various Canadian jurisdictions for both new building designs and existing building retrofits across a range of occupancy types. Trisha’s fundamental knowledge of fire dynamics and fire protection design, inherent in the formation of the Building Codes, allows her to apply judgment in the application of prescriptive requirements of the Codes and develop alternative solutions to meet the areas of performance required by the Codes.
Timber for the Masses
Mass Timber: Unlocking the Mysteries of Connection Design and Fabrication
Demystifying Acoustics for All Wood Buildings
Guide to Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction in the Ontario Building Code
Tallwood 1
The Sara Cultural Centre
Innovative Envelope Solutions for Mass Timber
Practical and Advanced Modeling for Design and Performance of Mass Timber Structures
Mass Timber Designs for Rapid Housing Projects
Overview of the Ottawa Mass Timber Fire Test
Light Wood Frame and Mass Timber Hybrid Mid-Rise Construction
Understanding the New EMTC Provisions in the Ontario Building Code
Course Overview With so many compelling reason to build with mass timber the question is no longer ‘why?’ but ‘how?’. As a construction method in its own right, mass...
Course Overview Melissa will discuss the role of the specialty structural engineer in glulam connection design for your project. Tips will be provided to help streamline the...
Course Overview This presentation defines Acoustic building code requirements and discusses important acoustic principles in mass timber construction. Learning Objectives...
Course Overview This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects...
Course Overview Mass timber has garnered a lot of interest in Ontario in recent years and with the recent adoption of the encapsulated mass timber construction requirements...
Course Overview The Sara Cultural Centre broadens the application of a full timber construction and proves that timber is a viable solution for virtually any building type....
Course Overview As society strives toward lower-carbon construction and increased operational efficiency of the built environment, we know that a building’s envelope...
Course Overview FPInnovations’s Modeling Guide for Timber Structures is the result of global collaboration from over 100 experts. This definitive guide for timber structure...
Course Overview In 2021, YW of Kitchener-Waterloo (YWKW) obtained funding from the federal Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) to construct supportive housing for homeless women...
Course Overview The presentation will provide an overview of the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Tests which were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022. Past research...
Course Overview 55 Franklin in Kitchener, Ontario, is a four-building complex of mid-rise residential buildings that the project team is using as an opportunity to explore...
Course Overview This 2-hour technical webinar will begin with an overview of ongoing fire research at the National Research Council of Canada into various performance aspects...
