Welcome By Mark Buckshon I had the opportunity to attend the na- tional Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) convention in Kitchener as we prepared this issue of Cana- dian Design and Construction Report. The conference keynote speaker, University of Waterloo professor John Straube, took aim at one of the biggest challenges in Canadian building insulation/energy savings: Leaky fenestration. His observations co-ordinated with our annual Fenestration Canada/Win.door Show feature, with several articles and fea- tures describing innovations, resources and services for Canada's window and door industry. My ears also perked up to an issue not formally addressed in the CSC convention's program, but reflected in underlying con- versations and observations: The huge cost to Canada's design and construction industry because of sloppy or incomplete spec- ifications. Certainly, specifications are at this industry's heart. Without contract documentation, no one will know what or how to build anything. Unfortunately, problems caused because of sloppy specifications often only appear later in the game; when trade contractors discover the plans don't work properly reflected in. Some contractors understand the issue well enough to look for sloppy specs while bidding for projects. knowing they can price in change order revenues, a truly messy way of doing business. On the other hand, projects can be well-specified, planned and co-ordinated, such as the Department of National Defence's TEME (Transport Electrical Mechanical Building) at CFB Halifax. Here, the project has been completed under-budget, with good- will all around for the owner, general contractor and suppliers – an example of how to get things right. SUMMER 2014 Table of Contents FENESTRATION (Windows and Doors) John Straube: The weakest link in Canadian building energy savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fenestration Canada/Win.door special feature . . . . . . 36 Sloppy specifications and change orders . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Threads of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 News briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Masonry in B.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sustainability: Changing the way we think about green buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Precast: National Precast Concrete Association conference in Montreal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION Profiles of career success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PLAN YOUR STAY EARLY Book 7 days ahead and get 15% savings! B.C.: Wood Innovation and Design Centre . . . . . . . . . 25 ATLANTIC CONSTRUCTION NEWS Harmonized apprenticeship agreement . . . . . . . . . . . 28 News briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Special feature: CFB Halifax TEME building . . . . . . . . 32 www.threadsoflife.ca The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2014 – 3