Building professionals invited to discuss code changes

PENTICTON – The city is reaching out to local building trades to warn them of imminent changes to the B.C. Building Code and exchange ideas on how they can work together in the future.

The building code underwent major revision in 2012 and is set to be implemented Dec. 19, meaning all permits applied for after that date must conform. City spokesperson Simone Blais says the city wants to make sure the residential and light commercial construction industry isn't surprised by the changes.

“There hasn’t been any huge changes," she says. "But we have converted our application forms to the ‘new look.’ They are easier to fill out.”

The City of Penticton is hosting two open houses—one tonight, and the other on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Penticton Library Auditorium. While they are meeting, the building department will seek input on some other changes it plans to implement and seek input on how it does business.

“We’d also like to bounce some ideas off them and discuss what on-line features we can provide,” Blais says. “If homeowners have questions, we’re advising them to contact the building department directly. We also recommend homeowners work with professionals to ensure their projects are built to code.”

Topics to be dealt with include radon rough-in, aspects of energy efficiency, ventilation and heating systems, and a review of window, door and skylight u-values.

The construction industry in Penticton appears to be on the upswing after some lean years. In October, 53 building applications were submitted to the building department, compared to 39 in October, 2013. Year to date, there were 553 permits in total, compared to 405 in 2013, an increase of 26.7 per cent.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.