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The past decade's explosive technological growth has changed not only the way that much of the world lives, but also the way it does business. Increasingly sophisticated clients are demanding more and more from the industries and businesses that serve them; in the construction sector, this has meant, for example, a growing need for intelligent buildings that can self-assess and self-maintain - a fact that is well known to CABA members. In attempting to innovate to meet this challenge, however, the construction industry and building owners and managers are discovering that better integration of technologies and systems is necessary. But, while various groups across North America have made excellent progress in developing new approaches to innovation, such as technology roadmaps, more is needed.

The 21st century has erupted upon the world in a technological whirlwind, catching more than one industry - including the construction sector - off guard with the rapidity of its growth and development. And, as in every other industry, this sector's ability to compete in the new world marketplace depends on its ability to rise to the whirlwind's challenge.

More than two thirds of Canadian roads fall under municipal jurisdiction; of those, 90 percent are in need of immediate repair, with costs estimated at $8.5 billion. The obvious way to slow road deterioration and maximize shrinking public funds is through preventive maintenance, but finding cost-effective ways of doing this requires research, and municipalities have neither the mandate nor the resources to fund such efforts.

The maintenance of Canada's urban infrastructure systems requires huge financial commitments from municipalities and provincial governments. They must make tough decisions every day regarding products, services, materials, equipment and practices, and they and their consulting engineers are constantly searching for better ways of doing things.

One of the primary goals of the National Plumbing Code (NPC) was to establish a unified and efficient approach to plumbing regulations across Canada. While the NPC model code has undergone continuous improvements since its last publication in 1995, it has also met with many alterations at provincial and local levels. Some of these alterations resulted in a conflict between provincial regulations and the NPC. A new edition of the code, to be published in 2003, will seek an end to this discord. The NPC 2003 will adhere to the new objective-based approach to construction codes being led by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), said Raman Chauhan, an engineer with the National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction. Chauhan added there will be an effort to accommodate provincial and territorial differences so that NPC 2003 can be adopted with minimal changes by all of the provinces and territories.

Just as not all buildings are alike, neither are the building codes pertaining to them, and sifting through the National Building Code (NBC) for the right information can sometimes be challenging. But for the designers, builders and building officials who use the NBC's Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings that are three storeys or less in height and 600 square metres or less in area), there is an easier way to navigate the requirements.

This article reviews key information contained in three of the many presentations made at a construction innovation symposium held in Ottawa in June 2001. Speakers came from all over the world and presented some unique perspectives on the issues and challenges affecting innovation in the construction industry.

Rebar corrosion - and its resulting concrete failure - forms one of the primary causes of premature deterioration in concrete structures such as bridges and parking garages. IRC and its partners are investigating a number of solutions including cathodic protection, corrosion inhibitors, stainless steel clad reinforcing bars, and epoxy-coatings.

The National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction has developed a reputation as a centre for innovation over its 50-year history; today, its government-industry consortium initiatives are accelerating the pace of that innovation.

With the dawning of 1997, Canada's construction industry marks a significant milestone - the 50th anniversary of the National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction, known originally as the Division of Building Research. This organization established in 1947, has had a profound impact on the nation - conducting important research that addresses the full range of construction related problems.

The principal function of a building is to shelter its occupants and its contents from the weather - a fact that's widely appreciated in a country like Canada, with its geographical variations and climatic extremes. Of course, in serving this function, the building envelope - walls, windows and roof - plays a central role in separating the inside from the outside. This article focuses principally on walls.

With the dawning of 1997, Canada's construction industry marks a significant milestone - the 50th anniversary of the National Research Council's Institute for Research in Construction, known originally as the Division of Building Research. This organization established in 1947, has had a profound impact on the nation - conducting important research that addresses the full range of construction related problems.

Established in 1947, this organization has made a profound impact on the nation - conducting important research that addresses the full range of construction-related problems; proving knowledge and solutions from around the world; conducting essential evaluation of building materials; and of course, developing Canada's National Building Code