24 l ROOFINGBC l FALL 2018 PROJECT PROFILE Specifically, the roof assembly consisted of a self-adhered vapour barrier; Type 2 expanded polystyrene insulation comprised of flat layers and a one-way tapered package to provide slope to the one side of the roof; polyisocyanurate insulation and insulation crickets to the drains; asphaltic cover board and the two-ply SBS membrane. Rated at R-100, the four-foot-thick roof of the WIRL required a special variance from the RCABC. According to Laurence Matzek, director of RCABC’s RoofStar Guarantee Program, the variance was requested, and subse- quently granted, for the approach utilized to secure the roof assembly. “With the R-100 insulation package, a fastening plane was proposed within the roof assembly, which is not specifically addressed within the RCABC Roofing Practices Manual (RPM),” he explained. “The WIRL roof was secured with the use of fasteners. With the total thickness at the top of the slope package reaching 27-inches thick, the insulation needed to be secured in two levels using a fastening plane which was 5/8-inch plywood installed between the layers.” According to Matzek, the standards within the RCABC’s RPM can adequately address Passive House installations. “RCABC requires insulation above R15 to be installed in multiple layers with offset joints to reduce thermal bridges,” he said. “The insulation within a conventionally-in- sulated roof – such as the WIRL project – can be secured with either fasteners, adhe- sives or a combination of the two.” “Everything about the roof was different when we were installing it,” Cocker said. “It wasn’t a typical installation. However, we worked closely with Prince Sheet Metal to determine the best way to approach it, and the system that we came up with actually went together pretty easily.” From a research standpoint, the single- storey building features a “strong” floor and wall to support testing of wood struc- tures. According to Cocker, an “incredibly complex concrete pour was required in the early stages of construction to build these walls and floors.” “There aren’t many strong walls and floors in North America,” he said. “These walls and floors are comprised of one- metre-thick concrete. The idea is that (students and researchers) can build wood- based structures and hook-up reaction points to the wall or floor and test for things such as seismic tolerance, etc.” As part of the B.C. government’s “Wood First Initiative,” which aims to advance wood use in the province and globally, the $4.5-million WIRL facility was partially funded by both the federal and provincial governments. The City of Prince George provided the land for the building. With regards to Passive House construc- tion, Cocker said that he believes the stan- dard will be applied to more and more proj- ects in the future. “I think Passive House requirements will be utilized more and more because it’s a measurable result at the end of the project,” he said. “It’s actually a real thing. Instead of trying to meet certain goals and targets in the future, you are getting real-time results to what you’re trying to achieve, which is low energy usage.” Although it’s a “pretty sophisticated” modelling system during design and construction, Cocker said that the end results are “certainly worth it.” ■ Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. ■ 1283 West Broadway, Suite 300, Vancouver ■ Glade Schoenfeld, 604-738-0048, gschenfeld@rjc.ca rjc.ca • Roof Condition Assessments & Surveys • Roof System Design & Contract Management • Green Roof Design • Warranty & Maintenance Review • Infrared Thermography • Roof Access & Fall Protection - Design & Testing • Roof Asset Management & Capital Planning • RCABC Approved Inspectors Roofing Consulting RJC Engineers info@rjc.ca Vancouver 604-738-0048 Victoria 250-386-7794 Nanaimo 250-716-1550 Kelowna 778-738-1700 Photos courtesy of UNBC