b'2020 INNOVATION AWARDSLEADING EDGE2020 INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS RETHINK GREEN ROOFS,HEALTH CHECKS, CONDO CLADDING AND BALCONY RAILS By Sarah B. HoodAT THE END OF BUILDINGS WEEK IN EARLY DECEMBER, THE WINNERS OF TCAS INNOVATION AWARDS were announced. The prestigious honour goes to a company whose extraordinary achievement during the year was precedent-setting in terms of innovation. In this year of extreme change, the winners are particularly noteworthy.The COVID pandemic has spurred innovation in every industry, and it has been exciting to see how some Canadian construction companies are beginning to innovate on a global level, says TCA president and CEO John Mollenhauer. These awards are an important opportunity for us to recognize the companies that are aggressively innovating, adds Mollenhauer. They deserve the accolades, because its going to become even more important going forward. Weve got a skilled labour shortage and weve got the world becoming green very quickly and becoming flat, so weve got much more competition from abroad. We have to show ourselves to be innovative in Canada. This year, its been great to see that there are so many contenders for the crown.1ST PLACE WINNERBIOROOF SYSTEMS INC. | BIO-MODULE 2WOOLWinning this award was a surprise to be sure, but definitely a welcome one, says Bioroof systems estimator Bill Aitken.Burlington-based Bioroof Systems, a TCA member, was honoured for its product that reimagines the way a green roof can be configured and installed. It creates a novel niche in the market, says Aitken. The Bio-Module 2Wool is a lightweight, cost-effective and easy-to-install instant green roof.Unlike other systems, which essentially box live plants into separate containers, this modular system has perforated side walls that allow roots to penetrate throughout the structure, which helps them survive and thrive. Were able to share moisture and nutrients between the modules, says Aitken. Its a synthetic retention layer, which retains many times its own weight to give plants the moisture they need. The module systems, planted with sedum blends, are grown in Milton, and are light and easy to transport. They are equippedThe Bio-Module 2Wool also simplifieshave them. Irrigation pipes can be laid in with built-in clips that fasten each onethe green roofing installation process bychannels between the modules instead snugly to the next, allowing for an easyreducing the number of required layers.of requiring special cuts for supply pipes, installation in parallel or perpendicularYou only need a root barrier, Aitkenproviding for a streamlined and elegant orientations and offering increasedsays. You add your roof module directlysolution to the demands of the typical resistance to wind uplift. on top of it, and your irrigation lines, if yougreen roof.14Quarter 4 2020 BUILDERSDIGEST'