AIBC Publications
Hot Corner

Hot Corner 63.
by Michael Ernest MAIBC
AIBC Executive Director

For questions or comments, he can be reached at mernest@aibc.ca or at (604) 683-8588, #304.

What’s this? Doesn’t the ‘Hot Corner’ appear in ‘architectureBC’ on a quarterly basis? Nothing wrong with your radar; you’re right. It has for some time (and in its predecessor newsletters) enjoyed precisely that forum as well as a loyal, discerning and sensitive readership. In fact, the current magazine features Hot Corner 64 (complete with echoing Beatles refrain). What you’re witnessing is a transition in both medium and frequency in order to make the column more timely, of greater benefit and able to generate faster feedback. This new vehicle is intended to reach both members and our community-at-large in electronic format but also to be available on the AIBC website; by facsimile; and in hard copy as a self-contained, readily-filed (politely, now) and indexed document. Let us know what you think.

DOCUMENTS UPDATED

A pair of AIBC “Practice Notes” have recently been updated. Number 2: Percentage Fees: Phased Earnings and Number 8: Blended Hourly Rate Fees for Principals in Small Practices. The amendments consist mostly of updates to terminology and cross-references to current editions of contract documents. Members are encouraged to replace their obsolete earlier generations (over a decade old). Stay tuned for further such improvements.

LINGUISTIC STRUCTURE

Two beauties are presented from within our industry, for your pleasurable consumption. An engineer asked a ‘knowledgeable pier’ to review a draft paper; and an architect requested some quick information whilst he was ‘in the throws’ of facilitating a competition … no doubt, involving interior design. On my late, sainted mother’s name … I do not make these up. They arrive, in writing, waiting for recognition and public appreciation. Not to start any trouble, of course, but both originated in Alberta.

LETTERS OF ASSURANCE: ROGUE REQUESTS

Here’s another, inventive but completely contrary demand from an authority having jurisdiction. In this case, an architect was asked to provide Schedules B1 and B2, for ‘building envelope’ only, and to seal the project designer’s drawings, on a new, single-family residential project. Happily, our vigilant member refused to comply. The trivial pursuit question is: how many practice-standard violations would likely be invoked were the member to comply? Answer: at least six, even putting aside the ‘wisdom’ in terms of business benefit, risk exposure and insurability. The BC Building Code’s letters of assurance are NOT to be used for ‘building envelope’ only. They are NOT to be used in any event by a party other than the architect who has undertaken the design and drawing responsibility for the project and who undertakes to perform field review. They are NOT to be used on single-family residences. An architect is NOT to seal drawings unless the design and drawings have been done by that architect or under that architect’s direction, supervision and control. Finally: AIBC Council only supports the standard, uniform application of the letters of assurance. For the AIBC Council’s policy in these regards, refer to the material following:

BC BUILDING CODE LETTERS OF ASSURANCE

6.10.1 The Council of the Architectural Institute of BC endorses the enhanced public safety offered by the formalizing and regulating, under applicable building codes, of



a) the obligations of Owners to engage architects and engineers to provide design and field review services to appropriate professional standards,
b) the provision of such services under professionally acceptable terms and conditions, and
c) the provision of signed, sealed and dated Letters of Assurance for both design and field review as required under section 77 of the Architects Act.

Accordingly:

6.10.2 The Council endorses the Letters of Assurance required and described under the 1998 BC Building Code and their Vancouver Building Bylaw counterparts.
6.10.3 Council supports the 1998 BC Building Code Letters of Assurances' standard, uniform application, without modification, across British Columbia.
6.10.4 Council also is prepared to accept other "forms"* as are reviewed and are acceptable to the AIBC's Regulatory Coordination Committee and Practice Board with the benefit of such legal and insurability advice as may be applicable.
6.10.5 Council does not support any other Letters of Assurance.

*Note: (Model Schedules "D-1" and "D-2" for Enhanced Building Envelope Services are part of AIBC Bulletin 34 and are used by the City of Vancouver and Burnaby in appropriate fashion).

Members are encouraged to continue to resist ‘rogue’ requests and to report them to this corner or to Dave McGuigan, MAIBC, chairman of our Regulatory Coordination Committee. Keep an eye out for professional development offerings in these regards, including an opportunity at our next Annual Conference 28 through 30 April 2005.

IN PASSING

A short farewell to the late Jim Warne, P.Eng. whom many members will know best as an experienced and good-humoured structural engineer with the consulting firm of Pomeroy Engineering. What you may not know of was his commitment to creating solid community foundations (for which his profession valued and awarded him) and his love of lively debate.

LIABILITY INSURANCE COMMITTEE

We’re pleased to announce the addition of three members to this group dealing with some of the most critical issues facing our profession. New to the committee, which is accordingly energized afresh, are MAIBCs Chip Barrett, Ray Letkeman and Barry Weih (of Wensley Architecture). Now, their phones will ring. At the same time, appreciation is extended to Past President Michael Burton-Brown, MAIBC for his several years of service to the profession in this arena, as he refocuses to the chairmanship of the Architecture Foundation.

TOUR THE FORCE

Don’t miss it. You could even probably score an LU by self-reporting what you saw and learned. When BC Hydro’s old (decommissioned) Stave Lake Power House tour re-opens in the Spring, it’s worth the drive to experience a combination of large-scale energy-delivery technology; regional history; culture; extreme working environment; spatial volumetrics … and acoustics. Whilst your faithful scrivener and family were visiting, one of the guides, a member of a local choir, was vocalizing in what he thought was an unoccupied facility. Try it. You’ll never yodel in the shower again.

CONTINUING EDUCATION SUCCESS

Keep a weather eye out for a new series of information, tips and strategies on this topic from the AIBC as we head toward the next deadline of 30 June 2005.

PUNCTUALITY

Further to the best-seller, “Eats Shoots and Leaves” which describes the implications and extols the virtues of those wee, troublesome marks which inhabit (or infest) our language, one is reminded of the architect (clad in shades of noir) who was confused by a commission to design a new hip-joint when he had no medical expertise whatsoever.

Bouyakasha!