Fire Safety During Construction of Wood Buildings in Ontario

SPEAKER:

Chris Thompson
Manager, Building Code Policy Development Unit
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Chris Thompson has worked for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for 28 years and is a professional planner with a Master's Degree in Planning from the University of Toronto.

In his current position, Chris is Manager of Development Policy and Innovations in the Ministry’s Buildings and Development Branch and is responsible for the development of policy for the Building Code, developing the text of the Code, and delivering Commission and Council services.

Chris has a broad experience in housing, planning, and municipal matters. Prior to taking on the Building Code position, Chris was the Ontario Brownfields Co-ordinator, responsible for facilitating the re-use and redevelopment of former industrial and commercial lands. Before that Chris was Manager of the Urban Affairs Section of MMA, and Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister.

SYNOPSIS:

During construction, wood frame buildings can pose unique fire protection challenges. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in May 2016 produced a Guideline to assist designers, builders, and municipal Building Code enforcement and fire protection staff to assess and address the fire safety challenges posed by 5 and 6 storey (mid-rise) wood buildings. This document covers a broad range of topics from pre-construction fire safety planning, to dealing with various construction activities such as hot work, site security, site maintenance, and others. This presentation will give an overview of the document, and point out key considerations for stakeholders dealing with proposals for mid-rise wood buildings.

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Business Attire or Jacket and Tie