BUILDING ENVELOPE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM

As a result of the “leaky condo” crisis, the majority of the municipalities and Cities of the Southwest coast of British Columbia have designated that all new construction projects (excluding single or duplex family dwellings under Part 9 of the Building Code) shall retain a qualified “Building Envelope Specialist (BES)”. Typically, the various building departments would identify which companies were qualified to act as a BES.

More recently, however, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) developed a Building Envelope Education Program (BEEP). After completing this program and verification of a pre-determined amount of experience in building envelope design and review, individual Professionals are now accredited as a Building Envelope Professional (BEP). In other words, the individual Professional, not the company, will be responsible for review and assurance of the building envelope design. The BEP is, however, able to designate certain aspects of this work.

The City of Vancouver requires the services of a BEP to provide assurances for the review of the building envelope design and installation for all new and restoration projects. The Scope of services of the BEP is more clearly defined in Part 5 of the Vancouver Building By-law 8057. Similar requirements are expected to be adopted by most municipal and civic building departments throughout the Southwest coastal area of B.C. (Authorities Having Jurisdiction).