Here we go again. The first heavy, wet snow of the season is plastering everything in sight, and you get that familiar call from an architect. “We’re looking at a large, flat roof on this new project. What kind of snow load do we need?”
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Solar panels, architectural sunshades, and complex multi-level rooflines are no longer the exception; they’re the norm in modern Canadian building design. While they score points for energy efficiency and visual appeal, they also create a minefield of unexpected snow and ice loads for structural engineers.
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We’ve all been there. It’s late, you’re deep into a design, and you’re staring at the National Building Code, wondering if you’ve caught every little detail. The NBCC is a dense document, and its companion, the Structural Commentaries, is packed with the “why” behind the rules. It’s in those commentaries that we find the nuances that can make or break a design, or at least save us a headache during a plan check.
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So, you’ve just been handed a project with a decently sized retaining wall, and it’s in a location with some seismic kick. Immediately, you know that your standard static analysis isn’t going to cut it. The response of a retaining wall to seismic loading is a complex soil-structure interaction problem, and figuring out the right approach can be daunting. This is a classic example of where we move beyond simplified prescriptive rules and into the world of engineered precision using Part 4 principles.
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If you’re practicing structural engineering in Canada, you know that Mother Nature doesn’t pull any punches. From heavy snowfalls to whipping winds, our designs constantly have to stand up to the elements. The National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) gives us the rulebook, but how we apply those rules can differ significantly, especially when we’re talking about Part 4 (Structural Design) versus Part 9 (Housing and Small Buildings).
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This post will focus on something fundamental to our everyday lives as structural engineers in Canada: the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and, more specifically, how we navigate the structural design requirements of Part 4 versus Part 9. Ever found yourself scratching your head over whether a project really needs the full Part 4 treatment, or if Part 9’s prescriptive paths are sufficient? You’re not alone.
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Welcome to my structural engineering blog! I’m Arun Kishore, a Structural Engineer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. This blog is a space where I plan to document my continuous learning journey, share insights, and discuss the diverse world of structural engineering – from codes and standards to design procedures, innovative ideas, and material-specific topics.
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