Standards · Design principles · Practical applications · 5 Live Load Nuances in the NBCC Commentary

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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Standards · Engineered Precision (Part 4) vs. Prescriptive Paths (Part 9)

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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