August 25, 2008

Professional Engineers Ontario

PEO unveils new performance standards for demolition

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

As a response to the 2003 Uptown Theatre collapse in Toronto, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has unveiled new performance standards governing preparation of a demolition plan and general review of demolition.

The standards, which became effective on July 25, apply to the work of all licenceholders involved in providing services for demolition projects as provided for under the Building Code Act.

“As the regulator of professional engineering in Ontario, it is PEO’s role to assure the public that licensed practitioners take responsibility for the outcomes of their work,” said CEO & Registrar Kim Allen.

“These performance standards were created to protect the public by putting in place an accountability mechanism where none existed explicitly previously.”

The standards outline engineers’ obligations when undertaking preparation of a demolition plan and general review, a process that includes periodic visits to the site to determine whether demolition in fact is proceeding in general conformity with the plan.

In an interview via e-mail, Allen said engineers now are required to “visit and examine” a site in order to assess site limitations and adjacent conditions that may affect the content of the demolition plan prior to its preparation.

They must also verify the structural characteristics and condition of the building or structure by conducting one or more inspections and by reviewing any existing drawings or specifications relating to the building or structure.

The demolition plan must include:

•A description of the structural characteristics and condition of the building or structure as verified by the engineer.

•The methodology a contractor should follow in demolishing the building or structure.

•A description of the measures necessary to ensure that the health or safety of any person is not endangered as a result of the demolition.

•A description of the measures necessary to ensure that the integrity of any other buildings, structures, buried or above-ground utilities or any other real property is not negatively affected as a result of the demolition.

•Identification of all buried or above-ground utilities under or at the demolition site and a description of the requirements for their safe disconnection, removal or protection before the commencement of demolition.

•A description of any environmental hazard that would or could arise as a result of the demolition and of the measures necessary to address the hazard, with reference to any applicable municipal, provincial or federal statutes, regulations, codes, standards or other legislation.

•Identification of any inspection or testing to be carried out by an independent company during the demolition.

Publication of the new performance standards stems from a recommendation from a coroner’s inquest into the collapse of the Uptown Theatre in downtown Toronto. A student was killed while 14 others were injured.

No engineer ever visited the site prior to the collapse of the 83-year-old building.

Developed between 2005 and mid-2007, the performance standards were approved in March, 2008.

“This important safety measure is the result of a major collaborative effort between PEO, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and the Ministry of Labour,” Allen said in a release.

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