MEDICINE HAT, AB – Firefighters are worried about following changes to construction rules in the province.
The government will allow wood-framed buildings up to 12 storeys high come the spring.
The previous rule was 6 storeys.
The Alberta Fire Fighters Association says they were not consulted, and that wood-framed buildings burn much quicker.
Medicine Hat fire Chief Brian Stauth says their concern is at the construction phase.
“Supportive of the lumber industry and the opportunities that exist for them under the changes. One of the things that we’re concerned about is the buildings in the construction phase. So if we have a 12-storey building being constructed and we have exposed wood-framed construction, of course, that’s a concern of ours as to how we might manage that if a fire should start.”
As for Medicine Hat, there are no 12 storey buildings in the city according to Stauth
“We have buildings that are 10 stories high but are not made of wood-frame construction – they’re concrete, steel, brick, etc. We have a lot of 3 and 4 story wood frame construction. Under the current code, they can go up to 6, we don’t have any of those yet.”
“And then with the change, of course, 12 storey timber and beam frame construction would be allowed. The timber and beam frame is good from a structural strength standpoint. And timbers and laminated beams they’ll char but not burn through so it isn’t a risk for us when the buildings are in the occupancy stage, we don’t really see a difference from any other type of construction and the buildings will have sprinklers so that’s fine.”
The Alberta Fire Chiefs Association is looking at the issue right now. Stauth expects to see a statement from the chief’s organization in the next day or two.
Stauth says that it will probably around the lines of, “Let’s just slow down a little bit and take a look at this situation and make sure that when we’re in the building phase that there’s the capability to deal with anything that could happen.”
The association says it wants the province to provide specific training and have emergency response plans for municipalities that allow such buildings.
The provincial government included the decision in last year’s Red Tape Reduction Act.
