News

Congratulations to Dominion Caulking

On January 21st, 2015, at the Toronto Construction Association’s Annual General Meeting, a SWA member won a “Best of the Best” award for Project Achievement in the medium category. Dominion Caulking/Langstaff Restoration won for the Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto. The award acknowledged their extraordinary project and for demonstrating outstanding leadership and business practices. The project set itself apart based on unique teamwork, dedication, innovation and professionalism that together culminates in this extraordinary project achievement. This major restoration of one of Toronto’s landmark hotels was the largest project to date for Dominion Caulking. Congratulations!

Article: Ontario's Sealant and Waterproofing Industry Evolves with New Products, Services and Market Challenges
The Ontario Construction Report - March 2012

click on the image below to view the article (PDF - 1MB)

Daily Commercial News - Letter to the Editor with regard to the preparation of safely regulations for suspended access equipment

http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/article/id49370/ohs

March 23, 2012

Letter to the Editor

Bowie Contracting helps draft regulations for suspended access equipment

To the Editor:

As it concerns your March 9, 2012 story “Ontario Needs Safety Champions” we could not agree more, and feel when something positive and proactive is done and is being done in this industry it needs to be recognized and needs to get put out there.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a subject matter that is at the forefront of what we do and how we do things every working day and it needs to be a primary topic so it doesn’t slip to the sidelines.

Our firm is involved in high rise restoration and is one of those in the “high risk” sector which the Ministry of Labour is targeting their blitz campaign on.

This awareness for us has always been there; it was however heightened since December 24, 2009 when four workers were killed and a fifth was badly injured while working off of suspended access equipment. This tragedy really shook our industry and there are several of us who are continuously working on improving this matter so it never happens again.

Our firm, along with a few select others, were voted as members to the Building and Concrete Restoration Association’s Safety Task Force.

We have been actively sitting on a working group of labour and management representatives under the IHSA Construction Legislative Review Committee (CLRC) which convened in July 2010 and has had numerous meetings to date on the subject of changes to the Regulations for Construction Projects dealing with Suspended Access Equipment (SAE).

Some of the proposals include but are not limited to: improved training requirements for both workers on SAE and workers setting up SAE — clearer and more detailed learning outcomes; improved means of notification of SAE work on a project; clear design requirements for platforms and systems and improved inspection and annual review criteria.

The working group under the CLRC will forward its recommended regulatory changes to the Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee of the IHSA (which is recognized under Section 21 of the OHS Act as a committee to advise the Minister of Labour) for stakeholder input before being forwarded to the Minister of Labour.

Our Safety Task Force members have also been involved from the stakeholder level with the provincial expert advisory panel and just recently attended a consultation with respects to Safe at Work Ontario.

In one of your stories on Jan. 17 Brook Restoration asked the question, “It’s been two years, where are all these new laws?”

Well, I think I know where the answer is...we are still waiting as these things unfortunately take time to go through the proper process. Unless things can improve on how changes to the regulations can be expedited, this is where we are.

Keith Bowie
Vice President
Bowie Contracting Ltd.

Alliance Agreement with the Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWRI)

The Sealant and Waterproofing Association (SWA) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Alliance Agreement with the Sealant, Waterproofing and Restoration Institute (SWRI).

This alliance will promote best industry practices for members working in the sealant, waterproofing and restoration industry and will strengthen the voice of SWA and SWRI through professional development to the construction industry and present a united voice on methods, techniques and products used in the industry, with the exchange of information representing an equitable partnership for both associations.

Andrew Porciello, President of the SWA and Marla Cosburn, SWA’s SWRI Liaison, along with Jed Daniel, President-Elect of the SWRI, signed the Agreement on September 10, 2009 at The School, where Jed Daniel made a presentation to members following lunch.

Photo – (left to right) – Andrew Porciello, Marla Cosburn and Jed Daniel

SWA Seminar on Surface Preparation

On Tuesday, April 10, 2007, the Sealant and Waterproofing presented a luncheon seminar at The School, on the topic of 'Surface Preparation'. Over 80 persons attended - the largest ever. The presenters were:

Paul Hanratty, BASF
Gord Crix, Tremco Ltd.
Yvon Chiasson, Halsall Associates Ltd.
Frank Di Giacomi, Tritan Inc.
Dan Pekic, Morrison Hershfield Ltd.
Andrew Porciello, Maxim Group General Contracting
Dan Martis, Morrison Hershfield Ltd.

The presentation related to the need for and method of surface preparation in two scenarios - Sealants and Waterproofing. In each scenario, a contractor and engineer debated the merits of the specified method vs. the contractor's suggestion. For a copy of the presentation, please click below.

Mark your calendar for the next events - the SWA golf tournament on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at Caledon Woods Golf Club and the SWA fishing derby on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at Bluffer's Park Marina.

View/Download the Slideshow Presentation (PDF - 661KB)

standing left to right - Yvan Chiasson, Andrew Porciello, Paul Hanratty, Dan Martis; sitting left to right - Gord Crix, Frank DiGiacomi, Dan Martis

SWA/CSC Joint Dinner Meeting

The SWA held a joint dinner meeting with CSC (Construction Specifications Canada) on Tues. Sept. 12, 2006 at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. The topic was Joint Sealants - Current Standards that can be used to replace CGSB standards. 80 people attended this session.

Brian Ballantyne, President of Brian Ballantyne Specifications, acted as the moderator. The Panel of experts consisted of Paul Hanratty, Sales Manager, BASF Building Systems, Rick Morgan, Construction Area Manager, GE Advanced Materials, Silicones, Gord Crix, Senior Technical Representative, Sealant/Waterproofing Division, Tremco. The panel was joined by Errol Bull, P.E., Technical Marketing Engineer, Structural Glazing/Curtainwall GE Advanced Materials. Errol is based in Waterford, NY and sits on the ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants.

Brian offered a review of the old standards. Errol discussed ATSM testing methods. Paul, Gord and Rick reviewed a properly written specification including the ATSM standards. The panel than fielded questions from the audience. It was an extremely informative presentation and excellent exposure for the SWA.

The CPCI graciously provided the newly completed Architectural Precast Concrete Sealant and Joint Guide as a handout for the attendees.

Members of the Panel (left to right) - Rick Morgan, Paul Hanratty, Errol Bull, Brian Ballantyne, Gord Crix

SWA Members Receive Toronto Construction Association 'Best of the Best' Awards

At the recent Toronto Construction Association annual meeting held on January 25, 2005, Mr. Craig Bowie, of Bowie Contracting (1996) Ltd. and President of the Sealant and Waterproofing Association, was the recipient of TCA's 2004 Young Construction Executive Leadership Award. Craig has shown significant involvement to promote and advance the construction industry and is truly a 'rising star' - a major asset to the industry. Congratulations, Craig!

Brian Thompson, TCA 2004 Chairman of the Board, presents the award to Craig Bowie.

At the recent Toronto Construction Association annual meeting held on January 25, 2005, Bothwell-Accurate Co. Ltd. was the recipient of the 2004 Specialty Contractor Award. A specialty contractor is defined as 'a contractor whose role in the normal course of business is not as a general contractor. They are effective as leaders in the industry, promote ethical practices, promote high safety and environmental standards and have excellent working relationships. Congratulations to Ralph Jamieson and everyone at Bothwell Accurate!