Reconstruction of provincial fire and building codes will ensure entire neighbourhoods of sardine-packed homes won’t be destroyed before fire crews arrive, officials said Thursday.
“These changes will buy time for people to get out of their homes and for firefighters to respond,” Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk said.
The highly anticipated changes come almost two years after a raging inferno destroyed three homes in Royal Oak, and damaging another five.
At the time investigators said the homes were very close in proximity.
Home builders must now install fire-resistant materials — like gypsum board — under vinyl siding.
While the revisions were paved with good intentions, industry experts say they’ve lit a fire under builders, with mere weeks to about-face construction practices.
“Haste makes waste,” said Michael Nyikes, Canadian Homebuilders Association spokesperson. “By being so hasty, there could be a lot of problems perpetuated by this.”
The changes come into effect May 3, giving builders six weeks to adapt.
Nyikes said at least six months are needed for the industry to adequately prepare.
But most Calgary builders are receptive to the new safety guidelines, including Morrison Homes safety manager Frank Natt.
“I don’t think anyone will have a problem with it because it makes the homes safer for families. No amount of money is worth a human life,” Natt said.
While Homes By Avi product development manager Michael Jacobson also supports any safety initiatives, he was disappointed with the process.
“The problem we have … we definitely felt as if our concerns as an industry perhaps weren’t heard,” he said, adding there may be some challenging aspects to the new rules.
