PCL Residential Buildings Analysis for Post-Disaster Requirements

PCL Constructors Canada Inc. is a group of independent construction companies that carry out diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and building markets [1]. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of more than $6 billion, making them the largest contracting organization in Canada. PCL Constructors Canada Inc. applies the appropriate building code for designing and civil construction. In the 2006 edition of the Ontario Building Code, a post-disaster building is defined as one that is essential to the provision of services in the event of a disaster. This includes buildings such as hospitals, power generating stations, communications facilities, and control centers for transportation [2]. Residential buildings do not fall under this category, and therefore are not required to maintain full functionality following a disaster. As such, designers and builders are only required to design and construct these buildings to withstand certain live, dead, wind, snow, and earthquake loads. 

Fahim Hamidi, a co-op student employed at PCL Constructors Inc., was asked to analyze and compare normal and post-disaster design requirements as per the 2006 Ontario Building Code for residential buildings, to identify potential new business opportunities.