Building resilient infrastructure in a changing climate

OTTAWA, April 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) and the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) today announced their involvement in developing a new National Standard of Canada (NSC) to help Canada's North build a resilient infrastructure despite the uncertainties of a changing climate.   

Geotechnical Site Investigation for Building Foundations in Permafrost is the fifth in a suite of innovative standards developed by Canada's standardization network for the Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative (NISI). The suite aims to foster the long-term sustainability and resiliency of Canada's Northern infrastructure, a key priority for the Government of Canada.

Geotechnical site investigations are essential in order to appropriately plan for the design, construction and maintenance of infrastructure. In permafrost regions, these investigations have an added level of complexity. This standard will establish consistent methodology for collecting, evaluating, and reporting site conditions while accounting for seasonal and future climatic conditions. In the long term, it is expected that this standard will help lessen persistent maintenance issues which, as a result of changing ground temperature, can cause permanent damage to structures.

The need for a standard related to Geotechnical Site Investigation for Building Foundations in Permafrost was raised during discussions with Northern stakeholders and members of SCC's Northern Advisory Committee (NAC).This standard provides a foundational reference which is an important complement to the four existing NISI standards.  

Quick facts

• BNQ, a leading standards development organization (SDO) accredited by SCC, was selected by SCC in February 2015 to develop the fifth NISI standard. 
• The previous NISI standards were published over the last year and include:
  • Community drainage system planning, design, and maintenance in northern communities,
  • Thermosyphon foundations for buildings in permafrost regions,
  • Moderating the effects of permafrost degradation on existing building foundations and
  • Managing changing snow load risks for buildings in Canada's North.
• The NISI standards address the effects of climate change on new or existing infrastructure, as well as on retrofits, operations and maintenance.

Quotes

"With assistance from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and funding from the Government of Canada's Clean Air Agenda, SCC is pleased to support and deliver on the government's commitment to the North," said SCC's CEO, John Walter. "NISI is yet another clear example of how Canada's standardization network brings tangible value to all Canadians."

"BNQ is pleased to be associated with NISI and with SCC, to develop a National  Standard of Canada in geotechnical engineering, an area in which BNQ has been involved for the past several years. This new standard will  provide a framework for geotechnical studies, for all stakeholders working in Canada's Great North," said BNQ's Senior Director, Jean Rousseau.

More information

• Northern Infrastructure Standardization Initiative (NISI) program page
• News release backgrounder

About BNQ 
Reporting to the Centre de recherche industrielle du Québec (CRIQ), the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) has acted as a central standardization and certification organization and disseminator of information on standards for over 50 years. BNQ takes the lead in developing measures to support business, manufacturing, social and regulatory areas of interest. For more information: www.bnq.qc.ca

About the Standards Council of Canada
SCC is a Crown corporation and part of the Industry Canada portfolio that leads and facilitates the development and use of national and international standards and accreditation services in order to enhance Canada's competitiveness and well-being.For additional information on SCC, visit www.scc.ca.

SOURCE Standards Council of Canada

Image with caption: "Geotechnical site investigations are essential in order to appropriately plan for the design, construction and maintenance of Infrastructure. (CNW Group/Standards Council of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150401_C8402_PHOTO_EN_13872.jpg

Media contacts: Christine LaRocque, Manager, Communications, Standards Council of Canada, [phone] ext. 462, [email protected] ; Carole Roch, Communications advisor, Bureau de normalisation du Québec, + 514 946 0226, [email protected]