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Technical Note (National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research), 1963-08-01
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Modular Coordination in Canada - 1962: A Progress Report
Kent, S. R.
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DIVISION OF BUILDING RESEARCH
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
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N.B.H. APPROVED BYNOTlE
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CHECKED BY PREPARED BY S. R. Kent August 1963PREPARED FOR Record Purposes
SUBJECT MODULAR COORDINATION IN CANADA - 1962
A PROGRESS REPORT
The progress of dimensional coordination in Canada has been steady, with no unusual developments, so that many of the activities reported in this Note are continuations of those described in Technical Note 345 of August 1961.
Publications
The Modular Drafting Manual published in 1961 by the Division has now been published in French to encourage the development of modular coordination in the industrial and heavily populated areas of Cuebec. The four-page Canadian Building Digest No 8F, Coordination modulaire, has also been translated from the original English text.
Components
In a survey conducted by the Canadian Joint Committee on
Construction MaterialS (1), 'December 1962, thirty-two manufacturers replied that they were producing modular components as defined by the Canadian Standards Association Code on Modular Coordination in Building, A31-l959. The components listed were concrete blocks and bricks, glazed blocks, clay bricks and structural tile, chimney blocks, hardwood plywood panels, vinyl asbestos floor tile, linoleum tile, sheet linoleum, wooden sash and window
(1) CJCCM is composed of representatives of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Construction Association, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada and the Division of Building Research, National Research
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-units, log-type prefab buildings, asbestos cement siding and roofing, batt-type insulation, ceiling tile, aluminum sheets, industrial steel and aluminum sash, and curtain wall panels.
The problem of obtaining modular clay bricks and competitive brick masonry is still the major hindrance to modular progress, although the situation is improving. At a recent convention of clay brick manufacturers, two brick companies in Western Canada announced that they would be changed over to modular sizes by April 1964. This change means a reduction in the face size of the brick by 4 per cent. Similar changes may be expected without difficulty by the man°ufacturers in the Montreal and Ottawa areas, but the
adoption by Toronto manufacturers of the standard modular brick, which is 11.4 per cent smaller in face size than local production, is unpredictable. Standards
The first quality standard to include modular dimensions is now in
the process of being approved by the CSA directors. It is the GSA standard
entitled 'Hollow Load-Bearing Concrete Masonry Units'. The joint size for these units is 3/8 inch and the manufacturing deviation plus or minus 1/8 inch. Teaching the Modular System
The short course on modular drafting sponsored by the Ontario
Association of Architects' Committee on Dimensional Coordination in co-operation with DBR/NRC is still being conducted annually at the School of Architecture, University of Toronto. The course consists of two evenings of illustrated lectures followed by two evenings in which the students convert typical conventional plans and details to modular plans and details. The registration fee is five dollars
with ｡ｾｰ･｣ｩ｡ｬ fee of ten dollars for
a
group from a single office (one office senttwenty-two draftsmen). Public Meetings
The DBR/NRC, assisted by the CJCCM, conducted one-day meetings in Toronto and Montreal for all segments of the building industry in April 1963. The meetings were introduced by Dr. R. F. Legget, Director DBR/NRC;
Mr. Lennert Bergvall, Chairman of the International Modular Group described the modular theory and European experiences in its ｾｰｰｬｩ｣｡ｴｩｯｮ［ Mr. Byron Bloomfield, Executive Director of the Modular Building Standards As sociation spoke of the rapid progres s being made in the U.nited States; Architect R. W. Anderson explained the benefits to the architect and the contractor in working with the modular system; and Professor S. R. Kent traced the developments
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-of modular coordination in Canada. Although the attendance of about siJCty at each meeting was lower than anticipated, some encouraging results are ·already being noted. The proceedings are being published by DBR/NRC. '
Local branches of the CJCCM in Toronto and Hamilton each held a dinner meeting followed by discussions on modular coordination. Architects, engineers, material suppliers and contractor s participated.
Use of the Modular System in Practice
The replies in the survey conducted by the CJCCM in December 1962, showed that forty- six architects were using the modular principles in some of their work; half of them more than 50 per cent of the time. One hundred and three replied that they were going to try the modular system in the near future. Only three said that modular was too confining or impractical. In general, the survey showed that there was a definite growing interest to learn and a desire to apply modular coordination when more components became available.
Technical Note No. 345, August 1961, reported only one large architectural project. Since that time many large projects have been completed, particularly school buildings of precast concrete framework and panels and modular masonry. Plans are now underway for a new university in Toronto to be of modular construction. The most recent development, which may have wide-reaching effects, is the interest being shown by the Department of Public Works of the Canadian Government. This Department is at present informing its staff about the principles of modular coordination so that all federal building done by the Department directly and that done by retained practicing architects can be moduiar.
Another division of the Government, Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is endeavouring to use modular components wherever feasible in the housing designed and constructed under its direct controL
