Bylaw aims to prevent falling debris from Calgary buildings
Rule changes would force owners to inspect the outside of the structures every five years
Building owners in Calgary may soon have to visually inspect the exteriors of their buildings to ensure there's nothing that could fall off and threaten public safety.
A new building maintenance bylaw was unanimously endorsed today by the city's planning and urban development committee.
Lloyd Suchet is the executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association, and said the bylaw strikes a balance between improved maintenance and reasonable requirements for owners.
"This means we needed to recognize and be sensitive to the resources of different owners and their ability to absorb those additional costs," he said.
The bylaw applies to 600 buildings in Calgary that are at least five storeys tall and 10 or more years old, with owners required to inspect the buildings every five years.
"BOMA Calgary believes the bylaw achieves that balance," said Suchet. "The bylaw's scope focuses on the buidlings that pose the greatest risk while the five year intervals are appropriate given best practice"
The bylaw now heads to council.
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Burying Crowchild Trail is just one option for easing congestion
- MORE CALGARY NEWS | Vancouver's mayor 'needs to do a little more homework' on pipelines, says Nenshi
With files from Bryan Labby