From the Editor...
This year, 2005 marks the 75th year of this Institute. From a small core of 14 Fabricator members, CISC has grown to include mills, service centres, detailers, erectors, suppliers and designers as either members or associate members. In total, they represent over 400 individuals and firms involved, in some way, with CISC activities from the Atlantic to the Pacific shore. With good availability of most steel products, CISC members are ready and willing to see additional steel projects come their way. In this issue, a Canadian overview of the early days of steel construction is presented, quiz included!
Connecting braces so they perform well under seismic conditions may appear as more of an art than a science. In this issue, some of the mystery behind AgFy is clarified by providing a brief historical overview of how it arrived and is evolving in the CSA S16 Standard, including some tips to avoid oversizing the connection.
Fire safety is always a foremost concern and traditional solutions have relied on fire tests of building assemblies. Fire engineering is a newer and more rational approach to handle designs that deviate from tested systems. The article on the Nova Scotia Community College, featured on page 28, explores this application.
It is refreshingly rare for the public press to become enamoured by our industry’s endeavours. Therefore, when Lisa Rochon wrote of the exposed steel for the ROM expansion: “I’ll have another serving of steel”, I could not resist including her unique view in this issue. Thus, it is not hard to understand our new slogan "Steel: A History of Strength. A Future of Possibilities". Let us know what we can do for you. Happy birthday...to all of us!
Michael I. Gilmor, P.Eng., Editor