Engineers and Geoscientists BC

Designing Guards for Building Projects Guideline Updated

Posted on January 10, 2019
Designing Guards for Building Projects Guideline Updated

The Professional Practice Guidelines – Designing Guards for Building Projects were developed to guide professional practice related to the design of guards. Guards are considered secondary structural components of buildings, and are critical to life safety because they are a barrier that prevents people from falling from a height. These guidelines were first published in 2013; this revision was released on December 11, 2018.

A variety of issues are discussed in these guidelines, including roles and responsibilities, design considerations, continuity of professional responsibility, and assurance pathways. This revision was undertaken to reflect current industry standards and practices, with the most notable change being the introduction of a new CSA standard, CSA A500 Building Guards, which is a comprehensive Canadian standard on the design, testing, and implementation of guards and provides explicit guidance on the use of glass in guards.

Guards play a significant role in public safety and these guidelines help to ensure that the design and construction of a guard will meet the appropriate standard of practice and the requirements of the applicable building code.

These guidelines were reviewed by a group of technical experts, and also received the endorsement of the Structural Engineers Association of BC and of the Architectural Institute of BC.

Professional Practice Guidelines and other professional practice resources can be found on the association’s website.