Building permits, August 2019

The monthly value of building permits (seasonally adjusted) issued in Nova Scotia decreased 14.0 per cent in August, following a (revised) decrease of 19.8 per cent in July. Nova Scotia’s residential permits decreased 5.9 per cent while non-residential building decreased 29.5 per cent. Monthly results for building permits are highly volatile.

The six-month moving average of residential permits trended modestly upwards through 2017 and then declined in early 2018. Afterwards, residential permits resumed an upward trend before flattening out over the first eight months of 2019. The six-month moving average for non-residential permit values remained relatively flat from mid-2017 to late 2018. In early 2019, non-residential permits have trended downward, but there have been modest gains in recent months.

The trend in Nova Scotia building permit values largely reflects the trends in the Halifax market. The value of Halifax building permits decreased 8.5 per cent in August, reflecting a 0.4 per cent decrease in residential permit values and a 26.7 per cent decline in non-residential permit values.

The six-month moving average for residential permits in Halifax has been rising since mid-2016 except for a decline in the fall of 2017 and early 2018. Since then, Halifax residential permits trended upward before flattening out over the first eight months of 2019. Non-residential permits in Halifax have trended down since June 2017, though there has been a rebound in recent months.

Outside the Halifax market, building permit values declined 21.1 per cent in August 2019, as residential permit values decreased 13.9 per cent and non-residential permit values fell 32.4 per cent.  Non-residential permits trended upward outside of Halifax from mid-2017 to mid-2018, but have remained relatively flat since then. Residential permits have trended upward at a modest pace since mid-2017, but growth has been flat over the first eight months of 2019.

In total for January-August 2019, the value of Nova Scotia building permits was up 13.3 per cent compared to the first eight months of 2018. Residential permits are 27.0 per cent higher, and non-residential permits are down 11.3 per cent, year-to-date. The decline in non-residential building permits reflects declines in industrial (-35.1 per cent) and institutional/government (-31.2 per cent) permit values. Commercial permit values were up 0.5 per cent, year-to-date.

Halifax building permits were up 20.2 per cent in the first eight months of 2019 on strong gains in the residential sector (+41.3 per cent), while building permits outside of Halifax were up 3.9 per cent.

Building permits in Nova Scotia’s five economic regions totaled $1.22 billion (unadjusted) in the first eight months of 2019.  The largest contributor was the Halifax region, with a combined residential and non-residential permit value of $771.3 million. Year-to-date, the total value of residential and non-residential permits was up in all regions except Southern Nova Scotia and North Shore, with the largest percentage increases in Halifax and Cape Breton.

In the first eight months of 2019, the number of residential dwelling-units created (seasonally adjusted) in Nova Scotia was up by 902 units compared to Jan-Aug 2018.  Across the province, the number of multiple units created was up.  The number of singles created in Halifax was up while it was down outside of Halifax.

Nationally, residential building permit values (seasonally adjusted) were on an upward trend in 2016 but have levelled off since early 2017. National residential building permits were up 11.7 per cent in August. Non-residential building permit values rose through 2017 and peaked toward the end of the year, remaining relatively flat through 2018.  There was a modest rise in non-residential permit values at the beginning of 2019.  National non-residential permit values were down 2.7 per cent in August.

National non-residential permits are up 8.0 per cent through the first eight months of 2019 compared with the same period in 2018.  British Columbia had the largest gains in non-residential building permits (+33.0 per cent). Newfoundland and Labrador (-39.3 per cent) reported the largest decline, followed by Alberta (-20.0 per cent) and Nova Scotia (-11.3 per cent).

Year-to-date, the national value of total (residential and non-residential) building permits was up 2.3 per cent compared to Jan-Aug 2018.  Total building permit values were up in seven provinces in the first eight months of 2019, led by Prince Edward Island (+34.1 per cent) and Nova Scotia (+13.3 per cent). Newfoundland and Labrador reported the largest decline over this period (-34.1 per cent), followed by Alberta (-18.8 per cent).

 

Source: Statistics Canada.  Table  34-10-0066-01   Building permits, by type of structure and type of work (x 1,000)

CANS has a listing of CCDC and CCA documents for sale on CANSnet.

 

You can find information about each document and document prices in the Projects and Documents section of the website.

 

HOW TO ORDER

• Navigate to the ‘”Projects / Documents tab on our homepage, and click “Order Documents” (click here to be redirected to this page)
• To place a document order, simply click the green buttons labelled “Add & Checkout”.
• You will be emailed a code for downloadable documents or be contacted by a CANS staff member once your order is ready for physical documents and seals.

 

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Don’t forget that CANS staff are available between 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Monday to Friday to sign your CCDC 9-Statutory Declarations! This service is included with your membership fees.

 

Hurricane Preparedness: A Checklist for Your Construction Site

When severe weather hits, will your job site be ready? 

Buildings under construction are at high risk of catastrophic damage during a hurricane. Materials and debris can become projectiles, water can easily flood the building structure and expensive equipment may be lost or damaged. 

You need to be prepared. Don’t wait for the last minute to protect your project from an approaching hurricane. Developing an inclement weather policy for your construction sites will keep your team and your work safe in the eye of the storm. 

How to Prepare a Severe Weather Management Plan for your Job Site

Take the following steps and refer to these recommendations by the Canadian Red Cross to write a severe weather plan for your construction site.

1. Prepare Before Severe Weather Strikes

It’s important to have the right gear on hand to secure equipment and cover incomplete structures before a storm comes your way. Make sure each member of your team knows where they’re stored.

Hurricane Preparation Materials and Equipment:

• Concrete Anchors 
• Duct Tape
• Garbage Bags
• Generators
• Ground Anchors
• Fuel
• Misc. Hardware and Fasteners
• Netting
• Plastic Sheeting
• Plywood
• Pumps
• Rope
• Sand Bags
• Shoring and Bracing
• Water
• Wire

Consider keeping hard copies of contact lists, plans and other important documents in a safe place. These documents should include:

• An emergency evacuation plan.
• Emergency contact information for employees.
• List of hurricane preparation materials, equipment and their sources.
• A contact list of back-up personnel to call if recovery teams are unable to return to work.

2. Monitor the Weather Closely

Designate a team member to keep an eye on the weather once a Tropical Storm Watch is issued. 

• Check sites like The Weather Network and Environment Canada for the latest severe weather alerts.
• Invest in a weather radio powered by batteries, solar or a hand crank to receive weather information during power outages.

Environment Canada: Hurricane season runs from June to November each year.

3. Secure Structures and Equipment

Once Environment Canada issues a Hurricane Watch, it’s time to prepare your job site for the storm ahead. 

• Use rope, sandbags, ground anchors and other items to weigh down materials that could easily fly away. 
• Cover materials with plastic sheeting, netting or garbage bags to prevent water damage.
• Stack loose materials together and secure them with rope or duct tape to keep them from dispersing.
• Complete work on partially completed structures to minimize damage, if time allows.

4. Remove Materials and Equipment When Possible

If you’re able to remove loose materials or expensive equipment, do so immediately after a Hurricane Warning is announced. 

• Have your construction dumpster picked up or cover the container with a tarp.
• Remove or tie-down portable bathrooms.
• Remove hazardous chemicals to prevent them from being released into the environment.
• Remove materials, tools or equipment that can be damaged by rising water.
• Move heavy equipment and machinery to a garage or other covered structure.
• Tear down and store light-weight fence screens and job site signage.
• Move any portable electronics, job site plans and other important documents from the construction trailer to a safe location offsite.
• Turn off power to the site and make sure fuel is available for power generators.

Did you know? On average, 12 tropical storms, 6 of which become hurricanes, form over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea or Gulf of Mexico during the hurricane season.

5. Safeguard the Building Structure

Now that you’ve secured or removed materials and equipment, it’s time to defend the structure. Whether you’re working on a renovation or you’re constructing a new building, water can significantly damage the interior.

• Board up door and window openings.
• Tarp or board up any other large openings.
• Place sandbags around the perimeter of the structure as reinforcement.  

6. Evacuate the Work Site

It’s important to have an evacuation plan in place for your construction site. To determine when you need to leave, you should be familiar with the warning terms used for hurricanes.

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm watches mean that a hurricane or tropical storm is possible in the specified area.
• Hurricane/Tropical Storm warnings mean that a hurricane or tropical storm is expected to reach the area, typically within 24 hours.

Stay tuned to weather alerts via radio, TV or social media and evacuate as soon as local authorities give the word. Before storm season, learn your community’s emergency plans and the location of nearby shelters so your employees have a safe place to go if they can’t make it home. 

Returning to Your Construction Site After the Storm

7. Carefully Assess Damage 

Once you get the announcement that it’s safe to return to the area, it’s time to assess the damage and start cleaning up. 

• Be careful when walking in standing water, which may contain sharp or jagged objects.
• Use caution when entering the building because structural elements may be weakened.
• Rent a dumpster to safely dispose of materials that were damaged by the storm.

8. Plan to Remove Water

During a hurricane, water will inevitably flood your work site. Removing it is important for the safety of your property and neighbouring structures. Standing water can soften the ground, compromising structural stability.

• Place pumps in excavations or basements before the storm hits.
• Have dehumidifiers and fans available to dry out the space.
• Discharge water to the stormwater system.
• Have contact information on-hand for a tanker truck to haul away excess water.

Finally, the most important step is to keep your team informed about hurricane precautions. 

• • Discuss your hurricane action plan so your team knows exactly what to do when a storm hits. Ask your crew to read and sign off on the plan.
  • Establish who will take control in the event of a hurricane. This person will put the plan in motion and assign emergency responsibility roles. 
  • Designate two teams – one for hurricane response and the other for hurricane recovery. Whether this is necessary depends on the size of your crew and worksite.

Hurricane preparedness is essential for a safe construction site. We hope this list keeps you and your team out of harm’s way the next time severe weather hits.