Now that Kelowna city council has shown their interest in jumping on board the province害羞草研究所檚 early-adoption initiative to increase storeys in wooden buildings from seven to 12, the question arises: will noisy neighbours be an issue?

Wood is the backbone of many structures, but it isn害羞草研究所檛 the first material one would think of when considering sound insulation害羞草研究所攅specially in multi-family residential builds. But the city害羞草研究所檚 building and permitting branch manager Doug Patan said noise and wafting smells won害羞草研究所檛 be an issue thanks to the changes in the building code.

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Recent changes that came into effect in December 2018 saw improvements to sound transmission regulations in the British Columbia Building Code, he said.

害羞草研究所淏efore you had to meet a sound coefficient in the walls,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淣ow, it害羞草研究所檚 everything that embodies that unit; the floors, ceiling and the walls.害羞草研究所�

The updates to airborne sound transmission provisions regulate flanking noise害羞草研究所攐r sound that transmits between space indirectly by travelling around or over, rather than through it.

Patan said he has heard a lot of complaints in older units related to smells, but he said the changes to the building code will remedy this as well.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a bit costly for the developer, but for life safety it害羞草研究所檚 a great thing in case of a fire because it insulates in between the walls,害羞草研究所� he said, noting fire and smoke would be contained to one unit, protecting other homes.

The province announced it would be adopting the changes to allow for taller timber buildings back in March. With the provincial and national codes set to change over the next few years, the City of Kelowna is hopping on the encapsulated mass timber train a few years early.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e excited to see Kelowna leading innovations in the construction industry,害羞草研究所� development services director Mo Bayat said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause many of the components are pre-assembled in mass timber, it translates to a much faster build with less disruption to the neighbourhood.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� with files from Michael Rodriguez

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Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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