GlassTalk

The Architectural Glass and Metal Technician program certifies glazier skills. But how do you test in a pandemic? Jeff and Ben join Patrick Flannery to explain how they came up with ways to test students remotely, and maintain the program’s high standards of rigor and integrity. They also cover how the North American Contractor Certification program acts as a quality assurance system for glazing contractors, and how membership could help with insurance costs.

Nothing like a major crisis to make everyone remember why industry associations are so important. In this episode, Nicole Harris and Patrick Flannery talk about the crucial role the NGA has played in keeping its members across the U.S.A. informed and connected to critical resources during the pandemic, including calling state governments to explain why float glass plants can’t just be shut down. Like everyone, the NGA has had to reach new levels of flexibility and innovation to keep providing its services and nowhere is that more evident than in the ambitious restructuring of GlassBuild into a month-long online event called GlassBuild Connect.

Haya Soghrati of UL Canada joins Patrick Flannery to share her knowledge of window wall standards and testing. The discussion ranges across the relevant standards governing window wall today, the implications for design and testing, requirements for energy efficiency and more.

As president of the Provincial Glaziers Association of Alberta and co-owner of Griffin Glass, Trevor Whyte has the big perspective on the western Canadian glass industry. In this episode, he and Glass Canada editor Patrick Flannery discuss which hockey jersey he wears, fly-by-night bidders, the PGAA’s plans for a future live event, the demise of the Master Glazier program and how to attract young talent to the glazing trades. Note: this podcast was recorded before the coronavirus outbreak.

We’re changing how we do things on jobsites: keeping workers apart, providing PPE and installing handwashing stations. But one of the big ways that coronavirus gets spread is just through people moving around. And with curbside deliveries only, the lineups and delays at the store can be significant. Luckily, there are site delivery services that can keep your crew on the job and away from the general public. Eamonn O’Rourke is the founder of one of these, and he told Glass Talk how it works and how it helps.

Pandemic response expert Suzanne Bernier joins Glass Canada Magazine editor Patrick Flannery to look back at the chaotic last couple months, assess our response to the coronavirus and forecast where the health authorities will go from here. Bernier has helped craft Ontario and the U.N.’s response to previous epidemics – there is no better person to educate us about this crazy time.

Government funding guru Bonny Koabel updates listeners on the most recent announcements from Ottawa about federal support for small businesses. Changes and clarifications to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy, including when it will become available and how to apply. Also, discussion of the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the Canada Student Service Grant and the Canada Summer Jobs program – all new or changed programs to help you take on summer students or help the ones you can’t.

Bonny Koabel joins Glass Talk again with the latest update on new government relief programs announced for small businesses affected by COVID-19. The news is changing daily – Bonny tells you what you need to know about who can access what funding and where to find it.

Some research is suggesting indoor humidity might affect the transmission of coronavirus and pathogens like it. That means we building façade designers and installers have a role to play in protecting people from pandemic. Experts suggest fewer than five per cent of buildings meet ASHRAE standards for humidity control. Alex McGowan of WSP in Victoria, B.C., joins Glass Talk to talk about ASHRAE and strategies for controlling humidity through better façade design.

The grim fact is some of our customers’ businesses will not survive this pandemic. Credit insurance is one way to protect your receivables and, no, it’s not too late to buy it. Veteran brokers Carl Pickett and Roch Simard explain the ins and outs of an insurance product that is sure to be getting more popular.