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National Research Council

Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council

Organization Type:
Government and Agency - Federal
Year initiated: 
1948
Objectives/focus/mandate/mission: 

The IRC develops and maintains the core competencies and the knowledge base critical to the needs of the Canadian construction sector, supports the development, commercialization and implementation of leading-edge technologies, and fosters the provision of safe and sustainable built environments through the development of codes and standards. It is the leading construction research agency in Canada, developing innovative solutions for the country's largest industry.

Language: 
English and French
Areas of specialization: 

Building Envelope and Structure: developing and applying technologies for design, construction, and operation of durable, energy-efficient, and cost-effective building systems. These technologies address both new construction and repair or renovation, for all types of buildings and some concrete structures.

Codes and Evaluation:

  • A national code centre supporting the development of the National Building Code and other national model codes on which construction regulation across Canada is based.
  • A national evaluation service determining the suitability of innovative construction products and technologies.

Fire Research:

fire modeling and experimentation in fire resistance, fire detection and suppression, fire development, smoke production and movement, human factors and fire risk assessment and developing methodologies and technologies that will save lives and reduce the total cost of fire in Canada.

Indoor Environment: improving the technologies and tools to design, operate, and maintain indoor environments for acoustics, thermal comfort, lighting use and air quality in all types of buildings.

Urban Infrastructure: developing technologies to design, construct, maintain and manage buried utilities and surface structures (Ottawa). Developing technologies for sustainable infrastructure for water and wastewater systems (Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure Research, Regina).

Sustainable Built Environment and Climate Change: developing tools that integrate technologies from all of NRCIRC's programs, to address environmental and economic impacts of construction.

 

Technology Transfer: turning knowledge into practical technical information for the construction sector.

Director/Manager/Contact Person: 

Contact person:
Guy Gosselin

Industry Liaison and Business Development
613-990-0458

 

Researchers and their fields of research: 

Fields of Research: Construction codes, product evaluation, housing design, community planning, urban design, residential construction, renovation technology, residential field testing and monitoring.

Contact information

Street address: 
1200 Montreal Road
Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0R6

Mailing address: 
1200 Montreal Road
Ottawa , Ontario K1A 0R6

Extra addresses: 

London Location:
800 Collip Circle
London ON N6G 4X8
Tel.: 519-430-7079

Regina Location:
6 Research Drive
Regina SK S4S7J7
Tel.: 306-780-3208

National Fire Laboratory
NRC Institute for Research in Construction
Building U-96
Ottawa ON K1A 0R6
Tel.: 613-993-2607

Main phone number: 
(613) 993-2607
Main fax number: 
(613) 952-7673

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