Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 2(1), pp. 1 - 10
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020101
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Urban Construction Blasting In Canada - Complaints and Associated Municipal Bylaws

Jeff Loeb ^1,2, Dwayne D. Tannant ^1,*
1 School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, B.C., Canada V1V 1V7
² Now with Blast Movement Technologies, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Qld, Australia

ABSTRACT

Blasting in urban environments frequently results in both legitimate and frivolous complaints even though effective blasting practices and associated protective measures exist. Analysis of blasting-related complaints and the existing state of blasting regulations applicable to Canadian municipalities was conducted. Provincial blasting regulations typically do not prescribe the need for notification of planned blasts, pre-blast surveys, and blasting monitoring. In the absence of these requirements, some municipalities have developed their own blasting bylaws. Anecdotal results suggest that when a well-designed municipal blasting bylaw is present and is enforced, then complaints from the public are greatly reduced. To aid municipalities, this paper presents a generic blasting bylaw along with recommendations for a blast-notification protocol that were developed with input from blasting contractors and consultants. Key features in the bylaw require the blaster to 1) obtain a municipal blasting permit, 2) notify residents within a specified distance from the blast site of impending blasts, 3) carry out pre-blast surveys, and 4) use a third-party vibration-monitoring consultant.

KEYWORDS
Urban Blasting, Construction Practices, Public Complaints, Municipal Bylaws, Pre-blast Surveys, Damage Thresholds, Peak Particle Velocity

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Jeff Loeb , Dwayne D. Tannant , "Urban Construction Blasting In Canada - Complaints and Associated Municipal Bylaws," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1 - 10, 2014. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020101.

(b). APA Format:
Jeff Loeb , Dwayne D. Tannant (2014). Urban Construction Blasting In Canada - Complaints and Associated Municipal Bylaws. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 2(1), 1 - 10. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2014.020101.