Innovation Summer 2025

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Newly published professional practice guidelines and advisories

New advisory for greenhouse gas emissions regulations for large existing buildings

Outdated riparian guidelines removed New provincial legislation has prompted the removal of the professional practice guidelines Legislated Riparian Assessments in BC . The guidelines were developed under the former Riparian Areas Regulation and were found to be out of date with the current Riparian Area Protection Regulation (RAPR) and industry practice, generally. Registrants should now refer to the RAPR when conducting riparian area assessments. This practice advisory provides guidance for registrants involved with existing Part 3 buildings as per the Vancouver Building By-law and within the City of Vancouver. It outlines professional expectations and obligations in relation to the City of Vancouver’s Annual Greenhouse Gas and Energy Limits By-law No. 13472. The bylaw requires emissions reporting, calls for decreased emissions intensity limits for some building types over time, and targets zero emissions for these buildings before 2040. All buildings subject to the Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) limits and/or Heat Energy requirements must have their energy and carbon reporting data periodically verified by a qualified third party. The advisory details roles and responsibilities of Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants, including assisting building owners in complying with the bylaw requirements and with meeting future GHG and energy limits through retrofitting or replacing traditional fuel-burning systems with more efficient or electric systems.

P hoto : lapis 2380/A dobe S tock

Upcoming webinars

Mandatory: Regulatory Learning Module for 2024-2025 Practising registrants must complete this mandatory Regulatory Learning module in the current reporting year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025). The course is available on-demand. This year’s module is focused on duty to report. The duty to report requires registrants who become aware of unsafe, illegal, or unethical practices, or risks of significant harm to the environment or to the health or safety of the public or a group of people, to make a report to Engineers and Geoscientists BC. This requirement promotes public safety and builds and reinforces public confidence in the professions of engineering and geoscience.

Guidelines and advisories

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Summer 2025

Innovation