The training is designed to increase the capacity of professionals
working within the construction sector to integrate natural hazard
resistant building practices and procedures into residential design and
construction, through the application of the Construction Quality
Assurance (CQA) Mechanism.
Mr. Tony Gibbs and Mr. Grenville Phillips of Consulting Engineers
Partnership (CEP), a firm of Chartered Engineers with headquarters in
Barbados, are conducting the workshop over four days. The first session
took place on December 8 and 9 at the Conference Room of the Grenada
Chamber of Industry and Commerce; while the second will take place on
December 15 and 16 at the ARD Conference Room.
A total of 11 participants are registered in the workshop, including
engineers from the private sector, the Ministry of Works and the ARD.
The training focuses on conceptual design and detailing for houses
that can withstand both hurricanes and earthquakes. Reference materials
include the Grenada Building Code and Guidelines, the International
Building Code and the Code of Practice for Wind Loads for Structural
Designs developed by the OAS, Barbados Association of Professional
Engineers and the National Council for Science and Technology.
Training, along with Institutional Development and Public Education,
are part of the CQA Project for which the detailed Work Plan was
developed by OAS Consultant Terrence Smith; in collaboration with an
Advisory Group comprised of representatives from the OAS, ARD, Bankers’
Association of Grenada, Grenada Co-operative League Ltd., National
Insurance Scheme, Housing Authority of Grenada, Ministry of
Communications, Works and Transport, Ministry of Social Development,
Ministry of Health and the Environment, National Disaster Management
Agency, Physical Planning Unit of the Ministry of Finance, Association
of Grenada Insurance Companies, Grenada Society of Architects,
Construction Association of Grenada, Grenada Chamber of Industry and
Commerce and Grenada Institute of Professional Engineers.
The CQA training will continue in the New Year, with sessions for
inspectors of the Physical Planning Unit of the Ministry of Finance
scheduled for January 8 to 12, 2007 at the Flamboyant Hotel.