De-Risking the Permit: A Practical Playbook for Alternative Solutions in Residential Construction
Workshop Session
Every builder has felt it, the permit that stalls, the resubmission cycle, the product you wanted to use but couldn't get approved. This session turns SSRIA's province wide research (30+ interviews with builders, manufacturers, and permitting authorities) into a practical playbook for getting non-standard approaches through the approval process with less time, cost, and uncertainty. Through a guided walkthrough and panel discussion featuring a Safety Codes expert, an Authority Having Jurisdiction, and a local builder, attendees will leave the session with a better uderstanding of the approval pathways available in Alberta, what reviewers actually look for in a submission, and how to de-risk their next project
Daniel Benner
Daniel Benner is Manager of Industry Relations at SSRIA (Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association), where he leads the Codes Acceleration Fund project developing Alberta's Low Carbon Approvals Guide, a practical toolkit for navigating alternative solutions in the permit process. With a foot in both worlds, Daniel also works in residential development, giving him a builder/developer view of the approval friction the research aims to solve. He works across Alberta's building sector connecting builders, manufacturers, municipalities, and innovators.
Rob McAdam
Rob McAdam is Associate Vice President of Accreditation and Compliance, and Administrator of Accreditation at the Alberta Safety Codes Council, where he leads Alberta’s accreditation and compliance programs under the Safety Codes Act. Rob works closely with municipalities, corporations, agencies, Safety Codes Officers, and government to support effective safety codes administration across Alberta. His approach is grounded in collaboration, with a focus on building strong relationships across the industry and ensure public confidence in the Safety Codes system.
Mark Lindenbach
Mark Lindenbach is Program Manager, Sustainability & Compliance with Avalon Master Builder, where he leads initiatives in Net Zero and Net Zero Ready construction, building performance, resiliency, safety, and regulatory compliance.
With more than two decades of experience in the fire service, including roles as a Senior Fire Officer and Fire Safety Codes Officer, Mark brings a practical risk-management perspective to high-performance housing.
He serves as Co-Chair of the CHBA Net Zero Technical Committee and Co-Chair of the CHBA Emissions & Resilience Working Group, helping advance practical solutions for energy efficiency, building science, and residential resilience across Canada.