Canadian Consulting Engineer AugSep 2010 by Annex Business Media

For professional engineers in private practice

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010

Montreal’s Biodome has an HVAC upgrade Enermodal’s Grander View — the best of green building Fire and Green Roofs A Dollar a Day — the turbulent life of B.C. surveyors in WWI

Art Gallery of Alberta – Transformed Publications Mail Agreement #40069240

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contents

August/September 2010 Volume 51, No. 5

Cover image: Art Gallery of Alberta. Photograph by Robert Lemermeyer. See story page 20.

features Buildings A Grander View. Green building experts Enermodal have pulled out all the stops for their new headquarters in Kitchener, Ontario. By Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng., Enermodal Engineering

Art Gallery of Alberta - Transformed. Besides a dynamic new architectural form, the gallery has been refitted with environmental systems that match curatorial standards around the world. A Dollar a Day. See story page 31

By CCE staff and Stantec Consulting A World Beneath Glass. The complex environmental systems in Montreal’s Biôdome have been completely

departments

overhauled to be more energy efficient. By Olivier Matte, ing. & Andre-Benôit Allard, ing., Ecosystem

Comment

Up Front

History A Dollar a Day. Excerpt from Maps, Mountains &

ACEC Review

Mosquitoes: The McElhanney Story 1910-2010.

Events

By Katherine Gordon

Engineers & the Law

Products

Lighting News

Security Products

Advertiser Index

The Human Edge

Fire Protection No Fuel for the Fire. New standards address potential — but limited — fire risks with green roofs. 34

By John G. Smith HVAC Hydronic Balancing. A look at what causes temperature

Next issue: Winners in the 2010 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards!

variations in buildings — a cause of so many tenant complaints. By Dave Hudson and Dwayne Squires, Victaulic August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

engineer For professional engineers in private practice

comment

C a n a d i a n C o n s u lt i n g

Editor

Bronwen Parsons E-mail: bparsons@ccemag.com (416) 510-5119 Senior Publisher

The silence is deafening

Maureen Levy E-mail: mlevy@ccemag.com (416) 510-5111

ngineers often complain that they have too little influence in society. Decisions on huge infrastructure projects are made by politicians, and the politicians listen to the media. Yet the media and the public relations machine that feeds it virtually ignore what engineers might have to say. Typically the press releases on major construction projects will have nary a mention of the engineering firms involved or the difficulties they tackled. Take Waterfront Toronto’s Lower Don Lands, for example. Here’s a project that is going to relocate the mouth of a major river downtown, that involves flood protection for more than 230 hectares (“a potential half-billion dollar flood risk”), which requires remediating tonnes of contaminated soil, that needs new transit lines and will see building over 22 city blocks. Wouldn’t you think it is a bit of an engineering story? Yet in the recent promotional material and the media stories about the precinct, it’s the urban planners, landscape architects and architects who are trumpeted and who get to tell the story. There’s lots of news about “creating vibrant new communities,” “reconnecting people with the lake,” and winning architectural awards. But there’s scarcely anything about the technical issues the engineers have to overcome. To find the names of the consulting engineers requires delving through layers of information on the website. With few exceptions, this scenario is repeated across the country. Engineers are nowhere to be seen or heard whenever a major construction project is announced. Why should this be? And what are the ramifications? Actually, I have come to suspect that in many cases engineers secretly like it that way. They prefer to keep a low profile and stay out of the media limelight because then they avoid any public controversy that might arise. Yet this reticence has consequences. It means that engineers don’t wield the influence they should when it comes to debating major issues. Discussions are rife in our cities over topics like public transit routes, wind energy, waste treatment and air pollution. These are at heart technical issues, yet it’s the environmentalist groups and activists who get their point of view heard. Engineers are largely silent. Perhaps it is unrealistic to expect consulting engineers to talk frankly in public about specific engineering projects. Obviously they can’t speak about a project unless the owner invites them to. And they’re unwilling to be seen criticizing others’ projects even when they know something doesn’t make sense. Indeed it is against the ethical rules. Also, consulting engineers are in business and have to consider future work prospects and have responsibilities to their employees. Still, the deafening silence we have now seems wrong. Until engineers become more vocal and communicate more effectively with the public, the great challenges that they overcome to realize new developments in our cities remain hidden. All that the public sees are the slick fly-through videos and exquisite architectural drawings of the finished product. They only learn about what lies above ground after the fundamental work has been done. That’s a shame because civil engineering is a fascinating story, and it should be heard. Bronwen Parsons 4

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August/September 2010

Art Director

Ellie Robinson Contributing Editor

Rosalind Cairncross, P.Eng. Advertising Sales Manager

Vince Naccarato E-mail: vnaccarato@ccemag.com (416) 510-5118 Editorial Advisors

Andrew Bergmann, P.Eng., Bruce Bodden, P.Eng., Gerald Epp, P.Eng., Chris Newcomb, P.Eng., Laurier Nichols, ing., Lee Norton, P.Eng., Jonathan Rubes, P.Eng., Paul Ruffell, P.Eng., Andrew Steeves, P.Eng., Ron Wilson, P.Eng. Circulation

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12 Concorde Place, Suite 800 Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 Tel: (416) 442-5600 Fax: (416) 510-5134 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEER is published by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. EDITORIAL PURPOSE: Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine covers innovative engineering projects, news and business information for professional engineers engaged in private consulting practice. The editors assume no liability for the accuracy of the text or its fitness for any particular purpose. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Canada, 1 year $58.95; 2 years $88.95 + taxes Single copy $7.00 Cdn. + taxes. (GST 809751274-RT0001). United States U.S. $58.95. Foreign U.S. $81.95. Printed in Canada. Title registered at Trademarks Office, Ottawa. Copyright 1964. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner(s). ISSN: 0008-3267 (print), ISSN: 1923-3337 (digital) POSTAL INFORMATION: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Canadian Consulting Engineer, 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2. USPS 016-099. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals postage paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US Postmaster: send address changes to Canadian Consulting Engineer, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls NY 14304. Privacy: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us. tel: 1-800-668-2374, fax: 416-510-5134, e-mail: jhunter@businessinformationgroup.ca, mail to: Privacy Officer, BIG, 12 Concorde Place, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Member of the Canadian Business Press Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Inc.

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Aga Khan Development Network/Gary Otte

up front

CITIES

His Royal Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper look over a model of the Ismaili Centre and Aga Khan Museum in Toronto in May. DEVELOPMENTS

Ismaili Centre under way in Toronto Heavy earth movers are busy carving out a large open site west of the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto to build a new prayer and cultural centre for Toronto’s Ismaili Muslims. The official launch of the huge project on a 7-hectare site off Wynford Drive in Don Mills (close to Canadian Consulting Engineer’s offices) was held in May, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Royal Highness the Aga Khan in attendance. The project involves two major structures linked by gardens. The site also has underground parking and a utility plant. One of the buildings, the 7,430-m2 Ismaili Centre designed by Indian architect Charles Correa is dominated by a large circular prayer hall that has a glass cone roof that will radiate light at night. Behind the prayer hall is a two-storey social hall with a large slanted glass skylight and a roof terrace with views down onto the gardens. Ismaili centres are being built around the world, the Toronto project being the second in Canada (one 6

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was established in Burnaby, B.C. in 1985). The written handout on the Toronto building project says that Ismaili Centres “endeavour to share Islam’s values of peace, humanity and the shared responsibility for advancing the common good with the broader community in the countries in which they are located.” The second building, the 6,040-m2 Aga Khan Museum, will have exhibition spaces dedicated to Muslim arts and culture, as well as a library, classrooms, and a 350-seat auditorium for cultural events and conferences. The museum’s designer is Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki. The park, which is to be open to the public, incorporates Islamic formal gardens with reflecting pools and walkways, but also elements suited to Toronto’s winter climate. The team of local designers on the project includes Halcrow Yolles (structural); Delcan (civil); The Mitchell Partnership (mechanical), and Crossey Engineering (electrical). Local architects are Moriyama and Teshima. Imara is the project developer.

August/September 2010

continued on page 8

Lansdowne goes ahead Ottawa’s city council has decided to go ahead in partnership with a private developer to redevelop Lansdowne Park, a 37-acre parcel adjacent to the historic Rideau Canal and a few blocks south of Parliament Hill. For over 100 years the site has been home to the Central Canada Exhibition. Plans are to overhaul the 1960s-era Frank Clair Stadium and build retail and residential buildings around a piazza facing the historic Aberdeen Pavilion. STAFFING

Engineering shortage B.C. B.C.’s Labour Market Outlook predicts that engineering jobs will increase by 26% in the province over the next 10 years. However, at the same time, the number of engineers seeking work will increase by only 21%. BC Stats reports that unemployment among civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers was 7.1% in 2009. Come, First Nations Engineers Canada has signed an agreement with the Assembly of First Nations to encourage First Nations youth to pursue careers in engineering. The agreement was signed in July in Winnipeg. Aboriginal youth aged between 15 and 30 are the fastest growing population group in Canada.

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up front

continued from page 6

LANDMARKS

BP/CCE

New sails on Canada Place The white sail roof on Canada Place in Vancouver is being replaced after more than 20 years in service. Completed for Expo 86, Canada Place is a convention centre and

working on dismantling the 27-metre high roof and replacing it with a Sheerfill fabric roof. Ledcor is the contractor. The new sail fabric is an oatmeal colour but will be bleached by the sun to a brilliant white — a process that takes place over a year. The new roof material is self-cleaning: the sun’s UV rays create a chemical reaction with the fabric that results in the decomposition of stains through oxidation. The $21-million project is being funded by Canada’s Federal Infrastructure Action Plan. PEOPLE

Canada Place, Vancouver

cruise ship terminal on the waterfront in the city’s downtown. It lies to the east of the new convention centre expansion that was recently completed for the Winter Olympics. MEP-Pub SCGC 03/08/10 4:33 Birdair0710_Layout and Geiger1 Engineers arePM

Woman reaches top at ASHRAE For the first time in history, the venerable American Society of Heating, Refrigerating Page 1 and Air-Conditioning

Lynn G. Bellenger

Engineers (ASHRAE) has elected a female president: Lynn G. Bellenger, P.E. is a partner with Pathfinder Engineers & Architects of Rochester, New York. BUSINESS

Where’s the contract? Too many consulting engineers are still doing work for clients without having formal contracts with them, according to reports from the insurance company ENCON Group at the ACEC Annual Summit in St. Andrewsby-the Sea, New Brunswick on June 24. Derek Holloway, senior vice-president with Encon, said that 70% of professional liability claims against consulting engineers are from clients, and 40% of those claims relate to projects that don’t have contracts. The problem, then, for the insurer and lawyers defending the consulting engineer is that they can’t

The award was bestowed on the following group of four British Columbia organizations: the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia; the Ministry of Education of British Columbia; the Seismic Peer Review Committee; and the Earthquake Engineering Research Facility of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of British Columbia for their innovation, a paper entitled Guidelines for Performance-Based Seismic Assessments and Retrofits of Low-Rise British Columbia School Buildings. Canam Group is proud to sponsor this award and encourage innovation in the field of civil engineering in Canada. Tony Bégin, Commercial Development Manager, Canam Group; George Akhras, Chair of the CSCE Innovation and IT Committee; Doug Stewart of the Ministry of Education of British Columbia; Liam Finn, PhD, P.Eng., of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of British Columbia; Peter R. Mitchell, P.Eng., of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia; John Sherstobitoff, M.S., P.Eng., of Ausenco Sandwell; John Wallace, P.Eng., MIStructE, Struct.Eng., of Genivar; and Graham Taylor, PhD, P.Eng., of TBG Seismic Consultants Ltd.

Sponsored by:

www.csce-iit.ca • www.canamgroup.ws

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August/September 2010

up front

aWARDS

J.L. Richards wins top Ontario award Consulting Engineers of Ontario gave its annual awards on June 10 following the association’s annual meeting in Huntsville, Ontario. The top award, called the Willis Chipman Award, went to J. L. Richards & Associates for its role in upgrading the Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kingston, Ontario. The project involved adding BAF (biological aerated filters) technology and increasing the plant’s capacity by 30%.

Ravensview Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kingston, Ont.

For companies with 1 to 25 employees, an award of excellence went to Quad Engineering for “Hot Rolling of Titanium Ingots.” For firms with 26 to 100 employees, an award of excellence went to DST Consulting Engineers for “Green Ground Improvement of

a Brownfield in Thunder Bay.” For firms with 101+ employees, an award of excellence went to Dillon Consulting for the Walker Road CPR Grade Separation, Windsor. COMPANIES

Mergers and People Stantec has signed a letter of intent to acquire WilsonMiller, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm in Naples, Florida. It has 10 offices and 265 employees. Morrison Hershfield and Sikon Infrastructure signed a memorandum of understanding with the Métis Nation British Columbia on June Rosaire Sauriol, 25. The intention is to ing. encourage collaboration in business and economic opportunities. Genivar has acquired Terrain Group, a company of 150 people based in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta. Terrain specializes in municipal, surveying, transportation and environmental services. Rosaire Sauriol, ing., vice-president principal of Dessau, has become the 2010-11 president of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Quebec (AICQ).

INTERNATIONAL

Asbestos under fire The BBC has hit hard at Canada’s asbestos industry in a report “Dangers in the Dust” that was aired around the world this summer. The report said that Canada sent nearly 153,000 tonnes of chrysotile — white asbestos — to other countries in 2009. The chrysotile went to countries like India, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, where asbestos is still used as a building material. HERITAGE

Lighthouses on offer The Canadian government has declared that 976 lighthouses across Canada are surplus property, including landmarks like Peggy’s Cove lighthouse in Nova Scotia (below). Fisheries and Oceans Canada says Canada Maps

verify what the scope of work was. Holloway also explained that in 63% of claims cases, the consulting engineer ends up paying only the defence costs — not the damages. In other words, the consultant is not found to be liable, but was embroiled in the litigation simply by being a player in the construction project. Encon urges consultants to have contracts with their client “even on small projects,” and recommends using the ACEC Guide 31. And in an effort to reduce litigation, the insurer is launching a new online training tool. It is intended to train people in good project management practices and includes interactive screens, scenarios, and a quiz.

BUSINESS

New Western Canada trade agreement A new trade agreement between B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan came into effect July 1, 2010. It will be full implemented in Saskatchewan on July 1, 2013. The “New West Partnership Trade Agreement” is similar to TILMA (the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement) that has existed between B.C. and Alberta since 2006. The new agreement means that consultants will be entitled to work on projects in any of the three provinces, that all tenders will be posted on a common electronic tendering system, and that public clients have to use an open and transparent system for procuring their engineering services over a certain dollar value threshold.

that the surplus lighthouses are those that “could be replaced with simpler structures whose operation and maintenance would be more cost-effective.” The Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act allows the surplus lighthouses to be transferred to new owners who will conserve their heritage status.

August/September 2010

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ACEC review

Chair’s Message

Profile, Advocacy Among Top Priorities for ACEC

am fortunate to become Chairman of ACEC at a time when we have a new brand and, more importantly, clear strategic priorities. We have past-chair Andy Robinson and the ACEC Board to thank for this. Our current Board is committed to continuing to raise the profile of the consulting engineering industry. It is critical for ACEC and its members to continue to build on the strong national profile the association enjoys on Parliament Hill so that our leaders understand our critical role in our economy and our quality of life. We must also leverage our good standing and credibility among our stakeholders to expand the reach of our influence. Enhancing our profile and credibility is a cornerstone of

continuing our advocacy for a better business climate. But we cannot advocate effectively unless we are prepared to come to the table with solutions. With profile and influence comes the expectation that we need to be the authoritative voice on national issues concerning our industry. Our advocacy will be focused and well-resourced. For instance, the documents prepared by our Contracts Committee have positioned us as a recognized authority on commercial issues, as does our new P3 document. Of course our advocacy for the adoption of the InfraGuide Best Practice for Procurement of Professional Services has always been well documented and well researched. We will look to bring the same expertise and professionalism on many public policy issues important to our industry. Wilfrid Morin, ing., Chair Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC)

Message du Président du conseil

Le profil de l’industrie et la défense de ses intérêts figurent parmi les priorités de l’AFIC

e me considère très fortuné d’avoir été élu président du conseil de l’AFIC à une époque où nous avons développé une nouvelle image de marque et, ce qui est encore plus important, des priorités stratégiques clairement définies. Nous devons notre évolution à notre ancien président du conseil, Andy Robinson, et à notre conseils d’administration précédents. Présentement, notre conseil d’administration s’est engagé à continuer de hausser le profil de l’industrie du génie-conseil. Il est crucial pour l’AFIC et ses membres de poursuivre nos démarches, appuyées par notre forte présence nationale, auprès des décideurs du gouvernement fédéral pour que nos élus comprennent bien le rôle essentiel que joue notre industrie pour le bénéfice de notre économie et de notre qualité de vie. Nous devons aussi tirer parti de notre excellente réputation et de notre crédibilité auprès de nos partenaires et nos clients pour augmenter la portée de notre influence. Notre profil et notre crédibilité sont au cœur de nos démarches visant à créer un meilleur climat d’affaires pour

notre industrie. Mais nous ne pouvons pas représenter notre industrie efficacement si nous ne sommes pas préparés à présenter des solutions viables. En plus de notre profil et de notre influence, nous devons être une voix qui fait autorité sur les questions nationales qui concernent notre industrie. C’est pourquoi nos initiatives de représentation seront très ciblées et que nous y accorderons les meilleures ressources. Par exemple, les documents préparés par notre comité des contrats nous ont positionné comme une autorité reconnue sur les enjeux commerciaux, tout comme notre nouveau document sur les partenariats public-privé. De plus, nos initiatives et nos démarches visant l’adoption de la meilleure pratique d’InfraGuide pour la sélection d’experts-conseils ont toujours été très bien documentées et recherchées. Nous continuerons d’apporter le même niveau d’expertise et de professionnalisme sur les nombreuses questions relatives aux politiques publiques. Wilfrid Morin, ing., Président du conseil Association des firmes d’ingénieurs-conseils (AFIC)

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

aCEC rEviEW

Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards 2010 Join ACEC for a Soirée des artistes with the Famille Painchaud October 26, 2010!

Famille Painchaud from Quebec are set to perform at the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards.

CEC and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine invite you to attend the 42nd Annual Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards in the nation’s capital on October 26th, 2010. Join us for a night of celebration with arts, culture and entertainment! The event is scheduled to take place again at the Château Laurier, one of Ottawa’s renowned and focal landmarks. ACEC members and guests attending the Awards Gala will come together in recognizing their peers and the accomplishments made towards advancing the consulting engineering industry in Canada today. The Awards recognize projects and people “who have achieved the highest level of excellence in quality of engineering, innovation and impact on society.” Awards given out are both technical and non-technical in genre. Information on judging criteria is available at www.canadianconsultingengineer.com. With Members of Parliament and Senators representing all four parties in attendance, the Awards Gala offers an important and unique opportunity

to showcase the contribution that ACEC members make to Canada’s social, economic and environmental quality of life. For more information on the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards, please visit www.acec.ca. Entertainment The celebration would not be complete without fun entertainment! The Famille Painchaud from Quebec City has been charming audiences with their unique musical talents and humour for many years. In this family quartet made up of three brothers and one sister, each member plays more than one musical instrument. Their stage presence is second to none; they have performed before audiences in Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, Orlando and across Canada. ACEC looks forward to welcoming the Famille Painchaud to Ottawa for the Awards as attendees will not be disappointed by this multi-talented group.

aCEC Member organizations: Consulting Engineers of British Columbia, Consulting Engineers of Yukon, Consulting Engineers of alberta, Consulting Engineers of northwest territories, Consulting Engineers of saskatchewan, association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba, Consulting Engineers of ontario, association des ingénieurs-conseils du Québec, association of Consulting Engineering Companies – new Brunswick, Consulting Engineers of nova scotia, Consulting Engineers of prince Edward island, Consulting Engineers of newfoundland and labrador. 12

Canadian Consulting Engineer

August/September 2010

ACEC review

ACEC Summit 2010 a Success!

ver 170 participants enjoyed a very successful 2010 Annual Summit and Conference in St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, New Brunswick held June 24-26. This year’s theme “Changing Tides” focused on identifying risks and opportunities in the business and regulatory landscape after the recession and after stimulus funding. Nearly 20 experts from both the public and private sectors addressed many aspects of how firms can prepare for success in a changing market — both domestically and internationally. The Young Professionals program at the Summit was also successful with increased participation in its second year. Conference presentations and reports can be downloaded from the conference website at www.acec.ca under Services & Events. Photographs can be found in the same section. Mark your calendars now for June 22-25, 2011 for the next ACEC Annual Summit in Montebello, Québec!

This scholarship funds registration, airfare and accommodations to attend the annual conference of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). The 2010 FIDIC conference will take place this September in New Delhi, India.

Allen D. Williams Scholarship presented to Kimberly Mowat Kimberly Mowat, P.Eng. of R.V. Anderson Associates Ltd. was awarded the 2010 Allen D. Williams Scholarship from ACEC. The award is presented at the ACEC Summit each year to a young professional employed by an ACEC member firm who has demonstrated a Kimberly Mowat commitment to industry initiatives, has the ability to work as a team player in furthering industry goals, and who is involved in volunteer activities that contribute to the industry.

John Boyd Receives 2010 ACEC Chairman’s Award Each year, the outgoing ACEC Chairman presents an Award to an individual or individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the service of the consulting engineering industry. This year Andy Robinson presented Dr. John Boyd, recently retired from Golder Associates, as the recipient of the 2010 Chairman’s Award. In addition to his distinguished career with Golder Associates, Dr. Dr. John Boyd Boyd is a former Director and Chair of ACEC where

Bruce Sellery, keynote speaker, addressing delegates at the ACEC Summit.

he established a reputation for not only speaking out on behalf of the industry, but also challenging the industry to play a leadership in society — to act as the “trusted advisor.” He represented Canada on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), eventually serving as President from 2007 to 2009.

ACEC Co-ordinates The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies’ national office is located at 130 Albert Street, Suite 616, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4, tel: 1-800-565-0569; 613-236-0569; e-mail: jgamble@acec.ca.

August/September 2010

website: www.acec.ca

Canadian Consulting Engineer

aCEC rEviEW

ACEC-US Documents Now Available to ACEC-Canada Members

CEC is pleased to announce that the ACEC-US documents library is now available to ACEC-Canada Member firms at member rates. To request a discount code, ACEC Members can visit www.acec.ca and navigate to the publications section. Once Members have access to the code, it can be used for purchasing documents on the ACEC-US website. Hundreds of selections are available including contracts, policy documents, technical references and business publications. Here are just a few examples of their top sellers: an analysis of issues pertaining to QualificationsBased selection Public agencies that use QualificationsBased Selection (QBS) to procure architectural and engineering (A/E) services are better able to control construction costs and achieve a consistently high degree of project satisfaction than those using other procurement methods, according to a two-year study led by Paul S. Chinowsky, Ph.D

of the University of Colorado and Gordon A. Kingsley, Ph.D of Georgia Tech. The authors, both experts and noted researchers in the engineering and construction field, contend that QBS should continue to be the procurement method of choice for public contracting officers seeking to acquire A/E services to meet increasingly challenging infrastructure needs. the Blue sourcebook: Business practices and risk Management for Engineering firms A unique real-world guidebook that belongs in the library of every engineering firm, the book has sections that describe a wide variety of challenging everyday — and the less usual — situations and circumstances in which a firm may find itself, with advice and/ or alternatives on what to do next. financial Management for design professionals You don’t need to be a financial wizard to ensure the future success of your design firm! An accessible guide to

financial management, Financial Management for Design Professionals is written for design firm principals who are responsible for their firm’s finances but have little or no financial management education or experience. strategic planning for design firms A comprehensive guide to strategic planning for design professionals dedicated to the built environment – architects, engineers, environmental consultants, landscape architects, interior designers, and planners. Using real-life examples in a clear, accessible format, Strategic Planning for Design Firms will help leaders and owners of design firms understand the concepts of strategic planning and how to use them to complete a strategic planning process in their own firms. The guide is organized into three distinct sections. Wired to...Clients Get Inside Your Customers’ Minds for Success in Business Development. A book by David A. Stone.

Join ACEC at the 2010 FIDIC Conference in New Delhi, India!

he International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) will be holding its 2010 Conference from September 19 to 22 in New Delhi, India. This is the premier international conference and networking event for consulting engineering firms from over 60 countries. Additional conference information, including registration and accommodation, can be found at www.fidic2010. org. Visa requirements and application information can be found at Indian Visa and Consular Services at http://in.vfsglobal.ca/.

Canadian Consulting Engineer

A strong representation from ACEC member firms is again expected at FIDIC, especially since this FIDIC conference provides unique opportunities for Canadian firms interested in doing business in India. The Government of India is making significant infrastructure investments and therefore offers many potential business development opportunities. Therefore, ACEC is working with Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

August/September 2010

(DFAIT) to arrange exclusive information and networking sessions for ACEC members attending FIDIC. These special opportunities include an information seminar on Doing Business in India on Monday, September 20 from 1600 h to 1800 h, and an informal networking reception and dinner in cooperation with the Canadian High Commission in India on the evening of Tuesday, September 21. For more details, please call the ACEC office at 1-800565-0569.

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green buildings

A Grander View Enermodal has built for itself possibly the most energy efficient office building in Canada

Enermodal

By Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng., Enermodal Engineering

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

August/September 2010

green buildings

hen Enermodal Engineering decided to build a new headquarters on Lancaster Street West in Kitchener, southwest Ontario, we knew we had to set our sights high in terms of energy efficiency. As a leading green building consulting firm, we wanted a building that would showcase to our clients what is possible in today’s market — at a competitive cost — and to create Canada’s most energy efficient office. Now that we’ve lived in “A Grander View,” our new 2,040m2 office, for almost one full year, we know we have met our goal of using 65 kWh/m2. That figure compares with the Canadian average of 375 kWh/m2. A variety of factors help set this triple LEED Platinum candidate (New Construction, Commercial Interiors, and Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance) office apart from a conventional office: • a return to engineering basics • a highly efficient, yet simple mechanical system • recaptured waste water • a site that was previously an urban infill gravel lot. Engineering 101 — first reduce energy demand Enermodal’s approach to energy efficient mechanical design has long been to reduce the building’s energy demands and then deliver the remaining energy needs in the most efficient manner possible. The first aspect of this mantra — reducing demand — is fulfilled through applying Engineering 101 principles such as proper building orientation, insulation, and windows. Most offices suffer from unwanted glare and solar heat gain during the summer. The first way Enermodal addressed this problem was to orient the long building east-west, minimizing the east and west exposures. An airtight building envelope is one of the most important elements in achieving a high-performance building. In fact, 34% of the energy consumed by buildings is lost through the building envelope. Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are easy to install and give insulation value. To avoid thermal bridging (heat loss between two poor insulators), the construction team lined the window openings with insulation between

Enermodal Engineering was one of the first Canadian consultants to specialize in green building design and has been honing its skills in this area for 30 years. To date the firm is the LEED consultant for 40% of LEED Canada-certified projects – five times more than any other consulting firm. When the company recently built itself a new head office in Kitchener, Ontario, not surprisingly the consultants took advantage of their experience to combine in it the most effective green building strategies they know. The result is a building that they describe as “Canada’s most energy efficient office,” one that uses only 65 kWh per square metre. CCE asked Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng., Enermodal’s founder and president, to explain some of its features and how they amount to such remarkable energy savings.

Enermodal

continued on page 18

Far left: lobby atrium with glass sculpture of the nearby Grand River. Left: employee garden plots in front of the building.

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

green buildings

continued from page 17

Enermodal

Left: top to bottom. The narrow floorplate (12 m across) gives lots of daylight, lowering lighting costs; the mechanical system runs through an overhead bulkhead. Installing a concrete earth tube for the ventilation system. Automated exterior window blinds. A 5.5 PV system sits in front of rooftop heat pumps; the pumps connect to fancoil units in a variable refrigerant flow heating/cooling system.

the thick, concrete walls and the windows. Plywood bucks were used to protect the insulation. The ICF joints were sealed with tape to prevent moisture from penetrating the building shell. Windows are typically the leakiest part of an office building, and this fact was especially pertinent at A Grander View which has a 3-m2 window near to every occupant. Therefore, the windows are triple glazed, low-e argon filled, with fibreglass frames. Although these windows are expensive, the cost is offset because their high insulation value allowed us to eliminate perimeter heating. The main purpose of perimeter heating in most office buildings is to counteract drafty, poorly designed windows. The windows at A Grander View are recessed deep into the walls to provide shading for the staff when the sun is high in the sky. To cope with low sun angles, the south, west, and east exposures feature automated exterior shades. The shades have integrated sensors that respond to incident solar radiation and cause the shades to lower when heat or glare is an issue. The large windows were not only beneficial from the perspective of the employees’ health and happiness, but also for daylighting. Thanks to the ample daylight, the lighting power density is just 8 W/m2 — 38% below the energy savings required by ASHRAE 90.1. A simple approach to HVAC While many “green” building designs feature extremely complex, “sexy” mechanical systems, the approach taken by Enermodal was to simplify the mechanical system as much as possible. Before entering the building, outdoor air travels through concrete earth tubes buried in a hill behind the office. The tubes temper the air using the ambient temperature of the earth, which decreases the amount of energy needed to bring the air to the desired indoor temperature. Typical office buildings are heated by boilers and cooled by rooftop air-conditioning units. These two systems work independently of one another, and often at the same time. Simultaneously heating and cooling a space is

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August/September 2010

green buildings never efficient! A Grander View’s mechanical design is ef- floats near the top of the water level rather than being loficient because one system provides heating and cooling, cated near the bottom of the cistern. and never both functions at the same time. The building is The resulting water is cleaner, and the overall system heated and cooled by three rooftop air-source heat pumps more energy-efficient, than a conventional cistern. — one pump for each floor. Although most of the cistern water comes from roofCalled a multisplit variable refrigerant flow system, the collected rainwater, Enermodal receives additional potable heat pumps are connected to 60 small fan coil units that water from recapturing and using heat pump condensate are located throughout the building and distribute the created during the building cooling process. At peak coolheating or cooling. The system allows the occupants to ing season (when rainwater would also be scarcest), the control the temperature and humidity for their own small cooling process will produce 20 litres per hour (enough to work areas. The fan coils are connected by piping that car- flush a toilet five times). ries refrigerant. The refrigerant is sent through the piping by variable flow compressors that can work at very low Design around what’s salvageable speeds. These compressors allow the system to run with a While the inner workings of the mechanical system are the reduced amount of energy, representing an improvement most innovative aspect of the building, other aspects, such over most heating/cooling systems, which operate at full- as the selection of exterior materials and landscaping on or full-off. choices also contribute to its sustainability. The entire system is controlled by thermostats and ocThe use of salvaged materials requires a fundamental cupancy sensors that send a wireless infrared signal to the automation Enermodal receives additional potable water from system integrated into recapturing and using heat pump condensate the fan coils. This sophisticated automation created during the building cooling process. system has on/off, heat/ cool, and fan and compressor speeds. Rather than a building automation system in the mechanical room change in the way architects design buildings. Rather than controlled by a dedicated individual that tells the lights, coming up with their ideal aesthetic and specifying a certain ventilation, and heating/cooling when to turn on and off amount of each material, architects must find out what salfor the day, this system automatically turns on and off de- vaged materials are available and then design around the pending on the actual occupancy of a given space. quantities available. For example, A Grander View’s exterior Server rooms that house computer equipment typically features stone salvaged from a local demolished church. generate a significant amount of heat. At A Grander View Once all the stone was used, other materials, such as recythis heat is reused to provide the building’s domestic hot cled steel, FSC-certified cedar, and stucco helped to soften water pre-heating demand through an air-to-water heat the unrelieved façade of this long, rectangular building. Another salvaged material, stone from the famed St. pump. The approach also reduces the amount of energy Clair River Tunnel in Sarnia, was used in a retaining wall needed to cool the server room. These measures help Enermodal achieve 82% actual and to enclose the employee garden plots. Previously an urban infill gravel lot overlooking the picenergy savings compared with Canada’s Model National turesque Grand River, the site is now landscaped using only Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB). native, drought-tolerant species plants. They provide habitat Energy efficiency and non-potable water and sustenance for wildlife and require no irrigation. cce The non-potable water needs of the building, such as toilet flushing, are supplied by a 30 m3 rainwater cistern. A sig- Stephen Carpenter, P.Eng. is president of Enermodal Engineernificant energy user in most cistern systems is a series of fil- ing, which has offices in Kitchener, Calgary, Edmonton, Winters to remove sediment from the water before it is deliv- nipeg, and Toronto. ered. To eliminate those filters, the cistern system at A Grander View has the following elements: Mechanical, electrical, structural, civil engineering, • Rainwater initially passes through a screen to remove most LEED/energy efficiency, commissioning and energy sediment; monitoring: Enermodal Engineering (Stephen Carpenter, • Water is delivered to the cistern at a reduced rate so as to P.Eng., Richard Lay, P.Eng., Tim Dietrich, P.Eng., not disturb the sediment at the bottom of the cistern; Farid Ahmed, P.Eng., Victor Halder) • The pump that takes the cistern water into the building Architect: Robertson Simmons architects

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

buildings

Art Gallery of Alberta Transformed Inside its dramatic new exterior, the Art Gallery of Alberta has environmental systems that match curatorial standards around the world.

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August/September 2010

buildings

he 1968 brutalist square concrete building that was home for the Art Gallery of Alberta in downtown Edmonton is no more. Part of the original structure still exists — 3,437 m2 to be exact — but it is buried within the folds of a dramatic new metal and glass addition. The $88-million, 7,900 m2 (285,000 sq. ft.) renovated building on Sir Winston Churchill Square in the heart of Edmonton opened in January this year. Designed by an American architect, Randall Stout of Los Angeles, the building is a swirling mass of metal, glass, rounded edges and protrusions. It resembles an organic living creature as much as a building. The exterior is a combination of patinated zinc panels, fritted glass stretches, and a massive stainless steel ribbon, “the Aurora Borealis.” This 31 x 190-m metal feature threads its way from above the building entrance to inside the lobby and great hall, leading into the galleries. Derrick Roorda of DeSimone Consulting Engineers of San Francisco, the building’s structural engineers, says that designing such a complex geometric form with its intersecting volumes was a challenge: “But that’s what makes it exciting.” The primary issue was coordinating different software programs. “We needed to create multiple 3D models, some for performing structural analysis, and others that we provided to the contractors to describe the building geometry,” Roorda explains. “Unfortunately, software today does not allow you to easily

make changes in one program and translate those changes to the others.” Large portions of the original building structure were removed. “Then we dropped some steel columns down through that existing structure in order to support a two-storey addition that sits above the old building,” says Roorda. They had to drill new piles and foundations within the existing basement space. Because of the multiple sloping steel and glass elements that make up the roof, calculating the snow loads and where the snow would accumulate required a special study by RWDI. Roorda explains that another challenge was preventing thermal bridging. “We had to come up with a way to allow big portions of the structure to penetrate the building envelope — the large curving metal structure in particular.” The design team worked with the steel fabricators and inserted a portion of wood (oak) in between two steel plates where the structure penetrated the building envelope. The wood element is an insulator and has steel bolts to provide the necessary structural integrity. Read Jones Christoffersen of Edmonton helped the architect to engineer the exterior cladding system for this complex building. Nick Trovato, P.Eng. of RJC explains that they used a PERSIST (pressure equalized rainscreen insulated structure technique). The typical wall assembly includes: zinc exterior, metal backer, Z-girts, semi-rigid insulation, and an air barrier/vapour retarder/waterproof membrane over the interior back-up wall. There is a drainage cavity behind the cladding. — BP continued on page 22

Robert Lemermeyer

Left: inside the lobby. Right: building in the heart of Edmonton.

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

buildings

continued from page 21

Robert Lemermeyer

Photos right: inside the galleries.

Mechanical Systems By Bob Campbell, P.Eng., Stantec echanical systems for the Art Gallery of Alberta have been designed to accommodate the most stringent environmental conditions that are on a level of those required by galleries worldwide. Alan Scott, P.Eng. was chairman of the Art Gallery of Alberta from 2001 to 2010, and led the gallery’s redevelopment: “Our objective was to develop a facility to support art exhibitions which have been assembled from major art centres throughout the world. In this regard, art lending institutions require the strictest control of air quality, temperature, and humidity, with lighting that reflects the true presentation.” Scott continues: “Our on-line provision to art lending institutions allows [them] access to current environmental conditions in the galleries for monitoring while their art pieces are in our possession. The mechanical and electrical systems supporting the gallery environment is a critical component to the AGA’s ability to display art from around the world.” A “Basis of Design” document developed by IBE Consulting Engineers of Los Angeles formed the design criteria for the mechanical and electrical systems. Stantec implemented the design criteria put forward by IBE. Each gallery space has its own temperature and humidity control. Of critical importance is the need to continuously maintain relative humidity (RH) at 50% (+/- 5%) in all the spaces that handle art pieces. The gallery also has continuously to maintain these spaces at a temperature of 22 (+/-0.5)°C during summer months, and 20 (+/- 0.5)°C during winter months.

Robert Lemermeyer

In Edmonton outside temperatures and humidity range from —44°C and zero moisture content during winter conditions, to +35°C during summer. There can be relative humidity as high as 100% during rainy periods. The mechanical systems must be able to manage these weather extremes and maintain the gallery environment within the specified limits. In addition to temperature and humidity control, it is necessary to filter all the air supplied to the galleries, using carbon filters to remove airborne gases and media filters to remove small airborne particulate to Merv 16 (equivalent to HEPA filtration for clean rooms). The galleries are maintained at a positive pressure with respect to adjacent spaces to ensure surrounding air cannot enter the gallery before being filtered and tempered. Air distribution to the galleries has been designed to be quiet, with noise levels not exceeding NC 30, equivalent to a quiet meeting room. The water used to make up steam for injection when humidification is required is filtered, softened, and passed through a reverse osmosis unit before being delivered to electric steam generators. To prevent any potential water damage, the mechanical design avoids having plumbing and water distribution pipcontinued on page 25

Owner: Art Gallery of Alberta. Architect: Randall Stout. Structural engineers: DeSimone; BP-TEC DNW Engineering (associate). Mechanical-electrical engineers: IBE, Stantec. Lighting: Lam Partners. Other key players: Read Jones Christoffersen (curtainwall), RWDI (snow, wind, ice), GHL (code), Newcomb & Boyd (acoustics), Ledcor (construction manager), Architecture Arndt Tkalcic Bengert (project manager). Supplier: Viessmann (condensing boilers).

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August/September 2010

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buildings

continued from page 23

ing above the galleries. Where necessary, drip pans are used below all the piping work to protect the integrity of the ceiling. Several energy conserving measures have been incorporated into the central plant design. High efficiency condensing boilers are used to generate building heat and to temper air supplies during the winter months. Multi-stage high efficiency chillers are used to generate chilled water for cooling during summer months. “Free Cooling” is generated in closed loop cooling towers during periods of low cooling demand when the chillers can be turned off. The ventilation systems use variable frequency drives to regulate fan speeds to meet the demands of the ventilation system. An automatic digital control system provides the operator interface to monitor all the space temperature and humidity conditions, control the central plant systems and monitor alarms.

Ultra-violet sensitive lighting appliances were used in the galleries. The signature lighting motif in the building is the atrium stair’s “lightfin.” Doubling as a donor display wall and as iconography for the vertical circulation, the feature’s backlit panels light

the stair via programmable colourchanging LED fixtures. Systems such as the fire alarm, sprinkler systems, egress lighting, security systems, and an emergency generator were selected for both life safety and to protect the artifacts. CCE

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he electrical systems have also been designed to accommodate the most stringent gallery environmental conditions and for energy efficiency. The new lighting system, for example, manages energy usage and maintenance through a building-wide dimming system. Selective dimming allows less power consumption and extends lamp life. For the galleries’ display lighting, extensive and programmable dimming controls (for creating multiple scene settings) were designed and installed. The light track is flexible to allow curators the freedom to manage diverse collections and focus on enhancing the artwork. Each gallery has precisely spaced, non-dominant layouts — washing walls, lighting corners, and lighting objects away from walls.

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hvac

A World Beneath Glass The building systems in Montreal’s Biodome have been completely overhauled to be more energy efficient.

Wally Gobetz/Flickr

By Olivier Matte, ing. and Andre-Benôit Allard, ing. Ecosystem

Above: aerial view of Biôdome; it has four “ecosystems” under its expansive glass roof.

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

ith their focus on life and the world around us, Montréal’s Nature Museums — the Biodôme, the Insectarium, the Botanical Garden and the Planetarium — offer an enriching perspective on natural science. Together, the institutions represent the largest natural science museum in Canada, receiving nearly two million visitors every year. They are located near Montreal’s Olympic Stadium in a large park seven kilometres north-east of downtown Montreal. The Biodôme is the largest of all four institutions at 35,000 square metres. With its glass roof, it brings plenty of

August/September 2010

hvac Plan, the Biodôme recently underwent a major renovation to make it more energy efficient. Although many energy upgrades had been implemented in the past, it was time to invest in a major overhaul of the HVAC systems. A public request for proposals led to a partnership with Ecosystem, a Quebec ESCO (Energy Services Company) dedicated to turnkey energy efficiency projects with guaranteed financial savings. Ecosystem worked with Jean Bouvrette, Division Chief of Technical Services of the Nature Museums, and his team to achieve many innovations. The $8-million project includes energy efficiency upgrades for the Botanical Garden, the Insectarium and the Biodôme. The guaranteed annual savings are expected to reach $1 million, equivalent to 27% of the museums’ current energy bills. As of July 2010, most of the measures have been implemented in all three buildings but the energy savings follow-up has not commenced. Improvements to the lighting, drives and motors are already generating $160,000 in savings per year. The bulk of the new HVAC investments and savings apply to the Biodôme. In this building all the network re-engineering is done and the new equipment is installed. Heat recovery started working this summer and the open loop geothermal system has also been operational as of this summer.

natural light to the various ecosystem exhibits inside. The 35,000-m2 building was originally built as the Velodrome for the 1976 Montreal’s Olympic games and had a bicycle race track and ice rink. Today the shell remains untouched but new divisions have been created inside to recreate four different ecosystems of the Americas: the Tropical Forest, the Saint-Lawrence Marine ecosystem, the Laurentian Forest, and the Polar World. Each has its own appropriate climate control. Housing over 4,800 animals of 230 species and nearly 750 plant species, the Biodôme is an exceptional concept with unique operating challenges. In line with the Montreal City Sustainable Development

Taking advantage of different environment zones Previously the Biodôme bought steam and cold water from the Olympic Park’s central plant. Now the Biodôme will take full advantage of the heat and cooling recovery within the building. This eliminates the cost of purchasing steam and greatly reduces the consumption of cold water (mostly used as a back-up). Each of the ecosystem areas require specific environmental conditions. While the Tropical Forest is based on the Costa Rican climate of 25°-30°C, the St-Lawrence Marine ecosystem and the Boreal Forest ecosystem both have temperatures ranging from 4°C to 25°C depending on the season. The Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems are maintained at 11°C and 2°C, respectively, throughout the year. Our design took advantage of these variations in demand. The important, year-long overall cooling load is being recovered to provide hot water heating to the Tropical Forest and office spaces throughout the winter. Four heat pump units (one 250 tons and three 450 tons) have been installed to assume the complete cooling load previously provided by the Olympic Park. Since the heating capacity of the heat pumps was dependent on the cooling load in the building, other strategies were used to recover more heat as that cooling load diminishes during wintertime. Large open loop geothermal system When the heating load of the building exceeds the cooling load, heat pumps will recover energy from an open loop

continued on page 28

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

hvac Ecosystem

continued from page 27

Winter Management

Biodome’s Heat Recovery System In winter, the heat pumps provide

Laurentian Forest

cold water to cool the HVAC units

Tropical Forest

supplying the Polar ecosystem (Arctic and Antarctic), the Laurentian Forest

Saint-Lawrence Marine Ecosystem

and the St-Lawrence Marine ecosystems. By doing so, the system recov-

Arctic Antarctic

ers the heat and transfers it to the

Areas of service and offices

hot water loop supplying the HVAC systems of the Tropical Forest and the office spaces. Additional heat is also recovered from the ground water. During the summer, the process

Heat Pump

is reversed. As the cold water is directed toward the HVAC systems supplying the office space and all the ecosystems (except for the Tropical Forest), the hot water is directed toward the Tropical Forest and the

Heat exchanger

excess heat is released within the

Groundwater geothermal system. Geologic studies led to the finding of a ground water source 20 metres below the building. This water is clean enough and chemically compatible to be used for heat recovery during winter and heat rejection during summer. In this way, the efficiency of the chillers will be much better compared to using them with a cooling tower. An estimated 2,700 m3/day (720,000 US Gallons/day) of ground water table will be pumped during peak demand to make this system one of the largest open loop geothermal systems in Canada. Dual walled plate heat exchangers will prevent any chance of ground water mixing with the heating or cooling fluid of the building. Heat recovery within the building will always have priority over the geothermal system. Reengineering of existing networks Ecosystem’s reengineering aspect of the project was essential to fully take advantage of the heat pumps’ efficiency. A new hot water network, complete with new pumps, had to be installed in order to supply all the mechanical rooms with hot water. Major modifications also had to be made to the cooling network that supplies the office spaces and the ecosystems. Approximately 230 hp of pumps have been removed and the new cooling/heating network has roughly added 370 hp. The major pumps are equipped with variable speed drives to modulate according to the build28

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August/September 2010

confined ground water.

ing’s heating/cooling loads. In the ventilation systems, six steam coils totalling 70,000 CFM had to be replaced by low temperature hot water coils to take advantage of the 35°C (95˚F) hot water produced by the heat pumps. Ventilation controls and energy efficiency Between the fan motors’ electricity consumption and the fresh air heating load, ventilation systems are consuming a fair amount of energy in the Biodôme. Free cooling with outside air has been reduced since we now provide mechanical cooling and heat recovery with the heat pumps. To reduce the energy consumption, variable speed drives have been installed on over 35 fans, and most fan motors were replaced with newer motors that have the appropriate isolation to work with variable speed drives. While the ventilation to the office spaces operates according to a pre-programmed schedule, conditions in the other ecosystems are controlled by many factors including pre-programmed schedules, CO2 levels, temperature set points and pressure differential set points. Energy efficient pools Water quality in the pools and ponds of the exhibit areas is just as crucial as the temperature set points and air quality. The previous filtration systems were equipped with restric-

hvac Ecosystem

Top right: each ecosystem has its own lighting requirements to simulate natural conditions. Below right: installing the heat pumps was a logistical challenge.

tion valves that were modulating to maintain a constant flow to the sand filters. The pumps were then running full speed at all times to compensate for the pressure loss variations of the filters. These systems have been upgraded with new motors with variable speed drives that are now modulating the pumps’ speed to maintain the flow rate. Considering that the pumps work 24/7 all year long, the upgrade generates great savings.

Challenging equipment installation A logistical challenge was to find the most cost effective, least obtrusive way to get the new heat pumps to the mechanical room, which has no direct access to outdoors. To bring the units in they had to be hauled on an I-beam structure 3 metres above the floor to clear an electrical current transformer and high voltage lines. No room for errors here. What appears a simple task required many weeks of preparation and coordination with JPM Metal, a contractor specialized in frameworks. The energy efficiency improvements are expected to reduce the GHG emissions by 30%, which is equivalent to removing 600 cars from the road. The project received a total of $1.7 million from Hydro-Québec, the FCM Green Municipal Funds and Natural Resources Canada’s EcoEnergy program. For the Montréal’s Nature Museums administration, this project is one of many steps they are taking towards their ultimate target of having zero waste and zero greenhouse

Ecosystem

Lighting to mimic nature Major improvements were also made to the lighting systems. Close attention had to be given to the ecosystems as the lighting there must complement the natural light coming from the glass roof. Each ecosystem has its own requirements. For instance, the daylight period of the Tropical Forest must remain fairly constant throughout the year, as opposed to the Laurentian Forest, which fluctuates a lot. The Polar ecosystem is the only one that does not receive natural sunlight. Here, 3000K T5 dimmable fixtures were installed to simulate natural lighting for the Nordic species. For the other ecosystems, a mix of metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps are used. High pressure sodium lamps produce a more yellowish light and the mix of both types will allow for a better simulation of the shades of light throughout the day. All the ballasts were relocated 69 metres away from the fixtures and outside the ecosystems, which led to a vast improvement in the acoustics in the ecosystems. gas emissions from their buildings within 15 years. The future Planetarium, expected for 2012, targets a LEED Platinum certification. In Charles-Mathieu Brunelle’s words (executive director of Montréal’s Nature Museums): “Progress toward energy efficiency is a must; considering the state of our planet in this day and age, we need to take action, collectively and swiftly.” cce Olivier Matte, ing. and André-Benôit Allard, ing. are both with Ecosystem in Montreal. Matte is in charge of training and awareness and Allard is the project manager for the Biodome upgrades. Owner: Montreal Nature Museums Mechanical-electrical design and construction: Ecosystem (André-Benôit Allard, ing., Thierry Desjardins, ing., Caroline Payeur, ing.jr., Jean-Philippe Rondeau, ing.) Mechanical-electrical system drawings: Pageau Morel et associés, CIMA+ August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

events

Green Building Festival, Toronto On September 22-24, the sixth annual Green Building Festival will take place at the Direct Energy Centre, downtown Toronto. For the second year, the festival is being held in conjunction with IIDEX Neocon Canada. Following are selected sessions that will be of particular interest to consulting engineers. To see full details and the complete program, visit www.greenbuildingfest.com

PLENARY HIGHLIGHTS, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22

its Environmental Assessment Method for Buildings (BREEAM).

3:30- 4:15 p.m. Stadthous, Murray Grove. Constructed entirely from cross-laminated timber from the first floor upwards, Stadthaus is the tallest timber residential structure in the world. The nine-storey building houses 29 apartments with a neighbourhood office on the ground floor.

5:00 - 5:45 p.m. Wadi Hanifah Restoration Project, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moriyama & Teshima’s master plan for the naturalization and bio-remediation of a vital water resource severely degraded from municipal and industrial wastewater.

4:15 - 5:00 p.m. Sustainable Development The U.K. Experience. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and

5:45 - 6:30 p.m. Towards the Carbon Neutral City. Carbon-neutral city of Masdar, Abu Dhabi, and the Manitoba Hydro building in Winnipeg.

SEMINAR HIGHLIGHTS, THURSDAY, SEPT. 23 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. • Community Energy Systems in Canada • Recommissioning: Why It’s the Lowest Cost Way to Improve Building Performance • Lessons Learned from a First-Generation of Green Buildings • Holcim Awards • Design Your Own Adventure: Combining Energy and Cost Analysis with Autodesk Revit Architecture • Smart Grid - Taking Our Cue From Nature • Green Acoustics: General Lessons & the Role of Sound Masking

1:00 - 3:00 p.m. • Gas Fired Infrared Heating • High Performance Dynamic Facades • Radiant Heating & Cooling for Commercial Buildings • A Grander View green building • Water and Stormwater: Technologies for Low Impact

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August/September 2010

history

A Dollar a Day Surveyors in B.C. in the early part of the 20th century endured a harsh life and tumultuous economic times. By Katherine Gordon for McElhanney

McElhanney, a western Canadian engineering, surveying and mapping firm, began when W.G. McElhanney (“Mac”) opened a tiny one-room office in Vancouver in the spring of 1910. To mark the firm’s 100 year history, the company has published Maps, Mountains & Mosquitoes: The McElhanney Story 1910-2010, by B.C. author Katherine Gordon. Following is an excerpt from Chapter 2, “A Dollar a Day,” covering the period of the First World War.

he declaration of WWI in August 1914 was devastating in every imaginable way for everyone, and for the surveying profession in British Columbia, the impact was disastrous. A bonanza of work turned overnight into an echoing vacuum for those who did not enlist to fight, including the McElhanney brothers. Mac [W.G. McEhanney, founder of the firm] was 37 years old and had a family to support. Tom [McElhanney] was also married, had an infant daughter, Marjory, and appears to have been fully engaged in furthering his studies. He was soon to become an expert in forestry resources, and he would leave his surveying days behind by the time the war was over. In the meantime, despite the fact that some 70 men — more than one-third of the registered pool of provincial land surveyors — had enlisted, there was little work for those who remained behind. That fact had not yet sunk in for the profession by January 1915, when F.C. Green, the president of the Corporation of British Columbia Land Surveyors (the “Corporation”), addressed the organization’s annual general meeting in the Board of Trade Building in Vancouver. Mac’s one-room office, equipped simply with a solid oak desk and a vast and aged typewriter, was on the seventh floor of the same building, and Mac attended the meeting.

W.G. McElhanney working on field notes during the 124th meridian surveys for the B.C. Government in 1912.

continued on page 32

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

history

continued from page 31

He was listening from the audience as Green spoke overoptimistically: “The war has greatly unsettled matters for the present, but the vast natural resources of this province cannot long remain undeveloped. The bonanza years for surveyors have probably departed forever, but the profession should in future provide satisfactory incomes for a large number, and the quality of the work and the standing of the profession should steadily improve now that what I might term the ‘gambling era’ for us has passed.” Mac did not attend the January 1916 annual general meeting, held in Victoria. With a general depression blanketing the country, it was a far more sober affair. Attendance was low; four surveyors had already fallen in battle in Europe.... On a personal level, Mac was also struggling. With a $3,500 mortgage to pay on his home, rent for his office to cover and next to no work to do, it is not surprising that his budget did not stretch to attending the annual meeting on Vancouver Island. Neither McElhanney brother conducted any government survey work in 1915. How they managed to survive is unclear. The business suffered a severe blow when several clients that had engaged the McElhanneys’ surveying services promptly closed their doors immediately after the war began. The brothers were left with a fistful of unpaid bills, which meant they were unable to pay the wages owed to their crews. It was a dreadful situation for Mac to find himself in, as he prided himself not only on his honesty and integrity but also on the way in which he always dealt fairly with employees. Through sheer determination he eventually paid what he owed, but it took several years to catch up — a situation he fervently hoped he would never face again. During the 1916 season, Mac obtained a government contract to finalize some pre-emption surveys at Half Moon and North West Bays in New Westminster District and to complete the subdivision of a timber lease in Chilliwack. But, by 1917, even government staff surveyors were finding themselves occasionally doing work for no remuneration other than expenses incurred, simply to hold on to their jobs. Mac had no government work that year. He may well have found himself accepting, as others did, eggs and meat rather than cash in payment for his services. With the birth of his second son, Robert, in March 1917, he must have been increasingly desperate to find the means to support his growing family. He was at least able to keep paying his annual membership dues in the Corporation, something not every member was able to do. He also had enough spare time on his hands to present a detailed paper to the annual general meeting that year on the rules and regulations governing riparian rights and foreshore. But by 1918, President Neville Townsend reported that private practice was almost at a standstill. Mac did not attend the meeting in Victoria, at which he was voted onto the board of directors notwithstanding his absence. At the same meeting, the apparent desire of the civil en32

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

August/September 2010

gineers of the province to take over the licensing of both engineers and surveyors led to the formation of a committee to monitor events. Although some of their own members were also civil engineers, surveyors generally were fiercely independent and jealous of the economic potential of their turf: the last thing they wanted was to join forces with the engineers, whom they regarded with great suspicion. On October 18, 1918, Mac submitted a report to Surveyor-General J.E. Umbach on his season’s work undertaking pre-emption surveys in the upper North Thompson Valley. The end of the war was only weeks away, but the gloom of its impact had yet to lift, and when it finally occurred, Mac would not be in any position to celebrate. Another unanticipated disaster was erupting in Canada: a lethal influenza virus that had come back with returning troops was spreading rapidly throughout the country, killing tens of thousands of Canadians. By the time Mac was preparing his report in the first weeks of October, the Spanish flu had reached Vancouver and was already taking its toll. Within a month, it had reached into the McElhanney household. On November 22, William and Marion lost their four-year-old son, Hugh, to its deadly grip. On the urging of his doctor, Mac immediately relocated his family to North Vancouver for the duration of the epidemic, despite the difficulty that caused in commuting across Burrard Inlet to his office; he could not afford a motor vehicle. In any event, the harbour ferry across the inlet was the most practical means to reach downtown Vancouver, and for the next two years Mac made the trip almost daily. . . . Meridian Surveys: Wilderness and Technology (From Appendix A) In western Canada, one of the earliest tasks given by governments to pioneer surveyors was the on-the-ground delineation of meridians, used as reference points for a variety of uses, from marking out settlements to establishing provincial borders. Given the challenges the early surveyors faced, the accuracy they and their colleagues achieved was remarkable. Their tool kit was basic. A plumb bob or plumb line — a piece of pointed brass or iron suspended from a string — was used to establish a vertical line. Levels and levelling rods were used to measure elevations, and chronometers to measure time and longitude. Compasses, barometers and thermometers were also widely employed. The 66-ft.-long Gunter’s chain, weighing several pounds, was the basic unit of measurement. The chain had to be repeatedly stretched over mile after mile of mountain and muskeg, for days on end. It was an arduous task, to say the least. On the 124th meridian survey, W.G. “Mac” McElhanney reported: “The line was double-chained throughout; slopes were read by clinometer, but where steep they were checked by transit. Where chainages differed by more than two links to the mile, the mile was rechained.” The logistics of travel were mind-numbing. With no

history

Above: crew working on the 124th meridien, 1912. Crews spent months in the field on trips that required planning akin to that needed for a military campaign. Photographs from Maps, Mountains & Mosquitoes.

means of long-distance communication or speedy transportation, the entire season would be spent in the field, requiring a level of planning akin to that needed for a military campaign: hiring of the local guides and crew for packing, cutting line and cooking; purchasing food, equipment, horses for packing gear and feed for up to five months at a time. In 1912, Mac used at least 37 horses on his portion of the survey, and among the equipment packed on those horses were bundles of heavy iron posts, required to be planted every 4.8 kilometres. Surveyors were also expected to assess and report on the country they were travelling in, mapping rivers and land-

marks and commenting on the potential of each region with respect to such matters as agriculture, timber extraction, mining, hydroelectric power and even tourism. cce Today, the McElhanney group of companies has 700 employees, with 22 branches in western Canada andÂ an offshore branch office in Jakarta, Indonesia. In Canada, the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work has contributed to an extensive list of highway and transportation infrastructure, oil and gas wells, power schemes and other resource industry infrastructure across B.C. and Alberta. The book can be purchased by contacting KMcKinnon@mcelhanney.com August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

fire protection

By John G. Smith

New standards for green roofs address potential — but limited — fire risks.

No Fuel for the Fire

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

Town of Ajax

t is strange to hear Keith Doucette discuss the roofing materials that can be found over his office. He is the chief fire prevention officer in Ajax, Ontario, after all, and he is based in the headquarters of the town’s fire department. The roof over Doucette’s office is a green or vegetative roof, and it is not fire-rated. This situation is simply a reality for any structure that includes a green roofing system. Building codes may reference fire-resisting standards for everything from shingles to membranes, but they are largely silent when it comes to roofing products that actually grow. Even Toronto’s Green Roof bylaw, which now mandates the systems on buildings with a minimum gross floor area of 2,000 square metres, limits its fire safety references to the space that needs to be maintained around structures, such as referring to parapets or mechanical equipment clad in combustible materials. The burn tests used to rate shingles and membranes simply would not apply to their organic counterparts because there are too many variables at play, explains Steven Peck, president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. But recognizing what he calls “overblown” questions about a potential risk — and a call by the National Roofing Contractors Association for a standard that did not exist — his trade association joined with SPRI (Single Ply Roofing Industry) to create VF-1, Fire Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs. It was accepted this February by the American National Standards Institute. The Ajax fire hall was built before

Above: plants flourish in August on the Ajax Fire Hall roof. A layer of cups below the vegetation is fed by a rainwater cistern. Top right: firehall entrance.

the standards existed, but Doucette is able to point out a number of the recommended features that are already common to most installations. The growing medium is set back from an adjacent wall and rimmed with stone; two elevations would keep any potential flames from spreading; and the roof deck underneath the plants does carry an appropriate fire rating. The plants themselves would hardly support a sustained fire even if they did ignite, he adds. “The BTUs you would get from burning that type of material would be relatively low.” Peck stresses that it is not much of an issue. Popular plant choices such as sedums are better described as “moisture holding devices” that would shrivel up before they burn. “There’s just not a lot of biomass,” he says. The same is true when a

August/September 2010

roof is covered with grass. “Data exists that supports the classification of succulent based systems as Class A fire resistance,” the new standards add. “Other systems may be tested for fire resistance as installed, but the vegetation needs to be maintained in order to continue to sustain fire resistance.” The exception may be growing media that is loaded with organic material like peat moss, but there is no available data to rate the different blends. Hitesh Doshi, P.Eng., professor of architectural science at Ryerson University, agrees that the vegetation would present a limited fire hazard. “A lot of people have made a bigger deal out of it than it is,” he says. “When I think about a green roof, I’m thinking about something that needs little maintenance.”

fire protection

“Popular plant choices such as sedums are better described as ‘moisture holding devices’ that would shrivel up before they burn.” — Peck Green roof designs can actually play a role in limiting the threat of a fire. For example, the design of the Ajax fire hall’s roof includes a layer of plastic cups that retain water to help keep the plants alive. The cups are fed by a trio of 10,000-gallon cisterns which capture rainwater. Granted, such a passive system cannot be seen as an active fire suppression system. “You don’t want to leave fire safety to chance. You want to make it part of the design,” notes Doshi. He says it is unlikely that a sprinkler system similar to the one used in the interior for suppression could be engineered for the task. “Typically in an enclosed space, heat and smoke are sensed to trigger the suppression system.” But for an open roof, he’s not sure how such technology could be used in a practical way. Demir Delen, P.Eng., director of fire protection engineering at Morrison Hershfield, suggests that the greatest fire-related risk would emerge when the green roofs contact an adjacent wall. “It’s not just [about] the top of a high-rise building. There are

numerous buildings where there is a lower roof and the building continues on the other side, so there is exposure,” he says, referring to a potential issue that consulting engineers should consider. “It may introduce some other types of fire loads in other parts of the building.” Perhaps that is why the new green roof standards focus so much attention on the potential spread of any flames. For example, recommended fire stops include walls that extend a minimum of 36 inches above the roof surface, or a 6-foot wide border in the form of a Class A roofing system. Large areas of green roof need to be divided into sections that cover no more than 1,450 square metres (15,608 sq. ft.), although wind standards will often dictate the size of any perimeter or border zones. To Doucette, the biggest fire risk of all emerges when these green spaces are converted into rooftop patios complete with the smokers who can be careless with cigarette butts. “Ignition sources come from people,” he says. Then someone can add combus-

tible materials such as deck planks or lawn furniture scattered throughout the space, but building codes wouldn’t address these risks either. Consulting engineers could offer some added protection in these cases, and not simply by viewing the rooftop as another flooring assembly. The standards require access to a fire hydrant, but an actual standpipe next to the rooftop’s exit would be helpful, says Doucette, referring to features that he would like to see. Building codes may not be silent on the issue forever. Delen suggests that for those who deal with formulating the codes, the whole sustainability issue is very much at the forefront, and says “I’m sure in the near future green roofs will be one of those important political issues.” There is a path into the building code now that Part 12 is addressing energy efficiency and sustainable design, he says. CCE John G. Smith owns WordSmith Media in Ajax, Ont.. Copies of the standard can be downloaded from http://greenroofs.org/ resources/EFDSVR.pdf.

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

hvac

By Dave Hudson and Dwayne Squires Victaulic

Far too many buildings are unnecessarily plagued by temperature variations that lead to tenant complaints. The authors look at the root of the problem.

Hydronic Balancing Victaulic

he symptoms of indoor climate problems within buildings usually surface as complaints from building tenants. The living or working spaces are too cold in winter, too hot in summer, or some combination of both extremes year-round. In response to these temperature variations, building occupants often compensate by using space heaters, opening windows and adjusting thermostat settings. There are adjustments that can be made to the HVAC system to correct these issues. These could include the installation of larger pumps, the resizing of components, the changing of night setback and morning start-up times, and flow adjustments in the system’s mains, branch lines, and circuits. However, such “fixes” are costly and ineffective — and they ignore the root of the problem. Resetting a workplace HVAC-system start-up time to 5:30 a.m. from 7:30 a.m. means that a plant operates at capacity for two additional hours a day. This is a 25% increase in energy consumption, which negates the energy and cost savings that night setbacks were designed to achieve. Even minor changes — such as a one-degree change in the thermostat setting — can be very costly. Each degree Fahrenheit increase in a thermostat’s setting can add 6% to a building’s heating costs, while each degree Fahrenheit decrease can add 8% to a building’s cooling costs. Additional consequences of changing an operating system can include increased wear on pumps and HVAC components, and reduced controlvalve authority. Finally, the changes

Above: STAP Differential Pressure Controller installed in a project in Calgary. The valves work together to control the differential pressure between the supply and return to each floor.

may cause problems with other tenants who begin to complain. The root of most indoor temperature and climate problems can be traced to incorrect flow rates due to improper balancing in the terminal units. Therefore, the key to an HVAC system’s effectiveness and efficiency is to control and balance the flows to terminal units properly. Because consulting engineers typically design HVAC systems with excess capacity, the ability to provide necessary heating or cooling energy is present. The challenge is getting that energy to terminal units and air-handling units (AHUs) in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Dealing with underflow or overflow conditions The flows in an HVAC system change

over a 24-hour period. Due to heat gain from the sun and changes in building occupancy, the demand for heating and cooling in a commercial structure varies not only throughout the day, but also by the position and segment within the building. An effective and efficient HVAC system must provide the correct energy output when and where required. Hydronic balancing is essential in an HVAC circuit. When a system is unbalanced, sections of a building will have underflow or overflow conditions that impact controlvalve authority and, thus, indoor climate. For instance, the terminal units closest to chillers, boilers and pumps could receive excess flow, resulting in excessive heating or cooling. Terminal units farthest away from those units could receive continued on page 38

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

hvac

continued from page 37

insufficient flow, resulting in inadequate heating or cooling. The building controls in a large commercial structure are the thermostats or sensors in each room or space that take in and read temperature information. These readings electronically trigger the mechanical systems to open/close or to modulate valves, which changes the flows in the cooling or heating circuit to maintain the temperature at the specified level. A consulting engineer will typically specify both the building controls and the hydronic controls/system, and thus needs to make sure that the two systems are integrated and compatible to achieve the desired goal of climate control. The challenge with integrating the hydronic systems with the building controls is that the building controls are dependent on the hydronic systems in order to function correctly. The control system can only be as good as the hydronic system. If the system is not properly designed, installed or balanced correctly, the system design flows will not be achieved. Thus, it is very important that the consulting engineer’s initial plans are followed in order to achieve the design flow.

Three principles for effective design There are three important principles to address when discussing effective hydronic balancing. Design Flow First, the design flow must be available at all terminals. This need can be compromised for a number of reasons, but mainly because the balancing valves are not properly adjusted. If the balancing valves are not in the right places, or if there are not enough valves, then ultimately the system will not perform to its specified parameters. There will be a greater cost to the owner because of underflow or overflow conditions. One can ensure the availability of the design flow by choosing and set38

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If the pressure across the whole system is constant, then the controls will have an easier time doing their job of sensing and regulating the temperature. ting the balancing valves according to the design flow specified rather than the pipe line size. Installing a balancing valve based upon line size and not flow rate may result in the inability to obtain the correct circuit flow rate. For example, the design line size to a specific coil may be ¾” and the coil has a required flow rate of 1 gpm. However, a flow rate of 1 gpm is in the recommended flow range for a ½” valve. As a best practice, it is always a good idea to consult the valve manufacturer or its sales representative to ensure the valves are being used and installed correctly. Differential Pressure The second key is to make sure that the differential pressure across the control terminals doesn’t vary too much. The control valve authority should be 0.25 minimum, with 0.5 or greater being optimal. This requirement means that within an HVAC circuit the pressure across the whole loop should be the same. This is also where building controls become an issue, because if that pressure is constant, then the controls will have an easier time doing their job of sensing and regulating the temperature. The best approach is to make sure that the differential pressure control valves and differential pressure sensors for variable speed pumps are in the right locations from the start, so that there are no spikes at the control valves which would turn them into an on/off mechanism, rather than a modulating system. Differential pressure control valves are located on the branch lines to specific system modules in the area where the isolation valves would be located. The differential pressure sensor is located on the mains near the index circuit of the system.

August/September 2010

Compatibility The final key is to make sure that the water flow rate and temperature from the production side is compatible with all the system interfaces. For example, in the summer you need to make sure that you have enough chillers and capacity to provide flow to cool the building. If you haven’t done the first two steps above, then this step is difficult, as they all tie together. Far too many buildings are unnecessarily plagued by temperature variations that can lead to tenant complaints and high energy and operating expenses for owners. In most cases, these issues can be easily resolved by properly balancing the heating or cooling system to conform with the original design performance specifications from the consulting engineer. In addition to observing the three keys to hydronic balancing above, a comprehensive hydronic balancing program should be integrated into commissioning to save time and energy and to improve the long-term value of a building. cce Dave Hudson is a senior engineer with Victaulic in Euston, PA. Dwayne Squires is hydronic balancing manager for Victaulic in Canada, based in Burlington, Ont.

Victaulic’s TA Hydronic College Series is coming to Vancouver on September 9. The seminar exclusively for consulting engineers will give a detailed overview of the theory and practical application of hydronic design and balancing. Visit www.victaulic. com/TAHydronicCollege for more information and to register.

engineers & the law

By William Pigott Miller Thomson, LLP

Standard of Care

Setting the Bar for Contractors – and Engineers

hat is unusual about the following: “We are not care and diligence in respect of any Products, personnel capable of delivering the quality and value specific or procedures which it may recommend to the Owner.” to the project requirements. We lack the skill, judgSo, what does this fine language mean? It means that the ment and experience of comparable firms in our field”? successful bidder — its trades too — will carry out its obligaEverything — because those are words you will never tions under this particular contract to a standard of skill, find in any contractor’s pre-qualification statement that care and judgment that is at least equal to the skill, care crosses your desk. Unless of course, the contractor has and judgment demonstrated by comparable contractors something of a death wish. doing similar work. In legalese, Pre-qualification is all about it establishes an industry based, According to the Ontario General Contractors Association sales — putting your best self objective standard of performance “Guide To Pre-Qualification of for that contractor on that project. promotional foot forward — A benchmark. Contractors,” a properly run not about actual delivery. prequalification process will Some contractors in Ontario eliminate, “… candidates who have questioned the need for a do not demonstrate that they have the necessary financial standard of care clause in the contract. So, in the face of capability, technical expertise, managerial ability, project contractor reservations, do we insist on it? Well, yes. Presuccess and relevant experience for the project at hand.” qualification is all about sales — putting your best self proThat’s the pre-qualification goal; but does it work? motional foot forward — not about actual delivery. That’s Not surprisingly, during the prequalification, the con- for later. By contrast, the head contract is all about delivery, tractors sell their wares. They sell the depth of their skill project delivery. and judgment and the fact that it matches or surpasses The standard of care expected of a contractor needs their competition. to be an “express” (not implied/unwritten) term of the But for owners and their consulting engineers, what mat- contract because the owner can’t rely on the puffery of ters is not what the contractor claims in the prequalification prequalification. Owner reliance on prequalification claims document; it vanishes on the wind. What matters is what’s are blocked by the contract. Article A-2, Agreements and written into the contract. If there is no standard of care Amendments, paragraph 2.1 of CCDC2-2008 reads: “The clause in the head contract, there is nothing to hold the Contract supersedes all prior negotiations, representations contractor to the claimed level of skill, care and judgment or agreements, either written or oral, relating in any manthat got them admitted to the bid process in the first place. ner to the Work, including the bidding documents that are And, nothing to “push down” to the trades which will do not expressly listed in Article A-3 of the Agreement — Conmost of the work. tract Documents.” So, the message is that owners and their consultants Some ask if the same standard of care clause finds a should take pains to include a standard of care clause in home in an open tender. Of course it does. In an open the supplementary conditions for CCDC-2 — or any of the tender, pre-qualification actually takes place after tenders other CCDC suite of documents. Such a provision might have closed. The owner’s evaluation of the bidder’s skill, read as follows: care and judgment becomes one of the factors, in addi“In performing its services and obligations under the tion to price (and bid compliance), that determines who is Contract, the Contractor shall exercise a standard of awarded the contract. care, skill and diligence that would normally be provided Others argue that a standard of care clause is unnecesby an experienced and prudent contractor supplying sary in the construction contract because it will be read into similar services for similar projects. The Contractor the contract anyway, as an implied or unwritten term. Well, acknowledges and agrees that, throughout the Contract, maybe it will be and maybe it won’t. If things are not going the Contractor’s obligations, duties and responsibilities well on the project for the contractor, that contractor is not shall be interpreted in accordance with this standard. going to accept that such a standard of care is an unwritten continued on page 40 The Contractor shall exercise the same standard of due August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

engineers & the law

continued from page 39

term in the contract — especially if it hasn’t lived up to it. But isn’t the traditional phrase, “… . in a good and workmanlike manner….” enough? No, it’s not. You won’t find it in CCDC2-2008. Even if you did, the old standard is too narrow and the bar is a touch low. It’s narrow in that it relates to the competent execution of the work, which may not extend to the overall task of managing and coordinating the project. It’s too low a bar because one contractor’s good and workmanlike manner may be poorer than another’s. The standard of care clause given above is broader, referring to the whole enterprise and comparing performance to identifiable examples. And it is objective, based on comparable firms doing comparable work. Are there any contractors out there who advertise on their website that “We do not have the skill, judgment and experience of our competitors in the field”? I didn’t think so. So, why add a standard of care clause to the head contract? Because you will do a better job of meeting your standard of care if you do a better job of making the contractors meet theirs. cce Bill Pigott is a partner in the Toronto office of Miller Thomson, LLP.

products HvAC

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SimplexGrinnell’s 4100ES Life-Safety Platform is a fire detector and alarm that has Ethernet connectivity, is internet-ready, and supports remote diagnostics. The Simplex XAD detector can actively draw air from difficult-to-reach HVAC ducts up to 75 feet away; it uses TrueAlarm sensing, a high performance aspirator and configurable flow monitoring circuitry. www.simplexgrinnell.com The FAAST Fire Alarm Aspiration Sensing Technology from System Sensor accurately detects the faintest traces of smoke using blue LED and an infrared laser. www.systemsensor.com

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August/September 2010

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lighting AWARDS

The lighting system design for Vancouver’s rapid transit Canada Line which opened last year has won a top international award. At the 2010 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Awards, Total Lighting Solutions of Vancouver (Galina Zbrizher) won the 2010 Energy and Environmental Design Award. The award is sponsored by Osram Sylvania. This is the second international award that the Canada Line lighting design has won. In May, it won an award of merit from the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), held in Las Vegas. SNC-Lavalin commissioned Total Lighting Solutions to develop a distinctive lighting design that would apply across the entire 19-kilometre system and yet be developed at the detail level to highlight the individual architecture of each of the 16 stations. The design achieved energy savings by means such as avoiding overlighting, integrating daylight sensors, and scheduling the lights to turn off during unoccupied periods. In the concourses, continuous lines of linear fluorescent lamps (mostly T8, T5 or T5HO) were used to orient the travellers and miminize shadows, while custom designed downlights mark the paying zones and circulation spaces.

Photography: Tafyrn & Seamora

Canada Line lighting design wins international award

Above: Waterfront Station, Canada Line, Vancouver.

For the platform edges, Total Lighting Solutions developed a special light with manufacturer Peerless Lighting. It is a single electronic-ballasted high performance T8 lamp that gives 23% direct light to the paving edge and 77% indirect light to illuminate the platform area. events

Light Canada to be held September 23-24 Held as part of IIDEX/NeoCon at the Direct Energy Centre, downtown Toronto, Light Canada will showcase lamps, controls and other lighting technologies from 100 Cana-

dian and international exhibitors in 5,000 sq. ft. of exposition space. This annual event includes seminars in sustainable lighting, LED technology, technical and healthcare lighting. Tel. See www.iidexneocon.com LEDiscovery — September 22 The third edition of a special event devoted to LED lighting designs and applications, LEDiscovery will also be part of IIDEX/NeoCon Canada in Toronto. The conference provides an opportunity to learn about commercially available products and new advances in this energy efficient technology.

security

PRODUCTS

What’s new in security and access control? Assa Abloy rolled up a mobile showroom into Montreal and Toronto this summer. The showroom is a large tractor trailer that has been fitted out to exhibit various door locks, doors and related security technologies made by companies that come under the Assa Abloy umbrella. The Swedish company was founded in 1994 and since then has acquired a large roster of manufacturers in North America.

The companies still make their own products and carry their own brand names, but operate on Assa Abloy’s common backbone. Based on the products exhibited in the mobile showroom, access systems are becoming increasingly intelligent, and capable of remote monitoring and operation. They are also becoming more adaptable, with simple retrofit and plug and

play options in many cases. Assa Abloy’s HiO (highly intelligent openings) protocol allows every device in an opening (lock, exit device, electric strike, door operator, etc.) to work together and share encrypted information. The technology can save hours in the time required for installing all the different components to a door opening. It also saves time for maintenance crews in large campus continued on page 43

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

Specifier’s Literature Review

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Danfoss AB-QM pressure independent control valves provide superb control and dynamic hydronic balance in one compact valve. With a built in pressure differential controller maintaining a constant pressure across the control valve, the AB-QM has 100% authority at all load conditions - eliminating over flows and under flows resulting from pressure fluctuations in the system. • Achieve design _T • Increase efficiency of chillers and condensing boilers • Reduce system pumping costs Available with an industry leading range of actuators for all control strategies: On/Off, 3 point floating and modulating. SUPPLIER: DANFOSS

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CITY MULTI HYDRA DAn WAsTe eneRGY TO HOT WATeR sYsTeM

sOFT sTARTeR ssW-06

City Multi HydraDan is a shining example of Mitsubishi Electric’s commitment to leadingedge energy efficient HVAC technology. City Multi is famous for its industry-leading VRF technology, geothermal applications, and the world’s only 2-pipe system featuring simultaneous heating and cooling. The new HydraDan units work with City Multi to convert recovered heat energy into hot water for sanitary use or hydronic heating, facilitates virtually no energy waste, reduced CO2 emissions, operating costs and installation costs, ultimately helping your future projects to achieve LEED certifications. For more information please visit www.HydraDan.ca SUPPLIER: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC

The SSW-06 is WEG’s third generation Soft Starter line. Its Keypad with dual display provides high visibility with bright red LED digits and easy programming. With built-in bypass contacts to eliminate heat dissipation once the motor is at full voltage it is extremely compact. This allows for simple integration in non-ventilated enclosures and replacement of electromechanical starters in Motor Control Centers. This product recently won the IF Design Award - Industrial Products Category. The main design attributes which conferred this award to the SSW-06 were the simplicity of constructive solutions and its user friendly operator interface. Call 1 877 PAMENSKY www.pamensky.com SUPPLIER: V.J. PAMENSKY

DeDICATeD OUTDOOR AIR sYsTeMs AnD eRvs BY sYsTeMAIR

s-COnCReTe FOR WInDOWs S-CONCRETE is a reinforced concrete section design and detailing software that operates in stand-alone mode or integrated with our structural analyis software, S-FRAME and P-FRAME. S-CONCRETE supports the current American, Canadian, British, and Singapore standards. It will design beams, columns, composite columns, and shear walls subjected to wind and earthquake loads. For more information please visit our website at www.s-frame.com SUPPLIER: SOFTEK SERVICES LTD.

The Topvex series of air handlers are equipped with ECM motors, aluminum energy recovery wheel(s), hydronic or electric coils and a control system compatible with most building/energy management systems. www.systemair.net (416) 689-9693. SUPPLIER: SYSTEMAIR

vICTAULIC CIRCUIT BALAnCInG

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Enhance comfort and cut energy costs through precise control of building temperature. Hydronic balancing is the means and method to control hydronic systems thus providing a comfortable indoor climate, minimizing energy costs and preventing problems during operations. Victaulic provides a complete line of balancing products that allow for accurate control of building temperatures while optimizing energy efficiency. For more information visit, www.victaulic.com/balancing SUPPLIER: VICTAULIC

Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine provides high quality editorial coverage of the most pertinent and timely issues that affect engineers across Canada. The magazine reaches the consulting engineers who make the critical decisions on building and construction projects. This is exactly the audience you need to reach. Advertise your product or service with us. Be seen and be specified! To order your 2010 media kit, please send along your request to Maureen Levy at (416) 510-5111 or email: mlevy@ccemag.com

security

continued from page 41

applications. When monitored on a building automation system, the HiO technology indicates exactly which door part needs replacing so staff can take the correct equipment when they travel across campus. Among the door locks exhibited, was the Sargent Profile Series v. S1 and S2, which are powered over Ethernet and WiFi. The door systems have built-in intelligence; without needing a command from a central control room, the door will independently “decide” whether to grant admission or not. The locks have lockdown capabilities, as well as encryption for security. Another demonstration showed Securitron CCM-1 technology that allows someone to open an access gate via a cell phone. Through this type of system, a gate in a remote

area such as an oil field might be operated by solar power and can be controlled at long distance. The drive for energy efficiency and sustainability has reached into the security industry and is driving many product developments. “Green” products include double thresholds on security doors to avoid thermal bridges, and doors made with certified wood products. The Trinity door closer by Norton has its own on-board generator that ensures a door stays closed — useful, for example, in situations where a building has a strong stack effect. For the showroom’s most dramatic demonstration, visitors were asked to enter a small enclosed dark room. On the door at the back of the room was the Beacon emergency exit push bar by Sargent. When activated by

smoke, the bar emits a loud white noise, pulsating light, and “speaks” in various languages: “This is where the exit is located.” The bar also has an LED-backlit stencil Exit sign. The manufacturers have even thought about our fears of infection and pandemics, with Agion’s “MicroShield” treatment for door handles to give them a “long-lasting” defence against the transmission of bacteria and microbes. Another interesting product was a simple device developed for the hotel industry. Pemko has developed door gaskets to provide hotel room doors with more sound-proofing and to prevent light seeping inside at night around the door frame from hallways. Yet the gaskets have alternate open cut-outs that still admit air for ventilation.

August/September 2010

Canadian Consulting Engineer

professional directory

ACO BridgeDrain Scuppers ACO BridgeDrain offers an excellent drainage solution for bridge applications. Scuppers are manufactured from fibreglass to ensure maximum strength with minimum weight and offers

CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES

excellent weathering, corrosion and UV resistance with minimal maintenance. A choice of ductile iron, stainless steel or galvanized steel grates are available.

Professional multi-disciplined civil engineering Pre-design, design, construction admin services Civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical Excellent reputation and tenure within small dynamic community Revenue $1.5M Please contact Catherine Berlasso at 905-523-7510, ext. 221, cathb@robbinex.com. Broker of Record: D.M. Robbins, Robbinex Inc.

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

August/September 2010

ACO Systems, Ltd. (877) 226-4255 www.acocan.ca

For information on placing an advertisement in the Canadian Consulting Engineer Professional Directory, contact Maureen Levy, senior Publisher, 416-510-5111, email: mlevy@ccemag.com vince naccarato, sales Manager, 416-510-5118, email: vnaccarato@ccemag.com

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

the human edge

Interview with Lea Chambers

Orphans

Golder lends a hand in Africa

ea Chambers is global marketing leader with Golder Associates, and communications manager for the Golder Trust for Orphans. She is based in Calgary.

Q. What is the Golder Trust for Orphans?

Quite simply, it’s Golder’s global corporate charity, and it’s our way of expressing one of our core values, which is sustainability. We partner with projects in Africa and invest in their ability to start small businesses that make them self sustaining. The trust employs one person — John Howcroft — who works in South Africa. If someone from one of our projects has a business idea for example, John will make sure that it’s a sustainable business, that there is a market for what they want to do, that their business plan is thorough, and that they have considered any of the risks involved. He then presents the idea to our board of trustees. We’re focused on supporting organizations whose primary concern is caring for kids. Most of the investment projects tend to be agricultural. The trust has 10 projects at present and I try to visit them as often as I can to get updates, take new photos, get video footage, etc.. Lea Chambers with children at one of the Golder Trust projects in Africa.

Q. Have you seen these projects make a difference in people’s lives?

The one that I think is our shining example right now is in Mozambique. It’s called the Mission Station of Carlos Vilanculos. It’s a wonderful story. Carlos is from a very small village in northern Mozambique and when he was in his late teens during the civil war he fled with nothing and went to South Africa. He ended up in Durban and got an education and learned some trade skills from a Christian group. After Mozambique started to recover he decided to go back to his village and help the people there. His village is extremely isolated. It’s about 150 kilometres by sand road from anywhere. Carlos had absolutely nothing except the land that his family had owned for generations. First we helped him drill a well on his property so that he could start a garden to help feed local children. That was in 2008. Then Carlos wanted to start a chicken business and use the money from selling the chickens to help feed about 100 children in the community who because of HIV/AIDS had been orphaned. These are childheaded households where there is a 12 to 15-year old child 46

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

August/September 2010

usually taking care of four or five younger siblings. In late 2009 we invested about $20,000 and he built three chicken houses — that included the construction costs, buying the chicks, all the little feeder containers, and getting a generator so that he could keep a heat lamp going at night so the chicks don’t die. A year later he is now selling about 400 chickens a month to the community. All the proceeds go to feed children — there are now 180 of them. Every two weeks he buys beans and rice and delivers them to the kids in the village who are in need. He has also bought fabric so they can all have a school uniform which allows them to go to school. And he also makes sure that they all have a notebook and a pencil. I have seen a lot of children in Africa, but the kids in Mozambique and in that village were the poorest I’ve ever seen. The clothes they were wearing were tattered. What Carlos is doing is making a huge difference in their lives. cce Visit www.goldertrust.org for more information. View a video of Lea at a project in Africa at www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

The Top ERV– Topvex for compact installations

Photo: Scanpix

Low Profile Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) The Topvex FR series is the latest addition to the Systemair family of ventilation products. The unit is designed for installations in tight spaces including above T-bar and other lowered ceilings, in corridors, underneath stages or left visually exposed but not heard within the space. The Topvex FR is considered to be high performance by combining two total (enthalpy) recovery rotary wheel heat exchangers in parallel, with low pressure loss within the cabinet and EC (brushless DC) fan motors for maximum efficiency. This results in a very low specific fan performance (SFP) value indicating maximized energy transfer at very low fan power consumption. When designing the Topvex FR we have focused on creating a unit that is easy to choose, install, commission and use. The Topvex FR comes complete with a remote control system compatible with building/energy management systems or demand control devices such as CO2 sensors. Once installed it’s just a matter of switching it on and then relaxing, knowing the benefits of Topvex.

Systemair was founded in 1974 and has today subsidiaries in 38 countries all over the world, employes around 2150.The broad product range includes duct fans, roof fans, axial fans, smoke extract fans, air handling units, air terminal devices, air curtains and accessories.We sell on a regular basis to 100 countries. In October 2007 Systemair was listed on the Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.

Topvex FR has a low profile design and is available in four sizes for airflows up to 4025cfm (1900 l/s)

Systemair’s most energy efficient products are marked with this Green Ventilation symbol

Systemair – 50 Kanalflakt Way Bouctouche, NB E4S 3M5 sales@systemair.net • www.systemair.net