Canadian Consulting Engineer August/September 2012 by Annex Business Media

For professional engineers in private practice

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012

PRAIRIE VISION ENERGY EFFICIENCY AT WINNIPEG’S NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL

TROUBLESHOOTING WHAT CAUSES THE WORST PROBLEMS WITH HVAC SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS?

SECURITY BLANKET IT SURVEILLANCE AT EDMONTON’S NEW REMAND CENTRE

REBUILDING HAITI TORONTO ENGINEERS DESIGN PROTOTYPE SCHOOLS

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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Reliability. It’s as important to Eaton as it is to you.

Choosing the right service plan. What are your options? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”may be feasible in some circumstances, but applying it to the maintenance of a UPS can have devastating consequences. Because a company relies on a UPS to deliver continuous power without any disruption to its business, proper service is a critical component to ensuring optimal performance from a UPS while minimizing the risks of downtime. Research indicates that regular preventive maintenance—which aords the opportunity to detect and repair potential problems before they become signicant and costly issues —is crucial in order to achieve maximum performance from your equipment. In fact, studies show that routine preventive maintenance appreciably reduces the likelihood that a UPS will succumb to downtime. The 2007 Study of Root Causes of Load Losses compiled by Eaton® revealed that customers without preventive maintenance visits were almost four times more likely to experience a UPS failure than those who complete the recommended two preventive maintenance visits per year.

Question for choosing a service provider and plan. 1. If my UPS fails to provide reliable backup power, what is the cost of downtime to my organization? 2. How critical is continuous power to my application? Is it simply an inconvenience or do I lose customer sales, destroy products or shut down a network of critical servers? 3. How long can I wait to obtain an emergency repair on my UPS? A week, a day or an hour? 4. Do I have budget or cost constraints for UPS service? Learn more about how the Eaton Data Center Forum can help you prepare for changing power challenges. To learn more about choosing a UPS Service Plan please go to: www.powerquality.eaton.com/thoughtleadership Or contact us at TechnicalSalesSupportPQSOCanada@eaton.com

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contents

August/September 2012 Volume 53, No. 5

features Cover: Baggage area in the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richards International Airport. Douglas Little Photography. See story p. 20.

The Day the Earth Came Alive. Building schools in earthquake-torn Haiti. See story p. 46

departments Comment

Up Front

Products

ACEC Review

Advertiser Index

Next issue: Showcase of 2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awardwinning projects.

Prairie Vision. How engineers orchestrated energy efficient systems of all types at the Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Air Terminal. By Russell Lavitt, P.Eng. SMS Engineering

Troubleshooting. Commissioning expert Bill McCartney of Toronto explains the worst problems he finds with existing buildings’ HVAC systems and controls.

Top Performers at Okanagan. The Fipke Centre and Arts and Science Building at the University of British Columbia Okanagan have been awarded the top Green Globes rating. By Bronwen Parsons

Security Blanket. There’s no way of escaping the digital security technologies at the huge Edmonton New Remand Centre. By Nordahl Flakstad

Mission Critical – Protecting Data Centres. IT equipment environments have high fire loads and need complex fire protection. By Cel Chow, P.Eng., Gage-Babcock & Associates

The Day the Earth Came Alive. Four Canadian structural engineering firms collaborated to design prototype schools in earthquake-torn Haiti. By J. Lynn Fraser

on topic ENGINEERS & THE LAW All for One? Problems with the integrated project delivery method. By Owen Pawson, Miller Thomson 12 SECURITY We’re Not in Kansas Anymore. SCADA and August/September 2012

p03-05 CCE AugSept12 ContComment.indd 3

the need for security. By Eric Marks, PricewaterhouseCoopers 49 CONVERSATIONS Licensing Reframed. Kim Allen discusses how new national standards might affect practising engineers. 54 Canadian Consulting Engineer

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engineer FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE

comment

CANADIAN

C O N S U LT I N G

Editor

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

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

Building operators need support

Art Director

Ellie Robinson Contributing Editor

Rosalind Cairncross, P.Eng.

he same week in July that I interviewed Bill McCartney for the article on building HVAC and controls (p. 32), temperatures in Toronto roared to a sweltering 38°C. Our company has moved into a renovated 1970s-era flat box building, and the operator was having a hard time keeping us comfortable. Some of us kept thermometers at our desks out of curiosity, and one day we saw the temperature swing from around 15°C in the morning to 27°C in the afternoon. While things have levelled out now, the situation is far from unusual. It made me appreciate how complex building environments are, and how difficult it is to create just the right conditions. The increasing automation of building systems doesn’t seem to have made things better. As a building commissioner, McCartney often finds that building operators have switched off their building’s automation system and have resorted to manually operating the HVAC systems in a desperate effort to fend off complaints from irate occupants. McCartney’s findings are borne out in a report by Toronto’s Auditor General. Issued in March, the report followed four recreational facilities in the city that had undergone energy retrofits. The arenas were not seeing the energy savings they had been promised. At the Ted Reeve Arena, for example, projected savings of $33,600 per year had turned out to be $6,400 per year. Building automation systems were one of the biggest problems identified. Like McCartney, the auditor found that operators were switching these off and reverting to manual control. Staff turnover in the arenas was running at 30% a year and incoming people weren’t receiving any training in the systems. Yet even the old hands “could not solve many problems as they arose.” Indoor conditions inside the arenas were sometimes so poor, they had to cancel events, losing revenues. There were equipment issues such as sensors that were no longer calibrated, and new components installed but not connected to the automation systems. The operators were constantly calling for service calls from the controls manufacturers — all adding to the costs. The auditor called for building staff to have more training. He also recommended that the city recreation department should look at having a centralized system for monitoring all its building automation systems. Possibly that is an answer, but it takes an even more high tech approach. An alternative that some energy consultants advocate is to lean towards simple-to-operate systems, ones that can be controlled locally in different areas of a building. Twenty years ago the talk was all about a brave new world of “intelligent buildings” and how they would cocoon us in their perfect indoor environments. We don’t seem to have achieved that vision yet. And we won’t get there until the systems become simpler to run, or until building operators come with Ph.Ds in computer programming, or until building owners are prepared to pay for operators to have the ongoing training they need in technologies that are constantly being updated and transformed. Bronwen Parsons

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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Advertising Sales Manager

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

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

Barbara Adelt (416) 442-5600 x3546 badelt@bizinfogroup.ca

W A Y K G

Production Co-ordinator

Karen Samuels (416) 510-5190 Vice President, Publishing Business Information Group (BIG)

I s “ c s

Alex Papanou

President, Business Information Group (BIG)

Bruce Creighton Head Office

80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9 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 $60.95; 2 years $91.95 + taxes Single copy $8.00 Cdn + taxes. (HST 809751274-RT0001). United States U.S. $60.95. Foreign U.S. $60.95. 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, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9.

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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, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Member of the Canadian Business Press

Audit Bureau of Circulations

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

August/September 2012

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up front

Tom Arban

some using balconies to achieve the free-form edge, and others using the whole facade. With Absolute we see the entire building twisting to achieve the organic form, creating a beautiful new landmark for a developing urban area.” CITIES

Kids, go and play under the road A typically dark and dank space below a highway underpass has been transformed into an urban park in downtown Toronto. Located below the Gardiner Express way near Richmond and Adelaide Streets, Underpass Park provides shelter from the elements under the massive concrete columns and beams that support the highway above. The constructed first phase of the park includes benches, climbing structures, skateboarding and basketball courts. LED lighting accentuates the concrete structure, and a public art installation suspends mirrored stainless steel panels to reflect and bounce light into the space. The park is part of the West Don Lands, a brownfield area being develop ed for the 2015 Pan Am Games by Waterfront Toronto.

Absolute Towers, Mississauga, Ontario.

Mississauga’s Absolute Towers best in the Americas The dramatic Absolute Towers that have transformed the skyline of Mississauga, west of Toronto, have won an international award. Visible for miles, the curvaceous twin structures, dubbed the “Marilyn Munroe” buildings, have won one of four 2012 regional awards from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The 56 and 50-storey residential towers, rising 179.5 metres and 158 metres, won as “Best Tall Building Americas.” Sigmund Soudack is the structural engineer for the towers. MAD architects did the design, and Burka Architects is associate architect. Stantec is the mech anical and electrical engineer, and the owner is Fernbrook and Cityzen. The CTBUH awards jury commented: “There have been several curvaceous towers completed in recent years — 6

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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Waterfront Toronto

AWARDS

WASTEWATER

Federal regulations require billions in upgrades In July, the federal government implemented regulations that will require an estimated 25% of communities and municipalities in Canada to upgrade their wastewater systems. One estimate suggests that there will be $20 billion spent on rebuilding and replacing plants to meet the regulations over the next 30 years. TRANSPORTATION

Going round Edmonton The final leg of the Edmonton ring road is being completed under a 34-year public private partnership worth $1.81 billion. The Northeast Anthony Henday Drive project involves 27 kilometres of six and eight-lane divided roadway from Manning Drive to just south of Whitemud Drive. QUOTE

Underpass Park, downtown Toronto.

Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg with The Planning Partnership designed the park. Consultants were SCS (civil), Golder (geotechnical), Quinn Dressel (structural), Smart Watering Systems (irrigation) and Hammerschlag + Joffe (lighting).

Server surge “There are now more than 500,000 data centres worldwide, hosting the bulk of the more than 32 million individual servers. Server farms, according to data centre expert Jonathan Koomey of Stanford University, now account for roughly 1.5 percent of global electricity use, or about 300 billion kWh of electricity per year.” — David Biello, Scientific American online, August 3.

continued on page 8

August/September 2012

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up front

continued from page 6

TRANSPORTATION

p06-11 CCE AugSept12 Upfront.indd 8

New chairs at CEO and CEA Michael Snow, P.Eng. of Golder Associates has been elected chair of Consulting Engineers of Ontario. At its annual general meeting in Edmonton, Consulting Engineers of Alberta elected Sheldon Hudson, P.Eng. of AlTerra Engineering as its new president.

the engineering of the process facilities was done in Vancouver. Six preengineered buildings were designed by Colony. Some of the process buildings are among the largest structures in Newfoundland. The Neutralization Building, for example, is about 1,100 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 60 feet high. From a file by Andrew Safer EXHIBITION

Michael Snow

Sheldon Hudson

Massive construction for nickel processor in Newfoundland A $3.6 billion facility to process nickel concentrate from Vale’s operations in Voisey’s Bay, Labrador is under construction in Long Harbour on the west coast of Newfoundland. The hydrometallurgical facility is designed to produce 50,000 tonnes per year of nickel metal, copper and cobalt. Construction is slated to finish in 2013. Fluor were engineers for 10 buildings in the process area and port. Fluor also provided services for the residue holding basin, the water intake at Rattling Brook Pond, and an expansion of the on-site wharf. The infrastructure and civil engineering were designed in St. John’s, while

Seismic Design on the Edge An architectural exhibition with a difference is being held at the Design Exchange in downtown Toronto September 13 to November 9. “Seismic Design on the Edge” feat ures building projects by international star architects — investigated through the lens of earthquake engineering. Exhibits include buildings in China, Italy and Japan, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver. On display will be fullscale seismic technology, architectural and structural models, and multimedia platforms.

Tapei Performing Arts Center by OMA/ArtefactoryLab, one of the projects in the exhibit.

The curators are Dr. Effie Bouras, and Professor Ghyslaine McClure, P.Eng. of the McGill University department of civil engineering. EVENTS

Vale nickel processing plant, Long Harbour, Newfoundland.

ASCE coming to Montreal The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is holding its 2012 Annual conference in Montreal this year. The conference is being held October 18-20 at the Palais des Congrès on the theme, “Civil Engineering in the New Global Economy.” continued on page 10

August/September 2012

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Klimar Agency together with members of our team like Jerry Leyte, Commercial Business Development Manager, we look

The other new overpasses along the corridor are either under construction or completed. The 80th Street Overpass in Delta, for example, opened in July. It intersects 80th Street and Ladner Trunk Road, improving access to Boundary Bay Airport. Stretching 70 kilometres through Delta, Surrey and the city and township of Langley, the Roberts Bank rail corridor intersects with roads at over 60 points, causing traffic delays and frustration. Over 340,000 cars and vehicles per day have to cross the tracks. In 2007, a partnership of 12 organizations began studying how to relieve the congestion along the corridor and collaborated on the project. The partnership includes Transport Canada, the B.C. Government Pacific Gateway program, Translink, Port Metro Vancouver, rail companies including CN and CP, and the municipalities. Each of the nine improvement projects has a different partner from the group as the lead proponent. The rail corridor is part of the AsiaPacific Gateway and carries up to 18 trains a day loaded with containers www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

ASSOCIATIONS

INDUSTRY

Road crossing on the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor, B.C.

and coal from the port in Delta. With the anticipated increase in Pacific trade, the number of trains is expected to increase to 38, and they will be longer, increasing from 9,500 feet up to 12,000 feet long.

Practice Leader, at Stantec, or Kaveesh Padiachy, Ottawa Controls Manager at HTS Engineering Ltd.

Overpass relief for Roberts Bank rail corridor In July, Buckland and Taylor were selected as the bridge engineering subconsultant for the 232nd Street overpass in the town of Langley, B.C. The engineers are part of a design-build team led by BA Blacktop. The 232nd Street overpass is the last of eight similar projects in the $307-million Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Improvement program in the Lower Mainland.

EnablingAdEng_CCE_Layout 1 12-06-07 8:52 AM Page 1

Left to right: Nuno D. (Stantec), Jerry L. (Uponor), Erik W. (Klimar), Brian M. (The Morgan Group), Kaveesh P. (HTS)

Both organizations stand as examples of companies which create progressive approaches to today’s building challenges. We strive to provide solutions to allow them to meet their goals, and combine this with local support through partners like Brian Morgan, The Morgan Group and Erik Walesiak, Klimar Agency together with members of our team like Jerry Leyte, Commercial Business Development Manager, we look

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up front

continued from page 8

SOLID WASTE

Montreal puts in a vacuum Canada’s first vacuum underground garbage collection system is being constructed in downtown Montreal. Envac Systems Canada is installing a system of 1,000 metres of 500-mm carbon steel pipe two metres underground in Les Quartiers des Spectacles. The area is approximately one square kilometre near Places des Arts and St. Catharines. Trash is dropped into inlets on the street and then sucked through the pipe at a speed of about 60 kilometres an hour to be collected in a concrete bunker-like terminal building. The terminal includes the fans and blowers, and has filters to clean the air before it is released into the atmosphere. Sensors indicate when the pipe is full and ready for evacuation, or the

Envac’s underground vacuum waste collection system.

system can be sequenced to operate at certain times during the day. Underground vacuum waste collection systems were invented in the 1960s. They have been installed in large hospitals, airports, and even Disneyland. There are over 600 installed in 40 countries around the world, including municipal systems in London and Barcelona. The systems have environmental advantages because they eliminate

the need for trucks to collect garbage, and they make it easier to separate the waste into different streams for recycling. Envac has been contracted to install another underground system in La Cité Verte in Quebec City. The “ecocity,” located in the Saint-Sacrement district between University Laval and the Sainte-Foy-Sillery districts, is a sustainable development of 800 homes.

products LIGHTING

Besides a 152-lumens per watt LED bulb, Cree now has a 170-lumens per watt prototype. The 170 LPW LED delivers 1250 lumens, consumes only 7.3 watts and gives a CRI of 90+. Cree also embeds Lutron EcoSystems technology on a chip in its luminaires, providing intelligent digital control and increased efficiency. www.cree.com; www.lutron.com HVAC

GE has launched a high accuracy power and energy meter for the building automation industry. The Multilin EPM 6010 can use both the BACnet/IP and Modbus TCP protocols. It provides accurate and timely data, allowing a BAS to better respond to changes in demand. www.gedigitalenergy.com A new indoor swimming pool area dehumidifier reduces the use of refrigerant by 85%. The Protocol (NP) Series by Seresco uses glycol as a refrigerant in a patented design. The NP series ranges from 18 to 140-ton units, and provides free pool water heating through heat recovery. www.serescodehumidifiers.com Nu Pipe was used to rehabilitate a failing HVAC system in a 37-storey condominium tower on the Toronto waterfront. The galvanized 8-year old HVAC pipes had been eaten

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p06-11 CCE AugSept12 Upfront.indd 10

through by glycol, creating pinhole leaks. The patented Nu Pipe epoxy coating was blown in to the existing lines to protect them in-situ. www.nuflowtech.com Uponor provides courses in the design and application of radiant hydronic systems and controls, geothermal systems, fire sprinkler systems and commercial PEX plumbing systems at its Uponor Academy and online. The courses cover the Uponor Climate Control Network system and the AquaSAFE Multipurpose fire sprinkler system. www.uponorpro.com/training ELECTRICAL

Schneider Electric has introduced StruxureWare Data Centre Operation v7.2 data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) software. It identifies underused and comatose servers, enabling the optimization of equipment. It focuses on IT power consumption rather than nameplate ratings, and provides an instant report. www.schneider-electric.com Appleton’s tray cable connectors have a compensating displacement seal that provides ingress protection to NEMA 4X and IP68 standards, allowing their use in harsh environments. www.appletonelec.com

August/September 2012

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Extensive choice of BACnet® and LONWORKS® controllers, offering a robust common hardware and programming platform

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engineers and the law

By Owen Pawson Miller Thomson LLP

While the integrated project delivery approach in construction can have benefits, it can also bring legal problems.

All For One?

here are compelling benefits to working as a team towards a common goal: cost savings can be achieved, risk is spread among the participants, and profit is shared following a successful project. This is the theory on which Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is based and championed. However, there are challenges that follow the benefits of the collaborative model used with IPD. Legal issues are bound to arise when a group of individuals come together to work on something as complex as a modern construction project. The following highlights some legal challenges of IPD.

The aspect of a relational contract that makes it attractive — the “all for one” notion – is also the source of its potential problems.

For better or worse Team members are responsible for coordinating their individual work with the work of the other members to ensure the pact operates seamlessly as a cohesive whole. Each member has the same goal of getting the project completed on time and hopefully within budget. But the lines that are so stark in the context of traditional contracts become blurry Legal issues are bound to arise Legal relationship in the IPD model. In tradiwhen a group of individuals come between the parties tional contracts, those lines In the traditional model for provide each party with a clear together to work on something construction projects, the pardemarcation of responsibility as complex as a modern ties work independently and liability. However, because construction project. through a matrix of direct of the necessary blurring of the legal contracts. Each party is lines in the relational contract, only concerned about what the other party in the same the parties are at increased risk, given the lack of crisp clarcontract is doing and not necessarily what parties outside ity of their exact duties. that contract are doing. While there are typically many contracts in place for a project, in traditional projects Setting the right terms there is really only one “type” of contract in use — the The problems raised by the secondary contract are not new. “transactional” contract. A transactional contract is the Relational contracts are often used by partnerships and classic contract where clearly described goods and services joint ventures. The idea that one partner can act as agent are exchanged for money or other consideration, and for another partner is useful (and often necessary) in cerwhere there are clear obligations, rights, and remedies set tain contexts. But there are typically limits to that agency. out for each party. The solution lies in the terms of the secondary contract. In the integrated project delivery model there is still These contracts should be carefully drafted to include provithe transactional contract between the owner and the sions that take into account a number of considerations. “pact” of project team members, which is the “Primary Typically, major construction firms take the lead in priContract.” The primary contract specifies the work to be mary contracts, although other parties could fill this role if performed, the legal rights and responsibilities of the they have sufficient resources and experience. In any event, owner and each team member, and the price to be paid for the lead party should be clearly identified. the project. The primary contract is the one that may go There should also be an obligation by each party to the out for tender, and if something goes awry, it is also the secondary contract to disclose any fact that could negatively basis on which the owner and the team members will seek impact that party’s ability to perform, as well as a right to their remedies. inspect each other’s books. Both concepts are consistent But with IPD, a second type of contract defines the with the principle of fair dealings between the parties over unique relationship between the team members in the pact, the course of the project. i.e the “Secondary Contract.” This is a “relational” (or “alliIn addition, a clearly defined mechanism for a ance”) contract. Relational contracts bind the parties within speedy resolution of disputes should be included to enthe relationship and establish duties owed by each member sure that any small irritants between the parties do not to the other members. escalate into major disputes. 12

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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August/September 2012

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engineers and the law

CONTRACTING WISELY FOR INTEGRATED PROJECT DELIVERY Decide who will take the lead for the pact in the primary contract. Include in the secondary contract: • the right to inspect each other’s records and books • dispute resolution mechanisms • the requirement for insurance to be taken out on each other • the duty to immediately disclose any fact that may negatively impact a party’s ability to perform on the project

trust between the team members and thereby avoid disputes. Each IPD project is unique and, consequently, each contract should be customized to reflect the unique relationships and requirements for each team member. “All for one and one for all” may have worked for the Three Muske-

teers, but in the context of today’s construction projects, the parties also need to ensure they have a well drafted contract in place. CCE Owen Pawson is with Miller Thomson LLP in Vancouver. Contact him at e-mail opawson@millerthomson.ca

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Insurance coverage requirements between parties to the secondary contract should be identified. They should be complementary and address project risks and the possibility of claims for damages caused by other secondary contract parties. Finally, a clear formula for the distribution of income from the project is an essential part of that secondary contract. Develop trust The best way to avoid legal issues arising is to choose the team members carefully. No matter how well the secondary contract is drafted, a fundamental lack of trust between the parties will hamper their efforts to achieve efficiencies and will reduce profitability for all the team members. While it is important to define the relationships through a contract, it is equally important to develop strong communications and

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

CHAIR’S MESSAGE

A World of Opportunity

he business world for Canadian consulting engineering companies is changing very quickly. First and perhaps foremost is the need for environmental sustainability. Governments often attempt to address environmental matters through regulation; however, in many cases, it will be engineering companies who develop practical ways to decrease impacts on the environment and increase sustainability, while implementing projects that facilitate Canada’s continued growth and prosperity. We are seeing a whole new set of rules for Canadian engineering companies as we work with new clients (contractors and financial institutions) who want different working relationships. Also, governments are discarding any prior parochialism they may have had, entering into far reaching trade agreements and encouraging large foreign engineering companies to enter the Canadian marketplace. In the past, we have thought that globalization of engineering services meant exporting our services to other countries –

which it still does – but clearly now it also means the rest of the world is coming to us. The new world for engineering companies is not just limited to public sector projects. Large private sector companies are increasingly outsourcing work and looking for global engineering expertise. These changes in client relationships present both an opportunity and a challenge to implement qualifications-based-selection (QBS) into the procurement of engineering services. Although there is change all around us, I believe it’s an exciting new business climate. There will be opportunities for young engineers to lead and excel in a way that hasn’t been available since the post Second World War infrastructure boom. It’s a time when engineering companies can decide to be leaders and influence how engineering services are delivered in this country. MURRAY THOMPSON, P.ENG. CHAIR, ACEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The above remarks are an excerpt of Mr. Thompson’s inaugural speech at the association’s Annual General Meeting, June 23, 2012.

MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL

Un univers de possibilités

e contexte commercial dans lequel les firmes de génie-conseil canadiennes doivent évoluer change très rapidement. Par exemple, la question de la durabilité environnementale figure au premier plan des priorités d’aujourd’hui. Les gouvernements tendent souvent à traiter des questions environnementales par la réglementation. Or, dans plusieurs cas, ce sont les firmes d’ingénierie qui développent des manières pratiques qui permettent de réduire les impacts sur l’environnement et d’accroître la durabilité lorsqu’elles réalisent des projets qui facilitent la croissance continue et la prospérité du Canada. Nous assistons à la création de nombreuses nouvelles règles imposées aux firmes d’ingénierie canadiennes alors que nous travaillons avec de nouveaux clients (entrepreneurs et institutions financières) qui recherchent des relations de travail différentes. De plus, les gouvernements s’éloignent de plus en plus de leur esprit de clocher pour conclure des accords commerciaux ambitieux et encourager de grandes firmes d’ingénierie étrangères à entrer sur le marché canadien. Dans le passé, la mondialisation des services d’ingénierie signifiait pour nous l’exportation de nos services à l’étranger – ce que nous faisons toujours –

mais il est clair que le reste du monde veut maintenant une part de notre marché. Cette nouvelle situation pour les firmes d’ingénierie n’est pas limitée aux projets du secteur public. De grandes entreprises ont de plus en plus recours à une expertise en ingénierie internationale. Ces changements dans les relations avec les clients présentent à la fois des débouchés et des défis dans la mise en œuvre de la sélection de services d’ingénierie basée sur les compétences. Malgré tous ces changements, je considère que ce nouveau climat commercial est très prometteur. Les jeunes ingénieurs pourront profiter de nombreuses occasions d’exceller et de diriger des projets dont l’envergure ne s’est pas présentée depuis le boom des grands projets d’infrastructure qui a suivi la Deuxième guerre mondiale. Nous sommes à une époque où les firmes de génie-conseil peuvent décider d’être des leaders et d’influencer la manière dont les services d’ingénierie sont procurés au Canada. MURRAY THOMPSON, P.ENG. PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION DE L’AFIC

Ce message est un extrait du discours inaugural que M. Thompson a donné lors de l’assemblée générale annuelle de l’AFIC du 23 juin 2012.

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

At Home and Abroad Consulting Engineers Navigate New Competitive World

ddressing Canada’s rugged terrain, punishing climate and transport routes stretching across immense distances, it’s small wonder that our engineering industry has earned a global reputation for excellence. When projects must be designed to endure such extremes, necessity becomes not only the mother of innovation, but also of quality. Yet while the Canadian landscape continues to provide a rigorous training ground for consulting engineers, the competitive landscape is changing. Foreign engineering firms are casting an interested eye at Canada, giving Canadians more competition in their own backyard. At the same time, the recent recession has afforded Canadian firms across all sectors opportunities in expanding and diversifying markets, rather than piling all sales expectations into one basket. Canada is currently the fifth largest exporter of engineering services in the world, and while this position is largely supported by being next door to the U.S., close to 30 per cent of revenues of Canadian consulting engineering service firms stem from exports. Opportunities for growth are out there, with $40 trillion expected to be invested worldwide between 2010-2030 for infrastructure work related to water, power, transportation and telecommunications systems. Chris Newcomb, President and CEO of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. in Vancouver and member of the Executive Committee of FIDIC (Fédération internationale des ingénieurs-conseils/Internation-

al Federation of Consulting Engineers), points out that the type of international projects traditionally undertaken by Canadian consulting engineers is changing, too. “In the 1970s, most Canadian engineering companies got their start in foreign markets by working on government-funded international development projects,” says Newcomb. “Today, those bricks and mortar development projects are less common, so we have to look at different strategies to break into new markets.” Designed to succeed Newcomb endorses quality as one of Canada’s most important engineering strengths, and Lisa Charette, Sector Analyst, Manufacturing and Life Sciences Branch at Industry Canada, agrees. “Canadian engineering is globally recognized for its expertise in highly complex and technologyintensive projects, as well as in advanced building technologies and designs,” she says. “Canadians are also valued for their experience with natural resource-related projects and public-private partnerships, as well as for their ability to work in multicultural environments – bilingualism is an asset.” A recent study conducted by the Conference Board of Canada for Industry Canada, entitled “Assessing Best Practices of Canadian Engineering and Architectural Firms,” found Canadian firms can succeed through quality of

service, superior employee business and communication skills, focusing on client relationships and strategic selection of partners. Some constructive advice While exporting does have its challenges, the study offers a number of best practices for Canadian engineering firms considering market diversification. The first advice is to do it. “Adding a new market is like adding a new leg to a table,” says Newcomb. “The more legs you have, the sturdier the table and the less likely it is to topple.” Diversification can also help overcome the engineer shortage, a key barrier to growth, by enabling firms to hire internationally and make more use of global value chains. When it comes to breaking into a new market, Newcomb says Canadians can find success in niche markets, particularly in environmentally sustainable projects and the mineral and energy sectors, as well as in emerging markets. Private sector and industrial companies also tend to value the higher quality engineering that Canadian firms offer. Some companies get their start by piggybacking with a domestic client that works internationally, or with a larger international engineering firm. “Even large firms don’t have every area of specialization covered off,” says Newcomb. “A specialization could be your ticket in.” Companies can also find leads and valuable information through govern-

ACEC Member Organizations: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - 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. 16

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

ment resources, such as Export Development Canada’s (EDC’s) dedicated infrastructure microsite at www.edc.ca/ infrastructure. The site includes a wealth of opportunities, events, helpful resources and links, and solutions such as insurance on credit and political risks, bid and performance bonds, and

financing. Consulting engineers will also want to take a look at Canadians at Work (www.canadiansatwork.ca), a site dedicated to showcasing Canadian companies’ involvement in infrastructure projects around the world. The site includes an international business directory in which consulting engi-

neers can profile their company – and if you’re an EDC customer, you’re entitled to free access for one year. “Working on international projects is exciting, rewarding and fulfilling,” Newcomb sums up. “There are many challenges, but the rewards of working in another country are even greater.”

ACEC Summit 2012 – a Great Success Connecting Leaders, Driving Business

n June 21-23, 2012, Canada’s leaders in consulting engineering gathered in Prince Edward Island for ACEC’s 2012 national Summit. Held at the beautiful Rodd Brudenell River Resort, the meeting featured a two-day Business Program, Annual General Meeting and a variety of social events. The Business Program provided a unique forum for participants to learn from industry experts and gain fresh insight on how to achieve business success today and in the future. Sessions highlighted opportunities for the consulting engineering sector and examined trends, success factors and best practices. Social events were a highlight of the Summit, providing opportunities for conference delegates to network and build relationships while enjoying the wonderful hospitality of Atlantic Canada.

ACEC Recognizes Industry Leaders Herb Kuehne, MBA, P.Eng., Chair of ACEC’s Board of Directors for the past year, hosted the Chairman’s Gala. At this special event, achievements of association members were recognized. Mr. Kuehne presented the Chairman’s Award to Roland LeBlanc, exp Services Inc., for his exceptional contribution and commitment to ACEC. Murray Thompson, P.Eng. of URS Canada Inc. assumed leader-

Herb Kuehne (right) hands over leadership of ACEC’s Board of Directors to new Chair Murray Thompson (left).

Leon Botham (left) congratulates Allen D. Williams Scholarship winner Michael Homenuke (right).

ship of ACEC’s Board of Directors as the Chairman for 2012-2013. At ACEC’s annual general meeting, Mr. Thompson outlined his goals and priorities for the year ahead. He stressed the need for the industry to look forward and prepare for major changes. “It’s a time when engineering companies can decide to be leaders in environmental sustainability, help define how new technologies are used and influence how engineering services are delivered in this country,” he stated. Michael Homenuke, P.Eng. of Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. was awarded the 2013 Allen D. Williams Scholarship. The award is presented annually to a Young Professional employed by an ACEC member firm who demonstrates a commitment to the consulting engineering industry

in their province or territory. The scholarship provides funding for winners to attend the annual conference of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC).

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAID “Overall it was fantastic!” “Excellent business program.” “The balance of social and business events provided many opportunities to interact with other delegates.”

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Bleed Trim

Live

ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

Excellence in Engineering

2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards October 23, 2012 Ottawa Convention Centre

he Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards represent the highest honours for achievements in consulting engineering in Canada. Co-sponsored by ACEC and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine, the awards showcase projects that demonstrate high quality engineering, innovation and imagination. ACEC member firms are invited to attend this year’s Awards Gala, a premier networking event that brings together government and industry leaders and other dignitaries to celebrate excellence in consulting engineering. Representatives of award-winning firms will also have the opportunity to participate in ACEC’s Parliament Hill Day and discuss key industry issues with elected officials.

Don’t miss this prestigious industry event!

ACEC Past Chair Wilfrid Morin Awarded Gold Medal from Engineers Canada

GEMTEC Wins National Award for Engineering Project

EMTEC Limited, an ACEC member firm from New Brunswick, was also recognized by Engineers Canada on June 2, 2012. GEMTEC received the National Award for an Engineering Project or Achievement for its work on the Port of Belledune Expansion Project.

n June 2, 2012, ACEC Past Chair (2010-2011) Wilfrid Morin, ing., M.Sc.A., received the Gold Medal Award at the Engineers Canada Awards Gala in Niagara Falls. Mr. Morin was recognized for his lifelong commitment to the engineering field and his community. The Gold Medal is the highest honour awarded by Engineers Canada. 18

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S A

Wilfrid Morin, ing., M.Sc.A.

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buildings

PRAIRIE VISION

Staying true to the architect’s vision for a glass building flooded with natural light, SMS Engineering helped to deliver an extremely energy-efficient air terminal on the Canadian prairies. BY RUSSELL LAVITT, P.ENG. SMS ENGINEERING LTD. WHEN THE WINNIPEG AIRPORTS AUTHORITY DECIDED TO REPLACE its outdated 1960s-era air terminal

building, they chose Stantec Architecture and international architect César Pelli for the design. The resulting, $585-million, 51,000-m2 facility opened in October 2011. Named after the “father of Canadian commercial aviation," the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport handles 3.4 million passengers per year and is the eighth busiest passenger airport in Canada. It is predicted that 4.1 million travellers per year will pass through its doors by 2015. The architects’ vision was for a new terminal characterized by transparency, connectivity and an abundance of natural light. SMS Engineering were the lead mechanical and electri-

cal engineering designers and were instrumental in delivering a robust and energy-efficient building that performs over 50% better than the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. It is also the first free standing airport in Canada, and the second in North America, to undergo a LEED accreditation process. All this was accomplished in a location that has one of the most widely fluctuating climates in the world. A giant fish bowl The architects planned for an all-glass building, making it easy for travelers to find their way and allowing for an abundance of natural light. However, a transparent 51,000-m2, three-storey, north facing structure enveloped by 500+ linear metres of glass presented an enormous mechanical design challenge. How

Douglas Little Photography

continued on page 22

Above: night view.

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buildings

Douglas Little Photography

Above: lighting enhances the curvilinear wood ceiling in the departures hall.

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continued from page 21

Gerry Kopelow Photography

buildings

Above: passenger holding room; the terminal's concrete floors incorporate hydronic pipe that absorbs the solar heat in summer and redirects it to other uses. Fresh air is distributed from the steel totems.

dangerous puddles forming on the tiled walking surfaces and water condensing on the carpeted floors. During moderate outdoor winter temperatures, the radiant heat system can operate as designed, at a lower water temperature. When winter temperatures drop, the radiant floor system needs to operate near 60° C to generate enough heat to push through the carpeted floors to warm the space. The problem for the designers was two-fold — where to get the additional heat and how to deliver it without compromising the integrity of the concrete floors, which when heated to high temperatures for long periods of time, would begin to deteriorate. Most modern equipment produces heat at temperatures greatly beyond what was needed for the floors (82° C versus the required 60° C). Options such as adjusting the boiler’s temperature controls and cooling overheated water to the appropriate temperature were quickly eliminated. Cooling overheated water wastes energy and running boilers at lower temperatures would damage the units.

do you efficiently heat and cool a giant fish bowl located on the windswept Canadian prairies? The 55 skylights, atrium, many thousands of square metres of glass walls and numerous clerestory windows spill light into the terminal, but they can also be a source of solar gain, causing the building to heat up and making temperature control difficult in the summer. Thermal and light studies revealed that wintertime solar energy could easily be absorbed into the building’s heating system and re-used. The challenge became how to provide enough cooling to counteract the heat generated from the summer sun. The architects modified their original floor-to-ceiling, clear glass design by adding a ceramic bonded, fritted glass in the upper sections. Finned shades were also added to the curtain wall to “shadow” direct light at certain solar angles and help control solar energy from entering the building.

Heating cascade Research revealed a product made in Montreal that would make the entire system work. Traditional hot water boilers produce high temperature water (82° C) from the central utility building, which is pumped approximately 1,000 metres to the air terminal. Once in the terminal, the water is first pumped to hightemperature devices needing a high volume of hot water, like wall-mounted radiators and heaters located near entries. Instead of directly returning this water to the boiler for reheating, as is done in most buildings, the heating system directs this nominally cooler water to the next stage of the cascade — the air handling system. The coils in the air handling system are designed to accept water from the radiators at a medium temperature and use it to heat the outside air. The temperature of the used water is lowered to near body temperature before finally it is pumped to the boiler plant. This water is too cool to be used as return water in the noncondensing boilers.

Harvesting solar gains in underfloor piping To find a way to counteract the direct summertime solar gain to the floors, the engineers studied where the sun would enter the building throughout the day for each day of an entire year. With this it was possible to know where the most solar energy could be harvested. In these locations, flexible plastic tubing is embedded into the floors. Cool water runs through the tubes and absorbs the hot summertime sun, repurposing the energy elsewhere in the building. This process reduces the need to cool the building with treated air. The tubes also pipe the hot water needed for radiant floor heat in the winter. During the cooling mode, sensors determine the dew point temperature of the air adjacent to the floor to prevent

Squeezing heat from the boiler In order to increase the overall efficiency of the boiler plant, the Montreal-made flue gas economizer unit (see photo p. 27) captures latent energy from the boiler exhaust so that it can boost the return boiler water temperature. An extraction fan draws the boiler exhaust into the unit, pushing it up and out the chimney of the central utility building, while a spray of water is simultaneously pushed down against the flow of the exhaust. The contact area between the exhaust and spray is increased by a packing of stainless steel rings. Heat from the exhaust is transferred into the water spray. This heated water is then passed through a heat exchanger which is used to heat the low temperature water returning from the terminal building. This water is continued on page 24

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continued from page 22

Douglas Little Photography

buildings

Above: baggage claims area. The dramatic skylights are surrounded by indigo-coloured LED rings to suggest a Prairie sky. This three-storey hall has displacement ventilation, with fresh air supplied only down to the carousel areas where people stand.

heated to above 60° C to ensure proper operation of the central utility boilers. The flue gas condensing economizing unit used on the project also has a natural gas burner built in that allows it to act as an additional boiler. As a result, the unit is used as the primary heating source, due to its very high efficiency. The traditional boilers operate only when the building needs greater amounts of heat. An airport has many spaces requiring constant cooling, including electrical rooms with large transformers, computer rooms, retail stores and restaurants. By combining the cascading heating system with an efficient condenser water loop, the designers were able to capture energy from these spaces and use it elsewhere in the building. The end result is a heating plant for a 51,000-m2 building that is nominally above 95% seasonal efficiency. The terminal building is primarily cooled by high-efficiency chillers located in the central utilities building. Chilled water is pumped to the terminal and fed to the air handling units and radiant floor (when in cooling mode). During shoulder seasons, or should the central chillers be off-line, two smaller chillers within the terminal building produce the necessary chilled water for smaller loads. Air — only where needed The air ventilation system services only the zones where people are present, leaving the remaining three-story high space alone. Air handlers – some 20 units ranging from as small as 150 L/s of air flow to nearly 50,000 L/s – provide ventilation. Heat recovery is included on most of the building’s

exhaust systems and when the right conditions exist the system takes advantage of free cooling modes. There are three modes for getting air into the occupied spaces. First, a series of “eyeball” diffusers located below the clerestory windows in the departures hall jet small volumes of air at a high velocity causing air movement with a minimal use of fans. Second, displacement ventilation in the baggage claims hall pushes air through five large round grills atop each of the three baggage carousels, causing a fountain effect of air that gradually drifts down to the floor. This fountain of air treats only the vertical volume where people are present, leaving the air in the remaining three-story high space alone. To prevent the air near the ceiling from overheating, invisible return air gaps are incorporated in the skylight housings. The third critical area is the passenger hold rooms. These areas incorporate both a continuous band of jet diffusers and a series of stainless steel “totems.” In heating season, the totem’s lower back side registers are opened to wash the curtain wall with warm air, preventing possible condensation (see photo p. 27). In cooling mode, the upper register is used to push cool air high into the hold room where it will begin to gently drift down on passengers, minimizing drafts. Controls and enhanced air filters The overall building is controlled by a series of distributed computers that measure ambient conditions, outside conditions, and the status and performance of equipment. Fans speed up or slow down based on heating, ventilation and air-conditioning requirements. Carbon dioxide and continued on page 27

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RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO INNOVATE FOR

THE FUTURE

INNOVATION I CREATIVITY I INGENUITY In May 2013, Canam and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering will recognize excellence in innovation in civil engineering by giving out the Excellence in Innovation in Civil Engineering Award in Montréal. Send us information on your project and innovation and show us how you know how to innovate for the future. Visit www.csce.ca/innovation

Recognizing those who build

for the future.

Longevity. Adaptability. Full Cost Value. The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering’s Award for Governmental Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure will be given out at the CSCE Annual Conference in Montreal in the summer of 2013. The Award is open to any public sector applicant – send us information on your project or program and show us how you are building for the future.

Visit csce.ca/leadershipaward 26

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buildings

SMS

continued from page 24

Simply Left: flue gas economizer unit, part of the cascading heating system. Above: air diffuser at the base of a totem; in winter these flush warm air onto the glazing to prevent condensation.

volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors throughout the building measure the air quality. Outside air quality is also measured and the two are compared. If the outside air is poor, perhaps due to jet plane exhaust for a certain period of time, the fresh air intake is minimized. Rather than using traditional finemesh filters, the building has coarser mesh filters with electrostatic enhancement. This technology has an electrostatic filtration system on a very slim filter that uses electricity to capture the very fine contaminants. The end result is an air filter only twice the width of a traditional home furnace filter that achieves a very high efficiency (85%+). Airports use a lot of water, for washrooms, kitchens and maintenance. Besides low-flow equipment, the building has end-of-line instantaneous water heaters which generate hot water only when it is required. Lighting that enhances the architecture With the abundance of natural light streaming into the building, the challenge for the lighting design was how to emphasize the stunning architectural features. Upon entering the terminal building, for example, travelers are greeted with an abundance of natural wood, including a curvilinear wood ceiling that has been interpreted as waving fields of wheat. The artificial lighting used here had to

exude a sense of warmth. During four long nights of installation, electrical designers worked in the departures hall adjusting the numerous metal halide lights to eliminate shadows and reduce glare. The result is a uniformly “uplit” golden-toned ceiling. The expanse of open area is bathed by “downlights” tucked into the black separation bands of the ceiling. Another creative use of light is in the passenger hold rooms. Fixtures used to light adjoining retail areas are strategically positioned to reflect light off the dropped T-bar ceilings back into the passenger waiting areas, helping to create a relaxed environment. A random constellation of skylights within the baggage and lounge areas are surrounded by indigo-coloured LED rings to simulate a prairie sky. The public artwork program is brought to life through specialized lighting systems varying from internal LEDs to colour changing lamps, to backlighting. The exterior of the building is lit using an array of linear LED uplight and downlight fixtures. On the electrical side ... As with any secure facility with automatically locked doors and controlled access points, it is vital these areas be interconnected with the fire alarm system for safe and rapid evacuation if required. Being a complex, multi-tenanted,

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Migration to 40/100G in the Data Center with OM3 and OM4 Optical Connectivity Needs in the Data Center

With the ongoing requirement for expansion and growth in the data center, cabling infrastructures must provide reliability, manageability and flexibility. Deployment of an optical connectivity solution enables an infrastructure that meets these requirements for current applications and data rates. An additional key factor when choosing the type of optical connectivity is scalability. Scalability refers not only to the physical expansion of the data center with respect to additional servers, switches or storage devices, but also to the scalability of the infrastructure needed to support a migration path for increasing data rates. As technology evolves and standards are completed to define data rates—Ethernet 40/100G, Fibre Channel (32G and beyond) and InfiniBand (40G and beyond)—the cabling infrastructures installed today must provide scalability to accommodate the need for more bandwidth in support of future applications.

The Need for Speed

The requirement for higher data rates is being driven by many factors. Switching and routing, virtualization, convergence, and high-performance computing environments are examples of where higher network speeds will be required within the data center environment. With Ethernet applications now operating at 1 and 10G, it is clear that to support future networking requirements, 40/100G technologies and standards are required. Ratified in June 2010, the IEEE 802.3ba 40/100G Ethernet Standard provides specific guidance for 40/100G transmission with multimode (OM3 and OM4) and single-mode fibers. However, the standard does not have guidance for CAT UTP/STP copper cable.

Cabling Performance Requirements

When evaluating the cabling performance requirements needed for 40/100G channel insertion loss transmissions, three criteria should be considered: bandwidth, total connector insertion loss and skew. Each of these factors can negatively impact the cabling infrastructure’s ability to meet the standard’s transmission distance of at least 100 meters over OM3 fiber and 150 meters over OM4 fiber. In addition to being included in the 40/100G standard, OM3 and OM4 fibers provide the highest performance for today’s needs. OM3 and OM4 fiber connectivity continues to provide a significant value proposition vs. single-mode fiber, as multimode fiber uses low-cost 850 nm transceivers for serial and parallel transmissions.

Deploying an Optical Cabling Infrastructure in the Data Center

For optimized performance in meeting data center requirements, infrastructure topology and product solutions must be considered in unison. To meet the needs of today’s serial Ethernet and Fibre Channel applications, MTP-terminated backbone/horizontal cabling is installed into preterminated modules or cassettes. These modules provide a means for transitioning the MTP connector on the backbone cable to single-fiber connectors such as the LC duplex. When the time comes to migrate to 40/100G, the module and LC duplex patch cords are removed and replaced with MTP adapter panels and MTP patch cords for the parallel optic interfaces. Insertion loss is a critical factor for 40/100G applications. As the total connector loss in the channel increases above 1.5 dB, the supportable distance decreases. When extended distances or multiple connector matings are required, low-loss performance modules and connectivity may be necessary. Additionally, to eliminate concerns of modal noise effects as total connector loss increases, solutions should be selected that have undergone system modal noise testing by the connectivity manufacturer. Selecting a high-quality connectivity solution that provides low insertion loss and eliminates modal noise concerns ensures reliability and performance in the data center cabling infrastructure.

Preparing for the Future

To best meet the needs of the future, MTP-based connectivity using OM3 or OM4 fiber is the ideal solution in the data center. With inherent modularity and optimization for a flexible ANSI/TIA-942-compliant structured cabling installation, MTP-based optical fiber systems can be installed for use in today’s applications, while providing an easy migration path to future higher speed technologies such as 40/100G.

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buildings Douglas Little Photography

continued from page 24

Above left: the complex and immense IT and communication needs of the airport require two large-scale data rooms. Above right: emergency generators automatically synchronize with the utility power system.

common use facility means the IT systems are extremely complex and important to the building’s day-to-day operations. In all, there are over 3.5 kilometres of cable trays within the building, supporting many thousands of cables. There are two large-scale data rooms that house all of the main components required to run a modern air terminal building including airport operations and coordination, signage, PA systems, check-in counters, baggage handling control, and flight information display systems. Resiliency and reliability are key characteristics of a modern airport, which means ensuring power is maintained during an emergency. The new building incorporates two-2000 kW diesel generators, each capable of operating for 24 hours from large fuel storage tanks. After power is restored, the generators automatically synchronize with the utility power system to seamlessly transfer power from generator power to utility power, without even so much as a dip in the lights. At the time of design, this was one of the first airports in North America to have full on-site back up diesel-electric generation. While most buildings have only a single source of power from Manitoba Hydro, this one has two. Electric power is provided to the airport property at 24,000 volts, and is eventually knocked down to 600 volts in the airport by high capacity transformers. CCE Owner: Winnipeg Airports Authority Architects: Stantec (prime); Pelli Clarke Pelli (master) Mechanical & electrical prime consultants: SMS Engineering (Garry Bolton, P.Eng., Russell Lavitt, P.Eng., Chris Hewitt, P.Eng., Ian Kelly, P.Eng.) Mechanical sub-consultants: Stantec (Blair McCarry, P.Eng., Robert Abbenhuis); Smith + Andersen (Doug Smith, P.Eng., Kevin Sharples, P.Eng.); The Mitchell Partnership (John Lowden, P.Eng.) Electrical sub-consultant: Mulvey + Banani (Bob Lymer, P.Eng.) Structural consultants: Crosier Kilgour (prime); Halcrow-Yolles General contractor, terminal building: EllisDon Program management: Parsons/Wardrop (Tetratech)

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building hvac & controls

Trouble- shooting CCE INTERVIEWS COMMISSIONING EXPERT BILL McCARTNEY OF

TORONTO TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE WORST COMMON PROBLEMS HE FINDS WITH EXISTING BUILDINGS’ HVAC SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS

Bill McCartney, CPMP is a partner of Isotherm Engineering in Toronto and director of commissioning services with the company. He has 46 years of experience in the HVAC & R industry and has been active with several industry organizations, including the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). He is certified by ASHRAE as a Commissioning Process Management Professional (CPMP), currently a member of the ASHRAE TC 7.9 Building Commissioning Committee, and immediate past chair of the ASHRAE Handbook Committee. He is also a recipient of ASHRAE’s Distinguished Service Award. He is currently serving as a director-at-large for the Building Commissioning Association, a non-profit international association based in Oregon. CCE interviewed Bill McCartney in July.

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

p32-37 CCE AugSept12 Controls.indd 32

Q. When re-commissioning existing buildings, what are some of the worst problems you have seen with the HVAC design? The most common and difficult hurdle is the lack of documentation for the existing HVACR and energy consuming systems. When we’re doing a new building, we work with the owners and design team to figure out the Basis of Design. But in existing buildings, a lot of the documents that were created originally, perhaps 20 or 25 years ago, have disappeared. In fact in those days what we call a “basis of design” was probably never written. It’s only because of the ASHRAE commissioning process that the terminology of the “owner’s project requirements, “and “basis of design” have come to exist and have eventually found their way into LEED. Without that documentation, when we come to re-commissioning and figur-

August/September 2012

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building hvac & controls

Bill McCartney on site in Belleville, Ontario.

ing out the problems we are sort of re-engineering the building and working backwards. Oversized equipment Q. Why do you think there are so many problems with the HVAC systems in existing buildings? When we do component and system performance verification testing we often discover that the chiller and heating plant are oversized. This is especially true when lighting and energy efficiency retrofits have been done, or when the system has been tightened up through updated building automation. Unfortunately, this patchwork, band-aid approach over a period of time may create incompatible and inefficient operations that often threaten the life-cycle of the components. A lot of the buildings I’ve seen lately were designed in the mid-1980s and built in the late 80s and early 90s. The design criteria in those days were a lot different. Lighting levels were a lot higher, ventilation had started to improve and there wasn’t as much attention paid to the envelope. And the building systems were, as we have discovered, extremely oversized.

When air-conditioning equipment is oversized it is not operating efficiently. It starts and ramps up until the building is cooled, and then it turns off. With the equipment off, the air is not being dehumidified and so the space begins to feel damp and uncomfortable. Oversizing is still a problem. If you talk to the chiller manufacturers they’ll tell you that they rarely see a chiller operate above 60%. So owners often lay out a lot more capital on equipment than they need to. For example, we commissioned a complex of two residential high-rise towers that had been built just four years ago. We found out through our discovery that when the HVAC system was originally started up, in one of the buildings the chiller malfunctioned after an hour and didn’t work properly for a year. So they piped in chilled water from the other tower. Guess what, that equipment carried both buildings, which tells us the chiller was double the size it should have been. In another case, we found that the systems were delivering 30,000 cfm too much air. Well, heating or cooling, and dehumidifying or humidifying 30,000 cfm when it is not required is very expensive. Systems often switched to manual Q. What are the worst problems you have found with building automation systems and controls? When nobody has the documentation as to how to run the building, eventually the operators will run the building the best way they can, and in the case of a commercial office building the operation is based on reacting to tenant responses. The operators don’t want people complaining to their boss that they’re uncomfortable in the building. So the system is often being run manually. Q. What’s the problem with that? It’s not the intent, and it’s not efficient. Let’s say if somebody complains it’s not warm enough, bringing up the boiler temperature is not the solution unless it’s a problem at the system end. If the terminal doesn’t work properly then turning up the boiler does nothing but waste energy. In a lot of cases the controls design is strictly done by the controls manufacturer or his secondary supplier. Some continued on page 35 August/September 2012

p32-37 CCE AugSept12 Controls.indd 33

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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building hvac & controls

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A lot of the people who work in building controls are new, they’re young. It’s because that industry has grown so fast. designers will write a description of what they want to happen, but then they rely on the controls manufacturer to do the work. There will be a basis of design, or a schematic, or a picture drawn, or a philosophy written. But it’s up to the actual controls supplier to decide, “What components do I need and where do I put them?” The controls suppliers might be one of the big manufacturing companies or an independent secondary supplier. Then when we come to do the commissioning we’ll find that the equipment or the system is not capable of responding to the requests of the designer. When you see, for example, that the manufacturer instructions say: “put the duct sensor two-thirds of the way down the main run,” and then the engineer turns around and designs the duct to split at about 3 feet, you know that the system can’t do what the controls manufacturer requires. A lot of the people who work in building controls are new, they’re young. It’s because that industry has grown so fast. Someone might take a two-week programming course, then he goes out and takes “the product” and applies it to “the building,” but he hasn’t a clue what he’s looking at. Here’s an example of what can happen. Say you have a gas-fired appliance, whether it’s a boiler or a heating unit, that usually operates at a minimum firing position of around

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30%. The individual who is applying the new building automation system was probably told that the unit was modulating, so they set the operating signal to go from 0 to 100%. Well it actually starts at 30% which will likely be greater than the heat required, so the system will overheat the space.

Or if you look at cooling: if it’s direct expansion and it’s in stages, the controls programmer doesn’t understand why [the building] is not getting his air-conditioning because he doesn’t understand what happens when he turns the stages of cooling on or off.

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continued on page 36

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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building hvac & controls

continued from page 34

Variable frequency drives are a good idea — a great idea — but you have to understand what the impact is on the system and how they operate.

It’s a systemic thing. You have got to understand the system — not just your little piece. Variable frequency drives not always the right fit Q. Is there an issue with compatibility when they mix and match different systems? Yes. There is a fallacy out there that the BACnet protocol solves all problems, but it doesn’t. There’s still a gap of understanding. Another common problem we come across is that variable frequency drives are being installed in many cases where they’re not appropriate. The designer reads an article that says you can save 20% to 30% of your energy by using a VFD, but he doesn’t think about what it does to the system. If you put a VFD on a direct expansion system it might freeze up the compressors because there isn’t enough airflow. I’ve seen this happen numerous times. If you put a VFD on a gas-fired appliance you have to remember that there is a minimum airflow requirement for gas-fired appliances [set] by the Canadian Gas Association. VFD is a good idea — it’s a great idea — but you have to understand what the impact is on the system and how it operates. I was out in Saskatoon two weeks ago where VFDs had been added to all the air handling equipment. The building operator was complaining that the motors were burning up. When I looked I saw that they were set at 15 Hz. The motor manufacturers recommend that you should run a motor at no less than 20 Hz. Q. Are you in favour of high-tech sophisticated controls, or more simple systems? It depends. I have designed control systems where we control the temperature within plus or minus 1 degree F. With an older building that is just single-stage heating, and single-stage cooling, then you only need a single-stage heat-cool thermostat. You don’t need a building automation system. But if you have a building where they want to control the energy consumption range, then, yes, you need a building automation system. Q. Do you ever find good systems in existing buildings? Oh yes, but it’s only when they have been properly designed in the first place, correctly installed, and appropriately maintained, and where any changes to the systems have been documented and operated. And don’t forget, [as building re-commissioners] we 36

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

p32-37 CCE AugSept12 Controls.indd 36

only get called in because it’s a bad building; we don’t normally get called in when a building works well. Sometimes it is just a matter of going through the existing system’s programming, sorting out all the issues, training the building staff and walking away. We did that with a hospital and long-term health care complex in the east end of Toronto, for example. It had two groups of operators, one in the hospital, one in the longterm health care building, who were operating totally independently of each other with systems that were 10 years apart in age. All we did was go in and figure out how the systems worked, wrote the systems manual, trained their people, and walked away. We saved the hospital approximately 15% of the energy according to the feedback from the owner’s new building services engineer. Monitoring and verification (M & V) is a market we’ve become certified in and moved into quickly. It is a LEED credit for new buildings, but it’s also becoming something that we’re adding to existing buildings. Who should do building commissioning? Q. What kind of experience do you believe qualifies an individual to hang up their shingle as a recognized Commissioning Authority? I contend that 15 years of experience is the minimum. My view is that an individual who has five years in design, five years in construction, and five years in operations and maintenance should have the overall experience required to serve the role properly. Then they still need to take courses or get involved with a commissioning firm to learn the process. I was asked recently what I consider to be the most important requirements for someone to be a commissioning authority. I didn’t hesitate to say that understanding the value of communication and controls are the keys. You have to be able and comfortable in communicating with the owner (or their representative), the architect, their sub-consultants, project manager, general contractor, major sub-contractors, controls, TAB [testing, adjusting, balancing] contractor, manufacturers representatives, and the eventual users of the building, the operations and maintenance personnel. If any one of them senses weakness you are doomed to be regarded as ineffectual and in essence ignored. If you can’t write the systems manual based on meetings with the controls sub-contractor and design team prior to the issuing of the control shop drawings, you’re in the wrong business.— BP CCE

August/September 2012

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buildings

TOP PERFORMERS AT OKANAGAN The Fipke Centre and Arts and Science Building at the University of British Columbia Okanagan have been awarded the top Green Globes rating. Here’s how.

TWO BUILDINGS ON THE OKANAGAN CAMPUS

are the first campus buildings in the world to be awarded Five Green Globes. The Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research and the contiguous Arts and Science Building at UBC Okanagan form a new precinct on the campus, which is located outside Kelowna. Both buildings were designed by Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning, with Integral Group/ Cobalt Engineering as the mechanical consultant. Green Globes is a rating system administered in Canada by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). It evolved from a U.K. system, with involvement from the Canadian Standards Association. It was introduced to the U.S. in 2004. Whereas LEED certification has traditionally been applied to a building’s design, Green Globes is an online auditing tool which assesses a building’s actual ongoing environmental performance once it is occupied. Green Globes covers all aspects of sustainable design, from site management, to water use, to indoor environment and energy perfor-

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

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p38-39 CCE AugSept12 FIPKE.indd 38

mance. The program rates buildings according to a graduated system. Five Green Globes is the highest ranking and is sometimes considered to be equivalent to LEED platinum. Assessing a building once it is up and running, rather than relying on the design projections, is important because buildings need to be fine-tuned to achieve their top performance. Project architect at Kasian for both the Okanagan campus buildings is Michael McDonald. He explains: “With any high performance building it [optimum performance] doesn’t happen right away. What happens with temperature swings and how do we react to them? How quickly do the slabs heat up, and how quickly do they cool down? Those sorts of things take a little bit of time — a year — to work out.” The Fipke Centre (75,000 sq.ft., completed 2008) and Arts and Science Building (86,200 sq. ft., completed 2010) are both multi-purpose buildings. Both have classrooms, offices, common areas, and 300-seat auditoriums. Both also have wet and dry labs, occupying approximately 25% of their total floor area. The Arts and Science building also has an animal care facility.

Photos: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning

BY BRONWEN PARSONS

August/September 2012

12-08-16 2:02 PM

buildings

Left: Fipke Centre, with Arts and Science building behind. They use 50% less energy thanks to a combination of features, including a thermal slab and wind towers. Opposite: dynamic space between the buildings. They are both multi-purpose facilities to encourage interaction between arts and science students.

All players at the table Energy monitoring has shown that the Okanagan buildings use almost 50 per cent less energy than equivalent lab buildings designed to Canada’s Model National Energy Code for Buildings. Albert Bicol, P.Eng., the project manager at Integral Group is proud of what was ultimately achieved: “A typical lab building uses around 600-800 kWh per square metre per year. This building’s measured data is half that number. And this number relates to all the energy consumed — gas and electricity, not just HVAC. The most important part of the project, Bicol says, was using an integrated design approach. “We were involved from Day 1 with the owners UBC Properties Trust, the contractor, architect, consultants, and the cost consultants.” The approach enabled them to reduce the size and costs of the mechanical systems and redirect those funds to architectural elements such as an efficient envelope. “You can’t do that when people are working in silos without an integrated design approach,” Bicol says. Trickling energy into the space Bicol outlines some of the design features that helped reduce the building’s energy consumption. First, the concrete structure is a “thermal active slab” for both heating and cooling the entire building. The exposed slabs integrate hydronic piping and are only around 9” thick. They radiate heating or cooling upwards into the floor above, and downwards into the ceiling below. The hydronic system is served by the campus district energy system, which is a geo-exchange system that draws from underground aquifers. It was built to serve several new buildings on the campus. Bicol describes the mechanical systems at the Fipke and Arts and Science buildings as “semi-passive” and low-grade systems since they don't require very hot or very cold water to condition the spaces. During the summer the team was “pleasantly surprised” to find that water from the aquifers was cold enough to be pumped through the building without having to use a compressor energy — this in a climate where temperatures can rise as high as +30°C in summer (and –20°C in winter). “We have reduced the demand for cooling so much because of shading, proper window glass, and the thermal

mass/radiant slab that it becomes possible to just trickle energy into the space,” says Bicol. Wind towers and simplicity Offices and common areas are ventilated through operable windows, trickle vents, and wind towers. Bicol describes the wind towers — there are three in total, rising around 10 feet above the roof — as “an old technology, almost like a clerestory.” The towers have louvres at the top to allow hot air to escape through a stack effect. The towers also provide a means of heat recovery of exhaust air during the winter. “As the wind blows across the top of the tower it creates negative pressure inside the tower, like an airplane wing reducing the need for electricity to move air through the building,” explains Bicol. The labs and theatres use displacement ventilation. Air is conventionally conditioned and released into the labs in cabinet grilles near the floor. These spaces have their own exhaust systems, with heat recovery. In the theatres, fresh air is brought in quietly through plenums under the stadium seating. Carbon dioxide detectors located throughout the building ensure that the ventilation is adequate and air quality is good. Daylighting is maximized through the buildings’ orientation and strategically placed overhangs on the exterior facades, while occupancy sensors and energy-efficient lighting reduce the electrical loads further. And since building operations are so important for achieving actual energy savings, these Okanagan buildings have it right. “A main feature of both buildings is that they are simple to operate and simple to maintain,” says Bicol. “There are not many VAV boxes, diffusers, or “stuff” with moving parts, which means the buildings require less operation and less maintenance.” CCE Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research / Arts and Science Building, University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Client: UBC Properties Trust. Architects: Kasian Architecture Interior Design & Planning with HMA Architecture/Art Huber Architect. Mechanical: Cobalt/Integral (Albert Bicol, P.Eng.) Structural: Bush Bohlman and Partners. Electrical: Falcon Engineering. Construction services: Stuart Olson Dominion.

August/September 2012

p38-39 CCE AugSept12 FIPKE.indd 39

Canadian Consulting Engineer

12-08-16 2:02 PM

detention facilities

There’s no way of escaping the digital security technologies being installed at the Edmonton New Remand Centre — Canada’s largest detention facility.

SECURITY BLANKET BY NORDAHL FLAKSTAD

WITH THE EDMONTON NEW REMAND CENTRE,

Alberta lays claim to Canada’s largest and most up-to-date detention facility. On behalf of the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Alberta Infrastructure has overseen progress since construction manager Stuart Olson Dominion broke ground in 2007 at the 16-hectare site in northeast Edmonton. The $570-million, 59,511-m2 centre (ENRC) is due to open next April. Initially, it will house over 1,900 offenders, most awaiting trial or sentencing. ENRC replaces a three decades-old remand centre adjacent to Edmonton’s downtown courthouse. The existing centre can’t meet burgeoning demands and many northern Alberta detainees have had to be held in other provincial facilities as far away as Calgary. Locating a prison in a local neighbourhood can raise alarms, but these were mostly calmed by building ENRC on

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

p40-43 CCE AugSept12 Edmonton.indd 40

©iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Edmonton’s periphery. A youth correction centre stands immediately to its north, an environmental wetland reserve lies to the east, and the Anthony Henday ring road is to the south. The city owns undeveloped land to the west. While the centre’s distance from courthouses could have proven problematic, it has 53 video arraignment locations that enable electronic court appearances. Alberta has applied P3 models on several major infrastructure projects. However, the director of Alberta Infrastructure’s Project Delivery Branch, Dave Frizell, P.Eng., explains that in this case P3 really wasn’t an alternative to construction management, which was the approach chosen for ENRC. Detention centres typically take long to build, and, says Frizell: “They are very complicated structures. The construction management approach allowed the design to evolve while there already was a start to construction.” It also facili-

August/September 2012

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detention facilities

tated jump-starting a much needed project when higher construction costs loomed on the horizon. Campus layout with pods On ENRC, Edmonton-based ONPA Architects has targeted LEED silver designation. The design is a “campus” layout with low-rise, maximum three-tier structures in the form of eight linked buildings. Initially, there will be five general population pods, each with 288 beds, a maximum-security pod also with 288 beds, a 224bed health-care pod, and a central administration building. Most services including food are provided within each pod, thereby limiting the movement of inmates. There is space for three more pods, which would raise the bed count to 2,816. Frizell describes the pods as “the most recent concept in correctional facilities; it gives lots of flexibility in separating inmates who can’t be housed together.” ENRC’s population could range from violent criminals to women and immigration-related detainees. Each of the pods will have four units (each further subdivided into cells), with correctional peace officers positioned on the floor of each unit. In the absence of any specific security concerns, ENRC will use “direct supervision.” This model entails stationing staff face-to-face with offenders in the common areas of each unit rather than behind barriers. However, each pod will have a back-up “pod-control” capable of managing all

four units within that pod. The pods are linked by two-level walkways and central control is provided from the administration building. Traditionally, prisons were reinforced concrete and masonry structures. But with time a factor and masonry trades in short supply, this was not an option. At ENRC, steel panels, fashioned off site and grouted in place with concrete, are employed for many between-cell partitions. Substantial portions of the exterior envelope are constructed with steel panels as well. Remand centre stays usually are fairly short – averaging 17 days. So, unlike federal penitentiaries where offenders serve lengthier sentences, ENRC won’t incorporate sports fields and training shops. Most visits will occur using a dedicated video facility in West Edmonton. Together the remote visitor site and ENRC’s video visitation booths for offenders will accommodate 60 visits every half hour, on a 12-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis. Mechanical systems must account for possible riots MP&P Engineering in Calgary are the prime electrical consultant, with Ken Maskell, P.Eng. as partner in charge of the project. Maskell brings more than 30 years of experience in designing electrical systems for detention facilities in Western Canada. “I’ve been in jail for a long time,” jokes Maskell. He counts ENRC as “by far continued on page 42

Above: aerial view of the eight-pod layout on a 16-hectare site at the edge of Edmonton. The centre has almost 1,500 surveillance cameras located throughout and uses biometric screening for employees. It opens next year. August/September 2012

p40-43 CCE AugSept12 Edmonton.indd 41

Alberta Infrastructure

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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detention facilities

continued from page 41

the largest” and his most complex such project. The centre’s 9 MW of capacity and two 2 MW standby generators underline the facility’s size. Similar scale is reflected on the mechanical side, where Hemisphere Engineering consulted on all the systems. Since offenders can’t just leave and go home in the case of emergencies, additional reliability is needed for the systems. If the external electricity service is disrupted, the two back-up generators kick in to service the heating and food services, as well as for critical life-safety, communication and security systems. The mechanical systems take into account the potential that in a detention centre fires or riots may occur. If oleoresin capsicum spray (cayenne pepper) must be deployed, the stairwell air pressure quickly doubles to clear the gas. Cameras and biometric identifiers The extensive steel walls make it difficult to broadcast signals, but the centre’s complex’s data systems are designed to meet the BICSI information technology systems standards. Historically, prison security mainly entailed the jailer’s keys, solid perimeter walls, barbwire fences and perhaps even a moat or intimidating stretch of water. Security in modern facilities must encompass complex, interconnected technologies – CCTV cameras, electronic entry-door controls, biometic readers and other often-IP-based controls. The challenge, says Ken Klimchuk, P.Eng. of GENIVAR in Edmonton, who are the security consultants on ENRC, centres on developing the sophisticated, integrated systems needed for security while also making their use by correction staff easy and intuitive. For instance, ENRC has 1,480 surveillance cameras. They basically “blanket” public and inmate common areas, and every cell is wired for cameras, though all don’t currently have them installed. With 1.2 petabytes or 1,200 terabytes, ENRC can store up to 30 days-worth of images from its hundreds of surveillance cameras. Like most modern institutions, a detention centre has certain conventional IT needs, such as storing voice or electronic administrative records. It is critical to separate such housekeeping

data from sensitive and data-intensive security systems. The security system is safeguarded by various redundancies, for instance, on data networks, cabling and switches, and the 62 operator workstations. The CCTV cameras work on two separate networks, so even if one network is down, the other will keep operating. Video analytics able to detect movement are built into the system. More may be added as requirements and technologies evolve. Almost 3,000 intercoms spread throughout the detention area facilitate movement, in conjunction with the touch screen door controls and surveillance cameras. As a LEED-targeted “dark-sky facility” with limits on the night-time release of light, ENRC does not have exterior illumination, except for in the staff parking lots. However, most of the external cameras have infrared illuminators and breaches of the external fence trigger LED impact lighting. To enter the centre, ENRC employees use access-control cards and submit to vascular scans of the back of their hands. The scans detect vein patterns, which are unique biometric identifiers. Once the person is inside, touchscreen technology authorizes their entry into specific areas. Not only do the touch screens open and lock 1,803 detention doors leading to the cells and holding areas, but also they can override many of the card-access controlled doors. The touch screens also link and coordinate functions such as cell lighting, offender telephones, intercoms and adjacent cameras. “This place,” observes Klimchuk, “is wired to the hilt. What is happening in security now is that it is basically digital technology communicating via digital networks.” CCE Nordahl Flakstad is a freelance writer based in Edmonton. Edmonton New Remand Centre. Owner: Alberta Infrastructure; Prime consultant: ONPA Architects; Mechanical: Hemisphere Engineering; Electrical: MP&P Engineering; Structural: BPTEC-DNW; Security: GENIVAR. Construction manager: Stuart Olson Dominion

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fire protection

By Cel Chow, P.Eng., Gage-Babcock & Associates

Communications and IT equipment have changed drastically in the last 20 years and the centres in which they are located require complex fire protection.

Mission Critical Protecting Data Centres

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Gage-Babcock & Associates

he communication and instantaneous access of information has become part of our daily life and depends on a global network of interconnected information and telecommunication systems and data centres. Meanwhile, information and communications technology equipment and its ancillaries have changed drastically in the last 20 years and represent more complex fire safety challenges. Their higher fire loads come with their compact electronic components, fair amount of electrical cables, higher energy use, and cooling airflow environment. These challenges in data centres affect the design of traditional fire safety systems. For example, high airflows may dilute the smoke concentration and may disperse the fire suppression agent. The National Building Code of Canada, NFPA 75, “Protection of Information Technology Equipment," and NFPA 76, “Fire Protection of Telecommunications Facilities” outline the design and construction requirements of buildings hosting data centres, and the fire safety requirements in these data facilities. The requirements in these codes and standards, however, may not fully satisfy the data centre’s need to provide continuous service to its clients and users. An objective-based design approach to the fire protection systems might help to meet those stakeholder demands.

Above: communications equipment room protected with an aspirating-type early smoke detection system (orange pipe) and a pre-action sprinkler system.

Based on the functions and importance of data centres to the stakeholders, data centres can be classified in three categories: Level 1 – for non-essential or useful IT equipment, where its loss due to fire would result in only temporary inconvenience and minor expenses. Loss of equipment can be quickly restored without serious consequences. Level 2 – for important IT equipment, where its loss would cause a significant delay in the resumption of operations, or where the value of the IT equipment is significant. Level 3 – for essential or irrea-

placeable IT equipment, where its loss would cause a critical delay in resuming operations. The loss of services can be vital to life safety, such as air traffic or transit control systems, or 911 call centres. Initial fire protection design criteria can be developed by issuing safety instructions to staff and by limiting the quantity of combustible materials in the data centre. Following are criteria related to an actual fire event. Provide early warning notification. It is essential to discover a fire at its earliest stage (incipient), while the size and intensity of the fire is small.

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fire protection

Given the nature of human behaviour, building occupants and emergency responders must be made aware of the fire emergency by means of an early warning notification. Hence, the provision of effective smoke detection is critical. A conventional smoke detection system, which consists of a listed fire alarm control panel with photoelectric or ionization type smoke detectors, primarily addresses the detection of fire and smoke for life safety of the occupants. However, it does not provide additional protection to the essential equipment. From the protection of asset and operation continuity point of view, an aspirating type early smoke detection system may be employed to actively sample the high airflow environment. An aspirating smoke detection system consists of a fan unit and a group of sampling tubes distributed in the room. The system actively draws the air in the room to the smoke sensing unit and can detect a fire at its incipient stage. For more effective smoke detection, sampling tubes are often installed in the path of the airflow and even inside the equipment cabinets. Provide first defence. Once the centre operators or building occupants are notified, it is assumed that they will take appropriate action, such as by attacking the incipient fire using a Class B (CO2 or clean agent) portable fire extinguisher. This will create an opportunity to limit the severity of the fire and heat and smoke damage to the sensitive electronic equipment within the area. Provide total flooding fire suppression for the equipment and data. If the first defence is unsuccessful, the

fireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat and smoke will activate the total flooding fire suppression system. These total flooding systems can minimize the damage to the equipment in the centre and the building. They are generally clean agent systems such as Inergen, FM200 and NOVEC 1230 (trade names). The Inergen gas agent contains 52% nitrogen, 40% argon and 8% carbon dioxide. The gases are retrieved from the atmosphere with zero greenhouse gas emissions, therefore this system is the most environmentally friendly. Fire suppression is achieved by reducing the oxygen content of the atmosphere from 21% to the 12%-15% range, which would not support combustion for most ordinary combustibles. The FM200 agent contains hydrofluorocarbons HFC-227ea. This agent extinguishes fire predominantly via heat absorption. FM200 is characterized by its zero ozone depletion potential and minimal impact on climate change. Another commonly used clean agent for fire suppression is NOVEC-1230, which contains perfluorinated ketones (FK-5-1-12). It is characterized by its low toxicity, zero ozone depletion potential and minimal impact on climate change. Both FM200 and NOVEC1230 can be stored as liquefied compressed gases, requiring fewer cylinders and less storage space for the agent. Provide water based fire protection of the building. If a data centre is located in a building which is required to be sprinklered by the local building code, the sprinkler system is required to be installed in accordance with NFPA 13, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.â&#x20AC;? Instead of standard wet sprinkler systems, pre-

action sprinkler systems are generally provided in the essential equipment rooms to prevent water damaging the equipment from the sprinkler operaing prematurely or due to a failure in the sprinkler piping. Provide passive fire compartments against fire spread. Rooms equipped with essential equipment or hosting critical operations, such as control rooms and data storage rooms, are often separated from the remainder of the building by a 2-hour fire separation. This limits the spread of a fire from other parts of the building and also minimizes the heat and smoke damage, allowing the essential equipment to continue to operate. Provide redundancy in building systems to maintain undisrupted operations. In order to limit the effects of a fire, system redundancy should be considered to minimize the possibility of operation down-time. Dual power supply to the data centre equipment and ancillary systems should be provided through two different power distribution systems in the building. The electrical cables should be fire-rated cables or protected in fire-rated shafts when they pass through a high fire hazard area. The air-handling and conditioning systems for rooms with essential equipment or data storage should be totally separate from other air handling systems in the building. With a review of the classification and operation objectives of the data centre, fire protection design criteria can be developed accordingly through the fire risk and hazard analysis. CCE Cel Chow, P.Eng. is a principal of GageBabcock & Associates, engineering consultants for fire protection, life safety and security, in Vancouver. www.gbacan.com, e-mail c_chow@gbacan.com

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outreach

THE DAY THE EARTH CAME ALIVE BY J. LYNN FRASER

FOUR CANADIAN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FIRMS GOT TOGETHER TO HELP IN THE REBUILDING

n January 12, 2010, at 4:52 p.m. local time, the streets of Haiti vibrated with life. School children in uniform, government workers, charcoal sellers and water carriers jostled amid the smells of soup joumou and chocolat des cayas. At 4:53 p.m. the earth 10 kilometres below Haiti came alive. Two tectonic plates pushed against each other like giant Sumo wrestlers causing a magnitude 7 earthquake. The quake, estimated to have lasted from 30 seconds to nearly a minute, was followed by over 40 aftershocks, some of which measured over magnitude 5 on the Richter scale. At 4:54 p.m. life changed forever in Haiti. The devastation, both to human lives and to infrastructure, was extensive. The earthquake’s epicentre was 16 kilo-

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metres southwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince. It caused the deaths of 316,000 Haitians while injuring an additional 300,000. Nearly 1.3 million people were dislocated, with over 97,000 homes devastated and 188,000 homes disintegrated in Port-au-Prince and across southern Haiti.1 “I was shocked when it happened,” says Liz Oldershaw a structural engineer at Halsall Associates in Toronto. “Our job is to make buildings stand up. An earthquake of this magnitude in a place like Haiti is heartbreaking.” Oldershaw explains that after the earthquake her company “had expressed interest in helping out if the right opportunity presented itself.” A friend of Oldershaw’s from university, David Korpela, told her about his work in Haiti as the country director for Finn Church Aid (FCA)2.

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outreach

Facing page: work under way at St. Matthieu school. Below: completed classroom at St. Matthieu. Left: St. Joseph School. Wood construction is used because the materials had to be carried in over mountainous trails.

Shane Copp

EFFORT IN HAITI. THEY DESIGNED PROTOTYPES FOR SCHOOLS IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES. Korpela mentioned that while FCA had funding for its work in Haiti, it needed professionals to contribute their skills to help rebuild schools. Oldershaw approached her supervisor, Shahe Sagharian, to ask if Halsall would like to participate in the FCA’s project. Sagharian, in turn, asked Oldershaw for a proposal estimating time commitments and a budget. After Halsall’s board reviewed the proposal, the project was born. Halsall invited three additional structural engineering firms, Quinn Dressel and Associates, Read Jones Christoffersen and Blackwell Bowick Partnership, to a meeting and they came on board for a one-year commitment to work with the FCA and with the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Eventually the project was extended by six months

with three of the four firms staying on during that period. Dan Carson from Halsall’s Ottawa office was the first engineer to visit the sites, providing reconnaissance. Shane Copp of Read Jones Christoffersen became the project’s mainstay and was in Haiti on the FCA project from October 2010 to April 2012. Two engineers from Blackwell Bowick, Tim Joyce and Michael Hopkins, each came to Haiti to work for a month and a half, giving Copp a break to return to Toronto. Oldershaw remained in Toronto, coordinating the project. Two elementary (up to grade six) schools were chosen for the Canadian engineers to work on. One was St. Joseph School in Embouchure, situated in a mountainous region. To reach the school from Port-au-Prince takes a three-hour drive and a two-hour walk. “It is underserved by both NGO’s continued on page 48 August/September 2012

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and the government, and that was ment was less pleasant when Copp part of the reason why it was chowas confronted by a man who wantsen,” notes Copp. ed money. Copp takes the incident The second school chosen was in his stride. He understands that St. Matthieu School, in Léogâne, a to some Haitians, non-Haitians are port town 35 kilometres west of seen as wealthy. Port-au-Prince. One individual who under Haiti is a challenging building stands both the Haitian perspective environment. Some materials are and that of the international comtoo expensive and others too heavy. munity is the Right Honorable MiThe mountainous terrain surroundchaëlle Jean, Canada’s Governor ing the St. Joseph School meant Above, left to right: engineers Evenson Elisca of FCA, General from 2005 to 2010. Born in that materials had to be carried in. Shane Copp of Read Jones Christoffersen, who spent Port-au-Prince, her family came to In the later stages, 13 men carried a over 18 months on the project, Wadestrande Louis of Canada as refugees in 1968. Today generator over mountainous ter- YCF Group, and Tim Joyce of Blackwell Bowick. Madame Jean is the UNESCO Sperain and a river to the school. The cial Envoy for Haiti. St. Joseph School is made entirely from wood. Wood is used Coordination and integration as well as sustainability and for the rural schools because it is lighter, especially when it responsibility are stressed by Madame Jean for the long term has to be transported by hand. St. Matthieu School was a health of Haitian society, economics, and infrastructure. reinforced concrete structure, with timber roof trusses and “Engineers are absolutely key to Haiti’s reconstruction. Engirubble masonry infill. neering is critical to build sustainable infrastructure. Roads The illiteracy rate in Haiti is high. An important aspect of will connect cities and goods [and will] help the commercial the project was to involve locals in the building process. This mobility of goods and people and regions,” she asserts. meant that all construction drawings had to be very literal in Madame Jean adds, however, while choosing her words their rendering. All the engineering drawings were done in with care: “It can be rewarding for international NGOs to Canada. “You had to draw things exactly as they are to be say that they are doing X and X in Haiti,” However, she arconstructed,” Oldershaw explains. gues, there has to be a change from “the logic of assistance Both schools were built according to requirements set by to the logic of responsibility, using Haitian solutions that are the Haitian Ministry of Education (Genie Scolaire) and Ca- based on a Haitian perspective and that is supported by nadian building codes. The requirements stated the class- partners from the international community.” room size, number of desks and computers, and percentage For its part, FCA has ensured that as part of the capacity of windows. In Canada the team designed eight different building aspects of the project the local engineers will have prototypes with St. Joseph School and St. Matthieu School long-term opportunities to develop their professional skills. forming the baseline prototype. Both schools are hurricane “We had the same local engineers working with us since and earthquake resistant. They also have solar panels. near the beginning of the project. There are now four local At the St. Joseph School only hand tools were available engineers,” notes Copp. and there was no cell phone service. “You needed to think of Three additional schools were being worked on by the ways to push things ahead,” Copp recalls. Despite the condi- time the Canadian engineers left Haiti. tions, deadlines had to be met as money for the project “had “I have embarked on a crusade to keep Haiti on internato be spent by a certain time.” Meetings had to take place tional radar to ensure the international community honours even if they took hours to get to. Copp’s ability to adapt, its commitments,” Madame Jean says emphatically. “My honed through his travels in Africa, India and Indonesia, was dream for Haiti is to start to see sustainable results in Haiti 5 important. “I was a facilitator, engineer, and architect. What- to 10 to 20 years from now if we keep pace.… If we fail in ever I needed to be, I was. The day before St. Matthieu’s Haiti, we fail the world – because Haiti is a microcosm of what opened I was cleaning windows and cleaning up garbage.” international aid, cooperation, and support can do.” CCE It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a Haitian village to teach a Canadian engineer how to live and work J. Lynn Fraser is a freelance writer in Toronto. in Haiti. “Many people … taught me Creole – the engineers, the drivers, the housekeepers, pretty much anyone I worked 1 There is dispute amongst journalists, NGOs and the Haitian government as to the final death tolls: www.cjr.org/behind_the_ with got hit with questions,” says Copp. “I loved it so much,” Copp says of his time in Haiti. His news/one_year_later_haitian_earthqu.php?page=all&print=true The figures given are according to the US Geological Survey favourite moment was taking a bath in a river “buck naked” under a full moon because in that rural area there was no based on estimates of January 12, 2010: http://earthquake.usgs. running water. “I laughed out loud because 24 hours earli- gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php#summary er I had been in Toronto,” he remembers. Another mo- 2 www.kua.fi 48

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security

By Eric Marks, PricewaterhouseCoopers

As SCADA and other automated engineering systems become more dependent on the Internet, it is critical to prepare for a possible security breach.

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

Embedded System Vulnerabilities Cambashi analyst Christine Easterfield predicts that “with the growth of embedded software – in every new control system, device and industrial machine – there is a potential vulnerability at each interface. And with more interconnection, often using the Internet, for remote monitoring and business system integration, the risk of malware attack gets more real and more serious.” Easterfield continues, “But this is just one dimension – you need to consider operational procedures, staff, and other factors. For example, staff need to be trained in secure practices and made aware of the risks to which they may expose critical systems.” Critical SCADA systems such as in oil and gas, nuclear, energy or any mission critical application are typically configured in a master/slave architecture to achieve fault tolerance. For instance, PcVue designed its SCADA to run in a distributed architecture of several stations, including

he first step in safeguarding our critical infrastructures is to identify system vulnerabilities. Although SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems have been used for a decade to monitor and control critical equipment at manufacturing facilities, power companies, water treatment plants and even for building automation, there really has never been a sharp focus on security, nor much acknowledgement of the vulnerabilities of such systems until recently. Yet today there are lots of reasons to require protection from the threats that exist in cyberspace.

redundant ones. Its redundancy mechanisms include such capabilities as load balancing and hot, warm or cold standby redundancy methods. This capability allows the operator not only to be able to handle the redundancy of the real-time, alarm and historical data of a distributed application, but also to manage the redundancy of the communication with the devices and of the physical network. “We see the use of these redundancy mechanisms for applications requesting a high availability and security of the data and as part of a disaster recovery strategy," says Emmanuel Ecochard, General Manager at PcVue. "As an example we can mention Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest utilities and leading player in the global renewable energy sector, that uses tens of pairs of redundant PcVue stations to manage, monitor, control, distribute and archive hundreds of thousands of data points from wind farms across the U.S.”

According to Kyle Zeronik, Blue Pillar’s vice president of information technology, it is critical to secure the SCADA from top to bottom. “It is important to safeguard critical power infrastructures right down to securing the messaging within the architecture to limit the conversations to only the devices with appropriate credentials and authorizations. We find it prudent to manage site-site communication including Internet security and encrypted messages transmitted over secure channels.” It has become apparent that SCADA networks provide greater efficiency. They are widely used because they enable the collection and analysis of data and control of equipment such as pumps and valves from remote locations, and they have been initially developed from inception with capabilities to seamlessly integrate with numerous equipment and systems. But although SCADA networks

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security

continued from page 49

were also designed to maximize functionality, very little attention was paid to security. While the performance, reliability, flexibility and safety of distributed control/SCADA systems are robust, too often the security of these systems is weak. Cambashi’s Easterfield sums it up by saying “critical infrastructure architectures must handle all the issues – from embedded software vulnerability to elimination of domino-effect failures.” Creating secure micro-grids Micro-grids are campus-based, integrated portfolios of distributed critical power resources, managed as a dispatchable nodal network which is responsive to economic, grid instability and on-site power reliability issues. The control automation concepts used in the microgrid reflect those used in the grid, though the implementation differs fundamentally, as it

is based on fully distributed control algorithms, in contrast with the centralized SCADA control of the utility grid. No matter how you look at it, security vulnerabilities remain present and will continue to be a concern when automating and remotely monitoring assets and equipment. “In terms of addressing security and deploying micro-grids, the automation system should allow the enduser to manage emergencies, historically analyze the responses, and automate monthly testing regimes, which is considered the number one defence against being ill-prepared for any unforeseen events,” says Zeronik. Internet hazards The exponentially growing cyber security threats and attacks, including the increasing sophistication of malware, will continue to impact the security of critical infrastructure, indus-

trial control systems, and SCADA control systems. Also with the Internet and World Wide Web technologies, SCADA systems have been increasingly integrated with ERPs and business systems, which compounds the threat of cyber-attacks. As technology advances, so do system vulnerabilities. There is no way to completely safeguard ourselves from attacks and malfunctions which is why preparing a robust contingency plan will go a long way to preserving our critical assets. CCE Eric Marks is the industry practice leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers and previously worked with Deloitte Consulting, IBM Global Business Services, and Cambridge Technology Partners. Marks has a bachelor of mathematics in computer science from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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REVOLUTIONIZE REBAR ATTACHMENT - MADE IN CANADA

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

We’ll show you why.

The future is here and it starts now! Systemair as the leader in energy efficient ventilation equipment is launching the EC Campaign. Through collateral elements of this Campaign Systemair promotes and educates the market on the importance of the differential features and advantages ventilation products provide. Systemair has identified Specific Fan Power value, a compact slim design and a short payback time along with some other product’s features as the most important benefits. www.systemair.net SUPPLIER: SYSTEMAIR

PRECISE CONTROL

Victaulic provides a complete line of balancing products that allow engineers to accurately control building temperatures all while optimizing energy efficiency. Eliminate fluctuations in temperature, increase occupant comfort and reduce energy costs. Products include: • Tour and Andersson Balancing Valves and Differential Pressure Controllers • Victaulic Koil-Kit™ Coil Packs For more information visit, www.victaulic. com/balancing SUPPLIER: VICTAULIC

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Need more Info? Contact Our Advertisers Listed Below Advertiser

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ACO Systems Ltd.

Anixter

August/September 2012

Telephone

info@acocan.com

877-226-4255

28,29

877-ANIXTER (264-9837)

Website www.acocan.com www.anixter.ca

Bradford White Canada Inc.

lwinterfield@bradfordwhite.com

866-690-0961

www.bradfordwhite.com

Canadian Security Association

staff@canasa.org

905-513--622

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CREE Canada

cree@ruud.ca

800-473-1234

www.ruud.ca/cree

Chubb Edwards

marketing@chubbedwards.com

800-691-5677

www.chubbedwards.com

Distech Controls

sales@distech-controls.com

450-444-9898

www.distech-controls.com/engineers

Eaton Power

SusanACrowder@eaton.com

800-461-9166 x3389

EcoLog ERIS

info@eris.ca

866-517-5204

www.ecologeris.com

Grundfos Canada Inc.

mmamone@grundfos.com

905-829-9533

www.thinkingbuildings.ca

Hubbell Canada LP (Lighting Div)

pkumar@hubbell-canada.com

800-465-7051

www.hubbellonline.com/lighting

International Exposition Company

info@ahrexpo.com

203-221-9232 (USA)

www.ahrexpo.com

International Sites and Spills Expo 2012

info@sitesandspills.com

800-268-7742 x6833

www.sitesandspills.com

Miller Thomson LLP

opawson@millerthomson.com

604-643-1254

www.millerthomson.com

Navien America, Inc

marketing@navienamerica.com

949-420-0420 / 800-519-8794

www.NavienAmerica.com

Ontario Power Authority

VJ Pamensky

anthonyz@pamensky.com

877-726-3675

www.pamensky.com

Reliable Controls Corporation

info@reliablecontrols.com

250-475-2036

www.reliablecontrols.com

Robinson Solutions

sales@robinsonsolutions.com

905 889-5852

S-Frame Software Inc

sales@s-frame.com

604-273-7737

www.s-frame.com

SimplexGrinnell

ChWoodcock@simplexgrinnell.com

978-731-7052

www.simplexgrinnell.com

Systemair Inc

sales@systemair.net

416-689-9693

www.systemair.net

Thomas & Betts - Canada

mrkt_canada@tnb.com

450-347-5318

www.tnb.ca

Victaulic Co of Canada

VicCanada@Victaulic.com

905-884-7444

www.victaulic.com

Uponor

888-994-7726

www.uponor.ca

www.eaton.com/powerquality

www.saveonenergy.ca/business

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August/September 2012

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Digital

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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SOFTWAR

S-CALC™ 201 rial combinat Integrated w

S-PAD™ R10 or brace with columns or b www.s-frame SUPPLIER: S-

conversations

Kim Allen discusses how the new national licensing standards being formulated by Engineers Canada could affect practising engineers.

Licensing Reframed

im Allen, P.Eng. is the Chief Executive officer and Registrar of Professional Engineers Ontario. He was recently appointed CEO of Engineers Canada. Allen has been part of the Engineers Canada CEO Group that is helping to formulate a new Canadian Framework for Licensure, an initiative that is setting national standards for diverse areas of licensing. (The standards have to be accepted and enacted by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies before they come into effect.) CCE spoke to Allen in July.

Q. WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS BEHIND CREATING A NEW LICENSING FRAMEWORK?

Rather than just tackling one problem at a time, what we’re doing is asking how could we establish a new vision from a blank piece of paper, as it were. This way we can start to drive a new framework for licensing without having all the legacy concerns. Q. A NATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT ALL THE PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS WOULD AGREE TO SEEMS A LONG WAY OFF - MAYBE 50 YEARS FROM NOW?

That’s why we don’t have a rule that it has got to be “all in,” or “not in.” We’re saying, “Look, collectively – meaning all the associations and all the people who give input – will come up with the best ideas. We are designing what a licensure framework should look like. So if you as a provincial association have got the ability to implement it, why wouldn’t you?” Q. AS A RESULT OF ENDORSING ONE ELEMENT OF THE NEW LICENSURE FRAMEWORK, IS PEO NOW TRYING TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO THE RULES FOR CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORIZATION, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING ENGINEERS' SPECIALIZATIONS?

No. PEO’s changes regarding the Certificate of Authorization were under way before the framework was introduced. From the public’s perspective, someone should be able to know that an engineer has, for example, capability in the structural area. Or if you are going to provide services on a brownfield site, they should know that you have some capability in the environmental area. I think firms shouldn’t have any concerns because within a consulting firm they do specialize. Where we are going to

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

p51-56 CCE AugSept12 LitsHumanEdge.indd 54

Kim Allen in the lobby of Professional Engineers Ontario’s offices on Sheppard Avenue West in Toronto.

get push-back is with an engineer who thinks he’s a jack-ofall-trades and can do everything. Q. HOW DO THE STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AFFECT ENGINEERS WHO ARE MORE IN MANAGEMENT THAN PRACTISING ENGINEERING?

If you are working as a manager, you should maintain your competence in being an effective engineering manager. Look at me, for example. My professional development would be related to regulating the practice of professional engineering and governing licence holders. I have to understand engineering law, how discipline processes work, etc. I will have to maintain competence in those areas. I graduated in electrical engineering, [but] unless I decided to go back to practising in electrical engineering, taking courses to brush up on that field is going to be irrelevant. If you picture that there are 75,000 people licensed by PEO, you realize that there will be 75,000 individual programs. The program isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all. CCE See www.engineerscanada.ca/e/pj_cfl.cfm

August/September 2012

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SFP

The straight way to energy efficiency is all in the details Trust Systemair as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s widest assortment of ventilators driven by cutting-edge EC technology. Our intelligent yet easy-to-install EC fan solutions are perfect for new buildings as well as renovation projects. Integral electronic control makes sure that the motor always operates at its optimal working point. Besides being both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, our EC units ensure quiet, flexible and dependable operations. Energy efficient wheels and non-resistance impellers result in low SFP (Specific Fan Power) values, which quantify the electric power that is needed to drive a unit's fan, relative to the circulating air volume. Systemair is 100% committed to provide efficient ventilation products for a comfortable climate with real energy savings. The difference is all in the details. Systemair was founded in 1974 in Sweden and has subsidiaries in 44 countries worldwide and approximately 3150 employees. We sell to more than 100 countries and our product range includes comfort and safety ventilation. Systemair is listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.

Systemair Inc. â&#x20AC;˘ www.systemair.net

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CALC S-

2012

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