04 | Comment
Commemorating a Canadian icon in civil engineering.
20 | Legal
Adjudication may provide a way for consulting engineers to resolve fee claims.
22 | Conversation
Hydrogen blending can support decarbonization with existing natural gas infrastructure.
DEPARTMENTS
05 | ACEC Review
A strategic vision for infrastructure, presented for Budget 2024 to the House of Commons, seeks to build resilient and prosperous communities.
8
Earlier this year, AHR Expo reportedly drew more than 50,000 attendees and more than 1,600 exhibitors to McCormick Place.
10
COVER STORY
The Versatility of Trench Drains
Highly effective trench drains come in many shapes, designs and sizes, all based on the specific project’s use and intent, both indoors and out.
14
The Rise of QBS
First established in the U.S. more than 50 years ago, qualifications-based selection (QBS) has become a global procurement standard for architecture services.
March/April
16
Welcoming Foreign Engineers
With engineers in high demand throughout most provinces, opportunities for skilled foreign workers to enter Canada are very important. 18
Consulting engineers play an important role in selection, based both on common sense and on their clients’ specific needs.
In our last issue, we honoured winners of our annual Lifetime Achievement Awards. Among them was Barry Charnish, who began his career at Yolles Partnership, which he described as “the leading firm in the commercial office space at the time,” led by prominent consulting engineers Morden Yolles and Roland Bergmann. The timing of Charnish’s shared memories in these pages turned out to be bittersweet, as Yolles passed away on Jan. 22, at the age of 98.
Yolles was born in Toronto in 1925 and graduated with a degree in civil engineering at the University of Toronto (U of T) in 1948. His father, Leon, arranged for him to join the firm J.H. Hopper, where he applied computational techniques that were very new at the time to concrete design.
“Mordy was not your typical technical engineer.” – Andy Bergmann
Yolles soon joined Bergmann and they launched Yolles Partnership. They went on to design many notable structures, including the Katimavik and Polymer Pavilions at Expo 67, the Ontario Science Centre, Trent University, the Toronto Zoo, the Toronto YMCA, First Canadian Place, the BCE Place galleria, World Financial Center in New York, N.Y., and Canary Wharf in London, England. In 1997, they endowed a scholarship at U of T’s faculty of engineering for innovative structural design.
“Mordy was not your typical technical engineer,” said Bergmann’s son Andy, who led the firm as CEO from 1982 to 2009. “He was about the artistic side and how buildings fit in a broader cultural context. A generation of engineers and architects learned a lot from him and recognized what a broad thinker he was, shaped by unconventional and diverse interests like food, photography and a deep love of
architecture.”
“To enter the artistic realm, the work of a structural engineer must go beyond the application of technical knowledge and skills and achieve a collaborative balance of the visual, innovative, economic and functional,” Yolles said, as quoted in the 2002 book, Yolles: A Canadian Engineering Legacy, written by Beth Kapusta and John McMinn.
Yolles was named to the Order of Canada in 2002 in recognition of his role as one of the nation’s leading structural engineers. His firm was sold to Halcrow in 2004, creating Halcrow-Yolles, which in turn was bought by CH2M Hill in 2011. Finally, Jacobs Engineering bought CH2M in 2017.
“For an engineering firm like Yolles emerging in the 1950s, the early years of modernism in Canada were characterized by opportunities for technical innovation in design, construction and the use of materials,” Kaputa and McMinn wrote in their book. “A strong sense of optimism about the expressive power of structure led to more buildings that integrated architectural and engineering expression and, in turn, to freer organization of space within buildings. Likewise, the industrialization of building construction accelerated in this period, with bold experiments in structural form taking place on an unprecedented level, most notably in reinforced concrete design. The 1950s and early 1960s also saw engineering design evolve. The use of ultimate strength design in reinforced concrete gave structural designers a greater sense of freedom and the ability to more easily test increasingly complex structures.”
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In Canada, there are thousands of organizations vying for the federal government’s attention, and that number is growing every year. With the government being pushed in all different directions, successful advocacy groups must be able to cut through the noise effectively and strategically to ensure their members’ voices are heard.
That’s exactly what ACEC-Canada has been doing for almost 100 years, since it was founded in 1925. From building and maintaining solid relationships with the right decision makers, to being an active contributor in federal consultation processes, to speaking in Parliament on issues that matter to our members, our team works tirelessly on behalf of consulting engineering companies from coast to coast to coast.
Thanks to ACEC’s strong advocacy, our industry continues to be seen as key to building a safe, clean, and prosperous Canada. The fundamental role that consulting engineering companies play in achieving many of the government’s priorities cannot be understated—whether it’s delivering on housing and community infrastructure, improving economic infrastructure that strengthens supply chains, or advancing climate change mitigation and resilience.
Right now, one of our biggest priorities is the push for renewed and sustainable infrastructure investments in this country—an issue that ACEC has been very vocal on when engaging with consecutive federal governments. We have clearly demonstrated how problematic it is to have lapses in infrastructure funding; these lapses exacerbate major delays in vital infrastructure projects, lead to uninformed investment decisions, and hurt the economy. Consulting engineering companies oversee planning, designing, and building the infrastructure that Canadians rely on—that’s why we must close funding gaps so that they can properly manage supply chain challenges and retain top talent.
Adequate infrastructure funding doesn’t only benefit our industry, it’s also crucial to strengthening our communities for generations to come. Our towns and cities are growing fast—we must ensure that our roads, buildings, public transit, electrical grids, and water systems can keep up with this growth and continue supporting people’s everyday lives.
Thanks to ACEC’s strong advocacy, our industry continues to be seen as key to building a safe, clean, and prosperous Canada.
Infrastructure funding doesn’t only benefit our industry, it’s also crucial to strengthening our communities.
With Budget 2024 set to be tabled on April 16, it’s an incredibly important moment for our organization. ACEC ensured our pre-budget recommendations clearly made the case for longterm infrastructure planning, renewed infrastructure funding, and flexibility in project applications. We are also ramping up our advocacy work given that the months leading up to a federal election are some of the most critical opportunities to advance our objectives. And while a federal election is likely on the horizon for 2025, many federal insiders are predicting an early writ-drop sometime this year.
ACEC is prepared and ready for all eventualities. We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate for our members’ priorities, and push for a stronger, more resilient, and better-connected Canada.
Allyson Desgroseilliers, P.Eng. Chair, Board of Directors ACEC-Canada
Across Canada’s extensive urban and rural landscape, communities are interconnected by vital infrastructure. However, there are many looming challenges facing our communities today. The worsening housing shortage and growing amount of crumbling infrastructure is putting pressure on all orders of government to find new and innovative solutions to support Canadians. And when you consider other challenges like labour shortages, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainties, and high levels of inflation exacerbated by the pandemic, it becomes clear that strategic planning for our infrastructure nationwide is absolutely crucial.
In this context, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada (ACEC) recently presented three recommendations for Budget 2024 to the House of Commons Finance Committee and the Minister of Finance, with the aim of not only addressing these challenges, but also fostering resilience, sustainability, and connectivity across the country.
Implement the National Infrastructure Assessment to create a long-term strategy for addressing infrastructure needs in communities across Canada.
At the heart of ACEC’s pre-budget submission is the call for the urgent implementation of the National Infrastructure Assessment (NIA). This visionary strategy will offer a clear road map to address our immediate housing and infrastructure challenges, as well as our long-term priorities around climate resilience, trade facilitation, and energy sustainability. By assessing current infrastructure assets, setting long-term goals, and ensuring regular updates, the NIA will provide a framework for informed decisionmaking and proactive policy development, all while building a pathway to foster sustainable growth and prosperity for Canadians.
While the NIA lays the foundation for a prosperous future, immediate action is imperative. The intake for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) closed in March 2023, which has created a gap between infrastructure funding programs. ACEC is pushing for Budget 2024 to include the immediate renewal of funding for the ICIP, or the expeditious introduction of its successor program. This is essential to supporting the critical infrastructure that sustains our growing communities. Roads, transit, electrical grids, and water and wastewater systems are all needed to turn houses into homes, and homes into liveable, thriving communities. As the federal government embarks on ambitious housing initiatives, the ICIP (or a successor program) will ensure that we can fill the immediate infrastructure gaps across our country, from our smallest, rural towns, to our bustling urban centres.
Infrastructure assets do not exist in isolation; a community’s infrastructure makes up an entire ecosystem of interrelated assets that collectively ensure a strong and resilient Canada. In the pursuit of infrastructure excellence, flexibility is key. That’s why, in this year’s pre-budget submission, ACEC underscored the importance of allowing multi-project applications, which would allow municipalities to address interconnected infrastructure needs more comprehensively. By embracing a holistic approach to infrastructure investment, provinces and municipalities can enhance resilience, optimize resource allocation, and drive sustainable growth. Through asset management planning and lifecycle considerations, municipalities and other infrastructure owners can unlock the full potential of their investments, ensuring lasting benefits for generations to come.
As we stand at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge, the path forward is clear: we need more collaboration, innovation, and strategic foresight. ACEC’s pre-budget recommendations offer a strategic vision for a stronger,
Immediately renew funding for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program or unveil its successor program by spring 2024.
Design future infrastructure investment plans to allow for multi-project applications based on sound asset management planning, as well as individual project applications.
For the first time since 2018, AHR Expo returned this year to McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., the most central location of the annual event’s rotating venues. As a result, there was strong attendance for its showcase of the latest heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC+R) products and services, with reportedly more than 50,000 attendees hobnobbing with more than 1,600 exhibitors across more than 510,000 sf.
“Chicago is our biggest show, always,” said Ginger Scoggins, president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), which co-sponsored AHR Expo with the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and, as honorary sponsor, Canada’s Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI). “It is very well-embraced by the industry.”
“AHR has always served as a jumping-off point for the year ahead,” said Mark Stevens, show manager.
Running from Jan. 22 to 24, AHR Expo saw an increased focus on such
themes as decarbonization, electrification, energy efficiency, sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI). Here are some of the highlights from the show floor, in alphabetical order by exhibitor name.
Pump manufacturer Armstrong presented best practices for and lessons learned from district energy projects, such as the Enwave systems in Chicago and the company’s home city, Toronto. Armstrong sees a growing opportunity for data centres to use its products and interconnect with nearby communities for district heating purposes, rather than wasting heat by releasing it into the atmosphere.
Bell & Gossett, a Xylem brand, unveiled smart pump systems, including the e-1510X, which combines Bell & Gossett’s e-1510 end-suction pump with Xylem’s Hydrovar X smart motor.
While Bosch Home Comfort is well-known in the residential market (and hosted a presentation at the expo by Canada’s own Mike Holmes), the company also showcased products for commercial applications, including geothermal and water-source heat pumps. Its QV Series, in particular, offers single-state ultra-quiet heat pumps for office, hotel and condo towers.
≤AHR has always served as a jumping-off point for the year ahead.”
– Mark Stevens, show manager
Bradford White highlighted its Vitraglas tank lining for corrosion resistance and built-in Microban antimicrobial product protection for its tank-type water heaters.
Air conditioner manufacturer
Carrier, which is selling its global commercial refrigeration business to joint venture (JV) partner Haier and its security unit to Honeywell, presented a streamlined portfolio accordingly, including its first magnetic-bearing chiller with a smaller footprint than its peers’.
Copeland showcased its oil-free centrifugal compressor for air-cooled chiller applications, especially in data centres. It is slated to go into full production this summer.
Danfoss’ DSG compressor topped the 2024 AHR Expo Innovation Awards in the cooling category. It is designed for low-pressure refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) that would usually require a much larger compressor size to offer the same capacity as high-pressure refrigerants.
Infinitum unveiled the next generation of its Aircore EC motor system, designed to power commercial and industrial applications—including fans, pumps and data centre cooling—with reduced energy consumption, emissions and waste. As with all of Infinitum’s products, it integrates a variable frequency drive (VFD) to help improve system efficiency, promising to top 93%.
SunEarth highlighted the role of solar water heating in the electrification and decarbonization of the HVACR industry. Given rising costs for natural gas, its systems offer another option for commercial and residential applications, one that is more consistently reliable than gathering solar energy via photovol-
taic (PV) panels. The company is looking to increase distribution in Canada and to support larger applications, such as heat loops for multiunit residential buildings (MURBs), light industrial facilities and university campuses.
Uponor, which is also expanding operations in Canada this year, re -
In the interest of sustainability, many exhibitors focused on the shift to refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP).
introduced its AquaPEX Blue Pipe for commercial and residential domestic-water applications, in the interest of full-colour differentiation for cold-water plumbing lines (as its AquaPEX Red Pipe is for hot water).
Finally, Victaulic showcased modular water pressure reducing valve (PRV) stations and rolled out a new productivity app intended to help engineers better collaborate with contractors. Fittingly, the company also discussed how its equipment modules had helped accelerate piping installation for ASHRAE’s new net-zero energy headquarters (HQ) in Peachtree Corners, Ga., not far from Atlanta, the site of last year’s AHR Expo.
The next edition of the show is slated to take place in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 10 to 12, 2025. For updates, visit www.ahrexpo.com.
There
Every building foundation begins with the certainty that drainage will be needed to control or reduce water runoff or for the intentional eliminating of fluids generated within the structure. Yet, in something of an anomaly, trench drains are one of the very last considerations among building systems, even though they are first to go in.
Drains come in many shapes, designs and sizes, all based on use and intent, both indoors and out. The trench drain is one of the most effective means of assuring proper drainage, especially when higher volumes of fluids are involved.
There are two primary reasons to specify trench drains:
1. Faster removal of surface water.
In courtyards, amphitheatres, sports complexes and other high-traffic areas, rainwater needs to drain quickly to avoid ponding, which can be a nuisance and a safety hazard.
2. Reduce travel distance to a drainage point.
For indoor applications, such as auto dealerships, sanitary manufacturing plants, breweries, distribution facilities and other business that wash floors daily, this is an important consideration. Directing daily wash-downs to a line of trench drain is an efficient way to keep floors sanitary and safe.
Trench drains made their debut with poured keyways.
In these applications, concrete is formed into a channel with a ledge (hence, ‘keyway’) to support the grating. Formed concrete channels deteriorate over time, however. Heavy traffic causes the ledge supporting the grating to chip, making the grates unstable.
Selection can be influenced by various trades.
Next came polymer concrete trench drains. Their manufactured channels eliminate the need for field-forming and offer high compressive strength, making them highly durable—but the material is very heavy and difficult to work with. Aligning, levelling and stabilizing are time-consuming and expensive.
Composite plastic trench drains came next. Early versions offered some advantages, as they were light and easier to handle than polymer concrete, but because the plastic lacked compressive strength and structural stability, heavy traffic caused stress and, thus, channels deformed and separated from the surrounding concrete.
Today, composite plastic trench drains have pro -
gressed significantly since their introduction. They are available in many sizes, shapes and designs and can be used for both indoors (microbrewery managers, for example, have learned trench drains are an ideal companion to large, interior containers that require regular washing) and outdoors for surface drainage of everything from residential driveways to the world’s busiest airports.
Trench drains may be a single foot to thousands of feet long. They may drain to a single point or at many connected points along the length of an extended system.
“There’s little question trench
Trench drains made their debut with poured keyways.
drain technology has come a long way,” says Roy Hetzler, product specialist at Watts. “In one of the latest developments, engineers have married the compressive strength and long-term performance of polymer concrete trench drains with the ease of handling and installing plastic trench drains.”
Standard commercial-grade trench drain systems are pre-sloped, typically at a grade of 0.7%. While a sloped trench drain system is occasionally required to increase flow velocity, the slope primarily assists with flushing, helping to carry deb -
ris and keeping the channel clean. This is a critical feature in areas where organic debris can accumulate and create health hazards, such as animal shelters, food manufacturing facilities and pool decks.
Common trench drain systems have a nominal width of either 6 or 12 in., although others are available. For indoor applications, 6 in. is typically sufficient where drains are primarily used for floor washing. Outdoor installations receiving rainwater runoff may require a wider trench drain. Those positioned at the bottom of loading ramps and similar sloped areas will receive large flows.
Trench drain gratings are chosen to accommodate anticipated traffic. Heavy vehicles with small wheels ( e.g. forklifts and construction equipment) and those traveling at high rates of speed (e.g. airplanes and roadway traffic) create the heaviest loads.
In areas with pedestrian traffic, designers often specify grating with smaller openings to ensure safety for all users. In the U.S., compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for maximum 0.5in. wide slots perpendicular to traffic flow; many heel-proof grates feature 0.3-in. wide slots or smaller.
Cast or ductile iron grating is commonly used in unfinished areas with heavy traffic, such as warehouses and vehicle service facilities. Iron grating shows rust after time, but the rust is purely cosmetic and does not negatively impact strength or durability.
Grates made of stainless steel prevent the growth of bacteria, so that material is often used for sanitary purposes in food manufacturing and service facilities.
Polypropylene (PP) grating is an optimal choice for animal shelters, pet care facilities and barefoot traffic around swimming pools,
where metal would not be desired.
Composite plastic, as mentioned earlier, is light and easier to handle than polymer concrete. PP and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastics are most commonly used and their properties are interchangeable for the majority of applications.
As plastic lacks compressive strength, channel design is important. Heavy traffic can stress channels, causing them to misalign and eventually separate from the surrounding concrete.
Toronto-based auto dealership Thorncrest Ford recently built a new service garage to expand its business. The 3,000-sf double-bay garage accommodates a customer reception centre and up to eight vehicles.
The plumbing and mechanical contractor relied on a trench drain system that combined the compressive strength and long-term performance of polymer concrete with the ease of handling of plastic. The system is designed around the structural frame, not around a plastic channel, so the load is transferred to the concrete as intended.
As a result, the service garage can accommodate any size of vehicle without worry of the drains breaking under the weight. Further, the drains easily keep up with all of the snow and slush that comes in.
By way of comparison, MadTree Brewery in Cincinnati, Ohio, chose to install stainless steel trench drains in its new 50,000-sf brewhouse. These drains are designed specifically for use in the food and beverage industry, where hygiene is critical. They lack corners or inside cavities that could otherwise harbour bacterial growth.
In their old facility, MadTree’s employees would spend 10 to 15 minutes hosing down the floor after a tank cleaning to get all of the solids down the drain. With the new stainless steel drains, most of the solids make their way down the drain with little effort, so an employee only needs to spend a minute or so clean-
ing up any loose ends.
Floor and drain washing is required twice a day at the brewing facility. The new drains free up half an hour of labour and save hundreds of gallons of water each day. Over a year’s time, the savings are significant. The brewery is enjoying a strong return on investment (ROI).
“The design and engineering of the drains made them stand out,” says Mike Stuart, MadTree’s director of people and social strategies. “They proved to easily evacuate any waste going down the drain and used way less water in doing so.”
While use and function are always among the first considerations for trench drains, selection can be influenced by various trades and professionals.
“Specifying engineers are sure to scrutinize structural stability and long-term performance,” says Watts’ Hetzler. “Contractors, on the other hand, require functionality and uneventful installations, while building owners are concerned with the finished product’s appealing appearance, durability and ease of maintenance and use. Contemporary trench drains must meet a lot of very different needs and scrutiny.”
Then there are the wholesale distributors. With trench drains, they are looking for simplicity of ordering and stocking. Lighter products offer an advantage, but must still be durable and easy to install, so as to meet other functional expectations.
“Labour can be triple the material cost,” says Hetzler, “which is why east of installation can be the makeor-break point for the contractor. Obviously, that depends on the products specified by engineers.”
20, 2024
Following the success of our inaugural Women in Engineering virtual event (VE) in 2023, this year’s edition is strategically timed to lead into International Women in Engineering Day on June 23. This is a key opportunity to promote greater gender diversity in one of Canada’s most celebrated areas of expertise, as consulting engineering firms seek to recruit and retain more women for roles at all levels of seniority.
Our goal is to spotlight the accomplishments of successful female professional engineers, encourage more women to join the industry/ community and raise awareness of organizations that are already taking a leading role in this effort.
Join the conversation with Advance: Women in Engineering!
WOMEN IN CONSULTING ENGINEERING?
• Recognize the careers of successful women in the industry.
• Build your reputation as an industry leader in diversity.
• Amplify brand visibility among Canada’s top consulting engineering firms.
• Position your organization as progressive.
• Increase exposure to key audiences across multiple media platforms, including print, email, website, social media and the live virtual event.
One low investment. Ongoing exposure
ONE BUY REACHES CANADA'S ENGINEERING MARKET IN MULTIPLE FORMATS:
• Print distribution: 6,000+ copies
• Email distribution: 13,500+
• Website exposure: 36,000+ monthly page views
Once upon a time, a small town’s council decided to use qualifications-based selection (QBS) to choose the best engineering firm to build a new bridge. The council advertised the project and received proposals from several firms. They evaluated the proposals based on experience and competence. After careful consideration, they selected the firm that had the most relevant and best qualifications for the project.
As the engineering firm worked closely with the town council to design and build the project, its own expertise ensured the bridge was safe, functional and esthetically pleasing. The project was completed on time and within budget. The council was very satis-
Audits help ensure engineering firms are held accountable for their work.
fied with the results.
The success of the project demonstrated the benefits of using QBS for procurement. As a result, the council decided to use QBS for all future engineering projects. The town prospered as a result.
QBS is a procurement process originally established by U.S. Congress through the Brooks Act, a 1972 law also known as the Selection of Architects and Engineers statute. The act required the U.S. federal government to choose the most appropriate engineering professionals or firms for projects based entirely on their qualifications (such as knowledge, skill and previous experience with broadly similar projects) and other specific factors (like the quality of a proposed approach and ideas for the project), rather than based on the most competitive price.
Over time, QBS was further developed as a process for public
agencies to select architectural and engineering services for public construction projects. It set the stage for fair and reasonable fee considerations to be addressed through negotiations with the topranked firm for an agreed-upon scope of services.
Today, QBS has become a global procurement standard for architecture services. By way of example, it is recommended by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA).
QBS offers several advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
• Better quality of work: QBS is designed to ensure the most qualified professional or firm is chosen for the project, based on knowledge, skill and experience with similar projects.
• Cost savings: QBS projects have
QBS dates back to 1972.
experienced lower cost growth compared to other projects.
• Fewer disputes: QBS projects involve fewer disputes and change orders, saving time and money.
• Improved relationships: QBS promotes long-term business relationships between the involved parties.
• Better value for clients: QBS promises improved service, value and quality for clients.
Cons
• Higher costs: QBS projects may involve higher initial costs, relating to the stronger qualifications of the selected professional or firm.
• Subjectivity: QBS is a subjective process that relies on the judg -
Two common types of contracts are fixed-price and time-and-materials (T&M).
With the former, a service provider determines a set price for a project and the customer agrees to pay that amount. This type of contract tends to be used when the scope of a project and its necessary expenses are well-known.
The latter, on the other hand, often comes into play for larger projects with less upfront certainty about the full scope of work.
It is important to weigh the pros and cons of each type of contract before drafting or entering an agreement.
Fixed-price pros:
• Predictable costs for the customer.
• Incentive for the service provider to complete the project on time and within budget.
• Reduced administrative burden for both parties.
Fixed-price cons:
• Risk of underestimating the project’s scope and expenses.
• Risk of overestimating the project’s scope and expenses (which could lead to losing the bid).
• Limited flexibility to adjust the project’s scope or requirements.
T&M pros:
• Flexibility to adjust the project’s scope or requirements.
• Ability to accommodate changes.
• Reduced risk of underestimating the project’s scope and expenses.
T&M cons:
• Uncertainty around final costs.
• Potential for the project to exceed the customer’s budget.
• Potential for the service provider to take longer than expected to complete the project.
ment of a selection committee.
• Time-consuming process: QBS can be time-consuming, as it involves evaluating the qualifications of each engineering professional or firm.
• Limited competition: QBS may reduce competition by not considering price as a factor in the selection process.
There may be additional stipulations when using QBS, such as when government agencies require audits of engineering firms before determining billing rates, base hourly salaries, multipliers and profits.
This requirement is sometimes imposed to ensure a project budget’s cost structure is subject to a degree of transparency, such that firms do not overcharge for services and, in turn, governments get a fair deal. It helps ensure engineering firms are held accountable for their work.
It is important for such audits to be conducted by independent third-party auditors who are not affiliated with the engineering firms, to ensure the audits are unbiased and their results are accurate. These auditors must review the firms’ financial statements, contracts and other relevant documents to ensure they are operating within the legal and ethical boundaries of the industry.
The audits also help to ensure engineering firms are providing high-quality services that meet the standards set by the government. With such stipulations in place, QBS has proven itself as an effective tool for selecting service providers, as its advantages appear to outweigh its disadvantages.
Last year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially ended its Express Entry pause, so as to help fill employment slots in key sectors, including engineering. The federal government sees an urgent need for workers in specific sectors. With a shortage of skilled labour within Canada, there is opportunity for firms to hire foreign workers to spur economic growth with quality jobs.
Engineers are in demand throughout most provinces, especially British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. According to a labour market report, Canada’s economy needed to fill more than 44,000 engineering jobs between 2020 and 2024, spanning 14 different fields.
There are already programs in place—e.g. the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FWSP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)— to connect foreign workers with engineering jobs, but it can be confusing to navigate the requirements.
Consulting engineering firms looking to attract and hire these foreign workers can help make the process easier by educating themselves and their prospective hires about the requirements.
Another factor employers should consider when recruiting immigrant workers is the appeal of bringing their extended families with them. The super visa program allows citizens’ and permanent residents’ parents and grandparents from other countries to visit them in Canada.
IRCC issues approximately 17,000 super visas each year. The program offers multiple entries to eligible applicants for up to 10 years, with an authorized stay for each indi-
vidual entry for up to five years. Looking ahead, IRCC plans to issue up to 36,000 super visas each year under a family immigration plan.
Foreign workers are often eligible for health-care coverage, but many provinces implement a waiting period, before it can come into effect. Employers must obtain and pay for this coverage, with no financial impact to employees.
For family members applying for super visas, there are requirements that must be met, including a letter of invitation, income testing, health insurance and proof the host is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian.
Insurance must be from a Canadian provider and cover health care, hospitalization and repatriation for a minimum of one year. Health insurance plans can be expensive, especially when trying to meet requirements for older super visa applicants.
The minimum coverage requirement for super visas is $100,000, but given the high cost of health care in Canada and the age of the applicant, who may not be in optimal health, it may well save money in the long run to consider a higher coverage limit.
Families need to receive an invite code and then can begin by creating an account on IRCC’s web portal. From there, they complete a form, upload their required documents and pay online.
The time it takes for new applications to be processed varies, but generally will be between two and six months.
After applying, the family members may have to be interviewed by officials, get a
medical exam or complete other tasks before being allowed entry into Canada. If their application is approved, they will receive a letter with instructions on submitting their passport. If it is refused, they will receive a letter explaining why.
After staying in Canada for their allowable amount of time, extended family must wait six months before returning again. So, once their first super visa expires, they must be outside Canada when they reapply from scratch. Having been approved previously can increase the chances of getting approved again, but health insurance will be required prior to the issuing of a new super visa.
The super visa is a great way for aged family members to visit from other countries for long periods. While immigrant workers need to undergo the Express Entry process, the super visa program will make the move more appealing for many of them, thus helping to fill the tens of thousands of jobs Canada needs in the very near future.
The path forward requires the fostering of diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces. Discover the strategic advantages of recruiting and retaining talent from traditionally underrepresented groups, including Indigenous communities and newcomers to Canada.
Industry leaders in the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and general contracting sectors will lead and participate in crucial discussions, sharing insights on building a workforce that reflects the rich tapestry of Canada’s talent. Explore how embracing inclusivity propels innovation, fosters growth, and positions your organization as an employer of choice, creating a workplace where everyone thrives.
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Rubiena Duarte
VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Procore NAVIGATING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
PANEL 1:
BUILDING & MAINTAINING YOUR CULTURE OF INCLUSION
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Hosted by Mary Van Buren President
PANEL 2:
PUTTING YOUR CULTURE OF RECRUITMENT INTO PRACTICE
Elevate Your Team: Explore the undeniable business benefits of recruiting from non-traditional talent pools for enhanced innovation, resilience, and sustainable success.
Hosted by Martin Luymes VP Government and Stakeholder Relations
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LEVERAGING YOUR INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE AND BECOMING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE
Inclusive Excellence: Learn the strategic secrets to transform your workplace into a sought-after employer of choice, attracting top talent with a culture of innovation, belonging, and sustained success.
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Switchgear comprises electrical disconnect switches and circuit breakers, along with monitoring, communications, metering, relays and control. There are low-voltage circuit breakers for numerous incoming or outgoing power feeds and main circuit breakers for on/off control and connection to multiple power sources. Large systems normally involve a high-voltage transformer, which feeds through high-voltage circuit breakers and disconnect switches to connect to high-voltage power transmission lines.
In power generation facilities, such as wind and solar farms, that power is being fed onto the transmission lines. For consumers and businesses, that power is being distributed within residential buildings, offices and hospitals, while for industrial buildings it is used to operate heavy manufacturing equipment.
All along the way, these circuit breakers protect against a fault, overload or short circuit. If there was a major equipment fault, upstream feeder breakers would need to open instantly to prevent serious damage and potential fire within that equipment. If a major fault existed within a power generating facility and was imposed on high-voltage power transmission lines, the situation could get very expensive if the fault was not cleared instantly.
Even small systems can prevent expensive repairs and extended downtime.
There should be a plan for inspection and testing.
Smaller switchgear systems are used for general industry, hospitals and other buildings. Such a system is not any less important, as a fault within could result in burning up a multi-million-dollar main power transformer or a utility/grid transformer. Not only could that lead to very expensive repairs, but it could also mean extended downtime without any power.
Switchgear operation and control is
primarily powered by a battery backup system; therefore, there is no protection if the battery fails.
In large systems, the batteries are often redundant. For smaller systems, however, including those used by heavy industry, hospitals and large buildings, they are most commonly single battery strings, making their reliability even more critical for safe operation.
Possible battery types include nickel-cadmium (NiCd), lead-acid (LA), valve-regulated lead-acid gel
(VRLA-GEL) and valve-regulated lead-acid absorbed glass mat (VRLAAGM).
These various types have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Nickel-cadmium batteries have been around for more than 100 years. They typically comprise steel pocket-plates containing the active materials cadmium and nickel in a strong base solution of potassium hydroxide, which protects the plates against corrosion. They are perhaps the strongest, most durable and most reliable type of battery, but they are relatively expensive and require some maintenance (although low-maintenance versions are available).
Lead-acid batteries have been around for hundreds of years. They comprise lead plates pasted with lead oxide and sponge lead as the active materials in a strong solution of sulphuric acid. They are quite durable and less expensive than NiCd, but require maintenance, plus corrosion can be an issue.
Valve-regulated GEL batteries were first designed in 1960. They are similar to common lead-acid batteries, but they use a silica (sand) gelling agent to thicken the acid solution and a one-way valve to let out gas pressure and prevent entry of outside atmosphere ( i.e. keeping oxygen molecules out of the battery, so as not to depolarize the negative plates). Advanced types of VRLA-GEL batteries may include armoured tubular plates, special alloys, carbon-boost technology and other acids, such as phosphoric. VRLA-GEL batteries can be quite durable, even superior to common LA batteries, with a minimal price premium and requiring very little maintenance.
Valve-regulated AGM batteries were developed around 1975. They are similar to VRLA-GEL batteries, but with a very minimal amount of acid absorbed into a glass mat separator between the plates. Early AGM batteries were marketed as sealed and maintenance-free; sales grew exponentially, due to issues with standard LA batteries (which were messy and high-maintenance), but early AGM products had a lot of problems. Now a mature product category, they may incorporate special separators and alloys, but they are still likely the most at risk from various possible failure modes and will require extra monitoring and checking.
Consulting engineers play an important role in the battery selection process by determining which type is best for a given project, based both on common sense and on the client’s needs. It is also important to specify a plan of inspection and testing for the battery and then ensure that plan will get implemented.
For a hospital, by way of example, the best option might be a high-quality VRLA-GEL battery, as there are not likely going to be maintenance personnel with significant battery knowledge at the facility. It would be catastrophic for a hospital to be left with no power because of a battery failure.
A wind or solar farm, on the other hand, is generally run by operations and maintenance (O&M) staff, who might not know everything about batteries, but would understand enough to identify a concern and to undertake maintenance and/or testing on all types of batteries.
Some projects are particularly challenging. The Canadian Armed Forces, for instance, needs tempor-
ary, portable bases that can be quickly set up in the Arctic Circle, where they face real difficulties relating to isolation and limited equipment, which can hinder reliance on traditional power sources, switchgear and control. Lithium-ion batteries were considered in the past, but could not provide sufficient energy density and were too complicated to implement.
In large systems, the batteries are often redundant.
After two years of consultations, the organization’s prototype project turned to fuel-cell technology as the primary power source, along with dual redundant VRLA-GEL batteries, to operate and control their switchgear. These gel batteries not only feature armoured tubular plates, but are also designed to last for 22-plus years, fitting for such a critical and remote application.
This system is currently in operation and is being evaluated, with future plans set to expand the rollout to between 20 and 30 systems.
engineering and technical sales for Advanced Battery Systems, based in Burlington, Ont. For more information, contact him at dczosnek@advancedbattery.ca.
By F. Philip Carpenter and Michael C. Ly
F. Philip Carpenter is a partner at WeirFoulds LLP, a Toronto-based firm focused on litigation, corporate, property and government law. Michael C. Ly is legal counsel at JLL Canada, a real estate services firm specializing in property services and investment management. For more information, contact them
Ontario’s Construction Act expressly gives lien rights to architects to secure payments for their services. Engineers are arguably included in these rights by virtue of their supply of any “design, plan, drawing or specification that in itself enhances the value of the owner’s interest in the land.”
The relatively new prompt payment and adjudication regimes provide further benefit for both professions. In particular, adjudication may provide a way to resolve fee claims without facing—or at least delaying—the professional negligence counterclaims that are a common defence to a consultant’s fee claim.
The key to accessing the prompt payment provisions is a proper invoice, to be paid within 28 days in the absence of a notice of non-payment. Without it, prompt payment may not apply.
It will also depend on whether the engineer, architect or design professional is a subconsultant or sub-subconsultant, in which case the concept of a proper invoice likely does not apply. There is little downside, however, to making such invoices compliant with the ‘proper invoice’ requirements of the Construction Act.
If the owner does not pay, what then? If you’re the prime consultant, you’re likely a ‘contractor’ under the Construction Act and can adjudicate. If the owner simply refuses to pay under a contract, refuses to pay pursuant to a notice of non-payment of a proper invoice or asserts amounts retained pursuant to setoff, those issues can be adjudicated, with typical timelines on the order
of 30 to 45 days for an interim-binding determination.
the stronger the argument for payment to be made.
If you’re the prime consultant, you’re likely considered a contractor.
If prompt payment provisions apply to engineers and architects, you can also arguably adjudicate if the owner fails to deliver a proper notice of non-payment setting out the correct amount being sought and providing clear particulars. Mere ‘placeholder’ notices of non-payment that seek to withhold excessive amounts without justification or that lack sufficient particulars will likely not be permitted based on recent court decisions involving construction (i.e. non-consultant) contractors.
Fee claims are relatively easily provable.
The advantage of adjudication over litigation or arbitration is it gets money in the door in a short period, assuming you are successful. Further, adjudications are presumptively limited to a ‘single matter.’ The less of a reason for non-payment an owner gives to a consultant and the closer a consultant’s invoice is to a ‘proper invoice,’
If a consultant submits a proper invoice to the owner and refuses to add any other issue to the adjudication, that consultant could get a binding order for interim payment long before the owner can make or support a credible professional negligence claim.
Fee claims are relatively easily provable by reference to proper invoices and, thus, through diligent invoicing. Design negligence claims, on the other hand, require an expert report attesting to the consultant’s alleged failure to meet the standard of care. The former is easier to prove during design and construction than the latter. The owner’s defence is to retain an additional expert as soon as it suspects a design defect mid-project, so it can provide an interim report during an adjudication. The advantage, in this instance, may rest with the consultant.
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Fred Taylor, P.Eng., is a principal with GHD, based in Waterloo, Ont.
As the firm’s North American hydrogen lead, he contributed to a recent report, ‘H2 now: preparing the market, public and infrastructure for hydrogen blending,’ which provides recommendations to reduce emissions associated with natural gas by blending it with hydrogen and capitalizing on existing pipelines.
How does hydrogen blending work?
Natural gas provides almost half our energy in Canada. Even though the country has a strategy to reduce its use, our decarbonization efforts are not going to replace that overnight with electricity. Blending green hydrogen—which doesn’t emit any carbon—with natural gas is one way to help utilities and end users decarbonize. The more hydrogen you can blend in, the less carbon is emitted when you burn the gas.
We built natural gas infrastructure over a very long time, to provide energy safely and reliably. There’s no reason we shouldn’t continue to use it, rather than build new infrastructure for hydrogen, as part of the energy transition. Where we don’t have that infrastructure, such as remote areas, we can look at fuel cells and other applications to replace diesel fuel.
Hydrogen is not a silver bullet for everything, but it is certainly part of the decarbonization solution.
How is GHD involved in Ontario’s ‘hydrogen hub,’ in Sarnia-Lambton?
As Canada’s largest petrochemical and hydrogen hub outside Alberta, it is a good place to look at replacing
carbon-intense ‘grey hydrogen’ with greener hydrogen.
To help develop a strategy, we worked with the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership and engaged all of the stakeholders already involved in generating, distributing or using hydrogen, along with related services and infrastructure, as they have the most opportunity for success with greener hydrogen in the short to medium term.
Those stakeholders are now deciding what they should do, when and with whom. We’ve laid out a road map to move toward their target of net-zero over 20 to 30 years. Now they need to take those first steps.
Can you tell us about your work with FortisBC?
British Columbia, already on a decarbonization journey with renewable natural gas (i.e. derived from biogas), also has a longer-term vision for hydrogen.
As a natural gas utility, FortisBC had us do a feasibility study a couple of years ago around two hydrogen blending pilots for approximately 10,000 users in two different communities—one residential, the other a mix of residential, industrial and commercial. We looked at all of the technical, regulatory and commercial aspects of implementing blending to help decarbonize those two networks, based on their different characteristics. We ended up developing a road map for them to convert the networks, win regulatory and community approval, overcome technical challenges and implement hydrogen blending.
How does Canada compare in this field to the rest of the world?
GHD has a lot of staff supporting hydrogen projects in Europe and
Australia, which are generally about five years ahead of Canada, but the growth trajectory is very similar—and we are bringing global knowledge to North America.
We did a study for Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to research where hydrogen should be generated and how it should be exported ( i.e. as ammonia or as hydrogen) to Asia, Europe and the U.S. That study is a good picture of where the best opportunities are across Canada.
“There’s no reason we shouldn’t continue to use our existing infrastructure.”
For example, after the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Japan invested in hydrogen to reduce its use of fossil fuels and decarbonize without nuclear. We conducted a first-of-its-kind large-scale feasibility study, for a Canadian-Japanese joint venture client, of all components of the export supply chain, including production of hydrogen/ammonia, domestic transportation in Canada, storage and overseas transportation to an Asian port.
Europe is looking at large wind farms in Atlantic Canada to generate hydrogen, turn it into ammonia, ship it and transfer it back to hydrogen.
"We are bringing global knowledge to North America."
We’re now working for a large company whose pipeline provides natural gas to a power plant in Western Canada. We’re helping them determine how to convert to blended gas, how to deliver it safely and reliably and how much decarbonization they’ll achieve, at what cost. The ‘desktop’ portion of this project is targeted to be completed this spring and then we’ll move into field and laboratory testing to confirm the results and inform pipeline conversion requirements.
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