High-Profile: 2021 MEP and Building Energy Supplement

Annual MEP Supplement

April 2021

April 2021

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Annual Supplement :

Building Energy / MEP

Flow Tech, Inc. recently opened a Demonstration Lab in its South Windsor, Conn. office. / Full story page 8

INDUSTRY EXPERT ARTICLES

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Bob Manning

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Charles Romano

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Andrew DeAngelo

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Brian Leborgne

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April 2021

How the Electrical Industry has Transformed over the Past Few Decades

by Bob Manning The construction industry has seen countless changes over the years, especially in the last decade or two. The electrical industry is no different. We’ve seen technology transform the way we work, at almost every level of the company.

The tools we use today have streamlined everything from the bidding process to the planning process, to coordinating with other subcontractors, to wrapping up the project when the building is complete.

Advanced software and hardware have enabled companies like Interstate to move to a lean construction model that incorporates prefabrication and extensive 3D modeling.

While we see countless examples of these advances every day, I’ll outline a recent one that saved our team manhours and significantly helped reduce our client’s budget. One of our client’s newly constructed buildings features a gorgeous curved hallway that serves as the main focal point for visitors. The

room is complete with high-end finishes and recessed lighting that has to follow the gradual curve of the hallway while maintaining even spacing between fixtures.

Years ago, this would have taken two electricians a full week to determine the exact placement of each light and ensure that it wouldn’t interfere with other infrastructure devices in the ceiling.

That includes measuring multiple times per fixture, marking the location on the (unfinished) floor, checking that there’s no other infrastructure in the way, and using a string to line up the correct placement on the ceiling with the marking on the floor. In the past, coordination between trades on projects like this one may have required building a scale model with pipe cleaners and straws!

For this project it took one technician a matter of hours to plot the exact location of each fixture using the building’s 3D drawings and a Trimble unit to project laser markings. Clash detection was previously performed using the coordinated 3D model, which saved time not only for the electricians, but also for the subcontractors. And best of all, the lights were installed the same day because they were prefabricated at our offsite facility.

This is just one example, but we

Endicott College project – curved hallway with lights

see the benefits of these technological advances in every one of our projects.

Prefabrication, 3D modeling, and other tools at our disposal help reduce the amount of work that happens physically onsite, which translates to cleaner job sites,

reduced timelines, and more flexibility.

Today, these are all important tools as construction timelines are condensed and budgets are stricter. Traditionally, the manpower required on a large scale job increased throughout the project until it was near completion, with additional employees needed at the jobsite for assembly, installation, etc.

These advances, and especially Interstate’s use of prefabrication, helps spread the workload across the project timeline. This reduces the number of people required on the jobsite, an important benefit during the COVID pandemic, and helps Interstate shift to any changing timelines or adjusted deadlines.

If you’d like to find out more about our prefabrication capabilities, or if you or someone you know are interested in joining the Interstate team, get in touch at https://iesc1.com/.

Bob Manning is general project superintendent at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation.

2021 Building Energy/MEP Supplement to High-Profile Monthly Anastasia Barnes | PUBLISHER P.O. Box 7, Pembroke, MA 02359 • 781-294-4530 • www.high-profile.com

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THE PO WER PRO FESSIO NALS

IBEW Local 103 and NECA Greater Boston contractors are proud to maintain the safest worksites in the region, and the world. Our professionals are the best-trained and most efficient in the industry, and the safety of our workers, our clients, and our communities is our top priority.

Today and always, we are committed to raising the standards of the construction industry by standing as a strong advocate for working people, and responsible employers, across the region.

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A Message from Stephen Affanato

April 2021

Beacon Piping Completes Energy Facility

NEMCA Executive Vice President For over 130 years, New England Mechanical Contractors Association (NEMCA) has been a construction industry trade association representing premier mechanical construction firms throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. From building new large scale construction to servicing and maintaining existing facilities, our member contractors employ the most highly skilled and trained workforce in New England, delivering cost-effective, timely results and staying abreast of leading-edge technology and industry practices.

Stephen Affanato

Our organization offers membership within the Mechanical Contractors Association, Mechanical Service Contractors Association, and the National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau. We support our member contractors through our educational seminars, labor and government

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relations, industry news, and marketing.

Committed to the future of our industry, we sponsor the MCA student chapter at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Our affiliation with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and our strong, cooperative relationship with the United Association enables us to offer our members numerous opportunities to build lasting, beneficial relationships with peers while acquiring the business knowledge and tools to keep their companies successful.

We welcome potential members to learn more about us at www.nemca.org.

“Brother-in-Law” weld

Canton, MA – Beacon Piping recently completed the installation of all the balance-of-plant welded piping from 2 1/2 inches to 36 inches in diameter for major equipment that supports a large Boston-area district energy facility.

This installation included stateof-the-art systems that make up a combined heat and power (CHP) facility for an institutional client’s geographic expansion. This low-carbon, highly efficient CHP is required to provide hot water, chilled water, off-peak chilled water storage, and electricity distribution.

The scope of the project included the installation of large bore condenser piping for 2500-ton cooling towers, which included 36 inch pipe welds being performed by what is known in the industry as “Brother-in-Law” welds, where two welders simultaneously work on the same joint. Beacon Piping’s scope on this project required 100% radiograph certification of over 2300 welded pipe joints.

Beacon Piping supervised its crew of pipefitters from Local 537 over the course of this project, which was completed in January of 2020.

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April 2021

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S i n c e 190 1904 4

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Altieri Opens Boston Office Norwalk, CT – Altieri, a mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection (MEPF) firm serving architects and building owners, recently announced the opening of its new office in Boston. With the expansion, Altieri is strengthening relationships with valued clients and developing new associations in Boston and the Northeast region.

For over 60 years, Altieri has differentiated itself by aligning its design aspirations with those of its architectural clients and anticipating the impact architectural visions have on Altieri’s system designs. Altieri has worked on projects in the region since the mid-1980s including the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Brown University Granoff Center for the Creative Arts, and The Goel Center for Theater and Dance at Phillips Exeter Academy. The firm’s first project in Boston was a mechanical systems assessment at the Boston Public Library.

A recent project has Altieri at the library again, providing master planning services for the historic McKim Building.

A certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Altieri designs optimal environments for scores of cultural, educational, community, historic, and private residential projects around the country. In 2020, the firm was awarded the Architectural Engineering Institute

April 2021

EMCOR Recognizes Hayden Mark

Altieri recently opened a new office in Boston

Most Innovative Project Under $100M for its work at the Corning Museum of Glass, Contemporary Art + Design Wing and Amphitheater Hot Shop. Prioritizing environmentally responsible design has been a distinction of the firm’s work since the early 1960s. Over 40 of Altieri’s projects have been awarded LEED certification.

“We are excited that this new office enables us to provide closer support to existing and new clients in Boston and the surrounding region, meeting design challenges with solutions that set the pace for a sustainable future,” says Michael Freliech, P.E., principal and head of Altieri’s new office.

Hayden Mark

Stoughton, MA – EMCOR Services Northeast recently honored Hayden Mark, an employee of the firm, with an Employee Excellence Award.

Mark, a member of Local Pipefitters 537, came to the aid of people in serious medical distress on two separate

occasions. One incident occurred in a client location, and the other while Mark was on his way to work. According to EMCOR, Mark didn’t hesitate to immediately intervene and, because of his quick actions and response, both people he helped are now doing well.

OPENS OFFICE IN BOSTON

Left to Right (Top): The Providence Athenaeum, Harvard Law School—Lewis International Law Center, Courtesy of Deborah Berke Partners, College of the Holy Cross—Prior Center for Performing Arts, Courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (Bottom): Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Phillips Exeter Academy—The Goel Center for Theater and Dance, © Michael Moran, The Clark Art Institute

31 Knight Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 | 203.866.5538 111 Devonshire Street, Boston, MA 02109 | 617.468.1800 altieriseborwieber.com

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MEPF ENGINEERING FOR: ARTS + CULTURE, EDUCATION COMMERCIAL, COMMUNITY, LANDMARKS DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE RESIDENCES

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Fitzemeyer and Tocci Designs High-tech Manufacturing Facility Milford, NH – Fitzemeyer and Tocci provided full mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and fire alarm services for a project that consists of a brand new, state of the art, high-tech manufacturing facility for Hitchiner Manufacturing, Inc., located in Milford.

The new 90,000sf facility includes a high bay manufacturing space that will cast parts of aerospace, defense and automotive industries.

included specialty, proprietary equipment fit-up. The building also includes an office and administration and laboratory spaces that support the manufacturing and research/development staff.

The building design needed to strike a balance between energy efficiency, operability and cost effectiveness while being able to be a showpiece for the Milford campus and prospective clients.

Fitzemeyer & Tocci accomplished this through several design features. The first energy conservation measure came by incorporating the use of adiabatic coolers to handle the large process cooling and building cooling load. Due to the high cooling water demand within the building resulting in the need for 2,000 tons of cooling, the design resulted in seven adiabatic coolers with a total water

Water cooled chillers

Fitzemeyer & Tocci used energy modeling to help select the most energy efficient and cost-effective systems for the project. The design included an initial core/shell infrastructure package that includes large chilled/hot water systems for both space and process cooling/heating purposes. The secondary design phase

MEP design

Condensing boiler and pumps

reduction of approximately 90% when compared (and modeled) to standard cooling towers. Large air handling units that provide ventilation to the high-bay manufacturing spaces were furnished with variable frequency drives (VFDs) and interfaced with process exhaust systems in order to provide the necessary makeup air and ventilation, and nothing more.

As a result of the high electrical demand from process equipment, it was deemed important to offset by ensuring building electrical systems and lighting had reduced power density to help balance overall electrical use. The building’s manufacturing electrical requirements resulted in the need for three 3000amp electrical services, which is enormous. To help reduce the total electrical load, the

design included LED lighting throughout the facility. In the administration area, where skylights were installed, photocell technology was used.

As a high-tech manufacturing firm with state-of- the-art processes, it was critical for Hitchiner to be able to walk prospective clients through the building to illustrate their capability with the new building. The architects took that understanding and designed a skywalk feature. The skywalk enables tours to be conducted, starting in the administration area and going over the manufacturing floor, providing a view of the equipment, process and employees from high above.

The project was completed in September of 2019.

Skywalk construction

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April 2021

Flow Tech Opens Demonstration Lab

The return air side, containing custom ERU with MK Plastics exhaust fans

South Windsor, CT – Flow Tech, Inc. announced the opening of its Demonstration (Demo) Lab at its office in South Windsor.

The Demo Lab was designed to be a working example of how FlowTech’s equipment and systems improve the comfort and safety of facilities, while providing energy savings. The space showcases 14 of the 19 engineered equipment and systems that Flow Tech represents, in one comprehensive HVAC system.

The supply air side, containing custom AHUs and duct work accessories

In addition to the system itself, a graphics module was created to replicate a Building Management System (BMS), showing the operations of the system.

Specific parameters such as airflow rates, air quality, and energy savings can be viewed at any time. Each piece of equipment also features a QR code that visitors can scan to learn more about the features, benefits, and specifications for any given unit.

Flow Tech plans to utilize the Demo Lab for a variety of purposes, including S E R V I N G

T H E

M E P

external training for customers and design engineers, new employee training, and a research and development space for its field technicians. Another potential use is as a space for recruitment events and open houses. The company has also begun filming informative training videos for its new virtual training series, and is hosting webinars within the space.

For more information about Flow Tech’s Demonstration Lab, or to schedule a tour or training, visit, https://flowtechinc. com/demonstration-lab/.

T R A D E S

S I N C E

HPT energy recovery piping between the supply and exhaust units

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Driven to Deliver Charles D. Sheehy is a leading supplier of cast iron, pipe, valves, fittings and plumbing and mechanical products

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April 2021

Choosing the Right Mechanical System IESC Completes Office Renovation Factors to Consider for Your Multi-Residential Project ideal for academic dormitories and can also work well in assisted living facilities and affordable housing projects.

by Charles Romano When planning for a multi-residential project, choosing the right mechanical systems can depend on a host of factors. Whether its upfront costs, cost savings down the road, or your sustainability philosophy driving your decision, each variety of systems has its pros and cons. From Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pumps to individual heat pumps to packaged gas fired heating, Windover Construction has worked with each of these systems in different multi-residential projects and we evaluate the benefits of each.

VRF A VRF system with Dedicated Outdoors Air System (DOAS) paired with an electric heat pump for water is geared toward sustainability and is highly energy efficient. It offers simultaneous heating and cooling and premium indoor air quality. With fewer heat pumps and relatively small duct and piping systems, it requires minimal space for installation. However, it comes with high initial equipment costs and the inability to bill tenants for individual electric consumption or hot water. This system is

Individual Heat Pumps Individual heat pumps with fan coils, Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV), and a central domestic hot water system is like the VRF system in its ability to be adaptable for sustainable goals. By avoiding gas fired boilers and opting for electric heat pump water heaters, this option is still energy efficient while maintaining the ability to bill each tenant individually for water and electricity. This system requires higher upfront costs and more pieces of equipment to maintain, but the non-fossil fuel option is well-suited for some important sustainability goals.

Packaged Gas Fired Heating The least sustainable of these options, packaged gas fired heating/DX cooling units and instantaneous gas water heaters with Rooftop Units (RTU) for common area heating and cooling, is also the quickest and least expensive to implement. With each unit having an independent system for heating and cooling, this system offers the ability to bill tenants individually for electric and gas usage. This also means there is more equipment to maintain, and each unit will need space for the equipment. This system is most often found in large-scale apartment communities.

Charles Romano is manager of MEP services at Windover Construction.

One of the common areas in BerryDunn’s new offices, demonstrating the many varieties of lighting fixtures on display throughout the space

Portland, ME – Interstate Electrical Services Corporation (IESC), a fullservice merit shop electrical contractor in New England, recently completed a multifloor core and interior office renovation in a building owned by Unum Group in Portland.

The total project encompassed 200,000sf including multi-floor office fit-outs for regional accounting firm, BerryDunn, and global engineering/ design firm, Stantec. Interstate’s scope of work included updating all core areas including installation of a brand-new fire alarm system, improved common space lighting, and upgrades such as a new cafe and amenities rooms.

The newly renovated offices are

bright, contemporary work spaces that also include extensive lighting controls and sensors that conserve energy by automatically dimming or shutting off lights, for daylight harvesting, using natural sunlight to illuminate interior spaces.

This project, which began in January 2020 and is slated to wrap up in May 2021, utilized Interstate’s lean project delivery methods for which offsite, UL-certified component prefabrication assists the site teams by delivering pre-assembled parts at just the right stage in the project.

Prefabricated parts accounted for up to 80% of the electrical materials used by Interstate on this project, including lights and lighting control systems and prebuilt, ready-to-install wall fixtures for power and switching.

Automated Building Systems Donates to Local Food Banks Glastonbury, CT – Automated Building Systems, Inc. (ABS), an authorized Alerton dealer and controls company in New England, kicked off the “Month of Love” (February), by coming together as “One Big ABS Team” to help spread love and kindness to local food pantries.

Two teams were organized and headed by ABS’ operations managers in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

ABS matched the winning team with an additional monetary donation based on the most poundage collected. The winning branch will house the “ABS Cup Champions Trophy” until the following year’s outcome.

The Connecticut team collected a total of 833 pounds and donated to Connecticut Food Share while Massachusetts collected 1054 pounds, making them the winners of the February “Month of Love” Food Drive.

Their monetary match of $2,108, and donations were distributed to Veterans Inc. and the Worcester Food Bank in Massachusetts.

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ABS’ Massachusetts team collected 1054 pounds of food, making them the winners of the contest.

Located in Glastonbury, ABS designs and implements Building Energy Management systems. With branch offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, ABS is made up of an accomplished team of sales and administration professionals, project managers, technicians, electricians, engineers, and programmers.

The Connecticut team collected a total of 833 pounds of food.

ABS Cup Champions Trophy

April 2021

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Moving The Industry Forward

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The Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association ADVANCING THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS IN LABOR, PLUMBERS AND GASFITTERS LOCAL 12. www.high-profile.com

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A Spotlight on ACEC’s Coalition of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is a federation of 52 state and regional councils representing more than 600,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors and other specialists. Its primary mission is to strengthen the business environment for member firms through government advocacy, political action, and business education.

Within ACEC is the Coalition of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers (CAMEE), which represents mechanical/electrical engineering firms and provides a forum for improving bottom-line business with improved business practices, reduced professional liability, and increased profitability.

CAMEE’s mission is to maintain established relationships with both American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and National Association of State Facilities Administrators (NASFA). It strives to represent MEP issues on ACEC’s outreach and advocacy agenda, and to provide education sessions tailored to the unique needs of MEP firms.

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CAMEE Member firms represent these practice areas: • Mechanical • Plumbing • Electrical Engineering • Commissioning • Fire Protection • Controls • Security

• Life Safety • Alarm Systems • Medical Gas Systems • Acoustics • Technology • HVAC • Design/Operation of Building Systems

CAMEE membership benefits include: •2 4/7 access to CAMEE contracts and guidelines, including the Professional Services Contract, to help M/E firms contract directly with a facility’s owner, and the Project Planning Guideline, a business practice tool for M/E firms •A forum to troubleshoot issues and concerns and share best practices and Building Information Modeling (BIM) • I nformation and programs on risk management tailored specifically for M/E firms •A nnual peer to peer information-sharing meetings at ACEC’s fall conference and annual convention dedicated to best practice M/E engineering

Learn more by visiting https://www.acec.org/camee/

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Building a More Equitable Approach to Climate Change Law

by Andrew DeAngelo Energy efficiency is not a novel concept for the construction industry, especially in Massachusetts. Contractors across the state and the country have been striving to hit energy efficiency goals in the name of future cost savings for customers as well as for the intrinsic good that it holds for the planet, for decades. So, when the most ground-breaking and sweeping climate change legislation in recent history hit the Massachusetts State House and the industry was not consulted, many in this space were confounded.

The proven science and increasingly erratic and destructive weather across the globe certainly do not produce many detractors from the realities of climate change. However, in order to reach our ambitious goals of aggressively curbing carbon emissions while also not curtailing economic and social development, it is crucial to ensure that the perfect does not become the enemy of the good (or the realistic).

Experts from across all sectors of the economy must be engaged in productive conversations before this type of legislation is passed into law so as to mitigate its unintended negative consequences. The most recent climate legislation in Massachusetts was on the verge of codifying what could have been very harmful unintended consequences for the plumbing industry and construction industry as a whole, as well as equitable access to good paying jobs and housing for working class and lower income families, into law.

Senate Bill 2995, “An Act creating a next-generation roadmap for Massachusetts climate policy,” which was vetoed by Governor Baker during the final hours of the last Massachusetts legislative session and is now known under the same name in the current session (Bill number 9), is on its way to being passed into law (at the time of this article being published) with some crucial improvements by way of recommendations of Governor Baker.

For those who did not follow the original bill, if it were to be left as written it would have immediately implemented an undefined “Net Zero Stretch Energy Code” across the Commonwealth.

That is, it would effectively allow each community in the state to design its own building codes on how to construct net zero buildings. While flexibility

sounds good on its face, the result of not consulting with the industry experts on what “net zero” means and the negative consequences of relying exclusively on electricity to heat buildings, this code would significantly drive-up housing and building construction costs throughout Massachusetts, threatening good paying jobs and our economic recovery. What is even more worrying is it would allow communities a back door to get out of 40B affordable housing commitments.

After concentrated pressure from the building, labor, development and business communities to have a seat at the table to take reasonable steps toward the development of this stretch

energy code, Governor Baker sent the new bill back to be amended with this issue among others being kept in mind.

The legislature, seeing the merit of the different stakeholders’ concerns and the well thought out amendment put forth by the Baker Administration, agreed to make concessions.

Over the course of the next 18 months, public hearings will be held on the development of this new stretch energy code, and the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) will review what is developed by the Department of Energy Resources before it is adopted. These accommodations allow for the construction industry in Massachusetts to continue in the right direction.

The realities of climate change are undeniable. Swift action must be taken in order to mitigate the suffering of future generations. This action, however, must have equal input and garner buy-in from those creating the laws, those running local businesses, and the working families of the Commonwealth.

Andrew DeAngelo is director of public affairs at Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association.

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Newbury Boston Completes Electrical Renovation Boston – Aldon Electric Company, based in Weymouth, has reached substantial completion of the historic renovation of The Newbury Boston hotel at the corners of Arlington and Newbury Streets in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay. The Newbury Boston is comprised of two 18-story buildings, and its comprehensive restoration entailed elaborate and meticulous renovations. Aldon’s project scope included complete electrical renovation of the hotel’s 286 guest rooms and new public spaces, including the hotel lobby, ballrooms, meeting rooms, bars, and the new rooftop/bar restaurant overlooking the Boston Common.

Electrical distribution requirements encompassed installing new electrical panels on each floor of the two buildings, which provide power to all hotel rooms and public spaces. The project also features elaborate new interior and exterior lighting and a state-of-the-art Lutron lighting control system. The contractor also rebuilt one of the facility’s two generators.

Among many demanding challenges met by the NECA contractor was installation of the hotel’s new fire alarm system, which consists of three network NODE panels and six network transponders. The parallel fire alarm installation required networking the existing life safety system with the new system until all floors

were cutover and devices were installed throughout both high-rise buildings. New stair pressurization systems have also been installed.

Teaming with its subcontractor, Comm-Tract, on low-voltage installations, Aldon’s scope also included the facility’s tel/data systems. Features include a new data network, AV installations in public spaces, and an entirely new speaker system. Installation of security system raceways for the security system were

The Newbury Boston hotel

also integral to the scope.

Construction on the fast-track, multiphase project was performed while the building was partially occupied: Floors 8-18 of the building facing Commonwealth Avenue operate as a luxury condominium residence. Aldon met these logistical challenges as well as material delivery and scheduling challenges presented by the tight site in the Back Bay. Aldon Electric project manager, Alex Rodriguez, project supervisor Jason Emus,

and foreman Mike Fernandes headed the project team, managing a crew comprised of 40 IBEW Local 103 electricians and technicians at peak construction.

The Aldon project team has met project timelines working in close coordination with general contractors Columbia Construction and Consigli Construction. The project was scheduled for a March 1 completion and the The Newbury is scheduled to reopen to guests by mid-March.

CES Announces Promotions Middletown, CT – Consulting Engineering Services (CES), a multi-disciplined engineering firm, established in 1994, announced 13 employee promotions, including one new shareholder.

Rob Drechsler, a 19-year veteran at the CES Middletown office, has been promoted to associate and shareholder. He has been a successful team leader for five years focusing in the high-end residential sector. Drechsler’s team has designed custom mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for homes that range from 2,00040,000sf across the United States.

CES announces six team leader and four project manager promotions, and one senior engineer promotion across three of its six offices.

In the Connecticut office, Jeanine Palmieri was promoted to commissioning team leader. Scott Mussman, Sam Masciulli, and Bradley Park have been promoted to team leader. Vaney Murillo and Matthew Couceiro have been promoted to project manager.

In Massachusetts, Edward Wellington has been promoted to team leader. In the Florida office, Annette Ben-Habib has been elevated to team leader.

In New York, Michael Cordone and

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Rob Drechsler

Jeanine Palmieri

Scott Mussman

Sam Masciulli

John Ingigneri have been promoted to project manager.

Michael Koutouzis has been elevated to senior electrical engineer, and Michele Durato has been promoted to office manager.

Bradley Park

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Now Might be the Best Time for an Arc Flash Study

by Brian Leborgne Office buildings may be emptier now than they were at this time last year, but a reduction in occupancy can actually have a silver lining for building owners and property managers. It’s a great time to complete the maintenance tasks that may not be top-of-mind, but are nevertheless very important. One such task is an arc flash study for your building.

What’s an arc flash, and why do you need to perform an arc flash study?

First off, the word “arc” is used to describe electricity moving through the air between two points. That shock you get when you touch a metal door knob? That’s an arc, on a very small scale. When dealing with high-energy electrical equipment, an unexpected arc causes the release of electrical energy in the form of heat and pressure; essentially, an explosion known as an arc flash.

Arc flashes are generally caused

Thermal hotspot

by equipment failure, a fault or surge somewhere else in the system, or human error. Because none of these factors are inherently predictable, anyone working on electrical equipment has to be aware of the risks at all times, even when equipment is contained in fire-proof electric rooms and electricians are following NFPA guidelines to avoid working on live equipment (a guideline that the teams at Interstate always follow). That risk awareness is where arc flash studies and warning labels come in.

An arc flash warning label gives key information about a particular piece of electrical equipment, usually including voltage, various safety boundaries, and guidance on safety gear required. With this information, a qualified electrician is able to determine the appropriate level of protection and precaution necessary to

begin working on that piece of equipment.

To determine the information on that label, Interstate’s own in-house electrical engineering team works hand-in-hand with our electricians and our safety personnel to assemble the requisite details.

But gathering the necessary information to calculate arc flash risk is no easy task.

In theory, if a building has up-to-date schematics and design documents, those would give some guidance. But in a lot of cases – especially in New England with all of our older buildings – that documentation doesn’t exist or hasn’t been properly updated. Interstate engineers and field teams working together can map out the entire electrical system as it exists and document it in a new one line diagram.

Then the engineers assess the information and use advanced software to calculate risk, voltage, etc.

“While an arc flash may never occur at your facility, there is always that risk,” says Dylan Baer, safety officer at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation. “It may be as simple as an animal on a bare overhead wire or a lightning strike that is the cause but the unfortunate truth is that, if you do have an arc flash, a human will be involved.”

Arc flash studies, warning labels, and proper precautions are increasingly required by property owners and their insurance companies. Any and all electrical equipment in a facility adds liability for the owners, and it is always in the best interest of everyone involved to make sure the appropriate knowledge is shared to prevent any harm or hazards from happening. Performing an arc flash study before and during construction of a facility can also help mitigate unnecessary costs down the line by making sure each piece of equipment can handle the potential load or will function properly in the case of equipment fault somewhere in the system.

So take the first step toward peace of mind: Get a risk analysis and put the right warnings and precautions in place.

Brian Leborgne is service manager at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation, and is an active member of The Construction Institute.

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April 2021

DPS Group Announces Scholarship To Honor Memory of Indu Conley Boston – DPS Group, a privately-owned, global engineering, procurement, construction management and validation (EPCMV) firm serving high-tech process industries, announced it has created a memorial scholarship at the Tufts University School of Engineering to honor the legacy of Indu Conley, an industry subject matter expert and process department manager in the Boston office until her untimely death in December 2019.

Conley’s career experience included over 18 years in the biopharmaceutical industry with significant experience in large-scale mammalian cell culture processes. Throughout her six-year battle with cancer, she continued to run a world-class process engineering department at DPS, and continued to lead projects, consult with clients, and speak at conferences around the world.

The Indu Conley Memorial Scholarship will be implemented for a fall 2021 first-year student who will be a DPS scholar for the full four years of their engineering degree. The program is multi-faceted: Educational opportunity and financial security over four years is just the first component. DPS will offer the student access to professionals throughout its organization to provide guidance and mentoring; hands-on work experience and internships within DPS and its broader

network of peers and clients; assistance growing a professional network upon graduation from Tufts debt-free; and help finding the right role in the life sciences industry, if that is their chosen path.

“Indu was instrumental in establishing DPS in the U.S. and its Boston office to where it is today, from a small newcomer to an industry leader,” said Eddie Skillington, vice president of business development. “Indu felt very strongly

Indu Conley

about gender equality in the industry, and she was an advocate for women in pharma, and the underrepresented in general. We are proud to create a scholarship which will support a student pursuing a degree in engineering in her memory.”

“We are honored to collaborate with DPS to pay tribute to their remarkable colleague, Indu Conley, by investing in the engineering leaders of the future,” said Jianmin Qu, dean of the

School of Engineering at Tufts University.

“The Indu Conley Scholarship will provide a truly life-changing opportunity for an exceptional chemical engineering student, regardless of their financial circumstances. What a wonderful way to honor Indu’s legacy and her passion for the field of engineering, by giving back so that a similar aspiring engineer may pursue their dreams without financial worry.”

Boston Firm Achieves Fitwel Certification ‘Line Contractor’ Magazine Launched Boston – National engineering firm Vanderweil Engineers announced it has achieved Fitwel certification for its Boston Headquarters at 274 Summer Street.

Operated by the Center for Active Design (CfAD), Fitwel is a rigorous, third-party healthy building certification system that sets an industry standard for evidence-based strategies to promote positive health outcomes for building occupants and communities.

The building at 274 Summer Street is the first in Boston to achieve Built Certification under the Fitwel SingleTenant v2.1 scorecard. Representatives of Vanderweil say the Fitwel certification demonstrates the firm’s commitment to advancing its employees, clients, and surrounding community’s well-being by implementing health-promoting design and operational strategies.

“By achieving a 2-star certification rating for 274 Summer Street, Vanderweil Engineers has positioned itself as a leader

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in the healthy building movement by adopting multi-faceted, research-based strategies that enhance the safety, health and wellness of its Boston Headquarters employees,” said Joanna Frank, president and CEO of CfAD. “We commend Vanderweil Engineers for being the first in Boston to achieve certification under the latest version of the single-tenant scorecard and look forward to working with the firm as it continues to advance health and wellness efforts in its other office locations.”

“Committed to sustainable solutions within our engineering practice, it was a logical step to pursue Fitwel for our own workplace. Vanderweil’s sustainability team led the Fitwel v2.1 certification process for our 70,000sf office building in the heart of Boston’s historic Fort Point neighborhood, which will be used as a footprint for our other offices. From this experience, we’ll carry a deeper understanding and better practices with us as we continue to consult on wellness and engineering projects for our clients,” said Alana Spencer, sustainability leader at Vanderweil Engineers.

Washington, D.C. – The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Electrical Contractor magazine have launched Line Contractor, the quarterly magazine for outside electrical construction.

This new magazine was designed specifically for the needs and interests of the line contractor, focusing on such topics as safety, the latest projects and markets, and industry news and products.

The first issue, published in March 2021, features articles on working in extreme weather conditions, the American Line Builders Apprenticeship and Training Center, tree care and line interference, HVDC transmission, and more. It also includes a project profile, and spotlights products from many industry-leading companies.

“Both within NECA membership and throughout the industry, outside line contractors need unique, specialized resources to remain productive, do the job safely, and ultimately grow their business,” said David Long, NECA CEO. “By creating this publication, we hope to connect this group like never before and ensure they are getting the best possible information to help prosper in these evolving times.”

“The outside line has long been an important piece of our audience, and we knew there would be an appetite for

content tailored specifically for this unique group of contractors and lineworkers,” said Andrea Klee, publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine. “We pride ourselves on being the leading information resource for the electrical construction industry, and I’m excited that we are now bringing this expertise directly to those working in outside electrical construction.

The next issues of Line Contractor will be published in June, September and December 2021. The inaugural March issue is available now in print, at ecmag. com or on the ECMag app, and available for download on Apple and Google Play.

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Glynn Electric Awarded $4M Project Plymouth, MA – Plymouth-based electrical contractor, Glynn Electric, announced the company has been awarded an over $4 million project by Trammel Crow at the new Alexan Kingston Apartments on the site of the former Sears Building at Kingston Collection Way in Kingston.

Glynn’s work on the new 282-unit residential development will include not only comprehensive electrical distribution, power and lighting but also the telecom/data, communications and security/access aspects of the project.

Glynn’s work on the new 282-unit residential development will include not only comprehensive electrical distribution, power and lighting but also the telecom/data, communications and security/ access aspects of the project.

“Glynn is honored to have been selected by international real estate investment leader, Trammel Crow, to handle so much of the work on this important local project. We have always believed that our ability to provide

high quality, diverse service offerings including electrical construction, telecom/data networking, security/access, fire alarm and suppression, all from a single source, makes Glynn a very attractive

Alexan Kingston Apartments

choice for general contractors and developers in the region. We look forward to demonstrating our exceptional capabilities and our commitment to excellence to this new client and building an even

stronger relationship moving forward,” said Glynn’s construction operations manager, Doug Cormier.

Glynn will begin the underground phase of the project in the coming weeks.

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April 2021

Save Money and the Planet with Energy Efficiency As a new administration begins and energy efficiency becomes mandated, now is the time to invest in professionally installed mechanical insulation systems.

This is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint of a building, and assure the building owner their investment will pay dividends well into the future.

Our national, state, and local goals are aligned around energy efficiency, and mechanical insulation is a proven technology that promotes these goals.

When you “go green” and partner with Heat & Frost Insulators Local 6, you’re guaranteed to have a team of

Insulation installation in progress

professionals who will help you attain your environmental and energy cost-reduction goals for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.

As the pandemic unfolded and the HVAC systems of schools, office buildings, and health care facilities were all scrutinized more closely than in past decades, the lack of adequate insulation was also discovered. In our efforts to return to “normal,” we cannot miss the opportunity to upgrade buildings sorely in need of repair, and at the same time reduce carbon emissions through reducing energy consumption.

The health of a building, the longevity of equipment, and consumption of energy are all directly related to the quality and upkeep of mechanical insulation systems.

Properly installed insulation will protect your equipment, avoiding costly repairs in the future, and keep your heating and cooling systems free from mold and condensation. The benefits to any building are clear, and extend to the environment and our planet as we reduce waste.

Under a Biden administration, the goal of retrofitting four million commercial buildings and cutting the carbon footprint of our national building stock in half by 2035 is an ambitious one.

One of the easiest ways to reduce energy use is to ensure a building’s systems are properly insulated, allowing minimal or

Insulation installation in progress

zero energy loss. Mechanical systems work constantly – 24 hours per day, seven days per week – and therefore the energy savings accrue without stopping.

We look forward to continuing to partner with developers and contractors to save money, save energy, and being part of the solution for our environment.

At Heat & Frost Insulators Local 6, our highly-trained professionals, employed by a select network of industry-leading contractors, add value to clients across industries: medical, higher education, biotechnology, commercial ventures, industrial projects and more. We are ready for any challenge, and have the ability to

offer a broad range of solutions: mechanical insulation, hazardous waste remediation, firestopping, sound attenuation/ quiet systems and specialty fabrication.

Heat & Frost Insulators Local 6 sets the standards for New England’s insulation industry; our team of professionals are certified by the U.S. Department of Labor and stand as a preferred source of labor on the Massachusetts COMMBUYS list, and the MassSAVE contractor lists.

Professionally installed mechanical insulation is an investment financially, and for a brighter future for us all.

Submitted by Heat & Frost Insulators Local 6

Does your firm work outside of New England?

We want to know about it!

High-Profile is launching its first National/International supplement.

Share your company activities outside of New England in this special issue.Don‘t miss it.

Deadline for content and ads for this special supplement is April 26.

To reserve your spot, email Elizabeth@high-profile.com or call (860) 801-0873 high-profile.com

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April 2021

Working Together to Build Boston for More than 30 Years.

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