Click on icon for vol V no. 1, JUN 1999
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Click on icon for vol V no. 1, JUN 1999 |
The
ChallEngeThe newsletter of the Western Canada group of chartered engineers
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Program Notes |
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Hon. Secretary's Notices |
The Western Canada Group of Chartered Engineers represents members of six, UK-based, Chartered engineering institutions. The other qualification of our members is they must live in British Columbia, Yukon Territory, Alaska or Washington State. By constitution, your committee has members from each institution. As I sat to write this I received a large brown envelope from Michael Faraday House in London, home of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
The IEE's covering letter was headed "International Matter". The fifty-page, International Honorary Officers List shows representation in over 50 countries. Our group and your committee's officers are listed. The package includes a video catalogue, guidance notes for members serving on IEE Boards and Committees, a summary report on the IEE year ending April 1999, the final report of a working party of the Knowledge Services Board, and sundry other papers. All the material has international relevance. The package is a credit to the IEE and a metaphor for the global nature of engineering - knowledge and application. Our Honorary Secretary, Bob Martin has a copy of these papers, if any member wants more detail. IEE members played pivotal roles in forming this group. They are invaluable contributors of time and talent in running it. Kudos to them all!
With the support of their families, Chartered Engineers, in every branch of industry and many branches of public service have helped to build, and continue to sustain the economy of the region we represent. The multi-national make up, and learned society allegiances of this group make it eclectic and stimulating. I hope you find interest in this newsletter.
Your 1999 Committee at work.
I hope too that you will join in some of the events in our coming, thirteenth year. If you would like to participate in the committee, the AGM is your opportunity to seek membership. Call or e-mail the Honorary Secretary or any committee member to express your interest. We don't do all our business at picnic tables in the sun, but if you have a strong interest in the engineering profession, you could find the group a good place to let it shine.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as can come to the AGM and annual dinner dance in January. The new venue promises more space, and even better food and entertainment value than last year's highly successful event.
With seasons greetings, and sincere thanks to the team that has made the year go so well,
Brian Redway, C.Eng, MIMechE, Chair 1999
I have a great pleasure to give you the current edition of the WCGCE's newsletter The ChallEnge. You will find reports from the group's monthly technical meetings, site visits, and the 7th Annual Inspection of the Telephone Box. There are also notices about the upcoming WCGCE Annual General Meeting in January 2000 followed by the traditional Dinner & Dance. Come and join us!
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all WCGCE members to actively participate in the newsletter format and content. Please feel free to submit materials, comments and suggestions for the subsequent issues of the newsletter. If you would like to contribute to the future issues, please contact me at anawrocki@iee.org, or Bob Martin, the Honorary Secretary at (604) 261-8913, or e-mail to iamrtm@direct.ca.
Andrzej Nawrocki, C.Eng., MIEE, Newsletter Editor
June 9th
Green Buildings - Possible or Impossible
Introduction
Twenty-two members and their guests attended this well-illustrated presentation. Our speaker for this evening was Mr. Richard P. Perry, P. Eng. He introduced us to an idea of the "Green Building" and told us about his experience in this field. Our presenter worked with Anderson's Ltd. of New Zealand and with D. W. Thomson Ltd. of Vancouver before becoming a Partner and Senior Mechanical Engineer with Phillips Barratt and Partners. After being the President of Perry Engineering Ltd. for 23 years, he became the President of Perry Mario Associates. He was also a President of ASHRAE in 1983/84.
What is a "Green Building"?
Practically, all commercial buildings, as defined by standard building codes, are eligible for consideration as a "Green Building" based on a Green Building Rating System. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), part of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) developed this rating system. Residential buildings will be considered under separate rating system that is still being prepared.
The US Green Building Council is a balanced non-profit consensus coalition of the building industry, promoting the understanding, development, and implementation of the "Green Building" policies, programs, technologies, standards and design practices. Since its formation in 1993, the US Green Building Council became the center for debate and action on environmental issues facing the building industry. The Council's membership is comprised of leading and visionary representation from all the segments of the building industry including product manufacturers, environmental groups, building owners, building professionals, utilities, city government, research institutions, professional societies and universities. This representation provides a unique integrated platform for carrying out important programs and activities.
LEED Green Building Rating System
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a priority program of the US Green Building Council. It is a voluntary, consensus-based, market-driven building rating system based on existing proven technology. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a self-certifying system designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. It is a feature-oriented system, where credits are earned for satisfying each criterion. Different levels of "Green Building" certification are awarded based on the total credits earned.
In order to attain LEED building classification, an applicant building must first satisfy all of the prerequisites. Having satisfied the basic prerequisites of the program, the applicant building is then rated according to its degree of compliance (on a percentage basis) with the credit system listed below.
Forty-four Credits and six Bonus Credits are available with four levels of certification:
These credits are earned in the following major areas:
How does a building earn "Green Building" credits?
In the category of the "Planning Sustainable Sites" credits can be earned for the following:
View of the Kandala hotel - Light colors are applied to reduce size of heat islands.
Placing new construction on vacant land located in areas with an existing development density of 100,000 square feet per acre (or more) or rehabilitating an existing building earns credit for reducing cost of the site development. Reducing the development footprint (including building, utilities, access, and parking) earns credit for minimizing habitat disturbance.
A credit for site preservation and restoration is rewarded for the following actions:
Credit is also awarded if a building is located within 1/2 mile of a fixed rail station (commuter rail, light rail, or subway) or within 1/4 mile of two or more bus lines. The "Green Building" standard promotes alternative transportation methods by giving credits for the following:
Complying with ASHRAE 90.1 - 1989 or state and local energy codes, whichever is stricter, is a prerequisite for earning credits in the category of the "Improving Energy Efficiency".
In this category credits are awarded for:
There are two prerequisites for the category of "Conserving Materials and Resources": elimination of CFC and providing a centralized ground-floor location for collection and storage of materials for recycling, including: newspapers, glass, metals, plastics, organic waste (food and soiled paper), and dry waste. The credits are also awarded for having Construction Waste Management Plan, which at a minimum, mandates recycling of cardboard, metals, concrete, brick, asphalt, land clearing debris (if applicable), and beverage containers.
In the category of "Safeguarding Water" the credits are awarded for the following:
From the above examples you can see that the LEED Green Building Rating System uses a very comprehensive list of requirements that need to be fulfilled before a building is qualified as the "Green Building". The system evaluates environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a "Green Building" - possibly a new building standard for the next century.
July 24th
7th Annual Inspection of the Telephone Box
For the seventh times, Ian and Jane Price in North Vancouver were hosting this ever so popular event. Forty-four members and their guests attended the Annual Inspection of the Telephone Box (see picture on the next page commemorating this unique event). Obviously, the focus of this event was on the technical inspection of this fine, fully operational, early Scottish telephone box.
Group photo commemorating 7th Annual Inspection of the Telephone Box. Courtesy of Jack Bibby.
The function follows the last committee meeting before we adjourn for the summer. The tradition of having the wine and beer tasting competition was carried form the previous year. Regrettably, we had only one contestant, who brought red wine and beer. Both drinks were tasty and very good quality as observed by your correspondent. Not much judging was required this year and the only contestant earned his first prize with both hands down.
October 27th
Site Visit to the Delta Factory of International Hi-Tech Industries Inc.
Introduction
We were invited to see the first fully automated factory of the International Hi-Tech Industries Inc. that is being built in Delta, British Columbia.
The site is strategically located for easy access to raw material, supplies and all forms of transportation (rail, road, highway, airport, truck ferries and ocean port shipping). Once it is fully operational 300 people will be employed here.
Mr. Roger A. Rached, the CEO of the company and inventor, was originally scheduled to be our presenter. Regrettably, he could not be present. Our speaker and tour guide, Mr. Jack Bibby, is the Project Manager at Hi-Tech.
During the visit, videos were presented, showing construction of the factory and two residential projects, followed by the factory tour that was attended by twenty-two members and their guests.
The Hi-Tech's primary objective is to develop insulated panelized concrete buildings that are not only cost effective, but are flexible enough to be configured to achieve a wide variety of customized architectural designs. The panels are highly resistant to earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and fire, while offering outstanding thermal and sound insulation. The company already has 72 patents covering eight independent inventions filed in 180 countries.
There are great plans for an expansion. The Hi-Tech company is planning to build a new factory every three months all over the world for the next 10 years. Twenty-seven new plants have been already pre-sold in several countries including Australia, the Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Honduras, Luxembourg, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Steel Framed Panel
The Hi-Tech construction system uses an integrated CAD/CAM panel manufacturing process, which utilises a customised program that was developed by Hi-Tech's founders.
The panels are composed of steel reinforced concrete and rigid foam insulation, providing frame strength, built-in form work and mechanical interlocks. Steel reinforcing cables within the panels are connected to the steel frame and tensioned to provide required stiffness. A combination of special flanges and steel pins connect the panels at corner points in a highly flexible manner. Even without the pins, the structure is statically stable and the pins are present only for to improve dynamic stability.
The rigid foam for each panel is machined using laser-based CAM equipment driven by proprietary analytical design software. The foam is used as the form for each panel during construction and becomes the insulation in the completed panel. Foam density and thickness can be adjusted to conform to local requirements for insulation. The laser-machined insulating foam panel insert allows for precision placement of the steel frame and panel elements such as windows, doors and service runs.
From Design to Finished Product
This is fully automated process. First, a detailed architectural drawing is scanned into Hi-Tech's computer. The computer reproduces a structural 3-D representation of the panels. The next step of the process focuses on optimization and customization of the shape and sizes of the panels required. The following variables and factors such as site and design constraints, transportation regulations, a time frame and the client's budget are taken into consideration. After this phase is completed, the computer directs robotic arms and laser cutters to cut and shape tubular steel frames according to the drawings.
Next, a rigid insulating foam core is machined. This core also includes a series of conduit runways to accommodate electrical and utility infrastructure. After that, insulation and fabricated steel frames are combined together and they form individual panel molds. This patented process eliminates completely the usage of disposable molds that otherwise would contribute to the high cost of manufacturing. Finally, all steel-frame walls and floors are fire- and weatherproofed with insulated lightweight concrete. The actual volume of concrete using this technology has been reduced from 60 to 70 percent compared to conventional method. This results in a finished product being less expensive to manufacture and much easier to transport (less weight).
The walls, floors, and roof are assembled together with unique steel joints allowing for quick assembly. What does "quick assembly" exactly mean? Imagine that. It is Monday morning. The crew arrives on a bare construction site. They begin work on a two-storey 3,000 square foot luxury home. By Friday afternoon, the house, from foundation to interior finishing, is complete and awaiting its new owners. Dream? This rapid assembly process was demonstrated in February 1999 at the B.C. Home and Garden Show, when it took only net 24 hours to erect a similar house inside B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver (for more details, please visit Hi-Tech's Web site at http://www.ihi.com).
The real strength of the Hi-Tech's product is derived from the fact that these prefabricated structures are not restricted to a limited set of physical layouts and aesthetic features. They can accommodate any design innovation and style preferences, allowing for features like vaulted ceilings, cantilevered structures and cut-outs. Hi-Tech also meets marketplace demand for quality construction and customers, who are expect new structures to be affordable, save, and durable.
November 17th
Security at the Port of Vancouver
The original text by Graham Kee, who also kindly provided pictures. (edited by AN)
Our speaker was Mr. Graham Kee, the Chief Security Officer at the Port of Vancouver. Before coming to Vancouver (in 1997), he held various positions including head of the Port Police detachment in St. John, New Brunswick. 18 people attended this interesting technical meeting.
At home, at work, in our neighbourhoods and on the streets, the need to feel secure, it is a need we all share. It is also a need that the Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) takes seriously when it comes to the Port. The expectations are that the Port is a safe place where both people and goods are safe and secure, where laws are enforced and where criminal activity is promptly deterred.
VPD Police patrol vessel in action
In 1997, the VPA signed an agreement with the Government of B.C. to move to a new policing and security model following the decision by Ottawa to disband the Ports Canada Police across Canada. Following that decision, the VPA worked with its partners to put in place a new security and policing system tailor-made for this Port and this region. Under the agreement, basic security functions are the responsibility of the Port. Municipal police forces ensure standard police services while federal law enforcement remains the responsibility of the RCMP and Canada Customs. The Port now has more police and security officers and better coverage than it ever did before.
To help support this model, the VPA continues to provide on-going funding. The City of Vancouver, for example, will receive approximately $3.8 million over seven years while Delta has received $150,000 over the past two years. The VPA has also put forward $350,000 annually towards the new BC Organized Crime Unit.
To deal with issues of security, in 1997 the VPA hired Securiguard, a private security firm to patrol its untenanted properties. Recently, VPA expanded its own internal security department and has invested in new technology to help with surveillance of Port property. The advanced technology helped to improve response times to incidents, information gets shared better and efforts are better co-ordinated by all the players involved. Below is an overview of the various agencies and forces working together. Each is a vital piece in the puzzle for a secure Port.
Within the jurisdiction of the City of Vancouver the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Waterfront Team operates on both land and water to investigate and respond to any criminal activity around the waterfront. The VPD Waterfront Team has 16 full-time officers. Ten officers patrol on land. Five officers patrol the water as the VPD Marine Squad.
Operating two patrol vessels including a 30-foot custom built, aluminum patrol boat and a 19-foot Zodiac Hurricane, the team patrols nearly 150 kilometres of shoreline within the city limits. The VPD Waterfront Team also provides valuable back-up support and security for Canada Customs when searching and inspecting ships.
Calls to 911 from the waterfront area receive very fast response and the area has, on average, higher levels of policing than neighbouring areas. In the event the Waterfront Team requires additional support, officers can also be called in from neighbouring police districts. The VPD Waterfront Team also plays a role in traffic safety on south shore port roadways, monitoring and weighing trucks to ensure commercial vehicle regulations are enforced.
The Vancouver Port Authority, Securiguard and the Vancouver Police team up to co-ordinate "traffic awareness days" to monitor and ensure the private, commercial port roadways such as Commissioner Street on the south shore are used only by vehicles on port-related business. Unlike residential roads, commercial roads pose a risk to commuters due to the heavy industry and commercial vehicles in the area. They are also subject to different signage regulations than residential roads (railway crossings, for example, do not have flashing lights). Signage on these streets is not meant to take into consideration unauthorized additional traffic. As a result, officers advise commuters to avoid the Heatley Avenue overpass, Centennial Road, Stewart Street, Clark Drive overpass, Stewart Street Extension, Commissioner Street and the Commissioner Street overpass. These are private, industrial roads designed for commercial vehicles and those on business with the Port Community.
Securiguard's staff on duty
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are responsible for enforcing federal laws and on the waterfront it plays a specific role. The RCMP's Greater Vancouver Drug Section is primarily concerned with the trafficking of illegal narcotics and its waterfront unit mainly deals with their illegal importation. A joint forces operation involving the RCMP, Vancouver Police Department and Canada Customs works on complex files, gathering information, working with various agencies and other municipal police forces to track down large scale traffickers.
Co-operation is vital to success. The RCMP realizes they must rely on Customs. Customs needs to rely on the RCMP and so on. So they work together.
An average person can help too. If you see anything suspicious or learn about any illegal activity related to drug importation by water (or air), you should call your nearest RCMP detachment and ask for the Drug Awareness Program at 264-3111. Then give any information you have on:
a) Vessel/aircraft (description, size, colour, flag, location, etc.)
b) Person or persons
c) Any license number, visible markings, registration details
d) Nature of activity
e) Times and dates of occurrence
For more information on this subject, please visit the RCMP web site at:
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/html/drugs.htm
Securiguard, is a private security firm operating with a force of eight officers on average. Securiguard's main role is to deter crime and oversee basic security functions.
Easily identifiable in their bright yellow uniforms, Securiguard officers are in contact with its 24-hour emergency response centre and receive support from the firm's other Mobile Patrol Units in the event of a major incident. Equipped with special waterfront training and state-of-the-art data terminals, Securiguard officers watch over Port lands and where appropriate, call on police forces to deal with criminal activity.
Securiguard's bright yellow uniforms and vehicles are easily distinguishable
Within Port Vancouver as with other ports of entry, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency plays a large role as the first point of contact in preventing contraband and unauthorized persons from entering the country. Its Customs Marine Operation is a 24-hour, seven days a week operation which is responsible for international marine and rail activity and cargo arriving at Port Vancouver as well as all coastal areas in the Lower Mainland of B.C. Together this agency covers more than 500 km of waterfront in 11 municipalities. Approximately 60 officers are involved in operations, depending on the time of year and demand for services. Canada Customs works closely with other agencies such as the RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department, the VPA and the Canadian Coast Guard, to name a few, in the protection of the waterfront. Should Customs uncover contraband, they can turn to other agencies for assistance while liaising and offering further follow up to assist in investigations.
Canada Customs regularly uses a variety of means and technology to detect contraband. Detector dogs are trained to sniff out minute quantities of illegal drugs and weapons. Non-intrusive equipment such as mobile ion scanners and gamma ray devices scan containers used to move goods - even without opening them. And teams of officers routinely search vessels to prevent illegal goods from entering the country.
In May this year, Revenue Canada and the Vancouver Port Authority signed an anti-smuggling agreement to ensure the highest level of co-operation between agencies to work together to fight the importation of contraband. In the agreement, Revenue Canada and the VPA committed to work together to share information, promote security where there is an increased risk and discuss security procedures.
Nominations for the 2000 Committee
Your present Group Committee retires on Saturday, January 29th, 2000. A new Committee will be elected and will take office at the Group Annual General Meeting (see below for details).
The nominating committee is preparing a panel of nominees and this will be included in this mail as well. The same information will also be posted on our Web site.
Vacancies are occurring this year due to the retirement of some of the Committee members. It is hoped that these vacancies will be filled by some of the younger members who would be willing to come forward and serve, maintaining the future continuity as long-serving members retire. We also try to keep a balance of members representing various institutions. We currently have a scarcity of representative from Structural and Chemical. Volunteers from these two organizations are welcome.
Annual General Meeting and Dinner & Dance
The official Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Western Canada Group of Chartered Engineers is being mailed with the hardcopy of this newsletter. AGM will be held on January 29th, 2000 at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. Please note that AGM starts at 5:30 PM followed by Dinner & Dance at 6:30 PM, and the event finishes at 1:00 AM. Please contact Mr. Colin Marsh, Event Chairman for details,
tel.: (604) 925-7877, fax: (604) 925-8097, e-mail: colintmarsh@home.com.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. The committee counts on your support! Please come along and let us know how we may best serve the needs of the membership of our Sponsoring Institutions. If you are a Chartered Engineer and plan to attend the Dinner & Dance, do come to the meeting first. Arrangements are made for the reception of the spouses or significant others of members while they are attending the business meeting.
Commencing directly after the AGM, the Group's Annual Dinner & Dance will begin. The evening offers good food, great live music, live entertainment and good company! A detailed program of the event, a ticket form together with contact and payment details is being mailed with this newsletter. Please, book your place early, number of places is limited!
The underground parking is available at the Pacific Center (off Howe Street). The (public) evening parking rate is only about $4 and is in force from 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, the AGM attendees will have to pay a "half-hourly" rate of about $2.50 for about one hour and then the evening rate kicks in. At the worst case, this should mean that the total parking would cost less than $9 per car.
Our Dinner & Dance Committee has made special arrangements for those of you who would like to spend a night at the Four Seasons Hotel on that night. Accommodation is available at a special price of $150 per night.
Special Notice to IMechE Members
The incoming president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers will be visiting Western Canada in July of 2000. He will be visiting Vancouver first and will spend a few days with us before flying to Calgary to visit with the Canadian Prairies Group of Chartered Engineers.
Tentative dates sets for this visit are:
July 2, 2000 - to leave the UK,
July 8 or 9, 2000 - to depart from Calgary.
If any member has some questions or comments they would like to pass on to the President they can do so either in person, as we are planning a luncheon or dinner meeting with all members who wish to attend, or you can send your comments to the Hon. Sec. Bob Martin, at 261 8919, or to the IMechE Representative James Gordon at 321 2926. There will be other meetings, which have yet to be arranged with APEGBC and the university engineering deans if possible. Please try to attend or send in your comments, as this is a rare event in that the Institution Presidents do no visit here very often.
ICE Representative for Western Region
Mr. Mike Castle has been appointed as the ICE Representative for Canada-Western Region in October 1999.
Thanks and best wishes to Mr. Stan Ridley, who has performed this task for the last 10 years. Stan's responsibilities as Senior Vice-President and General Manager for the Thermal Power Division of SNC-Lavalin have significantly increased his traveling and the demands on his time.
Mike has recently started up his own business, providing a consulting service for project management, cost estimating and scheduling for heavy civil construction projects. Mike Castle can be contacted at (604) 980-9464 (phone) or mcastle@istar.ca (e-mail).
For more information on the ICE in Canada visit the ICE Web site at: http://www.icenet.org.uk/