Piling Industry Canada Issue 2 2016

Digging the Downtown Scene TELUS Sky features innovation from below

www.pilingindustrycanada.com

Issue 2 • 2016

Piling Industry Canada

Doublestar Drilling partners with Resolve and Accessible Housing

magazine

Climbing the Social Media Ladder

PIC www.pilingindustrycanada.com

Publications mail agreement #40934510

Deep Connections

Mix and mingle with your customers online

IMPOSSIBLE TIMELINES. COMPLEX S ITE. DIFFICULT SOIL CONDITIONS. Count us in.

Foundation Piling

Excavation Support

Ground Improvement

Keller thrives on challenges and excels where others struggle. Backed by the largest and most comprehensive independent ground engineering specialist in the world and with full-service capabilities and over 30 years of local on-site experience, Keller Canada provides the largest variety of deep foundation piling, earth retention/shoring and ground improvement solutions in the country. Engage us early to experience the true benefits of value engineering.

Lower your total install costs today.

KellerCanada.com Acheson, AB, Corporate Office 2-53016 Hwy 60 T7X 5A7 P: (780) 960-6700 F: (780) 960-6725

Our Pipe Piling is Not a Commodity Product

Pipe pilings may look alike, but there’s a world of difference when it comes to finding the right supplier for your piling projects. We’ve applied all our value-added services to make pipe piling not a commodity product, cost effective and customer friendly. For starters: Our In-House Beveling will make your job easier and enhance your productivity. We can bevel pipe at 30º in our Decatur and Trinity, Alabama and Marseilles, Illinois divisions for splicing or plate attachment.

Our Rolling Schedule and Available Inventory is second to none in the industry. Our on-time delivery is proof of that.

Independence Tube stocks A252 Pipe Piling from 6.625"OD through 16"OD in 30', 40', 50' and 60' lengths for immediate delivery. In addition to our 4 week rolling cycles, Independence Tube either has the stock to get your project started or a rolling is just weeks away.

Our Dynamic Quality System based on customer input and exceeding industry standards ensures that our pipe and tube products go through a complete inspection, measurement and testing regimen that complement our manufacturing systems and processes. This virtually guarantees consistency in quality, shorter delivery lead times and containment of costs.

Our Customer Secure Portal is continuously updated and allows customers 24/7 secure, real-time access to all their account information including: browse and search stock inventory, order from floor stock or rolling, submit and view inquires, release shipments, view price sheets, view open orders and Bills of lading, print test reports and invoices, search order history, and view rolling schedules.

All pipe piling may look alike, but there’s a world of difference when you choose Independence Tube.

Celebrating Over Forty Years of Quality Tube Products CH ICAGO, I L

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1-800-376-6000

MARSEILLES, IL

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www.independencetube.com

D E C AT U R , A L

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www.itcpiling.com

T RI NI T Y, AL

1-877-539-9222 info@northstar-inc.com www.northstar-inc.com

Congratulations to Valard Construction on another successful project – HRTD

TheMICRO. choiceANCHORS. is yours.

DRIVEN. HELICAL. CONCRETE. Northstar provides piling services includingIS design, supply, and fabricating across THE CHOICE YOURS.

Western Canada with track and truck mounted piling units for both driven and helical piles. Northstar also offers pile installation with its unique patented Exca-Drivers OFFERING OUR PILING, ENGINEERING, & BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION (excavator Mounted Pile Driver).

SERVICES NATIONWIDE SERVING CANADA FROM FORT ST. JOHN • GRANDE PRAIRE WESTERN • CALGARY • REGINA • ST. JOHN’S • GOOSE BAY FORT ST. JOHN • GRANDE PRAIRIE • CALGARY • REGINA

In this issue Piling Industry News 8

Saving Time and Money

More Skills Government funding to Pilingapprentices Industry Canada support 16

PIC

Digging the Downtown Scene TELUS Sky features innovation from below 20

magazine

Quality Control

Sales Manager: Dayna Oulion dayna@delcommunications.com

Loadtest’s innovative RIM-Cell verifies shaft performance 38

Climbing the Social Media Ladder Mix and mingle with your customers online 44

Building it Better

Publisher: Jason Stefanik Managing Editor: Carly Peters carlypeters@mts.net

Weeding out the pitfalls 42

Doublestar Drilling partners with Resolve and Accessible Housing in Calgary 26

President & CEO: David Langstaff

The Leica Geosystems iCON Piling Rig game changer 34

Legalizing Marijuana

Deep Connections

Published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5

Advertising Account Executives: Jennifer Hebert Michelle Raike Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Art Director: Kathy Cable Layout: Dana Jensen Advertising Art: Sheri Kidd

Bauer applies technology to cost savings 28

© Copyright 2016. DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved.The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.

Index to advertisers American Piledriving Equipment, Inc....................4

Hercules Machinery Corporation.........................33

Platinum Grover International Inc.......................19

Arntzen Corporation............................................22

Independence Tube Corporation............................3

Roc Equipment...................................................31

Bay Shore Systems, Inc.........................11, 36 & 37

Keller Canada......................................................IFC

Rst Instruments Ltd............................................46

Bermingham Foundation Solutions......................9

Liebherr Werk Nenzing Gmbh............................39

Rwh Engineering Inc..........................................13

Canadian Piledriving Equipment Inc...................29

Loadtest................................................................38

Samuel Roll Form Group.....................................15

Champion Equipment Sales, LLC........................IBC

Maxa RockDrills Limited....................................32

Skyline Steel.....................................................7, 17

Eca Canada.................................................24 & 25

Northstar Inc..........................................................5

Soilmec North America.................................OFC, 6

Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.....................18

Pengo Corporation...............................................45

Spatial Technologies............................................21

Geokon, Incorporated..........................................27

Pile Dynamics Inc.................................................23

Waterloo Barrier Inc.............................................14

Hammer & Steel Inc.......................................... OBC

Piledrivers Local Union 2404...............................42

Westco Drilling & Piles Ltd..................................43

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein and the reliability of the source, the publisher­in no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers.

Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees.

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com Printed in Canada 11/2016

On the cover: Doublestar Drilling has partnered with Resolve and Accessible Housing to provide continuous flight auger (CFA) foundation piles and a temporary shoring wall for the construction of a 45-unit accessible-home complex located in Calgary, Alberta.

To complete the job, Doublestar used the Soilmec SR-75 advanced hydraulic rotary rig which is a new rig in the large diameter piling category, providing cutting-edge rig control and remote monitoring with DMS.

6 PIC Magazine • December 2016

Your True Project Partner Skyline Steel is a premier steel foundation supplier with a worldwide network of manufacturing and stocking locations.

Western Canada:

780.460.8363 |

Eastern Canada:

866.461.6366 | skylinesteel.com

Š 2016 Skyline Steel, LLC. Skyline Steel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation, the largest producer of steel in the United States.

Piling Industry News

Cycle crawler cranes from Liebherr involved in expansion of Barcelona airport During the first half of 2016, a total of three Liebherr duty cycle crawler cranes were involved in infrastructural work in the course of the expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The machines included two HS 8100 HD, models belonging to the newest generation from Liebherr.

With nearly 40 million passengers per annum, Barcelona-El Prat is the second largest airport in Spain after Madrid, and is also one of Europe’s most important hubs. Continuous improvements are being made to the airport infrastructure in order to cope with the increasing number of passengers. The work includes, among other things, the linking of the new airport to the suburban railway.

Duty cycle crawler cranes from Liebherr applied for installation of slurry walls Between February and August 2016, three duty cycle crawler cranes from Liebherr were involved in deep foundation work - two new HS 8100 HD and one older model, type HS 873 HD. All three machines belonging to the Spanish construction company Terratest were equipped with mechanical slurry wall grabs.

The tasks were, on the one hand, to make an access shaft for the later application of a tunnel casing machine and, on the other hand, to erect support walls for the railway, which is partly underground. The total length of the slurry wall in this section was about 1,000 metres with depths up to 30 metres and a width of 1,200 millimetres. The soil on the job site, which is in close vicinity to the sea, consisted of alternate layers of sand and gravel.

High efficiency on the job site The machines worked in shifts, Monday to Friday from 6:00 am to midnight, and erected approximately 1,300 mÇ of slurry wall each per week. The new duty cycle crawler cranes, type HS 8100 HD, proved to be exceptionally efficient. According to the customer, the diesel consumption of the HS 8100 HD was up to 30 per cent less than that of a similar machine. This is achieved, above all, through the optimized hydraulic system. As a result the machine is able to attain a higher turnover level in comparison to its predecessor, despite reduced engine power of 390 kW /530 hp.

Thanks to the optional “Eco-Silent Mode” function, a further reduction in fuel consumption, as well as a decrease in noise level can be achieved for the HS 8100 HD. With this function, the engine speed and therefore the engine power can be reduced to a preselected level.

Additionally, the innovative concept for optimal positioning of the air and water coolers contributes to a decrease in noise emission.

Modern safety concept Furthermore, both HS 8100 HD machines convince with their modern and reliable safety concept. They are equipped with modified roof railings and ladders, as well as additional walkways. These are foldable making the machine extremely easy to transport.

8 PIC Magazine • December 2016

Taking the

LEAD in over 40 countries around the world Lead Systems Impact Hammers Reverse Circulation Drills Custom Foundation Equipment Site Support Project Planning Contracting Services Canada’s most experienced and innovative deep foundation contractor - Since 1897

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www.berminghammer.com | www.berminghamfoundationsolutions.com

Piling Industry News

GRL Engineers, Inc. (GRL) has announced that Rozbeh B. Moghaddam, Ph.D. P.E. has joined its growing engineering team Rozbeh B. Moghaddam, Ph.D. P.E. has a Doctorate in Geotechnical Engineering from Texas Tech University, and an MBA from the Eastern New Mexico University. His Civil Engineering Degree is from Instituto Politecnico Nacional in Mexico City. Moghaddam’s more than a decade of academic and industry experience have included a significant focus on deep foundations and underground structures, including research on load and resistance factor design of deep foundations and lecturing on deep foundation design and construction at Texas Tech. Moghaddam is a member of ASCE, the Deep Foundations Institute, and of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, among other professional organizations. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.

Moghaddam will be part of the central office of GRL, which conducts research, offers educational activities provides foundation testing services, and analyses to international locations and offshore sites and assists GRL’s 10 branch offices in complex situations.

Currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, GRL Engineers is a leading provider of deep foundation testing, analysis, and consulting services.

For more information visit www.GRLengineers.com.

ECA expands product line with ALLU soil stabilization equipment Equipment Corporation of America (ECA), a leading distributor of foundation construction equipment, has expanded its offerings to drilling and pile driving contractors to include the PMX Power Mixer and PF Pressure Feeder Soil Stabilization Systems from ALLU Group Inc. This partnership, executed in October 2016, gives ECA exclusive rights to sell and rent these systems in the Eastern United States and Eastern Canadian Provinces.

The components – including the Pressure Feeder, Power Mixer, Control System, and 3D Positioning System – collectively function with an excavator to provide mass stabilization of low quality soils.

The process involves mixing binder into soft soils such as peat, clay, sludge, and slurry to provide a stable layer for access. It can also encapsulate and process contaminated soils.

The decision to forge this partnership between two of the most highly respected names in the deep foundations industry required three months of extensive due diligence. It was ultimately determined that both firms occupied common ground in several key operational areas, according to ALLU Group President/CEO Edgar J. Chavez.

“Having ECA as the ALLU Stabilization Equipment distributor will provide end users with the best service in the industry, specialized knowledge, and the finest equipment for soil stabilization and remediation,” he says. “ECA and ALLU share the same values when it comes to business ethics, customer satisfaction, and retention so this 10 PIC Magazine • December 2016

is an excellent partnership and we are excited to work with ECA as our long-term partner.”

ECA been a leading supplier of foundation construction equipment in the Eastern United States and Eastern Canada for nearly a century.

We are exclusive distributors for BAUER Drills, Klemm Anchor and Micropile Drills, RTG Piling Rigs, Pileco Diesel Pile Hammers, HPSI Vibratory Pile Hammers, WORD International Drill Attachments, Dawson Construction Products, Grizzly Side Grip Vibros, and ALLU Soil Stabilization Systems. ECA offers sales, rentals, service, and parts from nine facilities throughout the Eastern U.S. and Eastern Canadian Provinces.

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Piling Industry News

Pile Dynamics supports recommendations of revised ASTM standard for integrity testing

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has revised the Standard Test Method for Low Strain Impact Integrity Testing of Deep Foundations, D5882.

This standard covers both the Pulse Echo and Transient Response Methods of evaluating integrity. Both methods are expedient procedures to investigate the potential existence of major cracks or voids in concrete foundations.

The D5882 Standard now encourages considering the soil profile, construction method, site records, and results of tests on other foundations at the same site when evaluating data obtained by these methods.

Depending on the type of deep foundation tested, it also suggests examining data from concrete placement automated monitoring, concrete cylinder or core strength tests, crosshole sonic logging (ASTM Standard 12 PIC Magazine • December 2016

D6760), and thermal integrity profiling (ASTM Standard D7949).

Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI) wholeheartedly supports the recommendations set forth in the revised standard. PDI manufactures and distributes the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT), often the instrument of choice for either pulse echo or transient response integrity testing. PIT is available in several models, with one or two channels of data acquisition. The transient response method requires the models with two channels. The technical specifications of all current PIT models comply with the requirements of the apparatus section of the revised standard.

PDI offers an extensive line of products for quality assurance for deep foundations, including systems for the complementary methods mentioned in D5882: automated

monitoring of concrete placement in augered piles (Pile Installation Recorder), crosshole sonic logging (CHAMP), and thermal integrity profiling (Thermal Integrity Profiler).

The American Society for Testing and Materials has more than 12,000 published standards that are used throughout the world and may be obtained from http:// www.astm.org/Standard/index.html.

About Pile Dynamics, Inc. Since 1972, PDI has been the world leader in developing, manufacturing and supplying state-of-the-art quality assurance/ quality control products and systems for the deep foundations industry. The company is located in Cleveland, Ohio with offices and representatives on all continents. For more information, visit www.pile.com/pdi.

Piling Canada Industry News

Samuel Roll Form Group introduces more efficient steel sheet piling for heavy construction marine applications Exhibiting at the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) International Conference, Samuel Roll Form Group (Samuel RFG), part of the family of Samuel companies and a leading supplier of cold-formed and hot-rolled steel components, is pleased to announce the availability of deeper, wider and more efficient steel sheet piling for marine applications such as sea walls, docks, wharfs, boat lifts, and shoring projects.

According to Hal Mulveney, general manager of Samuel RFG’s Heavy Construction division, “We continually invest in R&D to deliver innovative structural solutions that help our customers improve their business efficiencies. Our DZ profile is the next generation in piling designed with a width of 29 inches in a variety of thicknesses.”

With a focus on deep foundations, seepage control and remediation, DFI ‘s 41st annual conference takes place in New York City from October 12th through 15th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Hal continues, “As a long-time corporate member of DFI, we know that this is the ideal conference at which to launch our newest sheet piling series to ensure that heavy construction industry experts are aware of the latest innovations when they are specifying material requirements for civil engineering projects.”

Offering manufacturing and fabrication in both Canada and the United States, and with inventory available from several strategically-located facilities, Samuel RFG’s Heavy Construction team specializes in the design and production of interlocking, heavy-duty piling sections to build marine bulkheads, dry docks and other infrastructure-related projects. Samuel RFG offers an extensive range of sheet piling and accessories including their new, more efficient “DZ” series - other series include, L, S, Z, EZ, XZ and JZ. Samuel RFG also offers H-Piles, Pipe Piles, and Wide Flange Beams.

About Samuel Founded in 1855, Samuel, Son & Co. is a family-owned and operated, integrated network of metal manufacturing, processing and distribution divisions. With over 4,800 employees and 100+ facilities, Samuel provides seamless access to metals, in-

dustrial products and related value-added services. Supporting over 40,000 customers, we leverage our industry expertise, breadth of experience and the passion of our people to help drive success for North American business – one customer at a time.

RWH DESIGN LOWERS PROJECT FOOTPRINT WHICH LOWERS OWNER COST Teamwork | Innovation | Service | Sustainability

GEOSTRUCTURAL DESIGN Earth Retention Systems Deep/Shallow Foundations Geotechnical Analysis

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Constructability Review Site Quality Verification Budgetary Estimation

GEOSTRUCTURAL MONITORING Surface & Settlement Noise & Vibration Load & Integrity Testing

TORONTO 519.740.6222 | CALGARY 403.235.9922 Canada-wide Engineering Help Line: 1.855.FDN.SUST (1.855.336.7878)

www.rwhengineering.ca

Piling Industry Canada • December 2016 13

Piling Industry News

S-90 Hydrohammer® proves ideal on pipe ramming tunnel project James W. Fowler Co. has selected IHC IQIP’s

The Hydrohammer – with a P-250 power

S-90 Hydrohammer to help install a 12-foot-

pack and 24-inch guide sleeve – is highly

wide tunnel in Portland, Oregon. The project

suitable on such a project where space is

Due to the small sleeve, less energy was

is being overseen by the general contractor,

tight. It is taking place in a cofferdam, which

needed to move the anvil, with most instead

Hoffman Construction Company, and will

was first excavated and reinforced by the

being transferred directly through the cone.

allow pedestrians to move from a new car

general contractor. James W. Fowler Co.

Cables were hooked alongside the hammer

park to a research building at the Oregon

chose the Hydrohammer due to its compact

and to the cofferdam walls adjacent to the

Health & Science University.

footprint – ideal for confined spaces – and

tunnel. As the piping sections were rammed,

efficient transfer of energy from the hammer through an adaptor cone to the pipe.

the hammer was tensioned and retained against the pipe to maintain constant piling pressure. The process was repeated for each new 10 foot section.

As the project was being completed underneath an existing road and metro track, James W. Fowler Co. opted to drive the tunnel to remove the risk of cave-ins. In addition, the Hydrohammer further condenses and compacts the surrounding soil after each impact. It has a maximum energy blow of 66,380 feet per pound despite being only 26 feet in length. An IQIP representative was also on site to assist with setting up the equipment and offer operational know-how.

The project continues the close cooperation between James W. Fowler Co. and IHC IQIP, which again demonstrated the reliability of its equipment and expertise. “The project was successfully completed on time without any delays,” says IHC IQIP Area Manager Andrew Evans. “Our contractor only heard great things from their customer, which is fantastic. Ultimately, we aim to make our customers look good and build track records with them. This development was no exception.”

James W. Fowler Co. was also delighted with the seamless way in which the project unfolded. “We were eager to use the S-90 Hydrohammer not only for its efficiency, but based on our positive experiences with IQIP equipment in the past,” says Larue Nolen, James W. Fowler Co. project superintendent.

“IQIP is also one of few companies with the capabilities and expertise to perform horizontal driving, which was vital to avoid any structural issues. We will certainly work with them again in the future.” l 14 PIC Magazine • December 2016

YOUR SUCCESS IS OUR BUSINESS

STEEL PILING EXPERTS

Samuel Roll Form Group manufactures a full line of interlocking steel sheet piling sections that are used in marine developments, slope stabilization, environmental remediation, water and sewer, storm protection, foundations, bridges and highways, and other civil engineering applications.

800-233-6228

sales@rollformgroup.com rollformgroup.com

New DZ Profile The next generation in piling.

29� deeper, wider & lighter sheet piles.

More Skills Government funding to support apprentices

By Melanie Franner The B.C. government recently announced $59,000 through the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to help fund apprenticeship training in the Pile Drivers, Divers, Bridge, Dock and Wharf Local Union 2404. The funding is expected to support 52 piledriver and bridgeworker seats through to March 31, 2017.

“This amount provides about 40 to 50 per cent of the cost of the apprenticeship training that we do here at Local Union 2404,” says Darrell Hawk, elected financial secretary and business manager of Local Union 2404. Hawk also serves as the Local’s director of training. “We’re pleased to see the government continue to invest in our industry. This funding has become important to the apprenticeship side of our training.”

The remainder of that apprenticeship training is paid by the apprentices through tuition fees and subsidization from the Lo16 PIC Magazine • December 2016

Darrell Hawk, elected financial secretary and business manager of Local Union 2404.

Width

Height

Thickness

Pile

Wall Weight

Section Modulus

Moment of Inertia

in

in

in

lb/ft

lb/ft2

in3/ft

in4/ft

NZ 19

27.56

16.14

0.375

55

23.95

35.08

283.1

NZ 20

27.56

16.16

0.394

57

24.82

36.24

292.8

NZ 21

27.56

16.20

0.433

61

26.56

38.69

313.4

NZ 26

27.56

17.32

0.500

71

30.92

48.50

419.9

NZ 28

27.56

17.38

0.560

78

33.96

52.62

457.4

Section

As a premier steel foundation supplier now offering NZ sheets in addition to our extensive product line, Skyline Steel is the ideal partner for your next project.

Visit www.skylinesteel.com/nz or call 888.450.4330. © 2016 Skyline Steel, LLC. Skyline Steel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nucor Corporation, the largest producer of steel in the United States.

cal 2404 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Fund.

“In an ideal world, we would like to see the government bear the full cost of apprenticeship training but we fully appreciate the funding that we do get,” notes Hawk.

The numbers According to Hawk, the Local 2404 JATC typically offers two Level 1 Apprenticeship courses per year and one or two Level 3 courses depending on demand, with 16 students in each class. It will also offer a standalone Level II Piledriver/Bridgeworker course as of March 2017. This will replace the current Level II Carpentry course that has been available up until now but is being discontinued as a result of the country-wide movement toward harmonization of Red Seal certifications.

Hawk is quick to add that the actual apprentice numbers are dependent upon how busy the industry is. He notes that there were 50 indentured people in the Local in 2010. By comparison, there were 92 in 2015.

Hawk also observes that the ITA is re-

porting 101 active piledriver and bridgeworker apprentices in the whole of the province.

“We’ve been fortunate to have some major projects in B.C.,” he says. “For example, we currently have an expansion project at the container terminal in Prince Rupert that has kept about 70 of our members busy for the past year.”

The Local Union 2404 apprenticeship program is a three-year program that calls for 1,200 work-based hours and six weeks of school per year.

“The success rate is very high,” states Hawk, who adds job placement is rarely a problem. “We have 14 signatory piling contractors. If an apprentice is laid off from a contractor due to lack of work, they book in to the hall and are dispatched to other contractors who are in need of crews.”

Typically, the minimum ratio at any given Local Union 2404 contractor is one apprentice to every six people on the job.

“When things get really busy, you can end up with two or three apprentices per

every six people,” says Hawk. “But with it being such dangerous work, you won’t really want to go higher than that.”

Preparing for the future According to the B.C. government, the ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades. There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprenticeships in the industry training system – more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered in 2004 when the ITA was created. The province of B.C. is expecting more than one million job openings by 2025.

“B.C.’s economy is growing and is forecasted to be one of Canada’s strongest in the coming years,” noted Gary Herman, CEO, ITA. “With more skilled tradespeople retiring from the workforce than entering it, investments like these will help equip British Columbians with the right skills to respond effectively to the upcoming job opportunities in the province.” l

Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc.

As Canada’s largest Marine Construction, Land Foundations and Dredging contractor, FRPD is a recognized leader that employs state of the art methods and equipment. FRPD’s versatile fleet is ready to complete all scope and size Marine Construction, Environmental Remediation, Dredging and Land Foundation projects. Established in 1911 as Fraser River Pile Driving Company and incorporated in 2008 as Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc., FRPD’s team of highly skilled professionals brings more than 100 years of experience and commitment to exceeding expectations.

1830 River Drive, New Westminster, B.C. V3M 2A8 Phone: 604-522-7971 (24/7) www.frpd.com info@frpd.com

18 PIC Magazine • December 2016

www.platinumgrover.com

Digging the Downtown Scene TELUS Sky features innovation from below

By Tammy Schuster

The Stampede, the Saddledome, the 1988 Winter Olympics - Calgary is the home of many events, landmarks, and moments in history. Now, Calgary is also home to one of the largest man-made holes in Canada.

Construction of TELUS Sky, a 60-storey development, will be one of the tallest buildings in the city and the excavation for a building of such height required a 31-metre hole be dug beneath its surface.

Not exactly business as usual when having to excavate in downtown Calgary.

20 PIC Magazine • December 2016

“The challenge was the depth of the dig, and the small footprint of the site,” says Jan Gryckiewicz, chief executive officer, Professional Excavators Ltd. “The deadline had to be met so we had to come up with a way to produce the volume of dirt needed on a daily basis to stay on schedule.”

Gryckiewicz says during excavation of the Bow building in Calgary, which is on a larger site taking up two square blocks, they had the space to build the conventional ramp leading down into the excava-

tion. Trucks could then drive down to be loaded with dirt and drive back out removing it from the site.

On the current site, in the 100 block of 7th Avenue Southwest at Centre Street South, there was no room to build a ramp down into the excavation. “The way the shoring was working to support the existing buildings and infrastructure, there was no way we could have a ramp inside the hole because it would occupy most of the excavation.”

Vancouver: P: 604.214.9453 F: 604.214.9455 TF: 1.877.252.0070

Calgary: P: 403.252.0070 F: 403.259.3992 TF: 1.877.252.0070

Edmonton: P: 780.486.2111 F: 780.486.2155 TF: 1.877.252.0070

www.spatialtechnologies.ca

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iRD3 Drilling complex patterns is a breeze – even directional drilling is possible. Create drill patterns directly on the display, log holes on the fly and share with entire site via telematics. Log hole depth, angle and position and import drill patterns from telematics.

iRP3 The Leica iCON rig solution for drillers and pilers maximizes productivity in drilling and piling applications. Drilling and piling rigs can be guided easily into position via the control panel with a 3D design plan. There is no need to stake out the positions of the holes to be drilled or piles to be driven.

The Leica iCON rig iRD3 and iRP3 solutions drastically reduce costs by eliminating dependency on stake outs.

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All trades had to be carefully coordinated while working on the confined site in the city’s centre in order to remain efficient and effective.

So Gryckiewicz’s team took a different approach by bringing the dirt up to the trucks which were parked on the street. There was talk of installing a conveyer system, but that would not bring out the volume of dirt needed to meet their deadline. Digging down to 102 feet and removing nearly 80,000 cubic metres of dirt would require some innovation.

“We spent $100,000 doing mock-ups in our yard to ensure this system would work,” says Gryckiewicz. “We built a hopper, a portion of which came from California, then we did some fabrication in our yard, and Dirtzilla came from a dredging barge in a lake in Manitoba.”

Dirtzilla, a clam bucket attached to a 110-tonne crane and capable of scooping seven-and-a-half yards of dirt at a time, loaded the excavated dirt into the hopper they created which then fed into a series of dump trucks up at street level.

The PIPE MILL with FAST SERVICE Producing: 24”-192” OD .312”-2.00” Wall Lengths up to 80 ft.

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22 PIC Magazine • December 2016 1 ArntzenBC_AD_Blue_BG_06_11_09.indd

7/8/11 2:05:36 PM

The first cut of the excavation was done using conventional track hoes and the trucks were able to drive up and be loaded with dirt.

Then, as the dig went deeper, four excavators were in the hole digging and casting the dirt into the corner for Dirtzilla to remove.

“We chose to load everything from the streets marrying the old technology of the drag line with the new technology of the crane.”

When nearing the end of the excavation, crews hit some difficult rock at the bottom so they attempted some blasting which, says Gryckiewicz, didn’t make a significant difference so they continued breaking the rock with hydraulic breakers to finish the project.

Once the excavation was complete, two cranes were brought in to haul all of the equipment — including some of the shoring — out of the hole and onto trailers.

The innovation garnered the company some attention from organizations including the Canadian Society for Civil Engineers and SAIT, and the team received requests to consult on projects in Vancouver and Toronto.

Dig down, pile up Before any construction could begin, HCM Contractors Inc. spent approximately six months assessing the site before developing a shoring system suitable to extend 30 metres down under Calgary’s downtown. In addition, they worked collaboratively with other sub-contractors, such as Professional Excavators Ltd., to ensure work could be carried out seamlessly in the small area.

“Since we previously worked on the Brookfield Place and The Bow buildings, we were already familiar with the geotechnical condition of the area,” says Ken Chong, an engineer at HCM Contractors Inc. “Through past experience on our projects, we understood the soil in that area and knew what kind of movement to expect.”

Chong says in this case there was a layer of soft clay inside the bedrock, which could result in excessive movement.

of the property, and office space will be allocated up to the 29th storey before turning into residential space. “The building will shift slightly and the façade will become more pixelated as it transitions into the residential floors.”

While mixed-use buildings are common in larger cities, there are less of these projects seen in Calgary. Even the idea of having residential accommodations in Calgary’s downtown core is a big shift. But while the design, the innovation, and the philosophy are distinctive, the finished product will be a positive change to the look and feel of the city.

“It wasn’t a new approach, but it was unique,” says Gryckiewicz of the project. “I believe this is going to be one of the most beautiful

Due to the soft layer of soil in the bedrock, Chong says they increased the length of the caisson piles by approximately a metre to extend well into the bedrock. They used caisson wall in the top gravel layer and transitioned into shotcrete in the bedrock to better stabilize the neighbouring structures which were sensitive to ground movement.

All trades had to be carefully coordinated while working on the confined site in the city’s centre in order to remain efficient and effective. And, due to that effective coordination and efforts of everyone involved, Westbank Projects Corp. says the project is ahead of schedule.

Rhiannon Mabberley, project manager for Westbank Projects Corp. says a nine-storey atrium will be shelled out of the west side

buildings in Calgary.” l

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Doublestar Drilling partners with Resolve and Accessible Housing in Calgary Rooting themselves in the communities where they live and work has always been of the utmost importance to Doublestar Drilling. The company is deeply connected to their people, products, and partnerships.

That’s why Doublestar Drilling has partnered with Resolve and Accessible Housing to provide continuous flight auger (CFA) foundation piles and a temporary shoring wall for the construction of a 45-unit accessible-home complex located in Calgary, Alberta. This facility will provide 24-hour, on-site support for adults with physical mobility barriers, such as spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis.

26 PIC Magazine • December 2016

The job required 31 solider piles for the temporary shoring wall and 116 CFA piles for the foundation. The 147 piles were installed over the course of 21 days. To complete the job, Doublestar used the Soil-

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Piling Industry Canada • December 2016 27

Building it Better Bauer applies technology to cost savings

By Benjamin Dutton, executive vice-president of sales and marketing for Equipment Corporation of America (ECA)

Thanks to the internet, today’s consumer has a huge advantage when it comes to making a purchase. One or two clicks allows several options to appear on the screen. The identical product may offer several different prices, and perhaps free shipping, bonus points, or other consumer enticements to keep the consumer coming back to the successful website. This is a great way for the consumer to save money, but it does not necessarily apply when purchasing business goods, industrial products, or construction equipment. The key questions the industrial buyer must ask are: • What does the price represent?

• What is the long term cost of the investment?

• Are there any hidden costs that may undermine the initial purchase price?

• Are there any features on assets that may enhance or improve the initial purchase price?

With this challenge in mind, Bauer Maschinen of Schrobenhausen, Germany has always needed to justify its position of being one of the most expensive drill rig manufacturers on the market. Yes, bigger, better, stronger, more efficient designs have helped Bauer establish itself as an industry leader in high-quality, high-priced drilling equipment. However, if they expect to compete in a market where consumers have become accustomed to 28 PIC Magazine • December 2016

one click lowest price, they must incorporate design features into their machines with tangible assets and measurable cost justification.

Not only was this challenge presented to the Bauer sales team, but the design team was challenged as well. No more status quo.

Give us something measurable with high production capability and lower cost of operation. Hence the development of these features are now incorporated into a growing cross section of the Bauer Premium Line Drill Rigs.

Let’s take a look at Bauer’s engine and hydraulic system technology. Now referred to as Energy-Efficiency-Package or EEP. This energy efficient design will result in fuel savings up to a 30

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per cent fuel reduction. Multiple measures to increase energy efficiency are combined in the EEP and coordinated with each other in such a way that a significant increase is achieved in efficiency and therefore, productivity. Extensive before and after comparisons prove that up to 30 per cent fuel savings is achieved in the winch operation of rotary drill rigs and up to 20 per cent savings is achieved in usual practice while drilling.

In addition, the implemented measures also lead to significant noise reduction during operation because the diesel engine and fan are appropriately regulated.

Energy optimization The drive system of the main winch of the rotary drilling rig, with its significant share in energy consumption, especially during Kelly Drilling, was fundamentally re-engineered. The new system now makes it possible to recover the energy released during the lowering of the tool. Thus, the fuel consumption can be significantly reduced, especially when drilling deep bore holes. Further benefits are increased efficiently during lifting, higher speeds, and independent parallel operation of several functions (e.g. main winch, feed, swivels, and rotary drive). Energy consumption by all ancillary devices, such as fan drives and pressure supply units, was optimized. The already low values of pressure loss in the hydraulic hoses and valves of the Bauer machines were further reduced. A special hydraulic fluid with a favourable viscosity over a wide temperature range further increases the efficiency.

So with diesel fuel cost averaging $2.50 per gallon, the typical drill rig in production over the course of one year could generate fuel costs upwards of $45,000 per year. That cost compared to a feasible 20 per cent fuel savings could result in an annual $9,000 cost saving. This could conceivably result in more than $100,000 over the life of the machine.

30 PIC Magazine • December 2016

One of the more significant design features of the Bauer Premium Line Drill Rig is the “V” Kinematic design which is utilized in the higher torque product line. This feature allows the mast to be laid forward for removal and transport. The robust design allows for the rotary drive to operate at full torque over the full length of the mast. By reducing the pivot points of the conventional “lay back” mast design from five pivot points to three pivot points, the vertical drilling tolerances are significantly improved without sacrificing or limiting the maximum torque capabilities on the mast.

This mast design configuration also created a huge opportunity to relocate the main winch or Kelly winch to the upper house of the base carrier. This winch relocation accomplishes several benefits. Most conventional drill rigs with lay back masts locate the main winch at the bottom of the mast. This added weight and huge physical dimension creates several problems: • The physical dimensions and the width of the cable drum are limited due to the available mast mounting space • Operational visibility can be impaired due to the location of the winch on the bottom of the mast. This used to be a problem with rear mounted winches. However, high definition cameras and anti-spooling devices have eliminated this problem.

• The reduction of non-productive and structural weight on the mast improves the machines stability while drilling, crowding, retracting the Kelly bar and swinging the rig with tooling, casing and drill spoils.

Therefore, by relocating the main winch in a piggyback feature, mounted on the upper rear of the base carrier, the above disadvantages are eliminated. However, this also allows the designer to seize other opportunities that will lead to cost savings and higher winch capacities while still achieving better stability of the drill rig. With virtually no restraint on the overall width of the main winch drum, the Kelly winch can provide for single layer operation to as deep as 97 metres. Winch capacities of 27 metric tonnes to 45 metric tonnes are also achieved as the norm.

So what does this mean in terms of cost savings? It is a loss of single line pull of approximately eight per cent to 10 per cent per added cable layer. Think about that. The 45-tonne winch that you purchased with your drill rig is now 40.5 tonnes on the second layer of wire rope. If it is necessary to drill to depths that require a third layer of wire rope, that 45 tonne winch is now 36 tonnes.

The line pull of the Bauer winch remains constant at 45 metric tonnes to a depth of 96 metres. Did you get what you paid for?

In addition to preventative maintenance items like engine and hydraulic oils, gear oils, and lubrication grease, one of the most expensive wear items is the main winch or Kelly wire rope. When the cable is operating in cycle duty operations, the cable in single layer application can last up to two to tree times longer than when operated in double layer configurations and up to 10 times longer in a three layer configuration. We have records of single layer wire rope life up to 2,500 hours as opposed to as low as 500 hours

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Baur customer Benefit Bauer Maschinen under the direction of Christian Gress, senior executive director of sales and Barbara Wasmuht, deputy director of marketing, have embarked on a training program to educate all Bauer technical and sales personnel on the extended features of Bauer drilling products that justify the real cost of investing in their products as opposed to the pricing represented on the proposal. Personnel at Bauer Pileco Inc. in Conroe, Texas, and Equipment Corporation of America/ECA Canada, located of wire rope life in double layer configuration and as bad as 100 hours in triple layer operation. That cost can extend out to a wire rope cost of $4 per hour in the single layer configuration. The hourly cost of wire rope replacement worsens to as bad as $12 per hour when used in double layer and even skyrockets to $100 per hour in triple layer mode. These calculations are based on 45 ton winches with 40mm diameter wire rope and large diameter tools drilling to depths over 100 meters. Exactly the production requirements that many drillers require when making significant investments over the duration of the life of the rig and project requirements that may present themselves over that period. The single layer winch could result in wire rope savings in excess of $200,000 over a 10-year life span of the drill.

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32 PIC Magazine • December 2016

throughout the eastern United States and Canada have recently completed this extensive training at their headquarters in Pittsburgh. Please contact your Bauer representative to learn how you can save more time through production and more importantly, more money, by understanding the real impact behind the costs and specifications. l Benjamin Dutton is the executive vice-president of sales and marketing for Equipment Corporation of America. Founded in 1918, ECA has become known as a leading supplier of Foundation Construction Equipment. They offer full product support including sales, rentals, service and parts, tooling and accessories for the Bauer, Klemm, RTG, and MAT product lines.

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The Leica Geosystems iCON Piling Rig game changer

By Melanie Franner Having come from Eastern Europe, Matus Toth was very familiar with the Leica Geosystems brand. So when the company he was working for in Edmonton decided to expand into underground infrastructure and foundation/shoring work, Toth naturally looked back to his roots.

“I have been in the surveying business for as long as I can remember,” states Toth of Kichton Contracting Ltd. “Five years ago, when Kichton decided to invest in machine control, I spearheaded the project of putting GPS systems on dozers. More recently, we began thinking of putting GPS systems on piling rigs. I did my due diligence. Leica Geosystems has a really good name in Europe. I saw how successful they have been with their GPS34 PIC Magazine • December 2016

enabled piling system. So that’s where I started.”

Today, Kichton Contracting is working on a pilot project with Spatial Technologies, a Western Canadian distributor of Leica Geosystems products. Kichton is one of the first piling companies in Canada to do so.

The new technology, which incorporates the Leica Geosystems iCON GPS system on piling rigs, has the potential to significantly change the future of the Canadian piling industry.

Ground-breaking growth Having begun as a family-owned and operated business in 1963, Kichton Contracting has expanded beyond its initial foray into civil, industrial, and commercial earthworks to oilfield, water/sewer operations, and foundations, including shoring and piling. The company is based in Edmonton, with a branch office in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.

Toth has been using the Leica Geosystems iCON system on its piling rigs for about a month. And the experience – to date – has been very positive.

“I love it,” states Toth. “It saves me so much time. Before, I had to go out and put every single piling point in the ground so that the guys would know where to drill.

Now, I sit in my office and send the information to the machine.”

The Leica Geosystems iCON system uses a 3D control panel, GPS receivers, and angle sensors to offer huge time and cost savings with every drilling job by eliminating the need to stake out the work. It also provides for wireless updates of the project files and remote support via telematics.

Other benefits include: increased safety – due to fewer people needed onsite; automated documentation so there is no need to survey the finished project; faster navigation between piles; and remote progress checks.

According to Cletus Young, manager for Machine Control and Construction Positioning, Spatial Technologies, the new iCON GNSS piling rig system can eliminate about 90 per cent of the survey costs on site. Given that, he adds, it could pay for itself on the first big job or a small number of lesser jobs. Either way, the savings will quickly pay for the initial investment.

use and intuitive, he admits that there is a

Interest on the rise

while the latter is 400MHz.

The Leica Geosystems iCON piling system was introduced in Europe in 2010. The technology has been available in Canada since the start of 2016.

“So far, the larger manufacturers of drills and rigs, Atlas Copco, Sandvik, Bauer, Soilmec, Leibherr and Junntan have been the ones to fully embrace the technology,” states Magnus Thibblin, Segment Manager, NAFTA Machine Control, Leica Geosystems Inc. “But we’re seeing a big shift in interest from the general earth-moving machine control companies.”

Kichton Contracting has been using the product on many of its piling jobs over the last month.

“We’re getting a lot of interest already from what we’re doing with Kichton,” says Young. “And we’ve only just started working with them recently.”

learning curve.

“Because we use a variety of technology, the Leica system was a little different from what we were used to,” he explains.

“We knew how things were supposed to work but it was sort of like Mac and PC. After about a day with the equipment, however, we knew what was going on.”

Part of that learning experience required some close co-operation with Spatial Technologies and their local support team to get their other equipment to work with the Leica solution. For example, the former works on a 900MHz frequency “Spatial Technologies was really good at helping us bridge the technologies,” says Toth. “They really helped us out.”

There was also a bit of learning curve for the piling rig operator.

“It was just a matter of establishing a new habit for the operator,” says Toth. “He had to get used to looking at the GPS display instead of out in the field. After using the system for about half a day, he was a happy camper.”

A promising future With Kichton Contracting already well in the midst of its pilot program with the Leica Geosystems iCON GPS piling system, interest in the product will undoubtedly continue to rise. As evidenced in Europe, the product has proven to be hugely advantageous for companies of all

Critical collaboration

shapes and sizes. This can only translate

Although Toth is quick to say that the new Leica Geosystems product is easy to

into good news for the future of Canada’s piling industry. l Piling Industry Canada • December 2016 35

Connect with us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 in Las Vegas March 7-11 to get a first look at our latest foundation drill rig, the TR110. And get up close and personal with our other custom-engineered solutions, the DH40, LAD100, TR200 and TR40.

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Quality Control

Loadtest’s innovative RIM-Cell verifies shaft performance Loadtest’s legacy is best represented by its historical commitment to innovation and continuous development of the Genuine Osterberg Cell, or O-Cell, and its numerous and storied applications in the deep

foundation industry. The development of the method and its related analyses were instrumental in enabling increased design capacities for drilled shafts in the mid to late 90s and into the first decade of the

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38 PIC Magazine • December 2016

2000s. The O-Cell’s ability to prove capacities well beyond what had previously been possible made drilled shafts more economical, increasing their viability in a cost driven foundation market. Drilled shafts designed for a few hundred tonnes in the late 80s and early 90s are now routinely designed for up to a few thousand tonnes and in some cases, staggering loads of over 30,000 tonnes have been proven by the Genuine Osterberg Cell.

Loadtest applied that same innovative spark in developing the Reliability Improvement Method, or RIM-Cell, which brings to the industry a means for verifying performance of production drilled shaft. The concept of every production pile is a tested pile, previously available only to driven piles, is now possible for drilled shafts and auger cast piles. The economics of the RIM-Cell method allows for a variety of implementations: • A quality control measure - Proof loading for shafts with construction quality concerns • A means to justify resistance (phi) factor - Allowing increased phi factors for LRFD code-based projects • An economical means to stiffen the foundation resistance - Confidently improve load response and prove the benefits of pre-stressing the tip of drilled shafts; providing certainty where basegrouting only leaves questions • A means to save time - Because the soil is not used to contain or seal the pressurized grout, the volume of grout is much smaller and delivery for proofloading occurs in a matter of minutes, not in several stages and multiple pumping efforts as are required by conventional base grouting techniques.

Among the latest RIM-Cell applications was its use in cooperation with the University of Florida and the geotechnical

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research arm of the Florida Department of Transportation. As a purely unrelated part of the primary research effort, Loadtest installed RIM-Cells in each of two shafts constructed as reaction for a conventional top load testing of the subject research shaft. The RIM-Cells were installed to demonstrate the measurable response of the shafts to RIM-cell proof loading. Both reaction shafts were built using construction techniques common to

E Reaction Shaft Caption: SoniCaliper Side Cross Section View – East Reaction shaft.

Time-Pressure grout curve East reaction shaft.

40 PIC Magazine • December 2016

Florida karst region soils. The first was built with no construction issues, but the second reaction shaft experienced a number of construction issues, both typical and atypical to the Florida karst region. These two shafts illustrated both the variability of two otherwise identical shafts constructed within close proximity, as well as the value of RIM-Cell proof loading to reveal and quantify the performance of each.

The east reaction shaft was constructed using a 46-inch ID surface casing, approximately six feet in length, to stabilize the excavation near the surface. Excavation continued with an auger until the water table was reached at approximately 30 feet below ground surface. A polymer slurry was then introduced into the excavation and mixed in the excavation. When Florida limerock was encountered at 40 feet of depth, the excavation was advanced using a rock auger to achieve the planned tip elevation. Base clean out was accomplished with a cleanout bucket. The excavation bottom appeared satisfactory and the excavation was stable.

The excavation was then profiled using the SoniCaliper prior to concrete placement.

The west reaction shaft was constructed similarly using the construction techniques described for the east shaft, but with a different outcome. After reaching a depth of approximately 30 feet below ground surface, the previously used polymer slurry from the east shaft excavation was added so the excavation could continue. As the excavation advanced, a loss of slurry occurred and the excavation collapsed at approximately 40 feet below ground surface. Additional slurry was added to the excavation in addition to additional water (pumped from standing surface water on site) in an attempt to stabilize the excavation.

The addition of the slurry somewhat stabilized the excavation, allowing for continued advancement to the planned tip depth.

During this time, the slurry in the excavation was approximately 30 feet below the ground surface. As the excavation to shaft tip continued, the bottom of the digging bucket became detached and was permanently lost in the excavation. Numerous attempts

Time-Pressure grout curve West reaction shaft.

were made both to retrieve the lost digging tool, as well as to clean the base of the excavation. After appreciable effort, a conclusion was reached deeming the excavation to be “as good as it will get” and efforts to clean further were abandoned. The cage was then placed and concrete poured. During this time the excavation side wall above the level of the slurry continued to slough and fall into the into the excavation. Compared to the east reaction shaft, the west reaction shaft’s bottom was very soft when measured with a weighted tape and that condition was confirmed by the behaviour of the RIM-Cell proof loading response.

Due to the risk of equipment loss given the continuing side wall collapse, SoniCaliper inspection was not performed for the west reaction shaft excavation.

Placement of both reinforcement cages with the attached RIMCells was done smoothly and concrete was successfully placed using standard shaft concreting techniques. The slim profile of the RIM-Cell and its large centre tremie pipe opening presented no restrictions to either installation, nor to concreting. The east shaft poured at about 15 cubic yards, while the west shaft poured at just over 23 cubic yards, indicating a significant over pour compared to the theoretical 13 cubic yards.

RIM-Cell proof loading commenced approximately two months after construction at which time the concrete unconfined compressive strength indicated a strength of 6,000 PSI. The above time-pressure plots show the difference in proof loading between the east and west shafts. The east shaft required merely 10 minutes to complete proof loading with a downward displacement of only 0.2 inches. The west shaft, with its soft base response required significantly more grout due to the excessive downward displacement, even requiring a brief pause to mix additional grout. Even with the unexpected delays and the additional grout volume, proof loading took less than 20 minutes.

As the above time-pressurization curves demonstrate, the RIM-Cells required only one grout pressurization cycle via each RIM-Cell’s two flexible hoses. The west shaft’s time-pressure re-

sponse curve confirms the presence of the soft material at toe.

The load deflection curve above from the east shaft shows a clean bottom response demonstrated by the RIM-Cell proof loading. Shaft performance was verified to a total of 700 kips with skin friction being the major contributor to the verification. In addition to stiffening the base response, an intrinsic benefit of RIM-Cell proof loading is the improvement in stiffness derived from reversal of frictional resistance in the shaft above the RIMCell. In this way, preloading with the RIM-Cell overcomes the typical strain incompatibility between mobilized skin friction and end bearing resistance in drilled shafts.

The west shaft RIM-Cell plot reveals a soft bottom response, as expected. The large downward displacement from the soft base consumed the entire standard RIM-Cell stroke during proof loading. Shaft capacity was generally confirmed to approximately 550 kips. While this proof loading does indicate some lock-in of skin friction reversal, it was limited by the soft bottom response, which indicated a lower capacity than suggested by the initial peak loads. This reinforces the importance of excavation cleanliness and construction quality for optimizing shaft performance.

As the data from the Kanapaha site demonstrates, the Reliability Improvement Method combines ease of construction, timely results, and certainty of shaft performance into an economical and convenient package. The RIM-Cell’s confined pressurized area allows accurate assessment of applied loads and enables significantly lower grout volumes. This means less time guessing and grouting and more rapid project completion. In addition to accurately assessing performance with known loads and base displacements, the RIM-Cell method also enhances shaft performance by pre-compressing the shaft base and locking-in a stiffer response to service loading. This measurement of drilled shaft performance improves confidence that the foundation meets project design requirements and enables informed decisions

RIM-Cell Method curve from East reaction shaft depicting hard (clean) bottom response.

RIM-Cell Method curve from West reaction shaft depicting soft (dirty) bottom response.

should shaft behaviour fail to meet such requirements. l

Piling Industry Canada • December 2016 41

Legalizing Marijuana Weeding out the pitfalls

By Melanie Franner Federal legislation to legalize marijuana is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons in spring 2017. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasn’t kept his promise to legalize the drug as soon as he took office but he has set the process in motion. This may be good news for many of our country’s citizens but it is also very troubling for the workplace.

“Construction work is a high-risk, safetysensitive operation,” says Barb Butler, president of management-consultant firm Barbara Butler and Associates Inc. “Construction companies recognize that. Essentially, they have a legal obligation under the Occupational Health & Safety Act, and possible under the country’s Criminal Code, to ensure that workers are fit for work.”

According to Butler, the best way to ensure this is to have a clearly written alcohol and drug policy that speaks to the use of alcohol, illicit drugs, and other mood-altering substances and responsible use of medications. “Employees need to know what the rules are,” she says.

The stats An impact study on the impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado, published in September 2015 (retail marijuana businesses began operating in the state in 2014), found some startling facts. Within the first year alone, marijuana-related traffic deaths increased 32 per cent. Toxicology reports with positive marijuana results for driving under the influence increased 45 per cent.

Similarly, the report found that there was a 29 per cent increase in the number of marijuana-related emergency room visits in 2014, and a 38 per cent increase in the number of marijuana-related hospitalizations. Within three years of medical marijuana being commercialized, there was a 46 per cent increase in marijuana-related hospitalizations compared to the three years prior.

The Canadian way In conjunction with the making of adult recreational use of marijuana legal in Canada, the Canadian government has also

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Barb Butler, president of management-consultant firm Barbara Butler and Associates Inc.

broadened access to medicinal marijuana.

The days of having to purchase your supply from one of 34 designated, secure Health Canada-approved sites ended officially on August 24, 2016. In its stead, anyone who gets authorization from a doctor to use marijuana can grow his own or have a friend grow it, provided they have prior Health Canada approval. And what’s not to say that many more people will grow it regardless of whether or not they have authorization from a doctor. The police have neither the time nor resources to enforce it.

Going back to the Colorado research study, numbers show that during 2009 to 2012 when medical marijuana was commercialized, the yearly average number of interdiction seizures of Colorado marijuana increased 375 per cent. During 2013 to 2014 when recreational marijuana was legalized, these seizures increased another 34 per cent.

These statistics point to the potential of more widespread access and use of marijuana in Canada in the coming months and years ahead and more important, quite possibly in the workplace.

“The changes to make marijuana more accessible for medical reason and the pending legislation have appeared to move forward

without recognizing the impacts on employers who still have to ensure the safety of all workers on a job site,” says Butler. “The potential impact on many industries is significant, including construction.”

According to Butler, having an updated health and safety policy that provides for the inclusion of mood-altering drugs is critical to employers acting in accordance with Occupational Health & Safety Act. “Policies need to spell everything out,” she says. “They have to clearly identify what the rules are as set out in the company’s alcohol and drug policy. They also have clearly outline the investigative tools to be used to identify a violation, as well as the consequences for those found breaking the rules.”

Butler also advises that these policies should outline prevention and assistance programs available for those individuals considered to be in need of help for an alcohol or drug problem.

“The policy cannot be two paragraphs that simply says you can’t do drugs,” adds Butler.

“Police have clear laws in place about impaired driving. They also have investigative tools and clear consequences when people are in violation. In the case of businesses, the owner has the legal responsibility to ensure that employees are fit for work. And, as the owner of a company, it’s in your best interest to ensure that contractors abide by a parallel set of rules.”

Employers also need to become aware of the symptoms of marijuana use.

An article written by Jo McGuire in the September 2013 issue of Occupational Health & Safety magazine identified these signs as including: delayed decision making, erratic cognitive function, diminished concentration, distortions in time, visual-distance tracking, impaired memory, paranoia and drowsiness.

“Recognize the signs and symptoms of all substance abuse that can impact safety in the workplace,” states the article. “Impaired employees are not safe employees.”

And Butler certainly concurs.

“Employers should really be starting to look at this issue,” she concludes. “They need to recognize the importance to be clear on what their expectations are and to have everything clearly spelled out in their

In conjunction with the making of adult recreational use of marijuana legal in Canada, the Canadian government has also broadened access to medicinal marijuana.

health and safety policies. There have already been significant changes in this area over the last two years. And with Prime Minister

Trudeau’s plan to legalize marijuana, it’s only going to become more of a challenge in the future.” l

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Piling Industry Canada • December 2016 43

Climbing the Social Media Ladder Mix and mingle with your customers online

By Lea Currie Social networking sites have been around for over 20 years; Classmates, one of the earliest social media sites, was launched in 1995. Interactions via computer gained in popularity as PCs became commonplace in households. Since then, there has been no shortage of social networking sites, with MySpace launching in 2003 and Facebook shortly behind it in 2004. According to Wikipedia, there are over 200 different social networking sites around the world, ranging from those with a general focus and audience, such as Twitter, to the extremely niche, like Epernicus, a place for research scientists, or even those only available in certain countries, like the UK-based Friends Reunited.

It’s increasingly evident that companies dare not ignore social media. People are spending hours a day on social media websites. It has displaced traditional media, such as television, radio and newspaper, become the new way to advertise, and is now a primary form of communication. As a business, if you’re not on social media, you could be losing out on potential prospects and relationship-building opportunities with current clientele.

“Social media humanizes your brand, it puts a face and personality behind your brand,” says Susie Erjavec Parker, owner of Sparker Strategy Group, a Winnipeg-based social media and public relations agency.

But with so many social media platforms, it can be hard to navigate through the sites and determine where you should be to attract and retain customers. The key is to figure out where your core customers are and be there too.

“With small business owners, you have to focus your attention on what can get you the most bang for your buck,” says Erjavec Parker.

“Pick one social media platform that you’re comfortable with and rock it out on that social network. You don’t have to be everywhere, but where you are going to be, focus and really specialize in that area then.”

It’s crucial to remember that your social media page is not about you or your business, it’s about what you can do for your customers. Erjavec Parker compares it to a cocktail party – you don’t want to stand beside the person talking only about themselves. You want to hear what’s important to the other person. You want to ask them what’s happening in their lives and how you can help them. That other person is your

44 PIC Magazine • December 2016

customer, so listen to what your customers are telling you and find ways to weave a brand story around those needs; solve problems for your customers; tell them stories; offer coupons or promotions; give them new information.

Now, more than ever, social media is also becoming the preferred advertising medium in most every industry, from big name brands to mom-and-pop shops. The general public’s belief in traditional advertising (i.e. television, radio, or print) is decreasing, and peer-to-peer recommendations are becoming the norm thanks to social media.

“If you and I are friends, and I recommend a snow clearing company to you versus you seeing an ad on television, you’re more likely to feel comfortable taking my personal recommendation because you know me and you trust my recommendation,” says Erjavec Parker. Building relationships with your existing customers on social media can help to increase those personal recommendations, thus expanding your clientele.

To help get you started or even if you’re already out there, Erjavec Parker offers tips and suggestions on each of the main social media sites. Find out which platforms are a must, those that are nice to haves and which you can skip altogether. Regardless of which sites you are on though, Erjavec Parker says “don’t waste any more time.”

“The platforms and networks may change, but social is here to stay.

Facebook might not be around forever, but the social aspect of communicating with your customers in real time is only going to get bigger.”

And as any good business owner or manager knows, you don’t get successful by ignoring opportunities to get to your customers.

Facebook Why you should use it – Facebook is today’s Yellow Pages according to Erjavec Parker. “It’s the must-be smart place for a business to have a presence. Nineteen million Canadians log on to Facebook every month.

To have a Facebook page for your business is just smart.”

Typical user – Facebook is now reaching a slightly older demographic than its early days as a college website. Think Generation X and older, with more and more older adults coming onboard.

What to post – Most anything can go on Facebook, but you want to post things that your customers or prospects will find helpful or interesting. It could be celebrating an award or welcoming a new team member or talking about a new piece of equipment that is helping to speed things up.

Useful tip – Use your personal profile to promote your business. Don’t be afraid to share posts from your business profile to your own, but don’t go too crazy. You want to keep those close to you informed without feeling like you’re selling 24/7.

Final call – If you’re not already on Facebook, you need to get on it.

Now. “There is zero excuse as to why you’re not on Facebook in 2016,” says Erjavec Parker.

Instagram Why you should use it – While this platform still seems new, it has been around for six years. It lets you show what your company does and how you do things differently by telling your brand story with images and videos. Because sometimes a simple post is not enough in our meme-crazy, cat video-loving world.

Typical user – Maybe it’s the visual aspect or the slightly higher learning curve with photo filters, but Instagram brings in a youthful demographic (millennials and younger).

What to post – Images or short (think 15 seconds) videos that showcase your company and industry. For example, take a quick video of a property that you just cleared to show the jobs you can handle, or post a fun image of the before and after a snow storm.

Useful tip – Don’t oversaturate your account with a purely business focus. Include a mix of fun images that still pertain to your business, such as employees partaking in a company lunch or having fun on the job.

Final call – Instagram is seeing some significant growth and it’s a great way to reach a younger audience if that’s what you’re after.

Twitter Why you should use it – Twitter is a great place to be, just to listen to what’s happening in the world around you. Simply having a presence here will provide an account for your business to be tagged or mentioned by others, including customers, local companies or even family and friends who may recommend you to their own network.

Typical user – Similar to Facebook, Twitter typically sees those in Generation X using the platform, but unlike its competitor, it doesn’t tend to get the older audience.

Useful tip – You can set up your Instagram and/or Facebook feeds to post on Twitter, so even if you don’t want to stay active on Twitter, your account won’t look vacant.

Final call – If you can’t be everywhere, Twitter is one you don’t need to be actively involved with, but you should set up an account for the tag factor.

Snapchat Why you should use it Snapchat wasn’t even on the radar last year and now it’s everywhere.

It won’t be long until the typical business is using it. It’s primarily used

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to send videos or photos to followers or broadcast messages out to the

to be able to search out these people on other platforms like you can

world. It’s rise to popularity can be attributed to the unique fact that a

with LinkedIn, explains Erjavec Parker. For example, you could find the

“snap” will disappear after it’s been seen. You can also post a “story” that

owner of several local Tim Horton’s franchises and pitch your services.

can be viewed multiple times over 24 hours.

You should set up a personal profile as well as a company page.

Typical user – Young (millennials or anyone under 35), but expanding every day.

Useful tip – Snapchat is great for a behind-the-scenes look or showing demos.

Final call – If you’re new to social media, skip it – for now. Start off

Notable mentions: Facebook Live – It’s still new, even by social media standards, but Facebook Live, which allows you to post live videos, is going to be huge, says Erjavec Parker. There’s tons of opportunity to get in early and use

simple with Facebook or Instagram, as Snapchat is not as intuitive as the

this live feature with sneak peeks, showcasing new offerings, introduc-

older platforms. But with the growth Snapchat is seeing, it wouldn’t hurt

ing new staff, telling brand stories, or highlighting how you’re giving

to get a personal account so you can better understand it and find out if

back to the community. The later can boost your exposure more so than

it is the right fit for your company in the near future.

even advertising due to the chance of it going viral. While Snapchat and

LinkedIn

Periscope (through Twitter) are similar offerings, Erjavec Parker pre-

Why you should use it – LinkedIn is a business-oriented social media platform. It’s primarily used for business-to-business connections or researching companies or people. You can use it to join like-minded or local groups to network, generate new leads, attract new employees, and connect with industry professionals.

dicts that Facebook Live “will crush the competitors.”

ChatBot – Not a social media network, but it will become a major element of customer service. ChatBot or ChatterBot is a computer program that can conduct conversations online. Their sophisticated systems can scan a customer’s question for keywords and then offer a

Typical user – Working-age adults or college graduates.

suitable reply. Facebook is testing ChatBots on select pages with the ul-

Useful tip – It’s not a requirement, but publishing posts or sharing

timate goal being to keep people on the social media network. If you

articles, photos or videos is a great way to stay top-of-mind.

can chat, shop and get help on Facebook, you’ll never have to leave, and

Final call – It’s a must for connecting with local business owners, who may include current customers or prospective leads. You’re not likely

that’s Facebook’s mission.

Not-so-notable mentions Google+ – Google+ is past its prime (if it ever really had one) but if

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YouTube – YouTube is great, but it is very time consuming for a business to keep their channel current, says Erjavec Parker. It’s also being punished by Facebook as it wants you to upload your video directly to their site, rather than YouTube, which is a third party site. (Facebook does not promote third party links, so the likelihood of your video being seen will decrease.) Instead, she recommends posting videos directly to Facebook. Or if you must use YouTube, post a short teaser of the video on Facebook and include a link to the full video in the comments.

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budget, Facebook advertising is fairly inexpensive and easy to use.

“It’s a pretty low barrier to entry in terms of how much you have to spend to get good results,” says Erjavec Parker. The social media expert also recommends Google AdWords as an inexpensive, easy-to-use foray MIG0185C

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