February 2018 Construction Leaders Issue 011

Gary Adams

President of Parsons MIddle East and Africa

The Latest News In The Industry Lesson Learned: Steel Braces Make More Resilient Structures Against Earthquakes Lennox Introduces Award-Winning SL280NV Gas Furnace, Debut Model In Industry’s First Line Of Ultra-Low NOx Furnaces Strategic Spending Will Bring Big Benefits With Infrastructure Dollars World’s Lightest Respirator Will Help Construction Companies Meet OSHA Guidelines 75F Introduces the Smart NodeTM Equipment Controller for Flexible Building Automation with Software-defined Benefits

Get The Job, Get The Promotion: How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job Why You Shouldn’t Accept That Engineering Job Offer Immediately What Employers Look For When Hiring Fresh Engineering Graduates How To Be The Leader Your Engineering Team Needs How Engineers Can Be Promoted This Year According to Bosses

FEBRUARY 2018 ISSUE NO. 011

CREATING VALUE FOR INDUSTRY

21

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It’s only just the second month of the year yet so many things have already made 2018 exciting for all of us in the engineering community.

Given the new regulations implemented, recent developments and breakthrough research made by the engineering and scientific communities, the future looks bright for the hopeful ones.

This February, we are featuring Parsons Middle and East Africa (MEA) on our cover. In our exclusive interview with Gary Adams, the President of Parsons MEA, learn more about the latest trends in the construction industry, the iconic projects of the company, their latest innovations, future plans, CSR initiatives and what makes them different from their competitors.

We have also included special construction stories on the magazine this month such as the following:

EDITOR’S NOTE

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World’s Lightest Respirator Will Help Construction Companies Meet OSHA Guidelines Strategic Spending Will Bring Big Benefits With Infrastructure Dollars Lesson Learned: Steel Braces Make More Resilient Structures Against Earthquakes Lennox Introduces Award-Winning SL280NV Gas Furnace, Debut Model In Industry’s First Line Of Ultra-Low NOx Furnaces Machine Performance Analytics Bring OEM Expertise Into Producer’s Digital Environment

Lastly, we have prepared special leadership stories for engineers looking for big changes in their careers. Find out how you can appear qualified for your new job and how you can get promoted this year. If you’re a fresh engineering graduate, read our story on what employers look for when they hire new graduates. For engineers seeking a leadership role in one’s team, find out how to be the leader your engineering team needs. For engineers with new job offers, read our article on why you shouldn’t accept that engineering job offer immediately.

So go ahead, scroll through our pages and learn the latest news, find out more about the latest trends and get inspired with our featured articles. Get updated. Be informed with this month’s GineersNow: Construction Leaders.

Engr. Alice Hernandez Senior Editor-at-Large

Contents

KEO Appoints Philip Gillard As Vice President Of Design

10

Why You Shouldn’t Accept That Engineering Job Offer Immediately

12

How Engineers Can Reset A Bad Work Day

14

Lesson Learned: Steel Braces Make More Resilient Structures Against Earthquakes

16

What Employers Look For When Hiring Fresh Engineering Graduates

20

Changing Careers? Here’s How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job

22

Lennox Introduces Award-Winning SL280NV Gas Furnace, Debut Model In Industry’s First Line Of Ultra-Low NOx Furnaces

24

Cool Air Products Introduces AC/SMARTSEAL 52 EXTERNAL, an Inert Leak-Stopper Designed for Convenient Application and Permanent Repair of Refrigerant Leaks

Strategic Spending Will Bring Big Benefits With Infrastructure Dollars

26

Machine Performance Analytics Bring OEM Expertise Into Producer’s Digital Environment

54

How To Be The Leader Your Engineering Team Needs

28

New Fully Glazed Window System from Insulgard Security Products is First to Earn UL Certification to ICC 500-14 meeting FEMA P-361-15 Guidelines

56

Applied Software Earns Patent for Process Used in LevelUp™ Software

58

World’s Lightest Respirator Will Help 30 Construction Companies Meet OSHA Guidelines Big Changes are Yet to Come in the Construction Industry

31

Bechtel Completes Carroll County Energy Facility

32

Cost Reduction Options Explored for Construction Products by Mallard Creek Polymers as World of Concrete 2018 Approaches

34

Parsons MEA: Continuously Evolving As It Embraces New Technologies

36

How Engineers Can Be Promoted This Year According to Bosses

48

75F Introduces the Smart Node™ Equipment Controller for Flexible Building Automation with Software-defined Benefits

50

KEO Appoints Philip Gillard As Vice President Of Design KEO International Consultants, a leading design, engineering and project management firm, has announced the appointment of Philip Gillard as Vice President (VP) of its Design Division.

KEO International Consultants, a leading design, engineering and project management firm, has announced the appointment of Philip Gillard as Vice President (VP) of its Design Division. Philip is an astute design professional and RIBA Chartered Architect with over 20 years of international design and project delivery experience. He takes on a key influential role by also joining KEO’s Executive Leadership Board.

“We are delighted to have Philip as part of our international team of experts leading our Architectural and Engineering Design practice, one of KEO’s most dynamic divisions. This new appointment aligns with our progressive vision and supports our strategic moves to further strengthen KEO’s reputation as a global consulting powerhouse. In his role as VP of Design, Philip will work with our talented team to reach new heights in creativity, innovation and design depth. He will also be fostering client relationships and expanding the technical excellence within our Architecture and Engineering practice.” said Donna Sultan, President and CEO of KEO International Consultants.

“Philip is an international professional with outstanding experience in improving quality, advancing the design and successful project delivery. He is also a visionary leader that values talent management in line with KEO Core Values. I am confident that his leadership approach will significantly strengthen our team, drive efficiency and improve our ability to grow the business regionally and internationally.” She added.

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Construction Leaders • February 2018

This new appointment reflects KEO’s commitment to equip the firm with the world class talent needed to face the competition and the challenging market conditions. This step aligns with KEO’s efforts to reshape the business and represents an integral part of its forward-looking strategy to be responsive to the Clients needs.

“The Middle East market is constantly evolving and KEO’s integrated and multi-disciplinary approach enables us to respond to our Client’s maturing expectations. I am truly excited to be leading KEO’s talented team of building design professionals. I am passionate about this opportunity to work closely with our clients to deliver incredibly successful projects across the region.” said Philip Gillard, Vice President of Design at KEO. Philip joins KEO after a 17-year career with Gensler, where he was one of its partners, a Global Education Leader and since 2015, the Managing Director for the Middle East region. While with Gensler he had leadership responsibilities in the design and delivery of their most diverse, iconic and mega-projects primarily in Europe and across the Middle East.

Over its 50 years in operation, KEO has grown to become one of the most recognized and award-winning consultancies worldwide, offering unparalleled design, architectural, engineering and project management services.

The firm has worked on some of the most iconic projects in the MENA region and has helped Clients achieve their vision of delivering their most complex and distinguished developments.

Philip Gillard

Vice President Of Design KEO

Why You Shouldn’t Accept That Engineering Job Offer Immediately There might be 5 red flags that will make you want to discontinue.

So you are unemployed, perhaps having a hard time to score a job. For an engineer this is pretty normal since qualifications could get in the way.

Now there comes an opportunity, a company that is open for hiring. And you seem to be a perfect fit.

Should you take that job? Not so fast.

Jobless engineers need not to settle on a company that is not worth it. To be able to know if it’s worth it or not, you have to look for signs, like work-related red flags, about the company you are applying for.

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Career coach Hallie Crawford defines a workrelated red flag as a warning sign, “either overt or even a gut feeling you have, that the job won’t be a good fit for you.”

He added, “It can also be a possible issue you sense with the company, why the job is available, your prospective boss, or a team member you’d be working with.”

Ignoring such red flags will make you waste your time in the future. Now how should you know that the job is not as good as it sounds, and it’s only attractive because it is the one available?

You get offered the job during the interview.

It is bad thing to be offered at the job interview right away for one thing: there could be issues.

Why is the company itching to fill the role?

There are several reasons for that and it could be that the engineering position asks more from the employee that what is required and paid or perhaps the company fires engineers from time to time.

The job description is not clearly defined.

To know the job title is one thing, to understand what you have to do with that title is another.

If you saw a job hiring for an engineer in a company, it has to be clear what tasks and responsibility you will be given once you are hired. And when the hiring manager refuses to say or fails to properly describe the job, it’s best not to accept the offer.

The hiring manager says he works 24/7—and so does the staff.

Hard work is not a bad thing, but a very demanding job that needs you to work round the clock is.

Here are the red flags:

Your interviewer (or his/her space) looks like a mess.

First sign that the company might not be for you is how disorganized the hiring manager is in terms of the interview and his or her working desk.

Blueprints are everywhere, files are scattered all over.

Job applicants always prepare, and you should expect the same with the interviewer. A mess that appears before your eyes during interview means that that is a regular day at the workplace – you do not want to work with that.

That is what many hiring managers do as well as engineers but you do not really need that kind of work life. You still have to make time for yourself, and you will not have that kind of luxury if your boss wants you to report to the workplace any time he or she wants.

The company low-balls its offer.

They post an attractive salary offer for an engineer only to lower it down during the job interview. That’s manipulation. Of course this is a red flag.

Construction Leaders • February 2018

13

How Engineers Can Reset A Bad Work Day Because work is not always a walk in the park.

No matter what field we work in, we all know how stressful work can be and our bodies feel like giving up once we get home. These are just the ordinary days, there will be days where everything will go wrong: your alarm goes off late, you’re having a migraine, your computer decides to hang on you, and you have 6 meetings you have to attend to and 12 new tasks to add to your daily tasks.

We all have those days and we usually don’t see it coming. While these may be outside our control, we can still monitor and reset our reactions. Here are some tips on how to handle an extremely stressful workday.

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Eliminate Work Related Stress Identify what is important and not important, list all your tasks down by priority. If it takes less than 2 minutes to complete, do them NOW. Then prioritize your most difficult tasks on your most productive time of the day. If you perform your best in the morning, do your most difficult task in the morning. If the job is too overwhelming, consider asking for help from a coworker.

Do extra research on time management when you get home, and apply what you’ve learned in your job. Do your best to perform your tasks without wasting any time and effort.

Communicate with your boss Explain your problems to your boss, but make sure to do it in a manner that is proper. It is also good to know the proper timing to communicate with them. Also consider the urgency of the problem.

If the problem is great, it’s more appropriate to speak with them in person rather than sending them an email. Keep your conversation straight to the point and professional. Make sure you update them with the current status of your tasks.

Avoid office politics Gossip and office politics don’t only affect a person’s reputation in the workplace but their productivity as well. Once the drama hits, it can be hard for the people involved to work efficiently– especially if the people involved in the drama are colleagues who need to work together to finish a certain task. We aren’t in highschool anymore, if it’s possible to stay out of the drama then don’t get involved. Concentrate on your work instead.

Don’t vent at work

passive-aggressive. Do some deep breathing, and if you really can’t hold it in, go outside for a few minutes to let the steam out. This will help you think more rationally before saying something you don’t really mean. If you really need to be open about it, talk to your coworker about how their negative behavior is affecting your job.

Take care of your personal troubles It’s difficult to balance your work and personal life, but it’s an important skill to learn. Weigh the odds if you can still continue on with your duties or if you need a day to reset.

Rest when you’re sick Engineers are used to working overtime and still continue to do so even if they are already sick.

Among all the tips mentioned, this is the most important one. KNOW WHEN TO REST. Unless you have superpowers and can work 24/7 for a week, learn to go home and get some well deserved rest. Never attempt to do work when you’re sick. You’re endangering yourself and the work you’re doing.

When you feel frustrated at work, don’t get Construction Leaders • February 2018

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Lesson Learned: Steel Braces Make More Resilient Structures Against Earthquakes With the recurring earthquakes in New Zealand, engineers have decided to build more braced steel structures.

Majority of the buildings in New Zealand are made of concrete. But that is going to change now as more engineers and builders encourage the use of steel braces as a solution to the frequent earthquakes that hit the country.

In 2011, the city of Christchurch in the east coast of South Island was badly damaged by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, killing 185 people and injured thousands. Other than this, earthquakes were recorded across New Zealand in 2010, 2013, and 2016, all of which left a significant mark.

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Construction Leaders • February 2018

Engineers, as well as architects, knew that they had to do something about it.

A report by Michel Bruneau from the University of Buffalo, and Greg MacRae, a professor at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, suggested that instead of using concrete, steel should be the prevalent material in buildings.

And since the last massive earthquake that hit New Zealand, the construction landscape across cities has changed.

The researchers have spoken with professionals involved in new construction in Christchurch and asked 74 buildings which made predominant use of steel frame construction.

“All engineers met stated that, while the 2010– 11 Christchurch earthquakes were a wake-up call to communities in the Wellington area, the 2013 Seddon earthquakes, and particularly the 2016 Kaikoura earthquakes, reinforced the message.”

After the mentioned tremors, it was noticed that the steel-framed buildings which already existed, like the former HSBC Hse in Worcester Boulevard and the Rendezvous Hotel, have stood up well. This further convinced builders to use steel braces.

In the construction industry, especially in Auckland, trends when it comes to professional relationships have also shifted.

Before, project planning typically starts with the architects. But now, engineers are more involved from the beginning, sometimes even earlier than the architects.

“Prior to the earthquakes, the architect would develop the conceptual plans and ask the engineer to fit a structural system to it,” the researchers said.

“Now, structural and geotechnical engineers are brought into the project at the same time as the architect, or sometimes sooner,” both added.

The good news is that the clients welcomed the idea. They wanted more cost-effective and reparable buildings which braced steel structures can offer.

As to the architects, they also embraced the change. Steel braced structures allowed lightness and flexibility, especially with openplan work places.

“For these reasons, braced frame buildings are spreading across the country,” the researchers noted.

Construction Leaders • February 2018

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What Employers Look For When Hiring Fresh Engineering Graduates With zero work experience, fresh engineering graduates are confused as to what the determining factor really is to be employed.

Upon graduating in engineering school, perhaps your greatest worry is how you will be able to land a job. You think that it is difficult to find employers who will trust someone like you who does not have legitimate work experience.

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Construction Leaders • February 2018

It is true that you might have difficulty in securing your first job, but there is a trick: show to hiring managers that you will be worth it.

And the best way to do that is to write in your resume what they want.

“When employers do hire from college, the evidence suggests that academic skills are not their primary concern,” says Peter Cappelli, a Wharton professor and the author of a new paper on job skills.

“Work experience is the crucial attribute that employers want even for students who have yet to work full-time.”

Especially for fresh engineers, it pays to have exposure to companies as early as college through on-the-job trainings and work sidelines. While this is optional for some, lucky are those who have curriculums making internships compulsory because that is what employers want the most.

The Chronicle of Higher Education tallied the relative importance of attributes in evaluating graduates for hire. Internships lead with 23 points from a scale of 0 to 100, 21 points for employment during college, 12 points for volunteer experience, and 10 for extracurricular activities. All these are experience-based attributes.

Meanwhile, academic attributes include college major with only 13 points, relevance of coursework and college GPA both with 8, and college reputation with 5. This just proves that your GPA will not matter that much after graduation.

What does this mean for engineering students?

And for you as a job seeker?

Now the question begs: what do employers want?

According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, it is not your college GPA but experiences outside of academics that matter to them: Internships, jobs, volunteering, and extracurricular activities.

Engineering students should invest in getting more on-the-job trainings or relevant work experience while in college. While it does not mean to say that grades do not matter, the experiences outside of the classroom just have more value to hiring managers when it comes to engineering work.

And for you who have already graduated and now looking for a job but do not have much prior experience related to your field, make your resume as appealing – while truthful – as possible, secure an interview, and sell yourself there. Tell them how much of a learner you are.

Construction Leaders • February 2018

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Changing Careers? Here’s How Engineers Can Appear Qualified for Their New Job Many engineers today are shifting careers. But how should they manage when looking for a job?

Nowadays, it is no longer new that engineers want out of their respective fields to pursue a career that they truly want, may it be related to engineering or something completely different. Some may say that it is a mistake, throwing away all those years of studying engineering only to quit on it later on.

If you are one of those engineers making the big change, do not mind them. Taking engineering cannot be really considered a mistake – just think of it as part of the process as a career professional.

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So what now? What do you need to do to make the shift to other fields? Here are tips: Research the role Say you are a civil engineer wanting to explore the renewable energy sector. While they are slightly related, the cores and scope of the two are different. The best thing to do to keep up is to research the role and study what it takes to get into the business.

When you do not have credentials, at least be knowledgeable about your new field of interest. Dig deep into the job description, ask your friends who work in that sector, and pay attention to the nature of the job.

Update your resume Because you are going to apply for jobs in your new field, you have to make your resume appear that you are fit for your new roles. While you might have difficulty on the technical areas, your soft skills and other engineering skills will be handy as those are transferrable.

Relate your previous jobs to the new one as much as possible by mentioning the appropriate experiences that you had in your resume.

Highlight relevant experience This is the best way to sell yourself – talk during the job interview.

The hiring manager needs to be convinced that someone like you, a newbie to the field, is a worthy hire. He or she must never think that you are making a career shift. Use whatever you have researched and studied to your advantage while in this stage.

Be confident It pays to be sure about your decision of changing careers from being an engineer. Each step of the way you must have the trust in yourself that you will succeed in this endeavor. If you do not have that, not one employer will be interested in you.

Fake it until you make it!

Lennox Introduces Award-Winning SL280NV Gas Furnace, Debut Model In Industry’s First Line Of Ultra-Low NOx Furnaces 24

Construction Leaders • February 2018

Lennox Industries, a leading provider of innovative home comfort solutions, launched the Lennox SL280NV Ultra Low NOx gas furnace, part of the Dave Lennox Signature Collection of high-efficiency HVAC products, which allows homeowners to feel good about creating better air inside and outside their home. This product is the first in Lennox’ new line of eco-efficient furnaces, which are the first furnaces available to purchase that meet the low-emission regulations in certain California markets that now require lower emissions to reduce air pollution, and the product has earned the “Best of IBS” Award for Best Green Building Product at the 2018 NAHB International Builders’ Show.

The Lennox SL280NV Ultra Low NOx furnace produces 65 percent lower NOx emissions than standard low NOx furnaces, offering the ultimate in comfort and emissions compliance.

With a heating efficiency rating of 80 percent AFUE, and as part of a Lennox iComfort thermostat-enabled system, the SL280NV delivers exceptional comfort all winter long and helps homeowners save energy. Lennox’ innovative technology allows for a higher heat temperature that burns more of the NOx emissions before releasing them into the air. Additionally, a variable-speed blower motor and two-stage gas valve allows the furnace to adjust airflow and heating output to help homeowners to maintain their ideal temperature throughout their home, quietly and efficiently.

“The Lennox SL280NV Ultra Low NOx gas furnace is the latest example of Lennox’ commitment to innovation and its ability to deliver premium efficiency and comfort to homeowners,” said John Whinery, vice president, product management for Lennox.

“This first product in Lennox’ new line of ecoefficient furnaces offers the best of both worlds for homeowners – quiet and efficient operation with a minimum impact on the environment.

It gives contractors peace of mind through its ease of installation and maintenance while providing the only product they can offer to homeowners to meet new stringent California emissions standards.”

The SL280NV furnace offers industry-leading features, such as: Ultra Smart Control: When combined with the Lennox iComfortS30 ultra-smart thermostat, the Lennox SL280NV adjusts the heating for energy savings based on the homeowner’s routine, helping them save money.

Comfort: The Lennox SL280NV variable speed blower can help condensing units control humidity levels, and also offers continuous filtration for cleaner, healthier air for homeowners.

Environmentally Friendly: The Lennox SL280NV operates at two different levels of heat output, which maintains a consistent temperature in the home using as little fuel as possible. This helps homeowners stay comfortable and reduces their utility costs, while lower emissions help with reducing air pollution.

Lennox SL280NV Ultra Low NOx Key Features and Benefits Meets the new California emission regulations.

Lowers emissions to reduce air pollution.

Operates at a more efficient low capacity most of the time, to minimize temperature swings.

Helps condensing units control humidity levels for a more comfortable home environment.

The Lennox SL280NV Ultra Low NOx furnace has earned the prestigious “Best of IBS” Award for Best Green Building Product at this year’s NAHB International Builders’ Show. The awards, presented during a ceremony on the final day of the show, recognized the SL280NV Ultra Low NOx gas furnace for its superior performance and energy efficiency. The award program received hundreds of entries this year in nine categories, which were judged by 27 industry and media representatives. Finalists were evaluated on criteria such as innovation, functionality and design.

For more information about the new SL280NV Ultra Low NOX gas furnace, visit www. learnnox.com.

Construction Leaders • February 2018

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Strategic Spending Will Bring Big Benefits With Infrastructure Dollars smaller projects — states can deliver more bang for the buck.

Innovate before you construct

There is an urgent need for our nation to restore or upgrade its crumbling infrastructure.

With promising developments at the federal, state and local levels, many state departments of transportation and municipalities have committed to major infrastructure investments.

Deficient or dangerous infrastructure will be top on the list. Public safety comes first.

After that, investments must be strategic to achieve the gains in jobs, economic growth, global competitiveness and quality of life that Americans deserve.

This will require rethinking transportation priorities and approaches so that new spending creates a new level of performance.

When dollars are available, America has an opportunity to reposition its transportation 26

Construction Leaders • February 2018

infrastructure for the future. One of the biggest challenges will be spending the money in the most effective ways:

Prioritize projects transparently When spending large amounts of public money on any infrastructure project, it is critical to preserve taxpayers’ trust. Engaging stakeholders throughout the project will ensure the greatest success.

Deliver projects more efficiently Alternative delivery methods, such as design-build and public-private partnerships, can spur innovation, gain economies of scale, accelerate timelines and seize other opportunities to deliver the project efficiently. By adopting alternative delivery methods for more projects — and even

Instead of building more lanes to cure traffic congestion, consider options that are more cost efficient and less invasive. The objective is to increase capacity during times of greatest demand, without adding new lanes that are costly to build and maintain — and often unnecessary beyond the rush hour.

Advance user-centered mobility Technology is revolutionizing every aspect of travel, from digital maps and GPS guidance to digital tickets for trains, subways and ride sharing. Now is the time to invest in strategies and technologies that erase the seams between modes so travelers can easily assess and activate mobility options.

These strategies can deliver critical infrastructure while also ensuring that each dollar is spent effectively. We can expect significant debate as our leaders seek agreement on a range of transportation-related policy issues surrounding challenges of rural-versus-urban project prioritization, public transit investments, regulatory issues and how to best fund the work at the federal level.

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How To Be The Leader Your Engineering Team Needs No matter what your role or rank is, you’ll become a leader sooner or later, so be ready.

Every company needs leaders that their employees can look up to. These leaders are those who make us feel motivated and bring out our drive to do our best at work. Sooner or later, you will be in the position of a leader in one way or another, so it’s always a good thing to learn how to bring out your best leadership skills when your team desperately needs it.

Here’s how.

Give your team a vision.

Whatever your role or rank at work is, when you are leading a team, you should provide them a vision. Give your team a guidepost on what your team needs to accomplish. Show them an overview on the different short term goals, and long term goals, and how you’re going to achieve them as a team.

Engage the team

After setting your team vision, engage them on how they will be contributing individually and as a team to the set vision. Make sure that they understand their roles in reaching the goals both 28

Construction Leaders • February 2018

short term and long term. Let them understand that their role is important for success.

Celebrate

Celebrate every success no matter how small or big. This will enable your team to see the progress you are making as a team. When people see the fruits of their labor was worth it, they will not hesitate to continue to do their best.

Encourage them during failure

You and your team will make mistakes–individually and as a team. Encourage your team despite mistakes and failures, and make sure you and your team learn from your mistakes. Instead on dwelling on the failure, create an environment wherein failure is an opportunity to learn.

Join them

Show your team that you are a team player. Be involved in as much activities as you can. Show your team that you are working with the team and as a team. Sit with your team and not above them.

Be with them during the challenges, and be with them when you achieve success.

World’s Lightest Respirator Will Help Construction Companies Meet OSHA Guidelines

CleanSpace Technology, a global manufacturer of powered air purifying respiratory protection, today released its CleanSpace2 Power Unit Respirator designed to provide organizations in the construction industry with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter protection to help meet the OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1153 Respirable Crystalline Silica inConstruction and OSHA 29 CFR 1910 General Industry regulations.

The new OSHA silica regulations became effective September 23, 2017 requiring construction companies to lower permissible exposure to silica to one-fifth of its current exposure within one year.

“The CleanSpace2 Trial Kit is an opportunity for construction companies and contractors to experience the difference of our powered air purifying respirators delivering enhanced protection, comfort and cost savings,” commented Alex Birrell, CEO at CleanSpace Technology. “The common complaints that powered-air purifying respiratory masks are bulky, expensive and require extensive maintenance are remedied with the CleanSpace 2. Safety managers and workers will discover that CleanSpace masks provide a higher APF of 50 (Assigned Protection Factor) when engineering controls are not feasible or N95 30

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respirators are insufficient while being cost effective and very comfortable to wear even in hot, humid conditions.”

According to OSHA, 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including two million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silicacontaining materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking.

The CleanSpace2 Trial Kits are a complete ready to use system and include: · · · · · · ·

CleanSpace2 Power Unit HEPA Particulate Filer Filter Adaptor Half Masks (small, medium and large) Storage and Cleaning Plug Set CleanSpace Backpack Disposable Covers (pack of 25)

Trial Kits can be purchased through the CleanSpace distributor network (for lists in your area email: sales@cleanSpacetechnology.com) or ordered online at http://cleanspacetechnology. com/us/trialkit/ and have a MSRP of $667.00

Big Changes are Yet to Come in the Construction Industry Technology like building information modelling is going to change the way engineers work in construction sites.

No doubt that technology has already changed the way we work across industries. Construction is among those not spared.

Today, structural and civil engineers have what they call as building information modelling or BIM at their disposal. As defined by the Institution of Structural Engineer, it is centered on utilizing digital tools “to efficiently produce information” in order to allow assets to be constructed, operated and maintained.

Balfour Beatyy, an international infrastructure group is one of the many companies that have embraced such technology. Dean Banks, its managing director for U.K. construction services revealed that it targets a 25% reduction in labor on sites in terms of productivity by the year 2025. This means that people will be laid off and BIM will take over.

“It is doing things smarter,” Banks said. “It’s starting to think about, right at the outset of a build, how you plan it. So using BIM to drive the build, the logistics, looking at what the client actually wants as a finish point so

you understand at the outset so there’s less variation.”

Not only that, he said that construction work in many projects will transform over the years.

“In the future we think that robotics will play a big part,” he added. “We see drones making decisions, we think information modelling will be in place, (and) 3D printing.”

Banks imagines that soon, the construction site will be operated from a control center rather than the engineers checking on-site. Labor will also be much less intensive.

For this, Paul Wilkinson of Institute of Engineering believes that there was a need to invest in the digital skills of the future and think about the end use of assets in a much more joined up way.

“It’s not just about delivering a building, it’s about how it’s going to be operated and maintained for maybe 30, 40, 50, 100 years or more,” he said.

Bechtel Completes Carroll County Energy Facility

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Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, procurement, and construction, has completed the Carroll County Energy Facility (CCEF) in Carroll County, OH, for Advanced Power. The 700-megawatt natural gas-fueled combine-cycle power facility, will supply electricity to up to 700,000 homes in the region. This is the first of three facilities that Bechtel is building for Advanced Power, who has taken over the commercial operation of the CCEF facility.

Bechtel provided project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and startup services, which uses advanced emissions-control technology, making CCEF one of the most efficient plants in the US. “The Carroll County facility is now generating cleaner energy with the oversight of our customer, Advanced Power,” said Andy Gillespie, power operations manager at Bechtel’s global Infrastructure business unit.

“This facility was successfully completed through the thoughtful collaboration of our project team and customer. Congratulations to all team members – their contribution was crucial to the construction and operation of the project.”

The facility will provide critical electric generation capacity in a region that has experienced the retirement of more than 700-megawatts of Ohio’s conventional coalfired generating capacity, allowing for natural gas to provide a cleaner form of energy.

Additionally, 700 jobs were created during construction, and more than 25 long-term jobs will support plant operations.

“This project will have lasting effects on Carroll County, providing the residents with cleaner energy, and leaving a legacy of stateof-the-art generation facilities,” said Gillespie.

“We are proud to have such a positive impact in the community.”

Bechtel is a global leader in the design, procurement, and construction of combinedcycle power plants, having delivered facilities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Taiwan, Egypt, India, Turkey, and Mexico.

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Cost Reduction Options Explored for Construction Products by Mallard Creek Polymers as World of Concrete 2018 Approaches In 2018, cost and performance will continue to be a focus in the construction industry. One key factor for polymers is that MMA supply will continue to be short, driving costs of all acrylic polymers higher. Mallard Creek Polymers (MCP) has a strong line of all acrylic, cement stable products that have been customized based on Rovene® 6023 (improved water resistance) and Rovene 403 (low odor grade) for use in many customer systems. The latest all acrylic product from the company, Rovene 6525, was brought to market in October 2017. In 2018, though, the company’s focus will be on introducing more products based on styrene.

Because MMA will be much more costly than styrene, the company is looking for industry partners to help develop lower cost alternatives where an all acrylic polymer is not needed.

Using styrene acrylic emulsion polymers will meet the demands for exterior durability in most applications. Styrene-butadiene latex provides superior adhesion and water resistance when UV stability is not required.

A few examples of newer products are discussed here, and many of the company’s newly developed products can be found in the Coatings Selection Guide and Construction Selection Guides.

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Rovene® 6521 is a low Tg styrene acrylic polymer for coatings and construction applications requiring cement compatibility designed to meet needs of a wide variety of applications. Tylac® 4190 is a work-horse styrene-butadiene latex use in the construction industry. The polymer is designed to optimize flexural strength and adhesion. Tylac 4194 is a modified, flexible styrene-butadiene concrete modifier. It may be used at low add-on to give strength, flexibility and water/ion resistance to cementitious systems. At higher add-on levels, Tylac 4194 gives a flexible cementitious water proofing membrane. The product has been modified to improve open time and workability of the cement-based system.

MCP invites potential customers to the website, www.MCPolymers.com, to learn about the many products available. In many cases, though, the products are not promoted for general market use due to the structure of the project. To discuss options and project proposals to product customization, R&D and sales personnel are available for meetings at the World of Concrete from January 23-25. For consultation in any potential applications visit MCP’s website or contact a sales/marketing professional at 1-877240-0171.

The 19th edition of the International Trade Fair for Tools, Hardware, Materials and Machinery

2 – 4 April, 2018 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The region’s premier trade show catered to construction, fabrication and other technical industries.

Click here to register now Interested in exhibiting?

Email: rubesh.kumar@uae.messefrankfurt.com

Parsons MEA: Continuously Evolving As It Embraces New Technologies In this exclusive interview with Gary Adams, the President of Parsons Middle and East Africa (MEA), learn more about the latest trends in the construction industry, the iconic projects of Parsons MEA, their latest innovations, future plans, CSR initiatives and what makes them different from their competitors.

What are the latest trends in the construction industry?

The rate of disruptive change across all industries 36

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due to the development of information & communications technology in the last decade has been phenomenal, and the engineering and construction field has been a part of that. Machine learning, artificial intelligence or AI, cognitive computing, natural language understanding, image recognition, pattern matching and autonomous devices – all of these things are making their way into construction and construction management and, at Parsons, we are embracing them. Several technologies in particular are becoming game changers, including:

High-Definition Surveying (HDS) scanning systems, capable of performing 360-degree corridor surveys at more than 50 miles per hour. Combining HDS and unmanned aerial vehicle systems will certainly impact the engineering and construction industries.

Think of how drones equipped with high resolution digital cameras and advanced software will take surveying to new heights. Parsons has deployed similar technologies in Dubai for one of the largest developments in the area.

3-D Concrete Printing, which slashes the time required to produce a critical construction component from weeks to mere hours. Dubai was one of the first cities to execute a project with this technology in early 2016.

The development of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality and AI, drones and cyber-driven Internet of Things technologies will revolutionize the design, development, construction and operations of new, “smart� districts and cities.

Parsons has been engaged in several projects in the GCC with BIM and other smart initiatives in their scopes. Government agencies and private developers are realizing the benefits of these technologies and are now asking vendors to deliver them. We believe that such technologies will also further encourage new commercial approaches, such as design/build and construction management at-risk.

Several transportation-related technologies that will change the way our industry operates in the near future. All the technologies that have emerged may take us to a brave new age of transportation that is safe, fast, and affordable, and convenient.

They are likely to revolutionize an industry that has remained relatively unchanged for decades. We have recently explored several new solutions such as traffic videography, traffic counting and analysis with object/car classification, and speed analysis for traffic impact studies, reality modeling, city mapping, land survey, inspection of structures, as-built surveys and intelligent asset management, crisis response, thermal imaging, construction progress reporting using unmanned aerial vehicles technology, among other exciting developments.

The Hyperloop system, with its promise of vastly more rapid point-to-point passenger and freight delivery, could have major implications for urban planning and port development.

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Learn more about Gary Adams Currently President of Parsons’ MEA business unit – one of three reporting units of the $3B Parsons Corporation headquartered in Pasadena, California. In his 26-year career with Parsons, he has held positions with increasing responsibility, most recently EVP and Global Operations Director of Parsons Transportation Group 37-year career engaged in civil engineering, traffic engineering, highway design, transportation planning, construction, project/program management and company management.

Extensive experience in alternative project delivery for major heavy civil projects as design manager, owners engineer, and design-build JV sponsor Spent four years lecturing on transportation topics at California State University, Long Beach, and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and a master’s degree in transportation engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Innovation is one of our core values and we always seek ways to be ahead of the curve and to support cutting-edge technologies/concepts.

Parsons is actually a member company of Hyperloop One’s Technical Advisory Board, which is designed to facilitate a close dialogue between Hyperloop One and a small number of key partners.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area Spent the first half of his career in Southern California. While engaged in his career there, he also served as a planning commissioner and elected city councilman in Newport Beach (including one term as mayor), and on several regional boards including a toll road authority and regional airport authority Lives in Abu Dhabi with his wife of 20 years, Birgitt, and high school-aged son Max. His oldest son Nick is attending Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain Is an avid sailor and has a sailboat in Abu Dhabi

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We are fortunate to have a strong presence in such a forward-looking country such as the UAE. An agreement has been signed between the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) and Hyperloop One to work through the Dubai Future Accelerators program and develop a prototype of self-driving cars powered by Hyperloop technology. The company will also test the feasibility of connecting Dubai with a number cities and destinations, and determine the economic viability of the project.

Autonomous vehicles will also likely change the way we think about traffic.

Statements made by several car companies last year indicate that fleets of self-driving cars will emerge early and have the potential to capture

What is Gary’s leadership style?

“My leadership style reflects the culture of our corporation, which emphasizes open communication, a collaborative decision-making process, establishing clear roles, missions, and metrics, and holding all of us – including myself – accountable for the successful achievement of our objectives. I try and surround myself with great people and make sure they have what they need to succeed.”

a significant share of individual motorized mobility.

This introduces a crucial difference: Fleet vehicles no longer pursue their local or narrow interests; rather than completing the individual trip as quickly as possible, fleet management will seek to maximize throughput for all of its vehicles – for the fleet as a whole. The operational goals of fleet management are therefore very much aligned with the traffic flow goals of a city as a whole.

Like all major innovations, autonomous vehicles also come with certain costs. Removing professional commercial drivers and replacing

them with autonomous vehicles would eliminate jobs. Making driving easier also has the potential to hurt public transit and change how traffic operates because of lower speeds, so governments need to start thinking about policy for driverless cars.

We have so many talented employees that will undoubtedly come up with brilliant ideas when our clients seek support and partnership opportunities for all these technology-driven changes.

What are the “iconic” projects or notable achievements of Parsons?

We have been fortunate to work on the region’s most unique projects. If we take transportation as an example, we have contributed to several iconic projects: • Dubai Metro, which made it to the Guinness Book of World Records, as the longest driverless metro network in the world.

• We are also currently working on Riyadh Metro, the largest design-build metro program initiated at one time.

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The Top 10 Iconic Projects of Parsons in the Middle East 1. Dubai Metro, UAE 2. Dubai Water Canal, UAE 3. Abu Dhabi International

Airport – Midfield Terminal,

UAE 4. Sorbonne and Zayed

Universities, UAE 5. Sheikh Zayed Road,

Dubai, UAE 6. Yanbu Industrial City,

Saudi Arabia 7. Riyadh Metro, Saudi Arabia 8. Abu Dhabi Corniche, UAE 9. Saadiyat Island

Abu Dhabi, UAE 10. Floating Bridge

Dubai, UAE

Trivia There are probably more Parsons projects signs on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai than any other products or service advertisements.

•

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, probably one of the most well-known roads in the world, has Parsons’ name all over it; we designed numerous interchanges, as well as some of the bridges that connect Sheikh Zayed Road with key neighborhoods in Dubai.

Several of the projects we’ve managed have won multiple awards as well, including: i.

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The Dubai Water Canal project received multiple recognitions at the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) Quality Awards for Projects 2017: Innovation Project of the Year, Leisure & Tourism Project of the Year, and Mega Project of the Year. The project also won the GCC Leisure and Tourism Project of the Year award. A challenging aspect of this project—owned by the RTA— was designing and arranging the detours, capacity, and speed limit for Sheikh Zayed Road to ensure it functioned without any traffic-congestion issues during the canal construction. Parsons’ joint venture

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provided infrastructure design and construction supervision services for the project.

ii.

The Dubai City Walk project won the United Arab Emirates and GCC Mixed-Use Project of the Year award at the MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2017. City Walk (owned

by UAE developer Meraas) was conceptualized to become a city within a city, and is meticulously arranged to create a well-appointed residential and commercial development that stands apart. Parsons provided infrastructure design and construction supervision services for City Walk.

iii. As part of the Middle East Economic Digest’s Quality Awards for Projects 2016, the IRENA Headquarters won the UAE Sustainable Project of the Year Award. iv. The Etihad Rail Stage 1 project won the GCC Project of the Year award and was also

named UAE Mega Project of the Year as part of the MEED Quality Awards for Projects 2016.

Engineering News-Record recognized the Etihad Rail Stage 1 project with the Award of Merit in the rail category in 2015.

v.

Abu Dhabi International Airport has won multiple awards over the years, the latest being the Airport of the Year award in the 10- to 30-million-passengers category at the Air Transport News Awards held in Salzburg, Austria, in March 2016.

What are the latest innovations of Parsons? How will your clients benefit from them?

• The Dubai Water Canal is a testimonial of outstanding innovative solutions implemented by our team, such as: - Expeditious completion of south bound Sheikh Zayed Road Bridge in a record time of 5.5

months by enabling simultaneous construction of foundation and superstructure, and re-arranging the bridge stressing sequence to achieve the condensed schedule.

- Construction of bridge foundation along with canal quay wall to expedite the canal works following bridge construction.

- Changing the method of non-disruptive crossing for relocation of dry services from microtunneling to horizontal directional drilling to save time and cost.

- Reducing the number of micro-tunneling bores by providing one higher size bore in place of two bores.

- Using LED lights for the first time on a Dubai road project.

- Executing a waterfall feature from bridge deck to canal – a first in the GCC.

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The Dubai Design District is the first project in the GCC to implement comprehensive Smart City features. Parsons is bringing its experience in Smart Cities to assist in the development of the final project criteria.

The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) has also asked Parsons to support them with developing an actionable strategy to develop a Resilient Dubai City. Parsons has engaged with the client over the last several months to shape the scope of this strategy over four phases.

For the Aramco Energy Industrial City – Smart City solution, during the scoping phase of the project we introduced the concept of smart city to the client, quantified the cost of the development, quantified the cost savings and revenue from the smart city services, and developed the ROI. We have also suggested the development of a comprehensive Operational Readiness Plan (ORP) to define the requirements for the city’s operations organization to be ready to operate and manage the city at the handover of ownership from the Project Team to the Operations team. This is similar to steps that we are taking at the Industrial City of Yanbu, KSA, recognizing an effective city infrastructure has effective operations and management services designed into it from the start.

For the first time in the UAE, Parsons implemented Monte Carlo Simulations – a broad class of computational algorithms relying on repeated random sampling -- to optimize land use for the Jebel Ali Development, considering transportation constraints for the client (Investment Corporation of Dubai - ICD).

Understanding each client’s specific objective and accordingly responding to their request and following best practice is imperative. Parsons has conducted a transportation study for the Wave (Al Mouj) development in Muscat, which is very unique. The Al Mouj Development, is set to become a unique development for both itself and the greater Oman and GCC region.

Al Mouj is a unique development which has applied and implemented the principals of New Urbanism very carefully. The vision, image and quality of Al Mouj as it relates to traffic is based

on developing a community for people and not cars. Therefore, the transportation system of the development is multi-modal with an emphasis on non-motorized and pedestrian activity. Parsons reviewed the transportation plan of the East Village section in the development and found ways to enhance its objectives and functions.

The Doha Expressway incorporated a series of innovative techniques, including centralized automatic dimming technology for the road lighting; irrigation design approaches that saved water; proposed radar-based incident detection system for the first time in Qatar; cut-and-cover tunnel designed to allow top-down construction in order to facilitate expeditious reinstatement of traffic in a very tight urban corridor.

The Miraah Solar Enhanced Oil Recovery Steam Plant in Oman, for which Parsons provided front end engineering services, recently won the Best Oil and Gas Innovation or Technology award at ADIPEC. Parsons worked with GlassPoint Solar, the leader in solar enhanced oil recovery (EOR), to spearhead the region’s first solar EOR steam plant using enclosed trough technology. We performed the conceptual engineering, front-end engineering, and detailed design for the solar steam pilot, which uses concentrating sunlight to produce an average of 50 tons of steam a day.

This is one of the largest solar energy ventures globally.

Parsons has been using 3D/4D/5D, BIM, and computer automated design modeling systems in the design of numerous complex facilities. Our facility designs incorporate safety and security requirements to address physical, cyber, and human threat areas.

What are the future plans of Parsons?

The company itself is evolving and indeed transforming from a services-based entity to a full-fledged solutions delivery provider. We are embracing new technologies and tailoring our culture in ways that will dramatically enhance our value proposition as well as our commercial returns to shareholders.

Parsons has a strong market position in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, where we have delivered landmark projects for aviation, roads and highways, bridge and tunnel, and land development. There is an opportunity to deliver core portfolio services (aviation, roads and highways, bridges and tunnels, etc.) to some of the relatively under-developed countries (such as Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq) for Parsons. Similarly, there are a series of adjacent market lines new for Parsons in MEA region that can be introduced in countries where we are already established. Water/wastewater, oil and gas infrastructure development, buildings, ports & harbors, and defense and security are lines that we plan to introduce in established regions.

I foresee significant opportunities in smart cities and the smart infrastructure required by them.

Parsons has been working with the Smart Dubai Office to enable the Smart City’s stakeholders (citizens, government, commerce, etc.) to continue receiving and providing services with

no, or minimal, disruption and the ability to recover from disruption. The process requires a review of the adequacy of established physical security policies and processes and the ability to seamlessly integrate them with new policies and processes associated with security and resilience. Parsons has the expertise to develop actionable resiliency strategies that can support the stakeholders of Smart Cities to advance their cities from smart cities to smart, secure, safe, and resilient cities.

We also plan to introduce and grow cyber, defense and security offerings, already strong in North America.

What makes you different from the rest of your competitors?

Parsons’ commitment to its core values – Safety, Quality, Integrity, Innovation, Sustainability, and Diversity. There are not just buzzwords at Parsons. We track and measure

our performance to these values systematically and continually. Our quality processes and procedures, for example, are recognized by the International Software Organization as exceptional.

Presence in the MEA region - We have the scale to take on large projects and to be very responsive when the need arises. Not many engineering consultants in the region can pride themselves with having the ability to undertake large scale projects by using the staff located in MEA. We can do that – with nearly 4,500 employees based in the region, we have the ability and the talent to be successful in delivering large programs.

Responsiveness - Parsons has been working in the region for more than 60 years and has a reputation for being immediately responsive to changing customer needs. That cultural commitment is unrivaled in the region.

Customer Relationships – in a region where personal relationships matter a great deal, we 46

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have developed robust relationships with most of the major key client leaders that, combined with our other competencies, offer a competitive advantage.

Describe your CSR initiatives.

Parsons fulfills its corporate citizenship by applying its six core values. Each value fuels our approach toward corporate responsibility. We continue to demonstrate social responsibility in our workplace by reducing our energy/water consumption and by using recycled and planetfriendly materials.

As a company—and because we rely heavily on documentation—we remain focused on reducing our need for printing by increasing our use of electronic documents and paperless transfer/communications, including the use of video- and web-enabled conferencing tools. And because we continue to review and improve our recycling programs for materials (such as paper and drink containers), we recently instituted

battery-recycling programs as well. We are even committed to purchasing environmentally preferable (green) janitorial cleaning supplies with low/no volatile organic compounds. In addition, we recycle and donate eWaste (such as computers, monitors, and printers) in a safe, secure, and socially responsible manner.

As part of our social responsibility efforts, we continue to maintain a strong community presence through our Parsons Gives Back Program, which supports educational, cultural, and civic organizations as well as sponsors various nonprofits, programs, and events. Using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, we measure our impact in accordance with several key environmental, human rights, labor, societal, and economic indicators, and we share them in this report in the spirit of transparency.

Some examples of CSR initiatives we have constantly implemented in the MEA countries are: i.

Parsons Abu Dhabi and Dubai Offices organize market days regularly for Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs. Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs provides quality and effective training to children who have Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other challenges.

The stall is set up to sell products from “Smiles n’ Stuff” - Al Noor’s very own vocational training gift shop, the only one of its kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council, where all the products are handcrafted by children with special needs. This initiative helps raise awareness and funds for Al Noor.

ii.

We have supported Emirates Foundation for several programs, including scholarships, career orientation, internship and schools sustainability education seminars.

iii. For two consecutive years, Parsons served as a Gold Sponsor of the Saadiyat Beach Classic held at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. Hosted by Gary Player, golfing legend and course designer, the first charity event in 2010 marked the opening of Saadiyat Island’s first tourist attraction. Parsons was pleased to sponsor the Saadiyat Beach Classic, especially since it raised funds for charities that support underprivileged children regionally and worldwide. iv. Parsons Oman donated central processing units and monitors (which would have otherwise been disposed) to schools and social centers. v.

We constantly have blood donation campaigns in several countries in the GCC, in close cooperation with the relevant health authorities.

vi. Our Saudi Arabia operations work closely with King Saud and Princess Nourah Universities, for which we provide orientations and internship opportunities.

vii. Our office in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia has organized yearly beach cleanup activities to help raise awareness and protect the environment.

How Engineers Can Be Promoted This Year According to Bosses This is what the engineering managers said: It’s a brand new year but it’s the same old job, at least for most of us. And what is a better way to start 2018? By having new year’s resolutions aligned to our career goals. Perhaps one of which is to get promoted.

But how can we do that? Bosses and engineering managers have weighed in, and this is what they said:

Collaboration An engineer who is a team player often yields positive feedback from co-workers. And it doesn’t take so much time before your ability to work with others reaches your boss and consider levelling up your position status.

Ownership For most bosses, it’s all about owning what the engineers do. That only means that they are dedicated to their work assignment and get things done. There has to be desire.

Effort Of course if you want to get promoted, you have to show an effort that you deserve it. Are you going beyond your regular tasks or doing something to be a lot more productive at work?

That is a key trait for engineers who want to get a higher position.

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Reliability Your boss should be able to trust you more and more in a lot of matters as you go up the workplace hierarchy. Show up on time, have initiative, and deliver.

Learning from Failure It’s only understandable for engineers to make mistakes at work, and there is only one way to deal: learn from them. Possessing this skill will make your boss think that you are able to turn things around when things go wrong and especially when you have more power in deciding.

Autonomy Other than collaboration, you should also have autonomy. This means that you have what it takes to work and decide on your own.

Honesty Honesty is still the best policy. For engineers seeking for promotion, this means total transparency with a higher-up even if it is negative.

Hard work Hardworking engineers have the greatest edge in moving up their careers this year. Managers appreciate those who go the extra mile at work and sweat their way to success.

Creativity It also takes creativity for engineers who succeed – those who think outside the box.

They are the kind of engineers who offer different kinds of solutions when the boss’ choice did not work.

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75F Introduces the Smart Node™ Equipment Controller for Flexible Building Automation with Software-defined Benefits Building Intelligence company 75F announces the 75® Smart Node™ Equipment Controller, a first-of-its-kind product design combining onboard OLED display, eleven I/O interface ports, daisychained 24V power, wireless-mesh networking, and software-defined hardware capabilities.

The Smart Node is part of 75F’s verticallyintegrated suite of smart building products for HVAC and lighting automation, delivering 50

Construction Leaders • February 2018

energy-efficiency, indoor air quality and healthy, comfortable indoor environments. Watch the Overview Video.

Sensing & Control for a Range of Equipment and Applications The 75F Smart Node controls single-stage equipment, working with your existing HVAC equipment brands and system profiles as a quick-install retrofit or a new-build solution.

In addition to multiple sensor inputs, the 75F Smart Node monitors and controls terminal equipment, including air handling units, economizer damper actuators, VAV with reheat systems, smart dampers, heat pumps, hot water mixing valves, energy meters, lighting panels, LED lights...and more.

SoftwareDefined Hardware Configuration Adjusts to Your Systems and Workflows Using dynamic application assignment, where software assigns hardware profiles, the 75F Smart Node accommodates different equipment and processes.

No need for a specific controller model/SKU for each application. No programming required. And, you get remotely-delivered updates and improvements.

configurations such as zone pairing, and override controls to diagnose equipment problems.

Illuminated text confirms ports in use for applications.

Part of an Easilydeployed, Verticallyintegrated Smart Building Automation System The 75F Smart Node uses secure, proprietary 900Mhz communications with the 75F® Central Control Unit™ (CCU), serving as a field controller, which also offers direct equipment control. Manage your entire system from the 75F® Facilisight™ suite of web and mobile apps. Remote monitoring and management, including scheduling changes across hundreds of buildings with a single click. The 75F® Occupant App™ puts zone control in the hands of individuals.

75F is Removing the Barriers to Building Automation with “Building Intelligence in a Box” Traditional building controls systems are overbuilt and require extensive resources to install, set-up, custom program and maintain – creating high costs of acquisition and ownership. 75F’s verticallyintegrated suite of wireless sensors, equipment controllers and cloud-based software deliver a single-pane-ofglass management across applications. With easy outof-the-box functionality, no programming is required. Easy enough for 8-year-olds to install.

OLED Display & Backlit Text Simplify Installation and Troubleshooting The display elements change contextually, based on the equipment profile and application processes. For example, when controlling an airflow damper, percent open, room temperature, and airflow temperatures would display.

The technician can see live performance data, setup initial

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Cool Air Products Introduces AC/ SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL, an Inert Leak-Stopper Designed for Convenient Application and Permanent Repair of Refrigerant Leaks The newest innovation from Cool Air Products offers an external leak-stopping solution that’s both easy to apply and suitable for any material.

AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL is a putty-like compound that creates a strong seal with no mess and no need for a flame. The product is compatible with all lubricants and refrigerant gases, and leaves no residue in the lines.

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“The responses to AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL from the market have exceeded expectations,” says Cool Air Products President Mike Walton.

“There is not another product like this in today’s HVAC/R industry. Our company has been able to attract loyal contractors because of our ability to quickly produce and deliver new, innovative products. Our philosophy is to take direct feedback from product users, and turn the feedback into quality products with those users in mind.”

AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL works flawlessly within a temperature range of -148 to 520 degrees F. The material is inert and cures quickly. It’s capable of sealing leaks up to 5mm and pressure up to 825 psi. Once applied, the product forms a permanent seal. While every repair is different, AC/ SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL has been designed to be as versatile as possible, making the product an indispensable part of any HVAC/R repair toolkit.

No tools or additives are required to apply AC/ SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL i Repair technicians should first locate leaks using the standard methods. Next, the system must be deactivated, and the application area cleaned. Technicians should cut off just enough AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL to form a ring around the pipe’s entire diameter and cover 0.5 inches on all sides of the leak. The two components must be mixed together with fingers until the color becomes a uniform grey. The putty also generates a slight warmth as the chemical reaction takes place. After applying AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL as directed, technicians should ideally wait a few hours before powering up the system. Optionally, a heat gun can accelerate the curing process to as fast as 45 minutes.

AC/SMARTSEAL EXTERNAL and AC/SMARTSEAL (for internal leak repair) can be used together — the products are not just compatible, but in fact reinforce each other’s effectiveness. Once completely cured, the surface seal can be sanded to a smooth finish. If removal is necessary, grease/ seal remover and pliers will do the trick.

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Machine Performance Analytics Bring OEM Expertise Into Producer’s Digital Environment To better connect industrial producers with expertise outside their production environment, Rockwell Automation offers the FactoryTalk Analytics for Machines cloud for OEMs. time performance insights are displayed to Cama Group service engineers in five, easyto-navigate screens.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has increased the availability of information throughout the enterprise by orchestrating data from multiple sources and applying machinelearning applications. But the power of new IIoT tools to improve machine performance is limited when those with access to information are not experts on the machine, leaving powerful machine information untapped.

To better connect industrial producers with expertise outside their production environment, Rockwell Automation offers the FactoryTalk Analytics for Machines cloud for OEMs. Cloud-enabled analytics provide machine data organized in intuitive dashboards that pull from machines deployed across the globe.

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“By bringing the expertise of OEMs into a producer’s ecosystem, smart machines perform better, and critical process anomalies can be quickly resolved,” said Todd Smith, product manager at Rockwell Automation. “Cloudbased machine analytics give OEMs real-time and historical insights into how their equipment is operating from anywhere, so they can collaborate with customers to help reduce downtime.”

An IIoT-enabled packaging machine from Cama Group showcases the value of increased collaboration to both OEMs and end users. The machine offers independent cart technology for fast changeovers, while the FactoryTalk Analytics for Machines cloud relays critical KPI data to the cloud. Real-

A primary display shows a global map indicating every machine at all customer sites the OEM has subscribed to the service. In addition to the display is summary information on machine status and recent OEE performance. A simple search function then allows service engineers to filter by specific end users, locations or machine types for further analysis. At the machine level, OEMs can also view information about machine states, top events, production counts, cycle time attainment, and custom process variables and counters for the last three months on pre-configured dashboards and drill-down screens.

The system requires minimal setup from the OEM, and can be deployed and fully functional in a matter of minutes. A subscription-based model allows OEMs maximum flexibility and low, predictable costs.

The FactoryTalk Analytics for Machines cloud is part of a larger, expanding ecosystem of analytics offerings from Rockwell Automation.

New Insulgard Security Product Torgard TTH600 Window system undergoing Debris Impact testing. Insulgard Security Products, the industry leader in architectural security products, has introduced the advanced new Torgard TTH600 Window system – the first fully glazed window system certified by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) to meet critical standards for use in tornado and hurricane storm shelters mandated by the 2015 International Building Code.

New Fully Glazed Window System from Insulgard Security Products is First to Earn UL Certification to ICC 500-14 meeting FEMA P-361-15 Guidelines Torgard TTH600 window system has been tested and certified by UL to meet the new ICC 500-14 and FEMA P-361-15 requirements for use in tornado and hurricane safe rooms and shelters, including in a 250mph wind zone. A link to the listing can be found on the UL Online Certifications Directory. The new enhancements to ICC 500 and FEMA P-361 include: - An increased safety factor of 1.2 times the design wind pressure resulting in test pressures of +292/-368psf; 56

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- Testing of the smallest and largest size of each window configuration including pressure, debris impact and cycling; - Mandatory certification/labeling by a nationally recognized testing laboratory which includes periodic quality inspection.

In addition, the TTH600 system is thermally broken and has been tested for bullet resistance meeting UL 752 levels 1-3.

“UL is very excited to provide testing and certification to ICC 500-2014 of what we know to be the industry’s first fully glazed window system,” said Dave Stammen, principal engineer of the Building Envelope business at UL. “Insulgard’s TTH600 is another example of some of the products we test to rigorous storm shelter requirements at our Chicagoland based facility, and is the first window system to earn our Windstorm Certification to the FEMA guidelines and ICC 500-2014.”

Since the 2000 introduction of FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Insulgard has been at the forefront in designing aluminum windows and storefront systems to meet these very challenging standards, which include debris impacts of 15# 2x4s at 100mph.

The new Torgard TTH600 window system is the latest of Insulgard’s advancements.

Using our advanced security technologies, we engineered the new Torgard TTH600 window system to withstand extremely high winds and the impact from debris associated with those winds, while providing an aesthetic architectural design that admits plentiful natural light. Our solution delivers high protective effectiveness and pleasing design aesthetics to any facility that a community may depend on to provide safe, sheltering environments.”

For more information on this product, please contact Insulgard Security Products at 1-800624-6315 or visit www.insulgard.com.

The Torgard TTH600 window system is designed to allow natural light into the safe room without the need for storm shutters that have to be manually closed in the case of a storm event.

The window itself is the protective system and is always in place.

An increased effort to build more tornado shelters, especially in schools and emergency response facilities, has been a priority in tornadoprone areas since the devastating tornado that hit Moore, OK, in 2013, which resulted in 51 fatalities, including children who sought shelter in a local school. As a part of this effort, section 423.3 and 423.4 of the 2015 International Building Code requires a storm shelter in all new K-12 schools, emergency operations centers, police stations, and fire and rescue stations built in the 250mph wind zone as referenced within ICC 500. It also stipulates that storm shelters and all components used in the storm shelter meet ICC 500-14. In many cases these storm shelters serve as dual-use facilities such as gymnasiums, cafeterias, classrooms or entire buildings.

“Extreme weather and human threats are all too common in today’s world,” said Gerry Sagerman, Sales Development for Insulgard. “Protection comes first, but it’s also important – especially in schools – to provide an appealing environment rather than a windowless, ‘bunker-like’ enclosure.

New Insulgard Security Product Torgard TTH600 Window system Insulgard Security Products, the industry leader in architectural security products, has introduced the advanced new Torgard TTH600 Window system – the first fully glazed window system certified by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) to meet critical standards for use in tornado and hurricane storm shelters mandated by the 2015 International Building Code.

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Applied Software Earns Patent for Process Used in LevelUp™ Software Information Models (BIM) software through its ease of use and ability to seamlessly switch between two- and three-dimensional representations in the field.

LevelUp has three modules:

Applied Software®, a leading systems integrator to the Architecture/Engineering/Construction and Manufacturing industries, announced today that it has earned a patent for the process used in the company’s innovative LevelUp™ Software System. Using LevelUp, design and construction professionals can easily generate and switch seamlessly between two-dimensional and threedimensional views of every floor of a threedimensional virtual construction model.

“As a software developer, our primary goal is to look for ways technology can make it easier for AEC workers— from the architect through to the builder—to bring a concept to fruition,” said Richard Burroughs, president of Applied Software. “LevelUp gives workers different ways to interpret plans by allowing them to more easily switch between two- and threedimensional views.”

LevelUp gives workers capabilities they didn’t have access to before. For example, twodimensional views of multiple floors can be integrated directly into a three-dimensional model. The on-site crew can choose the best view, either 2D or 3D, to help them complete their work in the field.

The process patent, which was approved on October 31, 2017, covers “creating twodimensional floor plans within three-dimensional models.” The inventors are listed as Mark Petrucci and Xiao Chun Yao, both of Atlanta.

The technology differs from older Building

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- Module 1 takes a 3D building and creates both 2D and 3D views of each floor or level. This benefits BIM/VDC teams by automating the process of generating associated 2D and 3D views of every level of a multi-story building.

- Module 2 merges the 2D and 3D view of each level and uploads the new file to the cloud for anytime, anywhere access. Jobsite teams can quickly and easily alternate between viewing each level’s 2D drawing or 3D model.

- Module 3 allows BIM/VDC managers to export each level’s 3D model to Autodesk® Navisworks® Manage, thereby improving the ability for advanced coordination.

About Applied Software Applied Software is a premier, full-service systems integrator firm serving the AEC and Manufacturing industries, as well as a leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) services provider. Applied Software provides delivery and support in North America for fabrication and construction solutions. The firm works with industry leading solutions developers and is the developer of industry specific solutions such as eVolve™ for electrical prefabrication. Since 1982, it has helped more than 5,000 clients achieve high-performance and competitive advantage through its broad range of worldclass solutions and services. Applied Software further distinguishes itself with the depth of realworld experience of its developers and service professionals. The firm has been the recipient of numerous industry recognitions and awards. For more information on Applied Software’s solutions and services, please visit www.asti.com.