On-Site April 2015

APRIL 2015

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VOLUME 57, NO.3 / APRIL 2015

COVER STORY 26 The ABCs of ABC Accelerated Bridge Construction, or Rapid Bridge Replacement, is growing in popularity as infrastructure ages and traffic congestion gets worse.

DEPARTMENTS 7 Comment

82

The HR Nightmare; are you ready for the labour crunch?

11 News Industry news

21 BuildForce Ten-year forecast predicts business growth and wave of retirements

25 Construction Stats The latest news on building permits and construction employment

COLUMNS 59 Risk The Future of Construction?

Asset Management!

62 Contractors and the Law Incorporation of main contract by reference in the subcontract.

60

Index of Advertisers

features 33

41

Doing Asphalt Right

Building Bridges from the Site to BIM

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Survey equipment found on a growing number of jobsites is so powerful that it is transforming how construction projects are planned, negotiated and built.

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EDITORIAL

The HR nightmare

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very once in a while, an industry faces a huge problem barrelling straight toward it – right down the middle of the highway.

Just like in a nightmare, you can see it coming for miles and that still doesn’t mean that you will be able to dodge it.

One such problem is the coming construction labour shortage. If you think worker shortages are bad now, they are about to get much worse.

The combination of large-scale retirements and growth in construction markets over the coming decade is leading to a serious labour crunch, as the latest forecast from BuildForce Canada (see report on page 21) suggests.

It isn’t just your own workforce that is going to be affected. The whole industry – your subcontractors and partners, too – is going to be hit. Many of them may not be as well-prepared or taking this as seriously as you are. Some smaller subs may simply go out of business, as the owner retires without a succession plan.

Parts of the industry will have to go through some changes in attitude.

One is the role of women in construction. To use the popular phrase, I don’t get why this is “still a thing.” Women make intelligent, hardworking and organized construction workers and have held leading roles in the industry for many years now. Careers in construction can offer many women the challenge, responsibility and financial security they are looking for in a career.

It’s a sad fact that the programs are still very important. You would think we would be past that by now. We are still trying to educate both the industry and potential female workers that they have a place in construction. If there is any lingering doubt about the benefits that female workers can bring to your firm, some re-education is needed. If you have an opportunity to encourage women to consider a career in the industry, take it.

As well, there are programs tapping into the First Nations workforce as part of the solution.

This could very well require a cultural change at your company – some workers could be carrying baggage about the characters and work ethics of Aboriginal workers, before they even set foot on the site! Don’t let stereotypes hamstring your recruiting efforts.

Foreign workers aren’t even a stopgap solution. The Temporary Foreign Worker program has become a political football, partly because some employers have abused it. As of this month, the federal government is requiring TFWs who had reached the end of their four-year assignments to leave the country – no matter what. Tens of thousands of “low-skilled” workers will be affected.

The headlights are getting closer. Many of the industry associations are already taking leadership positions on this. It’s time to get involved and engage in joint action that is going to benefit your business.

It won’t be a slam-dunk. I once spoke with a manager who had escorted a guidance counsellor and some students through his facility. As they were leaving, he asked the counsellor what he thought of the operation. His reply was, “It’s too dirty. I would never suggest to a student that they ask for a job in this industry.” I guess he thought that all his students could become guidance counsellors.

By the time you read this, you will have received an invitation to participate in On-Site’s Top Contractors survey. It’s a valuable research tool on who’s who in the industry and levels of business, as well as a celebration of Canadian success. Your participation is very much appreciated. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact editor@on-sitemag.com.

Jim Barnes / Contributing Editor

on-sitemag.com / 7

CONTRIBUTORS www.on-sitemag.com / Fax: 416-510-5140

PUBLISHER | Peter Leonard (416) 510-6847 PLeonard@on-sitemag.com EDITOR/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | Corinne Lynds (416) 510-6821 CLynds@on-sitemag.com (on mat-leave) CONTRIBUTING EDITOR | James A. Barnes ART DIRECTOR | Mark Ryan (416) 442-5600 x3541 MRyan@annexnewcom.ca ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | David Skene (416) 510-6884 DSkene@on-sitemag.com SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR | Kim Rossiter (416) 510-6794 KRossiter@annexbizmedia.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS FOR THIS ISSUE JIM BARNES / CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, ON-SITE On The ABCs of ABC: “ABC bridges are significantly more expensive, in most cases. But as with anything else in construction, there’s the price, and then there’s the cost.”

PRODUCTION MANAGER | Steve Hofmann 416-510-6757 SHofmann@annexnewcom.ca CIRCULATION MANAGER | Selina Rahaman (416) 442-5600 x3528 SRahaman@annexnewcom.ca Published by Annex Business Media 80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON M3B 2S9 Vice President Annex Business Media East | Tim Dimopoulos (416) 510-5100 tdimopoulos@annexbizmedia.com President & CEO Mike Fredericks mfredericks@annexweb.com

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MEMBER OF

DAVID BOWCOTT / SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, NATIONAL DIRECTOR LARGE/STRATEGIC ACCOUNTS, CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, AON On Asset Management: “So why might Asset Management be the future of construction? Well, it could be that construction expertise is in fact the future of Asset Management.”

DAVID GODKIN / CONTRIBUTING FREELANCE WRITER & EDITOR On Doing Asphalt Right: “Canadian paving contractors can do a better job of building paved structures with the requisite strength, flexibility, durability and frictional properties clients want by taking another look at underused technologies.”

LAUREN E. KRISTJANSON / LAWYER, AND JACK FINN, ARTICLING STUDENT, BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP On Incorporation of Main Contract by Reference in the Subcontract: “If the subcontract attempts to incorporate the main contract by reference, and the main contract contains unexpected or unknown terms, these terms may not be binding on the parties to the subcontract.”

JACOB STOLLER / PRINCIPAL, STOLLERSTRATEGIES Building Bridges from the site to BIM: “It is this magical combination of state-of-the-art measurement and virtual modeling that is changing the game in construction.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY>NEWS IHSA is approved heights trainer One of the first of Ontario’s Working at Heights Training Providers has been approved by the Chief Prevention Officer of the Ministry of Labour – the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA), Mississauga. As of April 1, all of the organization’s one-day Working at Heights: Fundamentals of Fall Prevention courses will meet the requirements of Ontario’s Working at Heights Training Standard.

The courses will be offered at many locations in Ontario, including through 85 training partners such as union training centres, member employers and schools that meet IHSA’s standards for program delivery.

Workers on construction projects must complete a Working at Heights training pro-

gram that has been approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer if they are required to use any of the following methods of fall protection: • • • • • •

A A A A A A

travel restraint system fall restricting system fall arrest system safety net work belt safety belt

The training will be valid for three years from the date of completion. Workers who already have training that meets the requirements set out in set out in section 26.2 of the Construction Projects Regulation (213/91) will have two years (until April 1, 2017) to complete an approved working at heights training program.

OHMPA Names Smith as 2015 President The Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (OHMPA) named a new president during its 2015 Annual General Meeting in March in Toronto.

Steve Smith, vice president, Paving and Construction with The Miller Group will replace outgoing president Bentley Ehgoetz, director of operations for Lavis Contracting Ltd. “… To me, it’s always been about education,” noted Smith. “We’re the experts, and we’re striving to get even better. That’s the exciting challenge.”

Keynote speaker for the event was Lou Schizas, broadcaster, investor, educator and entrepreneur. He entertained and informed with his vision of an ambitious life richly-lived, “Happy Capitalism.”

Steve Smith was named president at OHMPA AGM.

PCA: BC Hydro Site C should be open to all to bid Union and non-union workers and contractors deserve the right to bid and work on the massive BC Hydro Site C project, argues the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada.

“Excluding progressively unionized and non-union skilled tradespersons from working on large scale projects like this serves no one,” says Paul de Jong, president of the association, in a recent press release.

Speaking in response to proposed court action by the BC and Yukon Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) that would seek to ban any non-BCTC workers from working on Site C, de Jong notes that the premise of BCTC’s argument is inaccurate and does not represent the modern labour reality in BC. “Today, BC’s largest infrastructure projects rely upon a labour organized in different ways: traditional unions, progressively-organized labour like CLAC, and non-union. There’s room – and frankly great need right now – for a variety of labour-management models and a broad and inclusive labour force.”

“A little competition would do the industry – and the province – a whole lot of good,” he adds.

De Jong points out that companies that use progressively organized labour have successfully built some of BC’s and western Canada’s largest projects, like the Sea-to-Sky highway and the Port Mann Bridge – not to mention many of the major projects and mines in the Alberta oil sands and BC’s north.

“PCA member companies employ well over 25,000 skilled tradespersons in Western Canada,” de Jong notes. “Projects like Site C simply can’t be completed – let alone completed on time and under budget – by BCTC unions alone. We’re going to need to pull together with all of BC’s resources to complete this and other large projects on BC’s horizon – including LNG.”

on-sitemag.com / 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

tant opportunity for Canada’s construction industry, according to Buildforce. With up to one-quarter of the workforce retiring over the next decade, 250,000 positions will need to be filled.

BuildForce Canada is encouraging more women to consider a career in construction at its Careers in Construction website, www.careersinconstruction.ca.

Female role models step up A rising number of female role models are stepping up to pave the way for more young women, according to BuildForce Canada. The organization made the remarks as it prepared to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) and the difference women are making in the construction industry.

BuildForce Canada is a national industry-led organization that represents all sectors of Canada’s construction industry.

Its mandate is to provide accurate and timely labour market data and analysis, as well as programs and initiatives to help manage workforce requirements and build the capacity and the capability of Canada’s construction and maintenance workforce.

“Industry culture and attitudes are changing from the inside out,” said Rosemary Sparks, executive director of BuildForce Canada. “One of the biggest changes we’re seeing is in the number of successful female tradespeople sharing their experience and actively encouraging more young women to join them.”

Jamie McMillan, a Hamilton ironworker since 2002, has been an inspiration to hundreds of young women, noted the organization. McMillan speaks in high school classrooms and at national trade events, opening doors to all of the career possibilities for young women in the skilled trades.

“We need to get the word out that women can do these jobs, and do them well,” says McMillan. “Awareness is important, because the more women realize it’s a great way to make a living, the more women we’ll see in the skilled trades.”

Female workers represent an impor-

12 / APRIL 2015

Construction firms qualify for Canada Job Grant program Federal funding for job training is just an application away for construction-sector companies in Canada.

The Canada Job Grant program provides funding for training programs offered by eligible third-party trainers, such as community or career colleges, trade union centres or private trainers. Gold Seal certification courses have qualified in the recent past.

The government provides two-thirds of the cost of training, up to a maximum

of $10,000 per grant. Employers will be required to contribute the remaining onethird of the training costs. Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees could also benefit from flexible arrangements, such as the potential to count wages as part of their employer contribution.

Training can take place in a variety of settings, including a classroom, at a workplace or online. Funds may be used towards tuition fees or fees charged by training providers; mandatory student fees; textbooks, software and other required materials; and examination fees.

Here’s how it works. Suppose a construction company has an opening for a construction site manager. The company hires a long-time construction worker but he/she needs training in project management. The cost of the training is $1,500.

The company then applies for and receives a Canada Job Grant for $1,000 and pays the balance.

NHES taps into infrastructure wave The National Heavy Equipment Show, held in March at the International Centre in Mississauga, experienced its largest attendance to date, drawing 13,772 buyers over the two days of the event.

NHES drew nearly 14,000 industry professionals.

Attendance has been on the rise for the past four editions of this well as a session from the Association of biennial event, and has increased more Ontario Road Supervisors. Also included than 30 per cent since 2009. were the Gravel Pit, a focus on Snow & “We have been hearing positive Ice Removal, the Rental Pavilion, the reports on all fronts,” said Mark Cusack, Recruiting Here feature, and a focus on national show manager, Master PromoSafety Products. tions Ltd. “The focus on improving The Industry Breakfast featured public infrastructure right across the keynote speaker Bob Collins, senior country brought key decision-makers and economist with BuildForce Canada, purchasers directly to the show.” who delivered a session entitled, 2015: Special features of the event inA Forecast for the Industry. cluded the Heavy Education seminars as The next NHES is scheduled for 2017.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Rosemont-les-Quartiers is a $250M investment.

Réseau Sélection investing in 30 projects in Quebec Réseau Sélection will invest $2 billion over the next five years to build 30 new seniors’ housing projects in Quebec. The Greater Montreal region is the focus of this investment, which will see 25 projects developed, eight of them on Montreal Island.

Réseau Sélection’s expansion will create 7,000 jobs during construction and, upon completion, 4,000 direct jobs across the network.

“This investment plan responds to an expanding market and will make it possible to meet growing demand from seniors, who will represent one-quarter of Quebec’s population in 15 years’ time,” said Réal Bouclin, CEO of Réseau Sélection.

Rosemont-les-Quartiers is one of the

flagship projects in the expansion program.

The multipurpose complex is being built on the nearly 46,450 sq m. site of the former Norampac plant in Rosemont-la-Petite-Patrie. With an investment of $250 million, this will be the largest project of this type ever carried out in Quebec. It was developed in partnership with Claridge and Centria.

“Rosemont-Les-Quartiers is one of the important urban-planning initiatives that will reconnect the eastern and western parts of Rosemont. We’re proud to develop this innovative project that will encourage social and functional diversity, and create a dynamic intergenerational environment,” concluded Bouclin.

Saskatchewan budget 2015 throws weight into infrastructure Capital projects were front and centre in Saskatchewan’s 2015/2016 budget, released March 18. In fact, at more than $3.3 billion, the budget represents the largest single-year capital commitment in the province’s history, with projects ranging from investments in power transmission and telecommunications networks to highways, schools and hospitals.

The funds will come through the Saskatchewan Builds Capital Plan and the province’s Crown corporations.

“This budget begins a $5.8-billion, fouryear commitment through the Saskatchewan Builds Capital Plan to build schools, health care facilities, highways, municipal infrastructure and roads and bridges,” finance minister Ken Krawetz said.

In 2015-16, the Saskatchewan Builds Capital Plan will commit $1.3 billion to core capital projects – an increase of almost 50 per cent over last year’s capital budget.

Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations, including SaskPower, SaskTel and SaskEnergy, are projected to spend $2.0 billion on capital projects in 2015-16, matching the previous year’s budget for Crown infrastructure.

14 / APRIL 2015

INDUSTRY NEWS

Among other sources, the government plans to finance these commitments with an estimated $700 million in debt.

“Saskatchewan’s capital needs con-

CCA applauds industry leaders

The contributions of outstanding member individuals and organizations were recognized by the Canadian Construction Association at its annual general meeting in San Antonio, Tex. in March.

The 2014 CCA award recipients were:

tinue to grow and delaying needed projects would mean higher construction costs down

the line,” said Krawetz. He also cited the potential for job creation.

Other sources of funding include the use of P3s, federal funding through initiatives like the Gas Tax Fund and the New Canada Building Program, contributions for the sale of Information Services Corporation and contributions from operations.

Among the planned expenditures for 2015-2016 are: • $581 million to transportation infrastructure projects, including $211 million for the next phase of the Regina Bypass (for which a P3 procurement evaluation is underway) • $74.5 million for municipal infrastructure • $248.5 million for K-12 schools and education, including $157.4 million for nine joint-use schools which are being evaluated as P3 projects.

• $46.6 million for post-secondary education institutions for capital initiatives, including $23 million for continued construction of the Southeast Regional College, Academic Health Sciences Facility at the University of Saskatchewan, and the Parkland Regional College Trades and Technology Centre • $256.4 million in healthcare capital commitments, including $129 million to begin site preparation and construction of the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford-Integrated Correctional Facility (another possible P3 project) • $64.9 million for construction of the Swift Current Long-Term Care Facility, using a P3 procurement model. Construction will begin on the Leader Integrated Care Facility.

• $102 million for major capital projects in support of government programs, including the Parks Capital program and new court and corrections facilities.

General Contractor Award of Recognition - Jason Ball, Ball Construction Trade Contractor Award of Recognition - Kevin McEvoy, Guildfords Civil Infrastructure Award of Recognition – Frank Rizzardo, Emcon Services Gold Seal Association Award - Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association Community Leader Award - Norm Castonguay, Asbex Environmental Contractors and Heritage Grade Partner Association Award - Association de la construction du Québec International Business Award - Sièges Ducharme Environmental Achievement Award – PCL National Safety Award - Grand Valley Construction Association Excellence in Innovation Award – PCL “It gives me great pleasure to highlight these individuals, companies and associations for their contributions that benefit the Canadian construction industry”, said Serge Massicotte, CCA’s chair. “The CCA award recipients truly are an inspiration for us all to try to reach the next level.”

Full details on the awards are available on the web at awards.cca-acc.com.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Firms shortlisted for Etobicoke hospital Three construction consortium teams have been shortlisted for a contract to design, build, finance and maintain the new Phase 1 patient tower project at Etobicoke General Hospital in northwest Toronto.

The three teams will be invited to respond to a request for proposals, expected to be issued in April 2015. The teams include: EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare Developer: EllisDon Capital Inc. Design: CannonDesign Ltd. Construction: EllisDon Design Build Inc. Facilities management: Johnson Controls Canada L.P Financial advisor: CIBC World Markets Inc. Etobicoke Healthcare Partnership Developer: Fiera Axium Infrastructure Canada II LP and DIF Infra 3 Canada Ltd. Design: HDR Inc. Construction: Walsh Canada Facilities management: Cofely Services Inc. Financial advisor: Brookfield Financial Corp.

Plenary Health Developer: Plenary Group (Canada) Ltd and PCL Investments Canada Inc. Design: RTKL Associates Inc. and NORR Architects Engineers Planners Construction: PCL Constructors Canada Inc. Facilities management: Honeywell Limited Financial advisor: RBC Capital Markets The project involves the construction of a four-storey wing, adding approximately 23,226 sq. m. of space to the existing building. Some project features include: • a larger, state-of-the-art emergency department • an ICU/CCU that is nearly four times larger than the current space • larger patient rooms that are filled with natural light and provide privacy and space • a maternal newborn unit with birthing suites and a specialized Level II nursery • an ambulatory procedures unit featur-

EllisDon Ledcor PAAV Inc. hands over Pan Am Games village The CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletes’ Village has been turned over to the Games’ organizers, five months ahead of the opening of the multi-sport event being hosted in the Greater Toronto Area.

Built by EllisDon Ledcor PAAV Inc. — part of the Dundee Kilmer Developments consortium selected by Infrastructure Ontario — this multi-faceted project included the construction of seven mid-rise buildings on the 35-acre West Don Lands site. The $514 million development will accommodate 10,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from 41 competing nations July 10-August 15.

Following the Games, the area will be transformed into the mixed-use Canary District Community, a new neighbourhood that will offer market condos and townhomes, affordable rental housing, retail space, the Cooper Koo Family YMCA and George Brown College’s first student residence.

Apart from meeting the design requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), this village was built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification standards and is located steps from the Distillery District, and approximately 31 km from Toronto Pearson International Airport.

“We are thrilled to add this outstanding work to our long list of flagship projects,” said Kieran Hawe, EllisDon vice president/area manager, Toronto Operations. “In transforming an underutilized site into a highly diverse and sustainable hub, we claim this new waterfront community as a major triumph for ourselves, and for the city of Toronto.”

“We were proud to partner with EllisDon — and be a part of the Dundee Kilmer Development team — to construct this world-class facility,” said Mark Johnson, senior vice president, Ledcor Construction. “Each company provided a unique and invaluable contribution to the project, which is destined to become one of the defining legacies of this summer’s Games.”

ing procedure/operating rooms, pre- and post-op preparation and recovery areas and dedicated clinic spaces, including a respiratory clinic.

The project will focus on sustainable design and construction, with the goal

of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. LEED buildings focus on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources.

on-sitemag.com / 17

Get Listed!

Work has begun on On-Site’s in-depth report covering Canada’s construction contracting professionals.

Published in June, this invaluable tool is used throughout the industry to research and source leading contractors across the country.

Top Contractors now has a category for firms with less than 50 full-time employees.

The Top Contractor Under 50 Employee category winner will be interviewed and featured in the issue!

Whether you’re looking to attract new talent, seek merger/ acquisition opportunities or simply “strut your stuff” the annual Top Contractors report is the place to be.

To “get listed” simply visit on-sitemag.com and click on the Top Contractors tab, complete and fax back. If you have any questions please contact Kim at 416-510-6794 or you can email Kim at krossiter@on-sitemag.com To advertise your company in the Top Contractors edition please contact David at 416-510-6884 or email David at dskene@on-sitemag.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

They also checked for policies and procedures that ensure an investigation takes place into all fall-related incidents. As well, they checked for programs that outline the roles of workplace parties for ensuring good “housekeeping” practices to keep workplaces free of falls hazards.

MoL issues 6,500 orders during fall-prevention blitz Ontario Ministry of Labour inspectors issued 584 stop-work orders along with nearly 6,500 general orders during a summer blitz looking for fall hazards on ICI construction sites across the province.

“Falls are the number one cause of critical injuries and deaths of workers at construction sites in Ontario,” the ministry says in a recent report summarizing the blitz results.

The top three most commonly issued orders were for violations involving: • f ailure to use personal protective equipment • failure to erect guardrails • failure to use other forms of fall protection when guardrails were not reasonably possible

Inspectors checked for hazards involved in a broad range of falls, including ladders elevating work platforms, suspended access equipment and structures, as well as falls from one level to another.

The goal of the pre-announced blitz was to: • r aise awareness of hazards involving falls hazards at construction projects • increase worksite compliance with the law • prevent injuries that could arise from unsafe work practices

The blitz responds to the Chief Prevention Officer’s call to action for falls prevention and supports the integrated action plan to Prevent Falls from Heights: a collaborative plan of action between the ministry and its partners in occupational health and safety.

Inspection blitzes are part of the

Falls from ladders, mobile stands and platforms: Inspectors checked that workers were adequately using ladders, stands and platforms. They also checked that the ladders, stands and platforms were properly assessed for hazards, properly designed, built and maintained and placed on firm footing.

province’s Safe at Work Ontario compliance strategy. They are announced to the sector by the ministry in advance, although individual workplaces are not identified in advance. Results are posted on the ministry’s website. The blitzes raise awareness of workplace hazards and are intended to promote compliance with the OHSA and its regulations.

Inspectors’ findings may impact the frequency and level of future inspections of individual workplaces. Inspectors may also refer employers to health and safety associations for compliance assistance, and health and safety-related training.

INSPECTORS FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING KEY PRIORITIES: Employer duties: Inspectors checked that employers had policies and programs in place to protect workers from falls hazards as well as emergency procedures if a fall took place at a construction project. Inspectors also checked that employers were providing appropriate access to and egress from work areas and ensuring ladder safety.

Safe work practices: Inspectors checked that employers had safe work practices, including assessing fall hazards risks and responding immediately to any hazards.

Guardrails and guarded openings: Inspectors checked that guardrails were in place and that floor openings, work surfaces or walls of buildings or other structures were covered, as required.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety devices: Inspectors checked that fall protection equipment was being properly selected, used and maintained for tasks.

They also checked on the availability, adequacy and condition of this equipment.

Worker training: Inspectors checked that workers were properly trained and supervised to prevent injuries and deaths from falls hazards. They also checked that workers were aware of their right to refuse unsafe work.

Falls from heights: Inspectors checked that guardrails, travel restraint or fall arrest equipment were being used for work on platforms, raised floors, mezzanines, balconies or other work at heights. They checked that appropriate methods for controlling hazards that could lead to falls were included in constructor and employer health and safety policies and programs, including engineering controls and personal protective equipment, adequate housekeeping and the use of appropriate administrative controls.

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Labour market

BUILDFORCE CANADA: 250,000 to retire over next 10 years

C

anadian contractors are facing a major labour challenge, according to BuildForce Canada, as nearly a quarter of a million workers – about 21 per cent of the construction workforce – retire over the decade to come. The organization published its latest data in mid-March in 2015-2024 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward.

BuildForce Canada represents all sectors of Canada’s construction industry. It provides labour market data and analysis, as well as programs to help manage workforce requirements and build capacity and capability. Its labour market information system tracks 34 trades and occupations.

“Replacing that many retirees is an ongoing challenge,” said Rosemary Sparks, the organization’s executive director. “Industry can’t afford to let up on recruitment, whether it’s attracting young people, workers from other industries, or from outside the country.”

Even as workers are retiring, 81,000 new positions will be created over the forecast period.

The composition of resource-related investments is changing, particularly in the area of major infrastructure projects. “As oil investments slow, opportunities continue in pipeline, transportation systems, electricity generation and distribution projects,” Sparks said.

SECTOR BREAKDOWN: Residential construction: The report calls for modest employment gains across Canada, with stronger gains in Ontario, Quebec and BC. More than half of residential construction investment will be in renovation and maintenance work.

Non-residential construction: Employment should grow gradually, with the strongest gains in western Canada. Declines in the price of oil will push oil and gas construction In Alberta lower until 2017, when job growth resumes.

Commercial construction should be a steady source of new construction jobs across all provinces, according to the report.

The report provides considerable data on labour requirements in the individual provinces.

BRITISH COLUMBIA B.C.’s construction job growth should exceed all other provinces over the next ten years, according to the forecast. “Big engineering

STAFF REPORT

projects are starting, and commercial and residential building is gaining momentum,” said Sparks.

New resource projects will set the stage, says the report, with employment growing by as much as 70 per cent by 2018. After that, growth will be sustained by industrial, commercial and institutional building. Job growth should reach new highs by 2024.

A 20 per cent increase in non-residential construction employment – 16,000 jobs – is predicted for the forecast period.

Lower levels of activity in new homebuilding will be offset by renovation work, leading to growth of 6,700 jobs or 16 per cent.

Some 39,000 workers, about 24 per cent of the total, are expected to retire over the coming decade. “The industry is losing years of skill and experience that can’t be easily replaced,” said Sparks.

ALBERTA The resource projects that fuelled Alberta’s 10-year construction boom will peak this year and create a second wave of new jobs starting in 2019, according to the forecast.

“The challenge is sustaining a skilled workforce as major projects cycle up, down and up again over the forecast period,” said Sparks.

Residential building should slow over the next few years, driven by declines in homebuilding. Following that will be a marginal rise over the medium term, with investment below the 2012 peak.

Some 6,000 Alberta construction workers, about a quarter of the workforce, are expected to retire over the coming decade, according to the report.

SASKATCHEWAN Saskatchewan’s 10-year growth in construction jobs will continue to 2019, according to the forecast. Resource and infrastructure will drive construction job growth for the next five years.

After that, activity will slow but remain well above historical levels.

Industrial and commercial building will see job growth exceeding five per cent a year until 2017.

The residential labour force will peak in 2016, creating 1,000 new jobs, before slowing across the remainder of the forecast, according to BuildForce Canada. Small, annual increments are expected across the forecast period in renovation and maintenance.

More than 19 per cent of the construction workforce is expected to retire over the next ten years.

on-sitemag.com / 21

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MANITOBA Major hydroelectric and transmission projects will drive job growth over the forecast period. Construction employment in Manitoba is predicted to increase by 3,700 jobs, or nine per cent. Demand should be strongest over the next two years.

Engineering construction is expected to peak in 2016, while commercial and industrial building rise steadily over the coming decade.

Homebuilding will create record employment levels for virtually all trades and occupations in 2019, before housing starts decline.

Renovation and maintenance work is predicted to grow steadily.

As much as 22 per cent of the construction workforce, about 9,100 workers, will retire.

ONTARIO “Recruiting, hiring and training are a priority, given that over 21 per cent of the Ontario construction workforce is retiring in the next 10 years,” said Sparks.

The construction labour force should increase by 23,400 skilled workers by 2024. “Most of that job growth will be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), driven by infrastructure and utilities projects that span well over a decade,” said Sparks.

Expansion in commercial building and recovery in industrial building is expected. Housing should rise to a new high in 2021, with annual gains in renovation employment.

Retirements will create a demand for nearly 87,000 new workers over the forecast period.

The GTA should see 20,000 new jobs over the decade to come, with infrastructure projects sustaining high levels of employment.

Central Ontario will see modest gains in industrial activity, while commercial building rises to new record levels and new housing records limited gains. Up to 7,000 new jobs are expected over the next ten years Eastern Ontario will have the slowest growth in the province over the forecast period, leading to modest employment losses.

Northern Ontario will mark a turning point in 2015 and 2016.

New mining and pipeline projects will lead to growth in housing and ICI building, creating 4,000 jobs. Housing will rally in 2020 and 2021, bringing total residential employment to near-current levels.

ICI building will stabilize below current levels from 2019 to 2024.

Southwest Ontario will see infrastructure and utilities projects drive gains in non-residential construction employment. Up to 5,000 jobs will be added by 2017. A growth cycle in ICI building, starting in 2021, will raise construction employment above current levels. Housing construction will slow later in forecast period.

“The cyclical upswing will require adding 10 per cent to the construction workforce over a period when Quebec’s total labour force will rise by just over two percent,” noted the report. “Industry will likely face recruiting challenges, as the older age profile in Quebec will limit the natural rate of population and labour force growth.”

NEW BRUNSWICK New projects planned for next year, from the East Energy Pipeline to mining and marine terminal building, will lead to tight labour markets in the province, according to the forecast. Employment requirements for the projects will peak in 2017 and again in 2010.

Housing and resource projects will lead to a new, limited expansion from 2016 to 2020.

A decline in homebuilding will partly be offset by an increase in renovation work, which should grow steadily from now until the end of the forecast period.

ICI building should rise modestly. Engineering projects are expected to increase employment until 2021 and then decline. Some 7,200 new workers will be needed during the forecast period.

NOVA SCOTIA A shrinking youth population and 8,000 retirements – 27 per cent of the workforce – over the coming decade mean that labour mobility is going to be a key issue for Nova Scotia.

The forecast document predicts a slight rise in non-residential construction work. From 2019-2021, hiring will be driven by shipyard upgrades and expansion and commercial projects. Renovation work will help to offset a decline in housing construction. An increase of 1,100 jobs is predicted over the forecast period.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND About 26 per cent of the construction workforce is expected to retire over the next 10 years.

Following a slight decline in 2015, construction employment should increase most years. Housing and commercial building should cause steady demand. In fact, construction employment should reach record levels in 2016 and peak in 2020.

The largest and most consistent gains will be in commercial building, which will increase steadily until the end of the forecast period. Housing is also projected to rise over the next five years, and the province should see 600 new jobs by 2024.

“As many as 1,500 workers, or 26 per cent of the construction workforce, are expected to retire over the next 10 years,” says the forecast document.

QUEBEC

NEWFOUNDLAND

Construction employment declines will start to reverse in 2016 and employment will rise steadily until 2024, as immigration grows.

Employment should peak about six per cent higher than the peak in 2012-2013, according to the forecast.

Major project activity will include mines, pipelines, bridges, wind power and hydroelectric generation and transmission lines.

The non-residential workforce will remain close to its 20122013 level as the forecast period begins, then rising more than seven per cent to peak in 2019.

The resource projects that dominated the 10-year construction boom will peak in 2015 and create a second wave of new jobs starting in 2019, according to the forecast.

“The challenge is sustaining a skilled workforce as major projects cycle up, down and up again over the forecast period,” said Sparks. Labour mobility will be crucial, especially in 2015 and from 2019 to 2022.

Close to 6,000 workers – a quarter of the workforce – are expected to retire over the next decade.

on-sitemag.com / 23

CONSTRUCTION STATS A selection of data reflecting trends in the Canadian construction industry

Non-res sector drives permit decline The non-residential sector was the driving force behind a decline in the value of building permits issued across the country in January, Statistics Canada reported in March.

The total value of building permits issued by Canadian municipalities fell 12.9 per cent to $6.1 billion in January, following a 6.1 per cent increase the previous month. Lower construction intentions for non-residential buildings in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario were responsible for much of the national decline.

The non-residential sector fell 22.8 per cent to $2.0 billion in January, following a 15.0 per cent increase the previous month.

Eight provinces recorded decreases. Quebec (+54.3 per cent) registered the largest increase.

In the residential sector, the value of permits declined 7.0 per cent to $4.1 billion.

Total value of permits $ billions 9.5 9.0

According to Statistics Canada research, Canadian manufacturers produced 607 000 t. of cement in January, down 18.5 per cent from the previous month but up 38.6 per cent compared with January, 2014. Declines are usual at this time of year.

Total shipments, own manufactured, decreased 30.6 per cent to 519 000 t. Once again, shipments of cement typically decline this time of year. Shipments, own manufactured, were up 5.7 per cent from January 2014.

Employment flat in February

8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0

January cement production up over last year

Jan

2010

2011

2012

Seasonally adjusted

2013

2014

Jan 2015

Trend

Note(s): The higher variability associated with the trend-cycle estimates is indicated with a dotted line on the current reference month and the three previous months.

Source: Statistics Canada

Employment was flat in February, while unemployment rose by 0.2 per cent to 6.8 per cent, according to the Labour Force Survey from Statistics Canada, published in March.

The number of public sector workers increased in February.

There was little change in the number of private sector employees and the self-employed.

In the construction sector, employment in February reached 1.4087 million, compared to a figure of 1.3932 million in January 2015, or a 1.1 per cent increase. The increase over February 2014 was 4.1 per cent.

Employment thousands 18,000 17,800

Housing starts drop for fifth month Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) data shows a trend measure of 182,137 housing starts in February compared to 188,761 in January. The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly, seasonally adjusted annual rates.

“The trend in housing starts decreased for a fifth consecutive month in February and reflects a decreasing trend in multiple starts,” said Bob Dugan, chief economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre. “The declining trend in multiple starts is helping to gradually erode the inventory of completed and unsold units, which is high compared to historical levels.”

17,600 17,400 17,200 17,000 16,800 16,600

Feb

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Feb 2015

Source: Statistics Canada

on-sitemag.com / 25

Bridges

The

ABCs of Accelerated bridge construction cuts long-term costs

I

BY JIM BARNES

t almost seems like magic: you go out of town for a week or two and find yourself driving home over a new bridge – one that wasn’t even under construction when you left.

The technique of replacing bridges rapidly has been gaining ground in Canada for just over a decade now.

Known as Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) or Rapid Bridge Replacement, the process has become a mature and effective way of minimizing disruptions to traffic flows caused by bridge construction – besides offering other benefits.

The key element is minimizing – to an unbelievable degree – traffic disruptions caused by bridge construction. In the bestknown examples, bridge components have been prefabricated offsite and installed in a couple of days.

“People tend to focus on the big SPMTs (self-propelled modular transporters), where they build a bridge off-line, bring it around and set it in place. And people say, ‘Okay, that’s accelerated bridge construction,’” says Patrick Malone, corporate business development manager, PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. But that is not the only approach.

TRAFFIC MOBILITY The issue is those long lines of vehicles snaking through a conventional bridge construction site.

26 / APRIL 2015

Conventionally, a staged approach is used to leave some lanes open for traffic during construction. Depending on the bridge, traffic mobility may be impacted for months or even years. In some cases, contractors agree to work only at off-hours. That means some improvement to traffic flow and an often considerable increase to the total time needed to deliver the project, especially when weather delays are involved.

Traffic congestion represents a real cost to the community that may be hard to define. For example, the traffic delays related to construction on Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway are costing an estimated million dollars a day – spurring a hurry-up approach to the project in December.

“That reduction in wait time is why the government and the ministries of transportation are so willing to pay a premium to have this done,” says John Almeida, vice president of Construction Operations, Aecon Construction Materials Ltd. The market is significant. Roughly 25 per cent of Canada’s bridges need repair or replacement, according to the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI). Many older bridges were constructed without air-entrained concrete or coated rebar, leading to corrosion, according to the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering. In 2011, it estimated the maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement backlog for highway bridges at $10 billion.

Bridges

The costs of reduction in traffic mobility should be part of the ABC equation.

Shown is the Centre Street Bridge site in Calgary.

tions are better controlled and staff may have a higher level of skill.

“You get something that is built faster, built with less mobility impact and you get have better durability,” says Malone.

ABC SOLUTIONS Identifying a suitable area for prefabrication is key in ABC projects. Shown is the Carling Ave. site on Hwy. 417.

OTHER BENEFITS Besides minimizing driver frustration and economic loss, there are other benefits to ABC. Safety: there are risks for both construction workers and the public as long as vehicles drive through a jobsite. Traffic control on a jobsite can reach anywhere from 20 to 40 per cent of construction costs, according to data presented by the CPCI. Environmental: emissions from all those idling cars represent a major environmental problem. Emissions from construction equipment and vehicles will also mount up during a multi-year project.

“The labour is less (at an ABC site). You don’t need parking for 100 people; you need parking for five or 10 people,” says Malone. The ability to build a bridge quickly is also a plus in environmentally sensitive areas – fish-spawning waterways, for example.

Societal impacts: You don’t need to look much further than the residents living near a bridge replacement site to see some of these.

Quality: Using precast components confers certain benefits, all by itself. “If you do a cast-in-place structure, you can get a lot of salt on top of it. You have a higher probability of corrosion,” says Malone. With ABC, the longevity of the structure is dramatically increased because you are able to prestress all the top plates.

“You’re producing the product efficiently in a facility that supports a higher level of quality,” adds Malone. The workplace condi-

There are two core concepts in ABC, according to many authorities.

In the first, prefabricated bridge elements and systems (PBES) are built offsite and assembled on-site, with the minimum of on-site work.

In the second, the entire superstructure is built off-site and lifted into place in the final position. This is sometimes called Slide-in Bridge Construction.

PBES may consist of a superstructure, a superstructure and substructure or a complete bridge. Typical elements include deck, beam, pier, abutment and wall elements, as well as such miscellaneous elements as precast approach slabs, prefabricated parapets, deck closure joints and overlays.

The components are rolled, launched, slid, lifted, or otherwise transported. When the deck and parapets are part of the installation, no subsequent construction phase is required.

The installations sometimes require the use of the poster child of ABC, the SPMT. These massive transporters can carry enormous bridge components to the site for installation.

The slide technique is the other common approach. “In the slide, one bridge is skidded out and the other bridge is skidded in, typically utilizing some type of Teflon pad.” says Almeida.

The new bridge is built on temporary supports beside the bridge to be replaced. Once complete, the existing bridge is demolished or slid out of the way. The new bridge is slid into place, tied in to the approaches and then paved. Traffic is closed for only a few days.

PCL has also worked with a float-in approach in the USA. “You can either construct a new substructure or you utilize an existing substructure. We build the main span offline, and then we float those pieces and using barges and fit the new pieces on top of the substructure. This can be done in days, instead of months,”says Malone.

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ABC often means traffic closures of only a couple of days.

Carling Ave. Bridge.

OTHER APPROACHES There are many ways to accelerate bridge construction and reduce traffic mobility issues. Common practices like design/build can help minimize the duration of a project, according to Malone.

He cites a large bridge project in the U.S. where traffic flow was largely unimpeded thanks to putting piers beside the roadway, not in the middle as is the conventional practice. Precast segments were installed at night, enabling them to do about a lane at a time.

Another related concept is the GIGO (Get In, Get Out) bridge technique. While not directly comparable to the PBES or Slide-In approaches, it does involve offsite fabrication to reduce construction times and doesn’t require specialized equipment like SPMTs. The bridge is designed in such a way that you can do the fabrication during winter, move the components with cranes and install them onto the substructure. “That was done in London (on the Westminster Rd. Bridge) on the 401 last year,” says Bala Tharmabala, head of the Bridge Engineering Office, McIntosh Perry.

At present, Aecon is doing a demonstration project for a complete rigid frame movement. That’s picking up not only the superstructure but the deck, walls and footings together – the whole thing. “You take the old bridge out and place the new bridge on top of the old footings, and dowel them together,” says Almeida.

The components being moved are massive… “Some of these pieces might weigh 1,500 tons,” says Almeida. “The timing for rigid frames might be a little longer than two days, it might be a week. But it will not be six months.”

Testing is being carried out of the Cornwall Centre Road Bridge, according to Almeida.

BELLWETHER APPLICATIONS Ontario has been the bellwether for ABC, with government endorsement for the concept and about a dozen bridges already complete.

Development started with lab testing scale models in 2001, according to Tharmabala and Quazi Islam, managing engineer, MTO Bridge Design Team, McIntosh Perry.

Along with another McIntosh Perry colleague, Clifford Lam, they worked for the Ontario Ministry of Transport for many years and were part of a team of ministry engineers that developed the ABC concept for use in Ontario. They emphasize that their work at MTO is the foundation of their expertise.

In 2004, the first bridge of this type was constructed near Timmins.

In the early days, “We were quite nervous about this type of approach,” says Islam. It was used on the Ottawa Queensway, a very heavily travelled route. “There was no secondary route the traffic

Float-in is another method of transporting massive bridge components.

PCL photo.

SPMTs transport enormous precast PBES elements to the jobsite.

Carling Ave. Bridge.

could take,” he adds. If something had gone wrong and the bridge had been closed for an extended length of time, it would have been a major traffic problem.

In fact, the old bridge was kept in one piece, with the idea that if there were problems with the new one, the old one could be reinstalled, says Islam. Fortunately, the project was a complete success. “We closed the bridge in the evening on Saturday and opened by noon on Sunday,” he says.

COSTS AND CONCERNS “It’s a simple enough concept that people get it quickly. I don’t think there’s any misunderstanding,” says Almeida. While to some it seems like a slam-dunk, ABC does face some friction.

Costs are the prime one. ABC bridges are significantly more expensive, in most cases. But as with anything else in construction, there’s the price, and then there’s the cost.

“With owners, we talk about costs a lot,” says Tim Davis, district construction engineer, PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. “The price depends on how you look at it. The initial, up-front price might be higher, but when you factor in the user costs of impact on the traveling public, ABC can actually turn out to be cheaper. You have to consider the soft costs.”

This may require the owner to revise his methods in planning

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and costing a bridge project. “Price is an issue. There is a lot of demand for infrastructure right now, and people need to stretch their budgets,” says Malone.

As the technology evolves and standardized approaches evolve, costs and risks should decline. “Rather than custom engineering every solution, pre-engineered modular systems configured for traditional construction equipment could promote more widespread use of ABC through reduced costs and increased familiarity with these systems among owners, contractors, and designers,” according to a presentation by CPCI. Public awareness is another concern. Tharmabala cites a residual level of public concern about this process and says more education is needed.

“People want guarantees that the bridge will open at exactly the time promised,” he says. He emphasizes that ABC is now a proven process and that, with planning, only minor issues should emerge.

Not every installation may have gone as smoothly as planned, but that’s an engineering reality in all construction, he notes.

The public tends to object when a bridge is going to be completely shut down, even if only for a matter of a few days. Some prefer the idea of intense traffic congestion for six months to closing it for a few days. “They don’t understand that they will get long-term gain if they go through short-term pain,” says Tharmabala.

Malone has a simple analogy: “It’s better to rip the Band-aid off,” with two days of complete closure instead of months or years of traffic snarls, he says.

There is a positive at play, though. “People are intrigued by it.

They’re fascinated when the SPMTs show up to do the job,” says Almeida.

Outreach to the public can help. Pre-construction town halls, a dedicated website with detailed information, jobsite webcams, enclosed viewing areas during installation and tweeting on construction progress are just a few ways the public can be brought on board.

For the contractor, construction risk can be a concern.

When the owner has paid to have a closure of two or three days and it turns out to be a week or two, that is a big issue. Some jobs have gotten more than their share of negative press. “The timelines that are being stipulated are incredibly demanding. When there are delays, the penalties are punitive. It’s disproportionate,” says Almeida.

Even though four days might be an amazing turnaround, if the owner contracted for a two-day closure, it’s a problem.

Logistics is another important factor.

“That’s where a lot of these bridges are a challenge,” says Almeida. “You need a fairly substantial temporary yard. You have to be sure that your founding material is suitable, because you are building a superstructure and you have to build it on something solid. You can’t have deflection or differential settlement. There are a lot of issues to contend with, in respect to building a bridge in a field.”

Even when satisfactory space is available, transportation can cause unexpected costs. “Make sure the logistics of the move are planned so that you don’t have to do so much secondary work. If it’s just a matter of taking down a couple of street lights, that’s not a problem... You want to make sure you don’t have to move a 44 KV transmission line,” says Almeida.

Public meetings and viewing opportunities can smooth the way for ABC projects.

GROWING RECOGNITION Ontario has taken the lead in Canada, but the interest in ABC in the USA is much more intense.

“In the US, the federal government offers five per cent additional funding to any project that utilizes an approved ABC technology,” says Malone.

The Federal Highway Administration has taken a lead role.

Comprehensive information has been posted to the web, a national conference has been launched and successful projects have been completed in many states.

ABC fits its niche application well… replacing bridges on heavily travelled highways where no reasonable detour is available.

The technique is slowly gaining recognition. Tharmabala expects steady growth in Ontario, due to increasing traffic congestion in urban areas. “At the moment, the ministry does three or four a year. But that could become 10 or 15 a year, five years down the road,” he says.

Precast has been around for a long time and ABC is just bringing some of its advantages into focus. ABC concepts are influencing many other fast-tracked projects. “You don’t just apply ABC, carte blanche. You have to look at all the factors in that project,” says Malone.

Jim Barnes is a contributing editor to On-Site. Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

The Centre Street Bridge in Calgary was a fast-tracked project. Most of the concrete was cast in place, but numerous precast elements were used to speed up construciton.

on-sitemag.com / 31

Asphalt paving

Pay attention to subgrades and surfaces for the best pavement

BY DAVID GODKIN

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Soils stabilization and microsurfacing help maximize asphalt performance.

A

re we ensuring that our clients are getting the best surface and subgrade paving structures possible? Supported by new engineering and the experience of other paving contractors in Canada and the U.S., some say no. Canadian paving contractors can do a better job of building paved structures with the requisite strength, flexibility, durability and frictional properties clients want by taking another look at underused technologies, according to some in the industry. Better still, they can do it without breaking the bank or undermining their project schedule.

STABLE SOIL It’s a major concern for Lewis O’Toole, vice president of Technical Services for AMEC’S Earth and Environmental division. Canadian paving contractors have been slow to understand – and apply – chemical or cement stabilization techniques to their paving substructures, he says, despite their obvious importance to paved surfaces in Canada.

“We didn’t invent it in Canada, but we’ve adapted it to Canada,” he notes. “We have some of the most challenging soil and weather conditions anywhere in the free world.”

Soil stabilization involves intermixing lime or cement with unstable, wet soils to create chemical reactions that remove standing water – transforming wet soil into workable material. It’s particularly useful in areas where aggregate is scarce or has to be trucked in over long distances, on projects subject to rain delays under tight deadlines. Instead of waiting around for the soils to dry, lime or cement work quickly to dry and harden the surrounding clay. “It’s just

very sound technology,” O’Toole asserts, citing a large expressway project in the U.S. which AMEC just completed, using extensive soils stabilization to put some backbone into the surrounding abundance of very soft clay.

Here in Canada, soils stabilization finds its greatest use in northern Alberta, southern Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec – places where weak clays abound. But O’Toole believes strongly that other parts of Canada might benefit by using lime- or cement-based soil stabilization, too. One example is the muddy Lower Mainland’s Delta basin or the Fraser River. Or consider the mudflats associated with the Bay of Fundy and along the shores of Nova Scotia. It’s “an ideal solution for new construction there,” O’Toole maintains.

The benefits of lime and cement are not confined to stabilizing weak clays, as some believe. Cement stabilization is particularly good at strengthening “soils that are sandier in nature,” says O’Toole. But once again, “not everyone is aware of these technologies.”

It is a tough sell to some in the industry, despite the proven benefits. “If you talk to a hot-in-place recycling paving contractor, he’ll say it’s hocus-pocus because that’s not what his experience is or where his interests are from an economic perspective. It takes time to educate people,” says O’Toole.

A good example of the potential benefits can be seen in a recent project in southern Ontario. Soils scientist Dr. Christopher Holt, P.Eng, is a global expert in soils stabilization. He prepared the specs for lime and cement soil stabilization on new access roads built during expansion of the Chatham Energy Windfarm in 2010.

“It was really the first time it was used in Ontario. It was based

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Microsurfacing offers benefits in both urban and rural applications.

on an economic argument in terms of reducing the amounts of crush to develop these access roads to each of the 44 new turbines. The aggregate coming in from the US was a little more costeffective, but nonetheless it was still very expensive,” says Holt.

Instead of a remove-and-replace approach – importing a 350400 mm depth of granular to cover plastic clay and topsoil – the existing clay was mixed with a combination of lime and cement kiln dust. “As a result, we reduced the gravel import by a good 12 inches,” says Holt.

In fact, three things were achieved, according to Holt’s subsequent report: •M inimal soil removal (100 mm) to ensure that the access roads were below the existing grade of the surrounding agricultural land • Expedited construction of haul roads with less disruption because of bad weather and minimized soil movement, and • Reduced carbon footprint because less quarried material was required.

Why is it so hard to convince builders to use soils stabilization?

The answer varies, says Holt. Many areas of BC and the Atlantic provinces are made up almost entirely of hard rock, so that supplies of aggregate are readily available. In other areas, roadbuilding and aggregates alliances do all they can to lock out or discourage soils stabilization companies from gaining access to their customer base.

“If you come in with an alternative, you pretty much get crushed – excuse the pun. But they have been trying to use it more in Saskatchewan and Alberta, particularly where they have the silty tills and clay soils.”

Adolf Friesen can attest to that. The general manager at Alberta Paving Ltd. in Calgary says that in rainy weather on clay-based job sites, “You can sit there forever and wait for it to dry.” Instead, he notes, you can use the lime to dry it out and harden it up to get the densities you need. Reduced shrinkage and swell, increased compressive strength (by as much as 40 times), better beam strength and load-bearing values – it’s all there in the lime, says Friesen.

There is not much clay at the Port of Vancouver, Imperial Paving project manager Robin Smith says. However, the silt soils under the access roads leading to the Port’s storage containers are very weak. They are subject to stresses from huge forklifts unloading container ships and high traffic volumes. “It needs a good base, but those old silts aren’t the best structures for that,” says Smith.

Cement powder mixed with gravel and water are, “forming almost a kind of soil cement.”

We asked Smith how useful lime is for asphalt projects. “They used to build asphalt curbs nine inches high, and they used to fall over all the time because asphalt couldn’t support until it hardened,” he points out. “You put lime in it and it holds everything together.”

on-sitemag.com / 37

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MICRO-SURFACING Another underused technology, like soils stabilization, is microsurfacing for new roads and general asphalt maintenance. Like lime and cement stabilization, microsurfacing to fill ruts, repair longitudinal and transverse cracking has also been slow to take off in Canada. “It’s like anything,” says Andrew Arnill, operations manager for West-can Sealcoating Inc. in Didsbury, Alta. “It’s changing people’s perceptions.

‘Shave and pave’ – all most people know – is 50 mm.”

In Alberta, perceptions about microsurfacing just might change. A year ago when it was awash in oil money, Alberta road contractors and governments thought nothing of spreading thick asphalt on major roads and highways. Now, with a recession looming and budgets tightening, says Arnill, “You’re really going to see people gearing more to preservation strategies. For long term spending strategies, it can’t be just a ‘worst first’ road-maintenance approach.”

Micro-surfacing is a mixture of polymer modified asphalt emulsion, aggregate, Portland cement, water, and liquid additives.

Depending on the weather, it sets quickly, allows traffic timely access, provides good skid resistance and does a decent job extending a roadway’s life cycle. “We’re also able to minimize how long we’re on a section of road,” says Arnill. “We’ve got the ability to do 10-plus lane kilometers of road on an average day, which is a fastmoving operation.”

Microsurfacing is popular in urban areas, Arnill adds, because it eliminates utility adjustments and “ties right into curbs, so you don’t have to mill out in advance. And you have the skid resistance, of course. So there’s a lot of pros to using the product.”

Results vary. “We don’t do any of that (in BC),” says Smith.

When asked why not, he cites a job he’s currently working on to pave a section of road on a hill in Mission, B.C. It was micro-

surfaced a year and a half ago. “About 60 to 70 per cent of it is now missing. We don’t find good results with it,” he says. Assuming micro-surfacing has worked elsewhere, Smith’s other concern is getting rid of the product once it has served its purpose. “Does it meet all the standards of recyclable liquid asphalt? I doubt it.”

However, Trevor Moore, corporate technical director at The Miller Group, says that it does. Miller Group has micro-surfaced across the country, and Moore says it has gained particular traction on important road projects in BC in the past few years, including the Sea-to-Sky highway and work in the Sunshine Coast, Prince George and the Okanagan Valley. “It’s gaining more and more acceptance in BC,” according to Moore.

“Once the emulsified asphalt has fully cured, the water evaporates and you’re left with asphalt cement and aggregate. The small portion of microsurfacing material that may be left on a roadway when its recycled doesn’t have a big impact on the quality of recycled asphalt pavement or the environment,” says Moore.

Like soils stabilization, microsurfacing has the potential to reduce the number of trucks needed to carry aggregate to the jobsite.

In the case of micro-surfacing, new specialized equipment could see a boost in sales as the technique is used more and more across the country. This includes continuous paving equipment as well as truck-mounted machines which carry emulsion, aggregate, cement and water to the site on a tri-axle unit.

“In some areas of Canada… micro-surfacing is being used in record quantities. Manitoba, for example, probably has the biggest micro-surfacing program in North America. And I think we’re only going to see that spread across the other provinces.”

David Godkin is a B.C.-based freelance writer and editor.

Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com

Microsurfacing to fill ruts, repair longitudinal and transverse cracking has also been slow to take off in Canada.

Shown: Hwy 401, Ontario.

on-sitemag.com / 39

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SITE PREP Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation combines a robotic total station, LIDAR and GNSS into one package.

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Site measurement goes on steroids

W

hoever coined the phrase “measure twice, cut once” would be challenged to come up with an updated version that reflects today’s state of the art measurement technology. Survey equipment found on a growing number of jobsites is so powerful that it is transforming how construction projects are planned, negotiated, and built.

Today, a Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device can scan 100,000 points per second within tolerances of a few millimeters, creating a “point cloud” which, with the help of specialized software, can be formed into an accurate 3D model.

Mounted on a drone, LIDAR or photo imaging equipment can be flown around a gravel pit, gathering measurements in 30 minutes that would take a traditional measurement crew an entire week.

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), an enhanced version of common GPS systems, has become so accurate that it can be used to plan, build, and inspect road building projects.

Finally, robotic Total Stations can import points directly from an electronic 3D model and shoot them via laser onto actual points on a jobsite.

“It’s a really exciting time,” says Toronto-based Don Edgar, technical sales representative for Leica Geosystems. “Every day, there’s something new – not just new technology, but new ways of using it.”

BY JACOB STOLLER

BRIDGING SYSTEMS For the construction industry, the power of these tools goes far beyond better measurements. They are becoming, essentially, a bridge between Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems and the physical jobsite. It is this magical combination of state-of-theart measurement and virtual modeling that is changing the game in construction.

“A 3D model is obviously 3D geometry, and it’s accurate,” says Tom Strong, managing director of Virtual Construction Services at Mississauga-based contractor EllisDon. “It’s to scale, and it’s usually tied to the geodetics of the jobsite so it’s oriented correctly. But you can also can generate control points directly from the model, and then lay out those control points in the field. Now you have a way of going from the 3D hypothetical environment to the real world coordinates.”

‘‘

One area where technology doesn’t help is when we have to do a reconstruction of a survey boundary. Now we have to apply legal aspects… on-sitemag.com / 41

Virtual 3D models created with these tools are so accurate that the exact location of a bolt, for example, can be established in the virtual model before the concrete is poured, allowing an insert to be installed precisely to accommodate it.

The process works in reverse as well – a surveyor can scan asbuilt points in the field, and then compare these against the virtual model. “It goes both ways,” says Strong. “You pull your coordinates out of the model and lay it out, and you can go in the field and check what’s been installed to be sure it’s in the correct location.”

Strong is also active with the Canada BIM Council (CanBIM), a non-profit association devoted to educating the construction industry BIM technologies and practices. CanBIM hosts several learning events a year across Canada.

The equipment is also allowing professional surveyors to have a much bigger role in construction projects. “Surveying can now mean surveying the pieces of a building,” says Larry Ertl, President of Richmond Hill, Ontario-based Ertl Surveyors. “With piping, for example a surveyor can come in with a LIDAR and map out as-built conditions, and the subcontractor can use that to pre-cut and preassemble all their piping offsite.”

The technology might even spell the end of the adversarial jockeying that used to be typical on jobsites. For example, a subcontractor would typically race to get their piping in early so others would have to work around them, instead of the reverse. In this current model, everybody works to the plan.

“It’s a team sport where everybody develops their precise geometry, and they work out all their details in advance,” says Strong.

“Then, when you go to the field, you work the plan.”

Collaboration between all players – architects, engineers, client representatives, contractors, and subcontractors – is also enhanced by the BIM model being available to all partners via web portal, putting everybody on the same page.

PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES

Accurate scanning of site conditions means that more fabrication work can be done in the shop. For example, one of Strong’s early projects with EllisDon was the management of several very intricate stainless steel staircases at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

Because their BIM model was so accurate, the staircases were built entirely offsite and installed without incident.

As-built records is another huge area. At Calgary Airport, for NEW STRATEGIES example, EllisDon used a 3D scanner to map the locations of tubOn the business side, the new survey technology is accelerating ing for in-floor heating covering literally acres of floor area. Previous a trend towards better collaboration. “There’s a big difference in methods would have used thousands of photographs created by laythe way the industry works now,” says Strong. “Everyone used to ing a measuring tape on the floor and creating a gridline. Decipherwork off just blueprints. You’d lay your grids, and everyone would ing these photos to determine a safe place to drill, for example, measure off those grids. Now everybody’s working and coordinatwas a tedious and risky task. Today, all the data sits in a CAD or ing in 3D, so we’re getting to a much higher level of detail with BIM file, easily available to the installer of a ticketing terminal or coordination to the point where we can pre-determine where all the other late addition. By Strong’s estimate, the approach has saved nuts and bolts and hangers are going in the field. And we’re doing the airport hundreds of thousands in mitigation costs. that months and months before we start construction.”

The technology is also highly effective in civil construction. A This means that subtrades can plan their pipe hanger locaLIDAR device can be flown on an airplane or drone, or installed on tions, for example, before the concrete is poured. “So while we are a truck, and used to create a digital terrain model (DTM) that is doing our formwork, the subtrades come in with a Total Station and highly accurate. “If they’re surveying for a new highway or a new lay out exactly where those hangers are going to go, and actually lane, they don’t have to close the highways so survey crews can put embedded anchors in the correct locations,” says Strong, notwork,” says Ertl. “They just drive along with traffic.” ing that this prevents uncertainties, delays, and the high expense The resulting 3D model might also allow, for example, a road of drilling into concrete in awkward locations. Essentially, everybuilder to improve work efficiency over a seven-km segment. “You body on the construction team wins. can optimize your cut and fill patterns based on that LIDAR scan, ultimately,” says Strong, “and that’s a big deal. An inch of earthworks over seven km is a big cost. So if you can optimize that, you can be very competitive.”

GNSS devices can then be mounted onto the earth-moving equipment, giving opera You can optimize your cut and fill patterns tors immediate feedback, and Total Stations can help grader operators fine tune jobs based on that LIDAR scan, and that’s a big deal. down to a few centimeters. “In the past, it An inch of earthworks over seven km is a big might take a grader four or five passes to get cost. So if you can optimize that, you can be it within tolerance,” says Edgar. “Now they very competitive. can achieve that with one or two passes.”

There are, however, some cautions. The

‘‘

42 / APRIL 2015

’’

data, if not correctly processed, can be easily misinterpreted. As well, some work may call for traditional survey methods. “The technology is very good for gathering the data and processing it for site conditions,” says Ertl, “but one area where technology doesn’t help is when we have to do a reconstruction of a survey boundary. Now we have to apply legal aspects, and there’s a lot more involved to resolving boundary issues, or re-establishing those boundaries.”

‘‘

A LIDAR device can be flown on an airplane or drone, or installed on a truck, and used to create a digital terrain model that is highly accurate.

’’

GETTING STARTED When it comes to embracing the new technology, Strong believes that contractors may not have a choice. As BIM becomes the de facto standard for the industry, surveying equipment will give companies a huge competitive advantage by helping contractors work to a common model with extreme accuracy, reducing time on jobsites, improving the accuracy of offsite work, and preventing re-work.

Ertl notes that the price of many of the tools, such as LIDAR units, has dropped significantly. However, the cost of entry for contractors remains significant. For one, the point clouds produced by LIDAR units are very large and complex, and the data needs to be cleansed and imported properly into a BIM model. “It appears that the software hasn’t really caught up to the hardware yet,” says Ertl. “But it is getting better.” Strong notes that there is a lot of consolidation now in the software industry, and that buyers can expect to see better integration in the near future.

The biggest challenge for contractors, however, is getting people on board who can support this technology. Look to the younger generation, says Strong. “You’ve got a whole generation of young people coming into the industry that are very interested in technology and are driving the use of it,” he says, “and the younger people want to work for progressive firms that use this type of technology.”

Jacob Stoller is a principal of Toronto-based consultancy StollerStrategies.

Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com

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47 CRMCA: Regulation — a necessary evil?

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REGULATION IN INDUSTRY: A NECESSARY EVIL?

R

egulations may take many forms. Emissions reductions for vehicles, for example, put the emphasis on the industry to meet certain emissions requirements within a specified time frame. The result has been improved technology to decrease automotive emissions and reduce the environmental burden of the automobile.

Sometimes, though, regulations may not be as meaningful as their authors hoped. They may be too general or inadvertently work at cross-purposes to other government legislation.

SAFETY Many regulations that address the ready-mixed concrete industry impact its day-to-day operations. Safety is a prime concern, with requirements that protect drivers on-site as well as plant workers.

Issues arise, though, when regulators attempt to provide one solution that fits all industries.

For example, the fall-protection training requirement for workers is a limit established to address falls from three metres or higher. This regulation is a major concern among roofers in the construction industry. In most cases, it does not impact ready-mix drivers (depending on the configuration of the truck). A readymix truck might exceed the regulation by a half-metre, and the costs associated with training and safety equipment might not be justifiable in terms of actual improvements to safety.

Another example is the clean-out requirements for enclosed spaces. A ready-mixed concrete truck can be viewed as an enclosed space (again, depending on the configuration). If the truck is deemed an enclosed space, then access for a stretcher at the exit point for emergencies is required. However, the exit point in this case is the top of the drum â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which makes it almost impossible to meet the requirement.

The point is that the regulation must take into account all types of enclosed spaces and address them correctly in order to achieve the desired safety outcome. Safety regulations have become so important in certain provinces that employers may now be held criminally responsible if they fail to meet the requirements.

mented to protect the roads from faulty or dangerous vehicles. In the case of standard transports, roadside stops may be effective, but ready-mixed concrete is a perishable product. Any delay can result in the product not performing properly at the job site. Allowances can be made (and in some cases have been) to provide temporary relief in this situation by allowing the driver to deliver his load and then return to the roadside stop for inspection.

The Seasonal Load Restriction (SLR) is applied on specific roads when the Spring thaw creates an unstable base for certain roadways. This regulation is far too strict for a ready-mixed truck and is unevenly enforced between municipalities and industries.

Studies by the concrete industry demonstrate that adhering to the regulation actually causes more damage to the road.

Adherence to SLR results in increased truck traffic, as trucks make more trips with lighter loads. This works at cross-purposes to government legislation and regulation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal regulations require drivers of transport vehicles to keep a time log and take eight hours off after logging 13 hours of driving time. The intent is to reduce the potential for accidents due to fatigue among long-haul drivers.

A ready-mix project that includes an overnight concrete pour going beyond 13 hours is not representative of the problem the regulation is intended to address. Depending on the size of the pour, the ready-mix project may be required to relieve drivers and not bring them back for eight hours, limiting the ready-mix companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to service the job.

Bus drivers are exempt from this legislation due to the nature of the types of driving they do. This is another example where regulations must be specific.

ENVIRONMENTAL Although regulations exist in all areas of the concrete industry, the last point will be in reference to the environmental regulations.

Regulations on sound, air, noise and water have been around for years and have been policed more systematically in the past decade. The origins of the requirements are not directly applicable to the ready-mixed concrete industry and negotiations have resulted in a compromise in their application. This type of regulation may be driven more by speculation or political motives than technical soundness. The industry must be vigilant in future discussions.

Other environmental considerations are being seen at local municipal levels. These include the requirements for on-board, self-contained, wash-out units that represent an attempt to stop wash-out on the ground. The intention is clear, but the technology has no long-term proven track record. A proper implementation and evaluation of the hardware needs to be conducted to ensure the solution solves the problem.

Regulations are a necessary evil. However, if properly designed, they can achieve their objectives and not burden industry unnecessarily. In some cases, they can even lead to innovation.

TRANSPORTATION Transportation regulations play a large part in the operation of a ready-mixed concrete producer. Roadside stops have been imple-

Provided by the Canadian Ready-Mixed Concrete Association.

Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

on-sitemag.com / 47

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Curb and gutter paving

CURBS & GUTTER

PROFITABLE PAVING IN A DEMANDING APPLICATION

BY ROSS MONSOUR

T

he past 20 years have seen dramatic advances in technique and equipment for curb and gutter paving.

In the old days, residential roadways were constructed without sound water-management systems. However, as the understanding of these systems evolved, curbs and gutters came to be considered key components of any roadway or parking lot structure.

For years, the standard method of application was the use of traditional or stationary forms – relying on the speed and expertise of the contractors placing the curb. The advent of slip forming and paving equipment provided speed and consistency, resulting in a more durable product. In areas where concrete paving and curb and gutter are integral, efficiencies and cost savings result.

Specifications always contain details for curb and gutter as part of the larger water-management strategy, depending on the construction required – whether it is a building or roadway. Integrating the manhole covers and storm water entrances can be among the most difficult details to achieve, even with today’s technology. This article does not address those details.

The requirements for the performance of the curb are many.

They must withstand the rigours of salting, freeze/thaw, the impact of winter snowplows and street-cleaning equipment, and meet drainage requirements.

Another advantage of a concrete curb is its reflective capability, making them easier to see at night. There is a myriad of designs that municipalities might tender in order to achieve the necessary performance. Those designs will depend on local successful experience and the equipment available regionally. If special templates

are required for the equipment to cast the specific design, overall cost efficiencies may not be realized.

The preparation process for curb and gutter paving is similar to other types of concrete prep work. When using either stationary or slipforming equipment, the site will require proper subgrade preparation and compaction, reinforcement if required, and proper jointing, finishing and curing.

CSA A23/1.2 requires an exposure class of C-2 of 32 Mpa at 28 days and water/cement ratio of 0.45, with an air content of five to eight per cent, as well as recommending a seven-day curing regime at greater than or equal to 10 degrees C. in order for the concrete to reach 70 per cent of its attainable strength. Slump is determined between the contractor and the producer, depending on the method of placement.

High-production slipforming of curb and gutter below grade on a city street.

on-sitemag.com / 49

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STATIONARY FORMS These are generally made of wood or steel. Typically, they will be used for smaller jobs or in-fill sections being repaired. Wooden forms donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the shelf life of steel, and require more labour to achieve the desired shape in the case of a turn. Steel forms can be pre-designed for special curved sections and can be reused over a longer period of time. The steel form has the advantage of containing a division plate to provide a contraction joint between sections or a joint to control the cracking â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all as part of the form during the placement.

Squaring and leveling both of these types of forms is a key to the end performance with this equipment. Curing should start as soon as possible after the placement, which can be restrictive until all the forming sections are removed. This makes it more difficult to ensure that adequate curing is applied to all sections of the curb and gutter.

These methods provide benefits in initial cost, simplicity of usage, maintenance of equipment and easy access if reinforcing is required.

Sound water-management systems make curbs and gutters key components of any roadway or parking lot.

SLIPFORMING This technique has become the normal method in most areas for standard curb and gutter placement. The equipment provides a continuous placement of the curb, using a low-slump concrete. A variety of equipment in different sizes is available from various manufacturers to place the concrete, but all of them must achieve the necessary jointing, finishing and curing to provide the required end performance.

Typically, slipforming is used for larger sections, where a continuous pour provides advantages in terms of speed and cost.

A slipforming machine essentially extrudes the concrete curb and gutter in a continuous movement as the concrete is supplied. Concrete is supplied to the slipform hopper and is then gravity-fed and vibrated into place, depending on the desired design.

Typical pours still require string lines to guide the equipment, but more modern equipment uses laser sensors to assist in this process. Due to the varying types and sizes of jobs, the market has many types of equipment to address the contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. In selecting the equipment, the contractor must be aware of the working speed of the slipform. There are typically two speeds: one for travel and one for placement. Key to placement is that there is a continual supply of concrete and the movement of the form can keep up.

The minimum turning radius is important with equipment having an inside and an outside radius. The paver will slow down during this process. A consideration is the ability of the slipform to move backwards and adjust to height changes.

The height change is important in doing residential subdivisions, since driveways are a key element in the paving, allowing for minimal interruption in the process. The use of pavers with tracks or wheels needs to be considered, since the speed and movement are impacted by the soil conditions. Wheels are preferable on hardpacked ground, while tracks are good on softer soil conditions.

Slipforming equipment has the added capability of inserting a contraction joint during the forming procedure. Slump considerations are also important when using the slipforming paver or curb machine. Too low a slump will create the potential for tearing and honeycombing, while too high a slump can cause settlement or bulging. This will impact the speed of your curb machine if you have to make accommodation for the wrong slump.

INTEGRAL CURB, GUTTER AND PAVEMENT Another benefit of slipforming and paving equipment arises when the roadway is specified to be built out of concrete: an integral design of the three parts can be formed to make one unit. This provides a stronger surface to withstand the loads. Dowels between pavement and the gutter become a consideration at this point to provide load-transfer capability.

The cost differences between stationary forming and slipforming will assist in choosing the system for your practice. Stationary forming has a low initial start-up cost that must be weighed against the work and volume production your company is vested in. Slipforming has a higher initial investment, with the benefits seen over the long run.

This article was contributed by the Ready Mixed Concrete Association of Ontario. Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

Wooden forms lack the durability of steel and require more labour to achieve the desired shape, in the case of a turn.

on-sitemag.com / 51

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OCA AWARDS

RECOGNIZING

INNOVATION IN CONCRETE OCA winners show how it’s done

H

eld at the end of 2014, the 2014 Ontario Concrete Awards recognized creative thinking and effective execution in a number of areas.

Here, we focus on just three of the winners — though in fact all winners reflected the best in concrete construction achievement.

Bridgepoint Active Healthcare won the Sustainable Concrete Construction category.

BRIDGEPOINT ACTIVE HEALTHCARE This state-of-the-art, $315 million concrete facility in Toronto was the winner in the Sustainable Concrete Construction category.

Recognized were: Owner, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare; Planning, design and compliance architects, Stantec Architecture/KPMB Architects; Design, build, finance and maintain architects, HDR Architecture/Diamond Schmitt Architects; Engineer of record, Halsall Associates; Design builder, PCL Constructors Canada Inc.; Forming contractor, Alliance Forming Ltd.; Material supplier, St Marys CBM; Additional participants, A.M. Candaras Associates Inc., Aluma Systems Inc., BASF Canada Inc., Brian Ballantyne Specifications, Brook Van Dalen & Associates Ltd., Carpenters Local 27, E.R.A. Architects, Harris Rebar, Ironworkers Local 721, Isherwood, J.E. Coulter Associates Ltd., Johnson Controls, LIUNA Local 506, Plenary Group, RCG, Read Voorhees & Assoc, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., Smith + Anderson, SOTA Glazing Inc., Terraprobe Design Ltd., The MBTW Group and The Ventin Group.

Bridgepoint Active Healthcare is the largest facility of its kind in Canada to focus on the treatment of complex chronic disease and rehabilitation. The owners envisioned a new kind of hospital, in which healthcare and the community could come together, providing an inspirational setting to assist patients in their recovery.

The design recognizes the role landscape, nature and community play in supporting health, emphasizing the restorative power of good design. Using a concrete structural framework allowed the team to meet these goals.

The building envelope incorporates durable, low-maintenance materials including local stone, concrete, zinc metal panels and Ipe wood. The architectural details, textures and finishes de-emphasize the feeling of being in an institution.

The envelope contains a fenestration pattern of 495 projecting pop-out vertical frames, interspersed with the predominant horizon-

tal fenestration as counterpoint. The massing rests on a concrete flat slab structure with cantilever floor plates around the perimeter.

The western façade has cascading terraces made up of large, cast-in-place concrete planters, and stairs leading north to Riverdale Park. On the east side, a stone-clad concrete cantilevered ribbon delineates the patient room fenestration from the lower public floors. At the south entrance, the concrete cantilever forms a two-storey covered drive-through and main entrance for the day clinics. Large concrete columns support the upper clinical.

Exposed concrete provides an aesthetic contrast and complement

on-sitemag.com / 53

The Highway 404 Extension in York Region won the Specialty Concrete Applications category.

to wood soffits, terrazzo floors and backlit textured glass panels, on both the exterior and interior of the building.

Fully 37,800 cu. m. of concrete were poured for this facility.

There were 152 structural caissons drilled, for a combined drill depth of 1,052 m. There was approximately 2.4 km of underground storm/water/sanitary pipe installed. Masons installed some 153,000 concrete blocks.

The facility had to incorporate a large loading dock area, an indoor swimming pool that hovers over a mechanical room, two levels of underground parking, and a fifth floor mechanical floor.

Post-tensioned concrete girders were among the elements used to create the long spans required to transfer loads from the column grid above onto the more open plan below.

A meditative labyrinth is located on the main floor facing the park, constructed from poured-in-place, salmon red concrete. Alliance went back to its archives to find a concrete pigment that would not fade to pink, but would remain reddish even after years of use.

The adjacent Don Jail (1864) has been restored and repurposed as the hospital administrative building. Most of the existing thick stone floors and wood floors were removed so new concrete slabs could be poured to reinforce the building, necessary due to the removal of the prison cells.

Bridgepoint Active Healthcare is LEED Silver registered. Concrete played an important part in the sustainable design narrative.

Recycled concrete materials contributed to the overall project recycled content for all construction materials. This included the equivalent pre-consumer recycled content of 75.2 per cent for poured concrete, 72.5 per cent for masonry concrete, 16 per cent for masonry block, and 10 per cent for masonry grout.

asphalt design would be thick. Concrete pavement also improves lifecycle costs, especially in view of escalating asphalt prices.

The 404 Extension was tendered using the MTOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A/B Option Bidding process, allowing the contractor to select the pavement type. After evaluating both asphalt and concrete pavement options, Miller decided on concrete.

The 13-km, four-lane extension was built to reduce commuter and recreational traffic on local roads by accommodating 22,000 vehicles a day.

Concrete provides a rigid pavement surface that requires less subgrade support than asphalt pavement, significantly reducing the volume of granular required in the subgrade and reducing material demand by approximately 40 percent.

The reduced demand for granular material, decrease in waste surplus material and reduction in overall handling and trucking offered environmental benefits as well. Less subgrade preparation meant that the base could be quickly prepared for pavement.

Miller used slip-form paving equipment supplied from an on-site wet batch plant for the paving. The plant reduced delivery distance, elevating product quality by allowing for rapid product adjustments and minimizing the duration between concrete batch time and placement.

An automated dowel bar inserter on the two-lane concrete paver improved overall quality with accurate dowel placement and created a safer working environment for members of the paving crew. A smoothness indicator on the paver provided immediate performance feedback, allowing the crew to make intelligent, onsite adjustments.

OPG NIAGARA TUNNEL PROJECT HIGHWAY 404 EXTENSION Located in York Region and completed in August of 2014, this was the winner in the Specialty Concrete Applications category.

Recognized were: Owner, The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, Central Region (MTO); Engineer of record, Hatch Mott MacDonald; Contract administrators, Highway Construction Inspection Ontario and Morrison Hershfield Ltd.; General contractor, Miller Paving Ltd.; Material supplier, Miller Concrete; Additional participants, BASF Canada Inc., Harris Rebar, Ironworkers Local 721, LIUNA Local 183, National Concrete Accessories.

MTO analysis has established that concrete pavement is very cost-competitive on heavily travelled freeways, where the alternative

54 / APRIL 2015

The winner in the Infrastructure category was the Niagara Tunnel Project in Niagara Falls, a cast-in-place concrete tunnel, 10.1 km long and with a 14.4 m bore dia. that will provide 500 cu. m. of water per sec. to the Sir Adam Beck Power Station.

Recognized were: Owner: Ontario Power Generation; Design engineer: ILF Consulting Engineers; Engineer of record: David F. Wood Consulting Ltd.; General contractor: Strabag Inc.; Material supplier, Dufferin Concrete; Additional participants, BASF Canada Inc., Dufferin Aggregates, Dufferin Construction, Euclid Chemical, Harris Rebar, Holcim (Canada) Inc., Ironworkers Local 736, LIUNA Local 837, Peri Formwork Systems Inc. Dufferin Concrete provided the concrete solutions for the

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project – the cast-in-place tunnel liner and all concrete outside the tunnel. This is enough concrete to build 10 CN Towers and was done 150 m. below the City of Niagara Falls.

Three different types of concrete were used for the tunnel.

Shotcrete is sprayed onto the tunnel walls immediately after the tunnel-boring machine (TBM) passes. This stabilizes the rock to provide temporary support for the tunnel wall until the liner concrete can be cast.

Tunnel-liner concrete was used for the cast-in-place walls, and self-consolidating concrete (SCC) filled the voids of the over-break of loose rock. Due to poor ground conditions, loose rock fell from the ceiling as the TBM passed, shaping the tunnel more like a teardrop in small sections throughout. The SCC seeped into every crevasse and filled the void 100 per cent.

Two separate cave-ins necessitated new timelines and restoration of the tunnel ceiling. This caused tunnel traffic and congestion issues for the concrete delivery.

Strabag proposed two solutions to change the way concrete was delivered into the tunnel.

THE REST OF THE BEST

Other important concrete specialties also won plaudits, as reported in the March issue of On-Site. They were: • Architectural Merit: Deerfield Hall, Mississauga, owned by the University of Toronto. Among those recognized were Eastern Construction Co. Ltd., Alliance Forming Ltd., Canadian Precast Ltd. and Dufferin Concrete.

• Architectural Hardscape: Lake Wilcox Park Waterfront Promenade, Richmond Hill, owned by the Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill. Among those recognized were Rutherford Contracting Ltd., UCC Group Inc., Ed’s Concrete Products Ltd., Innocon and Stone-Link Corp.

• Institutional Building: Social Sciences Building, University of Ottawa. Among those recognized were Aecon Group Inc., Bellai Brothers Construction Ltd. and St Marys CBM. • Material Development & Innovation: Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, Markham. Among those recognized were Gillam Group Inc., Alliance Forming Ltd., Metro Concrete Floors (1990) Inc. and St Marys CBM. • Mid To High Rise Residential: Cinema Tower, Toronto. Among those recognized were Daniels HR Corp., C.I.P. Group and Innocon.

• Specialty Concrete Applications: Dufferin U-Track, Toronto.

Among those recognized were Aspen Ridge Management Group Inc. and Dufferin Concrete.

• Structural Design Innovation: Aga Khan Museum & Ismaili Centre, Toronto. Among those recognized were Carillion Canada Inc., Alliance Forming Ltd. and St Marys CBM. See http://ontarioconcreteawards.ca/award-winners for additional team members, members of the organizing committee, members of the judging panel and industry supporters, as well as other information. Deadline for the 2015 OCA submissions is September 24, 2015.

The Niagara Tunnel Project in Niagara Falls won the Infrastructure category.

The first idea was to use a concrete pump just outside the tunnel at the outlet. Dufferin Concrete mixers were used to pump the concrete about 500 m into the tunnel.

The mix had to be modified to accommodate the pressures involved in pumping long distances. The first challenge was that the mix proportions, sources and elements could not be changed due to the required creep testing. The mix had been accepted and testing completed prior to the project start up.

The original mixes started out as conventional, pumpable concrete with a 200-mm slump. The mix was modified into a pseudoSCC, while leaving the original proportions the same.

As the arch form progressed into the tunnel, the pumping distances grew by 25 m per day, reaching a total pumping distance of 1.8 km. The mix had to be revisited weekly and modified accordingly. The mix ended up becoming a full SCC mix when the one-km mark was reached.

However, after 1.8 km, pumping was no longer time and costeffective. Strabag’s second idea was to install eight-in. dia. drop shaft pipes from the surface, so the concrete could be dropped up to 150 m. in vertical free-fall into a waiting agitator drum below.

It could then be delivered to the form where the concrete is to be placed. Four locations were selected through the 10 km tunnel and a nine cu. m. concrete remixer was added to the operations.

Dropping concrete in free fall contravenes the way structural concrete is supposed to be handled. This structural concrete had to meet specifications for the tunnel liner. Accordingly, a “dropshaft mix” was created. Again, the original proportions and elements of the mix could not be changed. As well, the on-site wet-batch plant was not available due to the increased need for restoration concrete.

The challenge, met successfully, was to reproduce the mixes required through an existing dry-batched, ready-mix plant in Niagara Falls, not far from the proposed dropshafts.

The tunnel has been open since March 2013 and will supply water to Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Station for the next 100 years, without closing for inspections or repairs.

Edited from information provided by the Ontario Concrete Awards.

on-sitemag.com / 57

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CONVENTIONAL

RISK

By David Bowcott

The Future of Construction?

Asset Management!

A

sset Management! In past columns, I’ve referred to the concept of Asset Management and how a growing number of owners are more thoughtfully planning the implementation and interaction of all phases of their assets’ lives to optimize asset performance.

Asset Management has always been around. In the past two decades, though, the concept has begun to organize itself globally through the sharing of best practices and the development of standards which are bringing consistency to Asset Management implementation.

For a concept to truly take hold in today’s global economy, a “meeting place,” so to speak, is often necessary. This is where practitioners can share ideas, experiences, and best practices and grow their knowledge.

One of the key Asset Management meeting places appears to be the Institute of Asset Management (IAM), founded in the United Kingdom in 1994. The mission of IAM is “…to advance for the public benefit the science and practice of asset management.” For just over 20 years, IAM has been helping its members develop and apply Asset Management knowledge, best practices and standards.

Its membership includes owners from all walks of life – both governments and private-industry sectors including power, mining, energy, manufacturing, real estate, and several others. While there are several Asset Management associations out there, none seems to unite all practitioners of Asset Management – from all segments of the economy – quite like IAM.

As of January 2015, the Canadian Chapter of IAM is up and running. They are hosting several kick-off sessions across Canada in 2015 to help unite Canadian IAM members. In addition, it is their hope that these sessions will encourage others to join IAM and participate in discussions aimed at trying to build and operate perfect assets for our Canadian economy. The IAM website provides details on these events – see https://theiam.org/events/listing.

So why might Asset Management be the future of construction? Well, it could be that construction expertise is in fact the future of Asset Management. It is a simple concept – construction contractors have borne, and continue to bear, significant risk with regards to the performance of the assets they help build, and in some cases help to maintain and operate.

When you bear risk, you become keenly aware of the potential impact risk can have on your project. As a result, you strive to uncover the best ways to manage all the risks you bear. Owning the risk has left several contractors with significant battle scars. The knowledge those battle scars represents is only now being tapped by owners to build assets with lifecycle performance certainty.

If an owner had five power plants and hired a design firm and a contractor to build each plant, does that owner really possess the full knowledge on how to best build and operate its assets? What if there is a contractor out there that has built over 100 power plants? That contractor has had to deal with the asset’s construction phase risks and the operational phase risks (via

warranty), and therefore might possess knowledge that could be very helpful to that power-plant owner as he manages his portfolio of assets.

That, in a nutshell, represents the opportunity now facing the construction industry – could the construction contractor community engage more fulsomely with the owner community to build better assets?

At the firm I work for, it appears that this is a direction that more and more owners are heading in. Based on the data we possess, it is becoming clear that owners that integrate more thoughtfully with the construction community tend to have assets that perform with greater performance certainty through the design, build, and operations phases.

I highly encourage you to learn more about the concept of Asset Management and see how this trend could help you create greater value for your customer base. There is tremendous potential in this space and some owners are shedding their traditional methodologies to pursue new procurement strategies that optimize the return on their asset investments.

David Bowcott is senior vice-president, national director of Large/Strategic Accounts at AON Reed Stenhouse Inc. Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.

on-sitemag.com / 59

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CONTRACTORS & THE LAW

By Lauren E. Kristjanson and Jack Finn

Incorporation of main contract by reference in the subcontract

A

common feature of construction contracts is the incorporation of provisions of the main contract by reference into a subcontract.

Two questions arise from this convenient and time-saving practice: What aspects of the main contract are and are not incorporated, and what happens when aspects of the main contract and subcontract conflict?

The first issue is what is or is not incorporated from the main contract by reference into the subcontract. The British Columbia courts have considered this question and concluded it is not always as straightforward as the plain language of the reference clause.

For example, in Daiwood Construction Co. v. Wright Schuchart Construction Ltd. (1992), 3 C.L.R. (2d) 144 (B.C.S.C.), the subcontractor entered into a written agreement with the general contractor to construct and supply structural and architectural concrete work. At the time, there was no contract between the owner and general contractor.

The general contractor advised the subcontractor that the main contract would be the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) 2 1982 Stipulated Sum Contract, modified to reflect a “guaranteed maximum upset price.” As part of the contract between the subcontractor and general contractor, the terms of the main contract were binding on the subcontractor.

The subcontract also required that the form of contract between general contractor and owner be the CCDC 2 contract.

The actual contract between owner and general contractor included two significant modifications to the standard form contract. The court held that the additional

62 / APRIL 2015

terms, unknown to the subcontractor, formed no part of its contract with the general contractor. The subcontractor was not informed of the changes to the CCDC 2 contract between owner and contractor.

According to the judge, the subcontractor would not have agreed to sign a subcontract “which would amount to no more than a pig in a poke.”

Likewise, in Foundation Co. of Canada Ltd. v. United Grain Growers Ltd. (1997), 33 C.L.R. (2d) 159 (B.C.C.A.), drawings in the main contract and the subcontract were held not to have been incorporated into the subcontract despite a clause in the subcontract including them and a term that incorporated by reference the terms of the main contract.

In Foundation Co., the issue was that the subcontract and the main contract included an additional set of drawings that was not in the tender. In this case, the negotiations at the tender stages were crucial to the interpretation of the subcontract.

During tendering, the negotiations focused on the terms in the tender, and not in the subcontract. When changes were made, both parties initialed the accepted change on the tender.

The court held that the subcontractor and the general contractor’s clear actions in negotiations, creating a pattern of adding and initialing changes in the tender, meant the terms that they did not expressly initial and include, i.e. the additional drawings, were not included in the subcontract by reference or otherwise.

As the two cases above demonstrate, the terms of the subcontract, along with the intent of the parties in making the agreement, is what establishes which aspects of a main

contract are or are not incorporated into the subcontract – not just the reference clause.

The second issue is what happens when provisions of the subcontract conflict with provisions of the main contract? The short answer is: poor drafting can lead to liability for contractors against owners and subcontractors.

Incorporation by reference will not save a contractor if the terms of the two contracts conflict. In such a circumstance, a contractor could be in breach of one of its contracts.

In other words, a contractor who enters into inconsistent obligations to the owner and the subcontractor cannot rely on one contract as an excuse for breaching the other.

Incorporation of main contracts in subcontracts is certainly a common practice in construction contracts. It is important to remember two key points in order to avoid issues when part of an agreement incorporates another agreement. First, if the subcontract attempts to incorporate the main contract by reference, and the main contract contains unexpected or unknown terms, these terms may not be binding on the parties to the subcontract.

Further, it is important to read and understand all obligations that are entered into, as conflicting obligations is not an excuse for breaching one contract in favour of honouring the other.

This article is for information purposes only and may not be relied on for legal advice.

Lauren E. Kristjanson is a lawyer at the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, practicing in the area of commercial litigation with an emphasis on contract and construction disputes. Jack Finn is an articling student at Borden Lander Gervais LLP.

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