Piling Canada
Worker scanning concrete wall

Scanning for Rebar in Concrete When It’s ‘Everywhere’

Concrete is used virtually everywhere in residential, commercial and industrial construction. Rebar reinforcement is used to add structural integrity to concrete to keep it from breaking due to fluctuations in tension, compression, temperature, earthquakes and other stresses.

After a concrete structure is built, it may be necessary to drill or saw into it to incorporate changes. The trouble is that some applications require a significant amount of rebar, which can be set in grid patterns, rows, columns or randomly. This creates a situation where it seems impossible to find an appropriate location to drill or cut without hitting metal. Guessing may result in unnecessary holes, equipment damage and even safety concerns. To mitigate these risks, construction workers require trustworthy metal scanning tools.

The risks of drilling into rebar

A construction site is not a place to take safety risks, but safety is at risk when indiscriminately cutting or drilling into a maze of rebar. When blades or bits hit metal, they can shatter into flying fragments, or grab and bind in the material, causing kickback that can result in severe hand and wrist injuries, if not worse. Worker injuries of this nature can lead to project delays and costly worker’s compensation claims.

A construction site is not a place to take safety risks, but safety is at risk when indiscriminately cutting or drilling into a maze of rebar.

Damaged concrete, drill bits or saw blades additionally lead to downtime and unnecessary replacement costs. It is crucial to identify where rebar is located before drilling or cutting into a concrete structure. One technique is ground penetrating radar (GPR), which can locate metallic and non-metallic objects by sending a small electromagnetic pulse into the concrete and analyzing the echoes that result from subsurface objects.

Although GPR is quite effective at locating rebar deep within a concrete structure, the equipment requires extensive training and can be very expensive. Fortunately, handheld metal detectors have been around for decades and are very easy to use at a lower cost and with fewer headaches than GPR.

Zircon, a sensor technologies manufacturer, offers several models that can detect rebar in concrete at different depths, so the end user can select the best device to fit their needs. In 1980, Zircon introduced the StudSensor stud finder and has continued to innovate in the category for more than 40 years. The Silicon Valley-based, wholly owned subsidiary of ZRCN Inc. produces more than just stud finders. They design and manufacture an extended range of sensor technologies in electronic hand tools including wall scanners, metal detectors, circuit breaker finders, drill guides, water detectors and levelling tools.

  • Angle view of the Zircon MetalliScanner MT X
  • Front view of the Zircon MetalliScanner MT 7

Zircon addresses the issues of locating rebar in concrete through innovative handheld scanning devices such as the MetalliScanner MT 7 and the MetalliScanner MT X metal locators. The MetalliScanner MT 7 metal detector can be used to locate rebar, pipes and other metal before sawing or drilling. The scanner can locate metal, including half-inch rebar, up to six inches deep. It offers users two scanning modes – Standard and DeepScan – with position accuracy to within approximately a half-inch for #4 Rebar, which is often used as a strengthening material in slabs, piers, columns and walls.

The MetalliScanner MT X metal detector is designed to address the difficult task of locating the spaces between rebar in tight grid patterns. In DeepScan mode, the MT X can locate rebar or metal pipes up to four inches deep.

Put to the test in the Devil’s Slide Tunnel project

A Zircon metal scanner was put to the test during the construction of northbound and southbound tunnels for a project along California’s highly trafficked Highway 1, which runs along the cliffs on the Pacific Coast. The area is known as Devil’s Slide due to mudslides from the steep terrain above the highway that often close sections of the road for months at a time. The two tunnels are each approximately 4,200 feet long and are connected by 10 mechanical rooms.

In one of the first phases of the project, the construction crew was tasked with installing a ventilation system in one of the mechanical rooms. However, due to the extensive amount of rebar, the company’s MetalliScanner MT 6 metal detector, the precursor to the new MT 7, was indicating metal “everywhere.”

Zircon addresses the issues of locating rebar in concrete through innovative handheld scanning devices.

The reason there was so much more rebar was its location in earthquake country. One observer described the Devil’s Slide Tunnel as, “less like concrete with steel reinforcement and more like a steel wall with concrete filler.”

Given the challenge, the crew contacted a Zircon representative, who visited the jobsite to help troubleshoot the problem. He suggested that instead of focusing the MT 6 on finding metal, the crew should focus on the weakest signals to find the gaps in the rebar. The team proceeded to use the Zircon MT 6 to scan in this manner in the remaining nine mechanical rooms and were successful in drilling to install the ventilation without hitting rebar 99 per cent of the time – a vast improvement.

Worker scanning concrete wall
Handheld metal detectors are easy, cost-effective alternatives to costly GPR to locate rebar in existing structures before drilling

The next phase of the project involved installing Jet Fans, which required the crew to drill into concrete while suspended high in a bucket. The MT 6 allowed for quick scans to determine the ideal locations for the 4.5-inch concrete fasteners. The scanner’s lightweight enabled the crew to perform multiple overhead scans quickly. At the project’s completion, the crew advised Zircon that it would be beneficial to add a wrist strap to future metallic scanners to facilitate overhead scanning. This feature has been incorporated in the company’s current model, the MT 7, along with a pivot handle attachment and optional extension pole.

It is crucial to understand where rebar is located before attempting to cut or drill. Handheld rebar detection tools are an easy and cost-effective way to avoid the maze of rebar in an existing structure before a drill or saw ever touches the concrete. For more information about Zircon and its products, call 408-963-4550, email info@zircon.com or visit the company’s website at zircon.com. Piling Canada

Benoit St-Onge

Benoit St-Onge

In his role as design manager at the head office of Menard Canada in Montreal – a position he has held for two years – Benoit St-Onge oversees all design for ground improvement solutions in Quebec.

“I’ve been working at Menard for seven years,” said St-Onge. “I started as a project co-ordinator for two years, mainly working onsite. Working as a site engineer early in my career helped me to have a better sense of constructability and to develop a better understanding of the challenges a site team faces. After that, I became a project manager/designer for three years.”

Born and raised in Gatineau, Que., St-Onge earned a degree in civil engineering at École Polytechnique de Montreal. He then studied abroad in France, at INSA-Toulouse from 2010 to 2014.

“My interest in geotechnical engineering grew (in France),” he said. “After that, I did an internship at the Credeau (a water treatment laboratory at Polytechnique of Montreal). During my internship at Credeau, my supervisor had a partnership with another teacher on a new soil treatment called MICP (Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation). When I discovered the subject, I decided to do my master thesis on it. I did a (master of science in administration) at École Polytechnique de Montreal from 2014 to 2016, on the MICP soil treatment.”

St-Onge knew during his studies that he didn’t want to study classic geotechnical engineering. Instead, he preferred to look into alternative and innovative solutions with the goal of having a more tailor-suited and cost-effective approach with a smaller carbon footprint.

“Research and development are happening outside of Canada, and those initiatives can be very beneficial to our market.”

Benoit St-Onge, Menard Canada

Career challenges

When asked what some of the challenges are that he has overcome so far in his career, St-Onge says the main one is inertia.

“Ground improvement is still new in the deep foundation market. A lot of clients are unreceptive to use new solutions. It takes a lot of energy to change the practices in the deep foundation industry, but it’s worth it,” he said.

He says that ground improvement solutions are not limited to one type of project. “Currently, I’m more involved in the industrial and warehouse market. There’s a great demand for those types of buildings and markets in Quebec. We are involved in a project that has liquefaction, excessive settlement or bearing capacity issues. A big part of the fun I have in this project comes from the fact that I work on a difficult site.”

As for the types of projects he looks forward to working on, St-Onge says there is a great deal of discussion about the energy sector in Quebec.

“These projects are typically more technical and there’s a lot of challenges to tackle. It’s exciting to see all the investment and future possibilities in the Quebec market,” he said.

Maintaining relationships

When it comes to building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and customers in the deep foundations sector, St-Onge emphasizes the need to be honest and pragmatic.

“Transparency is the key to success,” he said. “Deep foundations and geotechnical engineering depend on many parameters and sometimes involve uncertainties. It’s crucial to be clear about the limitations of your design, where the uncertainties lie, what the probability of them happening is and where there are extra costs.”

He says that to be successful in this field, one needs to be curious and attentive to what is happening technically worldwide. “The Canadian market is still a small market and there’s not a lot of new initiative growing in our market. Research and development are happening outside of Canada, and those initiatives can be very beneficial to our market,” he said.

Construction site
Menard Canada was commissioned to improve the soil under this future food distribution warehouse located in Terrebonne, Que.

The future

When asked what he foresees for the construction industry in general, St-Onge says the industry evolves around two main subjects: the carbon footprint, and the usage of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the field.

“[The] deep foundation industry is no different. A lot of research is done on alternative materials, refining design with advanced numerical analysis, and reducing uncertainties with data and AI,” he said.

As for what his future career plans are, he says it is difficult to project into the future. “My focus has been to develop the ground improvement industry in Quebec. There’s a lot of techniques that are not yet implemented into our market and I would love the be an actor in this diversification,” he said.

St-Onge is also a member of the Canadian Geotechnical Society. “I do a lot of presentations to professionals and talk about ground improvement. I’ve recently been asked to give a lecture on ground improvement in universities,” St-Onge said.

Away from work, he enjoys outdoor activities. “I love to go away on multiday treks with my girlfriend and enjoy the big outdoors we have in Canada,” he said.

Spoken like a true Canadian. Piling Canada

Usmaara Idrees

Usmaara Idrees

As a project engineer for Menard Canada in the company’s Toronto office, Usmaara Idrees is quite new to this position, having joined the team nine months ago after completing her undergraduate degree.

Under the leadership of Collin Spence, her main responsibilities include assisting with project feasibility assessments, engineering design for ground improvement programs, and on-site project reporting and quality assurance and quality control monitoring.

Prior to this position Idrees worked in Menards’ Hamilton office during her co-op internship for 16 months under the guidance of Neil Isenegger. She graduated from McMaster University earning a bachelor of engineering with a speciality in civil engineering in April 2023.

“I became interested in deep foundations during my undergraduate studies in civil engineering,” Idrees said. “A specialized foundations course and design-focused capstone project in university sparked my intrigue with the challenges of building strong and stable foundations for structures with various geotechnical challenges. Additionally, my first practical internship with Menard provided me with exposure to specialized engineering design, furthering my interest in the deep foundation industry.”

Idrees’ start as an intern with Menard Canada allowed her to gain practical experience with soil analysis and ground improvement design in the support of new construction. It also provided the opportunity to apply her theoretical knowledge to real-life situations and collaborate with seasoned professionals at the forefront of the ground improvement industry.

“I am eager to explore environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional foundation support solutions.”

Usmaara Idrees, Menard Canada

“My passion for sustainability and innovation has a large impact on my approach to projects and my role,” she said. “I am eager to explore environmentally sustainable alternatives to conventional foundation support solutions. Working with ground improvement has allowed me to take part in the deliverance of environmentally conscious engineering, aligning with my personal values.”

She finds the deep foundations sector – in relation to ground improvement – exciting due to its pivotal role in the development of new and diverse structures.

“The prospect of contributing to projects that challenge the conventions of construction provides continual engagement. The dynamic nature of this industry and the potential it offers to shape the possibilities of construction drive my continued interest.”

Current projects

Presently, Idrees is involved in a range of projects that focus on designing and implementing ground improvement solutions – from mid-size residential buildings to large-scale industrial developments.

“The design focus of these projects is on providing adequate bearing capacity and settlement control within unfavourable soil conditions while mitigating the need for extensive earthworks or complex foundation designs,” she said.

Workers and heavy machinery on construction site
St. Patrick’s Catholic Elementary School, Hamilton, Ont.

Looking forward, she is eager to work on more complex and innovative projects that push the requirements of technological advancements in the deep foundations sector. She finds sustainability-driven projects particularly interesting as this aligns with her personal interests.

“The potential to collaborate with professionals in a range of industries such as environmental science is an exciting prospect. The dynamic nature of deep foundation projects offers continual learning and room for creativity,” she said.

Idrees says that a crucial part of being successful in the foundations industry requires strong analytical skills and attention to detail. The ability to assess ground conditions with various geotechnical intricacies and a problem-solving mindset are key attributes to success.

“Being proactive on projects and responding to variations between theoretical design and observed project conditions ensures the delivery of a safe and reliably supported product,” she said.

With respect to building and maintaining strong client relationships in the specialized foundations sector, Idrees says communication and commitment to delivering high-quality results are crucial.

“Providing regular updates on project progress, addressing any concerns promptly, meeting or exceeding project expectations are common tasks that contribute towards building a lasting professional relationship,” she said.

In the context of ground improvement, where the specifics of construction are not always common knowledge, “showcasing expertise and delivering real engineering value that reinforces a client’s confidence in our work also contributes to a strong relationship.”

Rearview of equipment vehicle on construction site
Student residence building for the University of Toronto Scarborough campus

As for strategies she has employed to drive sales growth and success in the deep foundations market, Idrees has taken a strong interest in using technology advancements to improve the quality of services and ease of operation by Menard. These include the use of sensors and instrumentation for high-level, quality monitoring, innovative construction materials for environmentally conscious projects and development of internal digital tools for smoother project processing.

“Staying at the forefront of these developments not only sets us apart from the market, but also helps raise the standards of design verification and monitoring by the industry. Menard is continuously exploring the development of in-house technologies to streamline project operations, improving the accuracy and efficiency of our services to drive sales growth,” she said.

Challenges and the future

When asked about some of the challenges she has overcome so far in a career that has been historically male, Idrees says she is proud to have attended a university where women make up 40 per cent of the incoming engineering class.

“As such, being a woman has not provided me with any significant challenges in navigating the industry. Rather, maintaining a balance between work and religious commitments has occasionally posed challenges,” she said. “I am grateful to have understanding colleagues and employers who respect diversity and offer religious accommodations when necessary, and believe this should be the standard across the industry.”

Supervising equipment operation
A total of 60 columns were installed through soft and oversaturated silts to control settlement and improve the bearing capacity of the individual footings for this industrial building in Brantford, Ont.

As for what the future of the deep foundations industry looks like, Idrees views it as very promising with industry trends pointing to a focus on more sustainable and economical construction.

“With the construction industry being responsible for a large portion of total carbon emissions, and zero emissions policies adopting eager reduction targets, the role of the deep foundations sector in meeting these ambitions will be critical,” she said.

As for her own future plans, she sees her career progressing from a project engineer to a leadership role. “I plan to pursue my professional engineering certification and remain actively engaged in the industry. Furthermore, I hope to advance my current role to be more involved in the research and development of new types of monitoring techniques, technologies and digital tools,” Idrees said.

She also attends events hosted by industry associations related to geotechnical investigation techniques. “As I am in the early stages of my career progression, I hope to expand my presence within these communities moving forward. I am eager to employ my ideas for advancement to drive the efforts of development within the deep foundations and ground improvement industry,” Idrees said.

When not working, Idrees enjoys activities that allow her to maintain a work-life balance. “These include spending time with my friends and family, and exploring a growing interest in baking.” Piling Canada

Man at desk with rolls of designs and plans

Keeping Pace with a New World of Technology

The deep foundations industry in Canada is committed to providing innovative, safe and effective solutions for a wide variety of construction projects across the country. As advancements in technology, materials and construction methods continue to grow at an every-increasing rate, skilled professionals are challenged to keep up with and be part of these exciting developments.

Deep foundation design teams produce solutions tailored to each project’s specific needs, and one important member of those teams is the engineering technologist.

This challenging career requires working with complex data and analysis to creatively solve real-world problems. As described by the worldwide job site Indeed.com, “an engineering technologist applies a fundamental understanding of math and engineering and uses strong practical skills to complete their work.” These professionals take a hands-on, applied approach to engineering theory that emphasizes problem-solving, analysis and design, and then bring their drawings and data to the engineer managing the project.

With the expertise and passion of today’s engineering technologists on the team, the deep foundation construction industry will grow into the future with unprecedented success and sustainability.

While engineers work largely within theory to develop new concepts and designs, the engineering technologist focuses more on the practical application of those concepts and designs.

“I always say that engineering technologists are the problem solvers. Architects and engineers identify problems, but don’t necessarily have the technology to solve those problems,” said Reva Bond, dean for the School of Construction at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary, Alta. “As far as compensation and job satisfaction go, they’re equivalent in many organizations to an engineer or an architect. The hierarchy of construction is starting to whittle a little bit as organizations see how each role has a distinct scope of work. Companies invest in fairness and transparency, and the engineering technologist can speak up and be a part of the problem-solving process. That’s how some of the best projects are run.”

Becoming an engineering technologist

A successful engineering technologist must be curious and have a passion for problem-solving. They are willing to understand and apply theory at a deep level to help bring creative and effective innovations to foundation processes. Analytical thinking and attention to detail are essential qualities for success in this career. Technical skills gained through education and experience form the foundation of the work, while communication skills, the ability to express technical information to the design team, stakeholders and clients are becoming vital in an increasingly complex world.

There is a growing demand for engineering technologists as reliance on technology increases in the construction industry. Competitive salaries and good opportunities for advancement, and the challenge of creatively solving real-world problems make this an attractive career choice for many individuals.

The education pathway

In Canada, the journey to become a certified engineering technologist usually begins with registration in a post-secondary technology or applied science program offered at colleges, institutes of technology, polytechnics and universities across the country. After completion of a two- or three-year diploma program – depending on the province – graduates must finish two years of supervised work experience in an applied science or engineering technology occupation to obtain provincial certification.

Students at desks with man in background raising hand
Photo: xreflex/123RF

“The education pathway in Alberta is two years long, where we introduce students to all the different possibilities and directions for a career in engineering technology,” said Bond. “Once they’re out in the workforce, they can begin to build their niche. By nature of the project they’ve been a part of, a reputation will begin to follow them from project to project, and they start to become a specialist. Or depending on the scope and skills required for the work, they may also develop a great career being a generalist.

“We’re introducing a dozen or more pathways that a student as a graduate can pursue. In their final semester they do a capstone project, where they get to drive their own learning, tackling a real-world problem that holds great passion for them. They spend the entire semester really getting into it. It’s the process of problem-solving rather than knowing the data that changes according to the situation. The students work to find solutions that adapt and are better for that particular situation. That’s where we see the breadth of specializations really starting to come out.”

The civil engineering technologist in the deep foundations industry

An engineering technologist can specialize in many different areas of engineering. For example, mechanical, electrical and mining, but perhaps the closest to the work in deep foundations is the civil engineering technologist.

“This discipline provides technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals, or the technologist may work independently in such fields as structural engineering, construction design and supervision, geotechnical engineering, etc.,” states the Government of Canada’s national occupational classification.

Duties can include preparing construction specifications, cost and materials estimates, project schedules and reports. The civil engineering technologist might supervise or conduct field surveys, technical inspections into topography, soils, drainage and water supply systems, field compaction testing of soils and concrete, pile construction and monitoring to provide data for engineering projects. Their responsibilities may include a combination of indoor and outdoor work.

At SAIT, the School of Construction runs three civil engineering technology programs under construction design and management with three majors: construction management, municipal, and virtual design and construction. All three are two-year diploma programs. The first year covers building science and the building process: engineering, drafting 2D and 3D, construction management, virtual and augmented technology, structural design, geotechnical engineering and construction management principles. Students will also develop knowledge of material science by exploring the strength of building materials, building science and sustainability, mixing concrete, testing materials and asphalt samples, discover the importance of soil mechanics to building projects and other topics essential to construction management principles.

In the second year, students choose options to specialize in their major. Construction management will focus on buildings construction design, estimating, and construction execution for residential and commercial construction. The municipal major focuses on infrastructure services and road design.

Virtual design and construction students focus on advanced construction communication technology, digital drafting and design delivery in the virtual world from 2D to HoloLens.

Every student completes a capstone project to produce a report on a defined situation, completing an investigation through research, data collection, data analysis and drafting. The students present their findings to faculty and industry guests.

There is a growing demand for engineering technologists as reliance on technology increases in the construction industry.

“We have some great industry partnerships at SAIT,” said Bond. “Sometimes they will approach us with a problem for a capstone project or maybe the problem has been solved, but they want to see what else a student might come up with.”

Secondary institutions across the country offer similar engineering technology programs that are nationally accredited at the technologist level by Technology Accreditation Canada. The Canadian Technology Standards are a set of general and discipline-specific learning outcomes for each engineering technology and applied science discipline at the technician and technologist level. These standards are used for the purposes of accreditation, certification and program development.

Engineering technology graduates are eligible to join the professional association specific to each province. Most provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer Certified Engineering Technologist certification after registering with the provincial association and fulfiling specific requirements. For example, in Alberta this means graduation from an accredited program, at least two years of acceptable technical experience, professional references, a competency report and successful completion of the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta’s professional practice exam.

Certification is voluntary; it is not a regulatory requirement or a statutory required license, but it does indicate the professional values of the code of ethics of the association and gives credibility when representing to hiring managers, demonstrating commitment to the profession. With experience and the motivation to continue to learn, engineering technologists can progress through their careers to construction supervisor, project engineer or manager, construction estimator or construction manager.

“After completing an engineering technology program, a graduate may be able to get further training through the company they’re hired with or they may choose to go on to an engineering degree program, learn more theory about how to go about solving problems,” said Bond. “Sometimes a manufacturer will provide a day program about specific materials and equipment. And new software programs are being developed all the time. New technology is coming on board that is really going to affect the day-to-day work of those engineering technologists. They’re going to be able to go through huge amounts of data sets much more quickly to help identify patterns and solve problems, perhaps to a higher level than we’ve been able to in the past.

“There is a paradigm shift that is happening as we move away from a mechanistic world view towards an ecological world view. Buildings are an extension of the earth we’re on, and we are starting to tie in systems much more tightly to each other. Disciplines that could perhaps work through a whole project in isolation, need to understand each other’s scope of work, need to be much more integrated in their design and problem-solving abilities because of that reality.”

The field of engineering technology is growing and evolving at a rapid pace with innovations in automation and robotics, advanced materials innovations, geotechnical innovations, soil improvement techniques, and advanced sensory and monitoring systems. With the expertise and passion of today’s engineering technologists on the team, the deep foundation construction industry will grow into the future with unprecedented success and sustainability. Piling Canada

Heavy equipment driving piles at Nairn Falls generating system

Replacing Nairn Falls Generating Station and Spillway

Located on the Spanish River in the heart of northern Ontario, the Nairn Falls Generating Station has been providing power to the surrounding area for more than a century. The spillway was first commissioned in 1915 and its hydroelectric generating station supplies 4.5 milliwatts of power to mining operations around Sudbury, as well as to Ontario’s power grid.

However, the venerable power plant is now beginning to show its age and, after many years of service, has finally reached the end of its useful service life. Due to this, the decision was made to design and construct a new and upgraded power generating station and spillway at the site, which will allow for more efficient power generation into the foreseeable future.

When complete, the new generating station will feature a four-bay concrete spillway equipped with vertical lift gates on the same footprint as the existing spillway, as well as powerline relocations, a new access road and retaining walls on the island located between the spillway and the shoreline. As part of the project, there are also several temporary works, including upstream and downstream cofferdams, training walls, a dewatering system, crane pads and a temporary bridge.

Work on the project began in May 2022, with the construction phases being separated to allow for better water management through the station, including passing the flow of freshet – or snow melt – to help mitigate the risk of upstream inundation and to pass water downstream into spawning habitats.
With more than 180 years of collective experience providing innovative geotechnical solutions across North America, Soletanche Bachy Canada (SB Canada) was selected to facilitate the replacement of the generating station by constructing an upstream cofferdam and trestle.

Shaped like a “Y,” the trestle and cofferdam create a fork for multiple paths of travel and access to the work area, as well as helps divert water from the existing spillway and generating station. The cofferdam operates as a fully functional dam with working gates, which means SB Canada can control the flow of water during construction. The trestle allows for construction access to the opposite side of the river feeding the spillway and generating station.

A challenging project

The power generating station and spillway have been active for many decades and have reached the end of their service life. Therefore, the construction schedule is critical to the ultimate success of the project.

“There is an urgency to create adequate access and successfully divert water from the existing structure to help facilitate replacement, and SB Canada has implemented a 24-7 working schedule to help achieve the desired completion date,” said Paul Dlugosz, SB Canada’s project manager.

One of the project’s most significant technical challenges is related to construction tolerances and the significant variation in the rock profile. SB Canada overcame these issues by choosing the correct methodologies for the job quickly and effectively. The company also mobilized the project site within a month of being awarded the contract to maximize the project schedule by beginning the construction phase as soon as possible, while also continuing preparatory efforts for future operations.

Working adjacent to an active spillway has also presented significant challenges because of the fast flow of water – in excess of 5,000 cubic feet per second – through the construction area. The methodologies selected for construction have helped limit SB Canada’s exposure to the extremely fast currents and have allowed construction to take place from the previously installed trestle sections, as well as from a variety of barge arrangements.

Heavy equipment driving piles at Nairn Falls generating system
Water levels and flow regimes were closely managed to avoid permanent overprinting and temporary footprints were shifted away from the habitats of fish

The tools for the job

The piling scope of the project has included the installation of 24-inch pipe piles with 10-foot rock sockets to support a trestle bridge and to facilitate the construction of the temporary cofferdam and trestle. The project also needed the installation of tie-down anchors to reinforce the cofferdam in its dewatered state and the installation of a diversion structure with rock anchor reinforcement on the side of a significant rock outcrop adjacent to an active spillway.

There were also significant slopes in the existing bedrock profile that made it more difficult to install some of the piling and deep foundation components. Vibration considerations were also needed while completing the work next to the existing concrete structures, since those structures are approximately a century old and there was the potential of structural damage occurring.

Working with Berminghammer Foundation Equipment, SB Canada went to great lengths to ensure the appropriate systems were selected for the foundation elements of the project based on the site conditions. This has permitted SB Canada to efficiently execute the work while adhering to the construction tolerances specified.

“Most of the time, the biggest challenge is determining methodology at the beginning of the project, which involves reviewing the job details and picking a methodology that optimizes the available rental leads, tooling and cranes,” said David Zanchetta, P.Eng., Berminghammer’s sales representative.

For this project, SB Canada is using a reverse circulation Berminghammer BRC35 rotary and down-the-hole (DTH) hammer system. The system is equipped on a 90-foot L23 vertical travel lead system mounted on a Terex HC165 crane, which is installing the pipe piles (equipped with Robit driving shoes) through an engineered template system that is secured to the previously constructed trestle section.

DTH drilling allows for rapid advancement of the pile into the rock compared to conventional soil drilling methods. Where conventional drilling in hard rock can take hours per inch, DTH drilling methods allow crews to advance metres in minutes. What’s more, when reverse circulation drilling is added to the mix, it allows any spoils to be directed to appropriate disposal areas, minimizing the impact to the nearby marine ecological area.

“Much like a hand drill does with a percussive setting, where the drill bit bounces up and down on the surface it is drilling to break it apart, the DTH hammer operates with air to lift and rapidly drop a weight inside the hammer,” said Zanchetta. “What is clever with reverse circulation drilling, however, is that the rock cuttings can be collected and discharged down along a long tube to wherever you want to put them, controlling the cuttings that would otherwise be flying everywhere. This control allows you to protect environmentally sensitive areas and, in this regard, the DTH system with reverse circulation can be the best tool in your arsenal.”

Nighttime shot of heavy equipment driving piles at Nairn Falls generating system
DTH drilling allows for rapid advancement of the pile into the rock compared to conventional soil drilling methods

Protecting the environment

There have been multiple environmental considerations taken during the construction of the project to protect the quality of the water and to mitigate the effect of the project on wildlife in the area.

The water levels and flow regimes were closely managed to avoid permanent overprinting, and temporary footprints were shifted away from the spawning habitats of fish in Spanish River and to avoid impacting lake sturgeon populations. This meant avoiding in-water work during sensitive time windows and establishing pass flows through both channels during the spring spawning season.

“We developed a site-specific environmental plan to ensure the appropriate measures are being taken, along with rigorous controls, to ensure that there are no adverse effects on the environment,” said Dlugosz. “The implemented controls are being consistently monitored with added measures in place for higher risk activities.”

SB Canada also equips their equipment with environmentally friendly hydraulic fluids, combined with anti-idling policies, to limit the environmental impact of their projects wherever possible.

Much of the success of the project to date is a result of establishing the lines of communication early and a commitment to collaboration with the client. SB Canada maintains a program to help identify corrections made in the field prior to completing work or an event occurring, which helps encourage open dialogue and information sharing as it provides an opportunity to learn about potential improvements or issues, and to prevent potential events from occurring in the future. The client’s response to the project has been nothing short of positive due to these measures.

“The client is appreciative of the proactive safety culture we have at SB Canada, as well as our adaptiveness to any changes and challenges encountered on the project so far,” said Dlugosz. “Our ability to react and quickly implement and act on suitable solutions has [greatly benefited] the project, and allowed us to execute the work safely and efficiently.”

The new spillway and generating station on Nairn Falls are expected to be up and running later this year. Piling Canada

Two construction supervisors with backs turned overseeing worksite

Supporting Canadian Engineers

The demand for engineers in Canada has changed dramatically over the years due to increased technology innovation and it is steadily increasing. According to the International Monetary Fund, it’s estimated that Canada’s gross domestic product shrank 5.2 per cent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the engineering industry grew about two per cent in the same year.

The economic impact of COVID-19 is further exacerbated by growing inflation rates, supply chain management issues and government policies. Engineers Canada helped to submit budget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee to manage the increased demand for investment in engineering in 2020. Economic projections show a 2.8 per cent growth in 2023 due to government efforts and constant demand for engineering work. Therefore, more institutions, government bodies and industry stakeholders are encouraging young people to pursue a career in engineering.

The history of the Canadian engineering profession is rich and dates to the 19th century. The first act to regulate the practice of engineering passed in Manitoba in 1896 and it became a constitution in 1936. Engineers Canada was established at the time as the Dominion Council of Professional Engineers. In 1959, it was renamed the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, and in 2007, became Engineers Canada.

Engineers Canada has more than 80 years of history and 300,000 members. The organization supports high standards in the regulation of engineering, its members, associations and alumni. Its efforts focus on undergraduate engineering programs, national and international collaboration and programs, encouraging research and innovation, diversity and inclusion, regulating the licensing process, accreditation and more. Engineers Canada works with all provinces and territories to regulate the profession. Every board actively works to promote and include engineering requirements for the recent increased demand. Engineers Canada promotes and advocates with all levels of government for budget decisions, laws and regulations that affect the engineering profession. It supports events and programs such as 30 by 30, which aims to increase women representation within engineering, National Engineering Month, the Engineering Change Lab, STEM education programs and the Engineers Canada Awards.

30 by 30

The 30 by 30 initiative was introduced by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta in 2010. It aims to increase diversity and the inclusion of women in engineering to 30 per cent by the year 2030. Today, women represent 18 per cent of engineering professionals in Canada. This is due to low enrolment and graduation rates of women in engineering programs. To address this issue, Engineers Canada and its partners have united with post-secondary institutes and kindergarten to Grade 12 programs to promote engineering among young girls as a rewarding career choice. They provide mentorship and engineering project involvement, promote change in course curriculums and spearhead initiatives like Go ENG Girl and Go CODE Girl programs. These initiatives promote more innovation, creativity, balance in the industry and competitiveness. They are working with industry partners to make changes in work culture and organize networking events for the community. In May 2023, they organized virtual and in-person events where engineering professionals and students learned about change in the workplace, seeking and improving equality, diversity and inclusion.

National Engineering Month

National Engineering Month is an annual national campaign that occurs during the month of March, and is organized by Engineers Canada to celebrate and promote engineering excellence, awareness and appreciation. The theme for National Engineering Month 2023 was “There is a place for you in engineering,” with a focus on diversity, the friendly nature of the job and growth. Organizations throughout Canada celebrate the month with more than 500 events, including activities, webinars and competitions to bring together different audiences and spark their interest in engineering professions. All events related to National Engineering Month can be viewed on the Engineers Canada website and national event calendar. People can follow and register for any event easily and follow along on social media.

Engineers Canada Awards

Each year, Engineers Canada celebrates the engineering excellence of individuals or organizations through the Engineers Canada Awards presented to recognize achievements, contributions, services and technical expertise. Categories include Gold Medal Award, service awards for professional and community services, Gold Medal Student Award and the Award for the Support of Women in the Engineering Profession. Nominees are honoured at the annual gala. For more information about the awards and eligibility criteria go to engineerscanada.ca/awards-and-honours/engineers-canada-awards.

More organizations promote changes in engineering

There are more organizations promoting and making changes to current engineering practices, such as the Engineering Change Lab platform and Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB). The Engineering Change Lab platform is for the collaboration of different sectors that want to bring changes into the engineering community, improve the profession and solve problems together. The core lab team consists of 40 senior professionals from academic institutes, government agencies, industry and non-profit organizations. They organize workshops, encouraging participation from other organizations to manage and improve the engineering community.

EWB works towards ending poverty and bringing infrastructure change in rural African countries. They have chapters and communities at different universities and other academic institutions across Canada. They offer fellowship and encourage young engineering groups to participate in this type of activity, and encourage them to work in Africa for four to 12 months. This initiative connects different engineering professions globally, interchanging the knowledge and bringing back their learnings to the Canadian engineering community.

The engineering career in Canada is set to undergo transformative growth, spurred by progressive initiatives led by Engineers Canada and other organizations. This dynamic evolution will render the engineering field an exhilarating and highly sought-after career for individuals, especially aspiring young minds. Piling Canada

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Traxxon Rock Drills appointed new Comacchio distributor

Italian drilling rigs manufacturer Comacchio announced the appointment of Traxxon Rock Drills Ltd. (Traxxon) as distributors of the full range of Comacchio drilling rigs for Western Canada, Yukon and Northwest Territories. The agreement became effective on June 12, 2023.

Founded in 1963, Traxxon designs and builds mobile drilling rigs for the rugged West Coast. Supporting customers and working in remote areas under adverse conditions became the hallmark of the company’s culture.

Based in Surrey, B.C., Traxxon runs a modern, fully equipped workshop and offers a wide range of products and services, including custom rock drilling solutions, drill service and repair, original equipment manufacturer drill parts, rock tools and accessories, 24-7 technical product support and training.

Traxxon team members posing in front of Comacchio vehicle
Left: Dave de Groot, Traxxon’s operations and service manager; Steve Cross, Traxxon’s general manager; Phil Ball, Traxxon’s sales manager; Jussi Helisto, Traxxon’s inventory manager and Shaun Norman, Traxxon’s vice president

“Just like at Comacchio, at Traxxon we found a customer-centric approach, commitment to exceptional after-sales service and support, and in-depth understanding of the problems and challenges each customer uniquely faces. We are confident that our shared values will help us provide our local customers with quality drilling equipment, creating custom drilling solutions that fit their needs, with safety, reliability and versatility always in mind,” said Piero Guardigli, Comacchio full range drilling product representative and agent for North and South America.

“Over the years, we have weathered challenges, embraced change and consistently evolved to meet the ever-changing demands of our dynamic marketplace,” said Phil Ball, sales manager, foundation drills at Traxxon. “Today, we take pride on our remarkable journey, and as we look forward to the future collaboration with Comacchio, we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver quality, value and innovation to our valued customers around Western Canada.”

The Comacchio range of drilling rigs currently includes six product lines, designed and built to cover the full spectrum of applications:

  • Large diameter piling rigs
  • Micropile and anchoring rigs
  • Geotechnical site investigation rigs
  • Water well and geothermal drilling rigs
  • Mineral exploration drilling rigs

Traxxon will operate in synergy with SMA Équipements and Caisson Consultant, covering the areas of Quebec and Ontario, respectively.

For more information visit traxxon.com. Piling Canada

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COR/SECOR audit instrument update

Effective Nov. 1, 2023, all companies are required to submit audits using the new harmonized audit instrument. For more information on the new COR/SECOR audit instrument, go to constructionsafety.ca/csam-audit-update-webinar. This update aligns with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.

What to know:

  • The Construction Safety Association of Manitoba (CSAM) has diligently updated their online audit tool to incorporate these changes, taking into account industry’s valuable feedback.
  • To access the online audit tool go to constructionsafety.ca/online-audit-tool.
  • Hard copies of the new audit instrument are available at the CSAM office in Winnipeg, Man. Additionally, companies can access the audit instrument online.
  • Any audit submissions on Nov. 1, 2023, using previous versions of the audit instrument will be returned.
  • To maintain compliance and ensure the seamless processing of audits, it is imperative that companies use the new harmonized instrument. Piling Canada
Exterior of Gruppo Trevi building

Trevi Spa earns certifications for social accountability, diversity and gender equality

Trevi Spa, a company of the Trevi Group leading the division that carries out special foundations and soil consolidation works, continues to build its own environmental, social and governance (ESG) identity with organizational processes based on international best practices. In October 2023, the company obtained three significant ESG-related certifications from DNV, a certification and assurance company that issues the SA8000 ethical certification, the ISO 30415:2021 diversity and inclusion certification and the UNI/PdR 125:2022 gender equality certification.

“Having obtained these certifications confirms Trevi’s commitment to sustainability through a process of continuous improvement, especially in some key areas such as respect for human rights, respect for labour law, protection against child exploitation and guarantees of safety and health in the workplace, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining along the entire value chain of the company’s activities,” Giuseppe Caselli, CEO of the Trevi Group, said.

SA8000: certification for Social Accountability International

The SA8000 certification of Social Accountability International is a management system focused on working conditions. It is also called ethical or social certification because it requires the company to address aspects of worker protection that go beyond occupational health and safety, and includes fair wages, prevention of child labour, compliance with the requirements of national collective agreements, freedom of association and prevention of any form of discrimination.

SA8000 guarantees compliance with the best international guidelines and ethical rules defined by the world’s most influential organizations for protecting human and labour rights, such as the International Labour Organization conventions and the relevant United Nations conventions. It is an international ethical certification of a voluntary nature that commits companies to an audit of their supply chains, triggering a virtuous circle throughout the entire process. It is issued following a verification process of transparent and measurable requirements.

ISO 30415:2021: certification for diversity and inclusion

Trevi Spa also obtained the certification for diversity and inclusion for the effectiveness of the actions taken to create a diversity-inclusive working environment. Issued by DNV according to the international standard ISO 30415:2021 on human resource management – diversity and inclusion. The standard is acceptable globally. It is granted at the end of a verification process of transparent and measurable requirements.

The standard aligns with Global Compact’s principles and some of the most important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as gender equality, decent work and economic growth, and inequality reduction. It is inspired by the principles of human rights at work.

Since its foundation, Trevi has promoted and supported the values of diversity and inclusion. These elements are essential for a company that works on five continents, often in contact with unique realities, different peoples and cultures. Thus, diversity has always inspired Trevi, contributing to innovation and value creation with positive effects on business and making it possible to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. In the same way, inclusiveness is fundamental to guarantee fairness and equal opportunities to everyone in the organization, protecting and enhancing their uniqueness. It is an assumption of responsibility that requires the constant contribution of the entire organization in terms of policies, processes, organizational practices and the behaviour of individuals.

UNI/PdR 125:2022: certification for gender equality

The purpose of the UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification for gender equality is to acknowledge the willingness of organizations to adopt a systemic approach and cultural change capable of creating inclusive and equal working environments. The certification body considered six areas to assess the organization’s inclusiveness and respect for gender equality: culture and strategy, governance, human resources processes, opportunities for growth and inclusion of women in the company, pay equity by gender, protection of parenthood and work-life balance. Piling Canada

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Major gains in workplace equity for professional and administrative staff at Candu Energy

A female majority group of Candu Energy workers, represented by the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA), has won a major victory in their fight for fairness and equity at Candu Energy, a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin (now AtkinsRéalis).

After joining SPEA and a multi-year struggle to bargain a fair and equitable collective agreement, an arbitrator has awarded a first contract to the Operations and Administration (OA) employees at Candu Energy.

“We are proud to report that the collective agreement includes the same protection for compensation and guaranteed working conditions that all other SPEA represented members have at Candu Energy,” said Michelle Duncan, staff representative at SPEA.

The OA employees, which includes accountants, cost controllers, planners and administrative employees who work alongside their counterparts, including engineers, technicians and technologists represented by SPEA, whose compensation and working conditions have been protected in collective agreements for decades.

The OA workers’ attempt to secure the same guaranteed entitlements to dental, health and leave benefits as male-dominated units was referenced in a 2022 shareholder proposal calling upon the company to strengthen its equity-related reporting.

In a resounding victory, the OA workers have been awarded most of the terms and conditions they sought at the bargaining table, conditions the employer refused to agree to for years.

The new collective agreement expires along with all other collective agreements at Candu Energy in 2026. AtkinsRéalis, has with few exceptions adopted a fractious approach to labour relations since it first purchased Candu Energy from Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Two out of the last three rounds of bargaining to date resulted in multi-week strike actions.

The relationship deteriorated further when SNC-Lavalin moved to fire the president of the union in early 2023, on what the union describes as malicious and unfounded allegations.

“We are confident that we will win the president’s job back, but SNC-Lavalin’s war on the union is ongoing. We are preparing for the strong likelihood of a strike in the next round of bargaining,” said Duncan. Piling Canada

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Nominations open for DFI awards

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) is accepting nominations for its 2024 awards, which showcase and celebrate the achievements and contributions of individuals, teams and companies in the deep foundations industry. This is a great chance for individuals, companies and colleagues to get recognition for their accomplishments.

The Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recognizes individuals who have made exceptionally valuable contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry.

The Outstanding Project Award (OPA) recognizes the superior work of DFI members. Each year, a project is chosen from geotechnical projects submitted for consideration by DFI members.

The C. William Bermingham Innovation Award encourages and recognizes innovative contributions to deep foundations technology. The award pays tribute to the innovative spirit of Bill Bermingham, a DFI past president, and his contributions to DFI and the deep foundations industry.

The Ben C. Gerwick Award for Innovation in the Design and Construction of Marine Foundations is awarded to an individual, team or company, and pays tribute to Ben Gerwick, recognizing his innovative spirit and his many contributions to the design and construction of marine foundations.

The submission deadline is April 15.

The DSA, OPA and Bermingham awards are being presented at DFI’s 49th Annual Conference on Deep Foundations in Aurora, Colo., from Oct. 7 to 10. The Gerwick Award will be presented at DFI’s SuperPile Conference from June 12 to 14, in San Francisco, Calif. Piling Canada

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CCA welcomes Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations as its newest Affiliate Association

As the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) continues to make significant progress on addressing key issues impacting the Canadian construction industry, they recognize and value the support of their dedicated Affiliate Associations. CCA recently announced its newest Affiliate Association.

The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA) works as an umbrella organization for 13 provincial and territorial construction safety associations located across Canada.

Taking on the difficult goal of harmonizing the safety regulations across the country, CFCSA promotes awareness for construction health and safety, and is a valued source for sharing training standards and documentation.

As a national association, they also provide the construction industry with a network to collaboratively produce industry standards and resources. CFCSA is the lead on national programs such as the COR accreditation standard, and the National Construction Safety Officer and National Health and Safety Administrator designation programs.

When it comes to the Canadian construction industry, both CFCSA and CCA are similar in that they work together with their members to strengthen and continue to push the construction industry forward. Supporting provincial, regional and territorial associations to help provide consistent support from coast to coast, CFCSA is looking forward to working with CCA to build a stronger, safer Canada. Piling Canada

Illustration of two heads, face-to-face

Buddy Up for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Buddy Up Skills Training, a new mental health and suicide prevention program, is being implemented by CSV Midstream Solutions Corp. (CSV) in partnership with the Centre for Suicide Prevention (CSP) at the Albright Gas Processing Plant construction project near Grand Prairie, Alta.

Information from Statistics Canada states that there were 4,011 suicides in Canada in 2019, and 2,058 were males. Middle-aged men die by suicide more than anyone else.

“We know that long hours and remote working conditions can result in people feeling isolated from familiar support systems, so we’re taking steps to create a more supportive environment as it pertains to mental health in our industry,” said Daniel Clarke, CSV’s chief executive officer.

The Buddy Up program, mandatory for all site workers involved in the Albright project, trains people to skillfully respond to co-workers struggling with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide.

“Buddy Up training includes a 20-minute webinar to learn how to have a conversation with someone who’s struggling,” said Chad Merchant, construction manager for the Albright project. “The intent is for every contractor to see and feel the value in this training and, hopefully, to embed the program into their companies.”

People who want additional training can also take the half-day in-person connector-level workshop, Suicide Alertness for Everyone (SafeTALK). The third and highest level of training is a two-day
in-person Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) workshop.

“SafeTALK trains individuals to recognize warning signs indicating that someone is considering suicide,” said Merchant. “These workshops are conducted in person at the Centre for Suicide Prevention or at our Albright construction site. The supporter-level training, ASIST, is the most extensive. It trains individuals on how to intervene when someone is thinking about suicide.”

Colour-coded hardhat stickers are given to workers when they complete training.

“There are three different colours associated with Buddy Up, Connector and Supporter training, making it easy to identify a person’s level of training,” said Merchant. “Using visible stickers also helps normalize conversations about mental health and suicide.”

The Buddy Up program, modelled after Australia’s MATES in Construction program, is the first of its kind to launch in Canada.

“The training teaches people to engage with their co-workers,” said Merchant. “Workers spend so much time together, and being able to recognize irregularities is easier when you know what to look for. We aren’t trained to fix the problem, but to listen and direct the person who’s struggling to the right individuals and resources.”

One of the purposes of the Buddy Up program is to make talking about mental health and suicide prevention more common among workers, says Merchant. Participants are supplied with materials and contacts to ensure they have the correct information and know who to contact for additional help.

“The beauty of this program is the anonymity that the training provides,” said Merchant. “If two people are seen talking, no one will know if they are talking about something that’s been weighing on them or last night’s hockey game.”

CSV plans to roll out the program throughout the entire company over time.

“We’re definitely learning as we go,” said Merchant. “In terms of implementation at other sites, the training is designed in a way that’s meant to be universally applicable, so it can be replicated at other CSV sites and across other companies or industries.”

Feedback on the program has been positive, says Merchant.

“We have been receiving a lot of feedback on how the program is filling a need in the oil and gas and construction industries, and also how the program has helped people personally,” he said. “From what we’ve heard, this program is already affecting people’s lives in a positive way. Between inflation and recovering from the pandemic, the past few years have added all kinds of additional stressors, so it feels like the program is coming at a time when people really need it.”

Merchant says this kind of support is needed in many industries where mental health stigmas still impact people.

“I am so proud to be a part of this program,” said Merchant. “This is a step in the right direction, but it’s also just the beginning. To shift the negative stigma associated with mental health and suicide, we’ll need to see more ongoing and conscious efforts like this one.”

“The primary objective of the Buddy Up training is to establish a supportive framework that encourages individuals to seek help when needed and pay attention to the people around them.”

Akash Asif, Centre for Suicide Prevention

Akash Asif – Centre for Suicide Prevention

In Canada, men have a suicide rate three times higher than women, states the statistics section of CSP’s Buddy Up website. As a Champion in the Buddy Up program, individuals or organizations can become ambassadors by spreading the word about how suicide in men can be prevented.

“After becoming a Champion in 2020, CSV Midstream Solutions has played an important role in the development and growth of Buddy Up,” said Akash Asif, strategy and operations director with CSP.

“Engaged representation from CSV team members in Buddy Up advisory committees and Champion consultations has provided a fresh perspective and helped CSP to define the strategy and direction of the campaign.”

The Buddy Up webinar outlines common myths and facts about suicide, how to have a conversation with someone you’re worried about, and how to stay connected with other people, says Asif.

“Providing additional, optional training opportunities builds a network of helpers and fosters an environment where it is okay to offer and seek help,” he said. “Allowing people to choose the level of training they take allows them to help at the level most suited to them. Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention that is based on their comfort level.”

Buddy Up skills training aims to promote authentic conversations by making the subject of suicide prevention friendly and non-threatening for workers, says Asif. To ensure the program’s ongoing effectiveness, all participants will complete evaluations at each training level.

Asif says that work colleagues involved in the Buddy Up program are playing the role of a friend and not that of a counsellor.

“The primary objective of the Buddy Up training is to establish a supportive framework that encourages individuals to seek help when needed and pay attention to the people around them,” he said. “As we collaborate with various organizations, we respect their existing industry standards and practices. Our goal is to promote a culture of openness and support, allowing individuals to reach out to help someone they are worried about. We do not offer crisis services. Instead, we equip people with the knowledge and skills to respond to someone who is considering suicide.”

In collaboration with CSV, CSP is encouraging regular check-ins and the importance of self-care, says Asif. Additional resources and materials about suicide prevention are available at suicideinfo.ca.

“There are already conversations happening with other companies who are interested in bringing Buddy Up training to their workplaces,” said Asif. “Slight adaptations may be required to ensure the effectiveness of the program based on the audience. This program is a great opportunity to advance suicide prevention within the workplace as we aim to normalize conversations about mental health and suicide. It provides colleagues with the social license and language to both offer support and seek help when they are struggling.”

Individuals or organizations interested in bringing the Buddy Up campaign or skills training to their workplaces can visit buddyup.ca or email akash@suicideinfo.ca for further information. Piling Canada

Data projected on desktop monitor

CloudPiling Software for Deep Foundations Design

A Belgian company launched during the pandemic has brought innovation to the marketplace to help geotechnical engineers as they calculate requirements for foundation and retaining wall projects. CloudPiling is a platform – and the name of the company that created it – that eliminates the repetitive input of data into the multiple tools generally used in planning deep foundation projects.

“The motivation to build CloudPiling was twofold,” said Michelle Vanhove, director of operations and co-founder of CloudPiling. “On the one hand, there was frustration about the lack of proper software; on the other hand, it was also disillusioning to find that civil engineers were doing heavy university studies only to find themselves in the field dealing with endless, repetitive calculations in Excel. These could be better automated, giving those engineers more time to provide advice and think about concepts.

“We are convinced that automation through technology is not the future, but the present in the construction industry. This is why we want to upgrade the job of geotechnical engineers with our solution and let them really make a difference.”

“The idea of CloudPiling originated on my first day in the field,” said Thomas Zwaenepoel, technical director and co-founder of CloudPiling. “There, I learned firsthand about the software that structural and civil engineers had at their disposal to create geotechnical designs. Really good software simply did not exist at that time, so I decided to make it myself.

“CloudPiling is the first software worldwide that integrates all calculation tools for repetitive geotechnical calculations in one comprehensive web application. As a civil engineer, I stood with my boots in the mud and understood the requirements for such a tool, a great asset since most software tools are made by IT or academic people.”

The importance of an integrated geotechnical design

Pile design is commonly done as follows:

  • First, a bearing capacity calculation is done to determine the required pile base level to ascertain the pile diameter and the type of pile system.
  • Second, mostly only where there are horizontal loads or moments at the pile top level, a soil structure interaction calculation is performed to determine the pile’s shear forces, bending moments and horizontal displacements.
  • Third, the structural design is done based on a conservative combination of vertical loads on the one hand and shear forces and bending moments on the other hand.

“We are convinced that automation through technology is not the future, but the present in the construction industry.”

Michelle Vanhove, CloudPiling

The CloudPiling software integrates the vertical and horizontal behaviour, and the structural design of foundation piles and retaining walls. This means an engineer can use data on point and shaft resistance, and negative skin friction resulting from the bearing capacity calculation to extend the soil structure interaction calculation. This extension allows the engineer to determine, for example, the normal force at each location in the pile.

With information on the normal force and bending moment at each location in the pile, engineers can perform a more detailed structural design analysis. Various scenarios – using more or less concrete and more or less steel – can be examined to evaluate capacity and calculate costs.

The benefits of CloudPiling

On the single central CloudPiling platform, all users within a company are working with the same data, entered once, reducing the potential for errors and saving users time by automating repetitive tasks.

With “a huge lack of engineers” in Belgium and the Netherlands, this time-saving feature is very important, says Vanhove. Engineers can do more of the creative work they enjoy – calculating the most-economic designs – and less data input. The time saving also enables them to review a broader range of options to determine the best design to meet capacity requirements and material-reduction goals.

Using less concrete and steel lowers project costs and reduces a project’s carbon footprint. Vanhove points out that the construction industry is responsible for 39 per cent of global carbon emissions, with foundations work accounting for 20 per cent of that amount. Reducing emissions is an increasingly essential consideration for a carbon-intensive industry in a carbon-conscious world. For Vanhove, it enables people to do something to address a big problem, even if only with a small step.

Data projected on desktop monitor
The software helps engineers avoid the overuse of materials due to their limited knowledge of a nearby building’s foundation type and strength

Information retention through the platform can also be essential. When a new project is planned adjacent to an existing building, for example, access to information about the foundation of the existing structure can help engineers determine requirements for the project. It could help them avoid the overuse of materials resulting from their limited knowledge of the nearby building’s foundation type and strength.

Product expansion and company growth

Originally available only for the Belgian market, CloudPiling now has a version for use in the Netherlands. Each version includes regulatory requirements specific to the country to ensure that designs meet building standards.

Vanhove and Zwaenepoel are interested in growing internationally in the long term. For now, their goal is to become the leading company in geotechnical design in the two countries where they now offer the software.

In the meantime, CloudPiling has been nominated for the Cobouw Awards in the Netherlands. These are the most important awards in the Netherlands to recognize achievements in the Dutch construction industry in such categories as digitalization, sustainability, innovation and infrastructure.

“We have just learned that we are among the three finalists, so we will be invited to the gala awards ceremony. This recognition means a lot to us,” said Vanhove.

Through a partnership with Ghent University in Belgium, the company offers its platform to students doing a master’s program in geotechnical engineering. The students can use the software as they work toward their education goals. The company has also been invited to give guest lectures at the university.

By providing engineers with more computing power, CloudPiling enables them to use steel and concrete more efficiently. Additionally, it allows engineers to question traditional foundation concepts and immediately calculate the economic and CO2 footprint consequences of any potential alternatives. The engineer has more control to choose the best possible foundation solutions.

To learn more, go to cloudpiling.com or email info@cloudpiling.com. Piling Canada

BE-600-C

A New Standard for Desanding

In the almost 60 years since BAUER Maschinen (Bauer) manufactured its first machine, the German brand has stood for excellence, performance, quality and – most of all – innovation. Bauer has added to this stellar reputation by introducing the next step in separation technology.

In June 2023, the Allgäu branch of Bauer launched the BE 600-C desanding system. The BE 600-C is the successor to the existing BE 550 model. It builds upon more than 30 years of delivering high-quality mixing and separation technology through BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems (a member of the Bauer Group).

The new BE 600-C is said by the company to “have it all.” The modular, two-stage system has a double cyclone for higher efficiency separation. It is completely contained (including the storage tanks and solids discharge, hose guide, all-round inspection and upstream coarse screen). For mobility, the BE 600-C can also be packaged within an optional CSC-certified container frame for easy delivery to the jobsite.

“Because all the components can be installed within the container frame, the transport, assembly and commissioning on site can be carried out quickly and easily,” said Kurt Ostermeier, head of product management for mixing and separation technology at Bauer. “We can install the complete desanding system and make it ready for running in under 12 hours, so one day is more than enough to get your system in place and put it to work.”

BE 600-C
The BE 600-C has a modular, two-stage system with a double cyclone for higher efficiency separation

The BE 600-C features an impressive slurry throughput capacity of 600 cubic metres per hour and can process up to 120 tonnes of solids per hour, setting a new benchmark for desanding. The double cyclone also provides better cleaning of the slurry, resulting in less sand content in the cleaned slurry and fewer settlements in the storage tank underneath the desander.

The BE 600-C advantage

From large-scale cutting systems and tunnelling operations to smaller piling projects, the new BE 600-C is as flexible as its customers.

Although the BE 600-C desanding system is relatively new to the marketplace, the technologies that underpin the new system are time-tested. The new unit comprises two reliable, standard BE 300-C desanding systems with optimized separation.

When called for, the BE 600-C can be easily split into two individual BE 300-C systems, with the upstream coarse screen being used to feed a single system. The modular advantage of the BE 600-C means that for smaller operations like piling – where a comparatively smaller slurry capacity is required – users can separate the system into two separate BE 300-C units and still desand up to approximately 1,200 gallons per minute.

“If you have a submersible pump with a capacity of about 2,000 gallons per minute, then you can use the BE 600-C as is,” said Ostermeier. “But if you need less capacity – say a piling project using 1,000 gallons per minute – then you can rely on a single BE 300-C rather than use the two together. It just depends on the capacity of what you want to feed into the desanding system.”

BE 600-C
Two BE 300-C together make the BE 600-C

When the BE 600-C is split into two separate BE 300-C units, rather than run in tandem, it can also be used with or without the coarse screen in front for various applications. However, using the coarse screen can benefit projects encountering cohesive solids like clay.

“Clay presents a problem in that, if it gets too dry, it can get stuck on the screen,” said Ostermeier. “But the coarse screen is slanted downwards with an adjustable angle. This means if we have a lot of clay, we can put the coarse screen on top to mitigate it by not allowing the clay to sit, dry out and become stuck. This is definitely a huge advantage of the BE 600-C.”

Another advantage to the new BE 600-C system is its relatively small physical space on the jobsite. As the pumps and desilters are self-contained and not outside as with standard double cyclone systems, the BE 600-C has a footprint of roughly 36 square metres and is a good fit for any project.

“The size of the unit is a big advantage, and the BE 600-C is very compact, especially when compared to other desanders on the market,” said Ostermeier. “In addition, most of our competitors’ machines run at more than 200 kilowatts (kW) and as high as 250 kW. Our system, however, uses high-efficiency pumps that have a very low energy consumption when installed at 174 kW, which is becoming very important to society right now.”

The BE 600-C also has an optional tarp housing for noise protection, significantly reducing the sound power level from 95 to 93 decibels. The housing also serves as weather protection and heat insulation for regions dealing with freezing temperatures.

Digitalization and automation in focus

The BE 600-C also stands out in digitalization and brings users several new features. Each of the two BE 300-C systems has a 12-inch touchscreen display, and the entire system can be easily operated in ‘master-slave’ mode from just one screen. This allows the user to control either one or both BE 300-Cs from a single interface. The display also lets the operator see which parts of the system (conveyor belt, flow meter, accessories, etc.) are running and which are not.

An EWON router establishes a connection to the internet, meaning that all data – such as pressures, operating hours, power consumption and error messages – can be retrieved remotely. This enables Bauer service specialists to connect to the device quickly and easily – from anywhere in the world – and carry out a remote diagnosis if necessary.

“If you’re in America and are having a problem with your machine and need some troubleshooting from the BAUER MAT service department, we can plug into your machine and see what its message history is and then diagnose the issue from across the ocean,” said Ostermeier. “It also means that if we want to take control of the complete plant remotely, it should be possible.”

Digitalization and automation are ongoing processes that will continue to play a major role in the future. Bauer’s goal is to one day fully and permanently integrate its equipment into the cycle of a digital site. Going forward, the company wants to retrieve even more data on its machines’ wear and tear, and look into providing additional preventative maintenance – fixing a problem before it becomes a problem.

For more information about Bauer and the BE 600-C desanding system, contact the company at
bauer.de/bma. Piling Canada

Photos: courtesy of BAUER Maschinen

Younger hands holding older hands

Accommodating Caregivers in the Workplace

According to Statistics Canada, in 2022, more than six million Canadians combined paid work with some level of unpaid care, about one-third of Canada’s total workforce. Almost half are part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for aging parents or in-laws, and children under 18.

However, workers also care for others who may need help because of disabilities, chronic illnesses, injuries or other health crises.

In Ontario alone, 2.5 million working caregivers provide unpaid support for activities of daily living or support the physical and/or mental health of a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, says Amy Coupal, CEO of Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO).

“It’s important to understand that everyone’s caregiving experience is unique, not only because of their own individual circumstances, but the individual circumstances of the person that they’re caring for,” said Coupal.

However, the OCO’s 2022 Spotlight Survey did find some commonalities. Almost three-quarters of the caregivers who responded to the annual survey said that they had made job changes, ranging from working with their employer to find a way to balance work and caregiving responsibilities, moving to part-time work, taking paid or unpaid leave, or even quitting a job for a while to manage their caregiving duties. One in three working caregivers reported that they were worried about losing their jobs, and 30 per cent had considered leaving their jobs because of caregiving responsibilities. Ten per cent said that they had turned down job opportunities.

Covers of various Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) studies and reports.

Many prefer to keep their personal lives separate from work, and it can be challenging to tell an employer about a caregiving role, the OCO report says. Still, when work responsibilities compete with those of caregiving, it can impact caregivers’ physical and mental health.

“More than half reported that balancing those two roles is stressful,” she said. “And some likened it to having another full-time job.”

The survey says that “the rate of caregiver distress is going up steadily every single year,” and burnout is at an all-time high (even higher than during the height of the pandemic). “Yet many caregivers continue to go unseen and under-supported in the workplace,” said Coupal.

Planning for unpredictability can make a big difference

While the top three things caregivers say they need most are respite, mental health support and peer support, about half also wish for more support from their employer, including financial aid and better access to information about employee benefits and federal and provincial financial support.

“Awareness is a great place to start,” said Coupal. “That is, recognizing the practical reality of people’s lives, building an understanding of caregiving across the workforce, and telling employees specifically what the company’s stance is on caregiving and what support is available for caregivers.

“Appointments or procedures can be planned for, but things come up unexpectedly that can affect an individual’s ability to arrive or stay at work.”

“Many caregivers continue to go unseen and under-supported in the workplace.”

Amy Coupal, Ontario Caregiver Organization

An employer planning for that unpredictability can also make a big difference. That might include providing technology to support off-site work, online scheduling systems to enable employees to log in for shift requests or changes, or even something as simple as designating times and areas where caregivers can make private phone calls without judgment or repercussions.

Sectors like construction, which require in-person work, may experience challenges implementing certain kinds of accommodations, Coupal says, but there are practical things that management and workers can explore, such as flex hours or shifts, job-sharing, allowing a certain number of sick days to be eligible as caregiving days, or offering the opportunity for short- or long-term paid or unpaid leave when someone is in a significant caregiving time of their life.

The OCO also advises employees to find out if they are eligible for the federal government’s leave benefits and financial assistance, such as the Employment Insurance’s Caregiving Benefits and Leave or Compassionate Care Leave coverage, if they must take time away from work to provide care or support to a child or adult who is critically ill or injured, or need time to provide full-time support for someone who requires end-of-life care. Workers may also be eligible for unpaid, job-protected family caregiver leave, family medical leave or critical illness leave under their province’s or territory’s employment standards act.

Caregiving skills are highly transferrable to the workplace

“Caregivers bring unique skillsets that positively impact culture, retention and ultimately, the bottom line,” according to a recent study conducted by the Rutgers Center for Women in Business in the U.S. The study says that “soft” skills developed through unpaid caregiving – empathy, efficiency and tenacity, increased ability to prioritize tasks, patience, collaborating, delegating, anticipating needs, being adaptable, emotionally intelligent, and thinking flexibly and strategically – are traditionally less valued than “hard” or technical skills.

“Awareness is a great place to start. That is, recognizing the practical reality of people’s lives, building an understanding of caregiving across the workforce, and telling employees specifically what the company’s stance is on caregiving and what support is available for caregivers.”

Amy Coupal, Ontario Caregiver Organization

However, these skills are core management skills that are highly transferrable to any workplace and are less likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence and machine learning, and are also more difficult to teach through corporate coaching, skills workshops or on-the-job training. According to Carers Canada, a Canadian Home Care Association program, $1.3 billion is lost in workforce productivity in Canada annually due to caregiving demands. When turnover, lost institutional knowledge and absenteeism are factored in, the hidden cost to companies for not supporting caregivers may be even higher.

Unique skillsets that positively impact culture, retention and the bottom line

“The more we acknowledge the things happening in our day-to-day lives, the more robust conversations we can have about how to make caregiving work in our personal lives and also how to be successful at work,” said Coupal. “The ratio of male-to-female caregivers is relatively equal. When we talk about what caregiving is, people who weren’t thinking of themselves in that way realize that they are caregivers. A lot of this is just developing awareness for employees and awareness for employers looking to retain good employees. This is a practical thing that they can do to help enable that.”

The OCO offers workshops and online resources for employees, managers and HR professionals, and maintains a 24-hour Ontario caregiver helpline (1-833-416-2273).Piling Canada

Building under construction with sun setting in background

A Roadmap to More Sustainable Construction

According to The World Bank, more than half of the global population lives in an urbanized area. By 2045, it is predicted that this number will increase to six billion. As urban populations expand swiftly, the built environment must keep pace to provide the homes and facilities that people need.

When it comes to construction, it can’t be business as usual. The built environment is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) and produces at least 37 per cent of global emissions. If there is a hope of cutting emissions and restricting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century – the goal outlined in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change – then the way buildings are constructed, maintained and decommissioned must change.

That’s the focus of a new report funded by the German government and produced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in association with the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction and the Yale Center for Ecosystems in Architecture (Yale CEA).

Released on Sept. 12, “Building Materials and the Climate: Constructing a New Future” provides a roadmap towards more sustainable construction. Two years in the making, the document draws upon the expertise of many contributors from six continents, led by Anna Dyson, Yale CEA’s founding director and the Hines Professor of Architecture at the Yale Schools of Architecture and Environment (YSE).

Anna Dyson, Barbara Reck, and Naomi Keena
Left to right; Anna Dyson, Barbara Reck, and Naomi Keena

Piling Canada connected with two of the report’s lead authors to discuss their findings and the implications for the global construction industry.

Naomi Keena, assistant professor at McGill University’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture and founding director of McGill’s TRACE (Think-tank and Research in Architecture and Circular Economy) Lab, explains the report’s origins.

“In today’s industry, in the design and construction of buildings, there’s been a large focus on operational energy,” she said. “We’ve heard a lot about net-zero energy buildings, but that typically only looks at the operational phase of the building life cycle. It doesn’t look at the extraction of materials, the manufacturing of those materials, the construction process and the end-of-life phase.”

She says as power grids around the world become more decarbonized through the adoption of cleaner sources of electricity, a building’s operational energy consumption and associated emissions will also decrease.

“Then, the big challenge in the building industry will be the embodied carbon coming from our building materials,” said Keena. “This report really focuses on that materials aspect. Where are we getting our materials from, how are they being manufactured and what’s the embodied carbon associated with that? How are these buildings being maintained and then at the end of life, what’s happening to these materials? Are they going to the landfill, can they be recycled, can they be reused? This report is about taking a whole life cycle approach to the decarbonization of buildings.”

“We’ve heard a lot about net-zero energy buildings, but that typically only looks at the operational phase of the building life cycle. It doesn’t look at the extraction of materials, the manufacturing of those materials, the construction process and the end-of-life phase.”

Naomi Keena, McGill University’s Peter Guo-hua Fu School of Architecture and TRACE Lab

Barbara Reck, senior research scientist at YSE and node lead at the Remade Institute, says the energy required to make different building materials can vary considerably.

“Steel and concrete are among the most energy-intensive materials to produce,” she said. “On the other hand, bio-based materials require much less energy to produce. In fact, timber that stays in a building for 50 to 100 years will actually become carbon-negative. It has the potential of storing the carbon longer than the forest could store it because, at some point in the forest, the tree will fall, decompose and release its carbon.”

Reck says that today, the total energy footprint of a building breaks down into about three-quarters operational energy and one-quarter embodied carbon. However, cleaner energy and present-day initiatives are gradually reducing that operational component.

“With a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050 the share of the embodied carbon (in present-day buildings) will increase to 49 per cent, while operational energy will decrease from 75 per cent to 51 per cent,” said Reck. “That is because operations are becoming more and more efficient, and the relative carbon share of the building materials becomes greater.

“Our report is trying to say that the 49 per cent of embodied carbon projected by 2050 is still a lot of carbon. Given our climate emergency and given that everybody is now striving for net zero, is there a way to get the embodied carbon to net zero? Our report lays out a very ambitious roadmap on how to do this.”

A three-pronged approach

In addition to focusing on embodied carbon and CO2 emissions produced through the extraction, manufacture and installation of various building materials, the UNEP report offers a three-pronged suite of recommendations for decarbonizing the built environment. This approach is based on a trio of concepts: avoid, shift and improve.

“We look at how we can reduce embodied carbon by 2060, knowing there will be more construction and more demand for buildings,” said Keena.

The first recommendation is to avoid waste and the extraction of non-renewable materials. The report encourages a circular economy, focused on extending the life of existing buildings and reusing and recycling current materials.

Building under construction surrounded by cranes

“Then, we are looking to shift to the use of biomaterials; regenerative materials that are typically extracted from forestry or agricultural by-products,” said Keena. “Biomaterials should always be local to where you are building, so we looked at coconut husk, hemp, corn stalks, sawdust – the waste from crop (that) can be converted to building materials. If we can sync the building materials industry with agriculture and forestry, we can store carbon for longer.”

While timber is commonly used in Canadian residential construction, Keena says that moving to more bio-based insulation products, such as cellulose, can help reduce a home’s carbon footprint.

The final recommendation centres on how to improve on renewable conventional building materials and the way they are produced, including concrete, steel, metals, glass and bricks. Electrifying and decarbonizing the energy used to produce and maintain these materials is a key concept to realizing this approach.

Reck says that overall, the report encourages the building industry to increase material efficiency, making the most of the available supply to ultimately do more with less.

Looking at life cycle

“Building Materials and the Climate: Constructing a New Future” stresses the need to tackle decarbonization in the built environment through a total life cycle approach. To achieve success quickly and efficiently, supportive government policies must enable all stakeholders across the supply chain to work together. The concept of circularity features heavily in the report.

“If we are reusing materials, what happens at their end of life is very important,” said Keena. She says that findings from Montreal indicate that selective deconstruction of residential buildings – focusing on the reusing and recycling of materials – offered GHG reductions of 63 per cent compared to landfill disposal.

At the other end of the process, Reck says material efficiency is a critical manufacturing concept that will help maximize yield.

“It’s about trying during manufacturing to use the best available technologies and design for longer lifetimes. If you can expand the building lifetime, that is in a way the lowest hanging fruit. That’s why maintenance is so important. Lifetime extension is really the biggest measure.”

Barbara Reck, Yale School of Environment and Remade Institute

“It’s about trying during manufacturing to use the best available technologies and design for longer lifetimes,” she said. “If you can expand the building lifetime, that is in a way the lowest hanging fruit. That’s why maintenance is so important. Lifetime extension is really the biggest measure.”

She says Canadian aluminum production is an example of successful decarbonization. “Aluminum needs the most energy to produce of all metals. Having access to hydro power in the aluminum industry, Canadian aluminum is one of the least carbon-intensive aluminum in the world.”

Although the road to decarbonization has been mapped by many industries, including steel and cement producers, the problem is still how to scale up quickly enough to reach the world’s pressing climate goals.

“Our report presents a novel way to put existing knowledge together,” said Reck. “Our approach is an all-hands-on-deck approach. The building sector needs to look at the entire life cycle. Yes, conventional materials can be decarbonized, but will it happen quickly enough? At the same time, we must encourage design for disassembly, reuse and recycling, and shift to bio-based materials.”

Will the world mobilize quickly enough to meet the climate goals identified in Paris? Reck says there has been a lot of interest in the new report from within the architectural, engineering and construction community, which is looking at the document as an inspirational roadmap toward a more sustainable built environment.

“We were very ambitious (in the report), but our vision is that by 2060, it could be achieved,” she said.

To read more, go to unep.org/resources/report/building-materials-and-climate-constructing-new-future. Piling Canada

Person touching virtual display hub

Social Media as a Valuable Tool for Construction Companies

Social media has become much more than a buzz phrase. Nowadays, digital marketing is leading the way. Social media marketing, or unpaid activity you conduct on social media channels, combined with social media advertising, which is paid for, can make a dynamic and effective addition to a marketing toolbox. However, like all tools, these do the job only if used correctly. There are social media professionals who make their living helping companies pursue this line of marketing, but here’s how to get started with a few guidelines.

Who?

Construction industry professionals may consider social media unimportant, but they should think again. All businesses, even construction companies, can benefit from digital exposure.

What?

There are several social media platforms, such as:

  • Facebook: this is great for generally getting the word out. Who isn’t on Facebook these days?
  • Instagram: visual focus is key here, so share pictures, examples of work, stories, etc. Instagram is good for growing a brand. Before-and-after images work well. So do videos showing how machinery works, even inspiration for design.
  • LinkedIn: this business-to-business platform is aimed at professionals to drive targeted conversions. Most top construction companies have a presence on LinkedIn. It is important to establish a company as an expert here.
  • YouTube: great for video marketing. Think how-to videos or time-lapse photography of a project. These do not have to be expensive videos. Keep them short, under five minutes in length.

Why?

The reasons for pursuing a social media presence are many and varied. Exposure is a big one; there are nearly five billion social media users around the globe. Think brand awareness at far less than the cost of traditional media.

Practicalities of this approach include gathering questions potential clients have to address them and improve customer service, networking with other industry professionals, promoting special offers, gathering testimonials to use in other marketing, interacting with potential customers and even collecting items for an electronic portfolio. Most of all, social media offers a better conversion rate than traditional media, meaning that people who visit the platform are more likely to take the desired action, such as clicking through to a company’s website.

How?

First, think about goals for a company to achieve with social media, and start with one or two platforms. Post consistently, such as twice a week. Be faithful to that schedule to engender trust on the part of the user. Think about posts that will inspire conversations, such as before-and-after pictures of work, highlighting a specific team member, videos of construction progress, etc. If the platform provides tracking possibilities, find out about them and use them. Consider making the most of the effort put into marketing. For example, if the company has a blog, post it on social media. Weave social media into the existing marketing strategy. Remember that nowadays, an approach that involves informing works better than a hard sell; share information.

Tips

Here are some general tips on using social media:

  • Before posting anything, check to ensure it is accurate and from a reliable source.
  • Celebrate any awards and/or accolades a company receives.
  • Stay away from controversial (religious, political) content.
  • Share company history at some point, again to engender confidence.
  • Highlight what the company does differently that gives it a competitive advantage.
  • Share handy construction tips.
  • Highlight testimonials.
  • Be sure to use construction language and key words so when people search them, they find the post. Think about what words would be searched.
  • Respond to comments received. Engage, even if there is negativity in a post. Handle it with dignity and honesty.
  • Become involved in industry-specific groups on the platform.
  • Start discussions, especially on LinkedIn. Contribute to others’ discussions.
  • Think about photo quality – maybe a unique angle to capture attention?
  • Share the company page as much as possible. The people who read the content may share it with their networks.
  • Use the company’s brand imagery when possible.
  • Add buttons that connect to social media from the company website.
  • Have someone proofread posts. A fresh eye can catch errors.

For a little effort, companies may reap great rewards. Brand awareness leads to qualified leads. Use social media with as much care as when using construction tools. Piling Canada

David Eisenstadt

David Eisenstadt is the founding partner of tcgPR (The Communications Group Inc.), a Toronto-based public relations consulting firm serving builders, developers, contractors and the real estate industry across Canada since 1973. Find more at tcgpr.com.

About Us

Piling Canada is the premier national voice for the Canadian deep foundation construction industry. Each issue is dedicated to providing readers with current and informative editorial, including project updates, company profiles, technological advancements, safety news, environmental information, HR advice, pertinent legal issues and more.

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    About Us

    Piling Canada is the premier national voice for the Canadian deep foundation construction industry. Each issue is dedicated to providing readers with current and informative editorial, including project updates, company profiles, technological advancements, safety news, environmental information, HR advice, pertinent legal issues and more.

    Sign Up

    Submit your email to receive our e-newsletter.