By Jessica Kirby
TIAC proudly introduced its inaugural Contractor Excellence Awards this summer at the annual conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The program invites mechanical contractors to submit projects they’ve completed that demonstrate excellent craftsmanship and showcase exemplary performance, quality, and professionalism. Below are the submissions for 2024.
TIAC’s board of directors is pleased to announce Tight 5 Insulation as the first-place winner with its work on the Lion’s Gate Acute Care Facility in North Vancouver, BC. This company was awarded a $500 USD credit to the NIA Education Center. The board and membership would like to express its gratitude to all contractors who submitted a project and congratulate them all on completing projects of excellence.
Lions Gate Hospital Acute Care Facility
Contractor: Tight 5 Insulation
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Type: Institutional
Temperature range: Low, mid, and high temperature
Overview:The project scope comprised plumbing supply system, storm drainage and condensate, and HVAC ductwork.
Insulation system:Supply air/firewrap (HVAC), hydronic heating, chilled water, plant steam/clean steam, and sound proofing (ductwork, drainage, pneumatic tubing).
Challenges:
- Managing tight schedules
- Coordinating with other trades
- Handling a team of over 20 installers
- Space constraints in mechanical rooms and ceilings
- Late releases of testing that sometimes came after other trades had installed their work
Small Boat Floats
Contractor: Aarc-West Insulation (2013) Inc.
Location: Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, British Columbia
Type: Commercial
Temperature range: Low and intermediate temperature systems
Overview: The Department of National Defense issued the construction of three new floating jetties, each of which stretched roughly 650 feet into the bay, together with associated ramps, abutments, trestles, and kiosks. Aarc-West’s scope encompassed the piping within the jetties, a steam generator plant, utilidors, bilge storage tanks, and pumping facilities.
Insulation system: All piping was insulated with heavy density mineral wool and calcium silicate. Both outdoor and indoor piping were recovered in aluminum jacketing with piping indoors also requiring canvas jacketing. All valve sets throughout the project were covered in removable insulation covers, fabricated in-house. Most outdoor piping was heat-traced to meet hazardous location and explosion proof requirements. Heat trace was installed by Aarc-West down each jetty.
Challenges:
- No historical data on a project of this nature and scope to guide tender, management, and executed on site.
- Complex and confined workspace on land and within the jetty.
- Work performed on the water meant adverse weather conditions and unexpected movement of the jetties.
- Working on an operational navy base with constantly moving personnel and equipment and adhering to stringent security protocols.
West Kelowna City Hall
Contractor: C&G Insulation
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Type: Commercial
Temperature range: Low and intermediate temperature systems
Overview: This city hall project required a four-pipe system to fan coils and domestic water to washrooms. This was a BCICA Quality Assurance Certification project from Introba. Insulation system: There were cost savings in the mechanical rooms to remove all of the PVC fitting covers and PVC jacket and delete the EPDM fittings.
Challenges:
- The scheduled was a main challenge for all trades.
- The building was supposed to be finished in 2022, but it wasn’t complete until July for 2024.
LNG Canada
Contractor: Thomas Kanata Inc.
Location: British Columbia
Type: Industrial
Temperature range: Cryogenic (-45ºC and lower)
Overview: The main goal was prevention of heat exchange. The project also helped the company meet its goal of unifying and empowering Indigenous People through the safe and efficient delivery of industrial construction projects, while providing the best value for customers and being the contractor of choice for every project.
Insulation system: Cryogenic
Challenges:
- Skilled labour
- Quality check points ▪
