News on the Run – civil, energy, envelope, water, HVAC
January 23, 2012
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
The largest pile driver to grade was completed on December 8 in the South China Sea's Pearl River Delta. American Piledriving Equipment's "Octakong" hammer drove into place 120 steel piles that were 72 feet in diameter. The piles completed the...
The largest pile driver to grade was completed on December 8 in the South China Sea’s Pearl River Delta. American Piledriving Equipment’s “Octakong” hammer drove into place 120 steel piles that were 72 feet in diameter. The piles completed the construction of two circular seabound walls for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Seaway project.
The global use of hydropower increased more than 5% between 2009 and 2010 according to the Worldwatch Institute. It reached 16% of global electricity consumption, with China the largest producer at 721 terrawatt-hours.
The EIFS Council of Canada has rolled out its quality assurance program for exterior insulating finishing cladding systems across Canada. The program is the first quality assurance program for any cladding system in North America. The program will have licensed professionals to certify systems, taking into account everything from design, through manufacturing of materials, to assembly and in-place performance. Consulting engineering companies are involved in the certifications.
The Canadian Water Network is inviting comments on the draft National Research Agenda for Municipal Wastewater and Biosolids. This document was initiated by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment and prepared by a group that included representatives of Environment Canada and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association. Comments can be made until February 21. Click here.
Proposals are being made for the National Building Code of Canada (NBC) to restrict the location of gas vents for heating and air conditioning equipment. The new rules would only allow venting vertically through the roof of a building, or horizontally through an exterior wall that faces a street or lane, as well as additional restrictions.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced the publication of an industry-first standard for Variable Frequency Drives. The standard, 1210 (I-P)-2011 & 1211 (SI)-2011, Performance Rating of Variable Frequency Drives, are available free of charge on AHRI’s website. Click here.
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation received an award from the province’s Environmental Commissioner for two technologies it has been developing. The ECO 2011 Recognition Awards were for bioretention cells and rubber modified asphalt using scrap tires. The technologies were used at a carpool lot in Beamsville, Ontario.
His Royal Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has launched an International Water Summit. The summit will be held alongside the World Future Energy Summit in January 2013.
