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A Green Response to the Housing Crisis Pipe Material Selection Greatly Reduces Excess Soil Challenges CCPPA Culture at Massive Scale BEAR CONSTRUCTION apeiron-construction.com | AUGUST 2021We create boundless opportunity With a wealth of experience in reporting, content creation and publishing, Apeiron Media, Inc – publisher of Apeiron Construction – was set up with a clear vision to shine a light on pioneering organizations and professionals throughout the construction industry. We take a nuanced approach to storytelling and our clients benefit from a comprehensive integrated marketing opportunity through our detailed suite of online media. Apeiron Construction delivers stories from across the industry to offer high-end, thought provoking content to our readers. Conducting fascinating in-depth interviews with industry leading Executives, Managers, Presidents and CEOs allows us to gain insight and perspective while having the privilege of telling impactful stories. Our unique approach to content creation allows us to gain expert commentary on an ever-changing industry, from the people that know it best. As a media platform, we believe that our world is boundless. We want to share this world with our clients. WWW.APEIRONMEDIAINC.COMWWW.APEIRONMEDIAINC.COMA s temperatures begin to dip slowly, signalling the turn- ing of the seasons once more, it is worth reflecting. We transition into the second half of the year and the time is right to take stock of where things are. It is important though, that we do not focus solely on figures and bottom lines. It is vital, particularly now, that we also look to the rich signs of progress and success that are beginning to resur- face across the construction industry. While it is likely to be a slow rebuild and as we may yet encounter more twists and turns, there is growing evidence of what we have all suspected; construction is an industry that is filled with the innovation, perseverance and dedication needed to grow into a new dawn. In our new issue, we are delighted to bring some of this evidence to our readers. We have extensive coverage from many corners of the industry, specifically chosen to shine a light on the genuine success stories that are taking place all around us. Our stories range from ground-breaking creativity that reframes the way we think about building through to proof that longevity and dedication can be the impetus for innovation and everything else in between. There are many wonderful things happening every day in the construction industry. We are happy to share some of these with you. Welcome to the Fall issue of Apeiron Construction. I hope you enjoy it. | 3 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION A note from the Editor APEIRON-CONSTRUCTION.COM • APEIRONMEDIAINC.COM CHIEF EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER DIRECTOR OF SALES DAVID O’NEILL LINDSAY BAILEY CIARAN DUNNE | MARK PETERS | PETER SWALE JOANNE KELTER | DAN SCANLON | ROSS WALSH ALEX MULVEY COLIN O’NEILLIn March and April of 2020, the US economy lost almost 22 million jobs across all sectors, leaving the unemployment rate at 14.7%. Almost overnight, 22 million American families became one, or no-income households. By August, this catastrophic figure had softened, relatively speaking, to 11 million below February’s peak but these numbers, collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, illustrate how all- encompassing the effects of COVID-19 have been on the economy. 66 A Green Response to the Housing Crisis 6 3 Positive News Stories 8 Pipe Material Selection Greatly Reduces Excess Soil Challenges CCPPA 12 Built to Last FORTERRA 16 Prodigious Projects on the Prairies INLAND PIPE & OCEAN PIPE 22 The Difference is Creativity PROFORM CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS 26 Making Every Journey IECS 32 Growth Through Diversity S3 PRECAST 36 Strength Through Innovation QUAKEWRAP 42 Simplified Supply Chain Solutions COMMAND ALKON 48 Augmented Reality – The Future is Visual 52 Culture at Massive Scale BEAR CONSTRUCTION 60 Solid Foundations for a Long Lasting Legacy: Respect, Care & Trust SHANNON CONSTRUCTION 70 Answering the Green Question USGBC 76 Smart Cities 80 Growth with Integrity INSULATED ROOFING CONTRACTORS 84 No Shortcuts NSG LIFE SAFETY 88 Creating History PLASTICS PIPE INSTITUTE 92 Ready to Lead Change PLASSON USA 96 Pipeline to Success NAPF 100 Exoskeletons – Where Science Fiction Meets Construction 5 | APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWith all that is happening around us, it can be easy to miss some of the advancements that are being made in the construction industry. Let’s shine a light on some good news stories that are making our world a little better. Passive House As the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, attention is returning to preventative measures that will help to offset the environmental effects of globalization and construction. Effi- ciency and sustainability are two topics rightly recognized as vital tenets in rebuilding this modern society, capable of meet- ing the needs of future generations. Co-developed by Dr. Wolf- gang Feist and Dr. Bo Adamson in the late eighties, Passive House is a design and build standard with energy efficiency at its core. By adopting Passive House designs, structures can be made that use up to 90% less energy than housing built to conventional code. At the heart of Passive House is five prin- ciples which are designed to ensure the most efficient heating and cooling designs and strategies are utilized. The principals, ranging from insulation and windows structures to high perfor- mance ventilation systems are highly detailed design features which result in massive energy efficiency. According to Andrew Peel, Founder and Managing Principal of Peel Passive House Consulting, “The resources used to heat our spaces and water are not only costly, but take a toll on our environment as well. The five principles of Passive House, when combined with effi- cient and collaborative design, reduces heating requirements to the point where a traditional heating system is no longer required.” With Passive House certified homes being built around the world, it seems that now, more than ever before, genuine alternatives are available which can contribute to pos- itive environmental outcomes. naphnetwork.org | 6 AUGUST 2021Bioconstruction When a society develops and moves forward, a re-think can be required; a shift in the accepted norms that dictate how things are made and viewed. This change can be hard fought and face stern opposition from those operating within the status quo. While the construction industry struggles to grasp the necessary changes around its carbon emissions, genuine change is slowly emerging. Bio Houses, first developed and built in Europe are making the industry shift its perception of what a building is and what is can be. Built using natural organic materials, they allow a more sustainable relationship with the outside world. These chemical exchanges between the internal and external add what is called permeability into the building process. While, from a structural point of view, this may seem risky, evidence shows that these fears are unfounded. In fact, for over twenty years, biomaterials have been used in construction with Mycotecture, building blocks made from fungal roots which are as strong as concrete and BioMASON blocks that do not need firing and are as durable as traditional masonry, being two examples. While this cross over between science and engineering is still a developing area, it does allow us a glimpse of the possibilities avail- able. Perhaps, the solution was here all along, we were just unaware of its full potential. biomason.com Bridges to Prosperity With United States residents eagerly awaiting the commence- ment of infrastructure work that could potentially amount to trillions of dollars, work that will certainly improve the standard of living for millions, it can be easy to overlook the standard of living that North Americans currently enjoy. While cracks have undoubtedly appeared as roads and pipes age, the quality that we enjoy is hard to dispute. Despite the concerns that Ameri- cans currently have, work is being done to ensure that global infrastructure is not ignored. Numerous studies have shown the detrimental effects, both socially and financially, that rural isolation has on communities around the world. Thankfully, skills and knowledge that have been acquired by U.S. construc- tion workers are now being redirected to give others a fighting chance. Bridges to Prosperity is a Colorado based company that aims to “work with isolated communities to create access to essential health care, education and economic opportuni- ties by building trailbridges over impassable rivers.” While the work is just getting started, successful projects have been completed in Rwanda, Nicaragua, Bolivia and numerous other countries. Workers in these areas are experiencing a general increase in wages of 35.8% and farmers have reported 75% higher rates of profitability. In addition to this, over 60% more women are entering the labor market. Clearly, there is a huge body of work to be completed in these countries but evidently, this simple piece of infrastructure is having transformative effects on local communities. www.bridgestoprosperity.org The Buildings Show DECEMBER 1-3, 2021 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE, ON informaconnect.com/the-buildings-show 2021 IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show SEPTEMBER 15-20, 2021 PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER, AZ iibec.org/2021-iibec-international-convention- and-trade-show Lean Construction Institute Congress OCTOBER 19-22, 2021 PHOENIX CONVENTION CENTER, AZ www.lcicongress.org/2021/ FABTECH SEPTEMBER 13-16, 2021 MCCORMICK PLACE, IL www.fabtechexpo.com | 7 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 8 AUGUST 2021WRITTEN BY PAUL IMM, P.ENG. I n December 2019, the Province of Ontario announced that they were phasing in a new regulation under the Environ- mental Protection Act that, in addition to a number of envi- ronmental considerations, would result in reduced construc- tion costs by making it easier to reuse excess soil generated during construction activities. The goal of this regulation was to minimize waste and to provide clear rules on managing and reusing excess soils. By way of context, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) estimates that 25 million cubic metres of excess soil is gen- erated in Ontario every year. While most of this excess soil could be reused safely it is often moved off-site because it can’t or won’t be reused at the development site. In response to these concerns, the MECP implemented the On-Site and Excess Soil Management Regulation (O.Reg. 406/19) on Jan- uary 1, 2021 to help reduce negative impacts and costs from improper management of excess soil such as: • Noise and dust • Truck traffic and road damage • Erosion and drainage • Other social, economic, health and environmental concerns. While MECP has created best practice guides and calcu- lation tools to assist with the excess soil regulations, the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Associ- ation (GTSWCA) retained WSP Canada to help its members identify opportunities for the effective and beneficial use of both excavated soils and recycled materials for buried pipe construction. A report published in August 2020, reveals that the production of aggregate in Ontario is approximately 45 to 90 million cubic metres annually. This, coupled with grow- ing demand expected over the next 25 years, is resulting in unsustainable levels of production and impact, alongside the enormous carbon footprint associated with the mining and transportation of new aggregate sources. The Execu- tive Summary of the GTSWCA-WSP identifies the following issues associated with disposing of excess soils: • Extra costs on many infrastructure projects. • Environmental impacts related to virgin aggregate extraction in existing agricultural and protected areas. • Additional trucking distances to import virgin aggregate materials. • Significantly larger carbon footprint related to the above issues. | 9 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >