Publications Mail Agreement # 40719512

sheetmetaljournal.com

Official Journal of Record for SMACNA-BC

Indoor Air Quality Guide

Make Age Work for You

Manufacturer Spotlight: K-Flex USA

FALL 2013

Heating Up at BC Place

10 Sheet Metal Journal

BC PLACE stadium has brought dimension and interest to Vancouver’s skyline since its construction in 1983. After Olympic-related renovations in 2009 and 2010, the building was set for its greatest makeover—a complete roof revitalization project that changed its look and Vancouver’s landscape forever. Part of the renovation included the instal-lation of infrared radiant heaters supplied by SMACNA-BC member ECCO Supply, which solved an important tempera-ture variation issue between the building’s five levels.

BC Place RevitalizedRenovations at BC Place have been phased over the past five years, beginning with Olympic-related work in 2009 and 2010, and ending with a roof revitalization between 2010 and 2012. The work in 2009 included upgrades to suites and public spaces, structural reinforcement of 54 columns and the roof, and the ring beam’s structural upgrade. In 2010 the building received a snow melt system and underwent preparation for and construction of the Olympic Cauldron.

Raising the RoofThe 18-month roof revitalization project replaced the stadium’s

Heating up at

BC PLACEby / Jessica KirbyPhotos courtesy of ECCO Supply

11www.sheetmetaljournal.com • Fall 2013

Heating up at

BC PLACEby / Jessica KirbyPhotos courtesy of ECCO Supply

existing air supported fabric roof structure (the world’s largest at the time of construction) with a gravity supported fabric roof—the largest cable-supported retractable membrane roof in the world and the first of its kind in North America.

The work included 36 new masts, an 11-meter-high façade with ETFE transparent material, LED light on the façade with multiple colours, and natural ventilation louvers.

A key challenge addressed during the renovation was consideration of improper heat at the bowl floor and level 2 concourse. As it stood, the building overheated at the higher levels during attempts to heat the lower levels. Radiant in-

floor heating was not an option as it would have caused temperature damage to the turf.

Genivar Engineering was tasked with the mechanical design for the BC Place revitalization project. Sean Caldwell and the design engineers at Genivar contacted ECCO Supply, which represents Schwank Group—manufacturer of high-intensity infrared heaters. Schwank has extensive experience in sport stadium heating, including the Real Madrid Soccer Club in Spain and many others. At ECCO they were assisted by Gavin McCallum, sales engineer, and through much communication they were collectively able to come up with an effective heating solution for the building.

Design Heats UpThe owner’s design requirement was to provide a 10 degree F comfort temperature increase across the field area for trade show and concert events, says Bob Alcott, product and applications for Schwank Group.

Seventy-four supraSchwank 30 combined-intensity natural gas-fired heaters were installed at the circular perimeter catwalk at roof level, 170 feet above the 247,000-square-foot exhibition floor.

“The term ‘combined intensity’ describes the infrared output from this single model heater that is typically produced separately by high-intensity and low-intensity IR heater models,” says Alcott. “This range of IR energy output is most effective at being converted to sensible heat when absorbed by the field surface and customers thereon.”

This range of IR energy output is most effective at being

converted to sensible heat when absorbed by the field surface

and customers thereon.

12 Sheet Metal Journal

heating up at bc place

The design entailed mounting the heaters with custom hardware at a slight angle to direct and focus the infrared radiant output to the entire field area.

“The custom hardware also enables rotation of a heater up onto the catwalk for easy accessibility during an annual service check,” says Alcott. “This mounting method also greatly facilitated installation of the heaters, which are suspended 170 feet above the field.”

Total input of the system is 6.5 million Btu/hr and the heaters provide heat for distances up to 250 feet. They are controlled by a special infra-red sensor zone control system and improve the interior temperature during functions, offering year-round comfort and added warmth in the winter months. As an added bonus, the heaters greatly assist in paint drying every time lines are repainted for an event.

The upgrade also included installation of natural ventilation louvers rather than ventilation fans, which proved cost prohibitive. Genivar performed computer modelling to establish that the most effective louver size was 2.2m. The size of the louver damper assembly that goes around the entire perimeter of the building was designed by Ruskin Damper expressly for this project.

Radiant Technology The advanced technology supraSchwank model was selected due to its high radiant efficiency—81 percent of fuel input is converted to infrared radiant output.

Compact at its BestThe modern design and variable speed operation of the RNC 120F and RNC 120 ERV ensures that each suite has an efficient exchange of stale, indoor air with healthy, fresh, outdoor air.•   Designed for high-rise condos, apartments, and townhomes•  9-1/4" depth – fits in bulk head and drop ceilings•  80-130 CFM•  3 High Speed Select•  Full balancing collars•   “L” Brackets included for easy install•  HVI Certified

HRV Features •  Aluminum Core•  Fan Defrost•  Side Drain 

ERV Features•  Water washable core•  No drain required•   Proprietary non-cellulose membrane

Contact your ECCO Supply Sales Representative for more information.

www.eccosupply.caExpert Service. Quality Products. Since 1960. FL

240

0613

www.lifebreath.com

Burnaby604-420-4323

Chilliwack604-702-4400

Langley604-530-9755

2532 Davies Avenue, Port Coquitlam British Columbia V3C 2J9

Phone: 604-942-1611 Fax: 604-942-1453craig@paramountsheetmetal.ca

QUALITY • DEPENDABLE CRAFTMANSHIP

PARAMOUNT SHEET METAL LTD.

New and Retro Fit ConstructionServing the Commercial

Sheet Metal Industry for 25 Years!

13www.sheetmetaljournal.com • Fall 2013

All radiant heaters produce both radiant and convection heat; the radiant heat being the operative component to effect comfort at field level, explains Alcott. Typical standard radiant heaters perform in the 45 to 50 per cent radiant output, while the ANSI/CSA certification standard sets the threshold at 35 per cent IR efficiency.

“The high radiant efficiency of the supraSchwank heaters accomplishes satisfaction of the design comfort requirements with the fewest heaters for reduced installation cost and the lowest operating cost,” says Alcott.

With customer comfort at trade show and concert events as the owner’s principal concern, the challenge was to provide effective and economical heat that would least impact the environment and the bottom line.

Using conventional warmed air heating systems, comfort improvements at field level could only be achieved by heating all of the air volume in the structure. This means that, essentially, all heated air higher than six feet above the field is heating money wasted.

Infrared energy, on the other hand, travels unimpeded through the air from 170 above the field and is only converted to heat when impacting its focal point on the field and customers, and heating the entire air volume is not required.

Fred Welsh Ltd. mechanical contractors completed the installation, and the owner will receive ongoing local support from ECCO Supply.

Access Metal Products Ltd.Air System SuppliesBailey West Processing Inc.BGE Service & Supply Ltd.Crossroads C&I DistributorsDDK Ventilation Products Ltd.E.H. Price Sales Ltd.EMCO LimitedEngineered AirETP Energy Technology Products Ltd.

(a div. of IPC, Inc.)Frost Insulation Supplies Inc.Grant Thornton LLPIntercon Insurance Services Ltd.

BC Sheet Metal Association (SMACNA-BC) Executive Director: Bruce Sychuk

315-15225 104th Ave. Surrey, BC. V3R 6Y8 Phone: (604) 585-4641 Fax: (604) 584-9304

E-mail: smacnabc@smacna-bc.org

101 Industries Ltd.Admiral Roofing Ltd.Agvale Industries Ltd.Airtek Pneumatics Ltd.All Valley Metals Ltd.Alliance Metal Fabricators Ltd.Allied Blower and Sheet Metal Ltd.Ames Metal Fabricators 82 Ltd.Apollo Sheet Metal Ltd.Austin Metal Fabricators L.P.BF Roofing Ltd.The Blue Collar GroupBry-Mac Mechanical Ltd.CC Industries Ltd.Cascade Metal Design Ltd.Century Plumbing & Heating Ltd.City Sheet Metal Ltd.Crosstown Metal Industries Ltd.Downtown Custom Metal Works Ltd.Duncan’s Ltd.Ecco SupplyEquity Plumbing & Heating Ltd.Haakon Industries Canada Ltd.

British Columbia Sheet Metal Association (SMACNA-BC)Providing products and information related to the Sheet Metal Industry,

including technical manuals and guidelines.

The unmatched technical and managerial expertise of SMACNA-BC

Contractors is enhanced by the talent and skills of the workforce they

employ. SMACNA-BC Contractors employ only Red Seal Certified Sheet

Metal Journeymen and Registered Apprentices.

Harbourview Sheet Metal Ltd.Horizon Cladding Ltd.Horizon Metal Systems Inc.KD Engineering Co.Keith Plumbing & Heating Co. Ltd.M & T Air Conditioning Ltd.Main Sheet Metal Works Ltd.Northwest Sheet Metal Ltd.Pacific Rim Industrial Insulation, Ltd.Paramount Sheet Metal Ltd.Piedmont Sheet Metal (1997) Ltd.Quest Metal Works Ltd.R.H. Jones & Son Mechanical Ltd.Ridge Sheet Metal C.P.Smith Sheet Metal Works Ltd.Spectrum Sheet Metal Ltd.Summit Sheet Metal Ltd.Tri-Metal FabricatorsViaduct Sheet Metal Ltd.Vicwest DeltaWestern Mechanical Services (1977) Ltd.York Sheet Metal Ltd.

Jardine, Lloyd, Thompson Canada Inc.Makin Metals Ltd.Maxam Metal ProductsModern Tool (BC) Ltd.Multicam Western CanadaPacaire HVAC Supplies Ltd.Power Suction Services Ltd. (P.S.S.)Progressive Air Products Ltd.Quote SoftwareSamuel, Son & Co., Ltd.SPI / Burnaby InsulationWilkinson Steel - MetalsWm. P. Somerville 1996 Ltd.

CONTRACTOR MEMBERS

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

18 Sheet Metal Journal

ENGINEER'S DESK

by / Norm GrusnickCommercial Equipment Sales Manager

ECCO Supply

radianT luminouS infrared heaTingInfrared energy is radiant energy which passes through space in the form of electromagnetic waves. Like light, it can be reflected and focused. Infrared energy does not depend on air for transmission and is converted to heat upon absorption by the workspace. In fact, air and gases absorb very little infrared. As a result, infrared energy provides for efficient heat transfer without contact between the heat source and the workspace.

Infrared heating is frequently misapplied and its capacity requirements underestimated due to a lack of understanding of the basic principles of radiant heat transfer. When infrared energy from a heater falls upon an object, not all the energy is absorbed. Some of the infrared energy may be reflected or transmitted. Energy that is reflected or transmitted does not directly heat the workspace. Another important factor to consider in evaluating luminous applications is the amount of energy that is absorbed, reflected, or transmitted with different types of material surfaces. The amount of radiant energy emitted from a heat source is proportional to the surface temperature and the emissivity of the material. This is described by the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, which states that radiant output of an ideal black body is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature. The higher the temperature, the greater the output and more efficient the source.

The ability of a surface to emit radiation is defined by the term emissivity. The same term is used to define the ability of a surface to absorb radiation. An ideal infrared surface would radiate or absorb 100 per cent of all radiant energy. Solid materials such as metals and concrete convert infrared energy into heat at the surface. Their high thermal conductivity allows them to store this heat for later release. Materials with poor emissivity thus make good reflectors; that is why infrared heaters use polished metal reflectors.

In energy-sensitive Europe, improved technology installations are the norm, with many manufacturers offering infrared heater models in the 65 per cent efficiency range. Now there are infrared heating systems available with an ultra-high 81 per cent infrared efficiency. These ultra-efficient systems have been installed all over North America including here at B.C. Place Stadium. They use a 41.5 per cent design heat loss reduction factor. They deliver the same amount of infrared heat to the work level as a 67 per cent efficient system with approximately 20 per cent less gas consumption. In comparing Luminous heaters of varying efficiency, a unit with 70,000 Btuh input and 67 per cent efficiency would deliver 46,900 Btuh to the work level. With todays ultra efficient units attaining 81 per cent infrared efficiency your input is reduced to 58,000 Btuh from 70,000 Btuh—a 41.5 per cent reduction from the calculated heat loss. The convection heat component is now just 11,115 Btuh—sufficient to provide for reduced roof transmission losses in any building. Comfort is maintained at the work level even if the heaters are mounted over 100 feet away.

These high efficiency units have lower fuel inputs, which result in a reduction of the products of combustion, and hence a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The industry accepted standard is ANSI Z83.19/CSA2.35-2002 so make sure that all the units you are looking into comply with this standard, and work with your local manufacturer's representative to assist you in attaining the best design possible.