Archive
Transpired Solar Walls
Transpired Solar Wall – what’s that?
It’s a heat absorbing panel placed on the south facing elevations of buildings which creates a warm air pocket.
Great….so what?
The warm air is then ventilated around the building to reduce heating costs. It can be bypassed all together if required during warmer months.
Cool…who’s idea was that?
Obama’s – he freed up a whole bunch of cash to make the world a more energy efficient place and win the hearts of the people.
Nice – but it sounds expensive.
Yes it is…..$3.5M expensive for a trial run at the largest warehouse on the Defence Distribution Centre here in Harrisburg. Initially there were going to be 6 walls covered, which has now dropped to a couple of walls plus a number of ‘options’ if sufficient cash becomes available.
But it will save a whole bunch of cash in the long run right?
Well…..I’m not sure. My first set of questions included:
- What’s the current cost of heating that place?
- What’s the life expectancy of the building itself?
- How long do these panels last and how easy/expensive are they to maintain?
- Do the number of effective years available from the system multiplied by the annual energy savings add up to more than the cost of installation?
And you know what?
What?
Nobody could tell me.
So DO the savings outweigh the expenditure?
That’s what we’re trying to establish. Part of this project is to analyse the energy usage of the building as it is now and compare it to the usage post installation. I suppose if it’s a raving success we’ll be throwing this stuff up everywhere we can…..provided the funding is there ofcourse.
Hmmm – this sounds very Electrical and Mechanic-y.
You’re right – it is, but there’s some structural stuff in there, like making sure the walls are capable of holding the panels and the additional furniture, such as lights and CCTV etc. A large section of the structural integrity of the building itself is provided by the storage racking itself. There is a need to retro-analyse the racking to ensure that additional roof loads do not exceed design limits….but mainly it’s very E&M flavoured.
So what’s McFry doing on it?
Well so far I’m using this as an opportunity to get my head around the project management systems and the ways in which business sis conducted. As the project Engineer I will be doing a lot of contract administration and answering submittals. Those that are out of my area of knowledge I will allocate to someone who can deal with tn and I will ensure all info is turned around in good time. I act as the Clients’ engineer and make sure the contractors are hitting the correct quality standards etc. I will have a CONREP (contractor representative) who has lots of experience from the construction side of life to keep an eye on things too. I will need to get my head into the RMS software package for contract administration and will also have to use DR Checks which are for ensuring that professional types have approved documents where necessary (i.e. that design calcs are checked by an approved individual).
So what’s next?
After a ‘kick off’ meeting today I need the contractor to review his schedule so I can work out any critical time line issues and see how they may affect the contract. It’s complicated by the fact that the ‘body of excellence’ within USACE is in Alabama…….so they have the real technical know-how but we’re the local eyes and ears, so the submittal review process was described in a very vague way. I have been clear that I need to know delineations of responsibility – otherwise things will go Pete Tong. (After a brief discussion about Pete Tong it was agreed that the responsibility will lie here with the local office and that technical advice is called upon as needed.) Either way – before I get my soul dirtied by contract administration, I still need access to computer systems and complete the induction packages……yes the system is still not as it should be! In the meantime – it’s ‘broadening and deepening’ of my knowledge on how things work around here.
Any other news?
I have found that teenagers that normally sit in front of a screen all day and do very little will do exactly the same thing when transported across the sea to America. Also – my colleagues have been getting brave and have tried to emulate the British accent…..now they sound Australian.
APMP in practice…
Guys,
One of the introductory packages I was given was all about project management within USACE and it reeked of the APMP BoK stuff we did just before we were set free and released into the wild. I have spoken with the guys that run the systems here and they have agreed to release it from the secure part of the USACE intranet, the idea being that it might be useful to see the subject matter in a military construction management setting.
There is a ‘tool kit’ in hard copy that I will arrange to be sent to PEW via the SI to see if it is suitable for wider consumption – most of the language is the same as with APMP. I have also been invited to see their software tools at District office that they use for running these sorts of things which I should be able to scope out either on phase 2 or phase 3, whichever is most appropriate.
I have my first mini-project for the retro-fit of $3,500,000 worth of solar walls to one of the storage facilities here at DDDS. It seems to be another one of those projects where no one is sure who’s doing what. Another birds nest to unravel but it’s early days and shouldn’t be an issue. First meeting is tomorrow.
Essayons!
McFry
Madness…
28 March 2012
The Mechanicsburg project which is about to run out of cash due to unforeseen ground conditions opened my eyes again today. I asked whether or not it might be possible to get the contractor to agree to allow the Corps of Engineers to resolve the issue. The logic being – there is no budget here to allow contractor to to remove the rock, therefore project will come to a halt and become a big white elephant and contractor will not get the work / money he wanted. I suggested trying to get a ‘training exercise’ for the green skins to do it from one of their training budgets and get their kit dirty for a change, thus allowing the existing money to complete the job and thus the contractor gets a bigger lump of cash and we don’t end up with a big white elephant……..you’d think I just crapped in their swimming pool by the response I got. Enough said. It’s just as barking mad as it is in the UK.
Carson Roberts – Horizontal drilling promotional material
Not the video I wanted to show you – but shows the same company on another project doing the same thing but bigger.
Boring……
27 March 2012
Intro
Another day another site. Today it was a 3 hour…yes…3 hour drive one way to see a drilling site in Towanda, PA. In order to help their town prosper and grow / expand on the North bank of the Susquehanna river the town folk have dug into their pockets and joined forces with the federal government (part of Obama’s stimulus package) to install a water main under the river. This will connect fresh and foul water supply to the far side so they do not have to rely upon storm drains and septic tanks. Department of agriculture has stakes in this small $1M project. Project is currently 1 month behind schedule and this is the contractor’s first project with USACE. Total length of bore is 1600ft (480m)
Conditions
Loose silt by river sides – line of pipeline runs under 1 x railway and a road. Extensive ground investigation material available from PENNDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transport) when the nearby road bridge was constructed.
Method
Large diameter steel sheaths hammered into the silty layers to prevent ‘frac out’ of the drilling fluids (bentonite) when drilling starts. Will try and attach a video of how it”s done. Once the sheath is in place a drill will be steered along the required path using electromagnetic positioning (all except in the middle of the river where they will be going ‘blind’.) The drill is extended out using flexible shafts.
Once the drill emerges at the far side of the river, an auger will be dragged back through the bore hole to widen it. The process will be repeated until it is the required diameter. At this point the plastic piping will be dragged through the hole to form the completed pipe line.
On site
Very few personnel required. Picked them up for not providing cover from view between the public and the welding operation. PE concurred and added to daily report accordingly. Witnessed a full rotation of positioning of steel sections, welding and driving before the 3 hour drive home……The process is likely to be repeated until the full depth is achieved at which point drilling will commence. I don’t think there will be much to see until the drill emerges at the far end and some more exciting engineering can begin.
Asside
The CEO of the company did not appreciate the fact that I found his video most entertaining. The fact that the word ‘boring’ appears repeatedly to a really intense soundtrack seemed incongruous to me.
It’s all about personalities….
21-23 Mar 12
Having had a chance to see the Ashley reservist centre site again there is some noticeable difference in the pace of work and there are actually more people on site, but still not what you would expect of a contractor who is working to try and recover delayed schedule. A few more things have become clear also – the main thing being that the contractor representative (CONREP) is adversarial with the contractor and this possibly also explains why there are communication breakdowns. We sat in a progress meeting where the CONREP hit them with deficiencies they had never been made aware of previously. Blind siding the contractor in a progress meeting with deficiencies does not promote good will or mutual understanding. The CONREP has told me now in private that he would like to shut down the contractor for failure to meet the quality control criteria and some health and safety issues. He takes photographs and sends them direct to head office to get their opinion (The equivalent of going 4 up to us!). The contractor was certainly using the right language that would engender at least the impression of mutual cooperation, but this was met with a stony silence from the CONREP. (I will stop talking about this individual now incase this ever gets leaked and I get sued!….but you can imagine I have clear opinions of whether this individual should have been retired a long time ago.)
Now pan out and scroll across to another reservist centre in Mechanicsburg. It is the same type of building and is also awarded on a design – bid – build contract. There is a similarly slow pace, not because of constantly changing staff but because of unforeseen ground conditions that have led to USACE having to go back to congress for additional funds. There is perhaps a month or so of funding left before the contractors will have to be told to down tools until additional cash is sourced. There is a team at work trying to figure out if the requirement can be adjusted to accommodate at least some finished structures that will add value to the existing facilities. The CONREP on this job greets the contractors with a huge slab of elk meat that has been shot by a co-worker and an impromptu afternoon bbq is arranged. All the workers take 20 minutes off to come eat burned meat and talk about women, beer and cars. Progress is discussed and the contractor confirms that the last punch list (snagging list) items have been addressed and offers the papers to prove it. Afterwards a brief walk around identifies more items for the punch list and the principal contractor immediately tackles the sub contractors involved. One of them is on a second warning for not having a non-return valve on an acetylene torch and is warned that a further infringement will result in him being removed from site, but nobody falls out because of the manner in which he is told…..clear…direct…factually…not personal. I found a strip of spent percussion caps from a nail gun and pointed it out to the CONREP (trying to be helpful). The strip is tossed to the ‘superintendent’ (the site manager) with a playful quip that it’s a $1000 fine for every cap (spent or not) according to the contract, meaning the guy is now holding a $10,000 fine in his hands. The superintendent disappears to find the offending subbie and the CONREP is happy that it won’t happen again.
So what is the main difference between the two projects that really ought to be the same? It’s the working relationship and how the rules of the contract are enforced. You can smash the contractor until he is in a position where he is underfunded, on the back foot, off guard and becomes more and more open to further criticism until the project grinds to a halt. Alternatively you can work together, cut him some slack when it’s appropriate and keep them all on side in a spirit of mutual cooperation. Both projects are failing for very different reasons, but the difference is that for one them it is not necessary!
Wanted to take some lovely pictures for you guys to see – but I fear I might just get arrested. No photos allowed on a military base I’m afraid. I need to get a media pass and show all pics to the guard staff on departure….but what they don’t know can’t harm me. Will endeavour to indulge in subterfuge for the cause.
26 Mar 12
Contractor on the Mechanicsburg site has been ‘blessing’ the concrete pour as high winds were making a lean mix difficult to finish. CONREP has informed them that if this develops tension cracks they will tear out and replace at their own expense, but again, no love lost. I am fascinated by the fact that the client’s representative on site is expected to be an engineer and a clerk of works at the same time. He carries a specification with him for the job and is expected to do all the tasks that would be expected of the clerk of works. (I for one would not have spotted the missing non-return valve on the acetylene tank). I think it works though because the contractor is responsible for the Quality Control issues with the CONREP and PE focusing on Quality Assurance so the checks should be for back up anyway.
Have completed the first of my compulsory training……drug abuse and suicide. I thought I’d be free of MATTS for at least a short while!! Apparently if you suspect someone may be having dark thoughts you have to just come right out and ask them. I have been asking the office repeatedly if they are thinking of killing or harming themselves as a precautionary measure.
Vehicle registration fail….doh. But on the plus side, child number one has been safely deposited state-side…..doh.
Progress…..
12 hours later – success – Common Access Card in hand and hopefully the paperwork is queued up for Ben Hancock now as well.
Vehicle fixed without requirement for payment or for state police to get involved.
Next up – compulsory computer training with USACE, medical registration for family, driving tests to be booked and then any other hoops they want me to jump through….come on USA – what other admin you got!?!?
The Fry Clan finally re-enters the 21st century…
Since arrival in the states the administrative machine has been quite impenetrable. I was keeping a mini diary on the ipad using a mobile connection but now that we have a proper full-fat connection I can consolidate the previous stuff as follows:
- Office call in Baltimore office. Met HoDs for design phase but am unlikely to meet any of them again for 8 months.
- Cel phone available – call 001 443 805 9636
- Cac card not ready. No ssn. No car. Many admin problems to resolve. (No CAC = no access to bases or access to IT facilities)
- Col Anderson is championing our cause and is very on Side. Understands our situation and is keen to ensure we get what we need out of theattachment.
- Have collected project docs for HQ project in Harrisburg.
- Light rail commute to Baltimore works well.
- Am repeatedly being asked if i am Australian…..
- Strongly recommend future US attachments come out early to avoid admin issues. Can not apply for social security number until have been in country for 10 days. Remaining 4 days insufficient to work outremaining admin. first week at work will be affected.
14 Mar
- Still chasing CAC(Common Access Card) and SSN (Social Security Number). Must identify a system of ensuring our future officers know what to ask for as the staff here do it so infrequently they do not process correctly.
- Had first experience of Maryland Vehicle Authority…….madness, but now have 1 set of wheels for travel up North to Harrisburg.
- Had initial orientation of Harrisburg office.
- Have volunteered to participate in the USACE outreach program to visit schools and promote science and engineering.
15 Mar
- 3 hour drive to deepest darkest Pennsylvania to visit a Reserve Centre. They are closing down smaller centres and consolidating them with larger, better equipped centres that cater for a larger area. The project is approx 25% complete.
- Contractors have changed personnel and so have USACE and the result is a birds nest of previous decisions / omissions with errors on both sides. I see a complete lack of communication, an overworked junior project engineer with little support from above or any ability to delegate. I believe the contractor is taking advantage of the ‘mess’ and is not pushing for resolution to submissions (as they get compensation after 30 days). I made a point of keeping quiet in the meeting as I clearly don’t know the procedures yet but chose to ask questions privately after the meeting. I also noticed a complete lethargy on site and very few workers were present. To me this site is not being recovered, considering it is behind schedule.
- Also visited levee systems to see how they work.
16 Mar
- Am now the proud owner of a SSN…..not that it helps with getting utilities to the house. They now want notarised copies of all my docs……
- Had further orientation of USACE Harrisburg office.
- Had orientation to New Cumberland Depot and specifically some new builds and a steam plant.
- Raised concerns reference Reserve centre problems with another engineer who is removed from the project. He confirms that the issues I raised are relevant but advises to wait a while before wading in. Will address diplomatically.
- Weather is gooood.
- Local radio is much better than uk. Have plumped for 98 rock! It’s the sound of Baltimore and helps make the 1hr 15min commute each way a little more tolerable!
19 Mar:
- Issues with new vehicle purchase. Chased though state police. Need to return to Virginia.
- CAC issue running in circles.
- Met with area officea manager.
- In depth discussions ref contracts used at usace.
- Discussions ref Ashley project. Reserve centre with many issues to resolve.
- Contact info with proposed home tel number etc passed up.
- Still no joy finding a Harley.
- Proposed HQ project on hold – will have to get involved in some levee projects that are being queued up.
20 Mar
- Conducted admin ref submissions. All logged in diary for area managers to see and help identify peak periods.
- Met Remi – another office manager who is in charge while Dawn Conniff is away playing soldiers.
- Have come up with alternative plan to acquire CAC via embassy. Will require trip to Washington which would also tie in nicely with vehicle admin required. Will have to go to Virginia to Fort Mead(?) for issue.
- Observed bottom of chain with reference to submittals* to see how they are processed.
- Still no utilities in the house (result of not having SSN until recently)
*Submittals:
USACE is structured and geared so that the project engineers work closely to a fixed set of rules and procedures. Their idiots guide to project management reeks of the APMP course that we did just before heading out here. Submittals are the formal way in which the contractor brings any information to the attention of the project manager. There is a computer system called RMS which tracks the progress of each submittal (which could be literally anything related to the projectr.) This system acts as an audit trail and enforces the role of USACE in the Quality Assurance role, leaving the contractor responsible for Quality Control. It seems to be odd that the contractor is self policing in terms of quality controil but I am assured that USACE makes it work…..
21 Mar
Re-visited Ashley (Reserve Centrre) project to see what progress has been made. Many issues with the submittal process were resolved betwene the PM, his supervisor and the Contractor. Contractor seemed very tuned in to the language that USACE wants / needs to hear. It is clear that there are still serious communication issues and in my mind it is crazy that the project manager on this particular site is not authorised to make decisions that will expedite the construction and allow progress to be made. 6 hours of driving today has left me lacking in horsepower.
All in all it has been a slow process of bedding in and there are still many administrative issues to overcome. Tomorrow will be spent at the embassy trying to resolve. I expect that next week will see some advancements (after I have completed the obligatory on-line training……[bangs head on table repeatedly])
Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog 