York Factory First Nation is collaborating with BETAC to perform an air leakage test on a nursing station built in 2000 that has since encountered some roof damage due to ice damming.

Background

Based on site visits performed by Tower Engineering Group, GW Architecture Inc., and QCA Building Envelope Ltd. in November, 2016, it was discovered that significant amounts of insulation had been missing, moved, or become detached in the attic space, causing substantial amounts of heat to travel into the attic and melt the snow on the roof – resulting in ice damming.

In order to rectify this issue, the nursing station will be undergoing an envelope upgrade that is projected to begin in July, 2017.

Services provided

The objective of this applied research project is to capitalize on BETAC’s abundance of knowledge and recent experiences in conducting air leakage tests on larger buildings, and conduct testing of the existing building prior to any renovations.

• The pre-renovation test will use smoke machines and infrared thermography to identify the major leakage paths and air barrier deficiencies, particularly focusing on the leakage paths to the unconditioned attic space; however, diagnostic testing will identify other problem areas throughout the entire building as well.
• While there, BETAC staff will provide one training session for any interested persons from York Factory on the basics of building science, with an emphasis on the impact of air leakage and its testing.
• Afterwards, any training session attendees from York Factory are encouraged to witness and assist with the building test, with specific engagement during the diagnostic testing of the building.
• A post-renovation test is recommended after the work has been completed, to ensure a reduction in air leakage has been realized, especially for major leak paths.

The Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was built in 1981. One of the Centre’s buildings recently underwent renovations in 2016, upgrading its building envelope and mechanical systems. This upgrade included installing insulated metal roof panels and insulated metal wall paneling as the new exterior shell to the building.

Services Provided

• BETAC’s involvement with the project was to perform a whole building airtightness test so the owner could see how efficient the retrofit has been, to then document the results of the test, and to provide a comparison of the results to Red River College’s database of large building air leakage rates for reference.
• BETAC will also offer a strategy for any future additional remedial work on the building to ensure it meets the requirements.

We met Joel Lamoureux in Jane’s Restaurant to snap a few pictures and talk about the expanding culinary research program at Red River College.
Joel is the Research Manager of the Culinary Research & Innovation program at Red River College. Joel has over 10 years of culinary experience and has a Culinary Arts Diploma from Red River College and a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from the University of Manitoba.
Joel’s passion for cooking and food has taken him across Canada and abroad to gain experience and learn new techniques. He’s spent time working in France, New York City and Montreal to name a few.
Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Joel worked in product development and food safety sectors. Read More →

 

A team of Red River College students have paved the way for a campus transition toward electric vehicles by participating in Electric Mobility Canada’s student competition, which took place this week during EMC’s annual electric vehicle conference and trade show.
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The objective of this project was to compare and evaluate the thermal performance of two samples of a polycarbonate glazing, which behave similarly to Insulated Glass Units (IGU), provided by a local window manufacturer to the Building Envelope Technology Access Centre (BETAC) at Red River College.

Research and Services Provided

• BETAC used the Red River College’s dual environmental chambers in the Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure lab (CARSI) to compare the thermal performance of the two samples using a benchmark from a material with a known thermal resistance.
• The polycarbonate samples each had different thicknesses, and heat flux sensors were used to measure the thermal transfer across the samples under a set temperature differential, which followed a specific ASTM Standard.

Results

Results of this test can be used for further research and development of the manufacturer’s products.

Left to right: Rob Spewak (Building Envelope Technology Access Centre Manager), Jose Delos Reyes (Research Manager), Neil Cooke (Dean, Teaching Excellence, Innovation and Research), Ray Hoemsen (Executive Director, Research Partnerships & Innovation), Cathy Cox (Manitoba Minister for Sustainable Development), Mark Hoddenbagh (Red River College VP Strategic Development).

Red River College today received a Manitoba Excellence in Sustainability Award at the provincial Legislature during an event hosted by provincial Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox.
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It’s your time to shine! Submit your best new product designs in up to seven categories for a chance to win $20,000, other great prizes, and global recognition. There’s no cost to enter.
The Create the Future Design Contest was launched in 2002 by the publishers of NASA Tech Briefs magazine to help stimulate and reward engineering innovation.
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Mark Hoddenbagh (RRC VP Strategic Development), Tatjana Brkic (RRC Instructor, Business Admin), Tracy Cappello (RRC Executive Director, Finance and Campus Services) and Eddy Lau (Director, International Education) at the CICan Convention.
A Red River College instructor’s commitment to classroom innovation has earned her a prestigious honour from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).
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Red River College will help create jobs, expand research and foster innovation downtown, having announced plans for the construction of a new $95-million Innovation Centre in the heart of Winnipeg Exchange’s District.
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