News
June 19, 2021
Integrated Testing S1001
Lonergan Engineering has provided Integrated Testing services as the Integrated Testing Coordinator for Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems at the new 60,000 sf East Gwillimbury Operations Centre. Lonergan Engineering full system overview, function statements, integration matrix, plans review, shop drawing and detailed manufacture equipment review. Our Integrated Testing Plan described how to perform all integration test, in the normal and off-normal mode. The skill set of the team at Lonergan Engineering was able to help troubleshoot and propose code compliant solutions for some of the failed tests.
Upon completion our team provided an Integrated Testing Report that documented; the design, manufacture requirements, metered electrical data, and system integration drawings complete with site photos.
We will be presenting our lessons learned at some upcoming CFAA and OBOA seminars, stay tuned.
March 2, 2021
PEO York Project of the Year Award Finalists
Karima Dharssi LEED AP, P.Eng. has designed and managed the Stevenson Memorial Hospital - 3 Bed ICU Renovation for electrical engineering.
The existing hospital was built in 1928 that was renovated and modified over the years. As there was no historical load data, the design stage consisted of a full investigation survey of the 1964 existing systems. By the end of the investigation, the hospital's facilities team was presented with updated existing equipment schedules, panel schedules, load data, and distribution diagrams. The hard data outlined that generator capacity was limited for this new ICU.
While trying to keep this project on track and constructed for the COVID 2nd wave, the team overcame every obstacle that Murphy's Law could throw. The end result was two phases;
Phase 1 - Temporary Power Solution
While waiting for long lead time items, due to the COVID pandemic, temporary solutions were put in place while maintaining the electrical system's integrity around Isolated Circuit Panels and maintaining adequate equipment short circuit ratings. The system was laid out for a quick plug and play Phase 2.
Phase 2 - Permanent Power Solution
Upon delivery of the intelligent load shedding power systems, the equipment configuration of Phase 1 is ready for a plug and play switch over. The team was able to modify the existing electrical vital, delayed vital and condition distribution by adopted intelligent metering systems and load shedding techniques. With the right logic, conditional loads can now drop off and make capacity for the ICU's vital and delayed vital loads. The system is able to maintain the new High Acuity Unit Level 2 ICU ward during emergency power conditions.
Without Karima Dharssi's experience and foresight, the project may not have been ready for the COVID 2nd wave.
February 9, 2021
ULC-S1001 Integrated Testing Coordinator (ITC) Qualification Appliation and Exam
Michael Lonergan P.Eng. has successfully completed the Integrated Testing Coordinator Qualification Application and Exam.
February 2, 2021
ULC-S1001 Integrated Testing
Michael Lonergan P.Eng. has successfully completed the Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems course provided by UL. One small step to becoming a ULC Listed Testing Coordinator.
January 25, 2021
Consulting Engineer
Last fall Michael Lonergan P.Eng. Received his Consulting Engineer designation Issued by PEO. Lonergan Engineering Inc. further applied for permission to use "Consulting Engineers" and on November 29, 2020 the application was approved.
What does it take to call yourself a consulting engineer?
"Receipt of the designation also means the applicant has been subject to both the screening process and to peer review by the professional engineers on the CEDC. "
www.peo.on.ca/sites/default/files/2019-09/MAconsulteng.pdf
Stay tuned for more updates.
January 20, 2021
Stevenson Memorial Hospital - New Level 2 ICU
Lonergan Engineering is thrilled to see the opening of the new Level 2 ICU department, designed to care for the highest acute patients. The project was expedited to meet the current COVID crisis.
Engineering;
Lonergan Engineering spent about half our design time on site cataloging loads and reverse engineering the existing critical demand load of the building. Our team worked with the facility electricians to update panel schedules, trace out circuits and catalog all loads on the existing generator.
Our team has implemented a new digital monitoring system, complete with electronic load shedding to ensure vital and delayed vital loads remain a priority. This technique will allow the hospital to shed non-critical loads in the event of loads creeping up while on emergency power.
By replacing the existing 1964 emergency power system, with a modernized switchgear, through various phased shutdowns, the facility is now future proof and ready for a more manageable upgrade or addition.
To aid with an expedited opening, the electrical contractors and engineers worked as a team to solve temporary measures, while protecting against the possibility of fault current levels, and equipment delivery.
Our team is happy to have contributed in the efforts to getting the project off the ground. The project was halted in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. Once the hospital got a hold of the pandemic, construction was back on for a sprint to the finish line.
For a full report, please visit the hospital's web page:
http://www.stevensonhospital.ca/news/index.html?id=294
January 4, 2021
Emergency Lighting Audit
Do your emergency lighting levels comply with the OFC or OBC?
Has your building's emergency lighting system been upgraded?
If so, was there a building permit, or did they just change the power supply and ignore the rest of the building?
Are your annual inspections just checking the run time and battery capacity? What about emergency lighting levels?
If you are unsure of the answers to any of this questions, we don't blame you. Lonergan Engineering was called to a project for some electrical power design work that quickly ballooned into a full emergency lighting system upgrade.
Project; Elementary School, 2,500 sq.m.
total of 12 remote heads primarily found in the new addition
92 meters of corridor, and only 1 remote head.
320 sq.m. gymnasium and stage space, only 1 remote head mounted on the stage ceiling behind the curtain.
Left over fused DC rails from a previous central battery unit., still active.
Our team is in the process of providing a full overhaul, complete with light level modelling and code compliance . Lonergan Engineering will be submitting building permits and acting as the Prime Consultant managing a CCDC-02 contract.
Current Ontario Fire Code , July 1, 2019
Emergency lighting
9.5.3.9. (1) Emergency lighting shall be provided in exit stairways, public corridors and other principal access to exits where the occupant load in a building exceeds 24 persons or there are more than 10 dwelling units.
(2) Emergency lighting required in Sentence (1) shall be
(a) designed to provide illumination for a duration of at least 30 min,
(b) supplied by a source of energy separate from the primary electrical supply for the building, and
(c) designed to be automatically actuated when the power to the building is interrupted.
(3) Illumination from emergency lighting shall be an average of at least 10 lx at floor or tread level, or 1 watt/m2 of floor space.
Is this a ULC Listed Emergency Light?
Left overs from a past project?
November 10, 2020
Heat Detector Recall - OCT. 11, 2019
Have you seen this heat detector? Behind bars or not.
Do you have a conventional fire alarm system?
Was your building built between 1979 and 2019?
If you have answered yes to any of the above, start looking around - even if your fire alarm system has had a recent inspection. Lonergan Engineering has spotted this fugitive in the last two buildings we were in. The fire alarm annual inspection reports some how missed these them.
Wanted for: Potential failure to activate.
If found: Contact a fire alarm professional for a replacement option. Get in writing from your fire alarm manufacture that the new detector is a suitable ULC cross listed detector.
Reward; A safe and compliant fire alarm system.
Before
September 23, 2020
Time to replace that 1980's fire alarm system!!
Does your building have an 1980's fire alarm system or older?
Take a look at what age, heat, concrete saturation, and poor maintenance can do to your fire alarm system.
Lonergan Engineering was recently called upon to review an existing fire alarm system that had a number of deficiencies. The last annual inspection outlined the system was not functioning and recommended an immediate replacement. .
The project goal was to have a complete and operational modern fire alarm system.
Our team assessed the existing conditions, prepared an assessment report for the owners, and commenced as Prime Consultants. Our services included; engineering, contract administrative duties, payment certificates, and to prepare and manage a sealed CCDC02-2008 contract package.
Below are some of our observations;
Age; over the years these panels do not age well. The panel was installed 1986, in a mechanical room that had great air circulation.
Proactive Solution; Our team was able to source replacement parts, assist in troubleshooting, and ultimately ensure our client had a fully functional system. This allowed for a proactive approach to scheduling a full fire alarm system upgrade. The client could then be assured, their fire alarm system is fully functioning while our team managed the permit and tender process to achieve the project goal.
Reactive Alternate; not bringing in the right professionals would have resulted in an emergency fire panel replacement, with ageing field wiring and devices. The cost would have been a non-competitive price, for an emergency replacement, resulting in a number of "extras" as they slowly uncover all the subsequent fire alarm deficiencies . The end cost of an emergency replacement are comparable to a competitive CCDC02-2008 tendered engineered package with a completely new system.
After (interim solution)
Broken wires;
Constant movement of wiring harnesses, replacing faulty circuit boards, replacing lamps (by removing lamp harness), results in fractures within the wire crimps. This particular system, the crimp connector on the main "AC On" light had broken.
Circuit board failure
The panel's own transformer heat cycles the "auxiliary by-pass" and the "main" circuit board. This is a common wear-and-tear item, that happens on this particular system. The circuit traces peel away from the substrate and user by-pass switches break free from their soldered connections.
Field wiring;
Throughout this building, every armoured cable, that is simply clipped to the concrete wall, has started to eroded. Quality field wiring can go a long way, EMT conduit with uni-strut stand-offs will increase the longevity
April 22, 2020
Well, it's been 7 years... Happy Earth Day!
Someone once told me "you won't make it 6 months." I guess time truly flies when you are having fun, because it only feels like its been 6 months. When you remove the stress factor you can actually really enjoy your work.
Well, it's been 7 years and our team is still going strong. Reflecting on the last 7 years, I realise this well oiled machine is due to our amazing team members. Each individual team member, past and present, has contributed to the driving force of Lonergan Engineering's success. I would like to take the time to say THANK YOU to our current team along with team members that have come and gone.
Our dynamic infrastructure allows our team to host and attend conferences from a wide range of boardrooms, whether that be from the office, home, or a spool of wire and a cardboard box in an electrical room. The technology our team uses has even allowed clients to virtually walk sites from the comfort of their own office, using spherical pictures and videos integrated to pdf drawings, and attend live broadcasts of site meetings complete with screen sharing and closed captioning.
Lonergan Engineering has been proud to practice environmental stewardship for business, and we will continue to lead the sustainable approach in our industry. Our engineering services are almost 100% paperless. We promote the use of digital drawings and reviews as well as shop drawing reviews, digital building permit applications, electronic meetings and tablets for field visits and meeting notes. Our team members also have complete flexibility in their work location, with the option to work from home, the office, or any other makeshift office - whatever is most convenient. This not only results in less commuting stress and less wasted downtime, but also reduces our carbon footprint in this crucial time for the environment.
Keep up the fantastic work team!
February 20, 2020
Mike Lonergan P.Eng. had the opportunity to present The Life Cycle of a Fire Alarm System to the Simcoe County Fire Prevention Officers Association (SCFPOA). It was exciting to share knowledge, stories, best practices, and ideas with equal minded and passionate professionals. This 3 hour presentation covered topics which include; - Lonergan Engineering's 5 steps to a fire alarm system replacement, - Observations of the existing system that are paramount to determining how to proceed, - Reactive vs Proactive repairs and maintenance - Material Alteration or New Building System, - When a building permit is required, - Witness testing, - Verification vs Commissioning vs Integrated System Testing (ULC-S1001), and - Real world examples! If your organization is looking for or in need of our expertise, Lonergan Engineering would be excited to share our passion.