FALL 2013
sheetmetaljournal.com
Heating Up at BC Place
Indoor Air Quality Guide
Publications Mail
Agreement # 40719512
Make Age Work for You
Manufacturer Spotlight: K-Flex USA
Official Journal of
Record for SMACNA-BC
Heating up at
BC PLACE
by / Jessica Kirby
Photos courtesy of ECCO Supply
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 installation of infrared radiant heaters supplied by SMACNA-BC
member ECCO Supply, which solved an important temperature variation issue between the building’s five levels.
BC Place Revitalized
Renovations 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 Roof
The 18-month roof revitalization project replaced the stadium’s
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Sheet Metal Journal
This range of IR energy output
is most effective at being
converted to sensible heat when
absorbed by the field surface
and customers thereon.
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 Up
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-
The 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.”
www.sheetmetaljournal.com • Fall 2013
11
heating up at bc place
PARAMOUNT SHEET METAL LTD.
QUALITY • DEPENDABLE
CRAFTMANSHIP
New and Retro Fit Construction
Serving the Commercial
Sheet Metal Industry for 25 Years!
2532 Davies Avenue, Port Coquitlam
British Columbia V3C 2J9
Phone: 604-942-1611 Fax: 604-942-1453
[email protected]
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.”
Compact at its Best
The 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.
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.
• 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
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.
• Aluminum Core
• Fan Defrost
• Side Drain ERV Features
• Water washable core
• No drain required
• Proprietary non-cellulose membrane
www.lifebreath.com
www.eccosupply.ca
Expert Service. Quality Products. Since 1960.
12
Sheet Metal Journal
FL240 0613
Radiant Technology
Contact your ECCO Supply Sales Representative for more information.
Burnaby
Chilliwack
Langley
604-420-4323
604-702-4400
604-530-9755
The advanced technology supraSchwank model was selected
due to its high radiant efficiency—81 percent of fuel input is
converted to infrared radiant output.
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.
CONTRACTOR MEMBERS
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. 
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 Group
Bry-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 Supply
Equity Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
Haakon Industries Canada Ltd.
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 Fabricators
Viaduct Sheet Metal Ltd.
Vicwest Delta
Western Mechanical Services (1977) Ltd.
York Sheet Metal Ltd.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Access Metal Products Ltd.
Air System Supplies
Bailey West Processing Inc.
BGE Service & Supply Ltd.
Crossroads C&I Distributors
DDK Ventilation Products Ltd.
E.H. Price Sales Ltd.
EMCO Limited
Engineered Air
ETP Energy Technology Products Ltd.
(a div. of IPC, Inc.)
Frost Insulation Supplies Inc.
Grant Thornton LLP
Intercon Insurance Services Ltd.
Jardine, Lloyd, Thompson Canada Inc.
Makin Metals Ltd.
Maxam Metal Products
Modern Tool (BC) Ltd.
Multicam Western Canada
Pacaire HVAC Supplies Ltd.
Power Suction Services Ltd. (P.S.S.)
Progressive Air Products Ltd.
Quote Software
Samuel, Son & Co., Ltd.
SPI / Burnaby Insulation
Wilkinson Steel - Metals
Wm. P. Somerville 1996 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: [email protected]
www.sheetmetaljournal.com • Fall 2013
13
ENGINEER'S DESK
Radiant Luminous Infrared Heating
Infrared 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.
by / Norm Grusnick
Commercial Equipment Sales Manager
ECCO Supply
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 ultraefficient 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/CSA2.352002 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. 
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Sheet Metal Journal