With fewer than two weeks left to submit an entry for Durability + Design’s inaugural Elevation Awards, we will be counting down to the deadline (May 26) by featuring a select nomination each day, giving you a glimpse of the competition. Below is a selected nominee in the “Floor Coatings + Treatments” category.

Project: Power Plant Floor

The combined efforts of Kiewit-Aecom, ECL Engineered Coatings Ltd., and DP Coatings Ltd. were put to the test when they were tasked with coating the floor of the Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station in a remote part of Ontario, Canada.

Photos: Brian O'Farrell

Workers needed to perform surface preparation and coating applications on the concrete floor while the facility was in operation.

Workers needed to perform surface preparation and coating applications on the concrete floor while the facility was in operation, and were faced with some adversity along the way.

Quotes for the project had to be estimated without seeing the location. Once it arrived the crew had to work a man down; a five-man team was planned, but a crew member was unable to work on the project. Because personnel had to be pre-approved, an additional person could not be brought in to help with the workload.

Because of the site’s location next to a river and at the foot of a hill (with the floor 20 feet below grade and 10 feet below the river’s water level), the springtime melt also impacted the work station as water and moisture were constantly a concern.

Because the plant was fully operational at the time of the work, surface prep was also a particular challenge. Shotblasting was out of the question, so the entire floor had to be diamond ground, with about 50 percent not being accessible to machinery and having to be done with handheld equipment and dust collector.

Because the plant was fully operational at the time of the work, surface prep was also a particular challenge. Shotblasting was out of the question, so the entire floor had to be diamond ground, with about 50 percent not being accessible to machinery and having to be done with handheld equipment and dust collector.

The temperatures within the plant also presented a challenge for the pot life for the epoxy coating systems. The team was using Sika 261 System 1, Sika 261 System 2 and Sikagard 381.

Despite the challenges, the project was done ahead of schedule and within budget.

More Information                                                

If you or one of your clients completed an exceptional project between Jan. 1, 2016, and March 1, 2017, be sure to get your nominations in the running at www.durabilityanddesign.com/elevation.