We’ve got tons of great content coming at you this week from our partners, including WorkSafeBC, BC Forest Safety Council, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Dust Safety Science, and our sponsor experts.

The Dust Safety Week landing page, hosted on Canadian Biomass, is the year-round hub to learn best practices and find the latest information on wood dust safety.

Find the landing page here and enjoy Dust Safety Week!

On July 5, Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, announced a $3.5-million contribution to the construction of 2150 Keith Drive, an innovative hybrid mass timber commercial office building in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The contribution will be made through the Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) Program that supports projects and activities that increase the use of wood as a low-carbon construction material in infrastructure projects.

“To reach our climate goals, Canada must reduce emissions in our building sector. By utilizing mass timber, we can increase efficiency and climate resilience in our communities while also lowering emissions. Supporting projects like 2150 Keith Drive shows Canada’s commitment to developing and deploying innovative practices and materials in our construction and buildings sector. This will support jobs and economic opportunity across the country and help to fight climate change,” Wilkinson said.

Featuring a unique honeycomb-shaped exterior, 2150 Keith Drive will be 10 storeys tall and over 15,000 m2. It will be constructed with advanced mass timber systems using prefabricated cross-laminated timber panels and glue-laminated timber columns, braces and beams. Due to its wooden braced-frame system on the exterior, the design eliminates the need for an interior concrete core, thereby reducing its environmental impact. The replicable shape of its exoskeleton design also makes it ideal for more sustainable, cost-efficient and green construction. The building is the tallest braced-frame mass timber project or building in North America and will employ an innovative seismic resistance system. Furthermore, the building is targeting a minimum LEED Gold certification with construction expected to be complete in 2025.

The project is also supported by the province of British Columbia through the NetZero Energy Ready Program and a $500,000 contribution from the Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MDTP). The MTDP provides funding for incremental costs in the design and construction of buildings that demonstrate emerging or new mass timber or mass timber hybrid building systems and construction processes.

The Government of Canada continues to support innovation and advancements in mass timber construction in Canada. With the increased availability of new building materials on the market, mass timber has the potential to support a significantly more sustainable construction across the country. This means lower emissions and more resilient communities, all while providing jobs and economic opportunity across the forest products and construction value chains.

“The DIALOG design team is grateful for the financial support from Natural Resources Canada that has driven the development of innovative design and construction strategies that are economical, replicable and an important part of a sustainable future,” said Justin Tompson, senior architectural technologist, associate, DIALOG.

A $1.5-million contribution from Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and another $1.5 million from Ontario’s Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program will support the installation of robotic equipment at the value-added plant.

The project will see the installation and production of two MDF moulding lines with custom-made robotized stacking, packaging and labelling stations. The new technology will increase the plant’s capacity, improve safety and “upskill” 18 jobs into specialized positions, such as robot operators, Natural Resources Canada said in a news release.

Alexandre Ouellette, Pembroke MDF plant manager for Roseburg Forest Products, said in the release they are deeply grateful for the support to modernize dated equipment and improve workflow and funcitionality. “Automating our stacking and packing processes with robotics has allowed us to expand from three shifts to four while creating a safer, more efficient and more modern work environment for our team members,” Ouellette said.

“Canada’s forest sector has provided economic opportunity and secure livelihoods for Canadians in communities right across the country,” Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said. “The federal government is committed to supporting this sector to implement innovative technologies and processes to increase efficiency and capacity, lower emissions and create good, sustainable jobs. By investing in the Roseburg Forest Products facility in Pembroke, we are ensuring that local communities continue to reap the benefits of the sustainable use of Canada’s forest resources.”

Massive Canada is renovating and equipping an existing 91,000 square-foot manufacturing plant to pre-fabricate laneway homes, apartment units, townhouses and commercial projects using mass-timber building products and systems.

Gaetan Royer, CEO of Massive Canada, said in a government news release the company will bring together sustainable mass-timber products and prefabrication into one facility.

“We manufacture buildings to help B.C. communities achieve their affordable housing and climate goals,” Royer said. “The B.C. government’s 2022 Mass Timber Action Plan was a pivotal document for us. Thanks to the Manufacturing Jobs Fund, we will create jobs for knowledge workers and tradespersons in this innovative industry.”

The Williams Lake project is the first approved through the province’s new $180-million BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund.

“Supporting manufacturing companies to grow and develop innovative, value-added products creates opportunities to get more jobs out of every tree,” B.C. Premier David Eby said in the release. “Innovative projects like this one support families and communities through the transition from high-volume to high-value production. Everyone involved in this exciting new initiative should be proud of this good, province-building work.”

Small-scale operations are expected to begin at the facility this year, with full operations in 2024.

Applications for the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund are open and being approved on a rolling basis.

Mercer Mass Timber will immediately take possession and continue the operation of Structurlam’s manufacturing facilities, which will now operate under the ‘Mercer Mass Timber’ brand, including a production facility located in Conway, Ark., and in Penticton, B.C.

The sale of Structurlam to Mercer International closed on June 15, 2023. The acquisition will materially increase the existing mass timber production capacity at Mercer Mass Timber and cement its position as a leading producer of mass timber products.

Mercer Mass Timber now holds all of Structurlam’s brand assets, product and project portfolios, and intellectual property. Both the Conway and Penticton facilities will remain open and operational.

“We are thrilled to welcome Structurlam into the Mercer Mass Timber fold,” said Brian Merwin, senior vice-president of Mercer Mass Timber. “This acquisition will allow us to offer our customers a wider range of mass timber products, and to better support their projects with the addition of more cross laminated timber (CLT) capacity and glulam production capabilities. Our goal is to become a one-stop shop for all mass timber needs. The additional manufacturing facilities that the Structurlam acquisition brings will enable us to create greater efficiencies.”

The transaction will add to LP’s assets a manufacturing facility in Wawa, Ont., that will be converted into an LP SmartSide Trim & Siding mill. The transaction, which is subject to court approval and customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in early May 2023.

“LP SmartSide Trim & Siding has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years, becoming one of the fastest-growing siding brands in the United States,” said executive vice-president and general manager of siding Jason Ringblom. “In response to customer demand, we continue to expand our capacity across North America to position SmartSide for long-term growth. Our acquisition of Forex Inc.’s Wawa facility is a great addition to our fleet of siding mills and perfect example of how we are investing in the future of SmartSide.”

Once converted, the mill will add approximately 400 million square feet of capacity, making it LP’s largest single-line siding mill. This will bring LP’s total siding capacity to 2.7 billion square feet annually.

Built in the mid-1990s as an OSB mill, the site is an ideal location for SmartSide production due to its access to an ample and sustainable aspen wood basket and efficient logistics options. The mill’s conversion will bring more than 150 sustainable jobs to the region, which has a long, rich history in forest product manufacturing.

“We are thrilled to see the continued revival of this wood-based plant coming true,” said Forex executive vice-president Yolaine Rousseau. “We would like to thank all the employees, First Nations, suppliers and local authorities for their support of this project.”

LP is evaluating project schedules to determine when construction at the facility will begin. While a second SmartSide manufacturing line is still planned for LP’s Houlton, Maine facility, this project will break ground after the conversion of the Wawa mill.

Architectural firm Dialog, along with EllisDon’s Construction Sciences division, marked the successful post-tensioning of two of the first ever 40-foot full-scale hybrid timber panels. The panels are being constructed at the EllisDon Modular facility in Stoney Creek, Ont.

“This remarkable technology combines cross-laminated timber with steel reinforcement and concrete, creating prefabricated floors that are thinner and have a reduced carbon footprint compared to traditional materials,” Dialog noted in a project update.

Dialog said the panels will be shipped to Vancouver at the end of April for the final R&D phase with a full-scale test program.

Read about the floor system here.

Deadwood Innovations and the Nak’azdli Development Corporation (NDC) have received $1.14 million to build a pilot-scale facility that will use an innovative process to manufacture value-added engineered wood products from underutilized dead and damaged wood fibre. The pilot plant at the Tl’oh Forest Products mill in Fort St. James, B.C., has also received funding through B.C.’s Indigenous Forest Bioeconomy Program.

“The IFIT program has provided our partnership with essential contributions to design, build and develop our wood modification technology from concept to pilot. The funding closed a gap for our forest technology startup and helped position us to prepare for commercialization due diligence,” Deadwood Innovations president Owen Miller said in a news release. “Deadwood and Nak’azdli Whut’en are on the precipice of driving sustainable, valuable change in forestry; we are sincerely grateful for the support of the knowledgeable IFIT team.”

Tolko Industries is using $4.25 million in funding to expand and diversify its production beyond commodity plywood products to include specialty, industrial and engineered wood products.

“Tolko is grateful to receive funding from the IFIT program as we continue to develop innovative new products for our customers. This investment by the Government of Canada demonstrates its commitment to the future of Canada’s forest industry, and it will allow Tolko to continue to meet market demands for sustainably produced forest products while maintaining jobs in B.C.,” said Tolko president and CEO Brad Thorlakson.

Ashlee Cribb, vice-president of wood products for PotlatchDeltic Corporation, has been elected to serve as chair on APA’s Board of Trustees, succeeding Roy O. Martin III. Cribb steps into this position after being elected vice-chair earlier this year. Her areas of expertise include sales, marketing, strategic planning and operations management. Before joining PotlatchDeltic, Cribb was senior vice-president and chief commercial officer for Roseburg Forest Products. She previously held leadership positions at Georgia-Pacific, including vice president of industrial packaging. She also has 21 years of experience working in the chemical industry at Imerys Performance Minerals and Solutia, Inc. (formerly Monsanto). Cribb earned an MBA from Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Doug Asano, senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Roseburg Forest Products Co., has been elected to fill the vice-chair position. Asano leads Roseburg’s sales, marketing, logistics, customer service and fulfillment teams. Asano joined Roseburg in 2020 as the director of sales excellence, focused on process and systems improvements and sales training. Before joining Roseburg, he worked at Huber Engineered Woods for more than 16 years in multiple commercial leadership roles, most recently as vice-president of sales and marketing. Asano started his career in investment banking at JP Morgan & Co. and then private equity at Berkshire Partners. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with honours from Dartmouth College and his MBA from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Two new members to the board include:

Stephen Williams, executive vice-president and chief financial officer of Western Forest Products. Williams joined Western Forest Products in May 2014 to assist with implementing Western’s strategic initiatives. He leads the company’s corporate finance, corporate development, investor relations, IT, shared services and legal teams. Williams is a strategic leader with more than 25 years of experience in the forest industry and extensive experience in acquisitions and divestitures. Before joining Western Forest Products, he worked at Interfor. Williams is a chartered professional accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia. Williams is filling the vacancy left by Doug Calvert after Calvert Co., Inc. was purchased by Western Forest Products.

Richie LeBlanc, president and CEO of Hunt Forest Products. LeBlanc has been serving the forest products industry for 22 years. He began his career with Willamette Industries in Ruston, La., which Weyerhaeuser later acquired. He initially served on the integration team, charged with merging the cultures of Willamette and Weyerhaeuser. He went on to become the land adjustment program manager of Weyerhaeuser’s North Louisiana timberlands organization. In 2015, he was named director of U.S. real estate operations for Weyerhaeuser. LeBlanc was appointed president of Hunt Forest Products in 2016 and now oversees operations at the company’s Louisiana mills. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Louisiana Tech University. LeBlanc is filling the vacancy left by Travis Bryant as Coastal Forest Products was purchased by Boise Cascade Company.

“The engineered wood industry, like so many others, is experiencing tremendous change,” said APA president Mark Tibbetts. “We are grateful for our volunteer leaders’ service to the industry and APA.”

Tolko plans to rebuild on the existing site and replace the damaged press line. The project is in the preliminary engineering phase. The company says an early estimate is that the mill will see its first new board before the end of Q4 2023.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team at High Prairie and I’m happy that we’ve been able to keep everyone fully employed,” says Fred Chinn, Tolko’s vice-president of strand based business. “We’ll do everything we can to keep employees active during the rebuilding, and I’m so impressed with the heart and commitment that I’ve seen from everyone.”

In its latest update, Tolko says the old press has been removed. Crews will begin reconstructing the building soon to allow the team to prepare the plant for the new press during the winter months.

Work is also underway on several upgrading projects and maintenance work unrelated to the fire, including installation of equipment repurposed from Tolko’s decommissioned Kelowna mill.

The Alberta government has been “very supportive,” Tolko said, and stressed the importance of the ongoing relationship to maintain a viable fibre supply to the mill.

“We’re pleased to hear about the progress Tolko’s made toward returning their High Prairie mill to full operations,” says Nate Horner, Alberta’s forestry minister. “Forest companies like Tolko play a vital role in maintaining stable local jobs and supporting the wider regional economy. We look forward to seeing their rebuilding plans realized in the near future. Government stands by Alberta’s forest industry partners to ensure a healthy and vibrant sector.”

The Government of B.C. is investing $2 million into the third intake of the MTDP, building on $5.4 million already invested to support 12 mass timber building projects and four research projects from the first two intakes.

“Mass timber helps reduce our carbon footprint, adds value to our forestry sector and provides new opportunities for jobs, growth and innovation in every corner of the province,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “As we gather this week at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, we are excited about the opportunity for more communities to look to mass timber for their building needs as we continue growing an inclusive, sustainable, clean economy that works for all British Columbians.”

A recipient of $250,000 through the second intake, the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce’s project, The Confluence, is set to break ground in early October. Designed by a local team and using regionally sourced materials, the new building will be a multi-purpose civic space, achieve Passive House certification and operate with 85 per cent reduced emissions.

“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground soon on The Confluence – an incredible, iconic space fuelled by community, corporate and government support,” said Tammy Verigin-Burk, executive director, Castlegar Chamber of Commerce. “Building with mass timber lets us connect The Confluence with the natural bounty of the West Kootenays, creating a legacy for Castlegar and our surrounding region.”

Mass timber construction plays an important role in advancing CleanBC climate goals by providing a smaller carbon footprint that lasts throughout the life of the building when compared to using concrete.

B.C. is a leader in the mass timber sector and especially within North America, with 307 mass timber structures having been built throughout the province as of mid-2022. B.C. has completed almost as many mass timber projects as the entire U.S.

“Growing B.C.’s mass timber sector is a key part of our government’s vision for the future of forestry – a future where we get more value from every tree harvested,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests. “Mass timber continues to prove that it is a superior building material, often exceeding the performance of concrete and steel, while cutting emissions nearly in half. These efforts align with our goals of creating a balanced and diverse forest sector that supports B.C. jobs, as well as our commitments to the environment.”

Providing more opportunities to use mass timber in construction projects is part of the StrongerBC Economic Plan, which is moving British Columbia forward by tackling the challenges of today while growing an economy that works for everyone. The plan builds on B.C.’s strong economic recovery and works to address two long-standing challenges – inequality and climate change – by closing the skills gap, building resilient communities, and helping businesses and people transition to clean-energy solutions.

“We’re excited to see the innovative projects that will come out of the third intake of the Mass Timber Demonstration Program as we continue to develop our province’s mass timber expertise and build on B.C.’s global leadership in this sector,” said George Chow, Minister of State for Trade and chair of the Mass Timber Advisory Council.

To learn more about the Mass Timber Demonstration Program and to apply, visit: www.masstimberbc.ca.

WorkSafeBC’s investigation for both incidents pointed to a combination of the concentration of dispersed wood dust in the air and friction from moving equipment. Ineffective dust control measures and maintenance oversight were found at both sites.

It’s an important reminder that complacency can be fatal, especially in industries that process a combustible material.

For the sixth year in a row, Canadian Biomass and Canadian Forest Industries turned the spotlight on dust with our annual Dust Safety Week. Over the past five days, we’ve shared on our website and social channels (#DustSafetyWeek) new and archived content from our partners to highlight best practices when it comes to dust management in wood processing facilities.

Here’s a snapshot of what we learned during the week:

1) Don’t wait for an incident: WorkSafeBC’s Alexandra Skinner wrote about the importance of reviewing dust management programs regularly. She quotes WorkSafeBC prevention field services manager Budd Phillips, who says the pandemic likely drew away resources from proper maintenance and evaluation of those programs. Now, he says, is the time to revamp dust management programs to reflect evolving operational needs.

2) Need to vent? Talk to an expert: Biomass Engineering & Equipment’s Joel E. Dulin shared practical advice on conveyor explosion venting, specifically diving into the questions about whether to choose active or passive mitigation methods or whether or not you can mitigate explosion risks without expert assistance.

3) Fire prevention strategies: Tom Burniston with Fagus GreCon wrote an overview of field-proven automated fire prevention solutions to help protect people, premises and enable uninterrupted process and production in the wood pellet industry.

4) Lessons from the past: DustEx Research’s Rose Keefe shared the story of the Murray Grain Elevator explosion. “… the events that led up to the disaster continue to replicate themselves today, and not just in the grain handling industry. Every year several people are injured and even killed in explosions at sawmills, pellet production plants, and woodworking facilities, and if lessons aren’t learned, more lives and livelihoods are likely to be lost,” she wrote.

5) Deciphering the dust hazards analysis: Jeramy Slaunwhite, a senior explosion safety engineer with Rembe, explained the what, when, why, where and how of dust hazards analysis in facilities that deal with combustible particulate.

6) Stop high-pressure compressed air dust cleaning: John Bachynski with EPM Consulting has a cautionary message for wood processing facilities: stop using high-pressure compressed air to cleanup your mill. Bachynski explains why compressed air blowdowns are the easiest way to blowup your wood manufacturing facility.

Today is the final day of Dust Safety Week 2022, and we’ll continue to share archived content from years past, which hold just as much relevance today. And don’t forget about the Wood Pellet Association of Canada’s webinar on deflagration isolation, happening Monday, July 18.

Dust safety should be top of mind year-round. That’s why our landing page (find it here – or on CanadianBiomassMagazine.ca’s top menu, under Information) is continually updated throughout the year with relevant lessons learned, solutions, and technical information to keep facilities and operators safe.

And I’d like to once again thank this year’s Dust Safety Week sponsors for making it all possible: Biomass Engineering & Equipment, Fike, VETS Group, Fagus GreCon and Rembe.

NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 664, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, restricts the pressure for localized compressed air usage to 30psi and this is only after the surfaces are cleaned as much as practical with vacuum and brushes with minimum dust suspension. However in real life cleanup procedures, mill plant compressed air exceeding 100psi is more likely used. As NFPA is the fire code of Canada, violations to the fire code can cause serious injury and in some cases criminal prosecution.

The main concerns on high pressure blow down for cleanup include:

1. The high-pressure compressed air breaks down the dust particles into smaller particles creating a higher risk of explosion and increased levels of respirable suspended particulates.
2. Dormant dust is not explosive until it has been disturbed, i.e. by the compressed air. The easiest way to create a dust explosion is to use compressed air to suspend combustible dust into a flame/spark. This is exactly what is happening every time compressed air is used to suspend and distribute the fine dust.
3. NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) is recognized by the Canadian fire code and limits the accumulation of combustible dust on flat surfaces to 1/8”. This is recognized as the minimum dust depth required for the suspended dust to create a flash fire/explosion. So consider every time someone using compressed air for cleanup, it only takes a spark to create the sequence of events that can led to a catastrophic explosion.

For explosion risk, inspectors reference primary and secondary explosions. For wood shops and wood processing facilities, dormant dust is not a risk until disturbed and suspended. Once a pocket of dust becomes suspended (this could be as small as a handful of dust), The expanding fireball gains enough energy during expansion to dislodge larger quantities of dust, in some cases catastrophic. This is called the secondary explosion and can and has been deadly in wood processing facilities. The question is why would someone knowingly use compressed air to start the sequence of a catastrophic and deadly dust explosion.

The answer is human nature takes the easiest route. When using compressed air, the combustible dust appears to be cleaned as it “disappears.” This could not be future from the truth. All the compressed air has done is relocate dangerous combustible dust to another area. The combustible dust did not leave the building.

Perhaps education on the science of dust explosions would help. The math is easy, if the suspended dust reaches a concentration of 40 grams/cubic metre, it has reached what is called the minimum explosion concentration (MEC). As it is difficult for the lay-person to identify the air-borne concentration, safety professionals and NFPA have determined that 1/8” of dust depth when suspended can reach the MEC. In reality, the 1/8th inch MEC suspended dust concentration is thick enough that you could not see a 25w bulb six feet away or you could not see beams and columns on the opposite side of the facility. All are good examples, however, when doing cleanup activities and to error on the side of safety, it should be considered that any suspended dust cloud can be explosive and certainly exceeds OSHA’s STEL or TWA for respirable suspended particulate.

How do we solve this problem?

The best way to solve this problem is to install a dust extraction hood at every location where combustible dust is liberated under normal operating conditions. This is also a requirement of NFPA. For this solution, dust is captured at the source and does not leak and deposit to unsafe levels. A properly designed and installed dust extraction system can provide dust capture at the source where no dust levels exceed 1/8” between cleanup. It is expected that some dust will leak into the plant air space even with a properly designed and operating system as the complexity of some capture areas, such as a CNC machine, cause multidirectional dust patterns with sometimes complex moving hoods. It should also be noted that some hoods, for example at head pully of a conveyor, capture nearly 100 per cent of the dust.

In the absence of a properly working dust extraction system, manual cleanup will be required. The best method is by vacuum. The vacuumed dust is captured in an explosion protected enclosure and is physically removed the plant, which 100 per cent lowers the MEC and explosion risk. The main issue with vacuums is the accessibility and cost of larger vacuum trucks. Although perfect for the job, the cost can be prohibitive.

The second best manual solution is to install a vacuum system just for combustible dust. For this system, the vacuum receiver is located outside due to explosion risks and metal piping is distributed throughout the building with connections to which vacuum hoses can be attached. These systems can also be cost prohibitive.

The third solution for manual cleanup is the use of explosion proof portable vacuums, which are less costly than vacuum systems, however, they are heavy and difficult to move around the plant.

The most cost-effective temporary manual cleanup system is the use of portable vacuums (shop vacs). The use of portable vacuums can be safe, providing acceptable operating conditions for the hazardous area classification exist. Hazardous area classification follow three main guidelines.

• Zone 20 would be an enclosure where a combustible dust concentration is normal. For example, inside a dust collector. A shop vac could not be used inside these type of enclosures.
• Zone 21 is where combustible dust layers are above 1/8” and can be easily suspended, shop vacs could not be used.
• Zone 22 is where dust layers are normal under 1/8” and no suspension would result in an explosive suspended mixture.

Shop vacs cannot be used in zone 20 or 21. Shop vacs could be used to vacuum zone 22 areas providing the shop vac motor is in an unclassified area and only the hose is brought into the zone 22 area. In the case where a portable shop vac is the chosen solution it is important to recognize that over 50 per cent of ignition sources in wood manufacturing occur from a hot bearing. If the bearings are covered with dust, this is a perfect condition for a flash fire which can be the catalyst for a catastrophic secondary explosion. So if a shop vac vacuum program results in no dust is on the bearings, the risk of a primary/secondary explosion is significantly reduced.

How do we change human nature?

Once an operator has used compressed air for cleanup, it is unlikely they would be amicable to reverting to a push broom and shovel, even when they have been educated that the air hose is a major hazard. Imagine if a cleanup crew did not have any experience or even knew that an air hose was available for cleanup and they were trained to only use brushes, brooms and shovels, the cleanup would be done many times safer than blowdown.

This exact scenario is unfolding in western Canada, where facilities are successfully eliminating, due to the high risk, compressed air blowdowns and replacing it with manual cleanup with vacuums, brooms and shovels. The new hires have never seen blowdown and hence are quite happy doing the cleanup as trained without compressed air. The problem continues to be the false convenience of operator blowdown versus the harder, more effective manual cleanup, hence the new hires and new methodologies. In some cases, manual cleanup programs have been modified where manual cleanup is faster than blowdown. Considering that high-pressure blowdown does nothing to reduce the potential dust concentrations in the plant, we should consider that the new manual cleanup programs are significantly safer and many times more effective removing the dust from the building versus blowdown.

The methodology and examples described in this article are for illustration purposes only. As with any modified safety program, it is advisable to seek the experience of combustible dust specialists to assist and advise what works best for your facility.

John E. Bachynski, P.Eng, is the president of EPM Consulting Ltd.

There are multiple advantages of a having a DHA performed including due diligence towards ensuring a safe workplace; demonstrating hazard mitigation progress to authorities having jurisdiction; support for developing a plan to address and manage hazards and investment in preventative/protective safety to mitigate higher costs of combustible dust fires and explosions.

A thorough DHA will identify combustible dust hazards (fire, flash-fire and explosion) in both process equipment and plant/processing areas along with possible ignition sources for each hazard and/or area. Recommendations to reduce risk associated with the hazards should be practical and support compliance with industry standards. Practical recommendations can include options for varying levels of risk tolerance, personnel and financial resources, process/facility compatibility and reliability. Limited or overly specific recommendations as well as highly broad recommendations can be misleading, especially with reference to a specific brand or code/standard without any guidance on how to achieve compliance.

Using a common example of an unprotected dust collector located inside a plant, ranges of recommendation examples are as follows:

• Overly specific recommendation: Install Brand ABC, Model XYZ explosion protection system.
• Broad Recommendation: Protect according to NFPA 68/69
• Practical recommendations: Install explosion protection such as deflagration venting with vent ducting, (if close to an exterior wall with safe discharge area), flameless venting or chemical explosion suppression system.

The recommendations of a DHA should assist with understanding options for hazard management not necessarily the engineering for sizing and application of specific explosion protection systems. The goal at this stage is to identify and evaluate hazards and possible solutions with a plan to implement controls. Hazard control methods can be inherent hazard avoidance, engineering controls and administrative/procedural controls.

Inherent hazard management involves modification or removal of material, equipment or actions that prevent a hazardous scenario from occurring. Inherent hazard removal options are often not obvious and require an ”outside the box” perspective of typical processes and procedures. Some examples can include eliminating redundant material handling equipment or vessels and process or material handling changes to avoid unnecessary introduction of combustible particulate; If the fuel is not present, the hazard is controlled.

Engineering controls are considered any type of equipment, new or modified, that either reduces the chance of a combustible dust atmosphere occurring, prevents formation of ignition sources or reduces the consequences of a fire, flash-fire or dust explosion to a tolerable, manageable level. Some examples of engineering controls are explosion prevention, protection and isolation systems, active dust extraction, sensors, monitors and interlocks and physical barriers to limit occupancy in hazard zones. While highly effective at reducing risk, ignition source control alone is not adequate control for explosion prevention according to NFPA 69.

Administrative or procedural controls can include work tasks, operating methods and other human interactions that either reduce the chance of a combustible dust atmosphere occurring, prevent formation of ignition sources or reduce the consequences of a fire, flash-fire or dust explosion to a tolerable, manageable level. Some examples of procedural controls include site smoking policies, manual rotating equipment lubrication schedules, safe compressed air use, hot work programs and manual fugitive dust cleaning.

While arguably not a direct legal requirement of the fire code of Canada or most provincial fire codes, many organizations and authorities are performing and requesting DHAs. The objective and results of a DHA can in some cases satisfy local requirements for hazards identification and control solutions. Unfortunately, in some cases the lengthy DHA report gets shelved or filed and figuratively collects dust because it is not clear how to interpret or proceed with the hazard management recommendations. It can be daunting and intimidating trying to figure out where to start with a collection of NFPA references, technical jargon about combustible dust testing and a lengthy list of safety recommendations. While the simple answer may be to do everything, this is rarely possible due to time and budget limitations.

Most often, once the DHA is completed, the starting point should be developing a plan based on prioritization of hazards and the effort of hazard management technique implementation. The prioritization of hazards can be evaluated by risk assessment that considers the imposed consequences and the likeliness of occurrence.

The five requirements for a dust explosion. Image: Rembe.

A common approach to risk assessment is by applying a scored risk matrix where both the hazard consequences and probability of occurrence are assigned numerical values based on severity and frequency respectively. The corresponding risk ranking can be compared to a risk tolerance threshold. If the risk tolerance threshold is exceeded, it triggers an action to reduce the hazard consequence severity and/or occurrence likelihood through safety controls.

The risk scoring can be used to define priority categories and to organize an implementation plan for hazard management actions. The implementation plan, in turn, aids in planning and budgeting work to to address the most significant hazards with top priority. In some cases, this evaluation can help to identify items where a temporary solution can be considered until a permanent solution can be implemented.

The amount of effort, downtime and cost of hazard management solutions can vary widely and should be considered when developing a post DHA recommendations implementation plan. Some low/no cost recommendations can be implemented almost immediately. Even if ranked as a lower priority than other budget heavy items, the easy fixes help to get the ball rolling, reduce the overall site risks and build a mindset of safety culture. These small fixes can add up and demonstrate starting progress while waiting for budgets, equipment and labour resources. For example, dust explosibility testing is useful and highly recommended for the optimized design and development of explosion protection systems although not a prerequisite to managing fugitive dust accumulation and leaks.

Some of the largest risks from combustible dust are excessive dust layer accumulations in building and process areas which, if suspended and ignited, could create a large catastrophic explosion. Dust accumulation layers are typically a result of fugitive dust leaks in material handling and processing equipment. One of the most effective hazard mitigation strategies is to actively fix and manage fugitive material and dust leaks along with targeted cleaning programs to maintain dust layers below critical thresholds.

Other top priorities should be areas and equipment with a history of sparks, smoulders or fires and inherent heat sources such as mills and dryers. Other top priority items include high consequence hazards specifically on personnel. High consequence examples are explosions in equipment located inside the plant, explosion vent discharges to occupied areas and secondary explosions from unisolated equipment such as dust collectors, bins and silos.

Fire and explosion risks will rarely be completely eliminated but taking the first steps following a DHA to get started with a prioritized plan can quickly start reducing likelihood and potential consequences of combustible dust hazard events.

Jeramy Slaunwhite, P.Eng, is a senior explosion safety engineer with REMBE Inc.

Passive or active mitigation?

Where an explosion hazard exists, the facility owner has the choice to address it with active or passive mitigation devices. Active systems are more complex. These rely on a sensor to trigger a suppressant-containing device and are set up with electrical controls that can include fault modes to prevent unwanted release of the suppressant.

However, the complexity of these systems is a downside, as more can go wrong. Also, technicians may need to clean their conveyors after the suppressant has been released – a chore that can lengthen the downtime of an already disruptive event.

Passive mitigation is simpler and arguably safer than active systems. Jason Krbec, engineering manager at CV Technology, advocates for passive devices for this reason. In an interview with Dr. Chris Cloney on the Dust Safety Science podcast, Krbec insisted passive systems are “readily available” and “failsafe,” which gives them an advantage over tuned, active systems. Passive devices, he said, are “designed to open at a preset pressure. … And once that pressure is exceeded, they open, whether it’s for a deflagration event, explosion event, or a process reason.” In other words, there is no off mode for a passive system. The system is always ready to perform. Its simplicity makes it reliable.

Cloney followed up on Krbec’s point by comparing passive and active systems. “A passive system doesn’t need a controller,” he said. “No wiring. No redundant sensors. If it’s failsafe, it’s even better. It has less chance of things going wrong.”

But simplicity is also the downside of these systems. Because passive systems are designed to open whenever the pressure reaches a certain threshold, process changes that affect airflow may cause the vents to open when a deflagration has not occurred. Vents are getting better in this regard, however. Krbec said vents are configured to higher tolerances nowadays to avoid them opening when they shouldn’t, though expert engineering is required to make a passive system a “set it and forget it” solution.

But those tolerances are only as good as the data a conveyor manufacturer provides about the pressure capabilities of their system. Getting that data takes effort, and not all conveyor manufacturers go through the rigorous testing required to obtain it, which can include computer analysis, field testing, and third-party evaluation.

Engineers who design blast vents for conveyors need accurate information because the pressure characteristics affect the mitigation system’s design. A conveyor with a strong frame, for example, needs fewer and smaller vents than a conveyor with a weaker frame. So, if a conveyor manufacturer provides inaccurate information, such as overestimating the strength of their equipment, the vents designed for it may fail to prevent an explosion.

Can you DIY a mitigation system?

These concerns underscore the fact that mitigation is too specialized to attempt without consulting an expert. Yet we know that wood-industry professionals prefer to do things themselves. If they can strap a solution together, it’s what they do. Large companies are no exception. Plus, they have engineers on staff to handle complex issues.

But the knowledge required to design a reliable mitigation system that conforms to NFPA standards is highly specialized. NFPA 68 alone has some 84 pages of codes, tables, calculations, and exceptions for explosion mitigation devices, and missing one detail can put a facility out of compliance. Worse, it may nullify the system’s effectiveness.

Bernardo Sanson, a sales engineer with CV Tech, spoke to this point on a recent call, saying, “Ventilation requires expertise in the sense you’re required to know and be able to determine the burst pressure of the explosion panels. In the past, they were manufactured without much control for bust pressure. So, without knowing that, you don’t know the side effect a deflagration would have on your conveyor or the atmosphere. That’s only determined with testing. Plus, you have to be compliant with ATEC’s approvals in quality and protocol (as they relate to testing and manufacturing controls).”

Army Test and Evaluation Command approval isn’t likely something a wood processor will get from a panel designed by a staff engineer and manufactured in a company fab shop. Manufacturing intricacies are yet another reason to rely on professionals for this service and not attempt a do-it-yourself solution.

Post-installation care

DIY efforts do come into play post instalment, of course. While passive systems require less care than active systems, they still need attention. As with other systems, plant personnel must know how post-instalment work may affect them and how they wear over time.

According to Krbec, it’s not uncommon for technicians to add insulation to blast panels on their equipment. This is a problem, as insulation adds inertia to the panel and affects how it will perform in the event of a deflagration. The same idea holds for changes to the conveyor the vents protect. For example, replacing a top or bottom panel with material thinner than original equipment manufacturer specifications makes the conveyor weaker. Because the system’s parameters have changed, the vents may no longer adequately protect it.

Adding components around a blast panel likewise can affect how the system performs. Objects placed to the side of a panel may deflect energy up and increase the distance the fireball travels. Changes to the material inside the vessel may also affect the system, as can process changes that add vibrations or alter the air pressure. Due to the complexities associated with mitigation it’s best to consult the blast panel’s manufacturer before making changes.

Plant personnel must also maintain blast vents to ensure they remain functional. Panels must be kept free of debris, snow, ice, and large amounts of dust. They may also need protection from pests and precipitation. Furthermore, panels are not rust-proof, and vibrations will weaken them over time. A panels manufacturer can provide the best estimate for a panel’s expected lifespan.
Because mitigation systems are so nuanced, it’s best to talk to an expert before altering anything that may affect them.

Professionals understand the ins and outs of these systems – what’s required, what to avoid, and how to manufacture devices to code. The forest of information on mitigation and dust safety may be thick, but such experts can help you navigate it. Speak to one to ensure the safety of your facility. It’s the most practical advice you can get.

Joel E. Dulin is the director of marketing for Biomass Engineering & Equipment.

“Tragically, we know too well that if combustible dust is not managed properly, it can catch fire and burn or cause a deflagration and explosion, potentially resulting in serious and life-threatening injuries to workers,” says Budd Phillips, prevention field services manager at WorkSafeBC.

Over the past decade, WorkSafeBC has seen significant progress to ensure the hazards associated with combustible dust are effectively managed, by working alongside industry partners and employers to share and promote tools, techniques and knowledge about wood dust mitigation and control.

However, recent factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and timber supply issues have impacted plant operations and changed the work environment in many mills and wood processing facilities. In addition, the risks can be hard to spot. Combustible dust can accumulate in out-of-site areas like basements, ceiling beams, and trusses.

“Over the past couple of years, manufacturers have been impacted significantly. Many have had to vary their production levels or reduce their workforce, which may draw resources away from proper maintenance and evaluation of dust management programs — leaving them vulnerable to potential hazards,” Phillips says. “Employers need to stay focused.”

Regular assessment is key

Phillips says now is the opportune time for all employers to revisit their dust management programs. “Dust management programs should be constantly evaluated to ensure they meet the needs of current operations and keep workers safe.”

This begins with a risk assessment to determine what operations are generating dust and where vulnerabilities exist in any given workplace. Find someone qualified – such as a health and safety professional or industry representative – to assess the fire and explosion risks associated with combustible dust.

“Look at your processes, equipment, and buildings to ensure you can accurately evaluate your current handling practices, equipment, fire extinguishing systems, and other dust mitigation efforts,” Phillips says.

Risks should be logged in a comprehensive report that is readable and well-presented. When the risks are clearly defined and understood, optimal controls can been identified, and implemented – typically through a combination of robust cleaning programs and engineering controls – to mitigate dust build-up when it exceeds allowable limits.”

“While cleaning processes are important, there is also a human factor to consider,” adds Phillips. “Ensuring cleaning crews are conducting proper assessments and can keep up with the pace of work can sometimes be challenging in a plant that generates lots of dust.”

Capture dust at its source

Phillips says that high-speed chainsaws can generate 33 pounds of sawdust per minute in multiple locations, which is why capturing dust at its source is critical to a successful dust management program.

Employers should examine ventilation systems to ensure proper airflow and have mechanisms to encapsulate dust such as covering conveyers. Employers should also ensure proper electrical cabinetry is in place and cleaned properly so it does not become an ignition source.

Phillips notes that technology for dust management has improved over the years.

“There are many engineering controls available that extract excess dust more effectively and also help monitor dust levels. For example, some mills have comprehensive monitoring systems that include new sonic fans that help remove dust from high elevation surfaces.”

However, enhanced technology does not replace the need to consistently evaluate dust management programs to ensure they’re sustainable. Plans should be re-evaluated and new risk assessments should be done if any of the following occur:

• Staffing changes
• New or different work duties for staff
• Equipment changes: including new equipment, upgrades, or downgrades.
• Structural changes to the facility
• Operational changes, including changes in production levels or processes.

“The smallest change in personnel or operations could make a difference, so employers must regularly evaluate their programs to ensure they have the capacity required to keep dust levels below the allowable limits,” says Phillips.

Even if nothing changes in a workplace, employers should review their programs at least once a year to ensure they meet occupational health and safety standards, and do not put workers at risk.

Phillips says most employers know their business and are aware of where and when dust is generated. The challenge is determining how best to control it and mitigate it.

Engineers that specialize in ventilation can also provide employers with a detailed assessment of a system’s effectiveness.

Updating legislation to reflect the risk

WorkSafeBC’s prevention efforts, inspection initiatives and collaboration with industry partners have been successful in combating combustible dust in wood manufacturing.

One of the challenges, however, is providing guidance and regulation to support smaller operations and other industries that face similar risks.

“Current legislation does not address all industries that are generating hazardous amounts of combustible dust, like cabinet shops for example,” Phillips says.

Pulp and paper waste, commercial laundry facilities, iron fillings, and sugar plants are just a few examples of the thousands of manufacturers that could experience catastrophic outcomes if dust levels from those products accumulate over certain levels.

“Our current regulations for combustible dust are minimal in terms of what we can require for combustible dust programs, and are limited to specific employers groups,” explains Phillips. “Since our combustible dust strategy was developed in 2012, we realized that there is a significant risk in many industries that needs to be addressed to keep workers safe.”

New proposed legislation changes are being considered right now in B.C., and are currently in the consultation phase, with input welcome from employers, workers, and industry groups. These revised regulations that will become part of the B.C.’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation providing WorkSafeBC prevention officers with the opportunity to enforce safety programs in a broader range of industries.

A decade of lessons learned

In the 10 years since the sawmill explosions in Burns lake and Prince George, there has been significant progress and tangible improvements in managing hazards associated with combustible wood.

As other provinces across the country embark on their journeys to create combustible dust programs, Phillips encourages collaboration so industry partners and employers all benefit from the lessons learned.

“We owe it to those who lost their lives or were injured to never forget the impact those explosions had on their families, their job sites and their communities – and to remain vigilant in order to prevent a tragedy like that from ever happening again,” Phillips says.

Resources

To support employers in evaluating their dust management plans, WorkSafeBC has developed several resources that are available on their website.

• Combustible Wood Dust Management Program Development Guide | WorkSafeBC
• Combustible Wood Dust Mitigation and Control Checklist | WorkSafeBC
• Managing risks in manufacturing workplaces: Assessing risks — Combustible dust | WorkSafeBC

Alexandra Skinner is a manager of government and media relations with WorkSafeBC.

Fagus Grecon
Common causes of fires are heat, sparks, embers, and hot particles. One of the most efficient measures to prevent fire or dust explosion is the early identification of the ignition source. Fagus GreCon’s new DLD 1/9 Spark Detector offers additional protection to industries with new intelligent detection technology (IDT). IDT not only identifies hazardous moving ignition sources before a fire breaks out, but the DLD 1/9 detector is also able to differentiate between dangerous sparks or harmless incidence of extraneous light due to leaky/damaged pipes or an opening of an inspection flap.
www.grecon.us 

IEP Technologies
IEP Technologies provides a complete range of cost-effective industrial explosion protection for explosion protection solutions and is pleased to introduce the IV8 Flameless Vent. The IV8 provides an explosion protection solution for process vessels which are located inside a building or other areas where standard explosion venting cannot be safely employed. The IV8 utilizes a stainless steel explosion relief vent and flame arresting mesh enclosed in a durable carbon steel coated frame. The integrated vent burst detection sensor allows plant personnel to respond accordingly in the event of an explosion within the protected application.
www.ieptechnologies.com 

Kice
Kice Industries has been designing and building dust control systems and equipment for over 70 years, giving them valuable insight as to what works – and more importantly – what doesn’t work. When designing a dust control system, one must consider many factors ranging from the amount of dust emissions being created to the overall layout of the plant they are designing the system for. Every application is unique, and so Kice’s dust control systems and industrial air filtration systems are all designed and constructed specifically to meet clients’ needs.
www.kice.com  

BossTek
A new equipment design has been engineered to provide an unmatched level of mobility and performance, delivering effective particle suppression for new and existing applications.  The DustBoss Atom from BossTek is a fan-less, self-contained unit that incorporates remote control and 4G LTE telematics technologies to deliver an unprecedented combination of suppression and monitoring. The Atom is well suited to biomass handling, bulk material processing, demolition projects, recycling operations, transfer stations, ports/shipping applications, quarrying/crushing, concrete curing and even indoor operations.
www.bosstek.com  

CV Technology
CV Technology’s Interceptor-HRD Chemical Suppression System comes with the advantage of utilizing the latest advances in consumer electronics. The Interceptor-HRD Suppression System is capable of protecting very large dust collectors that are common throughout the biomass industry. The controller of this system is called The CONEX and it features the ability to operate up to eight independent operating zones at a time. A user interface is provided by an LCD screen, push button navigation, and signaling lights on the front of the controller enclosure. The interface includes a searchable data log and electrical lockout key switches for each zone.
www.cvtechnology.com  

Fike
For indoor applications, explosion vents as a form of explosion protection often requires flameless vents. A flameless vent consists of a box with a flame filter which is placed over a vent panel. When the vent opens, the pressure is relieved through the wired mesh of the flameless vent while cooling the flames below their MIT (minimum ignition temperature) so they are extinguished. Fike FlamQuench vents feature a variety of shapes and sizes available, minimizing required surface area on equipment; virtually zero safety distance due to effective particulate retention; and performance validated with many dust types, including fine, coarse and fibrous dusts.|
www.fike.com  

Advanced Cyclone Systems
Advanced Cyclone Systems is a company exclusively dedicated to the development and commercialization of high efficiency cyclone systems, worldwide. The company works in a very close cooperation with its clients in order to design custom made cyclone systems that really solve their unmet needs. ACS became a worldwide reference in cyclones, with over 350 successful installations in 37 countries and with several installations in Canada for biomass boilers applications with companies like KMW Energy, Clermond Hamel, Deltech, Fontaine Lumber, among others.
www.advancedcyclonesystems.com  

Scientific Dust Collectors
Scientific Dust Collectors offers a free third edition publication on dust collection titled, A Scientific Review of Dust Collection – Third Edition . It reviews the history, theory and application of all types of dust collection equipment. This third edition contains updated information on system design, filter media, explosive dust control and additional information on the new standard in measuring dust collector performance: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 199.  This is the first and only standard as it relates to dust collection equipment, and is a valuable tool in reviewing dust collection equipment for your facility.
www.scientificdustcollectors.com 

VETS Group
VETS Sheet Metal celebrated a century of business in 2021. VETS provides industrial, light industrial and institutional HVAC systems. Whether make up air or cooling MCC rooms or a specialization in dust collection and pneumatic conveying, every application requires a unique approach. VETS’s experienced trades coupled with our specialized in-house Engineering department (P.Eng & E.I.Ts) can help engineer, design, fabricate and install a system that meets or exceeds a plant’s comfort, safety and environmental requirements.
www.vetsgroup.com

Allied Blower
For wood processing facilities demanding larger system capabilities, Allied Blower & Sheet Metal has a certified line of Back Blast Dampers (BBD’s) that reach sizes up to 50 inches in diameter. The BBD can resist a vented dust collector explosion reaching a Pred of five psi (0.35 bar) for dusts with a Kst of up to 200 bar-m/second. This range provides safe operation for a large range of deflagrable dusts used in industry. When comparing the options of using a passive mechanical system or an active chemical suppression system, the mechanical systems are perceived to have less maintenance costs due to simplicity in function, design, training requirements, and the low frequency of inspections.
www.alliedblower.com

We’ve got tons of great content coming at you this week from our partners, including WorkSafeBC, the Wood Pellet Association of Canada, Dust Safety Science, dust safety expert John Bachynski, and others.

The Dust Safety Week landing page, hosted on Canadian Biomass, is the year-round hub for pellet plant operators and sawmillers to learn best practices and find the latest information on dust safety.

Dust Safety Week 2022 is generously sponsored by VETS Group, Biomass Engineering & Equipment, Fagus Grecon, Fike and Rembe.

Find the landing page here and enjoy Dust Safety Week!

After a $28 million investment, Tafisa officially inaugurated its new 70,000 sq. ft. plant and announced new investments of $34 million to expand its main plant.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to be providing $4 million in investment for this innovative project in partnership with Tafisa. This represents an investment in jobs, clean growth and innovative forest technologies and products in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, and across Canada,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources.

A new plant to better serve the market

Dedicated to the production of a collection of lacquered panels called LUMMIA, the new Tafisa plant offers manufacturers and consumers a product with unparalleled characteristics and superior to any other offer currently available.

In addition to having the capacity to manufacture two high-end finishes, the plant is equipped with state-of-the-art technology unique in North America. To carry out this major project, Tafisa received the support of various agencies such as:

– Natural Resources Canada through its Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, which aims to create a more competitive and resilient forest sector by focusing on low-carbon projects that result in new or diversified revenue streams.

– Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks within the framework of the Programme Innovation Bois Wood Innovation Program, which aims to support innovative projects for the processing of forest products while promoting the diversification of the supply of factories by encouraging the processing of wood of inferior quality.

– Town of Lac-Mégantic which aims to support investments in new capital assets made in the Lac-Mégantic industrial park.

– Investissement Québec through its Essor Program.

“We are very proud of these innovative projects, which will allow Tafisa to continue to distinguish itself in the market, pursue its commitment to its North American customers and offer them innovative and quality products. A special thank you to our partners and our team for their efforts and energy, without which these achievements would not have been possible,” said Louis Brassard, CEO of Tafisa.

Sixth TFL line: additional investments of $34 million

Tafisa’s main plant. Photo: Tafisa

Always striving to better meet future market needs, Tafisa is also expanding its main plant, a project that calls for additional investments of $34 million. The installation of a sixth TFL production line and the expansion of the finished product warehouse are an integral part of this phase of the project.

The new production line will be in operation in the fall of 2023 and will increase the proportion of panels that will be laminated with the ability to produce decorative panels with two-sided synchronized embossing texture, improve internal flows and service reliability to North American customers.

These new investments allow Tafisa to remain the manufacturer offering the most comprehensive range of decorative surfaces to industry professionals. Tafisa also offers particleboards, decorative panels, laminate panels and mouldings for the manufacture of cabinet doors, all available under one roof.

“The Town of Lac-Mégantic is a proud partner of these innovative projects. By providing financial support for companies in the industrial park equivlent to 15% of the added value to the assessment roll, we are consolidating the companies present in our territory and thus, working towards the industrial dynamism of our community,” said Julie Morin, mayor of Lac-Mégantic.

Learn more: www.tafisa.ca.

Now in its sixth year, Dust Safety Week’s landing page is the year-round hub for pellet plants and solid wood product manufacturers to learn best practices and find the latest information to keep their operations and operators safe.

Follow along all week as we will highlight feature stories, columns and research reports both from our archives as well as brand-new stories from contributors across Canada.

Find the landing page here, and stay tuned to our websites and social media (#DustSafetyWeek) for more information as we approach Dust Safety Week 2022!

Thank you to our generous sponsors for making Dust Safety Week possible: VETS Sheet Metal, Biomass Engineering & Equipment, Fagus GreCon, Fike and Rembe.

Named for its location near the intersection of Ontario Street and East Fifth Avenue in downtown Vancouver, the top three storeys of this four-storey mass timber office building are constructed entirely out of CLT. It also has an advanced adhesive system that joins the CLT panels together without the need for beams, making the material comparable to concrete in terms of interior clear heights, flexible layout and efficient construction. oN5 supports the offices of local design and construction firms.

“We feel that as engineers, we have a responsibility to put our money where our mouth is. We want to provide an example to society while doing something good for the environment by using mass timber. The City of Vancouver and British Columbia are leaders in wood excellence, and we’re proud to be part of it,” said oN5 owner Robert Malczyk.

Over $1.2 million in funding for the oN5 project was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood) Program, which encourages low-carbon construction through innovative uses of wood in non-traditional construction projects, such as low-rise non-residential buildings, tall wood buildings and bridges.

“By making effective use of Canada’s forest resources through low-carbon building systems, Canada is becoming a world leader in sustainable wood construction practices, increasing energy efficiency and climate resilience in our communities while simultaneously enhancing the global competitiveness of our forestry, wood manufacturing and construction sectors,” said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

“That’s why our government is pleased to support projects like oN5 — to help lower emissions, create good jobs for workers and build better neighbourhoods for everyone,” he added.

Its construction required sophisticated building information modelling and virtual construction work due to the challenging zero-lot-line site.

“This project is an excellent example of a high-performance, innovative and sustainable wood building. It showcases technologically advanced mass timber systems and how the components work together for optimal designs that can be easily replicated,” said Lynn Embury-Williams, executive director, Wood WORKS! BC and Canadian Wood Council.

The installation of the CLT building structure was completed in 15 days due to the use of prefabricated panels over conventional methods and therefore limited the impacts of construction on local residents and businesses while delivering the same benefits. The building includes instruments that monitor its performance, creating a living case study on the possibilities for urban infill projects built with innovative mass timber.

“Projects such as this address today’s urgent demand for more efficient construction using sustainable building materials toward a goal of carbon-neutral structures that will positively transform our built environment,” Embury-Williams added.

oN5 incorporates several sustainable building technologies — including its mass timber construction — enabling it to be comfortable, affordable and ecological at the same time. The building meets Passive House standards for energy efficiency and also employs state-of-the-art seismic devices for resisting earthquakes. Its design and use are examples of climate resiliency in action.

Projects like oN5 are helping Canada reach net zero and develop the low-carbon economy by finding innovative and effective approaches to building sustainably, using Canada’s world-class wood products.

“Approaching construction projects with innovation and creativity is one of the ways we can tackle the climate crisis. The use of mass timber for construction not only lowers emissions and promotes renewables but also supports value-added manufacturing and energy efficiency,” said Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country.

“Buildings like oN5 will reduce the emissions associated with building materials and increase the speed of construction, helping us reach our net-zero goals and create the green, sustainable communities of the future,” Weiler added.

An initial investigation following the fire found that it started in the press area when a small pipe carrying thermal oil broke, and the thermal oil ignited. Tolko said the mill’s fire suppression system contained the fire and prevented it from migrating to other areas.

In an update Friday, Tolko said Alberta Occupational Health and Safety approved a phased approach to accessing the mill site, which began on Thursday with tradespeople restoring power to unrestricted areas.

“It’s a difficult situation for Tolko’s employees and the community,” Fred Chinn, Tolko’s vice-president, strand based business, said in the update. “Work has started on how we can minimize the impact of lost time on people and their families. We want to assure everyone that we will soon put a recovery plan in place that will allow us to get High Prairie back up and operational.”

The company is evaluating damage and repair options and expects it will take several weeks to determine the detailed repair plans and the timing for a restart. Until then the mill is shipping out existing products and logs are being sent to Tolko’s Athabasca division near Slave Lake, Alta.

Jimmy Mason, executive vice-president of OSB for LP, has more than 20 years of manufacturing operations and leadership experience. His past experience at LP included managing plants and directing regional and corporate operations. Prior to joining LP, Mason held positions with International Paper and Milliken & Company. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a professional option in operations management from Auburn University. He was elected to the seat vacated by Jason Ringblom’s changed role with LP.

Matt Tobin, vice-president of sales and marketing at West Fraser, has 16 years of progressive experience, predominantly in the company’s Canadian lumber business. Tobin holds a degree from the University of British Columbia – Okanagan. He was elected to the seat vacated by Mark Dubois-Phillips’ departure.

“We are grateful for the service of our volunteer leaders,” said president Mark Tibbetts. “Their dedication and support strengthen the engineered wood industry and APA.”

With the most certified sustainable forests in the world, Canada is a champion of sustainable forest management and in a position to solidify our global leadership in the bioeconomy and forest sector by advancing mass timber adoption. Mass timber is revolutionizing the building industry as a renewable, nature-based construction material. Recognizing mass timber’s vital role in achieving a low carbon, built environment, the Canadian Wood Council and its partners are dedicated to advancing its adoption.

By designing and executing a series of demonstration fire research burns on a full-scale mass timber structure, and collecting data from these burns, our objectives are to:

• Showcase, through fire demonstration tests, that mass timber construction is a safe and viable alternative to other more conventional construction systems (steel and concrete) for constructing large or tall buildings;
• Support the implementation and adoption of the 2020 edition of the National Building Code of Canada;
• Support the transition to performance-based codes and future code change proposals to extend the use of mass timber to other building types, heights, and sizes and increase the amount of exposed timber permitted.

In addition to the analysis and forecast, the yearbook also includes historical data on engineered wood production. Topics examined in the yearbook include:

• Residential construction in the U.S. and Canada (new and repair/remodel)
• Nonresidential and industrial markets
• Outlook and production statistics for structural panels (oriented strand board and plywood), including historical data
• North American imports and exports
• Engineered wood product demand and production (glued-laminated timber, I-joists and laminated veneer lumber)

Outlook 2022

In mid-March, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve will raise the target range for the federal funds rate in 25 basis point steps and do so six more times in 2022. In June, the Fed intends to begin reducing the size of its balance sheet to tighten credit conditions in hopes of combatting the acceleration in inflation. Further tightening is likely in 2023, but the question is, will these steps be enough to bring the inflation rate back to more expected 2-3 per cent levels?

The outlook for single-family, multifamily and nonresidential construction and industrial end-use markets remains mixed. The entire 2022 market forecast, including all market segments and production outlook, as well as statistical data, is included in APA’s 2022 Structural Panel & Engineered Wood Yearbook, Form MKO-E187.

Please contact Cheryl Kuchar to purchase the yearbook at $300.

The funds are from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), which targets innovative small and medium businesses.

According to a government news release, Lignum Veneer will be investing in digital technology to improve constancy and quality of products, and maximizing value-added tasks.

“In the 20 years it has been in existence, Lignum Veneer has become a leader in the North American veneer industry through a visionary attitude and a desire to surpass ourselves, greatly motivated by the support and confidence of our dear employees and partners such as CED,” Louis-Hans Baril, president of Lignum Veneer, said in the release.

Pascale St-Onge, Minister responsible for CED, said supporting small and medium enterprises like Lignum Veneer is a priority in the government’s economic recovery plan.

“With our government’s financial assistance, Lignum Veneer will be able to improve its production line and meet the growing demand for its products. Its contribution to the economic vitality of Victoriaville and the Centre-du-Québec region is significant, and our entire economy will benefit from the success and spinoffs of its project,” St-Onge said.

“Right now, as the construction industry looks for sustainable ways to meet increased housing demands around the world, mass timber is taking centre stage.” says Francois Dufresne, president of FSC Canada. “However, not all mass timber is created equal. It is critical to assess not only the distance the timber needs to travel but also the source of the wood.”

During a recent discussion series, Material Worlds: Mass Timber, hosted by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Dufresne shared that while mass timber remains a better option in construction versus steel and concrete, the worst-case scenario timber design (i.e. sourcing wood from unsustainable sources and transporting it over long distances) continues to emit carbon and contribute to global warming. Whereas the best-case scenario, timber design from sustainable sources transported over shorter distances, can sequester carbon and have a cooling effect. (To view the full Material World’s discussion click here.)

Source: ARUP/Bruce King “The New Carbon Architecture”

A great example of the best-case scenario is Origin, a 13-storey, 92-unit building, in Quebec City’s up-and-coming Pointeaux-Lièvres ecodistrict. This project includes 3,111 m3 (110,000 ft3) of FSC-certified Quebec-sourced wood from Nordic Structures. This resulted in the sequestration of 2,295 metric tons of CO2, and the equivalent of 1,000 metric tons of CO2 were avoided by using wood instead of other materials (source).

Other mass timber projects that utilize FSC-certified wood include the Bullitt Center in Seattle, the Formula 1 Grand Prix Paddock in Montreal, as well as many other projects throughout North America and the world.

Learn more about FSC and mass timber here.

The camera analyzer maximizes green veneer recovery and the strong taped veneer joints don’t break during the drying process.

This green veneer composing solution was the right fit for Tolko to modify their manufacturing process.

The line will be installed and running in the summer of 2022.

The funding will help the company build a new state-of-the-art OSB plant. Wawa OSB is investing $181 million to build the OSB plant, which is the third OSB manufacturing facility in the province.

“This assistance is a key first step in financing our project to reopen the Wawa OSB mill,” said Yolaine Rousseau, executive vice-president, Wawa OSB Inc., in a press release. “The Cossette family is very excited about creating jobs in Northern Ontario and increasing our production capacity to better serve North American customers. I would like to reiterate our commitment to working with the various stakeholders, including the First Nations in the territory. Our team is proud and grateful to the Government of Ontario for recognizing the importance of this project to the province, and we will continue our discussions with the Government of Canada to obtain their support as well.”

The funding is provided through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, and is conditional on Wawa OSB completing several key project milestones including working with local Indigenous and municipal communities and Sustainable Forest License holders.

The three-day event titled “The Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build. ” will be held April 27-29 and will feature renowned experts in forestry, building sciences, engineering and architecture and design who will share the latest CLT research, trends and developments in the South.

CLT is a prefabricated wood panel made from wood stacked and glued crosswise in alternating directions to create pressed layers. This unique engineering gives the panel exceptional strength and strong fire protection, while remaining lighter and creating less waste during installation than conventional alternatives, such as concrete and steel.

It is considered a sustainable material that is safe and cost-effective for commercial construction while offering structural simplicity and design versatility.

Because of its relative structural strength, appearance, ability to sequester carbon and numerous other benefits, the growing use of CLT in the South benefits developers, contractors, architects, engineers, foresters and landowners.

Following a design and theme centered on the CLT supply chain, plenary and concurrent sessions will explore diverse topics, including current and future implications for forest management, the wood products sector, mass timber markets and economies. Presenters also will discuss the importance of certified, sustainable wood materials and products in the green building industry and the structural design, construction, performance and operation of CLT buildings.

The conference will feature experts from Auburn, Clemson University, the University of Miami, Mississippi State University, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, or SFI, the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, or CORRIM, WoodWorks Wood Products Council, TimberLab Inc., SmartLam North America, Cooper Carry Architects and RDH Building Science.

“This is an amazing opportunity for a variety of stakeholders to come together to network, learn about and share the latest advancements within the CLT and sustainable wood products industries,” said conference planner Adam Maggard, assistant professor and Alabama Extension specialist in the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. “This synergy makes this conference a truly one-of-a-kind premier event.”

Among the keynote speakers is Jeff Peters, regional director of WoodWorks in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. Peters, whose role is to provide education and free technical support to help project teams realize successful wood buildings, is seeing tremendous interest in CLT for its sustainability and performance.

“This conference reflects the wonderful confluence of growing demand and significant effort on the part of landowners and manufacturers to bring innovative wood products to market,” Peters said. “It’s also especially well-timed, given the tall wood options now available to designers in Birmingham. It’s a great opportunity for design professionals to learn more about CLT and hear a variety of perspectives.”

Two concurrent sessions will focus on forestry, mills, manufacturing and markets and architecture, building construction and engineering. Both sessions will also include presentations on sustainability related to each sessions’ theme.

“We have designed the concurrent sessions to address the unique needs of multiple audiences, including designers, builders, contractors, academia, landowners, producers and suppliers,” Maggard said.

Additionally, participants may choose from one of two tours that showcase CLT manufacturing and construction in Alabama. The first tour will visit the SmartLam North America CLT manufacturing plant in Dothan, the first of its kind in the region. At this facility, participants will learn how CLT is engineered and prefabricated to a building project’s exact specifications and requirements.

Attendees who choose the second tour will visit Auburn’s recently completed 41,500-square-foot Advanced Structural Engineering Lab to learn about CLT structural testing research. Partially designed using CLT, this laboratory features a 4,700-cubic-foot geotechnical test chamber and a wind testing facility.

Following the lab, the tour will continue to the Hey Day Market located at the Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University. The 9,000-square-foot building houses a dining hall and business center and was constructed using CLT and glue-laminated timber, or GLT.

In addition to the various CLT building projects underway at Auburn, the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences actively works to increase awareness of the many benefits of CLT and to promote its use for construction in Alabama and beyond through its innovative research and outreach initiatives.

“Given the widespread economic impact of CLT in the state and region, we feel it is important that Auburn should host this conference with its partners in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering and the offices of Sustainability and Planning, Design and Construction,” Maggard said.

Accommodations will be available at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center. More information about registration, sponsorship and exhibit opportunities is available on the conference website.

Lessons learned from the competition will be shared with the broader design and construction community to help support future projects, including cost analyses, life cycle assessments, and other research results. Eligible building types include commercial, institutional, industrial, educational, mixed-use, and multifamily housing developments.

Eligible applicants include for-profit building organizations registered in the U.S. including architects, engineers, developers, general contractors, and building owners; not-for-profit organizations incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation or society formed in the U.S. such as colleges, universities, and associations; U.S. local governments; and Native American tribal governments and organizations.

Timber sourced for the project should demonstrate sustainable forest management that contributes to forest and watershed health. Several approaches are used to ensure sustainable supply of wood products, including federal, state, and local regulations, best management practices, third party certifications, and an emerging ASTM standard. Preference will also be provided for projects that commit to using domestically harvested and manufactured mass timber.

WoodWorks, a non-profit staffed with structural engineers, architects, and construction experts, will manage all aspects of the competition including project evaluation by an independent judging committee of industry peers. A judging panel including representation from architecture, engineering, construction, development, forestry, and sustainability will be named at the end of the entry period.

To learn more about the Mass Timber Competition: Building to Net-Zero Carbon and to download the request for proposals, visit www.softwoodlumberboard.org/net-zero.

After many years of dependable operation at this location, the existing equipment is due for a complete replacement. The updated design will feature heavy-duty cross tubes to maximize stability and accuracy.

The Model 765 Veneer Lathe Charger is an industry workhorse that provides decades of reliable performance for veneer production. This proven design stands up to hard-wearing use and is a durable solution for veneer lathe charger applications.

This project is scheduled for installation in Q3 of 2022.