GSL Connections - Fall 2011

2 GSL CONNECTIONS Fa l l 2011

Kurt JensenCOO

Safety on the job is everyones responsibility.

If an employer or employee neglects this responsibility, the chance of serious injury or death increases significantly. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers an industry at significant risk if one fatality occurs for every 1,000 employees in a 45-year time frame.

Statistics indicate electrical workers are killed or injured on the job at a rate that continues to exceed this level. Without effective safety programs, an injury or fatality is simply a matter of time.

However, it is important to remember that a safety program only establishes minimum standards to prevent hazards to personnel. The construction industry can no longer adopt generic programs that fail to address the unique demands of our industry.

An employer should have a good foundation in safety that is focused on reducing the number of injuries and fatal accidents on a job site. Employees should understand the causes and prevention methods of accidents. Employers must reach beyond their current safety program by continually analyzing and improving its effectiveness.

Creating a job-safety program clearly has many benefits. However, many still perceive job-safety programs as too expensive. In fact, studies have shown that implementing an effective safety program saves a company more money than it costs, due to the reduction or elimination of economic impacts of lost production, finding replacement workers, medical treatment, disability payments and OSHA fines. Some companies even consider it a profit center, as few, if any, have a line item in their budgets or estimates for the costs of accidents, which can wipe out years of profits for many contracting companies.

And, of course, no bottom line can account for how much returning home safely every night means to our employees and those who love them--because that is truly priceless.

Tom EwingPresident

AGC

It was GSLs pleasure to participate in the AGC of Utah Annual Motorcycle Ride this past August 26th & 27th. It was a truly great experience to congregate with 142

like-minded individuals on 88 bikes. Everyone involved shared an interest in construction and motorcycles.

Tom Ewing (President),Kurt Jensen (COO), Nathan Cartwright, Josh Ewing, andForrest McNabb (Big-D)met up with the ride at the

AGC office in Salt Lake on Friday Morning.

At 8:00 AM the bikes fired up and started rolling. After avoiding most of the road construction hazards in Utah County, our first stop was at the Little Acorn in the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon. The morning weather was perfect for enjoying some of Utahs Scenic By-ways. We traveled down Hwy 89 through Fairview, Mt. Pleasant, Ephraim, Manti, Gunnison and Salina. From there we shot over and took Hwy 24 to Aurora, Sigurd, and enjoyed a bar-b-que and Dutch oven meal provided for us in Loa.

At this time it became apparent that not everyone pays attention when others are giving

instruction. Some of the riders blew right through Loa and didnt stop until Torrey when they realized they were no

longer following the group.

Seventh Annual Motorcycle RideGettinG Home Safely

www.gslelectric.com 3GSL CONNECTIONS Fa l l 2011

After a few phone calls the errant riders (Nate and Josh) got turned around and returned the 18 miles back to Loa for BBQ--and it was worth the trip back.

During lunch everyones eyes were glued to the heavens as an August mountain thunderstorm began to brew. When the group departed again with bellys full of grilled turkey, ribs, beans, potatoes and cobbler, we proceeded to Torrey,

then took Hwy 12 through the Boulder Mountains.

It was during this portion of the trip that Tom Ewing (and others I would surmise) learned the value of good fenders and a fairing (please see thunderstorm from previous paragraph). Tom had recently traded in his H-D Road King for a Big Dog chopper and found out just how wet a person can get during a rain storm while riding a motorcycle.

At Hells Back Bone, many took the opportunity to stop and take pictures of Calf Creek Canyon to our west, see the Wolfpack picture on the left (Tom still hadnt completely dried off).

Rubys Inn at Bryce Canyon was our final destination. We capped off the days activities with a dinner provided by the AGC. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to associate with other riders, discuss the trip, and participate in a raffle (where everyone won something, even if it was only a bottle of grilling sauce). Other than the fact that it takes more time to get anywhere with a large group (9 hours down vs. only 3 hours back up) and a few rain showers, we had a great time and appreciate the associations we have made as members of the AGC of Utah.

Seventh Annual Motorcycle Ride

The Wolfpack


Over the last several years, GSL has been involved with many grass roots (from the ground up) projects that use the technologies of BIM to design their electrical systems. These have included large commercial and manufacturing projects as well as industrial and process facilities. BIM, through the use of Revit and Navisworks, has proven to be a great tool for finding solutions to many of the coordination and construction problems that are traditionally brought to light well after construction is underway. These problems can now be discovered long before any shovel touches dirt.

As economic conditions have become less predictable, many companies are choosing to limit their risk exposure by expanding existing facilities. For grass roots facilities, making the project match the BIM model isnt very difficult. But when working on a project that is tagged

as a remodel or renovationthe whole game changes. Now the design team must match the model to an existing structure. Several years ago (and even today) many found matching a BIM model to an existing structure as overwhelming. With current 3D scanning technology, however, in a few short hours you can have an almost exact replica of the project uploaded to your computer and ready for work.

What is 3D scanning?

3D laser scanners are a non-contact way of measuring the finest details of an object or place and converting it into a digital format that can be used in many of the BIM software design packages (such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, etc.). Navis for example, allows users to

import the 3D-scanned-object and combine it with other 3D models. This combining provides tools that enable the user to navigate through the project, review collisions, take measurements, redline and even make notes/comments in the model that can be shared with others from the design team.

3D ScanningBringing the Building into BIM

Jacob Taft, PEEngineering Manager


hoW it Works

The laser scanner is mounted to a tripod and then placed in the particular room (or area) of the facility that is being scanned. The scanner emits a laser beam and rotates 360 degrees in both the X an Y axis. The length of the beam, as it contacts surfaces, is captured either by its refraction or by other cameras in the scanner. The beam length is logged at that given point. Each of these points is called a Point Cloud. The scanning only takes a few minutes at each location. Once the 3D image is created, the data/Point Clouds are downloaded to rendering software that crunches the numbers and renders a 3D object in digital format.

Scanners I have seen have a range of 150 feetallowing for wide coverage and a quick and easy

scanning process. Most large projects can be scanned and rendered in just a few days.

Benefits

The scanners are portable and setup is quick and easy.

Large scan ranges reduce the number of scans that need to be taken on a single project.

Scanners are highly accuratemany to within a quarter of an inch. High end scanners can be accurate to 0.0005 of an inch.

Real world environments and objects can be preserved in a virtual 3D world.

Scanners have been proven to be very cost effective for the value they offer.

3D scanners are ideally suited for measurement and inspection of contoured or complex geometric

surfaces which require massive amounts of data to accurately measure and model.

As this technology has been around for several years, GSL has actively worked

to be involved and experienced in projects that use such cutting edge solutions. We find these types of services are invaluable to the industry and would recommend you taking a look at it for your next renovation or remodel project.

Bringing the Building into BIM


GSL has recently completed construction on The Regent--a 20-story residential structure that is a major part of the larger City Creek Center project. Located at 35 E. 100 South, its 150 units feature floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art amenities.

The owner, City Creek Reserve, Inc. and ZGF Architects teamed together to create this inspiringly modern residential community in the heart of downtown. GSL had worked with ZGF on another major downtown project, the LDS Conference Center, over a decade ago. Jacobsen Construction was the General Contractor for this project.

GSL electricians enjoyed the truly spectacular views of the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains as well as the surrounding cityscape throughout its construction.

Randy FackrellProject Manager


Albert TrevinoProject Manager

Lab and HVaC RemodeL

If you work in fields related to Science and Technology, then youre probably familiar with change. High tech laboratries such as the CSN Lab and HVAC remodel we recently completed are another example of how advances in technology can quickly leave you behind. The laboratories at the College of Southern Nevadas Cheyenne Campus are no exception. CSN decided to bring their facility into the 21st Century this last summer by upgrading their 70s era classrooms into state-of-the-art classrooms.

GSL installed over 1000 retrofit kits at CSN in existing rooms and around existing furniture, desks, tables, chairs, etc. Here are some other intersting facts about the project:

All work was peformed during the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Installed new technology lighting controls in existing facility rooms during the night. Each room had to be operational before faculty arrived each morning for class.

Coordinated the electrical removal and reinstallation of 3 new air handler units during spring break and Christmas Break, with the associated new VAVs and HVAC control piping.

Shutdown and removed existing 800amp 120-208 volt distribution panel and install new on the opposite side of room.

Extended existing feeder conduit

and all sub panel conduits and wire during the Christmas break.

Core drilled over 200 holes in post tension concrete deck for new lab room equipment and desks.

Installed raceway for new Fire Alarm voice annunciation system throughout campus in existing rooms--some of which were built in 1974.

Demomolition of old lab spaces built in 1974 with little to no circuit information or identification.

Another unique task we normally dont have to deal with as electricians was vacuuming and dusting each room as we finished. All work areas had to be cleaned enough to pass the white glove test. Unfortunately, Clark & Sullivans (GC) Steve Clauson wasnt willing to help us out in the regard. However, both Steve, Liz Ferguson and B.J. Sullivan were extremely helpful and professional with coordination throughout the project.


Salt Lake City8540 South Sandy Parkway

Sandy, UT 84070(801) 565-0088

Phoenix3121 South Park Drive

Tempe, AZ 85282(480) 222-0638

Las Vegas5100 Sobb Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89118(702) 364-5313

www.gslelectric.com

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GSL Connections - Fall 2011