A worker pours high-density concrete at the CANS-PIE facility on September 24th, 2014. (Photo Credit: Ken Johnson, IMC Project Manager)

A worker pours high-density concrete at the CANS-PIE facility on September 24th, 2014. (Photo Credit: Ken Johnson, IMC Project Manager)

Hot Cells Project Uses Highest Density Concrete Ever Poured in Canada

On September 24th, Ira McDonald Construction, as construction managers, began pouring the highest-density concrete ever used in Canada for the Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems’ Post-Irradiation Examination (CANS-PIE) facility at McMaster University.

The CANS-PIE facility will be a heavily shielded research lab at McMaster University where highly radioactive samples can be examined and manipulated remotely. Researchers will use this facility to examine the behaviour of materials used in operational nuclear reactors and Generation IV Reactor technology, as well as isotope research.

Because of the high levels of radiation released by ‘hot’ samples, shielded facilities made of steel, lead, specialty glass, and specially-formulated concrete are necessary to protect researchers. Regular concrete has a density of between 1400 kg/m3 to 1900 kg/m3, compared to the concrete used in the CANS-PIE facility, which has a density of over 5000 kg/m3.

“Besides the fact that we’re using unprecedented materials, we’re working in an occupied facility and a small physical space, which makes this project particularly complex. For projects like this to succeed, everyone has to be working closely together. It was great to see representatives from all of the contractors, consultants, and clients involved attending yesterday’s pour – it speaks to how invested all parties are in this groundbreaking project.”

– Ken Johnson, IMC Project Manager

In order to provide adequate protection against radiation, the concrete formulation uses large quantities of iron aggregate, which results in a mix that is too heavy to use conventional equipment like concrete pumps. Instead, concrete was poured the old-fashioned way – using one-tonne buckets.

The confined space and unprecedented building material presented unique challenges during the pouring process. (Photo Credit: Ken Johnson, IMC Project Manager)

The confined space and unprecedented building material presented unique challenges during the pouring process.

Because of the extraordinary density of the concrete, one-tonne buckets were used instead of pumps.

Because of the extraordinary density of the concrete, one-tonne buckets were used instead of pumps.

About the Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems:

McMaster’s Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems is scheduled to open in 2015, and will utilize infrastructure like the CANS-PIE facility and McMaster’s existing nuclear research program to study the effects of radiation on reactor components. The CANS-PIE lab will be the only one of its kind located in a university campus, according to the program director, Dr. John Luxat, a professor at McMaster’s Department of Engineering Physics and the NSERC/UNENE Industrial Research Chair in Nuclear Safety Analysis.

Read More: McMaster Daily News

Pictured, From Left: Geri Tino (ATA), Diana Parker (McMaster), Deidre Henne (McMaster), Shawn Miller (VRM), Alexander Temporale (ATA), Greg Cartwright (IMC), Wynn McDonald (IMC). Photo Credit: Cliff Birkett.

Pictured, From Left: Geri Tino (ATA), Diana Parker (McMaster), Deidre Henne (McMaster), Shawn Miller (VRM), Alexander Temporale (ATA), Greg Cartwright (IMC), Wynn McDonald (IMC). Photo Credit: Cliff Birkett.

IMC Celebrates Re-Opening of McMaster Campus Store

Although the McMaster University campus was relatively quiet over the summer months, Ira McDonald Construction was completing accessibility improvements to McMaster’s Campus Store on an accelerated schedule.

The historic bookstore resides in the basement of Gilmour Hall, which was built in 1959 at a time when accessibility concerns were not a primary concern in building design. Ira McDonald’s contribution to the two-year, multi-stage renovation included barrier-free renovations to the front entrance of the store, as well as a new entrance at the back of the building.

“On projects with aggressive timelines, it’s important that the client, consultants, and contractors collaborate to ensure that work is completed on time and on budget. On this project, we worked closely with McMaster University, ATA Architects, and VRM Engineering to open the McMaster Campus Store in time for students’ arrival.”

– Greg Cartwright, IMC Project Manager

The Campus Store was officially reopened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 9th, 2014, which was attended by representatives from McMaster University, ATA Architects, VRM Engineering, and Ira McDonald Construction.

McMaster President Patrick Deane cut the ribbon on the new access ramp. (Photo Credit: Andrew Baulcomb, McMaster Daily News)

McMaster President Patrick Deane cut the ribbon on the new access ramp. (Photo Credit: Andrew Baulcomb, McMaster Daily News)

McMaster Campus Store Project Team

Pictured, From Left: Geri Tino (ATA), Diana Parker (McMaster), Deidre Henne (McMaster), Shawn Miller (VRM), Alexander Temporale (ATA), Greg Cartwright (IMC), Cliff Birkett (McMaster).

About McMaster University:

McMaster University is ranked 4th among Canadian universities and 92nd in the world by the 2013-2014 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It is home to over fifty world-class research facilities such as the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy, the McMaster Nuclear Reactor, and the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research.