Client: Ontario Power Generation
Engineers: Various
Location: Ontario Power Gen, Ontario

Aecon Industrial played a significant role in completing many of the key tasks in one of the largest planned outages in the history of nuclear power generation in Canada.

The replacement of Fiberglass Reinforced Piping (FRP), considered critical path work for the entire outage, was entrusted solely to Aecon as its responsibility during the Vacuum Building Outage (VBO). Aecon also executed other tasks in the outage simultaneously with the FRP work.

Aecon's FRP scope during the outage included the removal and replacement of 14 FRP Risers, two FRP Upper Down Comers (UDC), one section of the Main Spray Header, and installation of weirs around each of the 14 UDC's. Prior to outage execution, Aecon prefabricated the FRP pipe spools, which ranged from 30' to 42', as well as stainless steel spools at its Cambridge, Ontario facility under its N285 quality program. Aecon also built a full-scale mock-up of the Emergency Water Storage FRP piping system off-site, and provided specialized training to all employees involved. 

Comprehensive preparation and training, continuous communication at all levels and close co-operation with the customer throughout the outage were some of the key success factors. 

Aecon's Pickering VBO success is no small feat considering the scale, complexity and time constraints of this outage.

"I challenged you and the team last fall to get this work done in a 14 day window. It was a big challenge. Your team took on the challenge with the positive attitude that we were going to be successful and safely achieve the goal. Your team was successful in safely completing this FRP project on schedule." Wayne Robbins, Chief Nuclear Officer – Ontario Power Generation