The Benefits of a Mezzanine Floor

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emty warehouseA mezzanine floor in your mill could be the optimum way to make use of your facility’s space. It can be almost any size, and be placed in almost any area of the room. It is also relatively easy to add to a mill’s design and installation; some styles can even be taken apart and reused as facility undergoes changes. Mezzanines can be made to match your mill’s appearance, including floor type, and overall colors and materials. A certified mezzanine floor could be precisely what your mill’s design needs.

Applications

Mezzanine floors can accommodate your facility’s daily needs with shelving, product storage and handling systems, loading and unloading access for employees and equipment, and much more. Platforms for product lifting can make moving and storing products and equipment easy. These efficient applications can be anywhere you need them, from the wider work area, to storage rooms, offices, and other functioning rooms and areas of your mill.

Generally, the mezzanine is placed above the ground floor, overlooking part or most of the room, or area. Sometimes, there can be more than one mezzanine, both accessed by stairs and rails for those on foot, and by forklift for those moving product via equipment.  If there are two floors, they may be connected. When the floors are used for storage, they can be optimum for things not utilized on a daily basis. You may also install a moving platform, as well as a pallet gate, or open space in the rail to make the lifting and lowering of items and people even easier. On occasion, the mezzanine floor may be turned into an office so that management may oversee all of the daily operations.

If a mezzanine floor sounds like something you need at your mill, then you need engineers who can properly implement it into the design, and make sure it’s certified. That’s where we at BEP Engineering comes in. Contact us today about how we can help you with your mezzanine floor design and certification, and much more.

Geotechnical Engineering Certification

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certifiedIf your project calls for someone to engage in soil and other environmental investigation and reporting, you may need an engineer with geotechnical certification. BEP Engineering Services can help you put together a team to get your people certified for your project’s needs.

Geotechnical certification is a voluntary, optional certification provided by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The requirements for these certifications vary depending upon how much education and direct field experience an engineer has had, and what he or she wants to do with the accreditation. The requirements may be a four-year degree, years of practice in the field, and even postgraduate study. Generally, this certification also makes an engineer more competitive in the job market.

There are four levels of certification in geotechnical engineering. The first level is for entry-level engineers and those in training who only perform under regular supervision, and are only allowed to perform certain tasks. Engineers working on the second level have daily supervision and perform the most common tasks. Third-level engineers are considered intermediate, and may operate with some or no supervisions, while fourth-level individuals have no supervision and often supervise others. To achieve the higher certification levels an engineer must either be certified already at a lower level, or meet certain education and experience standards.

The purpose of geotechnical certification is an opportunity to keep engineers’ knowledge up-to-date and learn the current, leading technologies associated with soil examination. Certified engineering technicians investigate a site’s environment before and during any construction, or at any exploration, or laboratory site. Certification includes education in common soil classification, construction, laboratory tests, field tests, or reports. An engineer can specialize in a subfield, such as construction, or be certified as a generalist with experience in all areas.

At BEP, we can help you get your engineers and your project certified. Call us today to find out how we can help you with certifications, or with other elements of your facility and project.

Dust Collection Permits and Certification

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Depositphotos_3827923_s-2015Dust collectors are systems used to maintain the air quality of plants and other facilities. They help keep machinery and equipment clean, recirculate the clean air, and recover dusts that need to be kept after processes are complete. To properly operate these systems, permits must be acquired and the systems must be certified.

Dust collection system designs can be customized to suit a facility’s needs. They can collect the waste to be reused or recycled, extract residue for clear air, control air quality, provide safety aid, and make air waste disposal easier. All of these functions are essential for facility health and safety standards.

Not only is indoor air contaminated by particles dangerous, but the EPA requires that outdoor exhaust be in compliance with specific safety standards. The process to test and acquire permits can be lengthy and tedious. If the air is not channeled outside, then the company must adhere to OSHA standards, which are focused on indoor air quality.

Whatever the systems used or the type of particles your system filters, plant owners and engineers need to know the details of safety and operations in order to ensure inspections are passed, and systems are certified. They must test and monitor the filter, emissions, maintain the system to prevent incidents, and continue to meet required standards. They must also understand how recirculation and return air configuration processes function. All this requires a solid understanding of the dust collection system and its filtration control, particularly fire, explosions, and other safety hazards, as explosions are a very serious risk.

At BEP Engineering Services, we can help you get your system certified for dust collection and air quality control. We can also help you prepare help you get the permits you need to continue your work without hindrances. Just contact us with your needs and let us help you with your facility’s dust collection certification.

Material Handling Equipment

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Depositphotos_56281919_s-2015Whether you are building a new facility or revising the original, you need to make certain that your material handling equipment is equally up-to-date and suitable. If you are in the process of designing and constructing a plant or mill, and you find yourself in need of new material handling equipment, here are some things to consider.

Optimum Use of Space: Your instinct may be to figure out what you need and purchase the biggest and best. However, during design you and your engineer will determine how much space is required for each element of production, including storage, production, and material handling. The square footage reserved for material handling will be affected by whether it is open spacing, or consists of shelving and rack systems. All this affects what type of equipment you will be able to use. You should factor in your preferred material handling equipment in the very first stages of design. If your plans do not support the equipment you feel you require, or if you decide you simply must have a specific type, then you and your designer will have to reconsider those schematics.

Material Type: The materials to be handled at your mill will also determine the type of equipment you require. Choosing the optimum equipment for your materials will lead to more efficient production. An experienced mill engineer can help you choose the right equipment and they will usually be able to create the most practical material handling solutions for you to help you avoid bottlenecks.

It is important to put as much effort into selecting the best possible material handling equipment for your facility as you do any other detail. The best equipment improves plant and mill processes through efficiency, and is the safest option for material handlers. At BEP Engineering Services, we can help you select the right equipment during mill design. Because we do not sell the equipment, we are unbiased and able to get you sharp-pencil-pricing from vendors. Contact us to discover what we may do for you in design and modification of your plant, mill, or other facility.

A Brief Look at Material Handling Certification

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Industries require competent material handling by certified professionals who can safely move, store, and dispose of materials during industrial processes. Material handling calls for the utilization of various complex systems and equipment, and certification helps make certain that personnel can operate all details of handling effectively.

Material handling is more than operating machinery; an effective material handling arrangement affects an industry’s processes, including manufacturing, transportation, distribution, service, and much more. The range of equipment and technology required in handling must be understood and managed properly. There is a variety of automated and manual equipment required for material control, movement, storage, etc.; industrial robotics, automated systems, conveyors, lift trucks, and more are all parts of handling for different industries.Engineers meeting

The methods for handling in industries and facilities are as standardized as possible to prevent daily processes from being impeded. When an industrial business requires certified professionals as part of their project design, BEP Engineering Services Ltd. aids in constructing an appropriately certified team by providing the professionals who handle the facets of certification.

Material handlers must understand and adhere to certain practices, which help guarantee that all equipment and procedures in the facility function properly and safely. The certification process instructs potential handlers in the equipment, systems, and guidelines for safe and effective operations. Academic institutions and professional organizations offer a variety of certificates and certifications, in the various categories and features of material handling. Rather than focusing on an expensive, all-inclusive educational degree, these programs allow the company’s employees to pursue their area of specialized technical interest and put their education to use immediately in the industry.

BEP Engineering Services, Ltd. offers assistance with a company’s engineering certification needs. We provide services for a selection of certifications, including, but not limited to, mechanical, civil and structural, and geotechnical engineering. Whatever your industrial design project, we can help you get your employees certified to create a knowledgeable, professional team.

5 Ways Inadequate Scope can Negatively Affect your Projects’ Success

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A picture says a thousand words, but each person who reads that description sees a different picture. 

This is exemplified by the cartoon below.

Clear Scope Matters!

#1 Vendors & installation contractors will either apply contingencies to cover uncertainties or require major extras to complete your project.

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3 Practical Things you Can Do to Make your Sawmill an Industry Leader

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All of the following are important and can help you avoid losing revenue. Here are the top 3 things you can do to make your sawmill an Industry leader.

#3 Plan Ahead:

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” is one of those lines we’ve all used at one time or another, but living in the present at a Sawmill can backfire. » More…

Raffle Prizes: SNEAK PEEK

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With BEP attending the 2015 Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo next week we wanted to make sure to give you a heads up on the prizes that you could win from our raffle at booth #A116.

Our prizes are as follows:

  • 1st Prize: $1500 off a two day site visit to Sketch and Discuss you Mill Modification Together!
  • 2nd Prize: $1000 Certificate for BEP Engineering Services.
  • 3rd Prize: $500 Certificate for BEP Engineering Services.

How to Enter? Drop off your business card at our booth (#A116).

Want two more entries? Like us on Facebook and Follow us on LinkedIn.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the expo!

We’ve Expanded!

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Our office space has increased 33%! This means that we have an even greater capacity to handle your spring engineering projects. Also, with the extra space we have been able to put in a conference room! This makes for a great place to collaborate with our experts and make sure your project is completed the way you envisioned.

We currently have a staff of 14 who can handle significant projects and have extra capacity for additional project work for early spring and summer. With our new office addition we have capacity for 22 staff to help meet your projects requirements. Please let us know if we can be of any service to you.

If you have any spring projects or questions be sure to give us a call at (604)-575-3322.