Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner





COMPLAINT 

I believe it will be far easier to follow my complaint with these blog entries with 
explanation.

This is regarding my FOI (freedom of information) request for records regarding the
engineering drawings for the Nelson Community Solar Garden

Its my contention this fails the engineering as provided for the project.
This disrespects the public by Nelson hydro management who accept this work and the profession of engineering whose members deliver this work.

The Engineering Firm MacLeod Nine Consultants Ltd. of Nelson BC provided the
city the drawings as Project No. 15-065 to Nelson Hydro.

Dated 160310 Issued for Pricing  Rev B
           160407 Issued for Review  "     A


The Installation is not installed as shown on these drawings resulting in shading of solar panels
and movement of ground mounted concrete ballasting due to earth movements possibly
a result of not using the mentioned 1200 lb vibratory roller stated in the engineers drawings.


FOI request made Dec. 4, 2018



City response is there are No records

Follow up response, in my opinion just another delay tactic as I experience from this city that won't answer
any of my questions regarding this project, I must use FOI requests that result in long delays.  The city certainly
has the technology to print and review, at the moment my timing and skill and available equipment results in photos of
emails etc.  
















Engineered drawings show solar panel rows spaced at 6 metres,  they are installed at 3 metres resulting in shading

Engineering documents showed 6 metre spacing between rows this was reduced to 3 metres resulting in shading, hardly a professional commercial solar installation







Engineer notes C. require 1200 lb vibratory roller, only a plate tamper was seen on site, possible reason for shifting surface mounted concrete ballasting







Solar panels moving due to ground movement of ballast blocks, possibly due to not using vibratory roller specified




Plate tamper seen, but no 1200 lb Vibratory roller as required in notes of consulting engineers document





First engineering requirement was for industry standard metal racking mounts.  This was apparently over budget and retendered resulting a  years delay, with wood that is unlikely to last the 25 year life expectancy of the project







About 1 km as the crow flies from the city solar project is this properly installed solar system with galvanized steel racking in concrete below frost line, no evidence of movement after 3 years.




                 













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