HOGEN Stations

HOGEN Upper Air Stations

Projects worked on to date include Baker Lake, Iqaluit, and Resolute Bay, Nunavut, as well as Norman Wells and Inuvik in the Northwest Territories. These new structures are design for Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

These Upper Air Station HOGEN buildings were designed as modular units that were fabricated in Winnipeg, Manitoba for shipment to their permanent location where they can easily be reassembled. Design challenges included developing a modular design which would work in a variety of site and ground conditions, environmental criteria and logistical shipping constraints. Durability in the design was key for the difficult shipping process as well as the easy and rapid commissioning needed on these remote sites often with minimal equipment and supply availability.

A key concern was the design issues involved in the creation of hydrogen gas from water for use in these inflation balloons in an enclosed building due to its explosive nature. Critical venting and grounding features were required to deal with this risk.

Designed to withstand some of the harshest climates in Canada, these buildings had to be designed to meet the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings, have a Class 1 & 2 explosion proof rating and properly attach to other existing upper air inflation station buildings on a site by site basis.

The designs of additional sites are in the initial planning stages.