Global engineering firm Roberts & Schaefer Co. and its Canadian arm, Roberts & Schaefer Soros Canada Ltd., are suing WSP Canada Inc. for providing allegedly negligent engineering services during the construction of a new heavy-media processing plant.
Roberts & Schaefer filed a notice of civil claim in BC Supreme Court on April 24 claiming it tapped WSP Canada for engineering services after inking a deal with non-party Teck Coal for a new plant near the mining company’s Elkview mine site in Sparwood, B.C.
WSP Canada, according to the claim, failed to properly determine that the natural frequencies of the structure wouldn’t match the operating frequencies of equipment in the new building, causing light fixtures to come loose and fall from its roof trusses.
The new plant, plaintiffs claim, can’t be used for its intended purpose.
“When processing coal, as intended, the New Plant vibrates at excessive and dangerous amplitudes and frequencies,” the lawsuit states. “These vibrations result from the fact that the resonant frequencies of the New Plant’s building structure oscillations match the New Plant’s natural resonant frequency of vibration or, alternatively, the resonant frequencies of the New Plant’s component parts match the operating frequencies of the rotating or vibrating equipment.”
The plaintiffs seek damages for breach of contract. None of the allegations has been proven in court and a response had not been filed by press time.
