Going beyond Net Zero with Merlo

A merlo roto lifts materials at a home building construction site

A Merlo Roto is helping Frontiers Design + Build reach their goal of Passive House construction

At the International Builders’ Show in 2019, Doug Taylor, President of the Frontiers Design + Build, attended a workshop on high performance construction. 

By the end of the seminar, Taylor was captivated in the notion of building high efficiency homes. 

After leaving the trade show, Taylor and his Guelph, Ontario-based company began the training process to become certified designers and builders of Passive House structures.  

“I kind of fell in love with it, this made a lot of sense. It just kind of speaks to our approach as builders,” Taylor said. 

Passive House construction requires the space heating and cooling energy demand to not exceed 15 kWh per square metre of net living space.

The total energy used for all domestic applications must not exceed 60 kWh per square metre and the home must be airtight to a maximum of 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pascals pressure. 

The criteria are achieved through intelligent design and implementation of the five Passive House principles: thermal bridge free design, superior windows, ventilation with heat recovery, quality insulation and airtight construction.

“It’s the most rigorous building standard in the world currently. So Passive House is well beyond Net-Zero or LEED or any mid-range programs that are out there. It’s pretty intense,” Taylor said. 

The Passive House concept was developed by an engineer based in Saskatchewan in the 1970s. After collaborating with colleagues in Germany, the building standard was created in the 1980s in Europe. 

“It’s essentially the culmination of like, 40 or 50 years of Canadian and German building science,” Taylor said. 

Passive House buildings are planned, optimized and verified with the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP).

“So, it’s really the only building standard that is actually third-party certified,” Taylor said. 

Merlo Roto 50.30 S Plus

The robust requirements of Passive House construction require Frontiers Design + Build to purchase a machine that is manoeuvrable and multipurpose. 

“We’re going around the house quite a few more times than a conventional build with layers of insulation, air sealing and the intricate window and door installation,” Taylor explained. 

Working with Manulift, Frontiers Design + Build selected a Merlo Roto 50.30 S Plus to tackle Passive House construction. 

Weighing 20,500 kg, the rotating telehandler features a 29.2 metre lift height and a 25.4 metre maximum reach. The machine can lift up to 2,041 kg or 363 kg at its maximum reach. 

“Frontiers + Design Build were looking for a versatile, high performing machine that would help them be efficient and self-reliant on their high-performance builds,” said Leathan Keillar, Territory Manager for Manulift. “Their philosophy on building and design also reflected Merlo’s focus on constant innovation in not just performance but also increasing workplace safety. It’s been a great relationship and we’re very happy to see the Merlo assist them on their amazing projects.”

The four-wheel drive rotating telehandler is powered by a 170 hp Stage 5 FPT engine and includes a hydrostatic transmission 

The Roto 50.30 S Plus also features 360-degree turret rotation and a cab that tilts 20 degrees. 

“It’s got a big work platform, a jib crane, forks and it’s got about 100 feet of reach. So, it’s kind of the Swiss Army knife we need in order to accomplish these high-performance homes,” Taylor said. “It’s a very versatile machine for sure. It also has a remote control, so you don’t need anybody in the cab.”

On a residential construction site, a rotating telehandler is able to complete a framing job that typically requires a five-person crew with two or three employees. 

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Frontiers Design + Build is using the machine throughout the construction process. 

When they receive a delivery, the Roto is equipped with forks and used as a telehandler to unload and lift material. 

During framing, the machine is equipped with a jib on the crane to lift the prefabricated components of the structure. 

“And then the work platform is typically used for sheeting, cladding and window installation,” Taylor said. 

Currently, the Roto 50.30 S Plus is being used to assist with demolition at a Net Zero retrofit of a farmhouse.  

“For the demo, we’re using it to lift off chunks of roof. We basically cut the roof into four or five parts, and we’re just craning it right into the bin,” Taylor said. 

The Roto joins Frontiers Design + Build’s existing fleet that includes three skid steers and three excavators. 

“The rotating telehandler is certainly the biggest piece of equipment we’ve ever had,” Taylor said. 

Frontiers Design + Build is now in the process of starting its first Passive House certified home at a three-lot development in Guelph. The design is certified to meet Passive House standards and the company has received the necessary permits from the municipality. 

“We’re just looking for a buyer, and that will be our first certified passive house building,” Taylor said.