How does a contractor install HVAC and plumbing equipment for a state-of-the-art, multi-use biological sciences building that contains complex challenges – including confined space for utility systems and limited access to equipment, all compounded by multiple laboratory systems, poured-in-place concrete construction, and tunnel corridor requirements?

University Marelich Mechanical (UMM), a SMACNA contractor, met and exceeded these challenges. The company, based in Anaheim, Calif., designed, fabricated and constructed the HVAC and plumbing systems for the new four-story, 145,000-square-foot Biological Sciences building at the University of California’s Irvine campus. The LEED-registered (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) facility is awaiting LEED Silver certification and consists of laboratories, a vivarium to house small animals, faculty offices, a 400-seat lecture hall, and a mechanical area in the basement that houses the air handling units.

Each area of the $13.9 million mechanical and plumbing project had its own unique design and demands for indoor air quality (IAQ) and conditioning. The project also had different types of equipment and areas that needed to be serviced, including confined, limited space to layout the ductwork and equipment. Also, due to the type of building and systems used, some areas did not allow access doors to reach the equipment. Instead, access was gained through the lights.

To surmount these hurdles, University Marelich Mechanical’s designers and detailers used the Building Information Modeling (BIM) NavisWorks software to produce a fabrication and installation package to resolve conflicts and minimize field issues.

The various systems included high-plume dilution fume exhaust fans in the laboratories, air-tight stainless steel distribution systems, bundled Phoenix valve installations in the lab and vivarium, utility exhaust fan sets, bubble tight dampers, and HEPA filtration systems. The multiple labs required equipment hook-ups and exhaust hoods for bio-safety cabinets, bulk auto claves, necropsy tables, tunnel washers, cage washers, canopy hoods, bottle washers, and sterilizers.

The second-floor laboratory was designed for special experiments and containment of airborne contaminates, which required special air changes, negative and positive pressures and monitoring by a Phoenix control system.

In addition to the laboratory fume exhaust fans, the design included six additional fume exhaust fans to serve the other laboratory areas with a total of 31,000 cfm each. These fume exhaust fans were mounted on a factory-built plenum with isolation and bypass dampers.

The project used a variety of sheet metal products. The Pomona, Calif.-based SMACNA member Superior Duct Fabrication began manufacturing ductwork for this project in December 2006. The company supplied 339,000 pounds of round and rectangular ductwork consisting of galvanized, aluminum, and stainless steel, from low-pressure round fittings to large stainless steel exhaust roof plenums. The stainless steel duct was pre-fabricated and assembled in spool sections to reduce field installation time.

The benefits to the client included overcoming a challenge of access to equipment. Certain areas of the building did not allow access doors to reach equipment, so UMM gained access through the lights. In addition, the HVAC design was based around three 58,000 cfm air handling units. UMM’s sheet metal detailers were able to fit them into the limited space provided, leaving only three inches from the top of the duct to the slab above.

Source: SMACNA 

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