Designing to Prevent Disasters: Mechanical System Failures
and Physical Plant Design
Bill Zavatkay PE, LEED AP BD+C – HDRMechanical Engineering Section Manager
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Introduction
Disasters
Regulatory Requirements
Physical Plant
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
By definition, a disaster is, "an occurrence causing
widespread destruction and distress, a grave
misfortune, a total failure..." A disaster is often
further defined as being either a man-made or
natural event that results in death, injury, and
property damage which cannot be managed
through normal, routine channels.(Source: Google…Author not indicated).
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Introduction
Disasters
Regulatory Requirements
Physical Plant
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
What we typically think of as a Disaster?
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Widespread flooding from levee breaches and storm surge
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Widespread flooding from levee breaches and storm surge
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Wind and flood damage
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Wind damage to buildings
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Tree damage to buildings
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Impassable roads
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Natural disasters occur and make big headlines, but more likely events include:
• Facility Failures
• Operational Issues
• Power Outages
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Broken Pipes
FiresFailed Equipment
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Introduction
Disasters
Regulatory Requirements
Physical Plant
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
Green / Sustainable / LEED / Energy Star / ASHRAE 90.1 =
Building codes / GUIDE / BMBL / WHO / NIH DRM / AALAC / USDA =
• Safety for building occupants as well as “the public”
• Minimum exhaust stack velocities (vs energy savings)• Redundant equipment (increased electrical load)
• Spare capacity (effects on operation energy use)
“SAVE THE PLANET”
“Safety”
Combined equals your Project
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
THE GUIDE – BASIC HVAC REQUIREMENTS
» Performance Based Approach• Temperature and humidity control to minimize variations.• Pressurization Control – Directional Airflow• HVAC system to be designed for reliability, ease of
maintenance and energy conservation.• Temperature: 68-79 deg F, maintain +\- 2 degrees F (varies
based on species)• Maintain Humidity 30-70% year round.• Redundancy • Temperature control for each holding space.• Emergency power for critical services (HVAC, freezers,
ventilated racks, isolators)
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
NIH DRM - BASIC HVAC REQUIREMENTS
» Prescriptive Based Approach• Animal Facilities shall meet the requirements of “The Guide”• Laboratory Spaces shall meet the requirements of the
BMBL.• Design conditions: ASHRAE 0.4% summer, 99.6% winter• Equipment sized for 20% future expansion.• 15 ACH Small Animal Static Rack/Large Animal• 10 ACH Small Animal Ventilated Rack• Exhaust fans on emergency power.• Dedicated Air Systems
» Non-Research Function» Animal Areas» Lab General Research.
• N+1 Redundancy Required.• Emergency Power Required; AHU’s, EF, chillers, boilers,
pumps, etc.
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
THE GUIDE – PAGE 35
Animal facilities may be subject to unexpected conditions that result in the catastrophic failure of critical systems or significant personnel absenteeism, or other unexpected events that severely compromise ongoing animal care and well-being (ILAR 2010). Facilities must therefore have a disaster plan. The plan should define the actions necessary to prevent animal pain, distress, and deaths due to loss of systems such as those that control ventilation, cooling, heating, or provision of potable water. If possible the plan should describe how the facility will preserve animals that are necessary for critical research activities or the irreplaceable. Knowledge of the geographic locale may provide guidance as to the probability of a particular type of disaster.
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
NIH GUIDELINES
» “Spare” Capacity Issues• Different than redundancy or reliability• Owner driven (program revisions)• NIH DRM requirements for 20% spare capacity• Process loads (large % of total load)• Major equipment turndown Issues
» Chillers» Boilers» AHU Components
• Coils• Filters• Fans• Humidifiers• Airflow Stations
» Exhaust fans
n+1 + 20% =
Potential Loss of
EfficiencyUntil Used
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Introduction
Disaster Preparedness
Regulatory Requirements
Physical Plant
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
• Every system will fail at the least opportunistic time.
• Design, plan, educate and train to eliminate or provide redundancy for every critical system.
“SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE”
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Identify all Critical systems:
MEP Systems:
• Air Handling Units • Exhaust Fans• Cooling • Heating• Controls• Potable Water• Power
“SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE”
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
MEP Critical systems:
• Need Redundancy• Need Spare Parts• Need Maintenance Staff to Install
Spare Parts
“SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE”
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT Reliability is a measure of probability that the environmental systems will be operational at the time that it is required.
Redundancy is a subset of reliability and can be achieved by the engineering systems, or a combination of engineering systems and protocols
2 at 50%
3 at 33%
4 at 25%
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
No redundancy Scenario One AHU and one EF serves each zone
Lab Zone
Lab Zone
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
Partial Redundancy Scenario Requires ductwork and control dampers to allow
interconnection of air systems Requires extensive ceiling space Reduces quantity of equipment to provide
redundancy
Lab Zone
Lab Zone
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
Lab Zone
Lab Zone
Fully Redundant Scenario – 2N or 2@50% Greater equipment requirements Automatic Operation Less dependency upon other systems
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Reliability & Redundancy•independent systems•N+1 (100%) back-up capability
desirable•Less than N+1 with load shedding•consider utilizing systems adjacent to
vivarium spaces as an alternate means to provide redundancy
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
AHU fan redundancy options Fan Wall Dual Fans
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Failure Protection - Automation•normal operation•exhaust failure – supply reacts•supply failure – exhaust reacts•BAS controls & interlocks•maintain directional airflow (positive or
negative pressurization)•consider ‘load shedding’ strategies
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Central Utilities (Campus Scenario- Issues)
•Large Chiller Plants typically not on emergency power backup
•Large Boiler Plants typically not on emergency power backup
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Central Utilities (Campus Scenario-Resolutions)
•Consider providing small backup air cooled chiller and pumps for critical cooling.
•Consider providing small backup boiler and pumps for critical heating
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Potable Water
•Consider providing potable water backup storage tank if water outage typical.•Provide maintenance staff on hand to repair pipe leaks.•Ensure shut-off valves are in place in case of emergency.•Periodically exercise valves to ensure they will be operational when required.
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Normal Power•Redundant Feeders to a double ended substation•Redundancy and independent
electric services•Should come from two separate
utility generating stations (Or from two separate substations on a campus configuration)
•Feeders should be in separate duct banks and routing.
•Provides redundancy in feeders and in services to building.
PHYSICAL PLANT - POWER
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
EM Power•Generators•Serve critical equipment•Supply air handlers•Exhaust fans•Caging systems (IVCs)•Heating & Cooling systems•Distribution pumps•BAS system controllers
UPS•BAS control panels to keep from resetting controls to minimize downtime under any failure scenario
PHYSICAL PLANT - POWER
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT…
Locate vivarium above flood elevation levels – New facilities
» Flood gates or retaining walls around existing facilities
Locate physical plant above flood elevation levels
Locate electrical switchgear above floor elevation levels
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT…
Provide adequate level of redundancy
Provide automated control
Provide Emergency Power Backup
Locate generators above flood elevation level
Provide “enough” fuel capacity for sustained duration for outage based on risk assessment
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT… Fail closed reheat coil valves
Fail open AHU preheat valve
Fail open AHU cooling coil valves
Interlock AHU’s with EF’s
Interlock supply and exhaust air valves
Security systems to prevent unwanted entry
Seismic reinforcement
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT…
Snowfall issues and AHU shutdowns
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT…
Provide snow melt device such as MISTOP Snostop
Provide bypass damper across filters that opens on high filter delta P
Remove AHU pre-filters before snow occurrences
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT – MAINTENANCE
• Access Outside Vivarium
• Locate Equipment where it is accessible
• Routine Inspection
• Preventative Maintenance
• Minimize Impact on Science
• High Tech vs. Low Tech
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
THE BIODESIGN INSTITUTE AT ASU
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
PHYSICAL PLANT
2014 ACLAM FORUM: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Questions?