OUR WORK WITH

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Develop: 2020 - 2021

Type: BMS / EMS / Biosafety Level 3

Process: Biosafety Microbiology Laboratory 

Sizes: 20,000 SqFt

Location: 9566 Railroad Dr. El Paso, TX 79924

Contractor: The Garick Group, Inc.

(915) 779-5727 PM – Paul Porras

Commissioning By: CARDINA Engineering Commissioning -

Carlos E. Arguijo, P.E., LEED AP BD+C (915)-373-6030

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CASE STUDY

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The City Of El Paso and the Alegro Engineering, L.P. engaged BUILDTECH AUTOMATION INC. to provide a BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM 

solution for the new project named “EXPANSION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY COVID-19 TESTING AND COVID-19 RESPONSE STORAGE AND LOGISTICS FACILITY”

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BUILDTECH AUTOMATION INC. as a Professional Engineering Group collaborate on the design review and controls sequence of operations adequations for these Laboratories category Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3).

Not only did this project present technical challenges based on complexity of the systems and controls being implemented, but the COVID-19 pandemic created manpower, shipping, and fabrication issues that contributed to difficulties faced in completing this project. Those challenges were ultimately overcome, and the systems installed were tied-into Covid19 studies and analysis. 

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The new building and HAVC Installation consist mainly of:

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• 100% OUTSIDE (N+1) VARIABLE AIR VOLUME AHU  – The control system shall control the sequential operation of the air handling units on a common plenum, and cycle the standby AHU (N+1) while maintaining the system static pressure to within + or - 10% for a maximum of 30 second period during sequencing. Both AHU serving to complete Laborites with a maximize efficiencies; controlling Humidity, Temperature and the Biosafety Level air changes Capacities.

• CHILLED WATER SYSTEM - The chilled water system consists of the following: two (2) chillers, with isolation valves configured as: one (1) lead and one (1) lag, two (2) primary chilled water pumps to run with chillers. one (1) lead and one (1) lag. two (2) manifolded secondary chilled water pumps, configured as one (1) lead, one (1) lag chillers and primary pumps are dedicated to each other.

• HEATING WATER SYSTEM - The boilers system shall be enabled to run whenever a definable number of hot water coils need heating. 

• LAB AIRFLOW CONTROL SYSTEM – combination of different room layouts with more than 40 Air Valves (SUPPLY – EXHAUST - FUME HOOD EXHAUST). Controlling air flow changes per room laboratories.

• LABORATORY EXHAUST FAN SYSTEM – the controller shall maintain static pressure control at one of five conditions: Normal mode static pressure (adjustable), Degrade mode static pressure (adjustable), Static pressure failure. Fire mode, or Emergency mode. EF-1 and EF-2 have (N+1) configuration, as well as EF-3, EF-4, and EF-5. system shall be programmed so that in the event a failure is reported (whether motor is not responding or the required velocity in the stack is not achieved), the system shall turn “off” such fan, and maintain the (N+1) operational an alarm on each failure shall be reported.

Due to an increase in the pandemic the project was developed as a fast-track project.

Overall, this project had several design, logistical, and pandemic-related obstacles that were overcome through the input and persistence of the BUILDTECH team. 

Despite these challenges, after hundred of commissioning together with the engineers the project was finished under budget within the schedule that was dynamically updated over the course of the project.

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