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About the Construction Schedule
Area Designations for New Building
The building construction is being managed in four areas or sections, labeled counter-clockwise from the Northwest corner as areas A, B, C, and D. Teams of specialty contractors move from area to area. Each team completes tasks that are preliminary to tasks to be completed by a following team. Each area of the building is in a different stage of construction, but work on all areas proceeds simultaneously. At this time, the areas are being completed in reverse order.

Events & Photos 10/30/02, Major Effort: Electrical & Ducts

10/30/02 Construction Site 
Click the photo above for a closer view (260KB file).

Two workmen at 3rd floor exteriorWork progresses on the exterior, and plumbing. A generator pad was poured this afternoon. The switch gear has been installed and assembled. Cable trays for data and communication lines are being installed. Preparations are under way to pull large power cables through the duct banks between manholes 1 and 3 this weekend.
 
Cable tray above the first floorSteps to prepare the duct banks (underground conduits) and pull the cable:

  1. Evacuate the duct banks with compressed air
  2. Use compressed air to push a "661 Rat" through the ducts with a pull-string attached
  3. Use the pull-string to thread a ¼ inch rope through each duct
  4. Use the rope to pull a tight fitting mandrel back and forth through the ducts to clear any remaining debris
  5. Pull a swab soaked with pulling lubricant (A.K.A. "soap") through the ducts
  6. Use a motorized winch utilizing the appropriate setup for the wire, monitor the tension on the wire during the pulling operation

Switch gear, ready for hook-upMedium pressure duct work for the heating and cooling system is being installed where-ever possible. Workers coordinate with the other crafts to prevent the duct work from interfering with other construction activities. The goal is to get the medium pressure duct work installed and tested so that duct insulation may be applied. Terminal Units, low pressure duct work, and computer equipment will begin to be installed next month.

All ductwork is fabricated and installed according to standards established by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA). The ducts are assembled in sections and then installed hanging from the ceiling.
Gasket tape on air duct flange
Applying pookie to duct 		Medium pressure duct hanging from hallway ceiling
How sections of duct work are joined:
  1. Apply FGT-500 gasket tape to the flange of one of the ducts
  2. Fasten the sections together using 5/8 inch carriage bolts, compressing the gasket tape
  3. Apply the duct sealer on all seams, apply cleats to the joined flanges

North side view of section C four floorsThe sealant dries completely in about 24 hours. The sealant is affectionately known as "pookie." One of the foremen estimates that as much of 800 gallons of pookie will be used in the building.

There have been 47 continuous days without a loss time accident (correction of previously reported number). Approximately 109 workers are on site today:

  • Acumen (ductwork insulation): not on site today
  • Baker Drywall (interior, exterior): 20 people
  • Brandt Engineering (plumbing & ductwork): 30 people
  • Compass Steel (structural steel): 10 people
  • Dee Brown Inc. (masonry) 8 people
  • Elite Fire Protection (sprinkler systems): not on site today
  • Encompass (electrical): 16 people
  • Hensel Phelps (office & field personnel): 22 people
  • Southwest Construction Inc.(damp proofing, caulking and sealants) 3 people

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Wednesday, 08-Aug-2007 21:18:52 CDT