Firespray's Ductwork Solves Lab Construction Challenge

Jan. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- Firespray International has provided an innovative lab exhaust ductwork system for the University of California, Berkeley’s (UC Berkeley) Helios Energy Research Facility, solving a complex construction challenge at the 113,000 square-foot building now under construction in downtown Berkeley.
   
The structure will house the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) and the University’s Bioengineering Program.  Dedicated to finding solutions to global climate change, the EBI is a collaboration of academic experts and energy industry leaders who are researching new carbon-neutral biofuels and examining biofuels’ potential environmental, social and economic impacts.  UC Berkeley, the University of Illinois and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have partnered with the funding agency, energy company BP, to assemble the Institute’s researchers and staff.
   
The five-story facility, being built to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, will include wet laboratories for molecular and microbial biology, fermentation, and chemical separation.  In the project’s design phase, when architectural firm SmithGroupJJR and the Design Engineer, Gaynor, Inc. sought a solution to deal with extremely constrained space above the ceilings, San Jose-based Critchfield Mechanical, Inc. (CMI) proposed Firespray’s Flamebar BW11 lab exhaust ductwork as a space-saving, “single-fix” approach.
   
“Our project incorporated Flamebar in lieu of using horizontal shaft-wall construction,” said Gabe Pattee, Project Engineer with general contractor Rudolph and Sletten. “As top-tier lab space, Helios was a project with robust, space consuming MEP systems.  During our 3D modeling effort, we found Flamebar to be a fantastic value engineering idea to maintain architectural design, save time on schedule and save money,” Pattee added.  “The combination of schedule savings and elimination of the horizontal shafts proved to be an economically advantageous benefit to the project.”
           
Fully compliant with the International Mechanical Code (IMC) and Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), Firespray’s lab exhaust system is approved by the University of California (Berkeley, San Francisco and Irvine) for use on its campuses.  The system used in the Helios Energy Research Facility features factory-sprayed, stainless steel ductwork fabricated to an enhanced SMACNA standard.  On each floor of the building, Firespray’s ductwork will transfer exhaust horizontally from the compartmentalized labs to various risers located throughout the structure.  
   
“Eliminating the need for a drywall shaft, the Firespray system reduced the complete assembly’s footprint by more than a foot horizontally and vertically – gaining much-needed space above the ceilings,” said Joe Vincenti, vice president of Firespray USA.
   
“In the lab building’s tightly packed mechanical space, Flamebar BW11 was the only viable solution to make a substantial amount of construction work far easier,” noted architect Johnny Wong of SmithGroupJJR.  “As we consider the system for future projects, a key is that it’s listed and accepted under stringent requirements of UL, the University Inspector of Record (IOR) and the California State Fire Marshal.”  
   
Firespray licensee Pacific Firespray applied the coating for nearly 5,000 square feet of fire-rated ductwork, which CMI fabricated and installed.  Pacific Firespray has also provided Flamebar BW11 ductwork for two previously completed fume exhaust projects at UC Irvine.

Firespray International (http://www.firesprayusa.com) is recognized worldwide in the design and manufacture of specialized fire ducting systems in a diverse range of industrial sectors, including fire-rated ductwork (lab exhaust, smoke exhaust, pressurization, car park exhaust, risers in multi story buildings, etc.) and commercial kitchen extract ductwork. For further information and system documentation, contact Joe Vincenti at Firespray International, 972-365-5302 or email info@firesprayusa.com.