Elara Engineering recently completed the engineering design and coordinated construction effort to replace leaking galvanized steel domestic water piping with new copper piping for an entire 42-story residential building, while fully occupied. The large-scale project – completed under budget and ahead of schedule included common areas, hot and cold supply risers, condo unit branch piping, hot water return risers, and express risers (a total of 17 risers).
Key project factors included creative scheduling and work coordination to balance project speed and cost while minimizing unit occupant disruptions. Working within these parameters, the project maintained water service to each unit at the end of each work day while impacting each unit for no more than 20 consecutive business days. Elara worked closely with contractors, building staff, the condominium association board and building occupants to achieve a successful project.
The building’s risers are divided into two vertical zones that span Floors 1-22 and 23-42. One of the risers consists of express vertical risers to deliver domestic cold and hot water from the basement directly to the ceiling of the 22nd Floor, and horizontally to risers that serve Floors 23-42. Two other risers serve the high and low zone and return hot water to the domestic hot water heaters located in the basement.
Elara recommended, further customized and then executed a three-phased project approach for this building.
- Phase 1: An initial study was performed to identify scope, major obstacles to the project, potential project phasing, and cost estimate.
- Phase 2: Replaced horizontal distribution piping, isolation valves, and an initial riser.
- Phase 3 Replaced remaining piping throughout the building utilizing the knowledge obtained in the previous phases.
More information about this project and other Elara projects can be found here.
