Gulf Construction Online - Trans-Gulf tackles all the MEP works

The Fairmont Dubai

Electrical work covered power distribution, lighting, fire alarms, low voltage systems and the BMS.

Trans-Gulf tackles all the MEP works

01 December 2001

Trans-Gulf Electro-Mechanical of the UAE installed all the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) services at The Fairmont Dubai.

The mechanical side covered central air-conditioning, water supply, steam generation, fire-fighting and drainage installations while the electrical work covered power distribution, lighting, fire alarms, low voltage systems and the building management system (BMS), says J S Majeed senior manager projects.

Elaborating on the scope of work involved, Majeed says: "The total capacity of the air-conditioning system in is 5,108 TR which comprises of 19 chillers, 80 central station air handling units, 1,500 fan coil units, close control air-conditioning units, ventilation fans, primary and secondary CHW (chilled water) pumps, VAV (variable air volume) units, duct heaters and other associated equipment. More than 550 tonnes of GI (galvanised iron) sheets and MS (mild steel) sheets were used for the air ducts and around 25 km of CHW piping network along with around 9,000 valves were installed within the building for the central air-conditioning plant.

"The total storage capacity of the various water tanks within the building is around 1,500 cu m. Municipality water is distributed by a 55-km long piping network comprising of high pressure copper pipes, PVC and PEX pipes along with more than 3,500 valves in the piping system. Raw water, pre-cooled water, soft water and hot water is supplied wherever required, to specific requirements.

"Two boilers are used for generating steam required for the central storage type calorifiers for generating hot water. The storage capacity of the hot water is around 42 cu m. Apart from the central storage calorifiers, around 600 individual storage electrical water heaters are also used for generating hot water within the building.

"Fire-fighting system comprises of sprinkler fire protection system, wet riser system comprising of hose reels and landing valves. The fire-fighting piping network consists of more than 50 km of GI piping, around 11,000 sprinklers and other accessories.

"FM-200 systems are used to protect areas such as the electrical switchgear and computer rooms, while foam fire protection has been used for protecting the fuel oil tanks.

"Drainage piping is by the double stack method comprising a piping network of around 25 km. The building drainage is connected to the municipality sewerage and storm drainage systems.

"The total installed capacity of the electrical transformers is 25.5 MVA using seventeen 1.5 MVA transformers. Electrical power is distributed throughout the building using busbar risers and cables. Two 1.5 MVA generators are installed for providing standby power in case of mains power failure and UPS systems are used for providing uninterruptible power supply to computers and other important electrical equipment.

"The building is internally illuminated with around 28,000 light fittings and cold cathode lighting which is used extensively in the interior design (ID) areas. A state-of-the-art computer-controlled external facade lighting system and a river of lights within the atrium have also been installed, which are unique in Dubai. A specialist consultant from UK was employed in the design of external facade, atrium and ID area lighting.

"An analogue addressable fire alarm system, voice alarm system, fire telephone system comprising of around 3,500 detectors has also been installed.

"Also, specialist low voltage systems such as structured cabling, public address, central battery emergency lighting, CCTV security, audio visual interphone, access control, state-of-the-art dimming, audio visual, hotel interactive TV, emergency call, central antenna TV, Etisalat (Emirates Telecommunications) cable TV and GSM antenna systems have also been installed.

"A state-of-the-art Windows NT based single window access BMS with 14,000 data points and real-time database for controlling the HVAC and lighting have also been installed."

At the peak of work, 575 men were involved in the MEP works and in total more than 1.7 million man hours have been spent on MEP works on this project," says Majeed.

"Trans Gulf gratefully acknowledges the co-operation of the client's representatives, the project manager Turner Steiner International, consultant Khatib & Alami and the main contractor DCC-Arabtec and thank them for enabling the completion of the MEP services successfully in time to the satisfaction of all concerned," says Majeed.

Established in 1972, Trans Gulf Electro-Mechanical is a leading electro-mechanical contracting company in Dubai and is part of Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group.

Over the years, Trans Gulf has completed over 375 projects comprising commercial and residential multistorey buildings, five star hotels, shopping complexes, luxury villa complexes, industrial facilities, airports.

The company has a workforce of 1,100.