2nd District Fire Station
Gipe Associates provided mechanical and electrical engineering design, preliminary cost estimating, and contract administration services for the new fire station in Valley Lee, Maryland. The new fire station and rescue squad facility includes seven fire/EMS apparatus bays, administrative offices, living space corridors, and new training rooms. Gipe Associates served as the MEP Engineer of Record for the 30,000 square foot new facility.
The HVAC system consists of split variable air volume air handling units supplying air to terminal control units through medium pressure duct systems. The SCBA shop, Compressor Room, Tool Shop, EMS Gear, and Fire Turn Out areas are served by a packaged constant volume split system air handling unit for cooling and heating. These spaces have dedicated exhaust systems to prevent recirculation of odors and contaminants and to provide the required air changes. The Apparatus Bays are supplied by heating and ventilating units with additional infrared gas-fired radiant heaters for auxiliary heat and paddle fans for air circulation. Heating water is generated using an energy efficient gas-fired condensing boiler to serve the air handling units, VAV boxes, and auxiliary heaters. Domestic hot water generation is achieved via high efficient gas-fire water heaters. Much of the mechanical and plumbing equipment is located in the mezzanine areas, which supports equipment longevity and ease of maintenance.
Electrical engineering design included power and distribution systems, lighting and controls, fire alarm, telecommunications systems. New 480/277V, 3 phase, 4 wire, solid neutral electrical service was provided via pad-mounted transformer and with the coordination from the local utility company. Gipe Associates conducted preliminary electrical load calculations to determine proper electrical service size for the facility. Calculations were also provided to prove that the lighting design supplies adequate light for the building’s needs without causing light pollution. Emergency power serving the entire building is provided via emergency diesel generator and fuel tank rated to provide 72-hour run time at 100% load.
Sustainable design features include utilizing the building vestibule in winter to mix outdoor cold air with buffer air before entering the building. This can achieve a 3% energy savings during the winter season. Lighting and plumbing systems in the building also afford water and energy conservation. LED lighting throughout, along with occupancy sensors reduce electricity consumption and lower the building carbon footprint in the process. The low maintenance of LED fixtures and decreased need to replace them means less material is required throughout the lifetime of the building. LED lighting fixtures also use significantly less electricity than incandescent or fluorescent lighting, reducing the amount of energy used to operate and adequately use the building. The low-flow plumbing fixtures included in the new fire station reduce water consumption by at least 20% when compared to conventional fixtures, that translates into measurable savings in both water and sewage flow, as well as savings in the energy used to heat the water.
Project Type: Public Safety,
