National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, Fort Detrick, Maryland

Mechanical, HVAC & Plumbing Systems Installation Services

The Biotech Facility Project

The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), located at the National Intragency Biodefense Campus in Fort Detrick, Maryland, will provide technologies, products and capabilities to support the Department of Homeland Security in fulfilling its responsibilities to protect the United States against terrorist attacks and disasters involving biological threat agents.

NBACC, a 240,000 SF facility, is comprised of ten laboratories designed and constructed to Biosafety Levels 2, 3 and 4 and includes a vivarium, administration and support spaces. The facility also contains a full-scale operational bioforensics capability and a smaller capability to perform threat characterization research of bio-threat agents.

Poole & Kent Mechanical Contractor Role

As the mechanical contractor, Poole and Kent was responsible for the installation of the mechanical systems and equipment listed below. Due to the sensitive nature of bio-threat agents, the building requires specialized HVAC, plumbing, and piping systems including:

• Breathing air system
• HEPA filtration
• Pressure seal doors
• Biowaster cooker system; and
• Complex building controls systems to maintain required laboratory pressurization.
• Chilled water supply and return (13,000 LFT)
• High / Medium / Low Pressure Steam (6,700 LFT)
• High / Medium / Low Pressure Condensate (6,500 LFT)
• Reheat Supply and Return (33,000 LFT)
• High Pressure Steam Condensate (10,000 LFT)
• Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping (12,000 LFT)
• Animal Watering System/Vivarium (1,200 LFT)
• Storm Water (2,500 LFT)
• Lab Water (22,000 LFT)
• BW3 Waste and Vent (6,000 LFT)
• Medical Gas (14,000 LFT)
• Domestic Water (18,000 LFT)
• Lab Waste and Vent (9,000 LFT)
• BW4 Stainless (5,000 LFT)
• DI Water System (1,000 LFT)

The laboratory hot and cold water, hot water return, domestic hot and cold water consists of eight rack systems which are located in three interstitial levels with 520 LFT of piping per level. Poole and Kent worked with Gilbane to install embeds for mechanical services in poured concrete containment areas and have worked closely with all trades to ensure the accuracy of coordinated drawings. Poole and Kent’s in-house capabilities to produce pre-fabricated plumbing components and pipe contributed to the overall efficiency of the installation and timeliness of the project. Due to the sensitive environment of laboratories, Poole and Kent worked with the quality control authority in order to validate acceptable materials and equipment furnished to the biotech facility project. We continued this strict attention to quality control through the completion of the commissioning phase, we worked with the authority to validate functional performance of mechanical, plumbing and HVAC systems.

Mechanical Construction Challenges/ Achievements/ Goals

Given the location and function of the NBACC facility, this mechanical construction project required a strict security protocol. As a result, all personnel were required to have security clearances daily and all deliveries were coordinated so that work is not delayed by the security protocol for the Ft. Detrick military base. Poole and Kent assessed the security requirements during the preconstruction phase and successfully managed the security requirements for 150 personnel. Through preplanning and heavy coordination with our vendors and subcontractors, we ensured timely deliveries for the project. We continued these efforts throughout the duration of the project to ensure adherence to the project schedule.

Client:
DHS/ FLETEC

Architect:
Perkins + Will

Engineer:
Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

General Contractor:
Gilbane Building Company

Mechanical Contractor:
The Poole and Kent Corporation