Headquartered
in West Sacramento, California, The Money Store’s existing facilities were
inadequate for its growing staff. To help with its consolidation and expansion,
The Money Store contracted with E.M. Kado and Associates to design a new
facility to meet their needs. Wanting to complement and enhance the West
Sacramento skyline, E.M. Kado and Associates designed the new building with a
distinctive tiered appearance.
The mechanical systems in this unique building were designed and installed by
Airco Mechanical, Inc. They selected several Ruskin products to control the
ventilation system and provide the HVAC life/safety protection. Norman Wright
Mechanical Equipment, Co., Ruskin’s Sacramento representative, provided expert
support to complete the design, installation and commissioning of the system.
The HVAC system includes chillers installed in the basement level. With two
74,000 CFM centrifugal fans, outside air and return air are directed to a large
acoustical plenum. The system is designed with efficiency in mind and to meet
ASHRAE 62-89 recommendations. The HVAC system also includes life safety pro-tection
which, in case of a fire, helps prevent flame spread and smoke migration within
the building, including the four-story atrium.
Airco
selected the Ruskin IAQ50 air flow measuring and control damper to control the
minimum outside air and report the information to the Building Automation System
(BAS). The IAQ50 damper is installed in the outside air plenum. This is matched
with Ruskin’s CD36 low leakage dampers which are installed in the outside air
openings of the plenum. The outside air dampers remain in the full closed
position except when the building’s controls signal a free cooling condition.
When the outside air dampers open, the IAQ50’s flow measuring and control
functions are bypassed. When the outside air dampers close, the IAQ50 returns to
measuring and controlling the minimum outside air. CD36 dampers are also
installed in the plenum wall to control the return air path.
Ruskin CD80VG2 dampers are installed on the discharge of the return and
supply air centrifugal fans to prevent air backflow if one fan is off-line for
maintenance. A Ruskin CBS7 backdraft damper is installed on the discharge of the
smoke exhaust fan located in the Penthouse. The damper prevents backflow into
the smoke exhaust system when the system is not in operation.
To help protect the employees and provide a safer environment, Ruskin fire
dampers and combination fire/smoke dampers are installed in HVAC penetrations of
fire rated shaft enclosures, walls and corridors throughout the building.
All of the Ruskin combination fire smoke dampers include "Controlled
Closure" design. This 3-15 second controlled closure design protects the
HVAC system from instantaneous pressure shocks that occur without this important
feature.
"Ruskin's complete product offering simplifies the HVAC design
process," says Dean Schouweiler, Airco Mechanical Senior Project Engineer.
Bob Beyer, Norman Wright Mechanical Equipment, agrees. "Having the broad range
of products Ruskin offers made this project a win-win for everyone involved.
This job included a number of unique challenges and Ruskin provided the
solutions."
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Ruskin
