OBJECTIVE:
On-Call Service
Strang’s history with USDA Forest Products Lab extends back to 1967 to the design of a wood chemistry laboratory and has continued throughout each decade with an entrance remodeling, a condition survey of buildings 39 and 40, a boiler replacement, a five-year IDIQ contract from 2011-2016, and a current, on-going IDIQ. Our projects have included dozens of renovations, analysis, evaluations, designs, campus planning and system replacements.
Projects Completed:
- Campus Projects Master Plan
- Facility Assessments
- Heat Exchanger
- B1 Chilled Water Plant
- B1 Chilled Water Plant
- B4-B15 Roof Replacement
- Laboratory Design
- Fume Hood Replacement
- Bridge Connection Design
- Window Replacement
- USGS Office Design
- Courtyard Design
- Steam Condensation Repair
- Forest Service Fire Test Fume
- NRS Grand Rapids, MN Roof Upgrade
- B34 Column Repair
- B29 Arches
- B1 Library Planning
- Sanitary and Storm Sewer Evaluation and Design
- B33 Window Replacement
SOLUTION:
Building 34 & 50
Lab renovations in Building 34 included replacement of all wood casework, epoxy tops, and fume hoods. Electrical raceway was salvaged, re-painted, and re-installed to support the new users. Utility upgrades include converting the exhaust system to VAV and waste and vent piping that had deteriorated from heavy acid use. Upgrade finishes were provided throughout. Strang designed for the replacement of failing direct buried steam and condensate piping from the campus steam system to Forest Products Labs Building 50. The new design included proper expansion compensation within a new buried concrete steam box conduit.
Steam Pit
Strang also provided engineering design and documentation for a steam replacement project. This project was done in collaborations with the Department of Facilities Development and Management for the State of Wisconsin. One of the buildings on the Forest Products Laboratory’s site is served from a steam pit tied to the UW-Madison Walnut Street heating plant. The existing 180 PSI steam and pumped condensate return from the steam pit was originally routed underground and direct buried to the building.
Over the course of 10 years, the pumped condensate piping developed a leak from inappropriate piping, insulation, and thermal expansion compensation. As steam condensate leaked underground, it further degraded the steam piping and insulation. The project included evaluation of piping, insulation, and structure of the steam pit, and installation of new concrete box conduit.
HVAC System
An additional project of special note is Strang’s work with Johnson Controls to convert the existing HVAC system of FPL’s Building 33 and 34 to use variable volume supply and exhaust. Strang provided complete load calculations, VAV selections, exhaust fan re-work, and control sequences as part of a performance contract through Johnson Controls, Inc.
Over the course of 10 years, the pumped condensate piping developed a leak from inappropriate piping, insulation, and thermal expansion compensation. As steam condensate leaked underground, it further degraded the steam piping and insulation. The project included evaluation of piping, insulation, and structure of the steam pit, and installation of new concrete box conduit.
