EMR Embarks on Building Commissioning Project at Gib Lewis High Security
Prison
ARLINGTON, Va. –
When the new $24.4 million, 145,000-square-foot Gib Lewis High Security
Unit in Woodville, Tex., begins operating this year, it will have
undergone an extensive building commissioning process which assures
that the facility’s HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems are
in compliance with its design specifications.
The Texas Department
of Criminal Justice chose EMR, a Virginia-based engineering consulting
firm specializing in facilities commissioning, operations and maintenance,
to manage this large-scale project. The company also will commission
the Preston E. Smith High Security Unit in Lamesa and the Clements
High Security Unit in Amarillo (see related press releases).
EMR’s work covers
writing the commissioning plan and specifications and supervising
the testing and balance (TAB) for the project. The following are systems
some of the systems being commissioned:
- Electrical systems
- transfer switching, emergency generator, lighting and power supply
- HVAC systems - commissioning
includes chillers, air-handling units, variable air volume boxes,
pumps towers, boilers and smoke and kitchen exhaust
- Plumbing systems
- pure water, lab waste and domestic water
The 660-cell high security
prison that will house 1,320 inmates is made up of high security cells,
medical and food service areas and office and administrative space.
"Building commissioning
throughout the design and construction phases of a building project
is essential to producing a truly operational facility," says
EMR President Naresh Khosla. "The sooner problems are detected,
the sooner solutions are found – and at a much less costly fix
than having to go in after all the systems are installed and the walls
in place."
For additional information
on other EMR building commissioning projects, contact Kate Kelly at
(323) 874-3458,
or at kkellyemr@aol.com.
