HVAC Replacement In Schools
Leave a CommentHVAC renovations of public and private schools are most commonly completed during a hectic, fast-paced 8-10 week period when students and staff are out for the summer. Only in cases where an extensive complete rehabilitation of a school is required will the students and faculty be temporarily placed in other buildings until the work is finished. A detailed well-planned schedule must be created to meet the timeline during the summer. Everyone has to be on board, and that includes equipment suppliers, fabricators, subcontractors, waste management companies, and testing and balancing personnel. Coordination and task assignments must be clearly communicated by the project manager prior to the start of the project. Let’s look at some of the main elements of a successful HVAC replacement project.
Equipment: We immediately contact our equipment suppliers as soon as we receive the Leter of Intent from the school; This is especially important for long lead-time items.These purchases must be completed early so that equipment doesn’t arrive late and delay the project. As an added measure of security, Waco will utilize our large 100,000 sf + warehouse to store equipment. This will allow the equipment to be readily available when needed, and protected from damage while in our possession,instead of on a jobsite. No piece of equipment can be overlooked, as even the smallest control module could cause delays that impact successful completion of the project.
Fabrication: Waco has in-house fabrication capabilities, and also utilizes a network of outside fabricators. Every piece of structural steel support, sheet metal duct, plumbing and hydronic piping that can be made in advance will be fabricated prior to the start of the project. Having these components labelled, correctly identified and stored safely will save time when the project begins. Our experienced Project Managers know the balance between which components might be best field fabricated vs made ahead of time, as changes in layout or design of the project can often occur.
Subcontractors: Although Waco utilizes over 80% of our own in-house workforce to complete a project, there can be critical areas where a subcontractor’s expertise is required. Waco’s utilizes only subcontractors that can be trusted to perform as planned. If necessary, Waco will assist a subcontractor in any way possible, from storing of materials to providing additional labor. Good communications with the subcontractors takes place early in the project and continues throughout the job.Early feedback, both positive and negative, can often avoid critical last-minute changes.
Waste Management & Storage: As large as many schools are, there is almost always less room than anticipated, to store materials and have sufficient office space. Efficient use of dumpsters for the demolition portion of a job can save time in many ways. We know which waste management companies have the right equipment and can perform, and which ones don’t. An overflowing dumpster, left siting for days can be a problem from both a logistic and safety perspective. Proper housekeeping during the entire project will increase productivity and further reduce safety concerns.Adequate space for storage of equipment and materials must be planned in advance. Materials movement should be minimized before final placement. Proper storage must be provided to combat the effects of weather and damage.
Engineering / Owner Support: Success on an HVAC demolition and replacement depends upon a good working relationship between the contractor, the owner (school system) and the Engineering firm selected by the school . The owner normally expects the engineer to make critical decisions regardingequipment type, material specifications, installation changes and approval of payments. The owner will assist on logistics, such as which buildings to start first, site security and access requirements. Over the years, Waco has cultivated relationships with both owners and engineers and has established a level of trust and expertise that provides confidence in our construction approach and quality control measures. When the final inspection of the building and the new HVAC systems are being conducted, a quality contractor such as Waco will have a minimal amount of corrections or adjustments
Preparing for the unplanned: Waco has decades of experience with many different types of HVAC systems. With that experience comeslessons learned that other contractors may not have acquired. Weather conditions, structural building issues, lack of sufficient utility service and many other unforeseen issues must be considered in the schedule. There will be times of less productivity. None of these should deter us from delivering a complete project on schedule. Proper project management
will keep things moving forward with minimal adjustments and delays.
Contact Waco and be confident that your next project will be professionaly installed, on time, and worry-free.