demolition machinery, environmental remediation workers, rigging industrial equipment

Electrical Rigging and Controls Project

Rigging, BIM

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services was challenged with rigging setting and assembling major electrical equipment and control systems for a new pharmaceutical company. The project consisted of major electrical gear outside the building, and substations and controls inside the building in mechanical spaces.

The outside gear consisted of two large transformers and a 1-megawatt generator with housing. The area behind the building where the outside gear was to be installed was on a steep slope. BIM modeling was used to coordinate and install the large concrete pads that awaited the outside gear. The platforms required safety railings to prevent an accidental fall.

The outside equipment rigging was accessed from a road behind the building at the top of the hill. All of the equipment inside the building was brought in through a temporary loading dock area. The large double-ended substations and motor control centers came in many vertical sections that had to be assembled on-site. Many pre-assembled, factory-tested custom control cabinets, approximately 6 feet wide and 7 feet high, were shipped and rigged directly in place. Fourteen smaller control cabinets were installed throughout the facility as well.

The approved gear shop drawings were used to coordinate rigging and routing, as tolerances were extremely tight inside and out, there was not much room for error. Inside the building, R. Baker and Son worked very closely with electrical trades and manufacturers to ensure detailed assembly was done correctly. Many of the vendors were from overseas, so planning and timing were imperative. Komatsu BBX50 battery fork lifts were used to due to their compact size and large load capacity to help rig, set, and assemble intricate electrical gear. Small electrical heaters were installed in all of the gear to ward off any possible condensation issues.

R. Baker & Son worked with the electrical contractor, third-party commissioning agent, and vendors to verify all work was done to satisfaction.