Scope of Works
As part of the development of the New Museums Site (NMS) in central Cambridge, Power Systems International were asked to provide secondary emergency back-up power for the North Range buildings by installing an Evacuation Lift Power System (ELPS).
Providing an evacuation system for people with limited mobility was the client’s main objective, as well as legal compliance and reducing carbon footprint.
An emergency, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system would provide the added benefit of creating a new and refurbished space by opening up the upper floor of the building and incorporating a student services centre and examination hall.
The installation was to be part of the second phase of the NMS master plan for a significantly improved public space in this important central site.
Carbon Footprint Considerations
The evacuation lift selected by the client has regenerative capabilities. The regen lift power is in keeping with their commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, as power is returned to the grid when it isn’t needed. This secondary power is typically less than is needed to power the ELPS, but savings and ecological impact are significant.
Lift Emergency Power
During normal operation of the installed ELPS unit, where there is mains power, the power is returned to the mains, bypassing the unit. Should power become lost, the regenerative load is passed back to the unit which is handled by our selectable regenerative bolt-on. The bolt-on allows for the increase in the power required to burn off the regenerative load, but only when the unit is running.
Project Implementation
The ELPS was to be installed on the fourth floor, giving us logistical challenges to overcome. Both the unit and the bolt-on were craned into position and then moved over a step of approximately 10cm. This part of the project was managed by our partners, REM Engineering.
Overview
This was an interesting project for Power Systems International. We overcame the challenges of handling regenerative load and positioning units on the fourth floor. By providing secondary power in an ecological way we were able to support our client to be DDA and BS9999 compliant.
