Camden High School - Cooler Classrooms
Mechanical, Electrical and Solar
School Infrastructure NSW (NSW Government) is rolling out the “Cooler Classrooms” program which aims to provide healthy and comfortable learning environments in NSW schools.
The scope of the program generally includes providing filtered outside air (for maintaining CO2 levels) and air conditioning to individual learning spaces. Additional power consumption is being offset through the introduction of solar power PV and batteries.
Project Information
Location: Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Client: School Infrastructure NSW
Engagement: Design Consultant
Sectors: Buildings, Education
Services: Building Services
Year: 2019
Camden High School is in Southwest Sydney and was constructed in 2001.
EPES were engaged by SINSW to deliver the design for ventilation, air conditioning, electrical and solar PV design and prepare contract documents for tendering.
The Problem
There are several challenges in retrospectively installing ventilation and air conditioning systems into a public high school, which was not originally provided with air conditioning:
- Availability of power onsite for new air conditioning units
- Noise created in an educational space
- Reticulation space for pipes and services
- Secure and safe external space for air conditioning units
Analysis and Implementation
EPES were required to undertake extensive inspections of the site to ascertain the best location and reticulation paths for providing air conditioning and ventilation to the nominated Learning Spaces.
Once air conditioning and ventilation requirements were determined, EPES evaluated the suitability of the existing power supply for new equipment and undertook detailed design of electrical supply upgrades required. This included ASP3 design with the Supply Authority, Endeavour Energy. Our design process included revisiting maximum demand assumptions and calculations to refine electrical demands.
Following the mechanical and electrical design, the required solar PV capacity was determined in order to offset the additional power use and solar PV design as undertaken.
Outcome
EPES received positive feedback from independent reviewers of the quality of documentation prepared for this package. We were also able to avoid expensive transformer upgrades with the supply authority by challenging assumptions in maximum demands.
Challenging assumptions used in the design process can enable significant cost savings and reduced construction work. Experienced design engineers can save significant cost in construction by challenging conservative design assumptions.
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