Chilled Water Main Failure
Emergency response and repair of catastrophic 24-inch chilled water main failure at Level 1 trauma center with zero service interruption
CLIENT
Major Metropolitan Healthcare Center
LOCATION
Metro Atlanta
PROJECT TYPE
Emergency Chilled Water System Repair
FACILITY TYPE
Level 1 Trauma Center
The Situation
Our team received a distress call from a major metropolitan healthcare center. This facility had experienced a catastrophic failure on a 24-inch chilled water main. The situation was urgent due to the severe nature of the problem and the fact that it occurred at a major level one trauma center requiring continuous operations.
Our Approach
Our emergency response team mobilized immediately to assess the situation and implement temporary measures while planning permanent repairs. We utilized line stop technology and temporary chilling systems to maintain critical operations throughout the repair process.
The Work
- Emergency assessment and root cause analysis of main failure
- Installation of line stops and line freeze systems
- Deployment of temporary chiller for continuous operations
- Installation of isolation valves for future maintenance access
- Replacement of failed expansion joints and grooved couplings
- Complete system restoration and testing
Special Coordination Requirements
One major challenge was the need to keep the facility open and operational during the repair process, so all work had to be coordinated while continuing to provide the necessary cooling to maintain the customer’s operating requirements. Our team worked around hospital schedules and maintained continuous communication with facility management.
Key Challenges
- Catastrophic failure of critical 24-inch chilled water main
- Zero tolerance for service interruption at trauma center
- Emergency response required for patient safety
- Complex repair in operational healthcare environment
- Need for immediate temporary cooling solutions
Our Solution
- Identified root cause of catastrophic main failure through expert analysis
- Performed emergency line stops and line freezes for safe repair access
- Installed temporary taps for emergency chiller connection
- Implemented strategically staged shutdowns to minimize impact
- Deployed temporary chiller systems to maintain hospital operations
The Results
We successfully restored the water main back to its original center lines, and all effective couplings and expansion devices were replaced without affecting the operation of the facility. As a result, this project was completed as planned without any major interruption to the healthcare facility and to the satisfaction of a distressed customer.
