Transformer Vault Room Design for Commercial/Office Buildings

[arvinolga]

Hi,

Need some guidance regarding the design of a transformer vault room (please see attached link for a copy of the plan). The vault room is beside the genset area but entrance for both is of a rool-up door type. Is there prohibition to use a roll-up door window, assuming everything is satisfied (from ventilation, etc.)? Will this violate some safety regulations?

Thanks
Arvin

 

[arvinolga]

just a follow-up, the cluded portion is the location of the roll-up door.

thanks

 

[123MB]

What is a roll up door window. What are you proposing. Need more detail.

Your roller door looks very close to the TFs you should consider the fire rating of the TF or, if not fire rated, the door.

There looks to be a pillar in front of one of the TFs also.

Looks like a pretty hard-core setup for an office building. 3-off containerised gensets?

 

[jghrist]

You need a personnel door in addition to the roll-up door. The personnel door "shall swing out and be equipped with panic bars, pressure plates, or other devices that are normally latched but open under simple pressure." See NEC Article 450.43.

 

[arvinolga]

oh so sorry, i meant roll-up door only. I also have doubts in using roll-up doors but am not sure if there is a violation as regards the reuired fire rating. Should doors be also fire-rated even if the entry point is already facing the lorry parking area which is considered outside the building?

Any negative implications if the transformer is near a pillar?

Yes, this is basically a building that will cater to business process outsourcing companies, that is why there is such a redundancy.

 

[Morrand]

You should use a fire-rated door here, especially if these are liquid-filled transformers. There's no good reason to give a transformer fire a chance to get out of hand, especially with the building hanging over the delivery area like it does. Too much potential for a fire to spread catastrophically.

If this is subject to NEC, you may well be violating different sections of it by using a non-rated door. Check 450.21 on up through 450.48--you didn't say the type or size of transformers involved but those sections will help answer your questions.

The pillar itself isn't a problem but you'll want to be able to get the transformer back out once the installation is complete. As it is, it looks like the transformer on the left is blocked in by the other transformer and the column.

 

[arvinolga]

Thanks for the advice guys. There isn't really any pillar blocking the entry or potention exit of the transformer if need be.

Transformer size: 2 x 2MVA, 35kV/.400-.230kV, dyn11