Poco transfomer in basement?

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BrianMuir

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Comox BC
Hi,
I have a project involving a midrise apartment / retail building. The architect has asked me to look into locating the utility transformer in the basement parking level instead of at surface. I've never come across this before, but I'm fairly new to commercial projects.

Obviously there will be a bunch of issues relating to ventaliation etc. I called my local utility guys but they usualy take a while ro respond. Am curious to see what comments you folks might have.
thanks!
 
I'm referrng to the Hydro owned 3 phase step down transformer, which they spec and install, but require the developer to provide a suitable location. Normally I find a nice little flat bit of ground at surface but as I explained the architect wants it on the parkade level. I imagine this is feasible, and probably common in a dense downtown core...
 
In my experience what happens is the building owner gives a space to the power company with direct access from outside. From that point on only the power company gets access to this space.
 
iwire said:
In my experience what happens is the building owner gives a space to the power company with direct access from outside. From that point on only the power company gets access to this space.
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Yeah, or if with interior access, at least a locked vault under the POCO control.
 
Are you sure the transformer, will even fit down there, from driveway through to door way?

Doesn't your Power Company have some Engineering type spec's, online?

I'm frankly thinking a wet vault outside besides the building, outside would be one wall, verses building up and maintaining the fire rating around a trannie room.

JMO
 
friendlyfire said:
I'm referrng to the Hydro owned 3 phase step down transformer, which they spec and install, but require the developer to provide a suitable location. Normally I find a nice little flat bit of ground at surface but as I explained the architect wants it on the parkade level. I imagine this is feasible, and probably common in a dense downtown core...
Click to expand...

Very common, but you cannot start to think about requirements for the area until you know some info about the transformer.
 
cadpoint said:
Are you sure the transformer, will even fit down there, from driveway through to door way?

Doesn't your Power Company have some Engineering type spec's, online?

I'm frankly thinking a wet vault outside besides the building, outside would be one wall, verses building up and maintaining the fire rating around a trannie room.

JMO
Click to expand...



We got involved with changing out a 750 that the building, and a huge amount of production equipment had all been built aound this xfmr. It took several days just to disassemble equipment and the building to change the xfmr.
 
Given theres some retail in this build, is there a truck loading bay in the basement? If so, then thats another nice place to pop a transformer vault; the doors are indoors, so away from mischeivous hands, but loading bays have decent access, width, height, and weight capability, and so its not so hard to swap out the tranny, if the need ever arises.

This arrangement also places the transformer near the building core, which reduces LV bus length a bit.
 
ok, thanks. Gives me a few ideas, I'm sure than once I pin down one of the local power company guys a solution will become apparent. The guys here are good (especially during the 30% of the time that they aren't on vacation!)
 
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