Burj Khalifa Tower
IMI Hydronic Engineering saves time and creates the perfect climate for the world’s tallest building.
The Hydronic Challenge
Projected to be the tallest building in the world upon its completion in 2008, the prestigious Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith and is being constructed by Skidmore, Owings & Merill – the global leader in creating super-tall structures – for Emaar Properties. Skidmore Owings & Merill is leading the architectural, structural engineering and mechanical engineering of the Burj Khalifa.
Covering a staggering 344,000sqm, the Burj Khalifa represents the ultimate in luxury accommodation; residential units, hotels – including the flagship new Armani Hotel – four swimming pools, several restaurants, a library, and a 15,000sqm fitness suite which will all be enclosed in the 808m high tower.
Such a broad scope of applications, the sheer height of the building, and the extreme heat of its location, mean that a consistent internal climate is absolutely vital. Hyder Consulting, on behalf of Skidmore Owings & Merill, requires a highly efficient and effective cooling system for this remarkable building to be designed, installed and commissioned, on budget and to tight time constraints.
The solution
The 8,000 or so valves specified by Hyder Consulting include manual balancing valves, differential pressure control valves, terminal valves and other combination valves. Bespoke balancing valves recommended by and commissioned from IMI Hydronic Engineering are capable of controlling a complex cooling system throughout the building, comprising some 946,000 litres of water. The time-savings inherent in the IMI Hydronic Engineering solution provide significant value over alternative approaches.
The time taken for the system to be commissioned was crucial for the installers because, under contractual obligations, delays will be penalised.
IMI Hydronic Engineering was able to present the contractor with an innovative and more time efficient installation, based on its understanding of the customer’s unique requirements. Throughout the process, IMI Hydronic Engineering ensured that the proposed solution was fully understood by all parties. This customer-focused approach instilled confidence in both the workability and the essential time savings inherent in the innovative solution.