Life Science

Laboratory Exhaust Replacement

Waltham, MA

Two new high-plume laboratory exhaust fans standing on their roof curbs against the sky

Market: Life Science
Location: Waltham, MA
Services: Commercial HVAC · Custom ductwork · Certified welding · Rooftop units

Scope of work

Replacement of the rooftop laboratory exhaust fans on an occupied life-science building: removal of the existing fans and ductwork, new curb adapters, and new high-plume exhaust units set, connected and started.

Challenges

The building stayed in use throughout. Everything came off and went back on by crane over a live roof, and the old curbs had corroded where the ductwork met the deck.

How we ran it

Rigging was sequenced so every pick happened in one crane day, with the equipment staged and checked in the lot beforehand. New curb adapters were fitted to the openings that were already there rather than cutting the roof again.

Results

New exhaust fans set, connected and running, with the roof left clean and the old units removed from site the same day.

On the job

13 photos from start to finish.

Two corroded roof curbs with the old exhaust ductwork cut away and wiring exposed — Before: the curbs the old fans came off

An open rectangular roof penetration with the old duct removed and the curb exposed — The penetration, opened up and made safe

Two removed exhaust fans and their motors loaded on a flatbed truck — The old fans, off the roof and on the truck

New exhaust fans and filter sections staged on dunnage in a parking lot — New equipment staged and checked before the lift

A crane lifting a tall exhaust fan stack past a stone retaining wall — One crane day: every pick planned in sequence

An exhaust fan stack on four rigging slings, flying in above the roof — A stack coming in on the hook

A worker in a hi-vis vest guiding a large rigged housing down onto a roof — Landing a housing by hand, tag line on

A new exhaust stack being set down onto its roof curb — Setting the stack on its curb

A single new exhaust stack standing on its curb with a worker at the roof rail — First one set and plumb

Looking up into the underside of a new plenum section — Inside the plenum before it was closed up

A close view of a louvre face and bird screen on a new unit — Louvre face and screen, from the roof side

Two completed high-plume exhaust fans on a roof, seen from the side — Both stacks complete

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