Comox Valley Plant Fire Water System

Client: The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD)

Location: Vancouver Island, BC

Engineering and design of a firewater system, including hydraulic calculations and constructable alternatives to protect schedule and budget.

Engineering ServicesFire Protection DesignHydraulic CalculationsSystem DesignPiping Design
Comox Valley Plant Fire Water System - IFEL Engineering case study

Project Overview

This project required a robust firewater solution with clear calculations and documentation supporting code-compliant performance and practical installation.

The firewater system needed to provide adequate coverage for the entire plant facility, including pump station configuration, distribution piping headers, and integration with sprinkler systems. A key challenge was ensuring the design could accommodate procurement realities while meeting all performance requirements.

Engineering Approach

IFEL completed hydraulic calculations, reviewed system configuration, and identified design elements that could impact cost and schedule. Comprehensive calculations were performed to size pumps, piping headers, and sprinkler system components.

Where procurement constraints existed, we proactively developed alternative configurations that maintained required performance while aligning with available equipment options. The design review focused on constructability, identifying potential installation challenges early to prevent costly field modifications.

  • Hydraulic calculations and system sizing
  • Design review focused on constructability and procurement risk
  • Alternatives development to align purchased equipment with performance requirements

Outcome

The client received a comprehensive design package including detailed hydraulic calculations, equipment specifications, piping layouts, and installation details. The alternative solutions developed for pump procurement constraints ensured the project could proceed without delays while maintaining all required fire protection performance criteria.

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