Campus steam pipe replacement — Manchester VAMC.

Design services

• Replacement of main steam and condensate piping from boiler plant to Building 1
• Replacement of steam distribution piping throughout the main building
• Electrical and fire protection engineering
• Coordination with civil engineering and asbestos testing
• Construction drawings, specifications and cost estimates
• Advanced 3D scanning and remote surveying tools to document existing conditions

Challenges and solutions

1. Confined space in subbasement tunnel

Challenge. Replacing steam piping within a 500-foot-long subbasement tunnel — classified as a confined space — located beneath active offices and patient care areas. Parts of the tunnel were only 4 feet high.

Solution. Deployed a remote-access vehicle equipped with a 3-camera system to survey and document tunnel conditions. Captured detailed videos to identify steam traps, valves and critical components. Provided tunnel videos to contractors during bidding to enable more accurate bids.

2. Complexity in the main mechanical room

Challenge. Dense, complex arrangement of piping and valves — difficult to document and design upgrades accurately.

Solution. Used 3D scanning to create a detailed Revit BIM model of the mechanical room. Conducted on-site surveys to confirm and label pipes and valves. Integrated the 3D model into design documents to reduce ambiguity and mitigate change orders.

Key outcomes

• Modernized steam distribution. The new piping system improved reliability and operational efficiency.
• Accurate documentation. Remote surveying and 3D scanning provided contractors with highly accurate models.
• Improved bidding. Detailed tunnel videos and 3D models led to more competitive, realistic bids.
• Enhanced safety. Remote-access vehicles eliminated the need for surveyors to enter confined spaces.