07/02/18
To successfully supply fans to the VAE Group for the Christchurch Hospital, Fantech has completed a series of seismic testing on a group of its fans.
“In light of the series of devastating earthquakes that affected Christchurch in recent years, the ability of engineering systems in building to be securely restrained for an earthquake – and preventing them from collapsing or damaging property – has become increasingly important,” Fantech says.
“Similarly, it is important that essential engineering systems – such as ventilation for operating theatres and areas handling medical emergencies – continue to function in critical buildings such as hospitals both during and after an earthquake.”
Working with a leading Australian university, Fantech tested a number of in-line Axial, PowerLine and FlexLine fans to ensure they met the requirements of New Zealand Standard 4219:2009. NZS4219 sets out the seismic performance requirements of engineering system related to a building’s function.
“Although NZS4219 provides requirements for retaining engineering systems in buildings to resist seismic actions, it does not define or establish a test method for shake-table testing of non-structural equipment,” says Fantech Group engineering manager Kerry Dumicich, M.AIRAH.
“It does, however, define acceleration limits.”
AC156-Seismic Certification by Shake-table Testing of Non-structural Components is an International Code Council (ICC) standard, and the most internationally accepted verification method.
Together with its university partner, Fantech testing the selected fans to the maximum acceleration outlined within NZS4219. Additionally, the fans were testing to the acceleration limits specified within the design requirements of the Christchurch Hospital project.
All fans testing passed AC156 shake-table testing at both acceleration limits and continued to operate afterwards.
“As a result of this successful testing,” Dumicich says, “Fantech is now able to offer a range of fans that have been testing at the highest seismic acceleration limits for both New Zealand and Australia.”
For further details, please visit fantech.com.au