McKenney's Building Performance Solutions upgraded an inefficient heating system in a Georgia maximum security prison through a comprehensive energy savings performance contract. The project involved the conversion from steam to hot water heating, addressing multiple challenges including safety protocols and scheduling for various trades within a confined space. The successful execution included specialized safety training, on-site supervision by correction officers, and pre-planning to ensure seamless project completion ahead of schedule.

1. Benefiting from Twelve
Months Hard Time

2. Through an energy savings performance contract, McKenney’s Building
Performance Solutions provided a turnkey solution to an aging,
inefficient heating system at a large maximum security prison in
Georgia. We successfully delivered the project for the Georgia
Department of Corrections starting with the development of an initial
Energy Conservation Measure (ECM), then project design and finally
completion ahead of schedule.

3. Challenges
There were three main challenges our team faced during this project:
1. To provide a turnkey solution to convert an outdated heating
system from steam to heating hot water while maintaining heat to
the inmates throughout the project.
2. To maintain a safe working environment daily for our employees in
a confined space.
3. To schedule multiple trade crews to complete work on schedule
around the daily functions of an active prison.

4. Turnkey Solution
McKenney’s provided the design of the mechanical, electrical and
controls work to install the new heating hot water system in all of the
cell blocks. The system included the new steam to hot water heat
exchangers and pumping equipment installed in tight, confined spaces.
Steel and copper piping was routed to the cell blocks where it fed a
total of fifty six unit heaters and twenty fan coil units that were ducted
through the block to provide outside air.
To enable the new mechanical systems to function, a new DDC control
system was engineered for ease of use by the facility. The electrical
system consisted of replacing unsafe electrical panels and transformers
located in the damp conditions. New panels and transformers were
sized to handle the HVAC and relocated into the corridors between the
cell blocks.

5. Safety
The onsite pipe fitters and electricians spent much of their time
working in dark and damp areas that were treated as a non-permitted
confined space.
The McKenney’s project team and safety department understood the
risk of such a work environment early on and developed a specific
safety plan to address the concerns. The plan consisted of emergency
egress procedures, air monitoring, communication protocols and
lighting. Every member of the construction team received personalized
training on the plan along with regular refresher courses throughout
the project.

6. Schedule
In order to work in the facility, each crew was required to be escorted and
supervised by one of the five correction officers provided by the state
through the contract. At times, there were multiple crews of several
trades consisting of pipefitters, sheet metal workers, electricians, controls
technicians and insulators all needing to complete tasks in different areas
throughout the facility. Pre-planning the work through the use of three-
week look-ahead schedules and sending them weekly to the facility was
key in keeping the project on track.
On top of the access challenges, all materials and tools needed to be
checked in daily with security. The McKenney’s superintendent created
individual lockable tool carts for each crew that had pre-printed tool lists
so the crews could move quickly through the gate each morning.

7. While the crews were inside working, the superintendent lined all their
materials and had it ready to go on carts for the next morning. We also
used prefabrication to construct all of the steam and hot water piping
and pump assemblies to greatly reduce the risk of productivity loss.

10. 1056 Moreland Industrial Boulevard
Atlanta, GA 30316
P: 404-622-5000
sales@mckenneys.com
www.mckenneys.com
3601 Performance Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28214
P: 704-357-1200
Atlanta Office:
Charlotte Office: