Case Studies

For Mission-Critical Commissioning, Verizon Wireless Calls-In Lee

CUSTOMER: Verizon Wireless INDUSTRY: Cellular Communications APPLICATION: Commissioning BENEFITS: Greater System Reliability Ensures Critical Systems Are Ready When Needed Provides Benchmark For Future

As the nation's leading provider of wireless communications, Verizon Wireless has over 40 million customers and the country's largest nationwide wireless voice and data network. In a technology-driven marketplace, Verizon Wireless knows the importance of reliability and performance.

It's no wonder that a technology leader like Verizon Wireless would rely on Lee Technologies to ensure that its state-of-the-art data center offers top performance from day one. With Lee Technologies' Commissioning Services, a client is assured that each component of their mission-critical infrastructure performs precisely as prescribed, individually, and as an integrated system.

Right from the Beginning

Verizon Wireless began construction of its new 42,000 square foot mission-critical Northern California facility in September 2002. Designed to house both a state-of-the-art data center and a major cellular switch site, the facility would need to serve two different internal customer groups with differing design and schedule requirements. And while the demands were different, the challenge remained the same: To ensure that the mission critical systems would operate as designed.

The company had recently completed construction on a similar site and the experience had taught them a valuable lesson. This time the company would hire a qualified expert to fully commission and test the integrated systems prior to bringing the facility online.

A variety of components and systems power, cool, and protect a mission-critical facility. It is the sum of these pieces that makes an integrated infrastructure. A deficiency in one component can compromise the operation and performance of the whole. Verizon Wireless recognized the need to find a firm with in-depth experience in mission critical systems commissioning to provide complete assurance that the systems perform as required.

Verizon Wireless discovered that Lee Technologies' Site Commissioning offered precisely the solution they needed. A stringent quality management and testing process, Lee Technologies' Site Commissioning Services validate, document and ensure that the facility's systems, subsystems and equipment are planned, designed, installed and tested for conformity and functional performance.

The process extends through all phases of a new or renovated facility's lifecycle, from conceptualization to occupancy, training and operation.Throughout each stage of the process, benchmarks ensure that performance meets or exceeds the facility's design requirements.

Commissioning the Mission-Critical

The new Verizon Wireless facility was designed through a one-year process of design, evaluation, re-design and re-evaluation involving an experienced architectural firm, MEP engineering firm and the client's own engineering groups.

Lee Technologies worked alongside the design engineers of record and the General Contractor's MEP coordinator, to develop a custom, comprehensive Commissioning (Cx) and Integrated System Test (IST) plan that would effectively test the major critical systems while also taking into account the project budget.This plan was presented by the team to the client's representative, who agreed with the recommendations and approved the plan.

The facility's mission-critical infrastructure includes MGE UPS Systems, MGE STS/PDUs, MGE PMMs, Wet Cell Batteries,Two Parallel CAT Engine Generators, ISO Paralleling Switchgear, Two Carrier 200 Ton Chillers, GE Switchgear, Automated Logic Controls and 15 Liebert CRAHs. Lee provided a team of technical specialists with skills in switchgear, mechanical systems, controls and monitoring. Over a two-month period the Lee experts oversaw the the start-up, testing, troubleshooting and re-testing of each mission-critical system.

The Sum of the Parts

After the client and the Lee Technologies experts were convinced that all individual systems were operating properly, an IST was performed over a 5-day period to verify that the building systems were working together as one integrated system.

The IST simulates a full range of possible real-world operating scenarios to assure that all separate systems, once commissioned independently, would operate properly as an integrated system.

Lee's Technical Specialists worked closely with the subcontractors and equipment vendors to troubleshoot system deficiencies and quickly resolve issues to help keep the project on schedule.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Prior to this project Verizon Wireless had never considered utilizing a third party commissioning agent to provide Cx and IST. Like many end-users, Verizon had previously relied on the General Contractor or Design Engineers to provide whatever commissioning they deemed necessary. However, Verizon Wireless now recognizes the value of using an independent third-party expert, such as Lee Technologies, to ensure that equipment and systems are delivered complete, installed correctly and functioning properly.

The advantages are significant. While general contractors are skilled in construction, Lee Technologies' team of specialists are experts in specific needs of mission-critical facilities. In addition, Lee specialists are far more experienced in the commissioning process than the typical engineering firm. The Lee Commissioning process is specifically designed for the mission-critical facility's infrastructure.

What's more, by utilizing a third party firm such as Lee, potential conflicts of interest are eliminated.

The commissioning process identified possible areas of failure and corrected them prior to occupation by the client. This provided the highest possible level of reliability for the facility beginning day one. In addition, the commissioning process yields a well documented baseline for future periodic commissioning and troubleshooting. Finally, going through the commissioning process provides to the client a business partner who now has in-depth knowledge of the facility and its critical systems.

Lee Commissioning provided Verizon Wireless the best of both worlds; a brand new state-of-the-art facility, and proven functionality, compatibility and reliability of all critical environmental, electrical and mechanical components and systems. With Lee Commissioning, Verizon Wireless can rest assured that when challenges arise, their mission-critical facility is ready.

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