Project: US Airways Terminal Building Boiler and Chiller Replacement

Location: LaGuardia Airport , New York

Completion Date: Spring 2003

Total Square Footage: 2,300

The existing facility at the US Airways terminal, located at LaGuardia Airport , used three direct-fired boiler/chiller machines, to generate hot water to heat the terminal in the winter and cold water to condition the terminal in the summer. The record-setting heat waves in the summer of 2002 proved to be too much for these aging units.

US Airways, Inc. turned to Carrier Corporation and McClave Engineering, P.C. to renovate the terminal’s boiler room and restore the system to working order. To accomplish this, the three existing units had to be removed and the existing piping modified to accept two new boilers and two new chillers. McClave Engineering, P.C. was able to coordinate the replacement of the older units in phases and plan for supplemental heating to virtually eliminate system downtime while the boiler installation proceeded through the fall and winter of 2002.

Once the installation of the new boilers was completed in January of 2003, phasing began on the installation of two new Carrier hermetic centrifugal chillers. Again, planning and coordination was key to installing these two chiller units. The installation was designed to minimize alterations to the existing piping and controls, thus limiting interrupts to the normal operation of the facility. The existing 4,160 volt electrical service was also upgraded and extended to provide power for the new chillers.