HIGH-RISE CASE STUDY IN B.C.

An Outage at a Downtown High-Rise Calls for a Carefully Executed Response

Emergency outages are rarely straightforward. When they happen in a crowded downtown core, it increases the complexity of the response significantly.

From noise restrictions to safety concerns to accessibility, the challenges involved in delivering a fast, effective temporary power solution in an urban location are many.

With our decades of experience, streamlined approach and unparalleled access to temporary power inventory, Trinity Power thrives on challenges like this one.

The Client: An Award-Winning Industry Leader

Founded nearly 80 years ago by a father-son team, this Electrical Contractor has truly set the standard for the industry. From their humble beginnings on Canada’s West Coast, this client now employs over 900 workers and completes projects for governments, utilities, health authorities and other VIP customers. The services they provide include general contracting, electrical, building automation and safety, maintenance and inspections and 24/7 emergency response.

The Challenge: An Emergency Outage in a Downtown Core

When the main electrical vault of a mixed-use tower in the heart of Downtown Vancouver failed, our client was the first on the scene. In order to serve both the businesses and residents that
call the building home, a quick temporary power solution was needed. Adding to the challenge were space limitations and noise restrictions due to the tower’s location.

We have partnered with this client on previous projects, so they knew that the Trinity team would be able to design and source a fast, best-fit solution. As usual, Trinity delivered.

Our Approach: Fast, Experienced and Collaborative

The Trinity team began working on a solution right away. Because of limited space and noise bylaws, a generator was not going to be the best option. Instead, Trinity provided a 1250kVA 12.5kV – 120/208V substation – the same kVA size and voltage as the one that had failed.

Our team quickly prepped and delivered the substation and the necessary low-voltage 4/0 camlok cable. Working with an onsite contractor who provided the medium-voltage cable, our techs modified the primary connection point to the substation to allow for an easy installation based on the cable specifications.

Then came a hitch: the plan was to place the substation in the building’s loading bay at street level. However, the bay was a suspended slab, and it was uncertain whether it would hold the unit’s 21,000 lbs of weight. In another feat of teamwork, a structural engineer was located on very short notice to review the drawings and certify the use of the loading bay for the required weight.

The Result: A Reliable, Low-Maintenance Solution

Thanks to Trinity’s fast response and the collaboration between contractors, our client was able to quickly restore power to the building, allowing residents and businesses to resume their regularly scheduled operations.

The generator-free solution allowed our client to focus on the repair without having to worry about refueling or maintenance.