Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

Tender description

The University of Essex is looking to build a GroDome Structure in a contained controlled environment research facility. It is to provide a new growing facility to improved specification and increased capacity, comply with current regulations not met by the existing facility and Improve energy efficiency with the new facility and reduce energy consumption. Contained controlled environment research facility: The GroDome steel structure will measure externally max 19,17 m x 8,59 m x 3,39 m high from the upstand wall. The structure will be mounted on a concrete upstand wall measuring c.150 mm in height, giving an overall height of c. 3,54 m. The GroDome will be subdivided into 4 research chambers each measuring c.3,105 m x c.6,3 m and 1 research chamber measuring 6,305 m x 6.3 internally. A corridor measuring c.2,1 m wide is separated into three areas: — pressurised lobby, — positive pressure corridor area providing access to the chambers and secondary containment, — a smaller containment area providing secondary containment to Chamber 5 with a sink lab. benching as a preparation area. The GroDome must be designed to provide the following environmental parameters. Temperature: Chambers 1, 2 and 5: maintain a set-point between 18⁰ C and 35⁰ C +/- 2 ⁰C. Chambers 3 and 4: maintain a set-point between 14⁰ C and 35⁰ C +/- 2⁰ C. All conditions within an OAT range of -10⁰ C to + 30⁰ C. All temperature conditions to be met with S.L. on or off. Humidification positive humidification to a maximum condition of 70 % RH at a maximum temperature of 25⁰ C in all chambers. Ventilation and filtration contained facility with no open vents. Supply Air Filters: G4 Extract filters: G4 + F8. Air change rate maximum 3 changes an hour to be reduced to 0,25 if supplementary carbon dioxide is used. Supplementary lighting chamber 1, 2 and 5: HPS lamps free issued by University of Essex 250 umols/m/s @ bench level with adjustable height gantries. Chambers 3, 4: LED fittings to provide 1 000 umols/m/s @ 400 mm with individual height adjustable gantries. LED’s to allow separation of colour hue for different growing conditions. CO2 control chambers 3, 4 and 5 to have additive control of CO2 supplementation with automated air change rate adaptation and filter isolation. Pressurisation and containment research chambers to be held at c.-40 pa in relation to the GroDome corridor. Groundswork and foundation to support this structure will form part of this project.