How to Build a Skyscraper: Part III

 

The Human Environment: After the exterior of the skyscraper has been completed, construction of the human environment can begin. This includes the installation of elevators, fireproofing and life safety systems. 

Elevators: The most important aspect of elevator construction is the installation of guiderails.  If the guiderails are not installed properly, the elevator ride will be rough, noisey or both.  These conditions become more aggravated and noticeable as the elevtor travels at higher speeds.  Depending on the height of the building in which the elevator will operate, additional testing of the elevator systems may be necessary.  For example, in the Taipai 101 -- one of the world's tallest skyscrapers -- the express elevators that travel at a top speed of 37 miles per hour has to be pressure tested.  This is true because the elevator chamber was designed to pressurize on the way up and depressurize on the way down in order to protect passengers ears from popping due to the dramatic elevation changes. 

Fireproofing: Monocoat MK6 is applied to the steel structure to fireproof the building. This is a gypsum based cement-like material that goes on wet and dries to the steel after application.  Its jobis to insulate the steel from extreme heat during a fire, thereby allowing the steel to maintain its strength and support the building.  This is incredibly important because fires inside skyscrapers can easily reach 2,000 degrees fahrenheit, BUT steel begins to loose its strength integrity at about 1,000 degrees fahrenheit.  Without this fireprotection, the steel would melt and the skyscraper would collapse during fires.

 

Life Safety Systems: These include the fire sprinkler systems, stairwell pressurization controls and smoke management.    These systems can be modeled and tested using the Fire Dynamic Simulator, which allows the construction and/or design team to run multiple scenarios to determine how the building or parts of the building will react under certain circumstances.  Adjustments and revisions to the proposed systems can then be made before final construction.