Integrated MEP Engineering for Livermore Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Facility

Category: Industrial

Overall Area: 250,000 Sq.Ft.

Services Provided: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing

Completion Date: 2024

Owner: Livermore OAKS Joint Venture LLC

Contractors(s): D.H. Griffin Companies

Project Description

Pragmatic Professional Engineers executed a comprehensive suite of MEP services for Livermore Tools, a leading electric vehicle manufacturing facility located in Livermore, CA. Our work focused on the retooling of the facility to support new and relocated equipment, ensuring the systems were efficient, safe, and well-integrated.

Pragmatic PE handled the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) scopes of work, ensuring all systems were properly designed, integrated, and coordinated across the facility.

• Mechanical Scope of Work
  The mechanical scope of work involved ventilation design to accommodate the new equipment. We reviewed manufacturer documentation and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to assess the existing ventilation system and designed a new exhaust system where needed. Due to the absence of an exhaust report from the manufacturer for the new equipment, we engaged a third-party environmental technician to conduct an air quality test. This test helped us determine the pollution type and concentration, allowing us to design an effective filtration solution for the facility.

• Electrical Scope of Work
  Our electrical engineering services for the Livermore Tools facility included the design and installation of an 800A, 277/480V, 3-phase distribution panel to support new and relocated equipment, such as welders and antifriction machines. This panel was integrated into the existing distribution system, with all feeders running on a new 18” wide cable tray using tray-rated multiwire cables (TC-ER). We also calculated the available short circuit current using SKM software to ensure the panel met the required AIC ratings. Additionally, two 100% rated 400A circuit breakers were added to the existing 4000A switchgear to power new vacuum laminators.

  To ensure the building's electrical load was accurately assessed, we used the utility company’s one-year peak demand data and a 7-day load recording on the existing switchgear. We also provided conduit and boxes for future data outlets and connections, coordinating closely with the mechanical and process piping teams to ensure seamless integration and communication across the project.

• Plumbing Scope of Work
  Our plumbing work focused on the process piping system, particularly the Compressed Dry Air (CDA) system. We sized and routed new CDA piping for the new equipment, ensuring the existing oversized system could support the additional load. Field-generated as-built drawings were created to accurately reflect the current conditions and maintain the operation of existing equipment. Before connecting to the existing CDA system, we conducted thorough verification of the new consumption levels to ensure proper functionality.

The retooling of the Livermore Tools facility was successfully completed, with all systems meeting the high standards required for efficient electric vehicle manufacturing. Pragmatic PE’s interdisciplinary coordination ensured that all aspects of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems were seamlessly integrated, providing a safe and efficient work environment. This project highlighted our capability to deliver complex engineering solutions in a fast-paced industrial setting.