Services

From Maine to Florida Henry Adams (HA), is widely known for its capacity to design building systems for unique projects. From highly visible public assembly facilities to technical scientific research labs, HA stands as a top-notch engineering firm in the Baltimore area. Many of HA’s clients have come back to the firm for over a decade. From programming, initial concept and investigations to design and construction, our commitment to producing high quality documents provides clients enhanced value. This value becomes evident during construction and operation.

Mechanical Solutions	Economic and Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Electrical Solutions	Energy Analysis
Plumbing Solutions	Feasibility Studies
Fire Protection Solutions	Historic Preservation
Lighting Solutions	Master Planning and Programming
Communication Solutions	Peer Reviews
Security Solutions	Program Management
	Sustainable Design/LEED
Construction Administration	System Commissioning
Contract Documents	System Condition Assessments
Cost Estimating	Value Engineering
Design/Build	Vulnerability Assessments

MECHANICAL SOLUTIONS:

Heating, cooling, air conditioning and ventilation are prevalent building systems. Knowledge of these systems is essential in constructing a comfortable, efficient building. In selecting a new system or upgrading an existing one, we evaluate the following: Occupancy and Use of the Facility, Code Requirements, Available Fuels, Air Quality Criteria, Life Cycle Cost Analysis. Items to consider include thru-wall units, perimeter radiation, re-heat coils, heat exchanger, VAV controls, ice storage and low temperature chilled water. Mechanical systems design by HA engineers include central plants and major utilities distribution of Steam, Hot and Cold Water Service, Sanitary Sewage, Water Mains. HA's experience with central plants includes design of 35 ice storage plants, boiler plants, electric chiller plants, system controls and fuel storage tanks.

ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS:

Henry Adams expertise in electrical power design includes evaluation, analysis, planning, design, specification, startup, and acceptance testing for low and medium voltage systems. Our staff of engineers provides short circuit, load flow, and protective device coordination analysis including protective relay coordination. We provide the professional engineering services to handle both small and large projects - from small system upgrades to complete medium voltage distribution systems serving an entire campus.

Electrical Service: Our engineers are experienced coordinating new services as well as service modifications with utility companies from Maine to Florida . These include the design for utility-owned general rate services and customer-owned primary rate services that include customer-owned distribution equipment consisting of medium voltage substations, switchgear, and transformers. Service types include both radial feed and networked services, pad mounted or in protective vaults. Our engineers accommodate customer requirements for future capacity and growth, physical extensions, and reliability.

Electrical Distribution: Our distribution experience at Henry Adams includes both medium and low voltage distribution systems. We have designed overhead aerial lines across large sites and where security or aesthetics are considerations, direct buried underground distribution, and systems of duct banks and manholes. Our design experience with multiple building types and a wide range of distribution and cabling equipment allows us to implement the most reliable and economical solutions to your facility requirements.

Emergency and Standby Generation: Henry Adams has provided a number of generation solutions for our customers, whether it's a small natural gas engine generator or a large multiple diesel reciprocating engine system. We have extensive experience in paralleling switchgear to control several engine generators and have designed modifications to customer's existing equipment allowing them to back feed the utility with their turbine generators. We have designed central utility plants with load shedding controls of remote transfer switches distributed throughout the site. With the renewed interest in alternative renewable energy sources and LEEDs we are currently evaluating the usefulness of photovoltaic, wind turbine, and fuel cell sources for several projects.

Power Quality: With today's emphasis on reliable power quality requirements Henry Adams is capable of providing multiple solutions. We have designed large paralleled Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) as well as distributed power conditioners and power distribution units (PDUs) and transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) systems. We also have incorporated stored energy flywheel UPS systems into some new projects in conjunction with existing power generation as an effective alternative to the traditional battery UPS.

PLUMBING SERVICES:

Henry Adams, LLC designs plumbing and specialty plumbing systems for all types of buildings. Plumbing is an integral part of the building infrastructure and we develop systems that integrate with the other components of the building.

Specialty System Design: The design of these system types have included containment systems with the use of double wall piping to protect the environment from leaks in a piping system carrying harmful fluid. These systems have a leak detection system to monitor the pipe interstitial space and send an alarm to a monitored location.

Design: We work closely with kitchen consultants and Code Officials during the design process to assure that designs are in compliance with the respective regulatory agencies and not subject to delays or major revisions during the review or construction process.

FIRE PROTECTION SOLUTIONS:

Henry Adams, LLC offers a wide range of fire protection design services for a variety of facilities including preservation and renovation of historical structures, new construction and renovation of educational, healthcare, theaters, student centers, laboratories, churches, community centers, museums, and government facilities. We are members of the National Fire Protection Association and the Automatic Fire Alarm Association.

Fire Suppression Systems: Henry Adams offers design services for water based, clean agent gaseous, and chemical based fire suppression systems. Our design experience includes wet-pipe systems, deluge systems, dry-pipe systems, high pressure water mist, single and double interlock pre-action systems, and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). In situations where water from sprinkler systems might cause catastrophic damage to the items being protected, we have designed FM-200 (and, in the past Halon 1301) clean agent extinguishing systems. Water supplies for our sprinkler system designs range from municipal sources and private wells, to self-contained water supply tanks pressurized by compressed air or nitrogen cylinders. Based on the hazard classification of the facility, our clients' needs, and coordination with architectural elements, our sprinkler system designs included many different types of sprinkler heads such as upright, sidewall, pendant concealed, pendant recessed, dry pendent, and quick response heads.

Fire Alarm and Detection Systems: Henry Adams offers design services for fire alarm systems for both new construction and renovations and for a variety of building occupancy classifications including assembly, computer rooms, commercial kitchens, business, residential, healthcare, dormitories, high-rises, and theaters. We work closely with the design team to interface the fire alarm system with various other building systems including HVAC, electrical, security, telecommunications, fire suppression, fire pump, elevator recall and shunt trip, kitchen hood suppression, architectural building systems, and life safety systems.

Our project experience includes the design of multiplexed analog addressable fire alarm systems consisting of automatic and manual initiating devices, audible and visual indicating appliances, radio transmitters, automatic dialers, and cellular backup dialers. Various automatic detectors we have incorporated in our designs include multi-criteria and multi-technology smoke detectors with adjustable sensitivity ratings, heat detectors, and linear beam detectors. We have also designed systems using aspirated laser high sensitivity smoke detection systems for very early detection of fires in their incipient stage.

Our design experience also includes voice evacuation systems, fire command centers, and interfaces with atrium smoke exhaust systems. Our systems have included fire alarm system releasing interfaces for double interlock pre-action suppression systems, and releasing interfaces for theater stage proscenium fire curtains and smoke hatches, and for the override of theater lighting and sound control systems during fire alarm events.

Fire Pump Systems: Henry Adams offers design services for a variety of fire pump systems using either electric motors or diesel engines. Our project experience includes designs using either municipal or private well water supplies. Our designs have included multiple zones for high rise buildings and pressure controls on standpipes. We analyze water flow to the building and calculate the pressures required for the sprinkler system and standpipes. Pressure maintenance pumps, emergency power, and associated fire alarm system monitoring interfaces are part of these systems.

LIGHTING SOLUTIONS:

Our staff is well versed in providing specialty lighting design services that enhance architecture and spaces for the institutional, commercial, retail, and industrial markets. Our focus on the key issues of aesthetics, energy, control, and maintenance insure clients receive solutions that are innovative, yet practical. Our experience includes historic, streetscape, and daylighting solutions. We adhere to the guidelines set forth by the IESNA and the applicable energy codes. We offer enhanced value to clients through a single source for design and documentation.

Architectural Lighting: Lobbies, atriums, educational facilities, museums, conference centers, and religious facilities are only part of the architecturally significant projects our specialists have designed. The goal is to enhance the architectural space and it inhabitants while satisfying the energy and control requirements.

Exterior and Roadway Lighting: Lighting outdoor environments pose challenging issues. Aesthetics, glare, security, and light trespass must all be addressed in sensitive, yet cost conscious ways. The lighting must enhance the architecture and landscaping. Roadway design standards are subject to professional society specifications.

Sports and Recreation Lighting: Recreation and Sports complexes are utilized both day and night. Specialized lighting plans call for highmast lighting and overlapping patterns to affect uniformity. From tennis and basketball courts to baseball and football fields, our staff is experienced in providing the lighting design most effective for use.

Entertainment and Retail Lighting: Highlighting architectural features enhance aesthetics, heighten dramatic effects and direct attention. These techniques can be done with spotlights, backlights, and special fixtures. By determining distribution curves light levels, and grid patterns, our designers contribute to the quality of entrances and building facades.

COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS:

Our telecommunications systems design emphasizes the clients requirements. Typically, we design voice and data cabling suitable for local area networks (LANs), telephone systems, and other types of signal transmission systems. When requested, we have incorporated the specific hardware to accommodate the clients choice of workstation equipment, switch units, hubs, and controllers.

SECURITY SOLUTIONS:

Frequently security systems are integrated with other critical systems including fire alarm, communication networks, and lighting controls. The experience of our staff ensures effective and efficient coordination between all systems including the architecture. Our involvement from conceptualization through design and installation delivers to the client the highest value. Whether it is a generic installation or specific technical selection of equipment like lenses and housings, we tailor the solution to the project.

CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION:

Henry Adams provides a unique ability to monitor and control both quality and cost during project construction. By combining the efforts of the engineering staff with an in-house construction administration department composed of former contractors our team provides thorough shop drawing review, cost proposal review, construction consultation and site observation services during project construction. We attend progress meetings, review construction activity, monitor equipment installation and system performance, and resolve unforeseen field conditions.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS:

Our design team transforms the concepts into a complete set of drawings and specifications that allow a contractor to construct the project. We often submit several progress sets throughout the design process for team coordination and client review. We have quality control engineers review the drawings during this process to insure a well-coordinated set of documents. Our final drawings can be delivered as prints, and/or electronically using either Autocadd or Bentley Microstation formats since we license both.

COST ESTIMATING:

At several points throughout the project it is advantageous to check that the project fits budget. Our design teams perform both square footage and detailed estimates for our work at the appropriate points in the project. Estimates are typically derived using a combination of Means estimating, industry numbers, and manufacturer quotes based on the quantities and types of work to be done.

DESIGN/BUILD:

In some cases the traditional design/bid/build project delivery method does not fit a client schedule or other requirement. In these cases we have a track record dating back almost 10 years of delivering projects through several versions of the popular design/build delivery method. In most cases we have actively worked as part of the contractor's team to complete the project.

ECONOMIC AND LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS:

We consider both the capital cost as well as the long-term operating and maintenance costs to evaluate life cycle cost for the systems. When required we evaluate the first costs and sometimes computer model the system alternatives to arrive at the most economical solution. We have saved our clients hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy rebates and operating costs.

ENERGY ANALYSIS:

Our engineers provide a wide range of energy analysis for HVAC and the building envelope as well as lighting and daylighting. We use state-of-the-art energy modeling software to evaluate conditions and alternatives. We perform audits, simulations, and evaluations for code compliance. We provide on-site surveys and data collection when required to evaluate the benefit of alternative systems. We have designed low temperature air, thermal storage systems, variable speed pumping, peak shaving, energy recovery, cogeneration, and daylight controlled lighting systems.

FEASIBILITY STUDIES:

We believe clients need the most accurate assessments in order to make the decisions to implement project solutions that best serve their interests. Feasibility studies require the knowledge to analyze solutions at significantly higher levels of uncertainty because they are done early in the conceptual stage. We provide the required field study, conceptual layouts, and evaluations necessary to determine whether capital costs are compatible with project goals.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION:

Many of our projects include some degree of historic preservation. Henry Adams has worked with historical preservation organizations and planning commissions to resuscitate forgotten buildings and bring them alive again. We have successfully implemented today's code requirements when required into these older buildings.

MASTER PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING:

Programming involves extensive energy and economic analysis, operating personnel interviews, and investigation to assist in long-range planning. Deficiencies and capacity of existing equipment is identified. Scope of work, code compliance, maintenance needs and energy efficiency are determined. Interim reports indicate immediate needs and initial short-term projects. A long-range plan is developed to reflect the institution's future direction.

PEER REVIEWS:

Our engineers are called upon by other firms in the industry to provide peer review services. Our staff takes either complete or partially complete construction documents and performs a thorough examination. We determine whether there are any issues that might impact the constructability of the final documents before they are issued to the contractor for final pricing.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT:

On several large and complex projects where we were not involved in developing the construction documents our staff has filled the role of the Owner's representative. In this role we have streamlined the construction process by ensuring the contractor and the engineer are communicating effectively. We expedite the construction process by reducing contractor claims and reducing the construction time.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN/LEED:

SYSTEM COMMISSIONING:

SYSTEM CONDITION ASSESSMENTS:

HA provides evaluation and report of mechanical and electrical systems and equipment. The assessment involves equipment measurements, overall performance, condition and age. Often, estimates are made regarding the remaining life of equipment. Data is prepared to determine costs associated with upgrade or replacement. A final plan of priorities is established.

VALUE ENGINEERING:

Most projects are restricted by budget. As such, Henry Adams has had the opportunity to assist other teams by providing its value engineering services. As part of a value engineering team we offer M/E/P as well as overall design suggestions can both reduce the overall cost of the project and in others provide a better life cycle cost.

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS:

Our staff has assessed the infrastructure security needs of facilities all around the country. We have a team of qualified individuals prepared to assess and make prioritized recommendations to upgrade a facility and reduce the impact of accidental catastrophe or terrorism.