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Alta Bates-Herrick
Berkely, CA

Teamwork brings rewards for Alta Bates-Herrick boiler replacelment. 
The true character of a hospital is defined it’s response to the needs of the community – in good times and in bad.  When Herrick Hospital was founded in 1904, no one could foresee the swell of events that would mold Herrick’s character and establish the health care provider as a pillar of health care for the City of Berkeley, California. 

Consider for a moment the magnitude of catastrophes Herrick faced in its fledgling years. The San Francisco earthquake and fire in 1906.  The great flu epidemic of 1918.  A 1923 fire that destroyed 584 buildings in Berkeley.     

But, the hospital went on to reach significant milestones.  In 1945, a new south wing raised the health care provider’s bed capacity to 250.  A seven-story north wing, added in 1957, provided space for a new rehabilitation center.  A six-floor east wing, dedicated in 1980, added a new surgery suite and a modern ICU and CCU nursing unit.  In 1985, Herrick and Alta Bates Hospitals affiliated.

Today, Alta Bates-Herrick Hospital stands on its reputation for bringing state-of the-art health services to the East Bay area. Each year, the hospital dedicates more than $800,000 to staff and maintains a wide variety of out reach and wellness programs.  More than $5 million is spent annually in free medical and hospital care.  Their programs for special populations include a whole range of community services and support groups for patients and families.

Low Pressure Boilers Another Milestone
As a non-profit, charitable organization, Alta Bates-Herrick constantly seeks ways to improve the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of its physical plant.  The latest milestone for the hospital was set when three Cleaver Brooks Model 4 low-pressure steam boilers, with stack economizers, were installed.  Annual fuel cost-savings for the hospital is $140,600. 

The change over from high to low pressure boilers resulted in increased boiler efficiency to 83% from 75%; lower heat losses in the piping system; and reduced operation, labor, and maintenance expenses.

Heading up the boiler project was Mr. Joseph Rieger, Director of Engineering Services, for Alta Bates-Herrick.  Mr. Rieger attributes the success of the project to “a team effort” among the engineering firm, contractor, and Cleaver-Brooks authorized representative in California, R.F. MacDonald Co.

Mr. John Oldham, P.E. project engineering consultant, agrees that teamwork was vital.  “Everyone pulled in the same direction.  There was open communication from the planning stages.  We trusted each other.  We had to, because the hospital couldn’t shut down.”

In order to avoid an interruption in steam supply needed for the kitchen and heating, the project team synchronized their actions through every phase of the project.

First, the new boilers were temporarily set up outside the boiler room prior to removal and demolition of the old units.  Two of the new units were fired to supply continuous steam to the hospital during construction.

To accommodate the low pressure system, more than 200 feet of new distribution piping was installed, steam traps were changed, and a new steam header was added.  Larger diameter pipes were required with the change from high (90 psig) to low (12 psig) pressure, since low pressure steam requires a larger size pipe to move the same amount of heat.

Model 4 Boilers Provide Many Benefits
The Cleaver-Brooks Model 4 boilers, complete with lead/lag controls, are designed for combination firing of natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil.  Each packaged unit is rated for 143 horsepower from and at 212?F (4,449 pounds of steam/hr).  The boilers are designed for maximum 15 psig steam pressure to operate at 12 psig.

According to Mr. Anthony Weise, R.F. MacDonald Co., the Model 4 boiler is ideally suited to Herrick’s needs.  “The compact design of the Model 4 eliminated the cost of knocking out walls since the 143 horsepower will fit through a standard door.  And because it’s a completely packaged system, installation time was kept to a minimum.  That was absolutely necessary on this job.”

But the benefits of the Model 4 boilers didn’t stop once the units were on line.  Alta Bates-Herrick applied for an energy rebate from Pacific Gas and Electric.  Because the hospital installed high efficiency, low-pressure boilers and heat recovery equipment, PG&E presented the hospital with a check in the amount of $14,118.00.

Mr. Rieger says that a concerted team approach to the renovation paid off.  “Making a change from high to low pressure is tricky.  Funding is always tight.  There are only so many dollars to do a project such as this.  The results are very satisfactory.”