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joists, which continue the line of the roof beams and span the
distance from the last rack post to a header beam at the outside
wall. Additionally, some of the Reserve Facility's mechanical
and electrical systems are also supported by the rack system.
Because of the structural support provided by the rack system, if
it were removed, the roof would collapse and most, if not all, of
the walls would fall.
An oil-fired boiler provides the heating source for the
Reserve Facility. Water is heated in the boiler and circulated
to various heating coils in the Reserve Facility. Eight
customized rooftop ventilators, located throughout the rack area
of the Reserve Facility, provide both heating and ventilation.
In the summer, the ventilators draw air out, pulling air through
the ventilation louvers, which are located on the north and south
sides of the Reserve Facility, exhausting the warm air near the
top of the Reserve Facility. In the colder months, the fan in
the ventilator changes direction, drawing outside air from the
top of the Reserve Facility through the ventilator cap and mixing
it with return air from the top of the Reserve Facility in a
plenum box. The return air is heated as it passes over the
heating coils, and the mixed air is forced down a vertical plenum
and distributed to the Reserve Facility at various levels through
a series of diffusers in the plenum. Supplemental heating units
are also located below the mezzanine floor. Six "upblast"
rooftop ventilators provide additional ventilation capability, as
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Last modified: May 25, 2011