Preparing for life in the danger zone

In some parts of the world, seismic certification is becoming a key requirement for generator sets, especially where they are installed in large buildings in urban areas.

FGW Jenerator Turkey recently achieved full IBC seismic certification as part of a project to install 19 x 1700 kVA and 2 x 800 kVA gensets at Skyland Istanbul, the second largest construction project in Turkey in 2016. The site includes two towers, almost 300 metres high, which are part of a huge office complex, shopping mall, a residential tower and 5 star hotel.

The FG Wilson P1700 and P800 generator setsweretestedandcertifiedinRomeinatthe only shaker table test facility outside the USA able to accommodate machines of this size within the timescale allowed for the project.

The test includes a 30 second seismic shake, after which the generator sets must start up and function normally.

To demonstrate reliability and performance, the gensets were afterwards returned to FG Wilson’s UK facility in Larne, which houses Europe’s largest testing and development facility for these machines.

Project requirements included sound-insulated container type enclosures incorporatingseismicspecificationforthe larger generator sets, a synchronisation system, Scada and energy management, fuel automation and critical silencing. Strengthened baseframes and control panel stands, and seismic anti-vibration mounts were engineered into the generator sets.

This is the first time FG Wilson has achieved seismic certification for large generator sets and it is believed to be the first time a generator set powered by a Perkins 4000 series engine has achieved full seismic certification.