In the heart of Beijing’s Chaoyang District CBD, an unassuming building is steadily ascending. Since the underground structure emerged above ground in December 2014, keen observers have noticed its rapid and impressive growth.
Named after the ancient ritual vessel “Zun,” China Zun stands at a towering 528 meters with 108 floors above ground and a total building area of 350,000 square meters. It also includes 7 underground floors covering 87,000 square meters. This comprehensive structure combines Grade A office spaces, conference facilities, commercial areas, sightseeing platforms, and various support services. Upon completion, it will become Beijing’s tallest building and the tallest structure within China’s and the world’s 8-degree earthquake resistance zone.
Currently, China has approximately 280,000 high-rise buildings, including around 3,000 super tall buildings exceeding 100 meters. The rapid rise of these skyscrapers, especially super tall ones, has brought a critical and potentially life-threatening challenge: fire safety.
The China Zun project employs dual general contracting for both mechanical and electrical engineering as well as construction. China Construction Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., the first electromechanical general contractor registered with the Beijing Municipal Construction Commission, is responsible for the electromechanical contracting of the project. With a contract value of 1.91 billion yuan, this is the largest electromechanical installation contract ever awarded to the company, setting a new industry benchmark in China.
As a leading domestic installation enterprise, China Construction Installation Engineering Co., Ltd. places great emphasis on the China Zun project. Chairman Luo Nengzhen personally oversees the project as the overall commander and is involved in key decision-making. Meanwhile, General Manager Liu Yanfeng has visited the site multiple times to address practical issues, demanding that China Zun becomes a top-tier building in China and a new landmark for Beijing, thereby enhancing the company’s brand image.
Liu Qinghai, Chief Engineer of the electromechanical general contracting team, explains that based on China’s current fire rescue capabilities, external fire rescue services can manage fires in buildings under 100 meters tall. However, for super tall buildings exceeding 100 meters, fire safety relies solely on the building’s own fire protection system. During construction, significant manpower and financial resources are invested in temporary fire protection systems to ensure safety. Yet, these temporary systems present two major challenges: first, they occupy substantial space required for permanent pipelines and equipment, hindering installation and finishing work, which delays the overall construction timeline; second, a “fire safety gap” exists between the removal of the temporary system and activation of the permanent system, during which any fire would be unmanageable, potentially causing irreparable damage.
Addressing these challenges by combining temporary and permanent fire protection systems has long been a critical research focus in super tall building construction. However, previous attempts have failed, leaving fire safety during construction an urgent unresolved issue.
The China Zun project, as a leader in China’s super high-rise construction and a future Beijing landmark, has prioritized the development and application of new technologies, materials, and processes. From the outset, the owner, CITIC Heye Investment Co., Ltd., strongly advocated for a “temporary/permanent combination” fire water system. Leveraging its technical strengths, the China Zun Electromechanical General Contracting Project Department took on this challenge, organizing extensive research and development efforts. They integrated the building’s permanent fire protection system with temporary fire safety measures and developed a detailed combined fire protection plan after multiple expert consultations, calculations, and revisions. With approvals from the owner, designers, and supervisors, this plan successfully resolved the fire safety challenges, showcasing the management prowess and technical capabilities of China Construction Installation Engineering Co., Ltd.
On December 16, 2015, the China Zun Electromechanical General Contracting Project marked a milestone by installing equipment for the 18th-floor fire transfer pump room, signaling the official start of the “temporary/permanent combination” fire water system construction. By December 22, 2015, the first phase transition from the temporary fire water system to the combined system was successfully achieved, officially launching this innovative fire safety approach for the China Zun project.
Ding Rui, manager of the China Zun Electromechanical General Contracting Project Department, stated that this “temporary/permanent combination” fire water system is the first of its kind in China’s high-rise buildings. The system integrates permanent fire hydrant pipes and equipment with a limited number of temporary components to create a cohesive fire water system throughout construction. This approach ensures seamless integration and efficient transition between temporary and permanent fire protection, reducing installation workload, minimizing material investment and dismantling, and saving considerable time and costs. Moreover, it enhances fire safety reliability on-site during the construction of this super tall building, setting an innovative benchmark for temporary fire protection and mechanical-electrical installations in high-rise construction.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up