This page is intended to introduce building occupants to the planned major maintenance and upgrading projects for the complex in the previous biennia. Such projects were planned under the regular budget two years in advance to facilitate application of funding from Headquarters.

Alterations and Improvements

Air Quality Monitoring Stations

Installation of additional air quality monitoring stations and integration into the Buildings Automation System in order to constantly monitor air quality to EPA standards. This project allowed real time monitoring of IAQ in the buildings and ensures working toward a suitable working environment for staff.

Upgrade of BASNET/METASYS Building Maintenance System Capability

Upgrade of the BASNET (Building Automation System Network - a computer system that allows remote control of much of the complexes equipment). Funding was required to provide systems support, hardware and software to upgrade the system to JCM6 and redesign the GUI to enable easier control of the buildings installed systems. In addition, it was necessary to upgrade the C260 controllers to DX900 controllers due to planned obsolescence of the C260 controller in 2005.

Provision of Ergonomic Work Stations

In line with the lead taken by UNHQ on the standardization of work stations and associated furnishings to meet set ergonomic requirements, ESCAP intended to implement the results of the trial and standardization of fully integrated work stations suited to the long-term health of staff members. This requirement was a result of work station implementation approved in the previous biennium under this budget heading. The funding allowed installation of 200 work stations at approximately US$1,600 per set to staff members on floors 15B, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4 of the Secretariat Building. Expected results of the project are the benefit of staff members' general orthopedic health and more efficient usage of space.

Purchase and Installation of Additional Heavy-Duty Rapiscan X-ray Machines

For the purposes of security checks on incoming equipment and baggage to the UNCC Complex.

Construction and Installation of Additional Metal Detector Booths at Main Entrance

In order to facilitate security checks on incoming persons, it was required to construct two metal detector areas at the main entrance.

Construction of New Guard Booths on the Exit and Entry Points of the UNCC

To facilitate all weather operations and vehicle checks on entry/exit points.

Major Maintenance of General Facilities

Replacement of the UN Secretariat building-wide structured cabling solution (from 10 base T to 100 base T) to augment the Service Building cabling upgrade (implemented in the previous biennium)

The current lateral floor cabling is over ten years old and in certain instances, such as the UNCC Building, is simply too far for adequate signal propagation. It was also inadequate in terms of the size of the "pipes" as well as in terms of the number of network connections per floors. In office areas, the connection had to be shared by multiple network units, which resulted in cable splitting and hence, inadequate performance times. It was intended to add switches at every column on each floor such that wires can be pulled from the column-based switches to desktop PCs and other network equipment as and when required. These, in effect, doubled the number of connections on each floor thereby providing for current increases in the number of network connections and the increased volumes of traffic over the LAN as well as cater for growth over the next 5-7 years. The implementation of a structured cabling solution to replace the current lateral network wiring and double the number of network connections per floor hadl been phased with phase 1 comprising the implementation of the solution on floors 2 and 3 of the ESCAP Service Building (current biennium), all floors of the Secretariat Building and finally the UNCC Building.

Replacement of Window Seals - Secretariat Building

Due to the current window system being renovated 12 years previously, the sealing system has shown to be deteriorating with the result of increasing incidents of water ingress during the rainy season.

Replacement of Floor Tiles

In accordance with the General Assembly Resolution 54/249 ESCAP intended to replace its magnesium silicate containing floor tiles over a period of 3 bienniums. Funds were required to replace 30,000 square meters of tiles accordingly.

Planning and Consultancy Services

This requirement was to provide services to pre-plan technical feasibilities, assessment and project specifications/design for the biennium 2006-2007. The pre-planning of projects in the biennium prior to execution shall enable increased efficiencies in project implementation and more accurate budget forecast figures:

a) Contractual Services: Planning of major maintenance replacement works in electrical reticulation systems and associated equipment.
b) Contractual Services: Planning of major maintenance replacement works in mechanical equipment and systems to include sanitary systems, piping systems, HVAC operations.
c) Contractual services: Planning of major maintenance works for the building fabric, cladding, access ways and general constructions of an architectural/building nature.

Replacement of Cooling Tower

The complex has 4 cooling towers that have been in full operation since 1975, having undergone frequent maintenance. Funds were required to plan and specify the replacement of all 3 units over a two-biennium period in order to ensure continued operation of the buildings HVAC systems.

Upgrading of motor control panels

For main water supply pumps and roof lift pumps in addition to the replacement of pump drives and motors with energy efficient models.

Replacement of Aged Window Blinds throughout the Secretariat Building

The current installation was 29 years old and was largely unserviceable or broken. These works has been carried out on a multi-biennial basis with floors 1 through 9 being replaced in this biennium.

Repair of Ceiling Tiles and Structure

Replacement of the existing ceiling tiles and suspension structure on floors 1 through 6 of the Secretariat Building. This is a multi-biennial project.

Replacement of Fire Proof Wall Coverings - UNCC

The covering had become damaged in many areas and due to energy efficiency measures in UNCC (switching off climate control system when rooms are not utilized), increases in humidity had caused severe funghal growth in save areas. It was required that approximately 4,000 square meters of damaged fire proof covering be replaced with a similar product pretreated for funghal growth resistance.

 

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