The UBT Cooling Tower product line is an Advanced Technology design with dramatic advancements in structural technology to withstand the greatest forces of nature. Constructed with structural enhancements like heavier gauge steel, increased size and number of fasteners, reinforced mounting flanges and internal cross-bracing, the UBT line can withstand seismic accelerations up to 1.0g horizontal and wind loads of 125 psf. Stone and Webster, using computer modeling and actual proof tests independently certified the seismic and wind load rating of each model. In addition, the counterflow design provides the UBT Cooling Tower with inherently better operational and maintenance features. All of these features are described below.

The UBT represents a dramatic advancement in structural technology of evaporative cooling products. Following the 1994 earthquake in Southern California, Evapco worked closely with Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation in developing a research program to analyze and increase the structural integrity of evaporative cooling products. The intent was to design equipment capable of withstanding the greatest forces of nature. The evolved out of this research where each structural joint was analyzed. Following computer modeling and actual proof tests, the UBT’s seismic and wind load ratings were independently certified by Stone & Webster.

To achieve independent certification by Stone & Webster, the AT design was modified into the UBT with several structural enhancements. The basin received additional internal cross-bracing, the fasteners were increased in size and number, heavier gauge steel was used in critical structural panels and reinforced mounting flanges were added. These modifications increased the seismic force ratings from the typical 0.5g horizontal acceleration to a robust 1.0g horizontal acceleration concurrent with 0.3g horizontal orthogonal and 0.5g vertical acting through the center of gravity. The wind load rating increased from the typical 50 pounds per square foot to a hurricane force 125 psf applied at the center of pressure.