Section 1 Introduction

1.1 Introduction about Taipei 101

Every project has a list of challenges, but for Taipei 101, the new world’s tallest building,
that list is longer than size alone would imply. Starting with a design height of 508 m, it also
includes the overall and localized load effects from frequent and extreme typhoons; potentially
severe earthquakes; and difficult subsurface conditions, including an inactive fault through the
site. Occupants must be both physically and psychologically comfortable with the design, even
during high winds and extreme events. Rising from a dramatic, landmark-quality retail mall,
the tower has a profile unlike that of any previous skyscraper: a tapering base topped by a series
of flared segments. And a couple of temblors rattled the partially-completed structure,
reminders of the challenges the design must address. Meeting all these challenges through
studies, design and construction was an unforgettable experience for all involved.

1.2 Background
Taipei 101 is located at the Hsin‐Yi area, the most famous zone of many high‐rise
buildings, in Taipei. Its site area is 30,277m2; construction area is 15,138m2; and total floor
area goes up to 37,000m2. It has two main parts. The tower, with 508m height, is for office
usage; the podium is a shopping mall, filled with lots of fined stores. The performance‐based
design area is on the fourth floor, the social communication plaza, of that podium. In order to
have better space planning and business requirements after a period of operation in Taipei 101,
a performance‐based design was created.
Taipei 101 included longer distances between smoke extraction vents, smoke barrier
exemption and removal of a stair space. For the first two items, this case needs to apply for the
exemptions from Taiwan’s fire code, which regulates that the distance from every point in a
smoke compartment to an extraction vent cannot be longer than 30 meters. Also, any smoke
compartment has to be less than 500m2. The removal of a staircase has to be exempted from
Taiwan’s building code, which requires the width of stairs to be more than 60cm for every
100m2 of commercial areas in the biggest floor and the travel distance for business usage should
be within 30 meters.

Fig 1: Taipei 101.

1
 Introduction

1.3 Basic information

2 Architect — C.Y.Lee & Partners
3 Structural Engineer — Shaw Shieh structural Consult. — Thornton- Tomasetti Engineers,
New York City
4 Total Height — 508 m
5 Cost — $ 700 million
6 Building Use — Office Complex + Mall e Parking - 83,000 m2, 1800 cars
7 Taipei 101 comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. The building was
architecturally created as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition.
8 lis postmodernist approach to style incorporates traditional design elements and gives them
modern treatments.
9 The tower is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. A multi-level shopping mall
adjoining the tower houses hundreds of stores, restaurants and clubs.
10 Taipei 101 is owned by Taipei Financial Centre Corp. (TFCC) and managed by the
International division of Urban Retail Properties Corporation based in Chicago.
11 The Taipei 101 tower has 101 floors above ground and five underground. Upon its
completion Taipei 101 claimed the official records for Ground to highest architectural
structure: 508 m (1,667 ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers 451.9 m (1,483 ft).
12 Ground to roof: 449.2 m (1,474 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower 442 m (1,450 ft).
13 Ground to highest occupied floor: 438 m (1,437 ft). Formerly held by the Willis Tower
412.4 m (1,353 ft).
14 Fastest ascending elevator speed: designed to be 1,010 meters per minute, which is 16.83
m/s (55.22 ft/s) (60.6 kilometres per hour (37.7 mph)).
15 Largest countdown clock: Displayed on New Year's Eve.
16 Tallest sundial.
17 Taipei 101 was the first building in the world to break the half-kilometre mark in height.
The record it claimed for greatest height from ground to pinnacle was surpassed by the Burj
Khalifa in Dubai (UAE), which is 829.8 m (2,722 ft) in height.
18 Taipei 101's records for roof height and highest occupied floor briefly passed to the
Shanghai World Financial Centre in 2009, which in turn yielded these records as well to
the Burj.
19 Taipei 101 displaced the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the tallest
building in the world by 56.1 m (184 ft).
20 Various sources, including the building's owners, give the height of Taipei 101 as 508.0 m
(1,667 ft), roof height and top floor height as 448.0 m (1,470 ft) and 438.0 m (1,437 ft).
This lower figure is derived by measuring from the top of a 1.2 m (4 ft) platform at the bas

2
Section 2 Construction

2.1 Conception
The greatest challenge in designing a statement building is not the construction technology
involved, but how the building reflects the culture in which it functions. The spirit of
architecture lies in the balance between local culture and internationalism. In the West, a tall
building demands respect and attention from the spectators. To the Asians, it symbolizes a
broader understanding and anticipation to things to come: we “climb” in order to “see further”.

*Source: http://blog.wisoftsolutions.com

Fig 2: Height Comparison of Taipei 101

The segmented, subtly slanted exterior reduces the effects of wind and emergencies to mega
buildings. 8 floors comprise an independent section, reducing street-level wind caused by high
rise, a design based on the Chinese lucky number “8”. It is a homon ym for prosperity in
Chinese, and the 8 sections of the structure are designed to create rhythm in symmetry,
introducing a new style for skyscrapers. Plants are laid out to ensure pedestrian safety and
comfort. The building is designed to resemble a growing bamboo, a symbol of everlasting
strength in Chinese culture.

3
Section 2 Construction

2.2 Important Dates of the construction

Important dates in the planning and construction of Taipei 101 include the following:

Date Event
October 20, Development and operation rights agreement signed with Taipei City
1997 government.

January 13, 1999 Ground-breaking ceremony.

June 7, 2000 First tower column erected.

April 13, 2001 Design change to 509.2 m height approved by Taipei City government

June 13, 2001 Taipei 101 Mall topped out.

August 10, 2001 Construction license awarded for 101 stories.

May 13, 2003 Taipei 101 Mall obtains occupancy permit.

July 1, 2003 Taipei 101 Tower roof completed.

October 17, Pinnacle placed.

2003
November 14, Taipei 101 Mall opens.
2003
April 15, 2004 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) certifies
Taipei 101 as world's tallest building.

November 12, Tower obtains occupancy permit

2004

December 31, Tower opens to the public.

2004

January 1, 2005 First New Year fireworks show begins at midnight.

4
 Construction

2.3 Foundation
The second challenge was the site. Soft rock occurs beneath 40 to 60 m of clay and stiff
colluvial soil. The design required a 21 m deep basement, while ground water is usually 2 m
below grade and potentially at grade. Based on extensive investigations by Taipei-based Sino
Geotechnology Inc. and scheduling requirements, five major components were used to create
two different foundation systems. One slurry wall 1.2 m (4 ft) thick surrounds both tower and
podium; its 50 m (164 ft) depth cuts off ground water and provides toe embedment well below
the excavation depth. Each podium column bears on a single 1.5 m (5 ft) diameter drilled pier.
Sockets 5 to 28 m (16 to 92 ft) into bedrock resist net uplift from a podium pressure slab
resisting buoyancy. The single-pier design permitted ‘top down’ basement construction: a floor
was cast to brace perimeter walls, then a story of excavation proceeded below it. Superstructure
framing was erected at the same time. As a result, the retail podium opened about a year before
the tower topped out.

*Source: https://m2ukblog.wordpress.com

Fig 3: Foundation of Taipei 101

A second slurry wall, enclosing just the tower footprint, was supported by steel cross-lot
bracing as excavation proceeded to full depth. the walls were braced to accommodate
construction sequencing. A continuous reinforced concrete mat 3 to 4.7 m (10 to 15 ft) thick
transfers load from discrete column and shear wall load points to a distributed pattern of 380
drilled piers, 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter, spaced 4 m (13.12 ft) on centre in staggered rows to resist
gravity loads between 10.7 and 14.2 MN (1500 and 2000 kips). Using steel framing minimized
building weight, helping to reduce foundation costs.

5
 Construction

2.4 Grid Allocations

To increase the computational efficiency without sacrificing numerical solution, multiple
meshes were used. The grid information is demonstrated in Table 1.

Table 1: Grid Information

*Source: The International Seminar on Risk Management

2.5 Building Vertical Shaping

The third challenge was the tower shape established by architect C.Y. Lee. Well-
regarded in the region and experienced in tall buildings, including the T&C Tower designed
with Evergreen, Lee’s building shape for Taipei 101 provides an instantly recognizable symbol
of Taipei and Taiwan. The repeating modules were inspired by the joints of indigenous bamboo
and the tiers of pagodas; each module has a narrower base and a wider top as if a flower opening
to the sky. Each module has eight floors, and eight modules form the majority of the tower’s
height.
In the Chinese spoken in Taiwan, ‘eight’ is a homonym with ‘wealth,’ making it a very
appropriate feature for a financial centre. A ninth module that tops the main shaft and supports
an architectural spire has a smaller footprint but matching wall slopes. Below the repetitive
flared modules, a 25-story base shaped as a truncated pyramid provides improved overturning
resistance and lateral stiffness compared to a straight shaft, if the structural system engages the
perimeter columns. The transition from lower pyramid to upper modules is highlighted by
medallions based on ancient Chinese coins.

2.6 Plan Shaping for Wind

The fourth challenge was a high wind environment. Tall, slender chimneys and
skyscrapers experience alternating crosswind forces due to vortex shedding: wind passing the
object separates from side faces in alternating whirlpools. When vortex formation set by wind
speed and building dimensions coincides with building period, large forces can result. Here a
typhoon with 100 years return period brings winds of 43.3 m/sec (97 mph) averaged over 10
minutes at a height of 10 m (33 ft). This is similar to a three-second gust of 67 m/sec (150 mph).
It can excite a skyscraper with crosswind forces much greater than those normally used for

6
 Construction

design during a wind tunnel visit by C.Y. and the authors, RWDI demonstrated that a square
tower with 2.5 m (8.2 ft) notches achieved a dramatic reduction. Architect Lee understood the
significance of this shape and incorporated it into the upper module corners from that point on.
See Fig.4.

Fig 4: A close-up of the tower corner clearly shows the ‘sawtooth’ treatment
above Floor 25 for wind vortex reduction.

2.7 Design for lateral stiffness

Wind performance was enhanced by building shape as discussed above, but further
provisions were still required. To minimize inter storey movement that could damage façades
and partitions, overall lateral motion and inter storey drift were both limited to Height/200 for
the ‘50 years storm.’ This may seem flexible, but Taipei winds are extreme: for comparison the
tower subjected to a New York City design hurricane would drift only H/400. Because a large
portion of tower drift is created by overturning rotation at lower stories, drift control required
increased column stiffness.
Turner Construction - International LLC, project and construction manager, agreed with
us that simply adding steel area was impractical from cost, fabrication and erection
perspectives. The solution: hollow columns filled with high-strength concrete, placed by pump
to avoid heavy crane lifts. Concrete carries compression economically and, unlike steel,
mixtures with higher strength also exhibit a higher elastic modulus.
Taipei 101 core and super columns are steel boxes up to level 90, built up from steel
plates 50 to 80 mm (2 to 3 1/8 in) thick with full penetration welded splices that took 16 hours
with six welders working simultaneously to balance shrinkage effects. Box straps resist
bulging, rebar strengthens concrete, and shear studs link concrete and steel. The box core and
super columns were then filled with 69,000 kPa (10000 psi) concrete where extra stiffness is
needed, from the bottom of the basement to level 62. See Figs.5-8.
In addition, the braced core is encased in concrete walls from the foundation to the
eighth level.

7

Fig. 5: Super columns are filled with high
Strength Concrete for added stiffness as
shown shaded here.
Fig.6: A super column box just below
its field splice location High strength
concrete enters through the pipe at
right to fill the box from bottom up
in two-story lifts
8
Construction
Fig.7: Super column box plan details
show stiffeners diaphragms, shear
studs and cross-box ties
Fig.8: Concrete fill is reinforced by
vertical bars threaded through
diaphragm holes and a spiral-
wrapped core threaded through
the central manhole.
Section 3 Earthquake Resistance

3.1 Introduction
Wind tunnel testing performed by Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc. (RWDI)
determined the wind-induced behaviour of the Taipei Financial Centre. This included
recommendations of design base bending moments, torsion, effective static floor-by-floor
loads, appropriate load combinations, and predictions of the wind-induced accelerations for
various return periods. Some modifications to the aerodynamic shape of the tower were
explored in the wind tunnel, and were implemented to help reduce the wind-induced loads and
motions of the tower.
After completing this shape optimization process, the peak total accelerations predicted
for the ½ year return period were 0.75% and 0.63% of gravity, where in the first case the effects
of typhoons are included and in the second case disregarded. The Taiwanese building codes
make recommendations that the ½ year return period acceleration not exceed 0.05m/s2, or
0.51% of gravity. Of the remaining methods available to reduce wind-induced accelerations, a
TMD was selected by the design team and the owner.
The TMD configuration selected for implementation was a 660 metric tons mass,
spherical in shape, suspended on cables as a single stage pendulum, and architecturally-
integrated into the theme of the tower (Figure 9). The TMD was designed to be an attraction
for visitors to the building. Extensive analysis was undertaken by Motioneering (the designers
of the TMD) to ensure that the TMD would provide the necessary reduction in wind-induced
accelerations, including theoretical investigations to design the TMD for controlled behaviour
during the design seismic events.

a) b)
Fig. 9: TMD general configuration (a) and TMD (b)

9
 Earthquake Resistance

3.2 Seismic Activity in Taiwan


 Taiwan is located on the cusp of the pacific “ring of fire”, making it very susceptible to
frequent seismic shocks.
 42 active faults have been identified by geologists on the island of Taiwan
 The reason for most of the earthquakes in Taiwan is due to the convergence of the
Philippines Sea Plate and Eurasian Plate found to the east of the island.
 Between 1901-2000, 91 major earthquakes (magnitude of 6 and above on the Richter
scale) were recorded.
 1999 Jiji earthquake – one of the deadliest in the history of Taiwan

3.3 Structural Development in Taiwan


 Before 1980, Taiwan was a relatively poor country, having few professional architects
and lacked the understanding of earthquake safety.
 Designer and developers cut corners and used connections in local governments to
illegally acquire permits.
 Many modern buildings in Taiwan today are constructed with earthquake safety in
mind, including Taipei 101, which has to cope with the dual challenges of being flexible
enough to withstand earthquakes, yet rigid enough to resist incoming winds.

3.4 Seismic design issue

While wind is an ever-present environmental condition, Taiwan’s geology also
mandated that earthquake resistance must be considered. A structural system stiff enough to
limit wind drift does not automatically have the overload behaviour desired for seismic
ductility. But frames specifically designed for seismic ductility can be too flexible for wind
conditions. The solution here was to design for stiffness and then check for seismic ductility
and seismic strength. For example, where braces are ‘opened’ (work points do not coincide),
in a seismic-controlled design they might be treated as ductile Eccentric Braced Frames with
beam sections selected to meet specific proportions that force web shear to control over beam
flexure. But such members would introduce undesirable flexibility for wind conditions.
Instead, the open ‘link’ portion of the beam is strengthened by side plates to maintain stiffness
and ensure the link is not controlling strength across the eccentric links.

At the same time, where flexure was inherent in the design and large rotations were
anticipated during seismic events, such as the deep beams crossing core corridors to link braced
bays, ductility was provided by a Reduced Beam Section or ‘dog-bone’ detail using proportions
developed at the local university. In addition, a dual system was applied steel moment frames
along each sloping face of the building work in parallel with the braced core and outriggers.
See Figs. 10, 11. In addition, full moment connections between braced core beams and columns
provide an alternative load path in the event of brace member overload.

10
 Earthquake Resistance

3.5 Pinnacle Fatigue

The pinnacle posed another set of engineering
challenge. Both its uniform cylindrical shape and its
building-top location render the pinnacle susceptible to
crosswind excitation. Three mode shapes were
identified as potentially creating significant stress
ranges during storms, with many more cycles at lower
stresses accumulating at low wind speeds. These
conditions made fatigue life an important design
consideration for the steel-trussed pinnacle spine.

Fatigue was controlled by two methods. First,

dynamic response was reduced by providing local
supplementary damping. In addition to the building’s
primary TMD, Motioneering, of Guelph, Ontario,
designed two ingenious compact TMDs to be placed
within the uppermost 8 m of the pinnacle. Each has a 4.5
Mg (5 ton) steel mass that can slide on rollers horizontally
along two axes, like a bridge crane traversing the width
and length of a factory bay. The TMDs are “tuned” with
vertical precompressed spring sets tied to the masses
through flexible cables and pulleys. Two TMDs are
needed due to the multiple oscillation modes that can
excite the pinnacle.

Fig 10: Elevation of a perimeter

moment frame line with belt
trusses. Shading indicates
extent of concrete fill in super
columns.
Fig 11: The 3-D computer model for
Taipei 101 shows core bracing, perimeter
moment frames and vertical and horizontal
trussing at module setbacks every 8th floor.

The second strategy for fatigue life was determining the most fatigue-sensitive locations and
reducing their cyclic stress ranges. Thousands of high-stress cycles and many more lower-
stress cycles were processed using Goodman’s Simplification to treat variable stress cycles as

11
 Earthquake Resistance

uniform cycles, and combined using the Modified Miners Rule, a form of weighted average, to
establish an equivalent 2 million cycle uniform stress range for further study. Welded splices
of the vertical pinnacle truss work chords were identified as highly stressed by overturning
moments, and sensitive to fatigue at one-sided penetration welds. To reduce the stress ranges,
steel plate ‘ears’ on the chords that were originally intended to receive only temporary erection
bolts were redesigned to receive permanent connections with plates connected by slip-critical
high-strength bolts. By sharing the chord force, these plates reduce stresses in the welded
splices and reduce their cyclic stress ranges.

3.6 Tuned Mass Damper (TMD)


 World’s largest tuned mass damper
 Structure introduced to building to withstand winds up to 216 km/hr, typhoons and
major earthquakes.
 728-ton (728 000 kg) structure
 18 ft. diameter steel sphere
 8 viscous dampers are attached to the sphere, acting as shock absorbers
 System is capable of reducing wind vibrations by up to 40%
 Point of tourism
 Cost of 4 million Dollars (USD)
 Designed my Motioneering

3.6.1 How does a Tuned Mass Damper Work?


 A TMD is capable of reducing the vibrational amplitude, consequent of the external
force. It does so by absorbing kinetic energy from the system, which in this case is the
swaying motion of a tall building due to the wind or an earthquake.
 The frequencies and amplitudes of the TMD and the structure should be tuned (i.e. set
to be nearly equal) in order for that when a force is applied on the structure, the TMD
can create an equal and opposing force. This creates a cancellation of forces and keeps
the horizontal displacement of the structure to approximately zero.

Fig. 12: Simplified Schematic of a TMD.

12
 Earthquake Resistance

 The mechanical system m1, k1, c1 is the oscillator to be damped (i.e. Taipei 101) and
m2, k2, c2 is the damping oscillator. (i.e. Tuned Mass Damper). We will assume that the
external force being applied on the main structure (m1) is sinusoidal. This external
force can come from strong winds, typhoons or earthquakes. The 𝜔 is the vibrational
frequency, t is the time, and p0 is the magnitude of the sinusoidal excitation.

 Before we begin, we need to assume that the system is undamped (c1=c2=0) to make
calculations easier. The Schematics can then be represented by the following equations
of motions:
𝑚1 𝑥̈1 ̈+ (𝑘1 + 𝑘2) 𝑥̈1 − 𝑘2 𝑥̈2 = 𝑝0 cos(𝜔𝑡)
𝑚2 𝑥̈̈2 − 𝑘2 𝑥̈1 + 𝑘2 𝑥̈2 = 0

 To solve this 2nd Order Differential Equations, we need to first define a steady state
solution:

𝑥̈1
𝑥̈ =[𝑥̈ ] cos(𝑤𝑡)
2

 Since there is no damping in the system (our assumption earlier), there is no phase
shift between the steady state solution and the external force equation. They are of
the same harmonic nature.

 By plugging in the steady state solution into our equations of motions, we get an
expression of the form:

−𝜔2𝑚𝑿 + 𝑘𝑿 = 𝑝0

 We then introduce the following variables to the equations:

𝑘1
a) Natural frequency of the main system: 𝜔n = √
𝑚1

𝑘2
b) Natural frequency of the TMD: 𝜔a = √
𝑚2

𝑝0
c) Static Displacement: Xst =
𝑘1

𝑚2
d) Mass ratio: 𝜇 =
𝑚1

13
 Earthquake Resistance

 By doing this, we can determine the values of 𝑋1 and 𝑋2.

 The point of all this is to make the amplitude 𝑋1 = 0, as this is the motion (swaying) of
the main structure we want to minimize. To do this, we need to make the numerator of
𝑋1 equal to zero. By doing so we can determine the following:
𝑝0
𝑥̈2 = −
𝑘2

 This means if spring number two (𝑘2) applies a force of −𝑝0, it can cancel the external
force applied to the main structure.

3.7 Conclusion
TMD’s are an efficient way of attenuating large amplitudes with a relatively small system.
The weight of the TMD system is only 1% of the total weight of the Taipei 101 tower! They
allow engineers the freedom to design the system with respect to the necessary constraints (i.e.
size, weight, external forces).

14
Section 4 Safety & Other

4.1 Methodology and Life Safety Criteria

To exempt the related articles of fire code and building code mentioned in the
background, this application needs to ensure the evacuation safety. It means that all occupants
in the social communication plaza should have enough time to escape to a safe zone without
the threat of fire and smoke.

4.2 Fire Protection Evaluation Tools

The time for smoke layer descending to 1.8 meter was predicted and compared with the
time of occupants evacuating to safe places. The smoke flow behaviour was simulated with
field model FDS 4.0 and the definition of smoke layer height in NFPA 92B was used to estimate
the ASET with Cn=0.2. SIMULEX was utilized to predict the travel times in different
scenarios. The total evacuation time was obtained through the following equation:

T escape = T alarm + T response + SF× T travel

Where :
T escape : Floor escape time
T alarm : Notification time, 240 sec. assumed
T response: Response time, 60 sec. assumed
T travel: Travel time
SF: Safety Factor, (1.5)

4.2.1 Criteria of Safety for Evacuation

The critical items that relate to occupants’ safety include the toxic gas concentration
such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), the temperature of air, heat flux and
visibility, etc. The criteria for life safety in this project are given in Table 2. Any tenability
should be maintained below its limit at a height of 1.8 m during the evacuation

Table 2: Life Safety Criteria.

15
 Safety & Other

4.2.2 Design Fire Scenarios

Three fire scenarios were created in the podium of Taipei 101. Because there is no large
amount of combustible materials in the plaza, three arson fires were assumed at different
locations in the large space. All the design fires were 5 MW with Ultra‐fast fire growth rates.
The locations of three scenarios were in Table 3.

Table 3: Fire Scenarios

Scenarios Fire locations
1 The centre of the plaza on 4F

2 The corridor within the same plaza fire compartment on 1F

3 The north‐eastern corner of the plaza on 4F

4.2.3 Full scale Fire Tests

This project was required by Taiwan’s National Fire Agency to conduct full‐scale fire tests for
demonstrating the visual smoke layer height and the actuation of other systems, such as fire
detection system, shutter closing, and smoke control system. The relative information about
the fire tests is concluded in Table 4.

Table 4: Full scale Fire Tests

4.2.4 Evacuation time calculation

SIMULEX was used to calculate the traveling time of the occupants to the exits because it is
one of the most frequently used software in estimating the movement evacuation. In additions,
the social communication plaza on the fourth floor is a typical large-scale space to make use
of SIMULEX to calculate the movement time. 5000 occupants were assumed in the plaza based
on its capacity. The escape plan is shown as Figure 13. The results are illustrated in Table 5.

16
 Safety & Other

Table 5: Escape Time of Occupant at 4F

Scenarios Traveling time Escape time

1 720 sec 1380 sec
2 705 sec 1358 sec
3 720 sec 1380 sec

Fig 13 : Escape Plan of the Building

4.3 Power Supply System

From Hulin and Shih Mao sub-stations, via separate 22.8KV cables, to High Voltage
sub-stations located on Level B2. Within the Tower, separate dual risers distribute power to
the mechanical floors. Each office floor and mechanical floor is connected to dual power
distribution room, equipped with two transformers, which minimize the risk of connection
failure. Battery fed uninterrupted power supply that can control the security systems and remain
in operation in case of power failure. Eight diesel powered generators providing a total of
16.000 KW for continuous supply of electricity. Emergency generators provide about 70% of
the Tower tenants‟ power consumption needs. Lightning rods are installed at the top of tower
and at four corners of the balcony of each mechanical floor to avoid lightning risk.

17
 Safety & Other

4.4 Elevator system

Observation Elevators
 single-deck, 1,600 kg (24 persons) per deck 2004 Guinness Record fastest elevators in
the world with aerodynamic, with aerodynamic pressure-controlled cabs, ascend at
1,010 m/min.

Passenger Elevators
 10 double-deck, 2,040 kg (31 persons) per deck shuttle elevators serving the transfer
floors
 24 double-deck, 1,350 kg (20 persons) per deck, for access within 6 sub-zones (4 in
each subzone)
 3 single-deck (various capacities)

Service Elevators
 single-deck (2×2,040 kg, 1×4,800 kg)

Car Park Elevators

 6 single-deck, 1,600 kg to tower lobby

4.5 Security System

4.5.1 Security System
Fully computerized access control system, comprising readers throughout building.
Controls access to building entrances, including car park, lobby turnstiles, elevators, and office
floor fire escape doors (for re-entering) CCTV cameras and fibre optic cables ensure efficient
transmission of security information. Constant communication and connection with city’s
agencies such as Xinyi Police Bureau and Fire Bureau. International security guard company
provides the building with 24 hours guarding and patrolling

4.5.2 VAKS, Visitor Access Kiosk System

1F Lobby has installed 8 Visitor Access Kiosks. Tenants‟ visitors may contact tenants
directly through this system to receive the visitor access cards. The visitors need not leave any
identity documents to ensure privacy. Visitor Access Kiosk System records visitors’ image and
could be provided to tenants.

4.6 Building Management System

4.6.1 The Energy Management and Control System (EMCS)
The Energy Management and Control System (EMCS) tests and manages all building,
fire and life & safety systems. In addition to occupier safety, minimizing the impact on the
environment is a primary objective. The structure is already designed to be energy-efficient,
with double-pane windows blocking external heat by 50% and recycled water meeting 20 –
30% of the building's needs.

18
 Safety & Other

4.6.2 The Security System

The Security System both controls access to the Tower and monitors the safety of all
equipment and occupants, using multiple tools including 420 CCTV cameras and access card
readers at all key points of ingress and circulation. The Visitor Access Kiosks (VAKS) issue
temporary access cards to authorized visitors and keep photographic records.

4.7 Telecommunication System

Chunghwa Telecom has installed the
most Advanced integrated telecommunications
infrastructure. Two fibre-optic backbones,
from separate Chunghwa Telecom central
stations, enter the building at different points.
Internal distribution from the Main Distribution
Frames (MDFs) located on the 17th and 66th
floors is via separate 10 Gbps backbones to an
Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF) located
on each office floor. To provide further
telecoms redundancy, the Tower is equipped
with three alternative means of
communication:

 Microwave Free Space Optics

 Satellite (to two earth-stations)
 The whole building is mobile
accessible, including elevators and
basements. The public areas are a
wireless environment

Fig 14: Taipei 101

19
Conclusion

Taipei 101 is a record-breaking extraordinary structure which has been the tallest
building in the world from 2004-2010 over-coming the height of Petronas Towers by 508m. It
has been the symbol of excellence and technology for Taiwan. It is the structure which is
flexible enough to withstand earthquake and strong enough to resist typhoon winds. World’s
largest Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) of 728 ton is used here. The engineers and the designers
of Taipei 101 have gone beyond the expectations and imagination of human mind to construct
this mega marvel. There are many mega-structures under construction and being constructed
but Taipei 101 still maintains its uniqueness and variation. Here also worlds high speed of
1010 m/minute Elevators are used which is take a part of Guinness Record Book in 2004. There
by this is the second tallest building in the world just after the Burj Khalifa still now.

20
References

1. CTBUH 2004 October 10~13, Seoul, Korea

2. Taiwan Building Code (Regulation of Architecture Technique), 2009
3. http://www.emporis.com/building/taipei101-taipei-taiwan
4. The damped outrigger concept for tall buildings. The Structural Design of Tall and
Special Buildings, Vol. 16, 501-517
5. http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/623.php
6. Performance based seismic and wind engineering for 60 storey tower Proc. 14WCEE,
Beijing, China.
7. http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies
8. Kevin McGrattan and Glenn Forney, Fire Dynamics Simulator (Version 4.) ‐User’s
Guide, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Maryland, 2003.
9. National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 92B: Guide for Smoke Management
Systems in Mall, Atria, and large Areas, 2006 Edition.
10. Richard L. P. Custer and Brian J. Meacham, Introduction of performance-based Fire
Safety, SFPE and NFPA, 1997
11. SFPE, Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rd Edition, SFPE and NFPA, 2002.

21