Is will have a considerable weight. How is it intended to get it in and out of the building that far up? Why can't it go on the ground floor?

Definitely a problem of transmittance of engine vibrations into the supporting structure. This a perfect opportunity to use "Vibration Isolators" to minimize the effects of vibrations. The building structure either must be designed from the very beginning to withstand the machinery vibrations if it is a proposed building, or a structural vibration analysis of the structure is required if it is an existing building to ensure that the installation of the engine provides a safe structure. In many cases, an existing structure will have to be reinforced significantly. If this is the case, the economics of reinforcing an existing building structure may prove to be prohibited.

I recommend the following structural engineering textbooks dealing with machinery and structural vibrations:

1. "Vibrations of Mechanical and Structural Systems", by G.M. Smith, J.C. Wolford, and M.L James.

2. "Mechanical and Structural Vibrations", by Demeter G. Fertis.

Both are available as E-Books downloads on the Internet.....sometimes for free. Do a Google Search for them.

DISCLAIMER NOTE: To sufficiently utilize either book to it's fullest, you may need a Doctorate of Engineering degree. If you do not possess that sort of degree, then leave it to a pro that knows what he/she is doing regarding machinery vibration design and analysis of structures, otherwise you may end up with a collapsed building, property damage, and dead occupants and bystanders near the building!

I forgot to mention that PWStack has made some very valid comments and concerns.

Usually, such a large and significantly heavy piece of equipment is found either in the building basement or on the ground floor.

Sure, there are such pieces of equipment in buildings aboveground. You can find them all around the world in cities big and small.....New York City or London comes to mind immediately because of the restrictive nature of available land there, or the basements in highrises are already full with necessary equipment like electrical, plumbing and firepumps etc etc. to accommodate new equipment.

But why would you want to put the type of engine in the upper floors in the first place. Do you have the capability to even safely lift and place such a large piece of equipment? Do you have a large can opener to open-up the side or rooftop of the building is it is an existing one?

Thanks all for the value addition. THe client has made a high rise building and the basement is fully occupied with the Mall at the basement. THe building is still under construction and using the grid for necessary utility consumption. Now the idea is to have a cogen plant. The space is not enough for 1x4 MW small engines. We were looking for some reference but I guess it needs more internet searching :)

Haven't heard of an engine or generator this big, but you may (I say may) be able to get away with a number of smaller engines to help distribute the weight and make installation and maintenance viable. This is quite a large redesign as the construction will likely have to be altered to accommodate the cogen plant and a rapid design review conducted to ensure the cogen plant doesn't compromise the structural integrity of the building.

Alternatively consider placing the cogen plant off site nearby as another possible option.

If you put a 4MW generator on the 6th floor, there will be much more than a Mall in the basement, very soon.

Do it right, put it on the ground, where it should be, as PWSlack said!!!!!!

I'll bet there's more than a few people who now wish the back-up generators at Fukushima had been installed on the 6th floor instead of the basement, even it required some architectural engineering

Maybe a fuel cell would be the way to go...

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/01/20/kaiser-permanente-to-install-4-mw-of-bloom-boxes/

Your Architect needs to confirm. Go down site & korangi are (if you are in Karachi) and you will find boilers/gas engines on roof top. Go behind NRL and you will find all Tanneries having all production machines on first/second floors of the factory (due flood 20 years back prior building the dam). Your Architect needs to confirm the weight/vibration/sound level and it is meaningless to discuss this here even if it is your responsibility.

1)The civil engineer should design the building accordingly

2)There should be a crane/helicopter to place it in position on vibration isolators designed for this purpose

We installed a 1MW diesel genset on the roof(11th floor) of a building using the crane belonging to the civil contractor. The designer was an Australian Co.

If lifting is difficult go for multiple units of smaller ratings.

Has everyone heard the old chestnut about the swimming pool constructed on the top floor? It was never used, because the designer failed to consider the weight of the water in the pool on the structure of the building, and the pressure needed at the ground floor to get the water to that height.

How does the water get to the top of the CN Tower in Toronto, BTW?