Commercial HVAC

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Back around 2002, I came up with this idea based on a perceived need to have commissioning software available for me to write functional performance test (FPT) documents.

More than ever, existing buildings are the key to future efficiency gains. And yet, better equipment isn’t everything. The knowledge and behaviors of both occupants and operations staff play critical roles, perhaps greater than you realize. An integrated team approach, smart training, and the Hawthorne Effect are but three factors contributing to your next retrofit’s ultimate fate.

Humans spend a great deal of their time in buildings constructed to protect us from harsh outdoor conditions.

The dizzying array of circumstances, conditional possibilities, and equipment facing today’s HVAC designer is a lot to take in at the beginning of such a critical task.

Boston’s New Waterfront initiative has created an influx of business and new housing where sea meets land. Boston’s revitalized Seaport District now sports a harbor walk that meanders through shops, fine restaurants, and upscale neighborhoods.

In the maze of specification choices, the customer’s specific needs should still guide the design.

Environmental factors, IAQ-related codes and standards, even architectural building materials … a lot of factors combine to create a moving target for designers of good humidification systems. That’s not even considering the potential hiccups lurking in the construction process or resulting from an inattentive project team member. From the humidity basics to equipment placement to post-occupancy maintenance that can thwart lawsuits, pursue the path to appropriate humidity and minimal risk.

While mechanical energy codes may lag relative to the efficiency targets of some other codes , the expansion of VRF into a wider range of equipment makes it easier than ever to exceed expectations. Perhaps more importantly, its incorporation into heat pumps, dehu-midifiers, compressors, and more represents more flexibility in delivering an effective retrofit without a total system overhaul.

The commissioning process is intended to follow a logical flow in a logical project delivery process.

In theory, a BAS provides all of the hardware and software required to analyze and operate all functions within a building. In reality, though, what most of these systems do best is control the HVAC system.