Engineered Systems articles from December 2005

Engineered Systems archives from December 2005

Road trips past and future.(editor's note)
December 1, 2005... Once or twice a year, the stars align to provide the opportunity for a real road trip. This year, I found myself enjoying some quality rental-car time as I drove to Nashville for the 2006 BACnet[TM] Conference & Expo, hosted by the BMA and...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
December 1, 2005... DECEMBER AND JANUARY 2006 For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. December 12-16 NFPA Professional Development Week National Fire Protection Association. Orlando. For info, visit...

Helpful hints.(Back to Basics)
December 1, 2005... * Integral to the long-term success of a building system is the initial commissioning process followed by proactive building management: The cornerstone to this-aggressive business plan is to have the preventive maintenance workorder system in...

Refrigerant/desiccant control unit prevents humidity problems at Houston hotel.(case in point)
December 1, 2005... Ben Mousavi, owner of KEIV, Inc., has three Hilton franchised hotels. As a franchisee, there are specific guidelines to the design and construction of the hotel that must be approved. Hilton specifications require that the hotel be pressurized...

Radiant heating helps keep ambulance station rolling.(case in point)
December 1, 2005... By definition, an ambulance garage must be in a constant state of ready alert. Vehicles need to be quickly and thoroughly cleaned, decontaminated, and serviced so they're ready to hit the streets again on a moment's notice. Turning around these...

BAS keeps blood supply pumping safely and smoothly.(CASE IN POINT)
December 1, 2005... Blood processing establishments require strict compliance with internationally recognized safety standards pertaining to the collection, screening, preparation, and delivery of blood components. A key element of regulatory compliance is having...

Why be rigorous? (Part 2): custom tests yield lasting benefits.(commissioning)
December 1, 2005... In October 2005, "Getting it Right" loosely defined levels of rigor for commissioning tests. That was intended to help building owners understand the wide variety of testing approaches available from commissioning providers. Last month...

Guess who's coming to dinner? A cultural clash is occurring as major IT folks join our industry.(building automation)
December 1, 2005... In the classic movie and the remake of Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, a humorous story evolves based on preconceived notions about culture and character. The news of major IT firms Cisco and Hewlett-Packard (HP) sponsoring part of the BuilConn...

Don't get behind: on the code! The new NEC changes are in.(current affairs)
December 1, 2005... The National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association, is in a sense the Bible that we live by when designing electrical systems. Like the Bible, it is complex, subject to interpretation, and sometimes...

Roof top unit with air displacement below-floor system--commissioning and project closeout checklist.(hvacr designer tips)
December 1, 2005... Equipment type: RTU-1 Equipment designation: RTU-1 w/air displacement floor distribution Bar code designation: 1111111 Area served: 24/7 Response Center Equipment location: Roof and below raised floor SPECIFICATION REVIEW...

Drying out the big easy.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2005... When it comes to cleanup after Katrina and Rita, the task is indeed big in terms of health ramifications and square footage, but there isn't much easy about it at all. Regarding mold remediation, some spaces might've actually been better off...

Integrating intelligence.
December 1, 2005... The end of the year is a fine time to gaze forward, not in terms of decades from now, but in terms of what's being done right now that will have major effects in the future. The controls industry is undergoing a radical restructuring as...

Humidification system design basics.
December 1, 2005... A properly humidified building can improve manufacturing processes, preserve materials used to furnish and finish a building, and enhance health and comfort for building occupants. There are many benefits of humidifying buildings, but these...

Engineered Systems 2006 Building Automation Conference to cover the latest trends and real-world skills.(issues and events)
December 1, 2005... Engineered Systems will present the 2006 Building Automation Conference, a two-day conference focused on commercial building automation and bringing together facilities management professionals to learn about the latest advancements in energy...

BACnet groups join to form new organization.(issues and events)
December 1, 2005... In order to provide a single source for BACnet activities and information and engage the whole BACnet community, the BACnet Interest Group--North America (BIG-NA) and the BACnet Manufacturers Association (BMA) have joined to form BACnet...

HVAC companies aid in hurricane relief.(issues and events)
December 1, 2005... In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, several HVAC-related companies pitched in to help the Gulf Coast area get back on its feet. Here's a sampling of some of the efforts: Heatcraft Refrigeration Products employees from the company's...

Daikin Industries, Ltd., a global leader in manufacturing A/C systems for residential, commercial, and industrial use worldwide, has announced the establishment of Daikin AC (Americas), Inc.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Daikin Industries, Ltd., a global leader in manufacturing A/C systems for residential, commercial, and industrial use worldwide, has announced the establishment of Daikin AC (Americas), Inc., which will be headquartered in Carrollton, TX.

LONMARK International announced that the Access Point Controller (APC-300) from Circon Systems is the first product to be certified using Version 3.4.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... LONMARK International announced that the Access Point Controller (APC-300) from Circon Systems is the first product to be certified using Version 3.4 of the LONMARK Interoperability Guidelines.

Grundfos Technical Institute.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Grundfos Technical Institute will conduct 2.5-day training programs for commercial and industrial pump installation and sales professionals.

Echelon Corporation announced that the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is using its technology to develop a prototype HVAC system.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Echelon Corporation announced that the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is using its technology to develop a prototype HVAC system to improve IAQ in California's 85,000 portable classrooms.

Fedders Corporation announced that it has purchased 80% of the stock of Islandaire, Inc. from its founder and sole shareholder, Robert E. Hansen, Jr.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Fedders Corporation announced that it has purchased 80% of the stock of Islandaire, Inc. from its founder and sole shareholder, Robert E. Hansen, Jr., for a combination of cash and preferred stock.

Atmel[R] Corporation, a leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, and Ember[R] Corporation, a leader in low-power wireless semiconductor solutions, announced their partnership.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Atmel[R] Corporation, a leader in the development and fabrication of advanced semiconductor solutions, and Ember[R] Corporation, a leader in low-power wireless semiconductor solutions, announced their partnership on the ultra-low power...

Mitsubishi Electric HVAC.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Mitsubishi Electric HVAC has built a new facility in Suwanee, GA that will house its corporate office and distribution center. The new facility, located at 3400 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd., will provide an additional 42,500 sq ft of office and...

Titus.(Industry News)
December 1, 2005... Titus announced a price increase of 3% on all products effective immediately.

JCM Group and Facilities Planning and Management, both divisions of Heery International, drew upon the firms' collective strengths to secure the assignment.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... JCM Group and Facilities Planning and Management, both divisions of Heery International, drew upon the firms' collective strengths to secure the assignment as construction manager for the new Fontana Library and Resource Technology Center in...

Harris Consulting Engineers (HCE).(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Harris Consulting Engineers (HCE) is celebrating its 21st year in business.

Affiliated Engineers, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Affiliated Engineers, Inc. announced that Bill Vernon has joined the firm's Walnut Creek, CA office to lead the health care practice in the office.

Rumsey Engineers announced that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Francisco chapter has selected the Global Ecology Research Center.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Rumsey Engineers announced that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Francisco chapter has selected the Global Ecology Research Center for its 2005 Excellence in Sustainability Award.

Sebesta Blomberg is restructuring its current commissioning services to establish a new division dedicated to sustainable facility services.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Sebesta Blomberg is restructuring its current commissioning services to establish a new division dedicated to sustainable facility services. Tia Heneghan, LEED, AP, who currently manages the firm's Colorado office, will provide leadership for...

Syska Hennessy Group.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Robert Dusconi has been named a vice president and chief financial officer at Syska Hennessy Group. He succeeds Harvey Goldman, who has assumed the positions of president and COO.

Woolpert, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Dave Barron recently joined Woolpert, Inc., as a project director in the survey group.

The Stellar Group has finished constructing an 18,000-sq-ft processing plant expansion for Flanders Provision Co.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... The Stellar Group has finished constructing an 18,000-sq-ft processing plant expansion for Flanders Provision Co. in Waycross, GA, bringing the plant to 50,000 total sq ft.

Cannon Design.(Engineering Beat)
December 1, 2005... Cannon Design announced that Thomas S. Harvath, AIA, has been named principal.

Simulations predict saving from more airtight buildings.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)
December 1, 2005... U.S. commercial building owners could save substantially on annual heating and cooling energy costs by improving airtightness of their buildings' envelope, according to a recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study. The...

Steam system component design.(computers & software)
December 1, 2005... The CAD Resource Centre, which is a design aid for steam system engineering, comprises a central online library offering component and application drawings for download in either AutoCAD[R] or Windows[R] Metafile (.wmf) formats. The inclusion...

Remote system monitoring.(computers & software)
December 1, 2005... The new Flashlink SP (Server Package) Wireless Manager uses a protected remote database server platform to offer users secured worldwide access of environmental data gathered by their installed FlashLink Wireless Systems. The system provides...

Psychrometrics, duct calculation.(computers & software)
December 1, 2005... HVACSuite is a new pro gram that combines a powerful group of free tools with economy-priced "pay to register" modules. The free tools include psychrometrics, equal friction duct calculations, and more, while the "pay to register" modules...

Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... Siemens Building Technologies, Inc has released a new CD-ROM of its Master HVAC Products Catalog 4.0, which includes over 700 pages of HVAC control components: valves, actuators, sensors, thermostats, damper actuators, VFDs, controllers, and...

ASHRAE.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... ASHRAE has agreed to resell Carmel Software's HVAC load calculation software including Loadsoft 6.0 which performs commercial HVAC load calculation analysis based upon the RTS (radiant-time series method) and is also published in the 2005...

Victaulic.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... Victaulic recently released its new Vic Cells 3-D software to assist MicroStation 8 users in designing accurate, 3-D piping models including renderings from the company's entire product line.

Data-Basics.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... Data-Basics has expanded its operations in the southeastern U.S. and Caribbean with the announcement of the selection of Tampa-based Alliance Solutions Group as its sales, implementation and customer support dealer for Florida, Puerto Rico, and...

BCA Technologies, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... CAD Standards Notebook is designed to provide guidance for for A/E offices with little to no written CAD standards for employees to follow.

GeoPraxis.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... GeoPraxis' Green Building Studio is designed to work with Autodesk's Tools to provide immediate energy cost estimates for buildings as they are currently designed to help make the best design decisions.

The Cooling Technology Institutes.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... CTI Toolkit 3.0 provides new software tools for cooling tower performance evaluation, prediction, and monitoring.

Johnson Controls, Inc.(BITS & BYTES)
December 1, 2005... Johnson Controls, Inc. has introduced a new building control system, Facility Explorer, exclusively available through the company's Authorized Building Control Specialist network.

Mitsubishi Electric HVAC.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Mitsubishi Electric HVAC recently put the final touches on its new and improved website, www.mehvoc. com, creating a simple, yet more enhanced interface.

Contemporary Controls.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Contemporary Controls is now offering e commerce to customers via its website, located at www.ctrlink.com.

Temperature World.com.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Temperature World.com, located at www.temperatureworld.com, provides extensive temperature information, news, links and resources.

The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has launched a new Web portal to provide state energy information, located at www.eere.energy.gov/srotes/.

Hoffman Specialty.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Hoffman Specialty provides product information and much more at www.hoffmonspecialty.com.

Armstrong Pumps.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Armstrong Pumps now offers "The Knowledge Exchange," an e learning platform, accessible via www.ormsrrongpumps.com.

The Radiant Panel Association.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... The Radiant Panel Association offers expert information and discussion on its RadNet online bulletin board, located at www.radiantpanelssociation.org.

Dickson Company.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Dickson Company's free "Temperature and Temperature/Humidity Mapping Guide," located at www.dicksonweb.com/article/article_26.php, provides step by-step instructions on how to create and maintain effective facility mapping programs, including...

Delta Controls.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Delta Controls provides information about its building control solutions for commercial, government and retail buildings, as well as schools, universities, hospitals, airports, and more, at www.deltacontrols.com.

State Industries, Inc.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... State Industries, Inc.'s website, located at www.storeind.com, offers information about the company's line of water system tanks and expansion tanks.

Emerson Climate Technologies.(World Wide Web)
December 1, 2005... Emerson Climate Technologies (www.emersonclimare.com/) announced the availability of its online product information in Spanish.

UV air purification.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The company's UV air purification systems, which can be used as a prevention tool to limit the spread of influenza, consist of a high-intensity UV quartz lamp that produces UVC (which destroys viruses, bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms)...

Air turnover units.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... AC Series air turnover systems are the ideal solution to heating and cooling large commercial/industrial buildings, according to the manufacturer. Single models are available in sizes ranging from 7,500 to 200,000 cfm, with heating outputs up...

A/C units.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The "S" Series A/C unit features a multi-step capacity compressor with green refrigerant R410A, and is ideal for new construction, modular applications, school modernization, and telecommunication structures. The units are available in 3 to 5...

Unit ventilators.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The AAF[R]-HermanNelson[R] Model AV unit ventilator is designed for easy access, cleaning, and servicing. The unit features modular design components such as a one piece welded frame for long-term structural strength and a modular fan section...

Sensors.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The OptiNet[TM] facility-wide sensing system is designed to validate and optimize green building performance. The system continuously measures an array of environmental parameters including CO, C[O.sub.2], VOCs, small particles, and temperature...

Infrared heater.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The Vantage[R] modulating infrared heater is designed to provide increased fuel efficiency by modulation, the adjustment of both fuel and combustion air, resulting in efficient and optimum combustion throughout the full range of burner inputs,...

Airflow measurement.(products in focus)
December 1, 2005... The VOLU-flo/OAM is designed to meet the outside air requirements of ASHRAE 62.The unit features sensors that are unaffected by wind, moisture, or particulate, and a micro-processor-based monitor/controller. The unit is suited for energy...

Boilers.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... The CeraFlame Series gas-fired commercial copper tube boiler is featured in this full-color fact sheet. Included are performance highlights, a cross-sectional diagram depicting venting options, and a temperature chart. The unit is available for...

Testing and measurement tools.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... The company's testing and measurement tools for the HVACR industry are featured in this catalog. Included for each product are full-color photos as well as features and benefits. Also included are "How To" guides such as how to calculate...

Shut-off valves.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... This four-page catalog features the company's steel shut-off valves for ammonia and other refrigerant applications. Included are product features, specifications, line illustrations, and dimensional charts. --Orca Technologies FREE...

Plenum fans.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... The company's 5120 plenum fans are featured in this booklet. Included is complete product information such as specification charts for each model, fan selection tips, product photos, dimensional charts, and available performance and convenience...

Air handlers.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... This brochure features the company's line of air handlers for both new and retrofit construction. Included are product photos for the Pro-Fit[R] indoor and outdoor air handlers, room fancoil units, and belt-driven units as well as information...

Burners.(literature & catalogs)
December 1, 2005... This selection reference guide features the company's oil, gas, and combination gas/oil burners. Included are product photos, firing rate charts, and specification features. Available burner models range in size between 43,000 and 63 MBtuh. ...

Boilers.
December 1, 2005... The company's line of modular boilers is featured in this booklet. Included are product photos, specification charts, features, and information on the units' design features including horizontal casting and spring-like geometry. The company's...

Glossary.
December 1, 2005... Here are some common abbreviations and terms found in the pages of Engineered Systems. A A/C--air conditioning ach--air changes per hour AE--architectural and engineering; or architect and engineer AFD--adjustable...

Jump-starting: the TAB process.(tomorrow's engineer)
December 1, 2005... The new plan: Here's a creative solution to a chronic problem. Back in 1994, I took the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) TAB test that is formatted by beginning with an eight-hour written test. If you pass that, then you take...