Engineered Systems articles from February 2008

Engineered Systems archives from February 2008

Where's our sense of direction? New York reveals some things looking up and others simply upside down.(Editor's Note)
February 1, 2008... Once indoors, I lose all sense of orientation regarding where things are outside. Some people can sit in a conference room with no windows and nonchalantly point while referring to something to the east. Are you kidding? My internal compass can...

ES events.(Conference news)(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... APRIL 2-3 Green Intelligent Buildings Conference Co-sponsored by LonMark and CABA. Baltimore. For info, visit www.greenintelligentbuildings. com/conference. APRIL 10 Webinar -- Controlling Humidity In Schools Thomas H. Durkin, P.E....

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
February 1, 2008... MARCH 2-7 2008 AMCA Intl. Spring Meetings Air Movement & Control Assoc. Intl. Las Vegas. For info, visit www.amca.org.

Engineering in the construction phase.(Back 2 Basics: Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT software)
February 1, 2008... * The designer should manage the design phase fee so that adequate funds remain to participate in the field coordination drawing phase of construction. Refer to the August 2007 issue of Engineered Systems for "Design & Construction...

Third-party commissioning and TAB engineering in the construction phase.(Back 2 Basics: Based on Cx-3 ATC/FPT software)
February 1, 2008... * Those who contract for commissioning in the construction phase of the job usually interpret commissioning as being startup. When the commissioning firm is hired to perform FPT, experience has shown that this approach to commissioning is...

Geothermal water source heat pumps: no Trojan horse at Michigan school.(Case In Point)
February 1, 2008... The sign in the Whitmore Lake High School gymnasium says "The Home of the Trojans." Just like the Trojans of Homer's Iliad, these Trojans of Michigan have constructed an edifice to be envied. The new 150,000-sq-ft high school, which opened in...

Dehumidifier helps NYC school gets an A+ in environmental sustainability.(Case In Point)
February 1, 2008... Since environmentalism and sustainability are important parts of its curriculum, New York City's private Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) practiced what it has preached when it built its new $75 million campus expansion. Green ideas...

Put that stroll on the schedule: a few "what goes where" walks now will free up time for the big picture later.(Commissioning)(Column)
February 1, 2008... O&M training has traditionally been considered an end-of-construction activity, often specified in the project closeout section of the specifications. Although I have always advocated for the commissioning process to include planning for and...

How automated are our green buildings? We should lead LEED[R]'s rating system toward a few adjustments to recognize today's capabilities.(Building Automation)
February 1, 2008... The topic of green health care leads us to ponder the status of building automation technology in the greening of our planet. As LEED[R] and energy professionals, we are in awe by what the USGBC has accomplished in changing the building...

Proactive with your profile: as energy drives system design everywhere, how are even up-to-speed owners funding further improvements?
February 1, 2008... The next frontier for building and automation systems will be driven by energy, and the primary reasons to engineer systems will be energy-focused. An even more provocative statement is that the future of your business relies on embracing this...

Equipment startup checklist for retail facilities--split system.(HVACR Designer Tips)
February 1, 2008... Equipment type: Split system Equipment designation: AHU-1/ACCU-1 Barcode designation: 111111 Equipment type: Retail facility Equipment type: Rooftop/Ceiling ELECTRICAL INSPECTION [Y]...

Chipping away at emissions: tighter air regulations and and abundance of trees have paired up to fuel the move toward hybrid biomass boilers in these Canadian hospitals. Read about the upgraded systems' differences and the considerations for trading fossil fuels for sawdust, wood chips, and bark.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Think of Canada, and there's a good chance that what comes to mind is a sparsely populated country with spectacular scenery. Meandering coastlines, dramatic mountain ranges, and pristine lakes are located throughout...

Predicting state-of-the-art in Pittsburgh.(Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania))
February 1, 2008... Projects of a certain scope can simply take a while, and such is the case with this medical complex. We check in seven years after the site evaluation but still a year or two away from opening. It's a good time to ask some questions: How do you...

Eight ways to keep Legionella out of your air distribution: humidification, air intake location, and cooling tower operation--these three components continue to require vigilance in preventing Legionella from cropping up. Smart choices, from design through ongoing maintenance, can prevent problems and protect health.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Legionnaires' disease is costly. Building owners, or their insurers, pay big legal bills defending lawsuits brought by people who claim to have become ill from exposure to a water system that harbored Legionella...

Variable refrigerant flow: where, why, and how: what was a primarily residential technology is ready for larger commercial settings. What was primarily embraced overseas is building momentum in the U.S. This update traces VRF progress, examines some strengths and weaknesses, and spans the globe in an effort to compile some cost comparisons with other alternatives.
February 1, 2008... Multi-split heat pump systems, using multiple indoor units connected to a single outdoor unit, have evolved from a technology suitable for residential and light commercial buildings to variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems that can provide...

Commercial building initiative gains speed, support.(Issues & Events)
February 1, 2008... The Commercial Building Initiative, a new public/private consortium dedicated to achieving zero net energy commercial buildings by 2030, drew a standing-room-only crowd for its informational meeting at the New York Hilton on January 22. The CBI...

Nordyne wins AHR Expo Product of the Year.(Issues & Events)(air-conditioning, heating, refrigerating exposition)(Brief article)
February 1, 2008... Nordyne's 23-SEER air conditioner with iQ Drive[TM] was honored as "Product of the Year" at the 2008 AHR Expo. The unit is designed to continuously monitor and modulate capacity to match the cooling requirements and provide comfort, quick...

LEED[R]-EB O&M retools, revamps.(Issues & Events)
February 1, 2008... After a year's effort by the LEED[R]-EB core committee, a new and improved version of LEED-EB O&M is now available, according to Mike Opitz, P.E., LEED AP, director of LEED implementation for the USGBC, at an educational session held at the AHR...

ASHRAE pursues sustainability standard, offers Design Guides for free download.(Issues & Events)
February 1, 2008... The New York City winter meeting included a "sneak peek" of a high-profile work in progress, ASHRAE/USGBC/IESNA Standard 189.1P, a sustainability standard providing minimum requirements for the design of green high-performance new commercial...

Rupp Industries, Inc.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... Rupp Industries, Inc. announced a change in ownership and a change in its name, TEMP-AIR, Inc., after an investment group purchased the 42-year-old company following several months of negotiation with Rupp Industries' previous owners.

Big Ass Fans.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... Big Ass Fans donated $22,757 to ASHRAE research focused on ASHRAE Standard 55-Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.

The Grundfos Group.(Industry News)
February 1, 2008... The Grundfos Group, with headquarters in Denmark, acquired Peerless Pump Company, an Indianapolis-based manufacturer of pumps and fire protection systems, effective December 1, 2007.

Boilers.(Products In Focus)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Benchmark 1.5 low NOx (BMK 1.5LN) condensing, fully modulating boiler features 20:1 turndown, a small design, and is suited for projects requiring up to 1.5 million Btuh with minimal emissions. --AERCO FREE...

VRF systems.(Products In Focus)
February 1, 2008... The company's W-Series CITY MULTI variable flow refrigerant (VRF) system uses water as a heat exchange medium and can be installed inside a building. Zone cooling and hearting are controlled by refrigerant piped between a water source unit,...

Sensors.(Products In Focus)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The CDL carbon dioxide sensor features optional humidity and temperature capabilities, along with a unique transducer and duct probe confi guration housed in a single NEMA-IV enclosure. --Veris Industries FREE...

Sensors.
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The G460 is designed for simultaneous detection of up to six gases. Installed sensor options include infrared for CO2 and PID for VOC measurements. Features include automatic calibration, one-button operation,...

Flowmeters.(Products In Focus)
February 1, 2008... The Series SSM and SSB all-metal flowmeters are constructed with brass or T-136 stainless steel and are available with standard 3/4 or 1-1/2 in. female NPT connections. The unit is suited for measurement of water, oils, coolants, and compressed...

Pressure-relief doors.(Products In Focus)
February 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The company's pressure-relief doors are designed to prevent ductwork from imploding or exploding in the event of excess pressure. The PZ10 (positive) model and the VT-10 (negative) model are engineered to...

Glossary.
February 1, 2008... A A/C--air conditioning ach--air changes per hour AE--architectural and engineering; or architect and engineer AFD--adjustable-frequency drive AHJ--authority having jurisdiction AHU- air-handling unit ASD--adjustable-speed drive...

System training--who are we kidding? A third party, starting earlier, is the way to really get training done.(Tomorrow's Engineer)
February 1, 2008... Whether a project is going to be LEED[R] certified or not, system training is critical to long term (e.g., sustainable) building management success, so who are we kidding as we specify the contractor shall provide system training as part of the...