Engineered Systems articles from March 2003

Engineered Systems archives from March 2003

Duck and cover: readers respond, and a project's patience is rewarded. (Editor's Note).
March 1, 2003... In a year where the atmosphere has been tense on a number affronts, last month did host a couple of small, but encouraging, events. As expected, pitchers and catchers reported to training camps to prepare for the coming baseball season,...

Standard confusion. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... I found Joanna Turpin's article concerning makeup air (September 2002, page 51) to be very accurate concerning the impact it has on buildings. However, the sidebar on page 56 regarding "New standards for gas-fired equipment" contains misleading...

Auditorium applications. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... This letter refers to Howard McKew's "Back to Basics" Test #150 and #151 (September 2002, page 12). My response is not with regard to the control system you illustrated in the example (excellent controls), but with regard to the system...

Cleanliness is only the start. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... I just finished reading Howard MeKew's December 2002 "Tomorrow's Engineer" column regarding cleanliness and perception. I believe a corollary to your article is "taking pride in one's workmanship." More and more, I've been troubled by the...

The boiler room broom. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... My copy of Engineered Systems arrived this morning. I agree 100% with Howard MeKew's "Tomorrow's Engineer" column titled," The Dirt on Dissatisfaction" (December 2002, page 98). I smiled when I saw the mention about the dirty boiler room....

Data center cooling concerns. (Letters to the Editor).
March 1, 2003... As a consulting engineer in New York City with many clients having technology equipment rooms (TER) as part of their facilities, I have been exposed to numerous requests for environmental designs to accommodate 25/50/75/100 W per square foot...

Back to Basics.
March 1, 2003... 1. OCCUPIED/UNOCCUPIED SPACE SCHEDULE AND MOTION DETECTION: The BAS computer shall (program, schedule, monitor) the occupied/unoccupied classroom space to manage the introduction of outdoor air ventilation and associated energy consumption...

Air cooled chillers, ice storage end afternoon holidays for NC students. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2003... "Our goal was never again to dismiss school because of classroom heat." Bill Gilbert had an ambitious mission, because as energy director for the Johnston County school district near Raleigh, NC, he had experienced classes being frequently...

Rooftop units teach economy and ecology lessons. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2003... More than 45 years after its construction, Benilde-St. Margaret's School (BSM) in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park, MN, recently completed a $12 million renovation and expansion project. In addition to new classrooms and administrative...

New cooling strategy introduces ductliner benefits to Arizona schools. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2003... The state of Arizona's School Facilities Board, which governs all building improvements at state schools, recently established minimum facilities guidelines for all schools in Arizona. Any school that is measured against the new guidelines and...

Major retrofit serves as HVAC pacemaker for Sacred Heart. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2003... When maintenance and energy bills begin to outweigh the cost of a new HVAC system, it's time for an update. Smith Air Conditioning in Ville Platte, LA equipped Sacred Heart Catholic School with a new HVAC system to save the school thousands of...

School builds efficiency lesson plans around open-systems flexibility. (Case in Point).
March 1, 2003... The Simcoe County District School Board in central Ontario, Canada has 115 school and support buildings spread over almost 2,000 square miles. It sought to incorporate more consistency, efficiency, and energy savings into the system, but its...

Graduation is here: it's time to upgrade your DDC system. (Building Automation).
March 1, 2003... Our industry's DDC systems, some of which are up to 20 years old, have performed extremely well with great reliability, and have reduced control maintenance to the point that it has almost been eliminated. This has been of great benefit to...

Checking the work: the errors found during verification of a sample elementary school might surprise you. (Commissioning).
March 1, 2003... The reasons for commissioning K-12 schools are the same as the reasons for commissioning any facility. However, the primary benefits that most K-12 schools are hoping to gain from the commissioning process are as follows: * Verify and...

IAQ in DC: Washington turns the spotlight toward school environments. (Sustainable & Attainable).
March 1, 2003... In his letter to the editor in the December issue of ES, Walter Sperko stated he was "nauseated" by what he called "self-righteous finger-shaking" in a previously published column. In the holiday spirit of bah humbugs he lamented, "I kept...

Weather report January 2003.
March 1, 2003... ECONOMIZER SYSTEMS AND STEAM HUMIDIFICATION: OIL AND WATER? When humidification is required, does it make sense to provide airside economizer controls given that they use more outside air than systems without economizers? Should only...

Maine's Noble success.
March 1, 2003... Noble High School serves as a full community resource as well as school, but multifaceted demands didn't detract from comfort and efficiency. Twin sensors in the day care's radiant floor system, dust collection in the wood shop, and AHUs...

Schools get a class IAQ makeover.
March 1, 2003... Serious IAQ problems in any facility cause concern, but urgency multiplies when the building is a school. Here's how one firm's creative sleuthing, including symptom diaries and maintenance training, identified what was -- and wasn't -- the...

Basic fire protection strategies.
March 1, 2003... Today's HVAC controls often handle some fire protection duty as well as traditional HVAC, and active life safety systems have long shared precious ceiling space with other piping and ductwork. Whether you deal with life safety directly or work...

A new text for California schools.
March 1, 2003... When California taxpayers approved a $15 billion set of bonds for school construction, the desire to eliminate nagging and costly problems in those schools before they start gained momentum. The result was a formal guideline on the...

Minitube distribution systems.
March 1, 2003... These systems can be a technique to reduce costs and improve performance in the right application, such as commercial radiant floor heating system. Keys include the high temperature drop between the supply and return piping, ease of retrofit,...

Satisfaction through Six Sigma.
March 1, 2003... Originally developed for Motorola's production line, the Six Sigma approach translates to one message for all facilities: Before throwing money at new HVAC equipment, take steps to understand precisely what is going on in the current system and...

Spirotherm Technology: it's simply the only way to eliminate air-related heating and cooling system problems. (Permanent Air-Free Water).
March 1, 2003... No noise. No corrosion. No problems. Noisy pipes, loud pumps and cascading water caused by air in your system might seem normal, but they shouldn't. Serious problems will follow. Corrosion, poor heating and inadequate cooling, reduced...

AHR Expo Innovation Awards presented. (Issues and Events).
March 1, 2003... The winners of the inaugural AHR Expo Innovation Awards received their awards January 27, 2003 at the Expo's International Media Breakfast and Innovation Awards Presentation. The awards for product excellence are jointly sponsored by ASHRAE,...

Industry leaders announce creation of Council of Advanced Building Systems. (Issues and Events).
March 1, 2003... Stemming from a need recognized by the BullConn Advisory Board for a source of objective information, the board announced the creation of a new industry council driven by the systems integration community. It has an official launch scheduled...

Builconn set to facilitate evolution of networked building systems industry. (Issues and Events).
March 1, 2003... BuilConn Building Connections Forurn 2003, an event for integrators, contractors, and dealers who provide environmental and security solutions for buildings, will take place in Dallas, April 24-25. The forum brings together players in the...

Superior Radiant Products. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Superior Radiant Products was among the companies that received Honorable Mention at the AHR Expo Innovation Awards presentation in Chicago January 27,2003. The company garnered the award for its Premier VS Demand System.

Lindab Inc. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Lindab Inc. received Honorable Mention in the inaugural AHR Expo Innovation Awards in recognition for the company's HVAC design software application, CADvent.

Captive-Aire. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Captive-Aire, manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems, recently announced that its sales surged to a record $100 million in 2002.

Glasfloss Industries Inc. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Glasfloss Industries Inc. recently announced the grand opening of a new air filter manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, FL The new plant, which has been ramping into production since October, is now producing two major product lines.

PureChoice. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... PureChoice has been granted Mexican trademark registration mark approval for its PureTrac[R] Air Monitoring System, an Internet-based, IAQ monitoring and reporting system that provides continuous, real-time data to schools, offices, and other...

Greenheck. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... Greenheck was recently honored with the Sustained Excellence Award from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's largest business association.

Schneider Corp. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... Robert Montgomery has joined Schneider Corp. as vice president of GIS services.

Gridlogix, Inc. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... Gridlogix, Inc. has appointed Michael Lillywhite vice president of sales.

ABB Inc. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... ABB Inc. has named Ken Graber as senior public relations coordinator for its drives, motors, and machines business.

Environmental Dynamics Group. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... Paul A. Cartularo has joined the Environmental Dynamics Group as sales manager for Philadelphia, eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

A.O. Smith Water Products Company. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... A.O. Smith Water Products Company promoted Roy Wood to director of customer and product support, and named Matt Schultz product manager for its standard commercial water heater line.

Environmental Dynamics Group. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... Jeff Watcke has been named Northeast sales manager for Environmental Dynamics Group.

Schneider Electric. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... David D. Petratis has been appointed to the newly created post of president and chief operating officer for the U.S. business of Schneider Electric.

Condaire Inc. (Places and Faces).
March 1, 2003... Duane Riechers has joined Condaire Inc. as project manager.

Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. has completed the restoration of the Athena Theater in Athens, OH.

Gage-Babcock & Associates, Inc. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... Gage-Babcock & Associates, Inc. has hired Steve Moritz, CPP, as manager of security for the Atlanta office.

CRS Engineering & Design Consultants. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... CRS Engineering & Design Consultants' Jackson, MS, office recently completed mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and plumbing design for the MRI unit at Greenwood LeFleur Hospital.

Consolidated Engineering Services, Inc. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... Consolidated Engineering Services, Inc. recently appointed of Deborah C. Pasha to the position of business development manager for the mid-Atlantic region.

Team Mechanical Inc. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... Team Mechanical Inc. is working on a $4.5-million project for Children's Memorial Hospital's new research facility in Chicago.

Burns Engineering Inc. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... Burns Engineering Inc. was named "2002 Service Company of the Year" by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

AKF Engineers. (Engineering Beat).
March 1, 2003... AKF Engineers' Princeton, NJ, office has relocated from 600 Alexander Park to 700 Alexander Park

Association agenda.
March 1, 2003... ASHRAE recently published the new Designer's Guide to Ceiling-Based Air Diffusion, to assist engineers and designers in the creation of effective ceiling-based air diffusion HVAC systems. The Mechanical Contracting Foundation board of...

LAN access. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2003... Nexus Vista allows multiple users to view Johnson Controls' Metasys[R] data across a LAN. It works with Nexus PE to extract Metasys data, store it on the LAN, and present it to users in charts, tables, or reports. -- Energy Management...

Sizing and selection. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2003... Dri-Calc 3.0 allows engineers who are specifying humidification equipment to size loads, select equipment, write specifications, and create equipment schedules and installation instructions, It now offers the ability to create as-configured...

HVAC design. (Computers & Software).
March 1, 2003... HVAC Solution 2.0 automatically completes even more of the design tasks that HVAC professionals perform manually, designed to result in substantial time savings, elimination of calculation errors, and increased profits. -- HVAC Solution,...

Liebert Global Services. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Liebert Global Services has released two new programs to support point of presence, central office, and wireless tower applications. Total DC Power Service Solutions[TM] and Total Wireless Tower Service Solutions[TM] provide factory-certified,...

Quest Technologies. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Quest Technologies is offering AQ5000Pro and AQ5001Pro IAQ monitors at special pricing to those who choose to upgrade from Quest or Metrosonics aq-5000 and aq-5001 IAQ monitors.

Bar X Software. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Bar X Software's Building Design Studio 2.0 calculates both peak and annual loads, allowing users to spend only a few minutes inputting a building's data, while the program calculates the annual energy use, allowing for a multitude of factors.

Data-Basics. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Data-Basics' AEMAS for Windows is a fully integrated accounting and project management software system for architects and engineers.

Elite Software. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Elite Software's LIGHT for Windows has been released and is now available for download. It calculates the number of luminaires required for a desired average level of lighting in a room.

Environmental Support Solutions. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Environmental Support Solutions has released a new version of its enterprise environmental management software suite, Essential EH&S[TM] 5.0, which includes new browser-based forms for entering and tracking monitored, variable, and sample...

Meridian Project Systems (MPS). (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Meridian Project Systems (MPS) is slated to host its 4th Annual International Channel Partner Conference, March 20-21, 2003, at its corporate headquarters in Folsom, CA.

Andover Controls Corporation. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... Andover Controls Corporation recently announced that industry-standard SNMP management is now available in its facility management system, Continuum[R].

MAP's EST-Duct. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... MAP's EST-Duct is a Windows-based ductwork-estimating program used to prepare contract tenders and bids.

ProjectManual. (Bits & Bytes).
March 1, 2003... ProjectManual has received official endorsement by the Society of American Registered Architects for its service enabling professionals to compile completed spec books entirely online.

Siemens Building Technologies. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Siemens Building Technologies' new energy management service for North American and European markets, Utility Information Services, is an online solution that helps building owners monitor and reduce energy costs and emissions.

BuildingGreen.com.
March 1, 2003... BuildingGreen.com's GreenSpec subscription-only online directory contains detailed listings for over 1,500 green building products with environmental data, manufacturer information, and links to additional resources. For more information Visit...

Petra Engineering Industries Co. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Petra Engineering Industries Co. recently launched an improved website at www.petra-eng.com.

Engineered Software. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Engineered Software's latest TechNet Plus Web-based training is titled 'Using Pipe Specifications and Saving Design Files." For more information, e-mail Demry McCoy at sales@engsoftware.com.

Andover Controls Corp. has introduced web.Client[TM]. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Andover Controls Corp. has introduced web.Client[TM], a new Web-based interface that provides 24/7 access to Andover's Continuum[R] facility management system.

VibrationSchool.com. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... VibrationSchool.com has launched comprehensive, online vibration analysis training through its new website at www.vibrationschool.com.

Reliable Controls Corp. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Reliable Controls Corp. has launched a new Mach-Global Flash presentation on its website at www.reliable-controls.com.

Wrightsoft. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... Wrightsoft offers extensive information about "Estimating Commercial Retrofit Projects: How Software Can Help," at www.wrightsoft.com.

The Indoor Air 2002 Conference. (World Wide Web).
March 1, 2003... The Indoor Air 2002 Conference has made abstracts of the papers presented at the event last summer available at www.indoorair2002.org.

Air purifier. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The UV Bio-Wall provides a "barrier wall" of germicidal energy destroying virtually any biological contaminant passing by it. Parallel to the airstream in lengths up to 60 in. long, the patent-pending system reflects 360 degrees of germicidal...

Boiler control. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The Heat Computer 1000 is a remote data-logging and dial-out data acquisition system with extensive storage and alarm capabilities designed for small- to medium-sized commercial building heating systems. Capable of controlling steam (on/off or...

Circuit guard. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The company's Circuit-Gard is designed to provide accurate load monitoring of up to 32 branch circuits in a panel board and eliminate manual load testing, according to the manufacturer. An Ethernet link provides actual current load of each...

Temperature control. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The company's DFM14 and DFM44 temperature control systems are for use with recirculating direct gas-fired modulating air heaters and are designed to comply with new ANSI Z83.18 specifications. Highlights of the systems include the...

Transit cases. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The Road Warrior watertight transit case features custom foam inserts in various gauges designed to properly protect test equipment, leak detectors, and other sensitive contents. Other features include a silicon O-ring to seal out water, salt...

Unit ventilators. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The company says its AAF[R] HermanNelson[R] unit ventilators feature a new coil design that provides extra cooling capacity for the added ventilation requirements prescribed in ASHRAE Standard 62.1-1999. The units also feature a new freezestat...

Combustion analyzers. (Products in Focus).
March 1, 2003... The Series CA-6100 CA-CALC portable combustion analyzers are designed to provide real-time analysis of gas/oil/wood heating systems and other combustion applications to tune burners for efficiency and safe operation. TSI Incorporated ...

Glossary.
March 1, 2003... 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 --...

Hold progress in your hand: antiquated standard specifications are due for an overhaul and a download. (Tomorrow's Engineer).
March 1, 2003... I was watching a program on the Arts & Entertainment cable network recently, and the show highlighted Henry Ford's Fairlane Mansion. As I sat there with my laptop, getting ahead on my 2003 writing for this magazine, it was quite a coincidence...

Calendar of events.
March 1, 2003... April & May 2003 For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. April 23-25 BuilConn 2003 Clasma, Inc. Dallas. For info, visit www.builconn.com. April 7-11 27th Annual Sprinkler and Other...