Engineered Systems articles from October 2006

Engineered Systems archives from October 2006

Building the building community.(editor's note)(Editorial)
October 1, 2006... "We gave it to the facilities guys, and they couldn't figure it out. We gave it to the IT guys, and they automated the bathrooms." That sounds like a worst-case scenario that Ken Sinclair might've written a few years ago in his column,...

Calendar of events: October/November 2006.(Calendar)
October 1, 2006... For more events and details, visit ESOnline at www.esmagazine.com. OCTOBER 20-23 Air Movement And Control Association International 51st Annual Meeting AMCA. Santa Barbara, CA. For info, visit www.amca.org/conferences....

Back to basics[TM].
October 1, 2006... The focus of October's "Back to Basics" and "HVACR Designer's Tips" will be the replacement of a 20,000-cfm supply air system C constant volume with hot water reheat) serving an office building. The November columns will continue with the...

Retrofit and air separator system help fill the air with flexibility and savings at UNL.(case in point)(University of Nebraska)
October 1, 2006... It isn't always easy to sell the idea of PM to folks who have to answer to budgets and ROI. John Heise, housing special projects manager for the University of Nebraska Lincoln, however, is a firm believer. To Heise, it's all about opportunity....

Retrofit comforts residents at The Ronald McDonald House.(CASE IN POINT)(International organization overview)
October 1, 2006... The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut in New Haven has provided comfort, care, and shelter for thousands of children and their families from the U.S. and 36 countries. The 12-guestroom haven is a place where seriously ill children being...

Replacement of oversized boilers boosts warmth in public housing.(CASE IN POINT)
October 1, 2006... The steel tube boilers were old, very old, had been in service since the 1960s, and were on their last legs. There were three in all, assigned with the task of providing heat and hot water to nearly 300 apartments at Dexter Manor, a 10-story...

Computer simulation optimizes data center with sealed server area.(CASE IN POINT)(Facilities Engineering Associates )
October 1, 2006... When a financial services company sought to identify potential problems in its new data center room prior to construction, it turned to Facilities Engineering Associates (FEA). FEA felt that computer simulation would address the unique nature...

The perfect test: which works better, the stick or the carrot?(Column)
October 1, 2006... In September's column, we focused on the need to motivate project teams to correct systems performance deficiencies in a timely fashion following unsuccessful FPTs. This month, I'd like to explore the question of why there are unsuccessful FPTs...

Automating sustainability: ASHRAE gets the ball rolling. How can we increase the momentum?
October 1, 2006... Present building infrastructures are not sustainable. It is paramount that the building automation industry becomes not just a participant but a leader in the movement to change this. Building automation is a sustainable substance; a few...

Design review & equipment startup: checklist for AHU replacement/retrofit.(hvacr designer tips)
October 1, 2006... Equipment type: AHU Equipment designation: AHU-1 Barcode designation: 111111 Area served: Office space, level 1 and 2 Equipment location: First-floor equipment room ELECTRICAL INSPECTION YES ...

Just design: courthouse HVAC.(Cover story)
October 1, 2006... A courthouse's acoustical needs are second perhaps only to a concert hall. Furthermore, specialized spaces and biosafety concerns compel a careful zoning approach for ventilation and life safety. Consider this brief outlining the evidence in...

Facility risk assessments.
October 1, 2006... In many projects, and in government facilities in particular, staff must dedicate more time and money to assessing possible threats and risks relating to IAQ and mechanical systems. Then it's a matter of deploying the proper mitigation...

A complex organism.
October 1, 2006... Demolition, construction, changing [DELTA]T, two chiller plants, changing piping designs, adjusting makeup water pressure, incorporating thermal storage... these are but some of the hurdles and goals the project team has faced during a major...

Fuzzy logic = clear opportunity: what do a 6th-century "philosopher poet" and artificial intelligence have to do with better controls and fault detection? Take a quick primer in fuzzy logic and soon enough, the potential for building automation will come into crisp focus.
October 1, 2006... The next sentence is true. But the previous sentence is false. Epimenides of Knossos (Crete) was a semi-mythical philosopher-poet from the 6th century. One day, in a fit of poetic inspiration, it is said that he proclaimed, "All Cretans are...

New ASHRAE group to focus on sustainable building.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... ASHRAE has created a new technical research group focusing on sustainable building guidance. The group will develop design guidance, performance metrics, and rating systems to integrate indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency, and other...

Blue crab nanosensor could help detects dangers in airports, hospitals.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A substance found in crab shells is the key component in a nanoscale sensor system developed by researchers at the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering. The sensor can detect minute quantities of explosives, bioagents,...

Innovative generator could spark energy savings.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... An innovative residential generator that can produce both heat and electricity could spark a revolution in energy efficiency, said Eric Guyer, the CEO of Climate Energy, during a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Club...

Lochinvar[R] Corp.(marketing of heating boilers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Lochinvar[R] Corp. ran an in-booth promotion at ISH-NA in Chicago in which winners received a Hewlett Packard Pocket PC to promote the company's Knight heating boiler which features a Smart System control with Pocket PC software.

ClimateCraft, Inc.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... ClimateCraft, Inc. has completed a review and certification process by an independent approval agent of its AHUs, which were found to comply with the seismic requirements of the International Building Code for an acceleration force of up to...

Frost & Sullivan selected Tridium, Inc. as the recipient of the 2006 Green Buildings Energy & Facilities Management Excellence in Technology of the Year Award.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Frost & Sullivan selected Tridium, Inc. as the recipient of the 2006 Green Buildings Energy & Facilities Management Excellence in Technology of the Year Award for creating an Internet-based software infrastructure that enables endusers to...

Legrand announced the acquisition of Vantage Controls, located in Orem, UT.(Industry News)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Legrand announced the acquisition of Vantage Controls, located in Orem, UT. Vantage Controls will be the sixth Legrand business group in North America and has been renamed Vantage/Legrand.

Flowserve Corp.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Flowserve Corp. announced that the its Logix 3200IQ has received two new IECEx Certificates of Conformity, enabling the digital positioner to be used in hazardous locations.

Baltimore Aircoil Company.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Baltimore Aircoil Company has announced a price increase on all products produced in North America, due to continued rapid escalations in raw material costs.

Honeywell.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Honeywell was awarded a $2.5 million contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to install an integrated security system, including innovative patient protection technology, for the new 269,000-sq-ft Bassett Army Community Hospital at Fort...

Johnson Controls, Inc.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Johnson Controls, Inc. has been chosen to provide a comprehensive building systems solution for the Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, China.

Innergytech Inc. has formed an alliance with the Hoval Company from Liechtenstein.(Industry News)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Innergytech Inc. has formed an alliance with the Hoval Company from Liechtenstein, in which the former will be manufacturing the latter's plate exchangers at its Canadian facility.

TAC.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... TAC was awarded a $1.5 million contract for integrated building automation and security systems from Eisai Research Institute, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, for its new research center in Andover, MA.

Spirax Sarco, Inc. announced the acquisition of majority interest in UltraPure Group Limited, Inc., a Florida-based company that manufactures pure steam generators and water stills for the bio-pharmaceutical industry.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Spirax Sarco, Inc., announced the acquisition of majority interest in UltraPure Group Limited, Inc., a Florida-based company that manufactures pure steam generators and water stills for the bio-pharmaceutical industry. The company has been...

Sanyo HVAC.(Industry News)
October 1, 2006... Sanyo HVAC has increased the compressor warranty period for the company's high-efficiency models featuring its Cooleron[TM] R410A from five years to six years.

Ross & Baruzzini, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... Ross & Baruzzini, Inc. announced completion of the new Airport Operations and Emergency Operations Center at DFW International Airport for which Ross & Baruzzini was the program manager, lead planner, concept designer, and EOR.

BSA LifeStructures.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... BSA LifeStructures placed among the nation's top 10 in Modern Healthcare magazine's ranking of the Top Architectural Firms.

John Jernigan Ph.D., P.E., special projects engineer for Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... John Jernigan Ph.D., P.E., special projects engineer for Smith Seckman Reid, Inc., has been named the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Memphis Chapter's 2006 Outstanding Engineer of the Year.

Eric L. Rubottom, CTS, LEED[TM] AP of Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers, Inc. has earned his Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification from InfoComm International.(Engineering Beat)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Eric L. Rubottom, CTS, LEED[TM] AP of Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers, Inc. has earned his Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) certification from InfoComm International, for audiovisual professionals who have demonstrated knowledge and...

Dakota Provisions announced the grand opening of its new facility April 22, 2006.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... Dakota Provisions announced the grand opening of its new facility April 22, 2006, which was designed and constructed by The Stellar Group.

Mazzetti & Associates.(Engineering Beat)(13 employees became USGBC LEED[R] Accredited Professionals)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Mazzetti & Associates (M&A) announced that 13 employees recently became USGBC LEED[R] Accredited Professionals: Robert W. Gulick, P.E., principal, Portland; Tom Pride, P.E., principal, Portland; Doug Brown, P.E., senior associate, Portland;...

Sebesta Blomberg.(Engineering Beat)(Chicago Climate Exchange)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Sebesta Blomberg announced their membership with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), North America's only, and the world's first, voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) emission registry, reduction, and trading system for all six GHGs.

Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. has pledged $100,000 in support of the expansion of the Department of Fire Protection Engineering facilities at the University of Maryland.

EYP Mission Critical Facilities[R], Inc.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... EYP Mission Critical Facilities[R], Inc. announced that David Winn, P.E., and Greg Young, P.E., have joined the firm's San Francisco office.

Dewberry.(Engineering Beat)
October 1, 2006... Dewberry has received a number of federal and state commendations recently in recognition of the firm's 50th anniversary.

New device could do "battle" with hospital infections.
October 1, 2006... An innovative University at Buffalo air sterilization technology that the U.S. Department of Defense is funding to protect troops on the battlefield soon may be protecting hospital patients from deadly infections, thanks to recent funding from...

Selkirk Canada.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Selkirk Canada announced the appointments of Mike Hladyshto to the position of director of engineering and Jim Vargyas to director of logistics.

Modine Manufacturing Company.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Modine Manufacturing Company announced that Gregory T. Kinder has joined the company in the newly created position of vice president, global purchasing

Duro Dyne National Corporation.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Leo F. White was named vice president/controller of Duro Dyne National Corporation.

Sceptor Industries.(Places and Faces)(Sean Reineke named president)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Sean Reineke has been named president and CEO of Sceptor Industries of Kansas City, a provider of air samplers and related technology for security against airborne chemical and biological hazards.

Synergis Software.(Places and Faces)(Todd Cummings and Scott Lamond promoted)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Synergis Software, an independent division of Synergis Technologies, Inc. announced the promotion of two of the company's key contributors: Todd Cummings to vice president of research and development and Scott Lamond to vice president of...

Hansgrohe-North America.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Hansgrohe-North America recently promoted operations manager, Xaver Hake, to director of operations.

Farr Air Pollution Control.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Lee Morgan has been named president of Farr Air Pollution Control (APC).

Industrial Scientific Corporation.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Industrial Scientific Corporation announced that its board of directors elected Kent D. McElhattan to the newly created position of chairman and CEO.

Daikin AC (Americas), Inc.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Gary Nettinger, a veteran HVAC technical instructor, has been named director of National Service and Training for Daikin AC (Americas), Inc.

Lux Products Corp.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Lux Products Corp. announced that Leone-Green & Associates of Marietta, GA, has been chosen as the company's new sales representative serving the state of Georgia.

Heat Transfer Products, Inc.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Heat Transfer Products, Inc., recently announced the appointment of David R. Martin as the company's new president.

Ultraviolet Devices, Inc.(Places and Faces)
October 1, 2006... Ultraviolet Devices, Inc. announced the hiring of Tony Wisniewski as its new vice president for sales and marketing.

Study shows that new pathogens may be targeting cooling towers.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Cooling towers may be hot spots where new forms of disease-causing bacteria emerge, scientists report. The American Chemical Society's Sharon G. Berk and colleagues set out to determine whether cooling towers encourage a worrisome relationship...

ISH/Aircontec to include IKK Building Forum from 2007 onward.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)
October 1, 2006... As early as 2007 and thereafter, IKK Building will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in conjunction with ISH/Aircontec (March 6-10, 2007). Initially planned as a forum with its own dedicated exhibition space, IKK Building will focus on...

Chicagoland Better Heating-Cooling Council.(Association Agenda)(John Stern)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... John Stern, vice president of Bert C. Young & Sons Corp., has been elected 2006-2007 president of the Chicagoland Better Heating-Cooling Council. Other officers elected are Kevin L. Bailey, vice president at Fluid/Air Products, first vice...

The Ivy Tech State College in Lafayette, IN was granted HVAC Excellence accreditation.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The Ivy Tech State College in Lafayette, IN was granted HVAC Excellence accreditation of its HVACR program.

Indoor Air Quality Association.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The Indoor Air Quality Association announced its endorsement of the AHR Expo.

The Smithsonian Institution was awarded APPA's highest institutional honor.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The Smithsonian Institution was awarded APPA's highest institutional honor--the Award for Excellence--for its commitment to excellence in the field of educational facilities.

Building Commissioning Association.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The Building Commissioning Association's Expo, Tools, and Technology event, which aims to bring together facility operators, equipment vendors, and tool manufacturers under one roof for the purpose of networking and idea-sharing, will be held...

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials announced that Irene Gould has assumed the position of director of marketing and communications.

Continental Automated Buildings Association.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) announced the addition of the Trammell Crow Company to its board of directors.

BOMA/Orange County.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... BOMA/Orange County has increased their support of the landmark BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) by contributing an additional $10,000 to the educational seminars.

AMCA International has entered into an independent laboratory license agreement with Intertek Testing Services NA Inc, ETL SEMKO Division, to act as their agent.(Association Agenda)(Air Movement and Control Association)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... AMCA International has entered into an independent laboratory license agreement with Intertek Testing Services NA Inc, ETL SEMKO Division, to act as their agent performing testing for the AMCA Certified Ratings Program for Acoustical Duct...

ARI.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... ARI welcomed two new staff members: Deborah Bauserman, director of meetings and membership, within the Administration and Statistics Department; and Laura Berkey legislative analyst, within Policy and Public Affairs.

NFPA.(Association Agenda)
October 1, 2006... NFPA's Third Annual Mexico Fire & Safety Expo, focusing on bringing fire, electrical and life safety technologies, products, and solutions to industry professionals, will take place November 15-17, 2006 in Mexico City, Mexico.

Design-Build Institute of America.(Association Agenda)(Capital Programming Guide)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) applauded the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) move to release a landmark revision of its Capital Programming Guide--a document meant to provide policy direction for agencies during the...

A green fall at the National Building Museum is underway.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... In response to the growing appetite for green living, the National Building Museum is expanding its menu of green offerings with practical "how-to" sessions for homeowners, architects, interior designers, and planners, and fun introductions to...

Distance-learning Electrical Engineering Basics + Load Profiling seminars available.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)
October 1, 2006... The Association of Energy Engineers is offering distance-learning programs titled "Electrical Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Electrical Engineers" and "3-D Load Profiling Using Interval Meter Data." The "3-D Load Profiling Using Interval...

Tridium picks up green technology award from Frost & Sullivan.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)
October 1, 2006... Frost & Sullivan selected Tridium, Inc. as the recipient of the 2006 Green Buildings Energy & Facilities Management Excellence in Technology of the Year Award. Tridium received this recognition for creating an Internet-based software...

ARI Chairman discussed history of A/C on National Public Radio.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... ARI Chairman Debbie Hawkins appeared as a guest on NPR's "Sunday Weekend Edition" on August 6. As of press time, visitors can still access the interview's audio at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5621406.

ASHRAE retrofit aids website efficiency.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers )(Website overview)
October 1, 2006... With a focus on ease of navigation and new technology, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has unveiled its redesigned website at www.ashrae.org. An improved website is a corner stone of...

Legrand acquires Vantage Controls.(ISSUES AND EVENTS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Legrand announced the acquisition of Vantage Controls, located in Orem, UT. Vantage Controls will be the sixth Legrand business group in North America and has been renamed Vantage/Legrand. Vantage/Legrand is intended to offer a powerful...

Engineering and installation tools.(computer & software)
October 1, 2006... The company's WEBsAX Configuration Wizards are designed to reduce the engineering time to install the company's WEBsAX control system. The program simplifies the configuration process for Excel 10 controllers by providing drop down selection...

Energy management.(computer & software)
October 1, 2006... Accurate and timely snapshots of a facility's energy use are essential to support energy management initiatives. RightEnergy [TM] software, combines all utility service data--including electric, gas, water, and steam--into a single location to...

Middleware solution.(computer & software)
October 1, 2006... Mediator[TM] is comprised of both hardware and software that is able to communicate with numerous disparate protocols. The MPX[TM] software framework plays a central role in the integration process by normalizing both IP and legacy serial-based...

ACR Systems.(BITS & BYTES)
October 1, 2006... ACR Systems' TrendReader Standard 2, emphasizes logger connectivity and data management, and its main interface now uses Windows[R] Explorer views.

The eAutomation Group of Advantech.(BITS & BYTES)(IPC-603MB)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The eAutomation Group of Advantech. introduced the IPC-603MB, an industrial-grade compact 2U rack-mountable chassis that's only 12.2-in. deep, ideal for space-constrained applications, that supports both ATX and micro ATX motherboards and up to...

Industrial Scientific Corporation.(contracts)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Industrial Scientific Corporation's iNet Instrument Network[TM] has been selected by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to automate the maintenance and management of its fleet of gas detectors.

ASVIC Engineering and Software.(BITS & BYTES)
October 1, 2006... ASVIC Engineering and Software's. Mech-Q HVAC Ducting Module is a collection of utilities for drawing 2-D and 3-D HVAC ducting.

MooreHawke, a division of Moore Industries, announced the availability of the TG200 Trunkguard[TM] Series fieldbus device couplers.(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... MooreHawke, a division of Moore Industries, announced the availability of the TG200 Trunkguard[TM] Series fieldbus device couplers, which use a unique "fold-back" technique to disconnect a shorted instrument from the fieldbus segment, thus...

Lennox Industries Inc. has released its Commercial Load Calculation Software.(BITS & BYTES)
October 1, 2006... Lennox Industries Inc. has released its Commercial Load Calculation Software, powered by Elite Software's Commercial HVAC Load Calculation Software (CHVAC).

Schneider Electric.(expands capabilities of power management software)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Schneider Electric is expanding the capabilities of its Square D[R] PowerLogic[R] ION power management software system with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA),which will help the agency fulfill the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and...

Flow-Cal, Inc.(signs contract with J-W Operating Company)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Flow-Cal, Inc. was selected by J-W Operating Company, a privately held energy company composed of five primary business lines specializing in Energy Services and Energy Development, to provide a system for its Energy Services and Energy...

Universal Flow Monitors, Inc.(World Wide Web)
October 1, 2006... Universal Flow Monitors, Inc. has added a new resource to its website, www.flowmeters.com, that functions as a virtual information source for flowmeter technologies.