ORLANDO, Fla. - There is no shortage of exciting attractions in the Orlando area, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Gatorland, but contractors planning to attend the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) Feb. 7-9 should also think about attending a few of the sessions that will be presented at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) meeting, which takes place Feb. 5-9 at the Wyndham Palace Resort.

This year's Winter Meeting will be held in warm, sunny, muggy Florida. It's no wonder many sessions will be about designing systems for hot and humid climates. Several seminars will focus on moisture control and mold. Others will look at new technologies to control humidity.

Disney’s “Lion King” show has transformed the 1994 animated film into a stage musical. ©Disney. (Photos courtesy of Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.)

Highlights For Contractors

Several technical sessions should be of interest to HVAC contractors. These include:

  • "Recent Advances in Duct Design" - Sunday, Feb. 6, 8:00-8:50 a.m. This symposium explores advances in duct design and analysis tools. Speakers will discuss pressure loss and air leakage data obtained experimentally, and air distribution predictions for fabric duct.

  • "Design and Constructing Buildings in Hot and Humid Climates" - Feb. 6, 8:00-10:00 a.m. This seminar deals with the impact of design construction and operation on the performance of buildings in hot and humid climates. Particular attention will be given to the design of walls, roofs, mechanical systems, and interior finishes as they relate to moisture control, durability, and indoor air quality. Diagnostic procedures and remediation techniques also will be covered.

  • "Mold and Mildew Case Studies of Florida" - Feb. 6, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Mold and mildew are still on the rise nationally and especially in climates like Florida's. Four case studies of high-profile mold and mildew case studies offer tactics to assist in mold elimination.

  • "Energy Recovery Ventilation: Energy, Humidity, and Economic Implication" - Feb. 7, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This session explores economic and IAQ implications for a variety of energy recovery ventilation technologies. Studies of dual-wheel systems, enthalpy wheels, heat pump heat recovery, and coil run-around loops will be presented, with information on improved design and application of these technologies for both economic and humidity control benefits.

    An ASHRAE technical tour at the Kennedy Space Center will be less dangerous than visiting Gatorland, home to more than 1,000 alligators and crocodiles.
  • "O&M on HVAC Systems to Meet Future Needs" - Feb. 8, 8:00-10 a.m. Concerns about operations and maintenance on HVAC equipment and the escalation of energy prices and IAQ are growing. It is important to have HVAC systems operate as smoothly as possible, but this cannot happen unless systems are properly maintained. This seminar will explain how to eliminate some of these concerns.

  • "Moisture and Mold: How Do Dehumidifiers Help?" - Feb. 8, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Dehumidification considerations are required in most applications today. This seminar addresses the relationship of moisture and mold to dehumidification, and methods and solutions to improve dehumidifier efficiencies.

  • "Solutions to Cost and Time Barriers of Operation and Maintenance Programs" - Feb. 9, 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. O&M programs are often restricted or ignored for small to large facilities due to owner cost concerns.

    This seminar examines various case histories and identifies the true cost and benefits of owner-provided comprehensive training and planned maintenance programs.

    This is just a sample of what awaits you in Orlando. For a complete listing of the 55 seminars, 17 symposia, 19 open-discussion forums, two technical sessions, and poster session, visit www.ashrae.org.

    Those attending the ASHRAE meeting may want to take a break at nearby Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park.

    Public Session

    The society will once again offer a free public session during the AHR Expo. This year's program, "Energy and Humidity Reduction Practices in Southern Climates," will take place from 3:00-5:00 p.m., Feb. 7, at the Orange County Convention Center. Admission is free, and registration is not required.

    Five speakers from the central Florida engineering and research community will focus on HVAC challenges in this Southern climate.

  • "Florida's New Energy Code: What's Changing in July 2005," will be presented by Muthusamy Swami of the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), Cocoa, Fla. The new state code is slated to go into effect July 1, 2005.

    Swami will discuss current regulations and upcoming changes to the energy code for commercial buildings. The impact of those changes, compliance pathways, and relationship to national codes and standards will be discussed, as well as tools and resources for compliance.

  • "Whole Buildings: Why Everything Interacts" will be presented by Neil Moyer of the FSEC.

  • "Shell And Lighting Systems: Reducing Sensible Gains" will be presented by Wayne Dunn, SunBelt Engineering, Jacksonville, Fla.

  • "HVAC: Strategies for Ventilation and High Humidity Control" will be presented by Don Shirey of the FSEC.

  • "Commissioning: Cradle to Grave Building Design" will be presented by J. David Odom, Liberty Building Diagnostics Group, Orlando. A few buildings begin life with catastrophic problems, while a much larger number of buildings begin life with nuisance problems that require significant corrective attention soon after they are occupied. Odom will focus on risk factors that buildings face from infancy to old age and what can be done to improve their performance.

    SkyVenture of Orlando is a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel that creates the exact sensation of free-falling during skydiving.

    Education Courses

    Fourteen education courses, including a new program on leadership skills, will be offered by ASHRAE at its Winter Meeting.

    The professional development seminars will be held at the Wyndham Palace Resort, ASHRAE meeting headquarters. Short courses will take place at the Orange County Convention Center, the site of the expo.

    The following two professional development seminars will be held from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Feb. 5:

  • "Designing HVAC Systems to Control Noise and Vibration," with instructors Jerry Lilly, P.E., JGL Acoustics, and Mark Schaffer, P.E., Schaffer Acoustics.

  • "Preventing Moisture and Mold Problems: Design and Construction Guidelines," with instructors David MacPhaul, P.E., CH2M Hill, and J. David Odom, Liberty Building Diagnostics Group Inc.

    The short courses include:

  • "System Selection and Re-port," with instructor David M. Elovitz, P.E., Energy Economics.

  • "Designing Residential Ventilation Systems to Meet ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2003," with instructor Don T. Stevens, Stevens and Associates.

  • "Introduction to Green Buildings and Sustainable Construction," with instructor Joy Altwies, P.E., University of Wisconsin-Madison.

    Old Town is home to classic car shows every weekend.
  • "An Introduction to BACnet" with instructor, David Fisher, PolarSoft Inc.

  • "Leadership Skills for Engineering Leaders - Situational Leadership," with instructor Barry Benator, P.E., Benatech Inc.

  • "Cost-Effective Commercial and Industrial Solar Applications," with instructor Henry Healey, P.E., Healey & Associates.

  • "Understanding and Designing Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems," with instructor Stanley A. Mumma, Ph.D., P.E., Pennsylvania State University.

  • "Design of Commercial Ground-Source Heat Pumps," with instructors Steve Kavanaugh, Ph.D., University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa, and Kevin Rafferty, consulting engineer, Klamath Falls, Ore.

  • "Compliance with ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 HVAC/Mechanical," with instructor Julian de Bullet, McQuay International.

  • "Introduction to Thermal Energy Storage Systems for Air Conditioning," with instructors Douglas T. Reindl, Ph.D., P.E., and James S. Elleson, P.E., both of University of Wisconsin-Madison.

  • "A Designer's Introduction to Commercial Desiccant Systems," with instructors Mark Nunnelly, P.E., Nunnelly & Associates Inc., and William M. Worek, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago.

  • "Determining Energy Savings from Performance Contracting Projects - Measurement and Verification," with instructor Mark Stetz, P.E., Nexant Inc.

    Registration

    Registration for the ASHRAE 2005 Winter Meeting is $680 ($440 for ASHRAE members). The cost for just attending the seminars is $460 ($360 for ASHRAE members). The cost for just the short courses is $120 ($105 for ASHRAE members).

    For more information, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1791 Tullie Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329; 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada); 404-636-8400 (worldwide); 404-321-5478 (fax); www.ashrae.org.

    Sidebar: Technical Tours, Too

    This year, two technical tours will be available through ASHRAE during its Winter Meeting.

    The first tour, which involves the VIP Kennedy Space Center, required attendees to register by Dec. 3 for security purposes.

    The other tour will take place at the FSEC on Feb. 8 from 1:00-5:30 p.m. This tour will focus on how the center integrated HVAC, window, natural lighting, controls, and other building technologies to produce one of the most energy-efficient buildings in a hot, humid climate.

    You can find out what's new in alternative energy sources and energy-saving technologies. The FSEC is one of the largest state-supported renewable energy and energy efficiency research, training, testing and certification institute in the United States. This tour involves walking in some locations. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. The cost of the tour is $15.

    For more information, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1791 Tullie Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329; 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide); 404-321-5478 (fax); or visit www.ashrae.org.

    Publication date: 01/24/2005