Commercial HVAC

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As early as 3000 BC, civilizations began to create codes for public order and safety. The Code of Hammurabi, the old “eye for an eye” law many are familiar with, also included laws for safe building construction.

It’s impossible to balance line-to-line voltages perfectly in three-phase circuits, so they typically differ by a few volts or more. 

When designing or replacing a low pressure steam boiler, throw out everything you know about hydronic boilers. A steam system is closer in operation to an air conditioning unit than it is to a hydronic boiler. If you design a steam system using hydronic design methods, it will not operate properly. 

Last summer, CJ Automotive in Butler, IN, decided it was high time to replace its 40-year-old inefficient steam boiler system.

When Miller Bonded Inc. (MBI) decided to design its new pipe fabrication facility in Albuquerque, NM, the HVAC mechanical contractor not only wanted to streamline production, it also wanted an energy-efficient building.

Since the early ’80s, building automation technology  (BAS) have played an integral role in engineers’ ability to aid facility owners and operators in achieving operational efficiency, dependable comfort, and lower energy costs. However, despite significant capital investments, often times the full potential of these systems is not realized, resulting in less than optimal building performance.

Whether one calls it a commissioning action list, a master issues log, a deficiency list, a corrective action list, etc., every commissioning project includes a matrix of items needing attention by someone on the project team. This table is the responsibility of the commissioning professional to create, maintain, and share with the team.

One of the most important factors in the efficiency of any HVAC system is the selection and implementation of the proper control sequence of operations. 

Temporary cooling can help ensure your company doesn’t see permanent losses. 

When I got started in the HVAC business half a century ago, I was very fortunate to work for a small firm where I learned a lot about design engineering from some really knowledgeable and practical HVAC engineers. The business we were in was designing HVAC for hospitals, colleges, universities, research facilities, and museums. All of these facilities required very sophisticated central air systems, heating systems, and chilled water systems.