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SEPTEMBER 2016
FEATURES
41 | Know when, where
to specify VRF systems
ON THE COVER: Exterior shading was designed to reduce

cooling load. The higher ceilings would not have been possible with a conventional variable air volume (VAV) system.
User goals and priorities identified as enhanced user experience, health, and environmental stewardship lead to in-depth
performance analysis for this high-tech office building in Kirkland, Wash. Courtesy: DLR Group
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) offers an alternate HVAC

solution. Its key attributes include zonal control, energy
efficiency, and indoor air quality (IAQ). To help facilitate
their successful design and operation, engineers should
take advantage of the available resources and training
offered by manufacturers, utilities, and others.
JAMES M. DEL MONACO, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA
COVER STORY
44 | Back to basics: VRF systems
28 | Analyzing nontraditional
HVAC systems
Know the basics of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems

to determine if they are the right choice for your next
HVAC project. ALEX JANKOVIC, PE, CEM, LEED AP
Incorporating set thermal comfort criteria provides many

benefits while increasing the use of high-performance
HVAC systems for energy reduction.
AMARPREET SETHI, CEM, HBDP, BEMP, LEED AP
FEATURES
36 | Designing with liquid-immersion
cooling systems
Liquid cooling is an option in some data centers. Consider
these best practices when looking at immersion cooling
for your next data center project.
SAAHIL TUMBER, PE, HBDP, LEED AP
DEPARTMENTS
07 | Viewpoint
09 | Research
11 | Career Smart
12 | MEP Roundtable
23 | Codes & Standards
77 | Digital Edition
Exclusive
79 | Advertiser Index
80 | Future of
Engineering
48 | Integrated control systems for labs

Successful controls integration can be a challenge in new
construction and renovation projects. Laboratory facilities
present unique challenges with critical lab spaces and nonlab areas that include both traditional building automation
systems (BAS) and packaged laboratory controls.
JEREMY BARTLETT, CxA
55 | Product of the Year winners

Winners of the 12th annual ConsultingSpecifying Engineer Product of the Year
awards are featured.
CONSULTING SPECIFYING
2016
ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES
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AUTOMATION & CONTROLS
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COMMUNICATIONS
LIGHTING
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PLUMBING
FIRE, SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY
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Consulting-Specifying Engineer SEPTEMBER 2016
Upcoming
Webcasts
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webcasts
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Upcoming webcasts:
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the emergence of PoE for lighting
and controls
Exclusive Web content
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Air humidifier market size

Five major water-waste culprits and the importance of commissioning.
Apps for Engineers

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300 more engineering apps:
NFPA Catalog
The NFPA Catalog is the source to buy NFPA codes and standards, including the
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 101, NFPA 70E, NFPA 13, NFPA 25,
among many others. Free, iOS 4.2+
VSD Energy Savings Calculator

This savings calculator from Schneider Electric quantifies the energy savings when
variable speed drives (VSDs) are used in mechanical systems using damper controls
to run commercial and industrial fans. Free, iOS 5.1+, Android 2.2+
Critical power: Backup power

systems.
Pure Power
Read this months edition of Pure Power at
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include:
Motors and drives
Integration: alternative power and
existing electrical systems
Arc flash calculations, studies,
and mitigation.
Captain Code
This app from Leviton allows for quick identification of codes and review of changes,
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including actual NEC text extracted directly from the NFPA 70 document and clear
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Editors Viewpoint
CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL
AMARA ROZGUS, Editor-in-Chief/Content Manager
630-571-4070 x2211, ARozgus@CFEMedia.com
EMILY GUENTHER, Associate Content Manager
630-571-4070 x2220, EGuenther@CFEMedia.com
AMANDA PELLICCIONE, Director of Research
APelliccione@CFEMedia.com
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630-779-8910, MSmith@CFEmedia.com
ELISA GEISHEIMER, Production Coordinator
630-571-4070 x2213, EGeisheimer@CFEMedia.com
Amara Rozgus,
Editor-in-Chief
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

CORY J. ABRAMOWICZ, PE, LEED AP,
Associate, Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago
PETER ALSPACH, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Principal, Mechanical Engineer, Arup, Seattle
JERRY BAUERS, PE,
National Program Executive,
Outcome Construction Services LLC, Kansas City, Mo.
MICHAEL CHOW, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Columbus, Ohio
TOM DIVINE, PE,
Senior Electrical Engineer,
Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston
CORY DUGGIN, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
Energy Modeling Wizard, TLC Engineering for Architecture Inc.,
Brentwood, Tenn.
TOM EARP, PE, ATD,
Principal/MEP Engineering Director, Page, Austin, Texas
ROBERT J. GARRA JR., PE, CDT,
Vice President, Electrical Engineer,
CannonDesign, Grand Island, N.Y.
JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, C X A,
Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee
JOSHUA D. GREENE, PE,
Vice President, Jensen Hughes, Framingham, Mass.
RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE,
Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C.
DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Vice President, ccrd, a WSP Co., Dallas
WILLIAM KOFFEL, PE, FSFPE,
President, Koffel Associates Inc., Columbia, Md.
WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
Independent Consultant, Oak Park, Ill.
KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP,
Engineering Design Principal, Jacobs, Philadelphia
JULIANNE LAUE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
Senior MEP Engineer, Center for Sustainable Energy,
Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis
DAVID LOWREY,
Chief Fire Marshal, Boulder (Colo.) Fire Rescue
BRIAN MARTIN, PE,
Electrical Engineer, CH2M, Portland, Ore.
DWAYNE G. MILLER, PE, RCDD, AEE CPQ,
Chief Executive Officer, JBA Consulting Engineers, Las Vegas
RODNEY V. OATHOUT, PE, CEM, LEED AP,
Principal, Regional Engineering Leader,
DLR Group, Overland Park, Kan.
SYED PEERAN, PE, PhD,
Senior Engineer, CDM Smith Inc., Boston
GREGORY QUINN, PE, NCEES, LEED AP,
Principal, Health Care Market Leader,
Affiliated Engineers Inc., Madison, Wis.
BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP,
Associate, SmithGroupJJR, Chicago
SUNONDO ROY, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Vice President, CCJM Engineers Ltd., Chicago
RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM,
Austin Operations Group Manager and
Senior Mechanical Engineer,
Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas
Justify your actions
few weeks ago, I was chatting

with an audience member
who reminded me of the
importance of having a voice in the
community. He was talking about all
levels, from the presidential campaign
to the local city council to national
associations to the companys project
team. We discussed how lucky we
were to be able to speak our mindat
a government rally, via a Notice of
Intent to Make a Motion (NITMAM)
within a code hearing, or simply with
our co-workers.
He was doubtful, however, that
enough people make their voices
heard. His fearlessness in making
a phone call or writing a letter is
commendable. And he got me thinkingwhy dont more people respond
to calls to action for things that are
important to them?
In 2012, for instance, 57.5% of
eligible voting citizens voted in the
U.S. presidential campaign. While
the 2016 presidential election has
brought out all sorts of emotions and
discussions, I wonder if the number
of people who vote will really change.
For some perspective, voter turnout
was 62.3% in 2008, 60.4% in 2004,
and 54.2% in 2000. Thats approximately 58% over the past four presidential elections, which according to
my math, means four in 10 people
dont have a voice in the presidential

race.
The right to vote in an election is a
call to action for me. There are lots of
other calls to action that I choose to
ignoresupport a particular charity,
take on a cause I dont believe in
but making my voice heard when it
directly impacts me is important.
Im that person who takes surveys. I
pick up the phone to chat with readers
and advertisers. I respond to requests
for feedback from companies with
which I do business. If an employee
makes a difference, Ill try to notify
the manager or business owner that
theyve done a good job. I participate
in associations and community organizations. Yep, Im that person.
If the presidential election is
ignored by four in 10 eligible voters, what else is being ignored? Why
arent there enough qualified people
presenting at technical conferences?
Why is no one putting their hand
up when asked to volunteer at their
local building department or zoning
board? Why isnt someone taking a
junior staffer by the hand and showing him or her how things are done
at their firm?
There are certainly many reasons
for not participating in something. If
it matters to you, though, make your
voice heard.
RICHARD VEDVIK, PE,

Senior Electrical Engineer and Acoustics Engineer,
KJWW Engineering Consultants, Rock Island, Ill.
MIKE WALTERS, PE, LEED AP,
Campus Energy Market Leader, MEP Associates, Verona, Wis.
JOHN YOON, PE, LEED AP ID+C,
Lead Electrical Engineer, McGuire Engineers Inc., Chicago
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Average fire protection

engineer's time breakdown
Proposals/business
development
Other
research
11%
13%
14%
Department
overhead
2015 HVAC AND BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS STUDY:

62%
Billable hours
Figure 1: The average fire protection engineer spends 62% of time on

billable hours for projects they are
involved in. Courtesy: ConsultingSpecifying Engineer 2016 Fire and
Life Safety Study
9 in 10
engineers agree that

product quality, technical advantage, service support, and a manufacturers reputation are important
when comparing electrical/power
systems. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2016 Electrical and
Power Study
71%
of engineers lighting
specifications have been affected
by recent changes to industry codes
and standards. Source: ConsultingSpecifying Engineer 2015 Lighting
and Lighting Controls Study
$1.3 million:
Average dedicated outdoor air system project size. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2015 HVAC
and Building Automation Systems
Study
More research
Consulting-Specifying Engineer
covers several research topics each
year.
www.csemag.com
HVAC, BAS in office buildings
hree-quarters of respondents
to the Consulting-Specifying
Engineer 2015 HVAC and Building Automation Systems (BAS) Study
specify, design, or make product selections for office buildingsand seven
in 10 of these engineers are responsible
for determining requirements/writing
specifications, researching and evaluating options, and/or supervising or consulting on these projects. Below are five
HVAC and BAS findings as they relate
to office building projects:
1. Annual specified products value:
The average engineering firm specifies $2.72 million in total HVAC and
building automation/control products
for new and existing office buildings on
a yearly basis, with one-third of these
firms specifying more than $5 million.
2. Future of HVAC systems, BAS:
An inadequate budget for good design
is the top issue affecting the future of
HVAC system and BAS design in office
buildings. In addition, HVAC system
design is challenged with designing for
energy efficiency, while designing BAS
for interoperability and complementing

systems also impacts future projects.
3. Products specified: Seven in 10
engineering firms are specifying fans
and air movement, air handlers, and
rooftop units for office building projects. Over the next 12 to 24 months,
firms have plans to specify variable
refrigerant flow systems (32%), chillers
and chilled-water systems (26%), and
BAS (22%).
4. Important product considerations: When selecting HVAC products
for office buildings, engineers compare
product quality (85%), energy efficiency of a product (62%), and service
support offerings (59%).
5. HVAC, BAS specifications:
Engineering firms most often write
performance (81%), prescriptive (73%),
or open (alternate or substitute; 65%)
HVAC and controls specifications for
office building projects.
View more information at
www.csemag.com/2015HVACBAS.
Amanda Pelliccione is the research director at CFE Media.
Technology demands for office building projects

Energy recovery (incl. enthalpy/heat/
desiccant wheels; runaround loops;
injection looks; EVAP coolers)
71%
Demand-controlled ventilation
61%
Dedicated outdoor air systems
58%
Metering/sub-metering and measurement

and verification (M&V) strategies
50%
Ground source heat pumps; geothermal
42%
Rainwater/graywater harvesting
36%
Chilled beam (active or passive)/chilled

sail/chilled ceiling/passive slab/radiant
slab/radiant heating
30%
Figure 2: The top technologies that engineers expect to see an increase of within office
building projects are energy recovery (71%), demand-controlled ventilation (61%), and
dedicated outdoor air systems (58%). Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer
www.csemag.com/research FOR MORE RESEARCH INFORMATION
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are designed to be short discussions of HVAC topics. Ranging from 2 to 7 minutes, the initial videos covered the basics of pressure,
sound, throw, and VAV systems. Later videos will go more in depth into the application of these topics as well as displacement ventilation
and chilled beam systems, engineering challenges like perimeter heating and comfort, and new products.
For more information on Titus Timeout Podcasts, visit Titus University on our website or view our YouTube channel - Titus HVAC.
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Career Smart
BY AMY SMITH, PhD
Consultants for Education, Manitou Springs, Colo.
The culture of successful leadership

Everything about business begins with people.
fter hearing from readers, studying, and researching how people

work, Ive come to some conclusions over the years that seem to ring
true no matter where you are in your
career, no matter what type of firm or
organization, and no matter what role
you are currently working in.
Leadership ideologies
In an interconnected world where

the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data,
driverless cars, and a constant barrage
of information are in the daily news, Ive
learned that innovation doesnt happen
without a person or a team of people.
In a 2015 keynote speech at a conference about Big Data, Alan Mulally,
former CEO of Boeing and Ford Motor
Co., presented his top 10 leadership
beliefs. These werent tips or pointers.
These were deeply held philosophies
that Mulally cultivated after decades of
leading complex organizations in highly
technical fields.
You can picture the room. More than
2,000 attendees, lights dim, eyes focused
on the keynote. Nowadays, at any conference, you see half of the audience on their
phones or tablets at any given moment.
The concept of holding a room in rapture,
especially as a keynote, is something we
just dont see anymore.
But this was Mulally. The man
re-engineered the management and
leadership culture at Ford to revive its
reputation as a U.S. leader in the automotive industry, and he was sharing what
he knew to be his most important beliefs
in leadership. As he worked through
www.csemag.com
his David Letterman-style top 10 list of

leadership ideologies, I felt myself crouch
forward in my chair in anticipation. And
as I turned to look around, everyone
and I mean every single personwas
leaning in to hear him work his way to
the top of the list.
So what was the No. 1 leadership
philosophy Mulally listed? People first.
Everything about business begins with
peoplethose who work for you; those
under your guidance and leadership;
those who are your peers; and those who
support your workforce, the families and
networks that help your employees do
the work they do for you.
Create the environment
for people to thrive
I have a suspicion that many of us,

as leaders, think of the culture of our
organization as a mystery, something
that just unfolds and occurs without
much guidance and direction. In my
career, I have worked in environments
that proved difficult to thrive and really
perform. These were settings where
internal competition was promoted,
superiors represented my work and
ideas as their own, and colleagues were
suspicious of each otherenvironments
where focusing on personal needs and
goals outweighed any strategic plans or
what was good for the company.
Nevertheless, I have also worked in
environments where I was treated and
respected as if my opinion and knowledge were vital to the organization;
where it was cool to be smart and asking
the hard questions was seen as helping
rather than as negative. It is the latter

environment that, I have come to learn
over time, is the product of solid
leadership.
While it is not written in my job
description to build a positive culture
where my employees can enjoy their
work, which leads to higher productivity, commitment, and retention, it
is completely the responsibility of the
senior leadership team to define, guide,
build, and manage the organization
culture so all employees can enjoy and
produce their best work.
Over the years, Ive written about
onboarding new employees, ways to
build productive, innovative teams, and
the ins and outs of finding mentors and
mentees to provide support for engineering careers. In all of my research
and work with a variety of technical
professionals, I have found that
employee engagement and the culture
of the organization directly impact the
bottom line.
How we set the cultural vision, manage conflict, and onboard new team
members matters. It matters for their
productivity and enjoyment, but it matters even more for the bottom line.
Everything begins with your workforce.
We have a responsibility as leaders to
build and sustain an environment where
our employees do their best work.
Amy Smith, is the president of Consultants for Education. She has more than
20 years of experience in organizational
leadership, adult teaching and training,
and cognitive research.
11
MEP Roundtable
Timothy Chatterton, PE
Project Manager
RMF Engineering
Selbyville, Del.
Kari Engen, PE, CxA,

LEED AP
Senior Mechanical
Engineer
WD Partners
Dublin, Ohio
The demands of
mixed-use facilities
Mixed-use facilities require engineers to handle several complex
components. Here, engineers with experience on such facilities offer
advice on bringing successful execution into the mix.
CSE: Whats the No. 1 trend you see
today in the design of mixed-use facilities (facilities that have a mixture of retail
and residential units and may include
offices, parking space, cultural space, or
a variety of other needs)?
Timothy Chatterton: Recently, we have seen an
Taner Tekin, PE, LEED AP

Project Manager
exp
Maitland, Fla.
John Torre, PE, LEED AP

Principal in Charge of Electrical Engineering Services
OLA Consulting Engineers
Hawthorne, N.Y.
Scott Vollmoeller, PE, LEED AP

BD+C, Associate DBIA
Managing Principal
Glumac
Seattle
12
increase in owners requesting variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems. These types of systems
are on the rise in the industry, in general. However, VRF systems do present their own unique
challenge in a mixed-use project depending
on how many stories a space has and how that
space is being used. The biggest challenge when
using VRF systems is that they require a separate system to provide outdoor air.
Kari Engen: Becoming more common is the
use of a 1st-floor retail strip space, with residential on upper floors. This appears to create
more of a community within a single building.
Taner Tekin: The most recent trend we have
been seeing in mixed-use projects is the combination of hotel and condo with associated
parking and retail spaces. Parking garages
are commonly both underground and above
ground to meet the number of parking spots
required for the project. Office spaces are often
thrown into the mix to increase the long-term
profitability.
Scott Vollmoeller: What were seeing is a
push toward maximizing the amount of glazing
along the major view corridors, creating amazing amenity spaces (rooftop gardens, comfortable living room-type lobbies, etc.) and selecting systems for enhanced energy efficiency to
meet current energy codes.
CSE: What other trends should engineers be aware of for such projects in the
near future (1 to 3 years)?
Tekin: Engineers should expect to see more

projects that include building types with different occupancies. Fire separation and smoke
management are some of the challenges engineers have to address when designing these
projects. In addition, LEED certification is
almost becoming a standard in modern building design, not only in the U.S. but in other
countries as well.
Engen: The retail experience appears to be
moving toward a shorter time frame for the
in-store customer experience, so occupancies
are more intermittent.
Vollmoeller: Ensuring systems (mechanical, envelope, shading, etc.) are designed to
maximize efficiency in an effort to maximize
glazing percentages.
CSE: Describe your experience working with the contractor, architect, owner,
or other team members in creating a BIM
model for such a project.
Vollmoeller: Our BIM experience was limited on this project. However, on other similar
projects, we work directly within the architects
Revit model to develop a coordinated set of
design documents for future use by the designbuild subcontractors.
Engen: Generally in mixed-use buildings
where tenant work is involved, the BIM model
work is often segregated; the tenant BIM is a
www.csemag.com
The iSquare in Orlandoa project that engineers from exp are

working onfeatures a shopping center and hotel. Graphics
courtesy: HKS Hospitality Group
stand-alone kit-of-parts model and the

remainder of the building is modeled as
part of the shell. Architectural coordination is facilitated through the use of BIM.
Opportunities are available for the owner
to incorporate BIM into its building management structure; however, this is not yet
common practice.
Tekin: Taking the size of the project
site into account and the volume of the
BIMs that the design team had to work
with, it was very challenging to design
our systems inside multiple models.
Where architects and structural engineers could limit their work to one
model at a time, we had systems serving multiple buildings and therefore had
to reside in multiple models and travel
between models.
CSE: What types of metering and
submetering are building owners
requesting? This may include electrical or HVAC systems.
John Torre: We have seen that submetering for residential tenants has
become more popular, with direct utilwww.csemag.com
ity metering for retail

tenants. Submetering
equipment generally requires less space
than utility metering
equipment. Submetering also helps minimize and simplify the
electrical distribution system for the residential portion of the building, which
reduces construction costs.
Tekin: Submetering is typical for
spaces such as retail, restaurant, storage, etc. One of the challenges of submetering is when a space is powered or
cooled from a system in the building
where it is located, but the space isnt
actually within the limits of the building entity where the space belongs. For
example, if a condos storage room is
located inside an underground parking
garage and it has to be powered from
the hotel electrical panel; this room has
to be submetered to monitor the power
usage. Also, if the project is phased, the
design should allow for separation of
the phases so that a future change in
ownership can be achieved flawlessly.
Chatterton: Owners on our recent

projects have been requesting submeters for electric, gas, and water. I do not
see this changing until something in
the codes requires HVAC systems to be
metered.
Vollmoeller: Seattles code requires
electrical and centralized hot water
submetering for projects over a certain
size. In addition to those, our clients are
requesting submeters for cold water and,
potentially, natural gas.
Engen: Submetering of water services
is common, where the landlord bills the
tenants for water usage. For large watercooled HVAC-system-driven buildings, there is at least one example of a
building owner requesting water metering of the condenser water feeds into
retail tenant space.
13
MEP Roundtable
CSE: When working on monitoring
and control systems in mixed-use buildings, what factors do you consider?
Engen: Factors to consider are simplicity in the user interface for the facilities
operator, compatible control protocols

when building systems monitoring is taking place, and maintaining local control
at the tenant/occupant level.
Tekin: Numerous factors should be
considered when designing a building
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automation system (BAS). Generally,

the first factor is the owners project
requirements. Some owners want to
have many building systems, such as fire
alarm, lighting control, miscellaneous
equipment, etc., integrated with their
BAS while others may not. Integrated
building management systems require
a lot more coordination between the
BAS design engineer and the productselection engineers to make sure the
desired communication protocols
(BACnet, Lon, Modbus, etc) are specified with the product as well as the
communicated points. In the absence
of strong owner requirements, the criticality of the facility should be considered. Critical facilities, or portions of
the facility that are considered critical,
that have low tolerance to equipment
or system failures or environmental
changes may require more monitoring from the BAS, but possibly more or
less sequence of operations complexity.
The sophistication of the systems can
also play a factor in designing the BAS.
Unitary-based systems generally have
limited interface options with BAS,
and the general system design may not
warrant a sophisticated controls overlay.
Budget also will come into play as more
equipment and systems are integrated
with the BAS.
Vollmoeller: We consider expandability, ease of use, measurement and
verification capabilities, and local service availability.
Chatterton: When working on monitoring and control systems in mixed-use
buildings, I take into account the type of
space were working in and who the end
users are going to be. For example, each
apartment or dorm room of a university
residence should have its own programmable thermostat. For retail spaces, our
team needs to consider the type of system and if demand-control ventilation
is required. In this case, we will provide
programmable thermostats as well. In
the case of a VRF system, we may provide an additional central controller
depending on the size of the system.
Reznor_CSE_VRF.indd 2
07/28/2016 8:12:48 AM
MEP Roundtable
CSE: What types of system integration and/or interoperability
issues have you overcome in such
projects, and how did you do so?
Tekin: The biggest issue we see is a client moving down a path too soon with a
solution, or moving without a solution.
We find they have a vendor or device(s)
installed without an integration solution
planned. We try to guide our clients by
focusing on their needs and business
operations and developing a solution
around those needs and processes. We
often have to take what they have and
find a way to integrate through brute
force. If we can get involved early, we
develop a systematic plan, evaluate the
options, and look to the future so the
solution can be built on as the project
grows and technology advances. This
way, their solution grows with building
expansions and evolves with technology
advances.
Engen: In earlier projects, system-integration challenges were common, with
requirements for translation protocols or
flat specification of proprietary controlprotocol specifications being a project
requirement. With more recent projects
and more standardization of building
automation control protocols, this issue
is becoming less common.
Vollmoeller: In an effort to minimize
these challenges, we typically suggest the
controls contractor work with the subcontractor to install their controllers within
each piece of equipment, rather than relying on suggested interoperability. A solid
commissioning process is also vital in
ensuring the optimal operation of complex integrated systems.
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CSE: Please explain some of the

codes, standards, and guidelines
you use as a guide. Which codes/
standards should engineers be most
aware of in their design of such projects?
Chatterton: The requirements of the
2015 International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC) for mixed-use projects

can sometimes be quite challenging. For
the projects I typically work on, air-side
economizers and energy recovery are
often required. These requirements will
drive up the upfront costs, which can be
a big concern for owners of mixed-use
facilities. This is especially true when the
owner provides the HVAC systems as part
of the lease agreement on retail spaces.
Torre: Some of the codes we have used
include the International Building Code
(IBC), the NFPA 70: National Electrical
Code and state energy codes. Many local
municipalities have adopted their own
supplements to the IBC and state codes.
It is always recommended to check the
required codes with the local authority
having jurisdiction (AHJ) at the beginning of the project.
Tekin: Florida Building Code, IBC,
and NFPA are the main codes we have
to usually comply with when we work on
projects in Florida. We also have to base
our design on ASHRAE standards, which
are not code but a reference used by most
of the HVAC codes.
Vollmoeller: IBC, ASHRAE standards,
and amendments specific to Seattle. Engineers should be aware of local amendments for exceptions and energy efficiency suggestions.
Engen: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard
62.1-2016: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality and ANSI/
ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013: Energy
Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise
Residential Buildings are the most common standards used in everyday HVAC
design for ongoing guidelines. IECC,
which generally follows ASHRAE
90.1, is also a common code used as a
guide; however, jurisdictions are using
different versions of IECC throughout the country, making it difficult to
standardize some energy-conserving
approaches.
CSE: How do you work with the
AHJ on mixed-use projects? What
tips can you provide other engineers
when consulting with the AHJ?
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MEP Roundtable
Although basic code information is often readily available online,
direct contact with the AHJ is necessary to properly specify such
systems.
Kari Engen
Torre: We have found that engaging

with the local AHJ at the start of the
project is beneficial. Early discussions
with the AHJ about fire department
access, utility entry points, and local
code requirements allow these items to
be integrated into the design and properly budgeted. Meeting with the AHJ
periodically during the design phase to
go over the project can help minimize
the review time when filing for permits.
Chatterton: The AHJs in one of the
cities where we do a lot of work are
very open to sitting down with us to
go over our design and to give input
prior to a formal code review or permit
submission. I have found that spending
an hour going over the design at roughly

a 60% contract document level with the
AHJ is very beneficial to both parties.
It allows the AHJ team to preview the
drawings that they will eventually need
to review and it allows us to address code
issues or concerns that they may have.
Tekin: Contacting AHJs and getting
them involved in the project during the
early stages is the key factor. If there are
any local amendments to the IBC based
upon the location of the project, identifying these regulations and/or restrictions would eliminate a lot of redesign
effort for engineers. On one of our large
projects, the owner hired a third-party
engineering firm to be the contact
between the AHJ and the design team.

This would help eliminate any coderelated issues that the project team may
experience during design.
Engen: Members of our design teams
are often in contact with the AHJ early in
the design process to determine specific
local ordinances that may impact designs.
Plumbing codes and fats, oils, and grease
ordinances tend to be very locally
driven and can create site and coordination issues if not dealt with early in the
process. Although basic code information is often readily available online,
direct contact with the AHJ is necessary
to properly specify such systems.
Vollmoeller: If we have any codeinterpretation questions, we reach out
directly to our local AHJ. A couple of
suggestions would be to attend a meeting
with the AHJ early in the project with
the design team and create a specific
agenda with key questions.
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CSE: Describe a recent electrical/power system challenge you

encountered when working on a
mixed-use building, especially one
with very different types of tenants.
Tekin: On a large mixed-use project we recently designed, we had to
spend a considerable amount of time
with the local power utility company to
locate, size, and layout the power utility
vaults. Due to the size of the project, we
needed three different vaults serving
three different city blocks. Stringent
requirements of the utility company
especially made it a challenge to complete this task.
Engen: Often, the electric demands
within one space are very different than
another. In small food service applications, most necessary voltage needs
are 120/208 V, but large mixed-use
buildings often furnish 480 V power
and require transformers. Locating

dedicated space for transformers and
maintaining working clearances can be
challenging.
Torre: We recently worked on a
mixed-use development facility that
had more than 700 residential tenants, more than 500,000 sq ft of retail/
restaurant tenants, and a parking
garage. From an equipment and cost
perspective, a 208 Y/120 V service for
the residential portion of the building
and a 480/277 V service for the retail/
restaurants and garage made the most
sense. After reviewing the project and
loads with the utility company, we were
able to recommission the existing 208
Y/120 V underground vault. However,
the vault did not have the capacity
needed for the entire building. The
existing vault was used for the residential portion of the building, and the
utility company provided a 480/277 V
service from their underutilized vault

for the adjacent property. By the utility company repurposing their existing infrastructure, the owner ended
up with the most economical electrical distribution design without having
to build new vaults or pay the utility
company extra distributional charges.
CSE: Is LED lighting in high
demand from mixed-use facilities?
If so, describe a recent lighting
design project.
Engen: LED is in very high demand
for retail applications. Retail clients
demand substantial lighting levels to
meet customer-experience goals. LED
allows for high lighting output with
lower power input per lumen, making
it more common.
Tekin: We are currently designing
several projects throughout the world
MEP Roundtable
that are using full LED design solutions.
For example, on one of the confidential
projects that we are working on, the
facade is lit with LED floodlights; the
interiors are lit with a combination
of LED downlights, linears, and LED
decorative lamps; and the pool deck
The Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton in

Florida (which exp consulting-specifying
engineers are tackling) features luxury hotel
rooms as well as high-end residential apartments. Graphics courtesy: SB Architects
has LED accents, step lights, and wall

sconces.
Torre: We recently designed a
1-million-sq-ft mixed-use facility that
uses primarily all LED fixtures. The
high lumen output and low wattage of
the LED light fixtures are a good fit in
areas that require some level of 24/7
illumination for security purposes.
LED fixtures in the remaining portions
of the building also help meet the stringent lighting-power density of the state
and local energy codes.
CSE: What unique HVAC requirements do such projects have that
you wouldnt encounter in other
projects?
Tekin: Most mixed-use complexes
have a substantial amount of retail
spaces on the first level or first two
levels of every building. We typically
perform our cooling and heating load
calculations during the design phases,
without any hard data from the owner
20
or the developer in regards to the program for retail spaces, so we have to

make some assumptions to determine
the ratio of restaurant and kitchen
spaces to shops and stores.
Engen: Designing filtration for VRF
systems is unusual. Due to the relative
newness of VRF systems in the United

States, dimensions of unit-connection
flanges are not suitable for filter frames.
Filter boxes within ductwork or filters at return-air devices need to be
included in the designs, which occasionally create space conflicts.
Vollmoeller: Some additional challenges associated with these types of
projects are adequate interstitial space
if and when dwelling units do not stack
and adequate head height in the first
garage level to collect and drain storm
and sanitary sewer piping. Coordinating sufficient space for required utility
metering (gas and electric) is another
challenge.
Chatterton: When using a VRF system, the ASHRAE 15 requirements
must be met as well as any requirements that the AHJ may have. On
one of our more recent hotel projects,
we were required by the AHJ to provide refrigerant sensors in each bedroom space, even though we met the
ASHRAE 15 requirements. Another
requirement that can often be overlooked is that each terminal unit of a
VRF system will require a condensate
drain pipe, which must be directed to
the exterior. A condensate pump may
be required if the terminal unit is not
provided with one by the manufacturer.

CSE: When retrofitting existing
facilities, what challenges have
you faced and how have you overcome them?
Tekin: We usually work on new construction projects; however, sometimes
we do come across some renovation
projects. I would say the most common
challenge for retrofit projects is obtaining information on existing conditions
and verifying capacities of existing systems, such as chilled-water capacity,
air-handling capacity, and electrical
power. Identifying the locations of the
existing systems without interrupting
the operation of the existing facility is
another obstacle.
Engen: A common problem is existing infrastructure was never designed
for the cooling demands of modern
spaces. In large, mixed-use buildings
with existing HVAC infrastructure,
existing systems were designed for
high occupant density and low miscellaneous heat-contributing systems.
Newer retail, office, and medical office
spaces require much higher HVAC
cooling capacity per square foot, which
sometimes requires new infrastructure
or decentralization of equipment to
meet space-cooling or outdoor airventilation conditioning needs.
Chatterton: One challenge with
existing facilities is minimal ceiling
space. The lack of ceiling space is what
will most often push the HVAC system
toward a VRF system. This is due to
the smaller duct sizes for ventilation
air and the small refrigerant lines. VRF
systems are also capable of providing
each space with temperature control
and typically exceed the 2015 IECC
energy efficiency ratio/seasonal energy
efficiency ratio requirements.
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Codes & Standards

Applying NFPA 75 in data centers
NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology (IT)
Equipment covers the requirements for the protection of IT equipment
from fire damage. The current edition (2013) has not been adopted by all
jurisdictions; however, fire protection engineers should be well aware of its
requirements because of the large number of IT facilities and data centers.
BY MARK JASON AABY, PE, Koffel Associates Inc., Columbia, Md.
y the time this article is issued, the 2017

edition of NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire
Protection of Information Technology
(IT) Equipment should be nearly wrapped up.
For more than 50 years, the Technical Committee on electronic computer systems has
kept pace with the ever-changing IT equipment
industry by overseeing the development process
of the standard.
From the early computer systems of the 1950s,
through the IT equipment developed during the
dot-com era of the late 1990s, to the modern cloud
data centers of today, NFPA 75 has been the standard of care for fire protection of IT equipment.
This article will review some of the key features of
the current edition, 2013, and highlight some of
the significant changes to the next edition.
Purpose and application
The purpose of NFPA 75, as defined by Section 1.2, is to provide the minimum requirements for the protection of IT equipment and IT
equipment areas from damage by fire or its associated effectsnamely, smoke, corrosion, heat, and
water. Users of the standard can expect the document to provide the minimum level of requirements to protect their IT equipment from fire
and the effects of fire. Due to the vast amount of
different IT equipment applications, it is intended
that the standard be applied based on the specific
nature and anticipated fire risks at each facility.
To that end, Chapter 1 requires that a documented risk assessment shall be the basis for
implementation of the standard. Chapter 1
also refers users to Chapter 4, Risk Considerwww.csemag.com
ations, which states that levels of acceptable fire

Learning
risk shall consider factors including life safety,
objectives
property protection, economic loss, regulatory
impact, and redundant offsite processing, to
Illustrate NFPA 75: Standard
for the Fire Protection of
name a few. It is also worth noting that Chapter
Information Technology (IT)
4 states that a fire risk assessment may be used
Equipment and how it affects
to determine construction type, fire suppression,
data center design.
and fire-detection requirements, where specifi Make use of NFPA 75 in IT
cally permitted elsewhere in the standard.
equipment room design.
While past editions of the standard contained
Examine the changes to the
several references in various parts of the docunew edition of NFPA 75.
ment to this Chapter 4 risk assessment allowance,
the 2013 edition of the standard only contains
two. The first reference is in Section 1.3.1, which
states that a documented risk assessment shall
be the basis for implementation of the standard.
The second reference is in Section 8.4.2.1, which
states that the power to all electronic equipment
shall be disconnected
upon activation of a
KNOW the difference between
gaseous-agent total
installation, occupancy standards
flooding system unless
the risk considerations
When interpreting NFPA codes and standards, an important disoutlined in Chapter 4
tinction to make is the difference between an installation standard
indicate the need for
and an occupancy standard. An installation standard indicates how
continuous power.
something must be done while an occupancy standard indicates what
This detail was not
must be done. NFPA 75 is an occupancy standard: It states what must
lost on the Technibe done in an IT equipment area.
cal Committee, which
For example, Section 8.1 of NFPA 75 states that an information
established a risk/pertechnology equipment area located in a sprinkled building shall be
formance task group to
provided with an automatic sprinkler system. NFPA 13: Standard for
review the standard to
the Installation of Sprinkler Systems will indicate how to install the
further develop the risk
sprinkler system, but is not the reason the sprinkler system must be
elements that should be
installed. NFPA 75 provides this reason.
examined as part of a
23
Codes & Standards

fire risk assessment. The task group recommendations led to significant changes
to the 2017 edition of the standard. The
article Updates, changes to NFPA 75 affect
data centers provides a more descriptive
account of the work of this task group and
their resulting recommendations.
With the introduction of the standard,
and a brief discussion about Chapters 1
and 4, a review of the structure of the
rest of the standard is warranted prior to
discussing key changes to the 2017 edition. The first three chapters are administrative, following the Manual of Style for
NFPA Technical Committee Documents:
Administration, Referenced Publications,
and Definitions. Chapter 4 is titled Risk
Considerations. Chapters 5 through 10
are largely prescriptive in nature in that
they provide specific fire protection criteria for IT equipment. The last chapter,
Chapter 11, addresses emergency and
recovery procedures.
Determine if NFPA 75 applies
Chapters 5 through 10 are considered

the core chapters, in that they address
items including building construction
requirements, materials and equipment
permitted in IT equipment areas, fire
protection, fire detection, and utility
requirements, to name a few. Consistent
with the purpose of the standard, all criteria in chapters 5 through 10 are aimed
at minimizing the fire threat to IT equipment. Looking more closely at Chapter 5,
Construction Requirements, some of the
requirements are as follows:
IT equipment rooms shall be
separated from other occupancies
within the building by a minimum
1-hour fire-resistant-rated construction.
Door openings in the separation
barrier shall be -hour fire-resistance-rated.
Start in Chapter 1
(if yes, follow)
Fire protection approach
Chapter 4
Methods
Prescriptive-based
Fire-risk-based
Protection strategies
Follow
prescriptive-based
requirements
of standard
Use (new)
Chapter 5,
Performance-Based
Design
Figure 1: The 2017 edition of NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire Protection of Information
Technology (IT) Equipment includes a new and very detailed decision tree in Annex
A. This simplified version covers the basics a user of the standard must consider
when designing an IT equipment room. All graphics courtesy: Koffel Associates
24
All air ducts and air-transfer openings passing through the separation
barrier shall be provided with automatic fire and smoke dampers.
The basis for these requirements is due
to past experience with fires involving IT
equipment rooms. According to an NFPA
75 annex note, past fire experience has
demonstrated that the fire often starts in
areas other than the IT equipment room,
and that the fire and its related products,
including smoke and heat, can spread to
the IT equipment room if the room is not
adequately separated by fire-resistancerated walls with protected enclosures.
Given this discussion, it should be noted
that users of the standard must still comply with local building and fire codes.
Any conflicts between NFPA 75 and the
local codes must be properly managed.
2017 edition
The changes to the 2017 edition are the

result of the NFPA 75 Technical Committee, which oversees the development
process of the standard. The committee
spends several hours reviewing proposals
for new or revised criteria, research findings, and new initiatives, with the overall
goal of continual improvement of the standard. The 2017 edition of NFPA 75 reflects
the ever-changing needs and evolving
technology associated with IT equipment.
The first notable revision addresses the
application of the standard. While Chapter 1 has a requirement for the standard
to be applied through a documented
risk assessment, in practice, that has
not always the case. For example, most
federal government agencies, such as
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the
Department of Defense, and the General
Services Administration, require adherence to NFPA 75 through their respective
fire protection design manual and standards. Now it may, in fact, be that these
government agencies have performed a
documented risk assessment, which concluded that their IT equipment shall be
protected in accordance with NFPA 75.
However, the documented risk assessment is not mentioned in their respecwww.csemag.com
tive fire protection criteria, and the provisions of NFPA 75 are to be adhered to
in full, with certain additional provisions.
Even in the private sector, while compliance with NFPA 75 is rarely mandated
by the local building or fire codes, NFPA
75 is routinely applied to IT equipment
facilities purely on a prescriptive basis.
Somewhat in response to the manner
in which NFPA 75 is being applied, both
in the federal government and private
sectors, the next edition of the standard
will contain a clarifying annex detail to
the application statement of Chapter 1.
The purpose of the new annex figure is
simply to facilitate users of the standard
by navigating them through the decision tree.
As indicated in the decision tree, the
first decision the user must make is to
determine if NFPA 75 applies. Section
1.3, Application, will continue to indicate that a documented risk assessment
shall be the basis for implementation of
the standard, following the risk considerations outlined in Chapter 4. If the
standard applies, the user is directed
to Chapter 4, where the first notable
change in the 2017 edition of the standard occurs.
Chapter 4 revisions
Chapter 4 has been renamed and

rewritten. To better suit the purpose of
the Chapter, it will be called Fire Protection Approaches, as opposed to Risk Considerations. The fire protection approach
shall consider fire-exposure threat to
people, property, and business continuity. Given these factors, the fire protection
approach may be prescriptive-based or
risk-based, or a combination of the two.
If a prescriptive-based approach is
selected, the user is to follow all of the
prescriptive-based criteria within the
standard. Alternately, a fire-risk-based
approach may be used to determine the
construction, fire suppression, fire detection, and utility requirements for IT
equipment areas where specifically permitted by the respective chapters within
the standard.
Performance-based design approach
Within the new Chapter 4, Fire Risk

Assessment, criteria, an approved performance-based approach is permitted to be
applied to specific areas, hazards, equipment, or requirements of the standard.
Through the work of the NFPA 75
risk/performance task group, a new
Chapter 5 titled Performance-BasedDesign Approach has been created.
Chapter 5 contains specific performance-based design goals and objectives, qualifications, independent review,
and final determination criteria. The
performance-based approach permits an
alternative means to be used for the protection of IT equipment and IT equipment areas from damage by fire or its
associated effects.
Combustibility of material
A new section within Chapter 6

called Combustibility of Materials has
been created. The
first revision change
How standards are developed
simply revises the
As a standard nears the final stages of the NFPA Standards Developexisting definition
ment Process, a Notice of Intent to Make a Motion (NITMAM) may be
of noncombustible
submitted by anyone in an attempt to change the work of the Technical
in Chapter 3 to coinCommittee before the document is issued by the Standards Council. An
cide with the definiNFPA Motions Committee reviews and certifies each NITMAM, at which
tions in NFPA 101:
point the motion becomes a Certified Amending Motion (CAM).
Life Safety Code and
CAMs are presented at NFPA Technical Meetings for final vote. Two
NFPA 5000: Building
CAMs involving the 2017 edition of NFPA 75 Second Draft were brought
Construction Safety
before Committee Membership at the 2016 NFPA Technical Meeting
Code. Also, definiin Las Vegas, June 13-16. Both CAMs propose new text for automatic
tions for combustible
fire suppression system protection beneath raised floors containing
and limited-comcombustible materials in an information technology equipment room.
bustible material are
www.csemag.com
Figure 2: Fire protection engineers can specify systems that protect from smoke, corrosion, heat, and water in data centers.
now provided, also extracted from NFPA

101 and 5000. The second revision relocates these new definitions to Chapter
6, under a new section called Combustibility of Material. The substantiation
for this change is to adhere to the NFPA
Manual of Style, which does not permit
references to standards in definitions
because definitions are not enforceable.
The Technical Committee felt that a new
subsection to Chapter 6 would be a logical place for this new material.
These are just a few examples of some
of the changes that will occur to the
2017 edition of the standard. Despite
these changes, the primary purpose of
NFPA 75 continues to be to establish
the minimum requirements for the
protection of IT equipment and these
areas, no matter where they are located,
from damage by fire or its associated
effects. The 2017 edition of the standard
should facilitate users of the document
by reflecting fire protection best practices for modern-day IT equipment and
should be a great resource for doing so
for several years.
Mark Jason Aaby is a manager at Koffel Associates. He is a member of NFPA
and Society of Fire Protection Engineers,
has 20 years of fire protection engineering experience, and serves on multiple
NFPA technical committees including the
Technical Committee on Sprinkler System
Discharge Criteria.
25
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Analyzing nontraditional
HVAC systems
Incorporating set thermal comfort criteria provides many benefits while
increasing the use of high-performance HVAC systems for energy reduction.
BY AMARPREET SETHI, CEM, HBDP, BEMP, LEED AP, DLR Group, Seattle
Learning
objectives
Analyze thermal comfort
criteria for improved user
experience.
Consider partial-cooling
systems.
Maximize value through
zone cooling and heating.
hermal comfort is an indoor

environmental-quality feature
that has proven to impact productivity. Variables that impact
the air temperature at which
one may feel comfortable are clothing,
metabolic activity, indoor air temperature, humidity, radiant temperature, and
air speed. In addition to these factors,
user expectation can also shift if the space
is naturally conditioned using operable
windows with the availability of control.
The variability of thermal experience may
be different when naturally cooled using
operable windows, which may be considered in conjunction with biophilia as an
enhancing addition.
Thermal comfort standards
The 2013 edition of ASHRAE 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human
Occupancy specifies methods to determine
indoor thermal environmental conditions
that a significant number of occupants
would find acceptable. The standard details
thermal comfort for mechanically and
28
naturally ventilated spaces, based on the

following factors:
Clothing
Metabolic activity
Indoor air temperature
Humidity
Radiant temperature
Air speed.
The U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC) LEED and International Well
Building Institute WELL Building standard
refer to ASHRAE 55 for compliance. The
WELL Building standard includes thermal
comfort as a precondition for certification,
with radiant thermal comfort and individual thermal comfort as optimizations for
high levels of certification. The USGBC
LEED guideline, in addition to ASHRAE
55, provides an option to use International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and
European Committee for Standardization
(CEN) standards. LEED includes one credit
for meeting the thermal comfort requirements per ASHRAE 55 and providing
www.csemag.com
Figure 1: Exterior shading was designed to reduce cooling load. The higher ceilings would not have been possible with a conventional variable air volume (VAV) system.
User goals and priorities identified as enhanced user
experience, health, and environmental stewardship lead
to in-depth performance analysis for this high-tech office
building in Kirkland, Wash. The performance analysis
informed design, which lead to a high-performing envelope (including exterior shading and resulting outdoor
spaces for users), HVAC system (chilled-beam systems
with zone cooling and heating) and interior design with
higher ceilings (as a result of HVAC system). All graphics
courtesy: DLR Group
individual controls for 50% of the individual occupant spaces.

Operative temperature is simply defined
as the average between air temperature
and the mean radiant temperature. This
is because the temperature experienced or
perceived by the user is based on the heat
exchange with the immediate environment,
through convective and radiant heat loss,
or heat gain to our surroundings. The air
temperature impacts the convective heat
exchange and the mean radiant temperature of the surfaces around us impacts the
radiant portion of the heat exchange.
Operative temperature is how one may
experience indoor temperature, even
though a space is typically controlled or
monitored solely using air temperature.
This is often one of the main contributors to occupant thermal discomfort, even
when the air temperature meets the typical
75F during cooling conditions. ASHRAE
55 also establishes the acceptable operative temperature range for naturally conditioned spaces.
Heating and cooling design criteria
HVAC systems are generally designed

for a predefined heating and cooling setpoint (typically between 70 and 75F for
heating and cooling simultaneously), based
on 99.6% dry-bulb temperature for winter
design conditions and 0.4% or 1% dry-bulb
temperature for summer design conditions.
In addition to this, there are numerous
assumptions that have to be made for the
cooling loads regarding infiltration, envelope, lighting, occupancy, and plug loads.
Fifteen-percent oversizing for cooling and
25% oversizing for heating is also typically
allowed, however these allowances are
www.csemag.com
slowly being eliminated

by codes.
For the end user,
this does not provide
much clarity on what
to anticipate in terms
of hours above the
comfort threshold,
especially with changing outdoor temperatures due to global
warming. The design
conditions also are
typically based on air temperature, even
though the radiant temperature, along
with other factors previously mentioned,
can change the perception of comfort to
a large extent. Typically, a thermostat in a
space is controlled by air temperature, yet
what is experienced or sensed is operative
temperature. Ongoing discussions should
consider the following questions:
Should the industry define new
mechanical-design criteria instead
of continuing to use the ASHRAE setpoints as the design conditions?
Should there be conversations
with clients to establish appropriate
and acceptable thermal comfort
criteria set for their building?
How often do buildings in reality use
a lower cooling set point than 75F,
perhaps due to a perception of higher
temperature in the space?
The goal of the criteria would be to create designs that can allow for variability
and prevent oversizing to meet unforeseen conditions or extreme peak conditions. Oversized systems do not achieve
thermal comfort for 100% of users and can
lead to over-cooling of spaces for a portion
of occupants, especially during shoulder
seasons. Establishing set thermal comfort
criteria will allow for enhanced mechanical design for varying outside conditions
of spaces with operable windows, rather
than focus alone on a fixed setpoint at peak
design conditions. Operable windows can
provide free economizer cooling, while the
mechanical system provides the minimum
ventilation required during conditions

when windows may not be opened due
to outside temperatures, noise, or odors.
The reason to discuss adaptable thermal comfort criteria is not only to limit
overdesign, but also to provide solutions
that can make it possible to integrate the
use of operable windows with HVAC systems. An enhanced indoor/outdoor connection is often discussed during design,
but due to air conditioning, it is often
limited to large amounts of glazing with
views to outside in place of a true connection. Other hurdles for operable windows
include acoustics, air quality, and allergens. New true connections between the
indoors and outdoors may be associated
with health and wellness characteristics.
Currently, these dont carry additional
credit within the WELL Building or the
LEED guidelines, but they are included
as a separate pathway to thermal comfort. These goals and objectives can provide truly integrated design opportunities
between architects and mechanical engineers to maximize the value of the building
envelope. The potential to allow natural
conditioning when appropriate can impact
the depth of spaces, further enhancing occupant daylight and views. The
envelope is where the architectural and
mechanical conversations need to start,
which should include operable windows,
glazing percentage and specification, and
external shading to allow for more efficient
mechanical systems.
In addition to maximizing user comfort
and experience, using adaptive thermal
comfort design criteria can potentially:
Decrease initial costs by reducing
the need to overdesign
Reduce annual energy and
utility costs
Increase the potential to use highperformance HVAC systems to
meet energy-reduction goals
and reduce global warming
Open up the possibility for systems
that can meet net zero potential for
some buildings.
29
Analyzing nontraditional HVAC systems

Making a case
for partial-cooling systems
The meaning of partial cooling can vary

based on the intent, but simply stated, the
design is not projected to meet the required
75F setpoint during peak outdoor conditions based on 0.4% or 1% dry-bulb temperature for summer design conditions. Partial
cooling is designed to meet set thermal
comfort criteria, which allow a set number
of hours above 75, 80, or even 85F. The
hours are determined using ASHRAE 55 or
by discussions with the owner, often based
on what might lead to complaints or what
they are contractually required to provide.
There are several reasons to understand
and embrace the concept of partial cooling
as an alternative to full cooling.
Partial cooling can enhance the use of
operable windows when outside air
conditions are optimal, expanding the
indoor-air band that is deemed comfortable.
Partial cooling can help quantify and
optimize the building form; finetuning the envelope is key to integrating partial cooling.
Partial cooling can allow the building to sail through the shoulder
months, but still provide some
thermal stability by means of a
right-sized mechanical ventilation
and cooling system during peak
conditions.
Using natural cooling can potentially allow ductwork to be sized for
100% outside air, which can
provide the benefit of improved
indoor air quality year-round, due
to eliminating the mixing of
return air.
In some cases, buildings are able
to incorporate a geothermal heat
pump system, because it is sized
for heating conditions and provides partial cooling only. If this
system was to be sized for full
cooling, it would have to be oversized and would be beyond the
project budget or even the required
site area. Sizing for the peak cooling load can change the system
type selected for the building due
to budget or space needs.
Energy savings
Energy consumption (kBtu/sq ft)
120
100
80
Pumps
DHW heating
Fans
Heat
eat reje
rejection
ejectio
j
Cooling
Heating
60
Lighting
40
20
0
Plug
ASHRAE 90.1
2007
High-tech office in
Kirkland, Wash.
Figure 2: This illustration shows predicted modeled savings from a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) plus chilled-beam system compared to a LEED baseline.
The building includes a large percentage of plug loads energy consumption; this
was kept consistent between the baseline and proposed cases. The plug loads are
over 50% of the overall energy for the proposed design case. In spite of the high plug
loads, the building is proposed to experience savings of 32% overall. With 55% savings in HVAC energy and 39% savings in lighting energy, this building is anticipated
to achieve LEED platinum.
30
When developing set thermal comfort criteria, partial cooling can be

discussed to optimize the system
type for thermal comfort throughout the year, annual energy and
utility cost savings, and potentially
better usability and control of operable windows.
Designing for annual
climate conditions
The outside air conditions designed for

are usual peak conditions. System choices,
options, and recommendations would be
different with a deeper understanding of
the climate, and even more so if the goal
is to set thermal comfort criteria. A better
understanding of operating hours and temperature bins for a variety of ranges would
provide different insight. Annual, hourly
weather data is available through a number
of different sources.
Spaces should be designed for thermal
comfort criteria instead of a setpoint. For
some locations, with the right architectural
design, this would provide a way to eliminate cooling systems altogether and reduce
infrastructure due to reduced number of
hours when cooling is absolutely required.
Use of energy and thermal modeling can help engineers make envelope
recommendations, such as shading and
glazing specifications, as well as limit
the size of the systems and/or incorporate more efficient systems like radiant
ceilings, which are harder to model and
size using conventional sizing tools.
Advanced tools can help quantify the
number of hours spaces may be above
required temperature setpoints or if they
meet the set thermal comfort criteria.
Mechanical engineers should play a
larger role in helping architects define
the envelope so the control of thermal
comfort can be optimized. This includes
glazing percentage, interior shades, etc.
that are typically not discussed with
mechanical engineers.
This approach could increase the viability of a larger number of deep green buildings, due to the decrease of the financial
impact of oversizing systems that only
serve a handful of hours in a year.
www.csemag.com
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The engineers choice

Adaptive thermal comfort
Adaptive thermal comfort is often discussed during the initial design phases.
However, implementing adaptive thermal
comfort requires a risk factor, and clients
often shy away from using it to minimize
occupant complaints.
In the Pacific Northwest, these conversations require an understanding of
the regional climate. Not having cooling is slowly becoming a rarity, despite
the potential to achieve passive cooling
through design. The following ideas
need to be addressed by the industry or
through conversations with the client or
users of the spaces:
Is the connection to the outdoors
being lost by the use of cooling
instead of designing operable
windows for use during desirable
weather?
Are there benefits in changing
the way access to the outdoors is
designed to allow for some
variability in the space conditions,
rather than a monotonous constant

temperature and environment?
How could providing controls to
open the louvers to the outside when
the weather meets desired conditions
be integrated into the design?
How many hours in a year during
which indoor air temperatures are
above 75 or 78F are acceptable to
the client? Are ceiling fans acceptable?
An adaptive thermal comfort strategy
requires integration and in-depth conversations between engineers and architects
in determining the glazing percentage in
the building based on orientation, shading, operable window free area, and glazing solar-heat gain values. The integrated
design team needs to evaluate the envelope
to optimize for daylighting as well as to
reduce cooling loads by means of dedicated
performance analysis. Additionally, thermal
comfort modeling can highlight features
that can be detrimental to thermal comfort
Energy savings
Energy consumption (kBtu/sq ft)
45
40
82%
35
30
25
20
15
10
16%
39%
-61%
5
0
Lights
Plug
Heating
23%
93%
Cooling Heat reject
Fans
Pumps Domestic
hot water (DHW)
Figure 3: This illustration shows predicted modeled savings as a result of enhanced

envelope, improved lighting, and high-performing HVAC system. A large percentage
of the energy savings are in heating and there is an increase on cooling energy due
to reduced economizer hours. The central plant takes advantage of this scenario by
means of waterside heat recovery that provides free heating when there is a cooling
load. This also leads to a reduction in heat rejection, fan, and water savings. Savings for each end-use are highlighted for the proposed design including 39% lighting
energy savings, 82% heat energy savings, -61% cooling energy hit, 93% heat-rejection savings, 16% fan energy savings, and 23% domestic hot water heating savings.
32
in a space, like large glazing areas or glazing

specifications that can lead to high mean
radiant temperatures.
Maximizing value through zone
cooling and heating
Zone heating and cooling systems provide myriad benefits. Most importantly,
these systems can provide improved thermal comfort due to the localized zone-level
access to cooling and heating. These zones
are typically served by a dedicated outside
air unit to meet the outside air requirements
as well as any latent loads in the space. This
allows for improved indoor air quality due
to 100% outside air and no return air from
zones (which may include off-gassing from
interior materials).
These system types can also allow higher
ceiling heights due to reduced ductwork,
leading to improved daylight and/or user
experience. Savings from these systems go
beyond the utility costs to include enhanced
user experience as well as potential cost savings due to reduced floor-to-floor height.
These system types are being included in
local energy codes and will be mandatory
by 2017 per the 2015 Washington State
Energy Code.
Options for zone cooling and heating systems can vary from fan coil units,
water-source heat pumps, and variable refrigerant flow systems to active
chilled beams, passive chilled beams,
chilled sails, or radiant ceilings. Thermal
comfort, energy, and utility cost savings also vary based on the zone system
type and the central plant configuration.
The majority of savings are a result of
decreased fan-energy use due to reduced
air handling unit fan size. The cooling
energy can increase as a result of reduced
free economizer hours during shoulder
season, but this is often overcome by
more efficient central plant equipment
or higher chilled-water temperatures, or
water side heat recovery.
Radiant cooling systems

and chilled-beam systems
The zone system selection is highly

dependent on the predicted peak cooling
load within the space. Maximum energy
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heating and cooling system that is becoming a popular design option as firms are
becoming more experienced with its design
and performance. This system uses a dedicated outside air system and provides zone
cooling and heating, but due to the additional air induction it has a higher cooling-capacity allowance. This system may
require more than minimum outside air,
due to its impact on the cooling capacity of
the chilled beam.
The active chilled-beam system without partial-cooling potential was selected
for a high-tech office building
in Kirkland, Wash. Numerous
A chilled-beam system is a zone
options were studied for this
project, but an active chilledheating and cooling system that
beam system was selected due
is becoming a popular design
to the anticipated higher plug
option as firms are becoming
loads. Benefits included reduced
duct work, higher ceiling heights,
more experienced with its design
enhanced acoustics due to HVAC,
and performance.
improved thermal comfort and
user experience, and delivery of
a more flexible design, maximize energy, 100% outside air to the spaces with no
and utility cost savings. Radiant cooling return-air component.
Figures 2 and 3 show the predicted modcan keep a space comfortable at higher air
temperatures; however, this is often hard eled savings from a dedicated outdoor air
to quantify and is not considered due to system (DOAS) plus chilled-beam system
limitations and associated risk of how type as compared with a LEED baseline.
thermal comfort is controlled and used The chilled-beam system was chosen due to
high plug loads in the space, resulting from
by peak mechanical sizing tools.
Other factors that limit the use of radi- a higher occupant density of roughly 80 sq
ant-cooling-type systems is higher inter- ft/person thus 6 W/sq ft of plug loads. The
nal loads as a result of plug loads. These central plant leveraged the climate, building
are sometimes harder to anticipate, thus form, and internal plug loads by providing
they are eliminated as an option in spaces a heat-recovery central water-source heat
where plug loads are very high. Examples pump. This was used for first-stage coolfor systems with partial-cooling criteria ing, and heat rejection is used for simultainclude the Bullitt Center in Seattle, which neous heating at the exterior. The building
is the nations largest Living Building Chal- envelope was optimized to ensure cooling
lenge office building (energy use inten- loads could be met by active chilled beams
sity (EUI) is 16 kBtu/sq ft/year), and the with minimum outside air capacity. ExteNational Renewable Energy Laboratorys rior shading was designed to reduce solar/
office building in Golden, Colo., which is cooling loads. Ceilings were much higher
the nations largest net zero office building than would have been possible with a con(EUI is 35 kBtu/sq ft/year). Another exam- ventional VAV system type.
ple, which did not use the partial-cooling
option but includes radiant cooling, is the High-performing systems
Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Build- and thermal comfort
ing modernization project in Portland,
Having thermal comfort discusOre. (EUI is 32 kBtu/sq ft/year).
sions with the client can inform the
A chilled-beam system is a zone architectural and mechanical teams of the
savings and thermal comfort benefits
may be extracted from a radiant-ceilingtype system. However, this system is the
least popular due to its limited cooling
capacity. For this system type, a complete consensus is necessary from both
the architect and the owner to minimize
cooling loads.
The building envelope needs attention
to ensure solar loads are minimized by
means of optimum glazing percentage,
glazing specifications, and external shading. Partial-cooling criteria can allow for
34
potential to downsize or right-size systems

both at the zone level and plant level. This
can open up the discussion to using alternate high-performing system types that can
be more efficient and provide added benefit
with regards to thermal comfort and indoor
air quality and user experience. This can
also open up the dialogue between architects and mechanical engineers to optimize
the building envelope to reduce peak loads.
Thermal comfort expectations and the
use of operable windows with natural
cooling, and how these systems can be
tied to the HVAC controls, should be discussed with the owner for better understanding of operations. It is important to
identify the use of operable windows as
being separate from the minimum ventilation that is provided mechanically. The
owner will often say no to operable windows if assuming the windows would be
their only access to outside air.
Discussion of the impact of set thermal comfort criteria on user comfort
and experience, as well as the potential
decrease in first costs by under- or rightsizing equipment, can lead to allowances
for upgrades to more efficient systems.
Its valuable to discuss the added benefits of more efficient systems to reduce
annual energy, utility, and maintenance
costs.
Incorporating set thermal comfort criteria and integrating a high-performing
envelope, potentially with operable windows, can enhance user comfort and
experience. This strategy can potentially
decrease initial costs by reducing the need
to overdesign, reduce annual energy and
utility costs, and further the potential to
use high-performance HVAC systems to
meet energy-reduction goals and reduce
global warming.
Amarpreet Sethi is a senior associate at
DLR Groups Seattle office. Her expertise is
in building optimization and energy services.
She was also a Consulting-Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 winner in 2014.
Read more at:
www.csemag.com/archives about:
n Case study: Schools air conditioning
n Discussing the benefits of efficient systems.
www.csemag.com
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Designing with
liquid-immersion
cooling systems
Liquid cooling is an option in some data
centers. Consider these best practices when
looking at immersion cooling for your next
data center project.
BY SAAHIL TUMBER,
PE, HBDP, LEED AP,
Environmental Systems
Design Inc., Chicago
Learning objectives
Discover the various ways to cool data
center equipment via liquid cooling.
Outline the different options available for
liquid-immersion cooling.
Measure the pros and cons for using liquid
cooling in a data center environment.
n simple thermodynamic terms,

heat transfer is the exchange of
thermal energy from a system at a
high temperature to one at lower
temperature. In a data center, the
information technology equipment
(ITE) is the system at the higher temperature. The objective is to maintain
the ITE at an acceptable temperature
by transferring thermal energy in the
most effective and efficient way, usually by expending the least amount of
mechanical work.
Heat transfer is a complex process

and the rate and effectiveness depends
on a multitude of factors. The properties
of the cooling medium (i.e., the lowertemperature system) are pivotal, as they
directly impact flow rate, the resultant
temperature differential between the
two systems and the mechanical work
requirement.
The rate at which thermal energy is
generated by the ITE is characteristic of
the hardware (central processing units,
graphics processing units, etc.) and the
software it is running. During steadystate operation, the thermal energy
generated equals the rate at which it is
transferred to the cooling medium flowing through its internal components. The
flow rate requirement and the temperature envelope of the cooling medium is
driven by the peak rate of thermal energy
generated and the acceptable temperature internal to the ITE.
The flow rate requirement has a direct
bearing on the mechanical work expended at the cooling medium circulation
machine (pump or fan). The shaft work
for a reversible, steady-state process with
negligible change in kinetic or potential
energy is equal to vdP, where v is the specific volume and P is the pressure. While
the pump and fan processes are nonideal,
they follow the same general trend.
For data centers, air-cooling systems
have been de facto. From the perspective
Figure 1: A flow diagram for an open-immersion cooling configuration is shown. The ITE is immersed in a liquid bath open to the
atmosphere. All graphics courtesy: Environmental Systems Design Inc.
36
www.csemag.com
Figure 2: This flow diagram shows a sealed immersion cooling configuration. The ITE is enclosed in liquid-tight enclosures
typically under positive pressure.
During steady-state operation, the thermal energy

generated equals the rate at which it is transferred
to the cooling medium flowing through its internal
components.
of ITE, air cooling refers to the scenario
where air must be supplied to the ITE
for cooling. As the airflow requirement
increases due to an increase in load,
there is a corresponding increase in fan
energy at two levels: the air distribution
level (i.e., mechanical infrastructure
such as air handling units, computer
room air handlers, etc.) and the equipment level, because ITE has integral fans
for air circulation.
Strategies including aisle containment,
cabinet chimneys, and in-row cooling
units help improve effectiveness and
satisfactorily cool the equipment. However, the fact remains that air has inferior
thermal properties and its abilities are
getting stretched to the limit as cabinet
loads continue to increase with time. For
loads typically exceeding 15 kW/cabinet, alternative cooling strategies, such
as liquid cooling, have become worthy
of consideration.
The case for liquid cooling
Liquid cooling refers to a scenario

where liquid (or coolant) must be supplied to the ITE. An IT cabinet is considered to be liquid-cooled if liquid, such
www.csemag.com
as water, dielectric fluid, mineral oil, or

refrigerant, is circulated to and from the
cabinet or cabinet-mounted equipment
for cooling. Several configurations are
possible, depending on the boundary
being considered (i.e., external or internal to the cabinet). For the same heattransfer rate, the flow rate requirement
for a liquid and the energy consumed by
the pump are typically much lower than
the flow rate requirement for air and the
energy consumed by the fan system.
This is primarily because the specific
volume of a liquid is significantly lower
than that of air.
For extreme load densities typically
in excess of 50 to 75 kW/cabinet, the
liquid should preferably be in direct
contact with ITE internal components
to transfer thermal energy effectively
and maintain an acceptable internal
temperature. This type of deployment
is called liquid-immersion cooling
and it is at the extreme end of the liquid cooling spectrum. Occasionally
referred to as chip-level cooling, the
commercially available solutions can
essentially be categorized into two configurations:
1. Open/semi-open immersion.
In this type of system, the ITE

is immersed in a bath of liquid,
such as dielectric fluid or mineral
oil. The heat-transfer mechanism
is vaporization, natural convection, forced convection, or a
combination of vaporization and
convection (see Figure 1).
2. Sealed immersion. In this type
of system, the ITE is sealed in

liquid-tight enclosures and liquid, such as refrigerant, dielectric
fluid, or mineral oil, is pumped
through the enclosure. The heattransfer mechanism is vaporization or forced convection, and
the enclosure is typically under
positive pressure (see Figure 2).
For both types of systems, thermal

energy can be transferred to the ambient
by means of fluid coolers (dry or evaporative) or a condenser. It can also be transferred to facility water (chilled water,
low-temperature hot water, or condenser
water) by means of a heat exchanger.
A number of proprietary solutions
are available for immersion cooling, and
most providers can retrofit off-the-shelf
ITE to make them compatible with their
technology. Some technology providers
are capable of providing turnkey solutions and require limited to no involvement of the consulting engineer.
37
Liquid-immersion cooling systems

Others provide products as kit of
parts and rely on the consulting engineer to design the associated infrastructure. For the latter, collaboration
between the design team and the cooling technology provider is critical to
project success. The design responsibilities should be identified and delineated
early in the project. Note that a comprehensive guide for designing liquid
cooling systems is beyond the scope of
this article.
Once the total ITE load (in kilowatts)
and load density (kilowatt/cabinet) have
been defined by the stakeholders, the
criteria can be used in conjunction with
the design liquid-supply temperature
and anticipated delta T across the ITE,
to determine the flow rate requirement
and the operating-temperature envelope.
Recommendations for a liquid-supply
temperature and anticipated delta T are
typically provided by the technology
provider, and empirical data is preferred
over theoretical assumptions. For example, a flow rate requirement of 1 gpm/kW,
liquid-supply temperature of 104F, and
anticipated delta T of 10F was used as
the basis of design when deploying a specific technology. Requirements can vary
significantly between different providers.
Selecting a liquid
The liquid properties impact major

facets of the design and should be
reviewed in detail. The mechanical
industry is accustomed to working with
typical liquids, such as water, glycol
solutions, and refrigerants; deviations
associated with unique liquids can create challenges. Properties such as kinematic viscosity, dynamic viscosity, specific heat, density, thermal conductivity,
the coefficient of thermal expansion, and
heat capacity can influence the design.
Because the liquid is typically proprietary, the properties are not available in
standard design guides or catalogs and
are provided by the cooling technology
provider.
Liquid properties have a direct bearing
on heat-transfer characteristics and greatly impact the selection of heat-transfer
equipment, such as coils, heat exchangers, and fluid coolers. As discussed, standard catalog data cannot be used for this
Figure 3: This rendering shows liquid-immersion cooled IT cabinets (sealed

configuration).
38
purpose. However, major manufacturers

are capable of providing estimated performance for unique liquids.
System pressure drop calculations
can also be challenging. One option is
to use the underlying principles of fluid
mechanics. For example, the DarcyWeisbach equation can be used to estimate the pressure drop through pipes
when circulating Newtonian fluids. For
sealed-immersion applications, the pressure drop through the ITE enclosure is
typically supplied by the technology
provider.
When selecting pumps for liquid circulation, properties like density and viscosity will impact the brake horsepower,
head, flow capacity, and efficiency of the
pump. Major manufacturers can provide
pump performance when circulating
unique liquids. Another option is to estimate performance by using correction
factors, equations, or charts developed
by organizations, such as the Hydraulic
Institute, and applying them to standard
pump curves developed for water.
When the loop design is being established, the compatibility of materials
that are expected to be in direct contact
with the liquid should be reviewed. For
example, pump seals and valve seats are
frequently constructed of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a type
of synthetic rubber. However, EPDM is
not compatible with petroleum-based
liquids.
Similarly, the use of inert pipe materials, such as stainless steel and copper, and
use of mechanical joints in lieu of welding, soldering, or brazing should be discussed with the technology provider. Any
contamination of liquid due to incompatibility with materials of construction can
have serious repercussions and can lead
to catastrophic failure of the ITE.
Requirements for fluid maintenance
should be discussed with the technology provider. Petroleum-based liquids,
such as mineral oil, are susceptible to
biological and water contamination over
time. Liquid degradation can negatively
impact the heat-transfer properties and
can lead to premature failure of the ITE.
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The infrastructure should incorporate

suitable means for fluid maintenance if
deemed necessary.
For sealed immersion configurations,
pressure limitations of the ITE enclosures
must be considered. For a particular
application, the pressure rating was less
than 10 psig. The requirement impacts
the elevation of mechanical infrastructure relative to the ITE, as the static head
imposed on ITE needs to be kept to a
minimum. Similarly, the pressure drop
through the circulation loop, hence the
pump head requirement, should be minimized. Pressure-relief valves or other
means should be incorporated to prevent
accidental overpressurization.
Due to improved heat-transfer performance as

compared with an air-cooling system, liquid-supply
temperatures higher than 100F are feasible.
heat-transfer performance as compared
with an air-cooling system, liquid-supply
temperatures higher than 100F are feasible. Higher liquid temperatures increase
the hours of economization, offer the
potential for heat recovery, and in certain climates can eliminate the need for
chillers completely. The elimination of
internal ITE fans reduces energy consumption and noise. In addition, pump
energy for circulating liquid is typically
lower than fan energy.
Despite the mechanical advantages,
there are reasons for caution when
deploying liquid-immersion cooling
in data centers. The impact on infrastructure, such as structural, electrical,
fire protection, and structured cabling,
The right solution?
When dealing with extremely dense

cabinets, immersion cooling is worthy of
consideration. It is suitable for deployments ranging from a few kilowatts to
several megawatts. Due to improved
should be evaluated. In a typical data

center, air-cooling systems are still
needed as certain ITE, such as spinning
drives, cannot be liquid-cooled. Immersion cooling is still in its nascent stage,
and long-term statistical data is needed
for detailed evaluation of ITE and infrastructure reliability, serviceability, maintainability, and lifecycle costs.
Saahil Tumber is a senior associate and
lead mechanical engineer at Environmental Systems Design Inc., and is responsible
for the overall design of HVAC systems for
data centers, trading areas, and other mission critical facilities requiring high availability. His data center experience spans
both enterprise and colocation projects.
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Know when, where

to specify VRF systems
Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) offers an alternate HVAC solution. Its key
attributes include zonal control, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality
(IAQ). To help facilitate their successful design and operation, engineers
should take advantage of the available resources and training offered
by manufacturers, utilities, and others.
BY JAMES M. DEL MONACO, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA, P2S Engineering, Long Beach, Calif.
ariable refrigerant flow

(VRF) systems were invented in Japan in the early
1980s and have become
common in Asia, Europe,
and Australia. Over the last 5 to 10 years,
VRF also has started to penetrate the U.S.
market. This technology provides a great
alternative to traditional HVAC systems.
VRF systems are common on existing
building renovations in classroom and
office buildings where existing conditions
make this technology more constructible.
Often, the owner has an interest in upgrading the existing HVAC system and is looking for improved energy efficiency and
increased controllability. However, this
technology is in use in new construction
projects, as well, and should be considered.
At a high level, the system uses multiple
evaporators connected to a single condensing unit. The compressor in the condensing unit is inverter-driven and operates as
a variable speed system, as opposed to only
on-off functionality. This allows only the
required flow of refrigerant to be delivered
to the system and results in lower energy use
at part-load conditions. These systems are
thermodynamically similar to a traditional
direct expansion (DX) refrigerant system;
however, the key differentiator is that multiple evaporators are connected to the system.
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The system can be set

tion and Classification of
Learning
up as a heat pump, coolRefrigerants sets the maxobjectives
ing-only, or heat-recovery
imum limit of R-410A
configuration. Zoning of
refrigerant
in a single
Discuss variable refrigerant
the system is paramount
circuit
as
25
lbs/1,000 ft3
flow (VRF) technology.
to capturing the possible
before the space must be
Assess VRF design and
implementation.
energy savings. In the heat
defined as a refrigeration
pump mode, all indoor
machinery room. As more
Make use of manufacturers to better understand VRF
units connected to the
evaporators are connected
installation, controls, etc.
system are either operating
to a single condenser, and
in heating or cooling at any
additional piping runs
given time, with each unit having control are necessary to distribute to the system,
over its zone temperature.
the quantity of refrigerant in this circuit
VRF is most beneficial when spaces can increases.
be zoned such that heat can be rejected
A rule of thumb for refrigerant charge
from spaces in cooling and diverted into in a VRF system is 4 to 6 lbs of refrigerant
those requiring heating. This is the basis per ton of cooling. Actual numbers will be
for the heat-recovery system. All indoor dependent on the capacity of equipment,
units are provided with individual control number of pieces of equipment, and piping
and can individually operate in heating or lengths. As an example, a project with a
cooling mode at a given time.
16-ton VRF system would require roughly
64 to 96 lbs of R-410A.
A typical 10x10-ft office space with a
Refrigerant limits
10-ft
ceiling would easily exceed the refrigVRF systems use refrigerant as the driver to move heat throughout the system. erant limits under the assumption above.
Although refrigerants are very effective To adhere to the ASHRAE 15 requireand efficient at doing so, they also present ments, the system may need to be broken
other concerns. Most of the VRF systems down into smaller refrigerant circuits,
in the market today operate using R-410A thus losing some of the benefits of divertrefrigerant. ASHRAE Standard 15 (pack- ing loads. Space size, system capacity, and
aged with Standard 34): Safety Standard piping length all impact the allowable
for Refrigeration Systems and Designa- refrigerant in a given circuit.
41
When, where to specify VRF systems

Ventilation strategies
The ventilation-air strategy of the system must be given careful consideration

to ensure the best indoor air quality (IAQ).
There are three main methods of introducing outside air into the system:
n Direct to the unit
n Via a dedicated outside air system
(DOAS) or energy-recovery
ventilator (ERV)
n Directly to the space.
Direct-to-the-unit configurations are best

suited for mild climates and spaces with low
ventilation-air requirements, as the evaporators are limited in latent capacity (typically
70% to 80% sensible heat ratio) and low entering conditions (typically above 50F). DOAS
and ERV will pretreat the ventilation air and
allow for the ventilation loads to be mostly
decoupled from the space loads. This allows
the VRF to be sized for only the space loads,
which reduces the VRF system capacity.
The last method of supplying directly

to the space requires a DOAS or similar
equipment and completely decouples the
ventilation load from the VRF.
Controls
VRF manufacturers offer several

options for controls including integration
to a centralized energy management system (EMS). At the simplest level, factorypackaged simple controllers offer programming modes of operation, setpoints,
and fan speed. The controller also offers
feedback on failure codes for troubleshooting. This is essentially a self-contained system with no other interaction necessary.
However, this option is limited in the interface and information available. VRF manufacturers offer central controllers that can group
multiple systems into an interface with even
further controllability, such as scheduling.
Lastly, a gateway controller can be provided
to interface with a central EMS, which allows
for more advanced monitoring and control.
Construction
Designers and contractors have become

more familiar with VRF technology; however, many manufacturers offer training
focused on both the design and construction of the system. These manufacturers
will often offer extended warranties for
projects where the designer and/or contractor attended their training.
The training on the design side will often
focus on proper sizing of equipment and
available tools for design, while the construction side will offer education on proper
installation practices, startup, operations,
etc. Owners should ensure that the installing
individual onsite actually participated in the
training and not just the contracting company. Its best to identify the available resources
offered by the manufacturer and use them
appropriately, as it can improve the delivery of
the final product to the owner.
James Del Monaco is group manager/
sustainability director at P2S Engineering.
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Back to basics:
VRF systems
Know the basics of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems to determine

if they are the right choice for your next HVAC project.
BY ALEX JANKOVIC, PE, CEM, LEED AP, JBA Consulting Engineers, Las Vegas
Learning
objectives
Summarize the different
types of variable refrigerant
flow (VRF) systems available.
Explain the pros and cons
of using VRF systems in a
commercial building application.
Identify the codes and standards that dictate the design
and use of VRF systems.
ariable refrigerant flow

(VRF) systems are gaining
in popularity and are used
as an enhanced version of
multi-split systems, featuring simultaneous heating and cooling as
well as heat-recovery capabilities.
Modern VRF systems provide some
major advantages, such as zoning, individual temperature control, minimized ductwork, excluding the need for secondary
fluids (chilled-water or hot-water distribution), and associated costs. This all-electric
technology consists of a single outdoor condensing unit, multiple indoor units serving various zones, refrigerant piping with
branch selectors, and associated controls.
VRF systems use R-410A refrigerant
as the heat-transfer fluid and the work-
Figure 1: The refrigerant piping diagram shows that this system can be either in cooling mode or heating mode at the same time. All graphics courtesy: JBA Consulting
Engineers
44
ing fluid, achieving a very high energy

efficiency ratio (EER) of 15 to 20 and
integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER)
of 17 to 25. They are 20% to 30% more
efficient than conventional HVAC systems due to partial load operation, speed
modulation, zoning capabilities, and
heat-recovery technology.
In recent years, gas heat pump technology has been increasingly used in certain
applications where natural gas utilities
offer incentives. As a result, VRF systems
can contribute a great number of points
toward U.S. Green Building Council
LEED certification.
VRF system operation
VRF systems are nontraditional HVAC

systems, in comparison with conventional ducted systems circulating the air or
chilled-water throughout the building.
The term VRF indicates the ability of the
system to vary and control the refrigerant
flow through multiple evaporator coils to
provide individual temperature control
in various mechanical comfort zones.
Using direct expansion (DX) as part of
the basic refrigeration cycle, VRF systems
transfer the heat from the room directly
to evaporator coils located within the
conditioned space. The heat-transfer
media, in this case, is the refrigerant,
which delivers heating and cooling to
various zones with less energy as compared with air or water.
VRF systems act as multi-split systems, connecting multiple indoor
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units with one centralized outdoor

condensing unit assembly, providing
simultaneous heating and cooling and
heat recovery in various zones as follows:
The VRF heat pump system provides heating and cooling for all
indoor units at a specific time (see
Figure 1)
The VRF system provides nonsimultaneous cooling and heating at
any time
Heat-recovery systems provide
simultaneous cooling and heating
as well as heat recovery, transferring the energy from cooling zones
to heating zones of the building.
Figure 2: In this refrigerant piping diagram of a two-pipe VRF system, this system
allows simultaneous cooling and heating, using a branch circuit controller.
All of the above features are accomplished by VRF-enhanced technology

using:
Variable-speed and capacity-modulated inverter duty compressors
Outdoor fans with variable frequency drives motors
Indoor units with electronically
commutated motors (ECM).
System types
There are two types of VRF systems:

Air-cooled, where multiple compressors are connected to a refrigerant-piping
loop. Special attention should be paid to
equipment selection in locations with
high ambient conditionsoutside air
temperatures above 95F. For example,
in Las Vegas, with ambient temperatures
at 115F and above, the equipment derating can be as high as 30%.
Water-cooled, where multiple compressors are connected to a water-source
loop, allowing the heat recovery between
compressor units.
Various manufacturers have developed
refrigerant-piping loop systems for different applications, such as:
Two-pipe systems, which are normally
used in VRF heat pump applications to
provide cooling or heating only during
the same operating mode (see Figure 2).
Branch-circuit controllers are used with
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Figure 3: In a three-pipe VRF system, the system allows the simultaneous cooling
and heating, uses branch selectors at each fan-coil unit.
two-pipe systems to perform the following functions:

Separate refrigerant into gas
and liquid
Ensure that zones in heating mode
receive superheated gas
Ensure that zones in cooling
mode receive subcooled liquid
Facilitate removal of heat from
one zone and apply it to a different
zone.
Three-pipe systems, which are configured with a heating pipe, a cooling
pipe, and a return pipe (see Figure 3).
Branch selectors are used with three-pipe
systems to perform the same functions

as two-pipe systems with the exception
of separators.
Branch selectors do not require
separators because they are connected to a three-pipe system:
refrigerant liquid line, refrigerant
suction gas line, and high-pressure/
low-pressure (HP/LP) mixture line.
Branch selectors perform a similar
function as branch-circuit controllers, directing the superheated gas
to heating zones and subcooled
liquid to cooling zones. The HP/LP
mixing pipe is routed back to the
outdoor condensing unit.
45
VRF system basics
Figure 4: VRF outdoor condensing unit mounting (left) indicates a typical installation detail of the outdoor condensing unit on the
roof or in the ground. VRF indoor unit mounting indicates a typical indoor fan-coil unit installation detail in the suspended ceiling
applications.
The VRF system is best suited for

applications with simultaneous needs
for cooling and heating during the same
mode of operation. Branch selectors are
used as control devices directing the
liquid refrigerant or gas refrigerant to
particular zones requiring cooling or
heating.
In heat-recovery systems, the branch-circuit controller can take the heat recovered
from the cooling zone and use it to warm
up the room in heating mode. This way,
the compressor cooling or heating requirements are reduced, which saves energy.
VRF system applications
Heat pump systems are used in restaurants, lobby areas, clubhouses, or religious facilities where there is a defined
cooling or heating mode of operation. All
indoor units will operate in either cooling or heating mode (nonsimultaneous).
Heat pump systems with heat recovery
are used in historical buildings, schools,
office buildings, assisted living facilities,
hotels, banks, and other commercial
buildings where simultaneous cooling
and heating is a design requirement.
The advantages of VRF systems
include:
Increased energy efficiency and
energy savings, for an average of
20% to 30% energy savings relative
46
Figure 5: In this VRF part-load performance diagram, for 75% of total operation hours,
VRF systems operate at less than 70% of full load.
to variable air volume systems with

reheat and constant air volume systems with gas heat
Very good part-load performance
due to inverter-duty variable-speed
compressors modulating the capacity from 10% to 100%
Good zoning control, providing
simultaneous cooling and heating
with heat recovery
Reduced ductwork and duct losses
are confined to the ventilation air
system (approximately 20% of the
conventional HVAC system).
The disadvantages of VRF systems
include:
The need for a dedicated ventilation

system
Long refrigerant lines and a large
number of branch connections could
result in refrigerant leakage
The need for condensate drain lines
for each VRF indoor unit
Use of supplemental heat may be
required for a quick warm-up
Compliance with maximum allowable refrigerant quantities within a
given volume.
Alex Jankovic is a mechanical project
engineer with JBA Consulting Engineers.
Read the longer version of this online at:
www.csemag.com/archives.
www.csemag.com
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Fan Efficiency: Lowering Fan Energy Use

This course will review fan basics, introduce the proposed
Department of Energy (DOE) regulation, and suggest how to
use the DOE metric to drive air moving system efficiency up.
Emerging utility rebate programs that will be coming, along with
fan performance monitoring tools, also will be introduced.
The four-week self-paced session includes:
Fan basics Department of Energy regulations
Power use and efficiency Statis regain duct deisgn
START DATE: Sept. 12, 2016

COURSE LENGTH: 4 weeks
INSTRUCTOR: Wade W. Smith, PE, Wade W. Smith
Consulting LLC, Chetek, Wis.
CREDITS FOR COURSE: 4 AIA LU (learning units)
Read more about each weeks session and register today www.csemag.com/fanefficiency
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Integrated
control systems for labs
Successful controls integration can be a challenge in new construction and
renovation projects. Laboratory facilities present unique challenges with
critical lab spaces and non-lab areas that include both traditional building
automation systems (BAS) and packaged laboratory controls.
BY JEREMY BARTLETT, CxA, RMF Engineering, Baltimore
ntegrated controls can be a challenge

in both new construction and existing buildings. Laboratory facilities, in
Understand the steps necessary to
particular, present unique challenges
ensure controls integrations across
all building systems are functional,
as they contain critical lab spaces and
ensure occupant safety, and allow for
non-lab spaces, which include both tradienergy-efficient operation.
tional building automation systems (BAS)
Review the commissioning services
and packaged laboratory controls.
provided to ensure proper system
In some cases, laboratory control
operation per the contract documents.
systems
are left to be stand-alone with
Understand the various ways to
only basic alarmsave energy using control systems in
ing capabilities. If
laboratories.
a system isnt fully
integrated, owners
will face safety, reliability, and efficiency
challenges that have
to be immediately
addressed. Whether
the facility contains
biological, chemical,
animal, or physical
lab spaces, all are
critical areas where
occupant safety
is the No. 1 goal.
OSHA defines engineering controls as
Figure 1: The BSL-3 Suite at the Division of Consolidated
one of four of the
Laboratory Services in Richmond, Va., used local laboratory
hierarchy of concontrol panels integrated to the traditional BAS panel serving
trols in dealing with
the air handling unit and exhaust fans. Integration was key in
workplace hazards.
ensuring proper startup/shutdown in emergency scenarios.
Whether laboratories
All graphics courtesy: RMF Engineering
Learning objectives
48
controls are integrated into a BAS, they

must be functional and must protect the
occupants.
Whether integration is required for
advanced monitoring or is used as a
means for additional levels of controllability in the name of energy savings,
integrating anything and everything is
now standard practice. However, automation systems and systems integration
dont happen magically. Be it by BACnet,
Modbus, or another protocol, system integration needs to be properly designed,
specified, and reviewed during both the
design phases and submittal reviews to be
successful. Incorporating commissioning
services early in the design phase and carrying through the construction phase of
a project adds another level of assurance
that a successfully integrated system will
be turned over to the owner.
Integrated control systems
Whether performing a new system

design, recommending system improvements during an energy audit, or executing a re-commissioning or retrocommissioning effort, owners and engineers should always look for opportunities
for energy reduction and potential energy
savings. Through extensive integration
between traditional BAS and localized
laboratory control systems, energy-saving
www.csemag.com
Figure 2: The laboratory controls system at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Andrew W. Breidenbach
Environmental Research Center facility
in Cincinnati is fully integrated into the
BAS. Advanced laboratory-pressure
and fume-hood monitoring are tied into
energy-conservation strategies through
integration.
measuressuch as supply and exhaust air

static pressure reset, standby and occupancy control, and temperature-reset
strategiescan be implemented. Without the full integration of the labs, none of
these measures can be successfully implemented; the systems will be unable to save
the maximum amount of energy.
Fully integrated systems also present an
elevated level of safety. Stand-alone laboratories can pose safety issues if room pressurization is lost and building operators are
unaware of the problem. Stand-alone labs
commonly have fume-hood low-velocity
alarms, but oftentimes, airflow tracking
and zone pressurization are not alarmed.
When building operators have multiple
systems, they are responsible for reviewing and maintaining their daily monitoring
procedures. Because of the complexity of
the management of the systems, operators
can become lax over time.
Although it varies based on the type of
facility, many building operators are more
concerned with human comfort than laboratory safety. An operator will immediately adjust controls based on a hot or cold
occupant complaint but may not look for
laboratory airflow or pressurization issues,
frequently because they dont even know
what to look for. Fully integrating a laboratory controls system to the same operator terminal as the rest of the building gets
operators into the habit of reviewing all of
the systems onsite. Automating laboratory
alarming also adds an additional level of
occupant safety.
In the more advanced laboratories,
there are energy-driven reasons to integrate building and laboratory systems.
Control strategiessuch as supply and
exhaust air static pressure resetare used
by linking laboratory terminal equipment
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differential pressures or damper positions

back to central air handling units (AHU).
By allowing for static pressure reset at the
air handlers, there is typically instant savings in fan energy. Of course, safeties are
built into the control logic to allow for failsafes, ensuring that laboratory airflows are
never compromised.
Design considerations
Successful controls integration starts

with a well-documented owners project
requirements (OPR) and design effort
for a new facility or a renovation. More
often than not, the controls and sequencing are among the last components to be
addressed. For example, modifications are
often made to the specifications at the last
minute, and oftentimes, the control schematic drawing points list isnt developed
until the end of the job.
RMF Engineering has commissioned
projects where all laboratory integration
was removed from the project as a valueengineering measure to save cost. What
was lost as a result were opportunities
for integrating systems as a means for
energy savings, not to mention providing
any BAS interface to the laboratories to
allow facility operators to monitor lab
operation. What was saved in implemen-
tation cost was lost in energy savings

and proper access to the system. These
are elements that need to be considered sooner rather than later. Failing to
identify the desired interoperation of the
various systems early on in design will
lead to a lack of communication between
different control systems.
While developing a basis of design
(BOD) for a project, all interoperation
must be defined. At this time, systems
and equipment need to be selected that
can meet the project goals. This is standard operating procedure for most system designers, but if you consider product selection from a building automation
point of view, you will see this process in
a different light. Laboratory control systems will come with different features and
varying levels of integration.
The desired interaction of the BAS
and the laboratory controls system must
be clearly understood so proper equipment selection can occur. OPR or BOD
documents must be made available and
should be developed with the owner.
Clear direction for the project, be it new
construction or an existing building, must
be identified so proper identification of
integrated systems can achieve both system operation and energy-saving goals.
49

Design review
To ensure successful systems integration, there must be extensive review during the design phase of any project. Many
of the common design oversights can be
caught with a proper and focused review.
A quality analysis/quality control (QA/
QC) review must be conducted.
The goal of the QA/QC review for the
design group is always the same: There
should always be a complete set of contract documents and appropriately specified controls integration.
System designers should begin by
reviewing the OPR. This is followed by a
review of the specifications. Every section
that could possibly be tied into the BAS
should be reviewed, starting with the controls section. This is the most logical place
to begin and start identifying integration
requirements, and this is where the holes
in integration are first discovered.
Designers should keep in mind that
from the perspective of a commissioning
authority, it is rare to find relevant specification sections or requirements sections
that are thoroughly identified. Laboratory
terminal units, heating or cooling plants,
lighting control, power generators, etc.,
must all be clearly defined in the specifications and drawings. It is critical that
system designers thoroughly review all
documents during the design review to
ensure that there arent missing related
specification sections or references to
integrated systems.
After the control specification has been

reviewed, all other equipment-specification sections need to be reviewed. Once
again, a review of the related specification
sections or related requirements sections
should be performed to see if the controls
section has been referenced, though in
many cases it is not. Many times, owners
may find phrases randomly placed in the
spec, such as shall connect to the BAS or
will report to the BAS.
Rarely in the individual equipment
specifications will you find coordinated
communication protocols with the controls specification. When requirements
for integration are provided, they typically are generic. While it may be enough
to say that a system should be provided
with BACnet capability, there is a chance
that when equipment submittals come
through, some equipment will have
BACnet/Internet protocol (IP) communication cards while others are provided
with BACnet/master-slave token-passing
(MSTP) communication cards. In this
situation, the desired integration at the
end of your project will still function, but
at an additional cost.
The bottom line is that rarely do specification sections identify how a BAS will
be interconnected or integrated.
Once all specification sections have
been reviewed, documenting both specific
and implied forms of controls integration
should be completed. A specification that
includes a BAS points list should be tabulated for future comparison to
drawings and submittals. When
applicable, the integration type
is recorded as well.
The next step is to review all
project drawings. The review
cannot be focused solely on
the control flow or sequence
drawings, but multiple disciplines must be reviewed in their
Figure 3: Power generation is
integrated to the BAS at the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agencys Narragansett, R.I.,
facility for monitoring and use
on an energy dashboard.
50
$POTVMUJOH4QFDJGZJOH&OHJOFFSt4&15&.#&3
entirety. This full review is necessary to pick

up items, such as fire alarm integration or
utility meteringthe two most common
points of integration that are skipped over.
For example, designers can find plumbing
drawings with a note that a water meter
shall report to the BAS, but that point is not
picked up in the control drawings.
After the completion of both specification and drawing reviews during the
design phase, the design team will have an
internal review document that identifies
integration types and desired integration
points. If a points list was included with
the specification, the team also will have
a side-by-side comparison of BAS points
across both contract documents. With that
information available to them, designers
can easily visualize where holes in the BAS
integration design are occurring.
Construction phase
Although it feels as though the bulk of

the integration review is conducted prior
to implementation, there is a definite

need for continued review throughout
the construction phase of the project.
Understanding that systems can be properly integrated is one thing, but taking
the proper steps to ensure that a usable
system will be provided to the owner is
another.
The next step of the review process
occurs when submittals begin to arrive.
Traditionally, the equipment submittals
arrive first, followed by the building
automation submittals. The document
the designer created with spec and drawing points lists should be fully populated
with points listed in the submittals. The
control submittal carries with it the bulk
of the data. While the controls submittal
is oftentimes a cut-and-paste version of
the contract drawings, a full-team review
is still required. The network riser diagrams will outline whether all desired
components have been accounted for,
and the individual system flow diagrams
and points lists will outline whether all

the desired integration points are present. Conducting a final review of each
of those components is key to a successful implementation phase. Its recommended that an individual is specifically
tasked with conducting it rather than
having multiple team members trying
to coordinate review.
It can be a challenge to ensure that
each piece of equipment is selected with
the proper communication protocols that
will communicate with the BAS. Finding
equipment submittals in which the communication protocol is clearly identified
can oftentimes become difficult. Some
of these submittals will list the types of
protocols available, but the option that
is being provided is not highlighted. If
a submittal identifies that a chiller can
communicate via Modbus, BACnet/IP, or
BACnet/MSTP, they must clearly identify
which communication card they are providing with the chiller.
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If a specific part number for the communication interface is
not selected, it isnt complete. When in a construction administration role, it is best practice to have the contractor revise and
resubmit to clearly identify communication protocols supplied
with the equipment. When in a commissioning role, providers
should note that supplied protocols should be provided and that
the contractor is responsible for coordinating the integration
effort to ensure that the design intent is met.
In the case of integration of laboratory controls systems,
its important to spend extensive time reviewing the software
and features associated with the submitted hardware. If the
submittal is not provided with a table of read/write points of
control, then the engineering team should ask for it. This is
one of the last opportunities to ensure the design intent and
OPR are achieved and a usable system is going to be provided
to the owner. Make sure the desired integration points are not
only readable, but also make sure any writable points that are
integral to the sequences of operation are present.
This is the point in the process where designers will benefit
from holding a controls-integration meeting. At the meeting, the owners, designers, and contractors will thoroughly
review the project to discuss communication-protocol types
and verify that all desired integrated components have been
picked up in the contract documents. This is an opportunity
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for the designer to ensure that the project team understands

what to look for when submittals are provided. For instance,
during the submittal review, the project team should look for
the type of BACnet protocol that is being provided. If this is
not done during this stage, there will certainly be issues during
implementation.
Proper data management is key to system operation. There
are additional data, and additional stress, on a building automation controls network that comes with laboratory integration.
The data must be managed during implementation to prevent
slow BAS access.
Designers should assist in determining which available integration points from the laboratory controllers should be accessible from the BAS to meet all project and OPR goals. All available data points should not be integratedthe process should
be determined by requirements of the sequence of operation and
the experience level of the owner.
A critical step involves working with the controls contractor
to ensure that change-of-value (COV) rates are properly set to
reduce network traffic while providing useful real-time lab data
to the owner. COV rates are essentially refresh rates of the data
displayed on the BAS server and within the graphical user interface. A laboratory controller will update data on the BAS server
based on the COV setting. If a COV is set to 0.1 cfm on an airflow
measurement, for instance, the laboratory controller will update
the BAS over the network for every 0.1 cfm of change in reading.
The lower the COV setting, the higher the rate of data exchange
across the building automation network; thus, the slower the
network responds. Reviewing trending capabilities and setting
limits on data retention that make sense for that particular site
and application should occur during the commissioning process
and final review of system operation.
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Factory installed main grounding lugs
Separate HV & LV terminal boards for easy cable installation and
enhanced safety
Conduit knockouts (up to 225 kVA) and bottom cable entry area
Outward facing base mounting holes for quick and easy installation
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While most laboratories are focused on occupant safety, not

all laboratories are focused on energy. One of RMF Engineerings
clients, in particular, has used its facility data (which is integrated from the laboratory controllers to the BAS) to monitor lab
performance and ensure energy standards are being maintained.
Using integrated airflow rates and a table of room dimensions,
they are calculating real-time air-change-rate metering as a
means to quickly see if the targeted 8 and 4 air changes/hour are
being maintained. Using integrated room-occupancy sensors,
they allow for standby modes of operation during their daily
occupancy schedule to reset airflow rates to unoccupied flows
while maintaining lab temperature and humidity set-points.
Using integrated differential-pressure transducers, they are
resetting the AHU supplys static pressure set-points.
These energy-monitoring and -savings features would not
have been possible without the proper integration and usability of the clients BAS and laboratory control modulesand
without established owner requirements and focused controls
integration review.
52
An added benefit of the successful integration at this facility was the final layer
of a laboratory-monitoring dashboard.
Due to the nature of this facility and the
structure of its service contracts, implementation of the dashboard was a risk to
network performance and system reliability. Careful monitoring and data management of the integrated system points were
crucial to the successful installation of
the system and to ensure the established
existing system reliability was maintained. The main issue the team wanted
to avoid was taking a functional building
and lab control system and slowing the
network down by adding this additional
layer of monitoring.
When the client decided to install the
laboratory dashboard, RMF Engineering
was tasked with monitoring the implementation as it coincided with a simultaneous re-commissioning effort. The
re-commissioning effort included a 33%
sampling rate of all laboratory spaces
within the facility. While functionally
testing the laboratories, RMF coordinated
using both the existing BAS as well as the
newly implemented dashboard. In using
both control systems to test a laboratory,
RMF was able to more clearly identify
who was needed to resolve the issue when
an issue arose. The synergy between the
two projects simplified monitoring network speeds during other onsite efforts
and provided multiple systems to use during operational checks.
At the conclusion of the project, the dashboard was successfully rolled out to 280 laboratories and 9,000 data points. These data
points include air and temperature values,
their associated operating set-points, heating-valve position, trends, alarms, and airchange-rate calculations. All 9,000 points
are integrated from the lab control system
to the BAS and the laboratory dashboard.
Roughly 2,800 of those points are trended
by both the BAS and the dashboard, which
is a significant amount of data passing along
the building control network.
Commissioning providers must have
the opportunity of a design review to
highlight system discrepancies or deficiencies and assist in driving a more
Figure 4: The Medical Research Council in Cambridge, England, uses a fully integrated control system for all building mechanical systems including their BSL-3 suite.
thorough and complete set of contract

documents. It allows for customers to
experience not only a safe and functional laboratory facility, but also an energyefficient one.
The key to a successful controls integration, whether it is in a laboratory
environment or any other type of facility
where multiple control systems exist, is
to conduct a focused controls integra-
53
Jeremy Bartlett is a commissioning specialist with the Field Services Division at RMF
Engineering. He is a controls engineer with
more than 10 years of experience working
with building automation systems.
POTTORFF FEATURES A LINE OF EFFICIENT HVAC PRODUCTS
AMCA CERTIFIED AND LISTED
AMCA uses standard test methods and procedures to validate product performance.
Many of our products are tested in accordance with AMCA publication 511 and comply
with the requirements of the AMCA Certied Ratings Program.
817.509.2300
SEPTEMBER 2016
tion review. If a project schedule does

not afford the time to conduct a review
of this type, it will show when its time
for installation.
www.pottorff.com
Smart buildings start with smart engineers.

Smart engineers start with education.
Learn to design the networked, smart buildings of the future and earn AIA LU/HSW continuing
education through interactive, self-paced online courses. Together with Consulting-Specifying
Engineer and Heatspring.com, instructor Ron Bernstein, president of of RBCG LLC, is teaching
six interactive courses covering Building Automation Systems (BAS):
An Introduction to Smart Buildings
Fundamentals of Building Open Control Networking Systems
Smart Building System Design and System Integration
Specifying Building Automation Systems
An Introduction to Designing Building Automation Dashboards, User Interfaces,
and Public Kiosks
Smart Buildings and the Smart Grid.
*These courses begin October 10, 2016
Registration discounts are available to the first 30 seats and are offered on a first come,
first served basis.
The self-paced courses are entirely online. The lecture videos and other materials are available
any time, and the instructor responds to student questions through a discussion board.
Learn more at www.csemag.com/smartBAS and register today!
In partnership with
55
Electrical Design for Motors

Learn all of the skills necessary to design branch circuits for motors. This course will cover
single and three phase induction motors, elevator motors, fire pumps, and refrigeration motors. Not only will you learn over current and short circuit protection, you will also learn the
National Electrical Code (NEC) criteria for sizing conduit and wire for these motors. Learn little
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This course has been approved for 6 AIA LU credits. Course discounts are offered on a first
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These self-paced courses are interactive and entirely online. The lecture videos and other
materials are available any time, and the instructor responds to student questions as needed.
START DATE: Sept. 26, 2016
COURSE LENGTH: 3 weeks
INSTRUCTOR: Ken Lovorn, PE, President, Lovorn Engineering Associates
CREDITS FOR COURSE: 6 AIA LU (learning units)
Learn more at www.csemag.com/ElectricalDesignforMotors and register today!
In partnership with
AMANDA PELLICCIONE, Project Manager
Congratulations
Product of the
Year winners
W
inners of the 12th annual Consulting-Specifying

Engineer Product of the Year awards included a
space-saving, low-harmonic HVAC drive; aspirating smoke detectors; and geothermal, hybrid energysystem-monitoring software. Each of the following winning
innovations has been designed to improve workflow and
increase system efficiency.
This year, companies submitted their new and
improved products debuted in 2015 to be judged for this
distinguished honor. Then readers whittled them down
to 47 winners youll find hereincluding the 2016 Most
Valuable Product winner at right, which received the most
votes overall.
View the full list of finalists in the 2016 ConsultingSpecifying Engineer Product of the Year program at
www.csemag.com/POY.
Air movement, dehumidification, humidification
58
Apps for engineers
59
BAS, controls, energy management
60
Chillers
61
Electrical distribution
62
Emergency, onsite, standby power
63
Fire, life safety, mass notification
64
Fuses, breakers, circuit protection
65
HVAC/R
66
Lighting and luminaires
67
Lighting controls
68
Plumbing and water management
69
Software: design, modeling, analysis
71
Test instruments, meters, data loggers
73
Variable frequency drives, variable speed drives
75
2016
Low-harmonic
HVAC drive
Yaskawas Z1000U
HVAC Matrix Drive
provides extremely low
harmonic distortion in
a space-saving design,
along with the same
HVAC-specic features
as the standard Z1000.
This single-component
solution achieves excellent low-distortion levels
by itself, completely
without the need for additional countermeasures
such as passive lters or
multipulse arrangements.
Yaskawas Matrix technology employs a system of
nine bi-directional switches that are arranged in a matrix to convert a 3-phase ac-input voltage directly into
a 3-phase ac-output voltage. It eliminates the need
for a rectifying circuit and a dc bus used in traditional
ac-drive inverters.
Yaskawa America Inc.
www.yaskawa.com
57
Air movement, dehumidification, humidification
2016
Quiet, portable fan

Designed with versatility in mind, Black Jacks 6.5-ft
frame ts through standard interior doorways and plugs
into any 110 V power supply, drawing only 7 amps of
power at top speed. Black Jack moves air up to 120 ft,
yet its so quiet it wont drown out nearby conversations.
The fan is ideal for athletic facilities, warehouses, and
general tight corners. Arriving fully assembled, Black
Jack is a plug-and-play air-movement
solution: just roll it off the pallet, plug it
in, and cool down. Black Jack is also
wet-rated so it can be hosed down for
easy cleaning.
2016
Big Ass Solutions

www.bigasssolutions.com
Hybrid humidifier
The DL Series is a hybrid humidier that intelligently combines two adiabatic methods. The innovative design integrates low-pressure atomizing
nozzles with evaporative media to benet from instant response times
found in high-pressure systems and the excellent efciencies typically seen
in evaporative units. This innovation allows for installation lengths to be
as short as 24 in., making it perfect for retrot applications where space is
limited and saving thousands in air handling unit construction. The porous
design minimizes pressure drop, lowering energy costs in fan operation.
The ceramic media captures any unevaporated water on the media surface
for additional humidication-reducing water
consumption and improving water efciency.
2016
Nortec Humidity
www.humidity.com
Low-maintenance humidification system

The DriSteem low-maintenance humidication system combines two DriSteem
productsthe Vapormist electric humidier and the 200 series reverseosmosis water treatment systemin a single package, working together to
provide near-zero-maintenance steam humidication for indoor environments.
The low-maintenance humidication system has been updated with the steam
humidier and water-treatment system assembled as a fully integrated system
with single-point power and water-supply connections and integrated drainwater tempering. Since the system is completely unied, it can be specied
simply as a humidication systemno need to alter plumbing or electrical
sections of the project spec.
DriSteem
www.dristeem.com
58
2016
2016
Apps for engineers
Cloud-based software, test tool system

Fluke Connect Assets is a cloud-based wireless system of software and test tools that gives maintenance
managers a comprehensive view of all critical equipment, enabling them to setup and sustain a preventive
maintenance or condition-based maintenance system
easily. It features wireless one-step measurement
transfer from more than 30 Fluke Connect wireless test
tools, eliminating manual recording of measurements
so maintenance managers can be more condent that the equipment history is accurate.
The systems features allow maintenance managers to analyze multiple types of predictive
data all in one program, side by side, in a visual format that enables easy scanning.
2016
Fluke Corp.
www.uke.com
Insulation thickness calculator
Selective
coordination
designer tool
2016
The Selective Coordination Designer v1.0 for consultants and application engineers helps simplify the
design process of selecting overcurrent protective
devices (OCPDs) in keeping with NEC requirements
for selective coordination of systems that supply life
safety loads and public safety, as well as for applications where uptime is important. The Selective Coordination Designer helps customers easily and quickly
dene a list of selective coordination solutions for
each OCPD in their system. The application provides
OCPD options that are compact and cost-effective.
Eaton simplies the process of determining a solution
with its desktop and mobile-friendly Selective Coordination Designer.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
ArmWin is a professional technical calculation program

that helps mechanical engineers calculate the proper
thickness to be specied for Armaex elastomeric foam
insulation. Installing the proper elastomeric insulation
thickness is key to the long-term performance of mechanical HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration systems. Unlike
the previous ArmWin CD that had to be downloaded
and installed on a PC, the latest ArmWin is designed to
reproduce the functionality that users enjoy in an easy-touse app for smartphones. Users can save project-related
results for further use and forward reports via email to
themselves, colleagues, or clients.
Armacell
www.armacell.us
2016
59
2016
BAS, controls, energy management

Thermal supervisory control
2016
The Liebert iCOM-S is an integrated, system-level thermal supervisory

control for accessing, monitoring, and controlling multiple data center
cooling units, sensors, and thermal equipment. Through advanced
algorithms and machine-to-machine communications, it optimizes thermal-system performance across data centers for capacity and efciency, provides quick access to real-time actionable data, and automates
thermal-system diagnostics and trending. The iCOM-S harmonizes
the operation of multiple cooling units to eliminate ghting between
them and balance temperature and capacity. The system eliminates
the need for point-to-point communications between each cooling unit,
temperature sensors, and the building management system by aggregating data and providing a single point of communications.
Emerson Network Power
www.emersonnetworkpower.com
Remote circuit monitor

The Power Xpert Branch Circuit Monitor (PXBCM) is an advanced remote
power-monitoring solution that provides greater visibility of energy usage and
enhanced control response to energy loads and circuits down to the plug level.
The PXBCM is optimized to support improved power management and powerusage efciency in multitenant buildings, commercial and institutional sites, and
data-intensive information technology applications. As the power demands on
facilities continue to grow, the PXBCM cost-effectively monitors, integrates, and
protects mission critical electrical equipment and data systems while improving
overall uptime and reliability. The PXBCM provides remote access to live, circuitlevel energy-usage data for entire facilities.
2016
Eaton
www.eaton.com
Wireless building controls system

Trane Air-Fi is a reliable, exible wireless system that frees
building owners and managers from the hassles associated
with traditional wired systems for building controls. By eliminating the need to run wires throughout a facility, building control
project design is simpliedresulting in fast and easy installation with less risk. Redundant, self-repairing mesh technology helps prevent communication failures when signals are
obstructed. Disrupted signals automatically and immediately
reroute around obstacles. Air-Fi wireless is a ZigBee Certied
Building Automation solution and is built on a platform that supports BACnet open standards. This allows building owners and
managers to integrate devices in the future.
Trane
www.trane.com
60
2016
2016
Chillers
Air-cooled screw chiller
2016
Chiller, outdoor mechanical room series
AAON LZ Series chillers and outdoor mechanical
rooms are engineered to maximize the efciency of a
complete hydronic system. Variable-capacity compressors, high-efciency condensers, and factory-installed
variable-ow pumping packages eliminate the need
for an indoor mechanical room. The 2-in. double-wall
rigid polyurethane foam insulated cabinet construction with walk-in service compartments protects chiller
components and service personnel from the ambient
conditions, and reduces radiated sound. The service
vestibule can be cooled and heated for comfort during
maintenance and for water-freeze protection. Factorydesigned primary or primary/secondary water pumping
packages are available within the outdoor mechanical
room eliminating eld costs.
The Pathnder allows customers to mix and match

compressor sizes, evaporator sizes, and other features based on what they want and need for their
facilitys optimal operation. The latest evolution of
Pathnder chillers offers high energy efciency
levels available by using technologies such as
Daikin Variable Volume Ratio Compressors that
deliver performance optimized for every condition
and at every hour of the day. Variable-volume ratio
technology adjusts the compression ratio to meet
changes in system lift, which allows Pathnder
compressors to deliver maximized efciency no
matter the conditions. Initially offered in sizes ranging from 165 to 350 tons, Pathnder is ideal for
schools and ofce buildings.
Daikin Applied
www.daikinapplied.com
AAON
www.aaon.com
2016
2016
Air-cooled chillers
Trane Sintesis air-cooled chillers provide energy efciency and

refrigerant choices to help customers meet their project needs.
Sintesis chillers are part of the Ingersoll Rand EcoWise portfolio
of products designed to lower environmental impact with nextgeneration, low-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants and
high-efciency operation. The chiller can operate with either R-134a
or Opteon XP10 (R-513a), a nonammable, low-GWP refrigerant
with more than 50% reduction in GWP. The chiller-evaporator and
condenser-coil design require up to 40% less refrigerant charge
than earlier designs. Sintesis air-cooled chillers are ideal for making
ice and can be a key component in ice-enhanced chiller plants.
Trane
www.trane.com
Consulting-Specifying
EngineerEngineer
SEPTEMBER
MAY 2016
2011
61
2016
Electrical distribution
RF receptacle, signal pack
The Pass & Seymour Plug Load RF Receptacle provides a simpleto-use, wireless solution for plug load control and works in concert
with the Pass & Seymour Plug Load RF Signal Pack to add an
existing offering of code-compliant controlled receptacles. Building
owners and facility managers can easily achieve plug load control
by using the integrated solution from Legrand. Enhanced plug
load management is attained when the RF Receptacle is installed
into a branch wiring system and the low-voltage RF Signal Pack is
integrated with an occupancy sensor and 24 Vdc power pack. The
Receptacle and Signal Pack are connected via a reliable wireless RF connection.
2016
Legrand
www.legrand.us
10-in. poke-thru device

Legrands Evolution Series 10-in. poke-thru device offers eight
individual gangs of communication; audio, video, and power capacity; eliminates the need for junction boxes; and is designed with a
highly durable, aesthetically pleasing cover assembly. Users can mix
and match devices, ports, and receptacles to congure each of the
eight gangs to suit their individual requirements. The Evolution 10-in.
poke-thru installs easily, making it an ideal choice for both retrot and
new-construction applications. Heavy-duty, die-cast aluminum covers
are built to withstand up to 700 lbs of pressure as
well as heavy trafc encountered in open spaces.
2016
Legrand
www.legrand.us
Conduit connectors for AC/MC fittings

The Quick-Lok Pro Connector from Eatons Crouse-Hinds Division is a quick,
easy, and secure way to terminate AC/MC/FMC cable to a box or enclosure.
The Quick-Lok Pro Connectors can be used to connect armored cable, metalclad cable, MCI-A cable, or exible metallic conduit to a box or enclosure for
dry-location applications. The solution provides signicant labor savings when
installing metal-clad, MCI-A, FMC, or armored cable to a steel box or enclosure. No tools are needed for installation. Simply insert cable or conduit into
the connector and install into a -in. knockout. Internal spring steel locking
ring tabs securely clamp the cable in place and assure bonding.
2016
62
Eaton
www.eaton.com
2016
Emergency, on-site, standby power

Uninterruptible power supply
The Liebert eXM UPS is based on a reliable, double-conversion power topology that uses an efcient transformer-free design. Excellent efciencies of
97% are generated and can be enhanced to 99% using Lieberts unique Eco
Mode. Capacities range from 10 to 200 kVA/KW in native 208 V, plus 50 to
250 VA/kW in native 480 V, each using a modular construction design with
multiple ancillary cabinets optimized for various footprint and power requirements. The LCD user interface ensures accurate interaction with the system
and a low learning curve. Intelligent controls and communications integrate
with Liebert Nform, SiteScan, and the Trellis Platform.
2016
Liebert, Emerson Network Power

www.emersonnetworkpower.com
Gaseous standby generator

Generac Power Systems 500-kW natural gas genset is powered by a 25.8-L, 12-cylinder engine that is turbocharged and
after-cooled, producing a standby power rating of 500 kW and
prime power rating of 450 kW. Ideal for large standby power
applications, such as ofce buildings and mission critical data
centers, the unit can be installed as a single-engine generator set or as part of Generacs Modular Power Systems
(if generator paralleling is required for increased reliability,
redundancy, and exibility, as well as greater scalability for future
growth). Other 500-kW natural gas features include PowerManager digital
controls and GenLink remote-monitoring software.
2016
Generac Power Systems

www.generac.com
High-performance uninterruptible
power supply (UPS)
2016
The Power Xpert 9395 high-performance-model UPS provides

best-in-class efciency and scalable battery run times for data
centers, light industrial applications, and multitenant data centers.
Eatons solution builds upon its agship Power Xpert 9395 UPS,
delivering unity power factor-rated 300-kW modules at power ratings of 200 to 1,200 kW/kVA, which offer up to 20% more power
within the same footprint to help customers reduce total cost of
ownership. Bringing UPS capabilities to the next level for data
center facility and IT managers, the Power Xpert 9395 highperformance model delivers up to 99% efciency across most
loads through Eatons Energy Saver System.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
63
2016
Fire, life safety, mass notification

Addressable aspirating smoke detector
The VESDA-E VEA series of detectors combine VESDA reliability and
early warning smoke detection with pinpoint addressability and a variety
of annunciation options that truly surpass traditional spot detectors. They
use patented air-sampling points and multichannel microbore airsampling with enhanced or standard alarm sensitivity setting for the sampling points. As a multichannel addressable system, the VEA detector is
able to divide a protected space into sampling locations, enabling the
localization of a re for faster incident response. The detectors are suitable for protection of areas where pinpoint location of re events is essential, thus providing ideal re-detection solutions
for various building types including ofces, hospitals, and multistory dwellings.
2016
Xtralis
www.xtralis.com
Dry valves
2016
Aspirating smoke detectors
FAAST XS aspirating smoke detectors enable users to
better serve the needs of small data centers, environmentally challenging spaces like manufacturing or process plants, or any area within a facility where standard
spot smoke detectors are subject to nuisance alarm
conditions. This smaller FAAST unit covers up to 5,000
sq ft and delivers all the features of FAAST, such as
the ability to be congured for very early warning, early
warning, and standard re protection. Other features
include programming exibility, multi-alarm levels and
two sensitivity modes, ultrasonic ow sensing for pipe
and chamber airow measurements, early notication
of pipe network trouble conditions, and built-in email
event notication to appropriate personnel.
Notier
www.notier.com
64
The FireLock NXT Series 768N Dry Valve provides

simplied setup and design, ensuring ease of
maintenance and speed of installation with a more
intuitive trim layout. Designed for the re protection
industry, the idea behind the redesign was to make
the valves more intuitive for the average tter who
may or may not have used the products before.
The actuator was moved to the front, making it
more accessible,
and put the priming
manifold down on
the right-hand side,
in an area that is
easy to reach from
the front. Sprinkler
tters are going to
know what they
have to do by
simply looking at it,
reducing guesswork.
Victaulic
www.victaulic.com
2016
2016
Fuses, breakers, circuit protection
Compact high-speed fuses

Eatons Bussmann series compact, high-speed fuses use up to
48% less enclosure space than standard high-speed, roundbody fuses. The compact technology is designed to support
the reduction in the overall size of next-generation power
conversion and energy-storage equipment including drives,
uninterruptible power supplies, inverters, and battery protection.
The portfolio of 50- to 400-amp compact, high-speed fuses feature
an innovative design that allows for a signicantly smaller package without compromising heat-rise performance. Additionally, the bolt-on design provides design exibility for installation in fuse blocks or direct mounting on busbars.
2016
Eaton
www.eaton.com
Arc flash relay
2016
The Littelfuse AF0500 arc ash relay improves worker safety

and reduces costly downtime by detecting developing arc
ash and sending a trip signal before damage occurs. The
AF0500 arc ash relay and sensors are plug-and-play for
easy retrot into existing switchgear or preinstallation in
new equipment with little or no conguration. The AF0500
combines zone tripping, tie breaker tripping, upstream
breaker tripping, and unrestricted scalability into one product,
allowing the user to easily customize to system needs. Using
advanced light sensors with Heartbeat fail-safe sensor technology, the AF0500 accurately detects the light of an impending arc ash and trips the breaker in less than 1 ms.
Littelfuse Inc.
www.littelfuse.com
Arc-resistant switchgear
The IntelliSafe switchgear is fully customizable, smart arc-resistant switchgear that
supports safety for companies in the oil and gas and power-generation and distribution
industries. The IntelliSafe switchgear features a patent-pending, simple but robust door
design with fewer failure points than existing industry solutions. The cost-effective,
closed-door mechanism allows for motorized breaker racking while a mechanical
circuit breaker trip enables a positive breaker lockout system. Front- and rear-door
interlocks further prevent operator exposure to unsafe access conditions. IntelliSafe
meets critical energy industry standards, including the
IEEE C37.20.2 standard for metal-clad switchgear and the
IEEE C37.20.7 standard for arc-resistant testing.
2016
M&I Electric
www.mielectric.com
65
2016
HVAC/R
Horizontal-configuration rooftop units
2016
AAON RN Series horizontal-conguration rooftop units combine the premier features and options of an AAON rooftop
unit with horizontal return and supply airow connections
to maximize application exibility. The design allows highefciency nal ltration to be included in the unit cabinet for
easy installation and maintenance. All of the features of standard vertical-conguration AAON rooftop units are available
with the horizontal conguration, including double-wall rigid
polyurethane foam panel construction and energy recovery
wheels. This product was designed for applications that were
only possible before with a rooftop unit and horizontal curb,
with the benets of reduced height and easier installation.
AAON
www.aaon.com
Suction diffuser
2016
The Bell & Gossett

Suction Diffuser Plus
minimizes pressure
drop and reduces
wasted pumping energy. This angle-pattern
ow-straightening
device uses patent-pending
Flow Cone technology
to eliminate recirculation
zones by directing the ow
completely out of the Suction Diffuser Plus and
into the pump suction. In doing so, it provides
ideal ow conditions for the pump by creating
a more uniform velocity prole that reduces
uneven stress on the pump impeller and shaft.
As a result, pump efciency is more effectively
retained, pumping system energy costs are
reduced, the life of the pump is extended, and increasingly stringent ASHRAE and pump energy
index efciency guidelines are addressed.
2016
Dual-stage relief economizer

Carriers Dual Stage Relief Economizer (DSRE)
uses a typical economizer with barometric relief
and integrates an additional relief plenum from
the building space up through the rooftop unit
that bypasses traditional barometric relief dampers. The DSRE uses no motors, fans, or electricity to relieve building pressure at all varying
conditions. This design has two relief operations:
The rst stage of natural relief is through the
dedicated air chamber that provides relief when
the building pressure warrants, regardless of the
economizer damper positions or the indoor fan
status. The second stage provides additional
pressurization relief when the outside air damper
is mostly open and space pressure warrants.
Carrier
www.carrier.com
66
Bell & Gossett, Xylem Inc.

http://bellgossett.com
2016
Parking garage luminaire

The Orbeon is an LED parking garage/canopy luminaire
designed with an integrated mesh wireless control system
and wireless occupancy sensors. Satellite xtures can be
grouped into master high/low sensors to create lighting
zones to meet California Title 24 and ASHRAE standards.
Changes to dimming, time, and schedules can be sent to
all xtures wirelessly. The wireless Beaconnect technology is simple and is a fraction of the price of other controls
systems. The wireless control system operates autonomously
to increase control and cost savings while eliminating complicated
gateways, Wi-Fi, GPS, and third-party providers with commissioning and
recurring fees.
2016
Beacon Products, Hubbell Lighting

www.beaconproducts.com
Surface, wall LED luminaire
2016
The Metalux SWLED Surface and Wall LED luminaire is a versatile, high-performing, and energy-efcient lighting solution for a
broad range of commercial and industrial applications. Featuring
Eatons advanced LED technology, its offered in multiple lumen
packages, lensing, and control options, making it an excellent
replacement for general-purpose lighting applications of linear uorescent products including low-bay industrials, wraparounds, and
striplights. The light can provide energy savings of up to 50% when
compared to traditional uorescent alternatives. SWLED sets itself
apart from other lighting solutions with the ability to be mounted at
different heights and positions without sacricing performance and
uniformity.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
LED luminaire series

The Indy L-Series is a comprehensive collection of highly advanced LED lamps covering downlighting, wall washing, adjustable accents, and cylinders. From LED color rendering to aperture sizes and trim nishes, each light is completely consistent
across all xture types and styles. Users can achieve a totally
homogeneous look and uniform LED performance regardless of
application. Indy L-Series LED luminaires include 4-, 6-, and 8-in.
aperture sizes, offering illumination packages from 800 to 9,000
lumens. Glare-free hyperbolic downlights; single, double, or corner wall washers; and open-ceiling cylinder xtures are just a few
of the entries in this comprehensive collection.
Juno Lighting Group
www.junolightinggroup.com
2016
67
2016

LED area/site luminaire
Featuring a patent-pending architectural design, Eatons
Lumark Prevail LED Area/Site Luminaire combines easy
installation features with multiple controls options, resulting in signicant installation, energy, and maintenance
savings for both retrot and new applications. The lights
patent-pending, standard versatile arm mount makes retrot and new
installations easy. The arm, which features a built-in wiring compartment
for simple installation, can also uniquely accommodate a wide range of
existing xture drilling patterns and can be installed on both square and
round poles to reduce installation time and cost. The xture is also available with a wall and mast arm for building and roadway applications.
2016
Eaton
www.eaton.com
2016
LED high-bay luminaire
The ISON LED High Bay is available in up to 179 lumens
per watt, delivering up to 80% energy reduction for most
facilities with xtures that offer less than 120 lumens per
watt. Thermal management reduces the operating temperature of Orion high bays. Lower heat translates into
the luminaire functioning more efciently, extending its
rated life. High-performing LED chips, efcient LED drivers, and other design features provide peak performance
while the xture design yields maximum light output and
delivers more light for less energy. Because of the higher
wattage savings, the ISON LED High Bay has greater
potential for rebates determined by wattage reduction.
Orion Energy Systems Inc.
www.orionlighting.com
68
2016
Area/site
luminaire
Hubbell Lightings ASL is available with
high-performance lenses to optimize
photometric performance: 3,000, 4,000, or
5.000 K CCT. The lens distributionsIlluminating Engineering Society (IES) Type II,
III, IV, and Vare eld-exchangeable and
rotatable in 90-degree increments for quick
job-site ne-tuning. The light is simple to
install with toolless entry to the wiring/driver
compartment and a universal mounting
block. It is also available with an optional
mast-arm tter for 2 3/ 8 -in. OD brackets and
motion sensor with built-in photocell. The
ASL comes with an IP65-rated light engine,
a 5-year warranty, and is DesignLights
Consortium qualied.
Hubbell Outdoor Lighting, Hubbell Lighting
www.hubbelloutdoor.com
2016
Lighting controls
Wireless receptacle controls

The WattStopper Wireless Receptacle Controls (WRC) series is an easy, lowcost retrot solution for plug load controls, as it uses radio frequency technology and works with existing line-voltage wiring. It helps meet new ASHRAE
90.1 and California Title 24 requirements to switch off selected receptacles.
The products are ideal in a variety of applications including commercial ofces, classrooms, conference rooms, copy rooms, and any other space that
requires a simple-to-implement plug load control solution. The benets and
features include a choice of 15- and 20-amp receptacles, simple auto-on/
auto-off receptacle control, NEMA-approved labeling, convenient override and
testing capability, and works with all WattStopper sensors and power packs.
WattStopper; Legrand, North America
2016
Low-voltage outdoor sensor
2016
WattStopper FSP-201 low-voltage outdoor occupancy and daylight sensors maximize safety and security for areas such as parking facilities,
gas stations, pedestrian pathways, and warehouses. The sensors also
simplify compliance with the latest ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010/International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (2012) and California Title
24 (2013) garage and outdoor lighting control requirements. Sensors are
easy to specify, install, and setup. A handheld, wireless conguration tool
simplies ladder-free conguration and stores up to six sensor parameter
proles. A choice of four lenses ensures complete coverage for mounting
heights up to 40 ft, making the sensor suitable for virtually any application.
WattStopper; Legrand, North America
Wireless fixture control

PowPak wireless xture control allows users to transform any xture into
an intelligent and energy-saving luminaire by providing it with wirelessdimming, occupancy-sensing, and daylight-harvesting capabilities. By
providing a xture-by-xture control solution and eliminating the control wiring between xtures, it also reduces design challenges, installation costs,
and risk associated with adding energy-saving lighting controls to existing
buildings. With PowPak wireless xture control, electrical contractors can
quickly and easily design and estimate jobs by simply counting the number
of xtures. PowPak eliminates the need to run new wiring
between xtures, and in doing so, takes the hassle and risk
out of the quotation and installation process.
2016
Lutron Electronics Co. Inc.

www.lutron.com
69
2016
Plumbing and water management

Skid systems
Available in one complete, compact, and portable package, Keltech Design

on Demand Skid Systems are exclusively designed to be used for any highow, safety, industrial, or custom application. Keltech Skid Series can be
easily transported into position with a forklift. Models CNA-SKID and SNASKID are pre-piped, pre-assembled transportable skid systems that provide
higher-ow industrial water-heating applications. While the CNA-SKID features back-to-back CNA and CNAR large industrial heaters, the SNA-SKID
offers back-to-back SNA and SNAR safety heaters. Applications include
emergency shower or combination shower/eyewash systems, hazardous
chemical environments, power plants, manufacturing environments, wastewater-treatment
plants, mining, and process heating.
2016
Bradley Corp.
www.bradleycorp.com
Expansion fittings
Uponors 2- and 3-in. ProPEX ttings provide an ideal solution for
engineers and contractors who have been designing with and installing other piping materials such as steel, copper, polypropylene,
or CPVC for commercial plumbing and hydronic piping projects.
PEX is a durable, cost-effective, and high-performing solution for
potable-plumbing risers and distribution lines, as well as for transporting water to terminal units such as chilled beams and fan-coil
units. Advantages to the Uponor PEX include greater durability,
greater freeze resistance, exibility
for fewer ttings, fewer potential leak
points, and a 25-year warranty.
2016
Uponor
www.uponorpro.com
Commercial lavatory faucets

The MBition faucets appeal to a number of facilities, specically those in the health care and convalescence segment,
where residential-inuenced styling adds a personal touch.
Sleek single- and two-handle widespread faucets feature Moens
Duralast cartridge, a state-of-the-art ceramic-disc cartridge that
provides a consistently smooth handle feel for the life of the
faucet. Fixtures offer precise handle control, allowing the user to
ne-tune temperature balance, as well as an adjustable temperature-limit stop. Available in a 1.5-gpm model, with or without a
drain, the MBition lavatory faucets are designed to offer both
water efciency and exceptional
performance, saving facilities valuable resources.
2016
Moen Commercial
http://pro.moen.com
70
2016
Software: design, modeling, analysis
Power distribution design software

Power Calc Pak software makes electrical engineering easy, fast, smart, and green. Only three
input values per circuit result in more than 300
outputs compliant with the National Electrical
Code for the design of an entire power distribution
system in a building. Thats from the light switch to
the power grid. This software saves 40% in design
time and 7% or more in energy use, with instantaneous changes across the design upstream and
downstream, all with incomparable accuracy due
to its proprietary database. Key markets include
building, construction, and facility-management
industries for use by engineers, electricians, architects, and general contractors.
Electric Power Calc Inc.
www.powercalc.us
2016
Geothermal, hybrid energy-system-monitoring software

MultiGEO Designer Powered by ENtellect allows building owners and engineers
to easily and quickly develop energy-saving strategies in geothermal design.
The software can be conveniently accessed through any standard Web browser
and allows the user to input building load and data from virtually anywhere.
MultiGEO Designer Powered by ENtellect will instantaneously generate a clean,
green, and cost-effective geothermal design for users. The benets of MultiGEO
Designer Powered by ENtellect include signicant reduction in installation and
operational costs, instant results, lower costs and
optimized design, and 30% to 50% annual energy
cost savings for a buildings lifetime.
2016
Greensleeves LLC
www.greensleevesllc.com
VRF system design software

LATS CAD 2 seamlessly integrates with AutoCAD to allow engineers to lay out and validate LG variable refrigerant ow (VRF)
systems directly into their CAD drawings. This design software
equips engineers with the ability to design commercial VRF
and multi- and single-split systems with more accuracy and
speedreducing VRF design time by up to 80%. By eliminating
transitional errors between previously incompatible programs
and incorporating system-design improvements, AutoCAD and
LATS CAD 2 maintain building design integrity between programs, creating a more uid design process and resulting in a
signicant reduction in design time and increased accuracy.
LG Electronics
www.lghvac.com
2016
EngineerEngineer
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2016
Test instruments, meters, data loggers
Electrical system monitor
2016
The exible, expandable Power Xpert

Gateway (PXG) 900 is an electrical communications and data-acquisition solution
that can be used in a small system consisting of a single piece of equipment or scaled
up for multiple pieces of equipment or
systems. The gateway may be installed in
electrical assemblies or systems to acquire
and consolidate data from components
such as trip units, meters, relays, drives,
and input/output (I/O) devices. The gateway can also be deployed as a data-aggregation and notication solution for switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, transfer
switches, and motor-control centers.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
Sequence-ofevents recorders
CyTime SER-3200 Event
Recorders have 32 highspeed digital inputs to
monitor the status of circuit
breakers, relays, or other
equipment and time-stamp
state changes to 1 millisecond. A second model, SER2408, has 24 inputs and 8
relay outputs, controllable over Ethernet. An embedded Web server enables
setup and monitoring using a standard Web browser. The devices can be used
stand-alone or integrated into a complete electrical power monitoring system
using Modbus TCP. SER-3200/2408 Event Recorders use Precision Time
Protocol to achieve hi-res time synchronization over Ethernet for commercial/
industrial applications. One CyTime SER serves as PTP master and all other
CyTime SER devices sync automatically within 100 microseconds without
special Ethernet switches.
2016
Cyber Sciences Inc.

www.cyber-sciences.com
73
Learn about the latest engineering

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2016
Variable frequency drives, variable speed drives
Enclosed variable frequency drives
2016
PowerXL Enclosed Drives offer advanced harmonics

mitigation, energy efciency, and increased reliability to the water/wastewater, irrigation pumping,
oil and gas, and industrial infrastructure industries.
PowerXL Enclosed Drives offer standard congurations that are pre-engineered to provide a robust
solution with reduced lead time, while also providing
customers with custom-engineered congurations
that are designed to meet specic application needs.
Eatons PowerXL Enclosed Drives offering includes
advanced harmonic mitigation packages that substantially reduce the harmonics in a system and are
in compliance with guidelines such as IEEE 519.
PowerXL Enclosed Drives provide superior reliability
through a robust design that is tested and
listed to UL 508C standards.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
Arc-resistant
medium-voltage drive
Eatons SC9000 encapsulated powerpole (EP) arc-resistant drive is a fully
integrated arc-resistant medium-voltage
drive certied to CSA C22.2 No.22-11 and
witness-tested to IEEE C37.20.7 through
extensive assessment at a third-party
laboratory. The drives build on Eatons
highly reliable and award-winning SC9000
EP platform, allowing customers to
achieve energy savings while reducing facility downtime and enhancing personnel
safety. Eaton engineered the solution with
arc-fault-detection circuits to prevent the
possibility of an arc fault upon powering
the drive. Should an arc event occur after power-up, Eatons patented inverter encapsulation and short circuit protection technologies help prevent
fault propagation and limit arc fault energy.
2016
Eaton
www.eaton.com
75
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DE-1 Demystifying
IT room protection requirements
Information technology
(IT) equipment area/room
designs must balance the
needs for security, cooling,
and fire protection.
BY MERTON BUNKER, PE
Visit www.csemag.com/research for a

variety of research studies, including:
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Electrical and power systems

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77
Demystifying IT room
protection requirements
Information technology (IT) equipment area/room designs must balance
the needs for security, cooling, and fire protection.
BY MERTON BUNKER, PE, EYP Architecture & Engineering, Washington, D.C.
Learning
objectives
Illustrate NFPA 75: Standard
for the Fire Protection of
Information Technology (IT)
Equipment and how it affects
data center design.
Make use of NFPA codes
and standards in IT equipment room design.
Consider fire suppression
systems appropriate to IT
equipment rooms.
DE1
ost of us use computers

daily, but we generally
dont think much about
the infrastructure necessary to keep them connected and safe. Dedicated information
technology (IT) equipment areas (not
to be confused with other general areas,
such as offices that contain desktops and
laptop computers) are often misunderstood in this respect, as the requirements
contained in NFPA 75: Standard for the
Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment can be confusing.
NFPA 75 contains the following definitions:
IT equipment: Equipment and systems rated 600 V or less, normally found
in offices or other business establishments and similar environments classified as ordinary locations, that are used
for creation and manipulation of data,
voice, video, and similar signals that
are not communications equipment as
defined in Part I of Article 100 and do
not process communications circuits as
defined in NFPA 70: National Electrical
Code Article 800.2.
IT equipment room: A room within
the IT equipment area that contains the
IT equipment.
IT equipment system: Any electronic
digital or analog computer, along with all
peripheral, support, memory, programming, or other directly associated equipment, records, storage, and activities.
Section A.1.2 of NFPA 75 provides

some insight on what actually constitutes
an IT room or area:
This standard does not cover installation of IT equipment and IT equipment
areas that can be made without special
construction or protection. It can, however, be used as a management guide for
the installation of electrically powered
mechanical IT equipment, small tabletop
or desk-type units, and IT equipment.
NFPA 75 essentially applies to areas
that house large server racks or equipment, sometimes operating up to 30 kW
per rack. These areas are what we would
refer to as server rooms or data farms.
It is clear that NFPA 75

Thus, it is clear that NFPA 75 generally
doesnt apply to office areas or small
rooms. However, there are some cases
where computing equipment may be subject to higher risks, which may require
protection beyond that found in a typical
office environment.
Risk analysis
Each facility or organization is different, and not all applications benefit from a
one-size-fits-all fire protection approach.
Some applications may warrant risk
analysis to establish the level of desired
protection. For example, air-traffic control centers may require a more stringent
www.csemag.com
approach, separation requirements, and

additional suppression capabilities (or all
of the above) because the occupants cannot immediately leave the premises. The
designer must account for these factors
in the analysis. For these reasons, a fire
risk analysis should be used to determine
the construction and fire protection and
fire-detection requirements for IT equipment, IT equipment rooms, and IT areas,
where permitted by NFPA 75.
NFPA 75 defines fire risk analysis as
follows:
Fire risk analysis: A process to characterize the risk associated with fire that
addresses the fire scenario or fire scenarios of concern, their probability, and
their potential consequences.
Where risk analysis is used, the following factors must be considered:
Life safety aspects of the function
(e.g., process controls, air-traffic
controls)
Fire threat of the installation to
occupants or exposed property
Economic loss from loss of
function or loss of records
Economic loss from value of
equipment
types I and II construction, as defined by

the International Building Code (IBC).
NFPA 75 also requires the IT equipment
area to be separated from other occupancies within the building, with a minimum
separation of 1 hour. Again, risk analysis may determine that higher separation
requirements are necessary.
Security needs, mechanical system
design, and other considerations also play
a role in the location of the IT equipment
room or area. NFPA 75 requires the IT
equipment area to be housed so it is not
above, below, or adjacent to areas containing hazardous processes. While NFPA 75
does not clearly define hazardous processes, it can be assumed that higher-risk
areas are to be avoided when selecting a
location for an IT equipment room/area.
For example, it would be imprudent to
locate a critical IT equipment area adjacent to a flammable liquids storage area.
The structural members used for
raised floors must be noncombustible to
avoid collapse during a fire. Additionally, all decking must be noncombustible
or fire-retardant wood, having a flame
spread index of 25 or less.
Penetrations through rated barriers
must be properly firestopped to an equal
rating of the barrier through which they
pass. This includes cable, conduit, and
other similar penetrations. Firestop-
and fusible links are often used to actuate

these protectives. Smoke detectors used
for this purpose may be area detectors
(those found on the ceiling) or duct-type
smoke detectors.
IT equipment generates a large amount
of heat, and there are several methods
used to make cooling more efficient.
One commonly used method is aisle
containment, where supply or return
air is contained by barriers, sometimes
called collars. These collars guide the hot
air from the racks back to the cooling
units. Aisle-containment systems can be
factory-packaged systems or field-constructed. However, the materials must
have a maximum flame spread index of
50 and a maximum smoke development
of 450 in accordance with ASTM E84 or
ANSI/UL 723.
Where the application of aislecontainment systems or hot-air collars
creates obstructions to proper operation of sprinkler systems, the sprinkler
system must be modified as necessary to
comply with NFPA 13: Standard for the
Installation of Sprinkler Systems to avoid
the obstruction. Where gaseous suppression systems are present, they must be
designed to develop the required concentration of agent for the entire volume they
serve, in accordance with NFPA 2001:
Standard on Clean Agent Extinguish-
generally doesnt apply to office areas or small rooms.

Regulatory impact
Reputation impact
Redundant offsite processing
systems.
Building construction requirements
NFPA 75 requires the IT equipment

area to be housed in a fully sprinklered
building, located in a building that complies with NFPA 220: Standard on Types
of Building Construction Type I or II
construction, or in a single-story building of Type II construction. These construction types roughly correspond to
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ping classifications must employ the use

of approved firestopping materials and
the appropriate UL classifications. Most
manufacturers of firestopping products are
happy to assist designers with their designs
and can provide details for drawings.
Other openings, such as pass-through
windows and service counters, must be
protected by rated shutters, rated windows, or rated service-counter fire doors,
meeting the requirements of NFPA 80:
Standard for Fire Doors and Other
Opening Protectives. These openings
must operate automatically by the presence of smoke or fire on either side of
the protective opening. Smoke detectors
ing Systems. NFPA 75 may not require

modification of suppression systems in
some cases, such as where obstructions
are removed upon actuation of smoke
detectors in the space.
Fire protection systems
The fire protection systems main

goal is to detect and alert occupants and
operators of fire in the early stages, then
bring the fire under control without disrupting the flow of business and without
threatening the personnel in the facility.
Halon gas is no longer in use because
it has been proven environmentally
unfriendly (ozone depleting) and unsafe
DE2
IT room protection
for humans. Modern IT rooms typically
use combinations of gaseous suppression
systems. However, wet, dry, and preaction sprinkler systems are also widely
used and generally required.
Many IT professionals prefer dry or
pre-action systems because they believe
sprinkler systems leak. The truth is, they
do not leak any more than other systems,
like domestic water. That being said, it is
a good practice to locate sprinkler branch
lines over aisles rather than the equipment.
Because they generally involve a
somewhat higher hazard than other
Where a gaseous fire-extinguishing

system is provided only under a raised
floor, the gaseous system must be either
carbon dioxide or an inert gas. Where a
clean agent fire-extinguishing system is
provided to protect the space above the
raised floor, the space under the raised
floor must be simultaneously protected
by the clean agent fire-extinguishing
system. While carbon dioxide was once
the preferred choice, most designers now
prefer clean agent systems.
Where there is a critical need to protect data reduce equipment damage, and
facilitate return to service, consideration
While carbon dioxide was once the preferred choice,

parts of a typical building,
most
IT equipment rooms and
IT equipment areas located
in a sprinklered building must also be
provided with an automatic sprinkler
system. Most designers will classify the
IT equipment room as Ordinary Hazard
Group 1, as defined by NFPA 13.
IT equipment rooms and IT equipment
areas located in a nonsprinklered building also must be provided with an automatic sprinkler system, a gaseous clean
agent extinguishing system, or both.
Water-mist systems may also be considered. Therefore, locating an IT equipment room/area in a nonsprinklered
building will necessitate the need to add
new fire protection systems. In some
cases, sufficient water supplies may not
be available. This would require water
storage and a fire pump.
NFPA 75 requires an automatic sprinkler system or a gaseous fire extinguishing system to be provided for the protection of the area below a raised floor in an
IT equipment room or IT equipment area
where one or more of the following exist:
There is a critical need to protect
data reduce equipment damage,
and facilitate a return to service.
The area below the raised floor
contains combustible material.
DE3
Dilution of the agent can be problematic during a fire because concentrations

of the agent must be sufficiently high to
extinguish the fire. Where operation of
the air-handling system would exhaust
the agent supply, it must be interlocked
to shut down when the extinguishing system is actuated.
Where continuous power is provided,
signs must be posted at each perimeter
entrance to the IT equipment areas warning that electrical equipment will remain
energized. This applies either upon activation of the suppression system or disconnect of main electrical service.
Automatic detection equipment must
be installed to provide early warning of
fire. Automatic detection systems are
designers now prefer clean agent systems.

must be given to the use of a gaseous
agent inside rack units or total flooding
systems in sprinklered or nonsprinklered
IT equipment areas. The power to all
electronic equipment must be disconnected upon activation of a gaseous agent
total-flooding system, unless risk analysis
indicates the need for continuous power.
However, in some rare cases, the need to
continue operations may supersede the
need to secure electrical power.
Hot- or cold-aisle containment systems
cannot obstruct the free flow of gaseous
clean agent suppression systems to the IT
equipment or cooling system serving the
contained aisle.
Gaseous agent systems must be automatically actuated by an approved
method of detection meeting the requirements of NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm
and Signaling Code and a listed releasing device compatible with the system.
Most gaseous agent suppression systems
are engineered systems, having their own
standards, such as NFPA 2001 for clean
agent systems. Most of these systems are
supplied with their own controls, and
using the main building fire alarm system to operate the suppression system is
discouraged. In any case, system controls
must be listed for releasing service.
often used to operate dampers or shut

down HVAC equipment to prevent the
recirculation of smoke. The equipment
must employ listed smoke detection and
must be installed and maintained in
accordance with NFPA 72. Stand-alone
detection can be used, but best practices
will generally involve system-powered
smoke-detection equipment.
Automatic detection systems must be
installed in the following locations:
At the ceiling level throughout the
IT equipment area
Below the raised floor of the IT
equipment area containing cables.
In the IT equipment area, where the
space above the suspended ceiling or
below the raised access floor is used to
circulate air to other parts of the building, automatic smoke detection must be
installed in one of the following locations
to operate smoke dampers:
Throughout the above ceiling space
or below raised access-floor space,
respectively
At each smoke damper
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At other approved locations to

detect smoke entering or exiting
the IT equipment area.
Temperatures above 100F in hot
aisles can occur during normal facility operations. Most smoke detectors
are listed for a maximum operating
temperature of 100F. For this reason,
smoke detectors located in hot aisles,
or in the airstream exhausted from hot
aisles, must have the appropriate listing
for temperatures above 100F.
Spot-type smoke detectors are frequently used to provide early warning
of fire/smoke in IT equipment rooms.
However, air-sampling (aspirating)
smoke detection is far more sensitive
and is somewhat easier to maintain.
Aspirating smoke detection uses a piping network throughout the protected
area. The piping is connected to a single detector, which is generally located
inside the space. An aspirating smoke
detector is connected to the fire alarm

system controls, usually through dry
contacts.
Power to operate critical systems
must be supervised by the fire alarm
system controls. At a minimum, the
following must be supervised:
Electrical power to the interlocks
and shutdown devices
Operation of the electrical power
disconnecting means.
Supervision of these conditions is
generally accomplished through the
use of monitor modules connected to
the fire alarm system. These modules
will create supervisory signals on the
fire alarm system.
Alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals of automatic detection or extinguishing systems must be arranged to
annunciate at a constantly attended
location. Constantly attended locations can include a guards desk,

supervising station, or other location
that is staffed 24/7. The insurance carrier and authority having jurisdiction
should be involved with the approval
of the location.
IT equipment area/room designs
must balance the needs for security,
cooling, and fire protection. There are
a large number of choices and decisions
that must be made related to the type of
systems and equipment. Good communication between mechanical designers,
architects, IT professionals, and fire
protection system designers is critical
for success. By working together, engineers, architects, and IT professionals
can achieve all desired goals while providing a safer system.
Merton Bunker is a senior fire protection
engineer with EYP Architecture & Engineering.
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79
Future of Engineering
MIKE BARBES, PE, LC,
AHA Consulting Engineers, Alpharetta, Ga.
The financial benefits of mandatory

lighting power densities and lighting controls
Understanding the ROI for lighting systems.
n the days prior to the energy crisis in the mid-1970s, energy was
so abundant and affordable that
the thought of conservation was not
worth the effort. It wasnt until my
first project in California (the states
Title 24 was just adopted for lighting
design) that the importance of energy was realized, but completing those
forms to indicate that power densities were met seemed to be a burden.
Engineers were no longer designing
for lighting levels, but strictly for
power densities. And it would seem
that lighting levels should be critical
in performing tasks within a space
or building, but they fall victim to
energy consumption in the design
process.
A few decades later and lighting
power densities (LPDs) are the lighting design norm. Historically, LPDs
were derived from the NFPA 70:
National Electrical Code (NEC) and
usually taken at 3 W/sq ft to determine the capacity of the electrical
distribution system. Current regulations dictate that lighting design
LPDs follow the International Energy
Conservation Code (IECC) values
based on the building or area usage,
which is usually taken at 1 W/sq ft.
It is understood that this value is not
a constant, but varies based on the
nature of the building, the area
within the building, or a version of
the applicable codes. However, the
intent is to focus on the economics of
trying to achieve those values.
80
The cost of lighting controls
It is difficult to estimate the actual

cost for lighting control components
and installation without pricing a
specific project, performing quantity
counts, pricing by local distributors,
and installation costs by electrical
contractors. Based on conversations
with contractors and local lighting
controls representatives, the consensus
is that controls are worth approximately $1/sq ft. This value will be used
as the basis of this discussion.
If the typical lighting control system cost is $1/sq ft, the total cost
equates to $50,000, and annual savings is $3,315, the payback period
would be 15 years. Therefore, the
economic feasibility of mandatory lighting controls as dictated by
ASHRAE 90.1: Energy Standard for
Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings and the IECC in commercial buildings does not seem to be
practical. While it is very important
to consider and respect the energy
savings of automatic lighting controls, the return on investment (ROI)
period is impractical.
Consider the lighting load of 1 W/
sq ft or less. According to the IECC,
lighting load is most likely the lowest
energy consumer in a typical commercial building based on building
power distribution design. The U.S.
Department of Energy would have one
believe that lighting power consumes
approximately 40% of the total building energy consumption. This seems
unrealistic as compared with HVAC/

mechanical loads and typical office
equipment loads.
ROI for lighting control components
A greater concern should be the

use of glass and similar components in buildings, as they have low
energy coefficients that increase the
mechanical equipment loads. Architectural design should offer improved
designs to further reduce mechanical
loads and offer an increased use of
natural lighting. It has been several
years since the implementation of
mandatory lighting controls, and the
regulations seem to be getting more
stringent with every code cycle without questioning the ROI. The ROI
would be highly scrutinized in todays
business climate; however, it seems
that there is minimal apprehension
regarding the initial installation cost
of lighting control components. The
intent is not to discount the energy
conservation aspects of mandatory
regulations, but to comprehend the
intervals of the ROI period.
Mike Barbes, is a senior electrical
engineer at AHA Consulting Engineers
with more than 30 years of experience
in the lighting and distribution field.
He is also a member of the Illuminating
Engineering Society (IES) and Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
and lighting certified by The National
Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions.
www.csemag.com
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