Seog = Jy A fess) Bia ean of the American Society of Heating) Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning. Lngiiieers, Inc, A Seay " 4 y a (" peer Log mf as Pc poh be : Agron ace lele UL Ye ds Smoke Control in Atria - een Value of CHP The Impact of Duct Cleaning ry fl $ 6tinge ices tgeier Best Practices for Selecting bi By Daniel Int-Hout lll, PE., Member ASHRAE E keep pace with ever-changing workplace environ- ments, new air distribution strategies are needed. The two primary drivers for making changes in the office air delivery system are new building codes/regulations and changes in interior loads. ‘The first driver for chat new building codes and regulations, ASHRAE approved Addendum n to ANSU/ASHRAE Standard 62, Fentlation for Aeceptable Indoor Air Quality, This new ventilation rate procedure contains two tables. Table 6.1 redefines the mini- mum ventilation rates in terms of efim per occupant ad fim per unit area Table 6.2 defines values for air distri- bution effectiveness, which are 10 be s24 applied to the values in Table 6.1, A portion of Table 6.1 is shown in Table I. The values in Table 6.1 probably do not have a direct impact on air distribu- tion component selection, but the “rules” in Table 6.2 (shown in Table 2) have a great effect on all spaces with overhead heating. Table 6.2 requires that when heating from overhead (common in commercial office spaces), discharge temperatures cannot be more than 15°F (8°C) above room temperature (as has been recommended in the ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals 1980), and the 150 fpm (7.6 mvs) termi- nal velocity from the diffuser must ex tend to within 4.5 ft (1.4:m) of the floor This is to avoid v. lation short-cir return, If not fole lowed, ventilation rates must be in- creased by The second driver is changing inte- rior loads. Many studies report, and ob- servation confirms, that interior loads are not what they once were or are not near design. Energy concerns, produc: tivity changes and technological ad. vances have impacted the loads. Laptops and flat panel monitors have replaced desktop computers and CRT screens, network printers have replaced personal printers, and fewer cubicles are ‘occupied. With 55°F (13°C) supply it only takes about 0.6 efit (3 Lis per HVAC Retrofit | A Supplement to ASHRAE Journal).at maximum, to maintain acceptable temperatures in many interior spaces. Most interior systems, however, were designed for 1 efim/At (S Lis per m), At reduced flows, many diffuser designs have insulficient projection (throw) to provide uniform tempera- tures and ventilation mixing. In a recent problem job involv- ing a courthouse with severe indoor air quality problems, sev- cral hundred short-throw diffusers were replaced with diffusers With longer throw atthe engineer's expense. Good Practice Methods for achieving an acceptable Air Diffusion Perfor- mance Index (ADPI), and for selecting diffusers are well understood, However, discomfort complaints are still com- ‘mon. Some building occupants can complain of being t00 hot, while others nearby at the same time complain of being too cold. With a properly sele ‘and an HVAC supply system capable of meeting the loads in the space, it is possible to respond to variations in localized loads from 20% to 100% of designed maximum loads (at a Variation in space temperature that will go unnoticed by most set of overhead ceiling diffusers ‘occupants). This system also provides a ventilation effect ness of 100% (all the ventilation air supplied at the ceiling will be delivered to the occupants) Heating performance with ceiling diffusers is well-docu- ‘mented, with discharge and room temperature difference limi- tations clearly spelled outin both Addendum n and the ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamencals So, why are building occupants complaining of discomfort? The likely culprit is improper diffuser selection, which can lead to many problems. The first is “dumping.” At low airflows, diffuser velocities ‘may not be high enough to create the Coanda effect necessary to overcome negative buoyancy of the cold ait being dis- charged. This causes cold air to drop into the space, As a result, it is cold under the diffuser, warm at the midpoint between diffusers, and the cold air puddles at the floor, creating a verti- cal stratification in the space (and cold feet) Another problem occurs at very high airflows. Jets collide at the midpoint between diffusers, causing cold airstreams to drop into the space (where it was hot earlier). The increased induc~ tion at the recent cold spot under the diffuser now creates an upwards flowy, warming that location, Make the space Your roan aa ei ee eee ee c a! Peer Cr cee eet ome ree eed ew ond i ey peace eee eee ae corey eee eee ee ee Re Reena Ro ee ea ee eed INd get the performance you've alway: Se KRUEGER ieeer gna HVAC Retrofit | A Supplement to ASHRAE Journal June 2004