The editor of Engineered Systems (ES) recently interviewed ACG Members Wade Conlan, PE, CxA, Hanson Professional Services and Justin Garner, TBE, CxA, Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc. in The Percussive Maintenance Podcast.

Wade Conlan, PE, CxA, is the Commissioning Discipline Manager at Hanson Professional Services, certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) by the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), and a member of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force.

“The commissioning provider, to me, is perfectly suited to help owners during their reopenings. And that’s because, inherently, their job is to look at systems’ energy and comfort performance, see how they’re operating, and see how they could be operating more efficiently and effectively. Also, when dealing with labs and health care, safety becomes a greater concern. So, it’s a perfect marriage of trying to understand the systems and determining how you can modify them to add in mitigation strategies to increase ventilation, increase the effectiveness of certain filters, and implement cleaning technologies with a goal of creating a potentially safer space for occupants.

We will continue to talk about how you can design, operate, balance, and setup systems to be able to mitigate the virus at ACG’s CxEnergy 2021 on April 20-23 in Fort Worth, Texas.”

Click here to read and listen to the full interview and subscribe to the Percussive Maintenance Podcast.

Justin Garner, TBE, CxA is the Vice President of Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc., member of the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC), Chair of the Certification Council of the AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), and a member of the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force.

“It Takes a team! What ASHRAE is recommending is that you have a test and balance firm on board to help you with those measurements, maybe even a building and commissioning provider to help with control side of things, test and balance firm maybe can handle that. And if you are really going to be making changes to the system maybe even a design professional as a part of that team, along with potentially contractors and other folks like that. But the biggest take away there is bring the right kind of people to the team!” Click here to listen to the full interview and subscribe to the Percussive Maintenance Podcast.

“Now more than ever, as occupancy levels fluctuate during the pandemic, building analytics can help FMs fine-tune equipment to run efficiently.”

Jessica Wilson and Derek John Mullassery, both from EMA Associate Member CopperTree Analytics, share four things you could consider during the pandemic and post COVID-19 to ensure that your buildings are being operated safely and efficiently.

In this article, they remind us that it is important to ensure that your building analytics platform is configured with ground realities in mind, so that they can be used for not just AFDD and energy reporting, but also compliance reporting.

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The ACG Commissioning Guideline Revision Committee has been working hard on revamping our comprehensive look at the commissioning process. The new Guideline will cover all aspects of Cx from the design phase to occupancy, as well as in-depth best practice guidance designed to help providers get commissioning done in the real world, and system-specific commissioning information.

ACG Building Systems Commissioning Guideline under development is by shifting the focus of the guideline to presenting best practice narratives for executing the process. These practical guides will offer insight and strategies from experienced providers on a variety of topics, designed to help providers get commissioning done in the real world — effectively and efficiently — while overcoming common challenges.

Guideline sections will cover topics including system-specific commissioning guidance, approaches for accomplishing key commissioning goals, managing processes, directing resources and producing valuable commissioning deliverables.

This article by Brian Marsh, PE, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Nashville provides a sneak peak of the portion on building enclosure systems (BECx).

Ken Sinclair, Founder, Publisher, and Owner of AutomatedBuildings.com
spoke recently with Mike Kelly, TBE, CxA, American Testing, Inc., Incoming AABC President about the state of the industry and new & revamped AABC programs.

Questions asked include:

• How has COVID-19 affected the testing, adjusting, and balancing industry?
• What can industry professionals expect from the AABC Virtual Annual Meeting’s technical agenda this year?
• Industry Partner Program: What’s in it for controls companies and manufacturers of equipment and systems commonly tested in a TAB scope?

Click here to read the full interview.

About AutomatedBuildings.com: Since 1999 AutomatedBuildings.com has been an online magazine and web resource. We provide the news and connection to the community of change agents that are creating our present definition of smart, intelligent, integrated, connected, green, and converged large buildings. Our virtual magazine and web resource provides a searchable platform for discussion and exchange while creating opportunities for B2B for all new and existing stakeholders.

Revealing Hidden Costs In Hydronic Cooling And Heating Systems

Tuesday, October 27, 2020
2:00 PM. Eastern
Pending approval for 1 AIA LU
FREE REGISTRATION

Abstract

This presentation focuses on proven opportunities to improve the performance, decrease the energy usage, and reduce the operating costs of chilled water, heating hot water, and glycol systems. Included is a review of how air present in a hydronic fluid reduces the heat transfer capability of the fluid and all heat transfer surfaces it contacts, reduces pump performance, and causes system-wide corrosion of ferrous materials. The content features case studies documenting system performance improvements, energy efficiency increases, and water treatment chemical reductions after removing air and the associated corrosion from these systems. Discussion will include data presented in industry white papers, manuals, and guidebooks that quantify the negative impact of varying levels of entrained air on pump performance.

The presentation will also address the results of an extensive energy modeling and financial analysis evaluating the increased energy usage and associated costs due to air in chilled water and heating hot water systems. The financial analysis includes various metrics related to utility cost and non-utility cost savings linked to effective air and dirt elimination from hydronic cooling and heating systems. This exercise utilized actual case history data developed over several decades in a multi-iteration modeling exercise of a prototypical facility, with the building modeled in five different U.S. cities. Each model was adapted to address site-specific weather data and energy rates and the building/system modifications required for ASHRAE 90.1 compliance for each location.

Who Should Attend?

Anyone involved in the ownership, management, design, installation, operation, energy analysis, project management, commissioning, test and balance, maintenance, or service work related to hydronic cooling and heating systems.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a better understanding of the negative impact air and dirt in a hydronic fluid has on the performance, energy efficiency/consumption, maintenance of any cooling or heating system
• Learn to identify symptoms and sources of air in hydronic systems
• Understand the capabilities and limitations of various air and dirt elimination technologies
• Identify the utility cost and non-utility cost benefits and savings associated with effective air and dirt elimination

Speaker Biography

Stephen Clinton, PE, LEED AP draws on more than 27 years of broad national and international industry experience in his role as the Director of Business Development for Spirotherm, Inc. He is a Professional Engineer, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a previously certified Medical Gas Inspector who designed and managed the design of healthcare, research laboratory, and higher education projects throughout the United States and China during his 19-year tenure as a consulting engineer. Multiple higher education projects which he designed achieved LEED Gold and Silver Certification. Stephen actively engages numerous market sectors throughout North America.

Presented by

Spirotherm, Inc. manufacturers the industry leading high efficiency Spirovent® coalescing type air elimination products and its extended line of Spirotrap® dirt separators. A wholly owned subsidiary of Spiro Enterprises, Inc., we have been developing and manufacturing products to improve water quality in the HVAC industry for 50 years. Sizes from 3/4” to 36” pipe, flows to over 30,000 GPM for residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional applications. By eliminating air and dirt from these systems, we protect the investment in high efficiency boilers, chillers, and other system components, while eliminating many maintenance items that have been considered routine. A system free of air is able to maximize heat transfer systemwide, which saves energy and improves overall system performance. Spirotherm is an EMA Associate Member and Exhibitor of CxEnergy 2021.

Register for Webinar

The AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), the Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) and the Energy Management Association (EMA) joined the High Performance Buildings Coalition. Together, these Authorities in Building Performance represent over 600 member companies and 2,000 certified professionals in the testing, adjusting, and balancing, commissioning, and energy management industries.
They support legislation and policies that promote innovative building technologies, increase energy and water efficiency in the built-environment, advance sustainable and resilient communities, and support the development of private sector standards, codes and guidelines that address these concerns.

The High Performance Building Coalition is comprised of more than 200 manufacturers, nonprofits, standards developing organizations, trade associations and other stakeholders who have coalesced to support policies that advance high performance buildings and that make economic sense.

 You asked, we responded…Again!

(Washington, D.C., August 27, 2020)—The AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) is offering a livestreamed version of its popular Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) Workshop followed by a live 1-hour online Q&A session with its instructors to allow further explanation of concepts introduced in the recorded workshop.

Event:                                             On-demand CxA Workshop & Live Q&A Session

Sponsor:                                         AABC Commissioning Group

When:                                             December 8, 2020, workshop livestream at 11:00 AM Eastern; Live Q&A at 2:00 PM Eastern

Registration Information:            Registration ACG website; for free ACG Guideline visit here. Telephone: (202) 737-7775 

The prerecorded, 3-hour commissioning workshop will cover all aspects of commissioning ranging from project management to functional testing, and both new and existing building commissioning. It is recommended for the video to be watched prior to the live Q&A session with instructors Al LaPera, CxA , EMP, TLC Engineering Solutions and Loren Morris, PE, CxA, EMP, LEED AP, TMCx Solutions, LLC. The event takes place on Tuesday, December 8, with a livestream of the 3-hour workshop at 11:00 AM Eastern, follow by the live Q&A session at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Registrants for the event can choose to either watch the workshop and Q&A session only or bundle it with a specially priced exam package. Up to four AIA Learning Units (LUs) can be earned by attendees for continuing education purposes.

The CxA program achieved ANSI accreditation in 2017, and the credential is also a recognized certification by the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings® Workforce Guidelines program, ensuring that the CxA is considered an approved commissioning credential for all federally funded projects.

The CxA certification is the premier credential for independent commissioning providers. It demonstrates you are an experienced commissioning provider with a complete understanding of the commissioning process and with the ability to ensure that the intent of the building owner is achieved.

For More Information

Read/Download Press Release

Building Analytics for COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 Building Operations

Thursday, September 17, 2020
2:00-3:00 PM Eastern
Approved for 1 AIA LU
FREE REGISTRATION

Abstract: The current global pandemic brings so much uncertainty into our day to day lives. This informative webinar explores how HVAC building analytics can be leveraged to detect faults that compromise occupant safety, and report on health compliance standards, while still ensuring that we are not wasting energy unnecessarily in the process. Regular communication with building occupants will go a long way to alleviate fears around the transmission of COVID-19 in indoor spaces.

Along with examples of compliance reports, we will investigate how your energy consumption and reporting may be impacted by COVID-19 and provide recommendations on how to obtain the data needed to improve accuracy. Finally, we discuss tips on how to best communicate the results of compliance monitoring to occupants, bringing peace of mind to everyone who enters your buildings.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how building analytics can be used for both fault detection and compliance reporting
• Learn what type of sensors will add the most value to your compliance monitoring
• Learn how your energy reporting initiatives may need to adapt to accommodate changing occupancy
• Learn how to communicate results and gain trust from building occupants

Presented By:

CopperTree Analytics: CopperTree Analytics is a provider of building and energy analytics solutions, drawing upon 30 years of controls manufacturing and smart building experience. We take your building’s data and turn it into actionable insights, helping you save money and energy while maintaining occupant comfort levels. Take control of managing all of your resources, and realize your building potential.

Register for Webinar

You asked, we responded…Again!

(Washington, D.C., August 27, 2020)—The AABC Commissioning Group (ACG) is offering a livestreamed version of its popular Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA) Workshop followed by a live 1-hour online Q&A session with its instructors to allow further explanation of concepts introduced in the recorded workshop.

Event:                                             On-demand CxA Workshop & Live Q&A Session

Sponsor:                                         AABC Commissioning Group

When:                                             September 24, 2020, workshop livestream at 11:00 AM Eastern; Live Q&A at 2:00 PM Eastern

Registration Information:                Registration ACG website; for free ACG Guideline visit here. Telephone: (202) 737-7775 

The prerecorded, 3-hour workshop will cover all aspects of commissioning ranging from project management to functional testing, and both new and existing building commissioning. It is recommended for the video to be watched prior to the live Q&A session with instructors. The event takes place on Thursday, September 24, with a livestream of the 3-hour workshop at 11:00 AM Eastern, follow by the live Q&A session at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.

Registrants for the event can choose to either watch the workshop and Q&A session only or bundle it with a specially priced exam package. Up to four AIA Learning Units (LUs) can be earned by attendees for continuing education purposes.

The CxA program achieved ANSI accreditation in 2017, and the credential is also a recognized certification by the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings® Workforce Guidelines program, ensuring that the CxA is considered an approved commissioning credential for all federally funded projects.

The CxA certification is the premier credential for independent commissioning providers. It demonstrates you are an experienced commissioning provider with a complete understanding of the commissioning process and with the ability to ensure that the intent of the building owner is achieved.

For More Information

Read/Download Press Release