23 0593 - Testing Adjusting and Balancing for HVAC (002).pdf

TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR HVAC 230593 - 1

SCB #2076

SECTION 230593 – TESTING, ADJUSTING AND BALANCING FOR HVAC

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 RELATED DOCUMENTS

A. All Division 23 specification sections, drawings, and general provisions of the contract apply to work of this section, as do other documents referred to in this section.

1.2 SCOPE OF WORK

A. The owner will directly contract with a certified testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB Agency) to test, adjust, and balance the HVAC systems.

B. This specification section is included herein to assist and inform the Contractor of the standards, requirements and scope of the work to be performed by the Commonwealth’s TAB Contractor.

1.3 PREPARATION AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS – GENERAL

A. Shop drawings, submittal data, up-to-date revisions, change orders, and other data required for planning, preparation, and execution of the TAB work shall be provided to the TAB Agency no later than 30 days prior to the start of TAB work.

B. System installation and equipment startup shall be complete prior to the TAB Agency’s being notified to begin.

C. The building control system shall be complete and operational. The Building Control system contractor shall install all necessary computers and computer programs, and make these operational. Assistance shall be provided as required for reprogramming, coordination, and problem resolution.

D. All test points, balancing devices, identification tags, etc. shall be accessible and clear of insulation and other obstructions that would impede TAB procedures.

E. Qualified installation or startup personnel shall be readily available for the operation and adjustment of the systems. Assistance shall be provided as required for coordination and problem resolution.

1.4 PREPARATION AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS – HVAC CONTROLS

A. Written notice shall be submitted through the General Contractor to the Architect stating that the Control System is operating and controlling the HVAC System.

B. The control subcontractor shall have entered all data needed for the TAB Agency to begin work.

C. The Control subcontractor shall be available to correct any problems that the TAB Agency might have with the systems.

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D. All costs for additional work by the TAB Agency due to the Contractor’s failure to comply with the above shall be paid by the Contractor and any subcontractor(s) for HVAC controls.

1.5 PREPARATION AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS – MECHANICAL

A. Written notice shall be submitted through the General Contractor to the Architect stating that the HVAC system is operational and ready for the TAB Agency.

B. The Mechanical subcontractor shall have proved all units operational and all air outlets in the full open position.

C. The Mechanical Contractor shall be available to correct any problems that the TAB Agency might have with any equipment or systems.

D. The Mechanical Contractor shall furnish and install any replacement sheaves, pulleys and drive belts required for flow adjustments, as determined by the TAB Agency. Adjustable sheaves shall be selected so that the final adjustment position is in the middle third of the total adjustment range.

E. All costs for additional work by the TAB Agency due to the Contractor’s failure to comply with the above shall be paid by the Contractor and any subcontractor(s) for mechanical work.

1.6 PREPARATION AND COORDINATION REQUIREMENTS – DUCTWORK

A. Ductwork air leakage testing shall be performed by the TAB Agency.

B. The ductwork/sheetmetal subcontractor shall promptly correct any related problems discovered by the leakage tests.

C. All costs associated with retesting and/or delays or other problems which impede the TAB Agency from performing such testing shall be paid by the contractor and any subcontractor(s) for ductwork.

1.7 WORK BY TAB AGENCY

A. The work included in the remainder of this section consists of furnishing labor, instruments, and tools required in testing, adjusting and balancing the HVAC systems, as described in these specifications or shown on accompanying drawings. Services shall include checking equipment performance, taking the specified measurements, and recording and reporting the results. This work shall be performed by the TAB Agency under direct contract to the owner. The remainder herein is also for the information of the Contractor and all subcontractors.

B. The items requiring testing, adjusting, and balancing include the following:

1. AIR SYSTEMS:

a. Supply Fan AHU

2. RETURN FANS

a. Exhaust Fans

b. Zone branch and main ducts

c. Diffusers, Registers and Grilles

d. Coils (Air Temperatures)

3. HYDRONIC SYSTEMS:

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a. Pumps

b. System Mains and Branches

c. Cooling Towers

d. Boilers

e. Water Source Heat Pumps

1.8 QUALIFICATIONS

A. Agency qualifications: The TAB Agency shall be a current member of a nationally recognized balance organization (“National Organization”). The TAB Agency is to have no association to the installation of any mechanical work including but not limited to ducts, controls, and piping. The TAB Agency is to have no association with any manufacturer of any equipment that is installed including but not limited to controls, pumps, fans, boiler and chillers. This Organization shall provide the owner with National Guarantee document certifying the work of the TAB Agency.

Acceptable organizations are Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) or National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB).

1. The selected TAB Agency must provide proof of certification for the total project (air, water, sound, vibration, etc.).

2. The selected TAB Agency shall possess computers, cables, and software needed to operate the building control system. This requires the TAB Agency to be properly licensed and/or trained to run the Control contractor’s software.

1.9 DEFINITIONS, REFERENCES AND STANDARDS

A. All work shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the National Standards, as published by the National Organization affiliated with the TAB Agency.

1.10 SUBMITTALS

A. Qualifications: The TAB Agency shall submit a company resume listing personnel and project experience in air and hydronic system balancing and a copy of the agency’s test and balance engineer (TBE) certificate. Certification in noise, vibration, and air quality shall be submitted as the job requires.

B. Procedures and agenda: The TAB Agency shall submit the TAB procedures and agenda proposed to be used.

1.11 REPORTS

A. Final TAB Report – The TAB Agency shall submit the final TAB report for review by the engineer.

All outlets, devices, HVAC equipment, etc., shall be identified, along with a numbering system corresponding to report unit identification. The TAB Agency shall submit an “National Project Performance Guaranty” assuring that the project systems were tested, adjusted and balanced in accordance with the project specifications and National Standards.

1. Submit 3 copies of the Final TAB Report.

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1.12 DEFICIENCIES

A. Any deficiencies in the installation or performance of a system or component observed by the TAB Agency shall be brought to the attention of the appropriate responsible person. Also notify the mechanical project representative from the Division of Engineering.

B. The work necessary to correct items on the deficiency listing shall be performed and verified by the affected contractor before the TAB Agency returns to retest. Unresolved deficiencies shall be noted in the final report.

PART 2 - INSTRUMENTATION

A. All instruments used for measurements shall be accurate and calibrated. Calibration and maintenance of all instruments shall be in accordance with the requirements of the National Standards.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL

A. The specific systems shall be reviewed and inspected for conformance to design documents.

Testing, adjusting and balancing on each identified system shall be performed. The accuracy of measurements shall be in accordance with national Standards. Adjustment tolerances shall be + or – 10% unless otherwise stated.

B. Equipment settings, including manual damper quadrant positions, manual valve indicators, fan speed control levers, and similar controls and devices shall be marked to show final settings.

C. All information necessary to complete a proper TAB project and report shall be per National Organization’s standards unless otherwise noted. The descriptions for work required, as listed in this section, are guides to the minimum information needed.

3.2 DUCT LEAKAGE TESTING:

A. Pressure test all new ductwork.

B. Test apparatus shall be a high pressure portable blower with an orifice flow measuring device.

C. Testing shall be conducted before external insulation is applied and before ducts are connected.

D. Mechanical Contractor shall close off and seal all openings in the duct section to be tested.

E. Duct testing will require multiple trips to the project site. Provide for separate trips to test high pressure ductwork and to test low pressure ductwork. Provide for at least two separate trips for duct testing (one for high pressure ductwork and one for low pressure ductwork) for each phase of construction. Provide additional time (and separate trip if necessary) for retesting ductwork that fails initial testing. Coordinate times for testing ductwork with the Contractor.

F. See the “DUCT SEALING, TESTING AND LEAKAGE TABLES” at the end of the “METAL DUCTS” Specification Section and use the test pressures and allowable leakage rates in the tables. Information is based on ASHRAE/IESNA STANDARD 90.1-2010, Paragraph 6.4.4.2.2.

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G. Based on these leakage rates, determine the total allowable leakage for each duct section to be tested by calculating the total duct surface area for each type of duct in the section, and multiplying it by the appropriate leakage rate.

H. If leakage exceeds calculated allowable leakage for the tested section then provide additional pressure testing as required until leakage rate is acceptable. Provide smoke testing if required to identify leakage points.

I. Prepare reports of leakage tests. Include for each test section the test pressure, the total allowable leakage, and the measured leakage.

3.3 AIR SYSTEMS

A. The TAB Agency shall verify that all ductwork, dampers, grilles, registers, and diffusers have been installed per design and set in the full open position. The TAB Agency shall perform the following TAB procedures in accordance with the National Standards:

1. For supply fans:

a. Fan speeds – Test and adjust fan RPM to achieve maximum or design CFM.

Confirm proper rotation direction.

b. Current and Voltage – Test and record motor voltage and amperage, and compare data with the nameplate limits to ensure fan motor is not in or above the service factor.

c. Pitot-Tube Traverse – Perform a Pitot-tube traverse of main supply and return ducts, as applicable to obtain total CFM.

d. Outside Air – Test and adjust the outside air on applicable equipment using a Pitot-tube traverse. If a traverse is not practical use the mixed-air temperature method if the inside and outside temperature difference is at least 20 degrees Fahrenheit or use the difference between Pitot-tube traverses of the supply and return air ducts.

e. Static Pressure – Test and record system static profile of each supply fan.

2. For return fans:

a. Fan speeds – test and adjust fan RPM to achieve maximum or design CFM. Confirm proper rotation direction.

b. Current and Voltage – Test and record motor voltage and amperage, and compare data with the nameplate limits to ensure fan motor is not in or above the service factor.

c. Pitot-Tube Traverse – Perform a Pitot-tube traverse of the main return ducts to obtain total CFM.

d. Static Pressure – Test and record system static profile of each return fan.

3. For exhaust fans:

a. Fan speeds – Test and adjust fan RPM to achieve maximum and design CFM.

Confirm proper rotation direction.

b. Current and Voltage – Test and record motor voltage and amperage, and compare data with the nameplate limits to ensure motor is not in or above the service factor.

c. Pitot-tube Traverse – Perform a Pitot-tube traverse of main exhaust ducts to obtain total CFM.

4. For zone, branch and main ducts:

a. Adjust ducts to within design CFM requirements. As applicable, at least one zone balancing damper shall be completely open. Multi-diffuser branch ducts shall have at least one outlet or inlet volume damper completely open.

5. For diffusers, registers and grilles:

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a. Tolerances – Test, adjust, and balance each diffuser, grille, and register to within 10% of design requirements. Minimize drafts.

b. Identification – Identify the type, location, and size of each grille, diffuser, and register. This information shall be recorded on air outlet data sheets.

6. For coils:

a. Air Temperature – Once air flows are set to acceptable limits, take wet bulb and dry bulb air temperatures on the entering and leaving side of each cooling coil. Dry-bulb temperature shall be taken on the entering and leaving side of each heating coil.

3.4 HYDRONIC SYSTEMS

A. The TAB Agency shall, as applicable, confirm that all hydronic equipment, piping, and coils have been filled and purged; that strainers have been cleaned; and that all balancing valves (except bypass valves) are set full open. The TAB Agency shall perform the following testing and balancing functions in accordance with the National Standards:

1. For pumps:

a. Test and adjust chilled water, hot water, and condenser water pumps to achieve maximum or design GPM. Check pumps for proper operation. Confirm proper rotation direction. Pumps shall be free of vibration and cavitation. Record appropriate gauge readings for final TDH and Block-Off/Dead head calculations.

b. Current and Voltage – Test and record motor voltage and amperage, and compare data with the nameplate limits to ensure pump motor is not in or above the service factor.

2. For system mains and branches:

a. Adjust water flow in pipes to achieve maximum or design GPM.

3. For cooling towers:

a. Verify that cooling towers have been filled and started by others, and are in operation. Confirm proper rotation direction for all motors.

b. Test and adjust water flows to balance tower cells and flows between towers.

c. Test and record temperature profiles for water and air side operation.

4. For boilers:

a. Verify that boilers have been filled and started by others, and are in operation.

b. Current and Voltage – As applicable, test and record motor voltage and amperage, and compare data with the nameplate limits to ensure motor is not in or above the service factor.

c. Test and adjust water flow through water boilers.

d. Test and record temperature and pressure profiles of water or steam boilers.

5. For water source heat pumps:

a. Tolerances – Test, adjust, and balance all water source heat pumps within 10% of design requirements.

b. Verification – Verify the type, location, final pressure drop and GPM of each unit.

This information shall be recorded on coil data sheets.

3.5 ADDITIONAL TAB SERVICES-----

A. Preconstruction Plan Check and Review:

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1. The TAB Agency shall review the project documents and contractor submittals for their effect on the TAB process and overall performance of the HVAC system. It shall submit recommendations for enhancements or changes to the system within 30 days of document review.

B. Job Site Inspections:

1. During construction, the TAB Agency shall inspect the installation of pipe systems, sheet metal work, temperature controls, and other component parts of the HVAC systems.

Inspections shall be conducted a minimum of two times. (Typically, these are performed when 60% of the total system is installed and again when 90% of the total system is installed, prior to insulation of the duct and piping). The TAB Agency shall submit a written report of each inspection.

C. Kitchen Hood Testing:

1. The TAB Agency shall test and adjust kitchen hood total airflow by duct Pitot-tube traverse or best possible method, if applicable under local code. All sealing of test holes in the exhaust duct to be by others per local code requirements. The TAB Agency shall test and record face velocities in accordance with design requirements. It shall test and adjust makeup airflow (if included) to meet design face velocities and pressurization and to minimize turbulence.

END OF SECTION 230593