230593-RIB-Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing for HVAC-12-24-2025.pdf

25-388 CBI HVAC and Lighting Upgrade 230593 - 1 Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing for HVAC

SECTION 230593

TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR HVAC

PART 1 GENERAL

1.01 SECTION INCLUDES

A. Testing, adjustment, and balancing of air systems.

B. Testing, adjustment, and balancing of hydronic and steam systems.

C. Measurement of final operating condition of HVAC systems.

D. Sound measurement of equipment operating conditions.

E. Commissioning activities.

1.02 RELATED REQUIREMENTS

A. Section 019113 - General Commissioning Requirements: Commissioning requirements that apply to all types of work.

B. Section 230800 - Commissioning of HVAC.

1.03 REFERENCE STANDARDS

A. AABC (NSTSB) - AABC National Standards for Total System Balance, 7th Edition; 2016.

B. ASHRAE Std 111 - Measurement, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing of Building HVAC

Systems; 2024, with Errata (2025).

C. NEBB (TAB) - Procedural Standard for Testing, Adjusting and Balancing of Environmental

Systems; 2019, with Errata (2022).

D. SMACNA (TAB) - HVAC Systems Testing, Adjusting and Balancing; 2023.

1.04 SUBMITTALS

A. See Section 013000 - Administrative Requirements, for submittal procedures.

B. Installer Qualifications: Submit name of adjusting and balancing agency and TAB supervisor for approval within 30 days after award of Contract.

C. TAB Plan: Submit a written plan indicating the testing, adjusting, and balancing standard to be followed and the specific approach for each system and component.

1. Submit to Architect.

2. Submit to the Commissioning Provider.

3. Submit six weeks prior to starting the testing, adjusting, and balancing work.

4. Include certification that the plan developer has reviewed Contract Documents, the equipment and systems, and the control system with the Architect and other installers to sufficiently understand the design intent for each system.

5. Include at least the following in the plan:

a. List of all air flow, water flow, sound level, system capacity and efficiency measurements to be performed and a description of specific test procedures, parameters, formulas to be used.

b. Copy of field checkout sheets and logs to be used, listing each piece of equipment to be tested, adjusted and balanced with the data cells to be gathered for each.

c. Identification and types of measurement instruments to be used and their most recent calibration date.

d. Discussion of what notations and markings will be made on the duct and piping drawings during the process.

e. Final test report forms to be used.

f. Detailed step-by-step procedures for TAB work for each system and issue, including:

1) Terminal flow calibration (for each terminal type).

2) Diffuser proportioning.

3) Branch/submain proportioning.

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4) Total flow calculations.

5) Rechecking.

6) Diversity issues.

g. Details of how TOTAL flow will be determined; for example:

1) Air: Sum of terminal flows via control system calibrated readings or via hood readings of all terminals, supply (SA) and return air (RA) pitot traverse, SA or RA flow stations.

2) Water: Pump curves, circuit setter, flow station, ultrasonic, etc.

h. Method of verifying and setting minimum outside air flow rate will be verified and set and for what level (total building, zone, etc.).

i. Method of checking building static and exhaust fan and/or relief damper capacity.

j. Proposed selection points for sound measurements and sound measurement methods.

k. Time schedule for deferred or seasonal TAB work, if specified.

l. Exhaust fan balancing and capacity verifications, including any required room pressure differentials.

m. Procedures for formal deficiency reports, including scope, frequency and distribution.

D. Control System Coordination Reports: Communicate in writing to the controls installer all setpoint and parameter changes made or problems and discrepancies identified during TAB that affect, or could affect, the control system setup and operation.

E. Final Report: Indicate deficiencies in systems that would prevent proper testing, adjusting, and balancing of systems and equipment to achieve specified performance.

1. Submit to the Commissioning Provider within two weeks after completion of testing, adjusting, and balancing.

2. Revise TAB plan to reflect actual procedures and submit as part of final report.

3. Submit draft copies of report for review prior to final acceptance of Project. Provide final copies for Architect and for inclusion in operating and maintenance manuals.

4. Provide reports in soft cover, letter size, 3-ring binder manuals, complete with index page and indexing tabs, with cover identification at front and side. Include set of reduced drawings with air outlets and equipment identified to correspond with data sheets, and indicating thermostat locations.

5. Include actual instrument list, with manufacturer name, serial number, and date of calibration.

6. Form of Test Reports: Where the TAB standard being followed recommends a report format use that; otherwise, follow ASHRAE Std 111.

7. Units of Measure: Report data in I-P (inch-pound) units only.

8. Include the following on the title page of each report:

a. Name of Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Agency.

b. Address of Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Agency.

c. Telephone number of Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Agency.

d. Project name.

e. Project location.

f. Project Architect.

g. Project Engineer.

h. Project Contractor.

i. Project altitude.

j. Report date.

PART 2 PRODUCTS - NOT USED

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Perform total system balance in accordance with one of the following:

1. AABC (NSTSB), AABC National Standards for Total System Balance.

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2. SMACNA (TAB).

3. Maintain at least one copy of the standard to be used at project site at all times.

B. Begin work after completion of systems to be tested, adjusted, or balanced and complete work prior to Substantial Completion of the project.

C. Where HVAC systems and/or components interface with life safety systems, including fire and smoke detection, alarm, and control, coordinate scheduling and testing and inspection procedures with the authorities having jurisdiction.

D. TAB Agency Qualifications:

1. Company specializing in the testing, adjusting, and balancing of systems specified in this section.

2. Having minimum of three years documented experience.

3. Certified by one of the following:

a. AABC, Associated Air Balance Council: www.aabc.com/#sle; upon completion submit AABC National Performance Guaranty.

b. NEBB, National Environmental Balancing Bureau: www.nebb.org/#sle.

c. TABB, The Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing Bureau of National Energy

Management Institute: www.tabbcertified.org/#sle.

E. TAB Supervisor and Technician Qualifications: Certified by same organization as TAB agency.

F. Pre-Qualified TAB Agencies:

1. JEDI Balancing, Inc..

2. Certified Balance, Inc..

3. .

3.02 EXAMINATION

A. Verify that systems are complete and operable before commencing work. Ensure the following conditions:

1. Systems are started and operating in a safe and normal condition.

2. Temperature control systems are installed complete and operable.

3. Proper thermal overload protection is in place for electrical equipment.

4. Final filters are clean and in place. If required, install temporary media in addition to final filters.

5. Duct systems are clean of debris.

6. Fans are rotating correctly.

7. Fire and volume dampers are in place and open.

8. Air coil fins are cleaned and combed.

9. Access doors are closed and duct end caps are in place.

10. Air outlets are installed and connected.

11. Duct system leakage is minimized.

12. Hydronic systems are flushed, filled, and vented.

13. Pumps are rotating correctly.

14. Proper strainer baskets are clean and in place.

15. Service and balance valves are open.

B. Submit field reports. Report defects and deficiencies that will or could prevent proper system balance.

C. Beginning of work means acceptance of existing conditions.

3.03 PREPARATION

A. Hold a pre-balancing meeting at least one week prior to starting TAB work.

1. Require attendance by all installers whose work will be tested, adjusted, or balanced.

3.04 ADJUSTMENT TOLERANCES

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A. Air Handling Systems: Adjust to within plus or minus 5 percent of design for supply systems and plus or minus 10 percent of design for return and exhaust systems.

B. Air Outlets and Inlets: Adjust total to within plus 10 percent and minus 5 percent of design to space. Adjust outlets and inlets in space to within plus or minus 10 percent of design.

C. Hydronic Systems: Adjust to within plus or minus 10 percent of design.

3.05 RECORDING AND ADJUSTING

A. Ensure recorded data represents actual measured or observed conditions.

B. Permanently mark settings of valves, dampers, and other adjustment devices allowing settings to be restored. Set and lock memory stops.

C. Mark on drawings the locations where traverse and other critical measurements were taken and cross reference the location in the final report.

D. After adjustment, take measurements to verify balance has not been disrupted or that such disruption has been rectified.

E. Leave systems in proper working order, replacing belt guards, closing access doors, closing doors to electrical switch boxes, and restoring thermostats to specified settings.

3.06 AIR SYSTEM PROCEDURE

A. Adjust air handling and distribution systems to provide required or design supply, return, and exhaust air quantities at site altitude.

B. Make air quantity measurements in ducts by Pitot tube traverse of entire cross sectional area of duct.

C. Measure air quantities at air inlets and outlets.

D. Adjust distribution system to obtain uniform space temperatures free from objectionable drafts and noise.

E. Use volume control devices to regulate air quantities only to extent that adjustments do not create objectionable air motion or sound levels. Effect volume control by duct internal devices such as dampers and splitters.

F. Vary total system air quantities by adjustment of fan speeds. Provide drive changes required.

Vary branch air quantities by damper regulation.

G. Measure static air pressure conditions on air supply units, including filter and coil pressure drops, and total pressure across the fan. Make allowances for 50 percent loading of filters.

H. Adjust outside air automatic dampers, outside air, return air, and exhaust dampers for design conditions.

I. Where modulating dampers are provided, take measurements and balance at extreme conditions. Balance variable volume systems at maximum air flow rate, full cooling, and at minimum air flow rate, full heating.

J. Measure building static pressure and adjust supply, return, and exhaust air systems to provide required relationship between each to maintain approximately 0.05 inches positive static pressure near the building entries.

K. For variable air volume system powered units set volume controller to air flow setting indicated.

Confirm connections properly made and confirm proper operation for automatic variable air volume temperature control.

L. On fan powered VAV boxes, adjust air flow switches for proper operation.

3.07 WATER SYSTEM PROCEDURE

A. Adjust water systems to provide required or design quantities.

B. Use calibrated Venturi tubes, orifices, or other metered fittings and pressure gauges to determine flow rates for system balance. Where flow metering devices are not installed, base flow balance on temperature difference across various heat transfer elements in the system.

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C. Adjust systems to provide specified pressure drops and flows through heat transfer elements prior to thermal testing. Perform balancing by measurement of temperature differential in conjunction with air balancing.

D. Effect system balance with automatic control valves fully open to heat transfer elements.

E. Effect adjustment of water distribution systems by means of balancing cocks, valves, and fittings. Do not use service or shut-off valves for balancing unless indexed for balance point.

3.08 COMMISSIONING

A. See Sections 019113 - General Commissioning Requirements and 230800 for additional requirements.

B. Perform prerequisites prior to starting commissioning activities.

C. Fill out Prefunctional Checklists for:

1. Air side systems.

2. Water side systems.

D. Furnish to the Commissioning Provider, upon request, any data gathered but not shown in the final TAB report.

E. In the presence of the Commissioning Provider, verify that:

1. Final settings of all valves, splitters, dampers and other adjustment devices have been permanently marked.

2. The air system is being controlled to the lowest possible static pressure while still meeting design loads, less diversity; this shall include a review of TAB methods, established control setpoints, and physical verification of at least one leg from fan to diffuser having all balancing dampers wide open and that during full cooling of all terminal units taking off downstream of the static pressure sensor, the terminal unit on the critical leg has its damper 90 percent or more open.

3. The water system is being controlled to the lowest possible pressure while still meeting design loads, less diversity; this shall include a review of TAB methods, established control setpoints, and physical verification of at least one leg from the pump to the coil having all balancing valves wide open and that during full cooling the cooling coil valve of that leg is 90 percent or more open.

3.09 SCOPE

A. Test, adjust, and balance the following:

1. HVAC Pumps.

2. Water Tube Boilers.

3. Packaged Steel Water Tube Boilers.

4. Packaged Steel Fire Tube Boilers.

5. Forced Air Furnaces.

6. Air Cooled Water Chillers.

7. Centrifugal Water Chillers.

8. Induced Draft Cooling Tower.

9. Blow Through Cooling Tower.

10. Air Cooled Refrigerant Condensers.

11. Packaged Roof Top Heating/Cooling Units.

12. Packaged Terminal Air Conditioning Units.

13. Unit Air Conditioners.

14. Computer Room Air Conditioning Units.

15. Air Coils.

16. Terminal Heat Transfer Units.

17. Air Handling Units.

18. Fans.

19. Air Filters.

20. Air Terminal Units.

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21. Air Inlets and Outlets.

3.10 MINIMUM DATA TO BE REPORTED

A. Electric Motors:

1. Manufacturer.

2. Model/Frame.

3. HP/BHP.

4. Phase, voltage, amperage; nameplate, actual, no load.

5. RPM.

6. Service factor.

7. Starter size, rating, heater elements.

8. Sheave Make/Size/Bore.

B. V-Belt Drives:

1. Identification/location.

2. Required driven RPM.

3. Driven sheave, diameter and RPM.

4. Belt, size and quantity.

5. Motor sheave diameter and RPM.

C. Pumps:

1. Identification/number.

2. Manufacturer.

3. Size/model.

4. Impeller.

5. Service.

6. Design flow rate, pressure drop, BHP.

7. Actual flow rate, pressure drop, BHP.

8. Discharge pressure.

9. Suction pressure.

10. Total operating head pressure.

11. Shut off, discharge and suction pressures.

12. Shut off, total head pressure.

D. Air Cooled Condensers:

1. Identification/number.

2. Location.

3. Manufacturer.

4. Model number.

5. Serial number.

E. Chillers:

1. Identification/number.

2. Manufacturer.

3. Capacity.

4. Model number.

5. Serial number.

6. Evaporator entering water temperature, design and actual.

7. Evaporator leaving water temperature, design and actual.

8. Evaporator pressure drop, design and actual.

9. Evaporator water flow rate, design and actual.

10. Condenser entering water temperature, design and actual.

11. Condenser pressure drop, design and actual.

12. Condenser water flow rate, design and actual.

F. Cooling Tower:

1. Tower identification/number.

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2. Manufacturer.

3. Model number.

4. Serial number.

5. Rated capacity.

6. Entering air WB temperature, specified and actual.

7. Leaving air WB temperature, specified and actual.

8. Ambient air DB temperature.

9. Condenser water entering temperature.

10. Condenser water leaving temperature.

11. Condenser water flow rate.

12. Fan RPM.

G. Heat Exchangers:

1. Identification/number.

2. Location.

3. Service.

4. Manufacturer.

5. Model number.

6. Serial number.

7. Primary water entering temperature, design and actual.

8. Primary water leaving temperature, design and actual.

9. Primary water flow, design and actual.

10. Primary water pressure drop, design and actual.

11. Secondary water leaving temperature, design and actual.

12. Secondary water flow, design and actual.

13. Secondary water pressure drop, design and actual.

H. Cooling Coils:

1. Identification/number.

2. Location.

3. Service.

4. Manufacturer.

5. Air flow, design and actual.

6. Entering air DB temperature, design and actual.

7. Entering air WB temperature, design and actual.

8. Leaving air DB temperature, design and actual.

9. Leaving air WB temperature, design and actual.

10. Water flow, design and actual.

11. Water pressure drop, design and actual.

12. Entering water temperature, design and actual.

13. Leaving water temperature, design and actual.

14. Saturated suction temperature, design and actual.

15. Air pressure drop, design and actual.

I. Heating Coils:

1. Identification/number.

2. Location.

3. Service.

4. Manufacturer.

5. Air flow, design and actual.

6. Water flow, design and actual.

7. Water pressure drop, design and actual.

8. Entering water temperature, design and actual.

9. Leaving water temperature, design and actual.

10. Entering air temperature, design and actual.

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11. Leaving air temperature, design and actual.

12. Air pressure drop, design and actual.

J. Electric Duct Heaters:

1. Manufacturer.

2. Identification/number.

3. Location.

4. Model number.

5. Design kW.

6. Number of stages.

7. Phase, voltage, amperage.

8. Test voltage (each phase).

9. Test amperage (each phase).

10. Air flow, specified and actual.

11. Temperature rise, specified and actual.

K. Air Moving Equipment:

1. Location.

2. Manufacturer.

3. Model number.

4. Serial number.

5. Arrangement/Class/Discharge.

6. Air flow, specified and actual.

7. Return air flow, specified and actual.

8. Outside air flow, specified and actual.

9. Total static pressure (total external), specified and actual.

10. Inlet pressure.

11. Discharge pressure.

12. Sheave Make/Size/Bore.

13. Number of Belts/Make/Size.

14. Fan RPM.

L. Exhaust Fans:

1. Location.

2. Manufacturer.

3. Model number.

4. Serial number.

5. Air flow, specified and actual.

6. Total static pressure (total external), specified and actual.

7. Inlet pressure.

8. Discharge pressure.

9. Sheave Make/Size/Bore.

10. Number of Belts/Make/Size.

11. Fan RPM.

M. Duct Traverses:

1. System zone/branch.

2. Duct size.

3. Area.

4. Design velocity.

5. Design air flow.

6. Test velocity.

7. Test air flow.

8. Duct static pressure.

9. Air temperature.

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10. Air correction factor.

N. Terminal Unit Data:

1. Manufacturer.

2. Type, constant, variable, single, dual duct.

3. Identification/number.

4. Location.

5. Model number.

6. Size.

7. Minimum static pressure.

8. Minimum design air flow.

9. Maximum design air flow.

10. Maximum actual air flow.

11. Inlet static pressure.

O. Air Distribution Tests:

1. Air terminal number.

2. Room number/location.

3. Terminal type.

4. Terminal size.

5. Design air flow.

6. Test (final) air flow.

7. Percent of design air flow.

P. Sound Level Reports:

1. Location.

2. Octave bands - equipment off.

3. Octave bands - equipment on.

END OF SECTION

230593 - Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing for HVAC