230593 Testing Adjusting and Balancing for HVAC.pdf

02-01-20

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SECTION 23 05 93

TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR HVAC

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION

A. Testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. TAB includes the following:

1. Planning systematic TAB procedures.

2. Balancing air and water distribution systems; adjustment of total system to provide design performance; and testing performance of equipment and automatic controls.

3. Recording and reporting results.

4. Refer to Section 3.7 Summary for additional scope of work.

B. Definitions:

1. Basic TAB used in this Section: Chapter 39, "Testing, Adjusting and

Balancing" of 2019 ASHRAE Handbook, "HVAC Applications".

2. TAB: Testing, Adjusting and Balancing; the process of checking and adjusting HVAC systems to meet design objectives.

3. AABC: Associated Air Balance Council.

4. NEBB: National Environmental Balancing Bureau.

5. TABB: Testing Adjusting and Balancing Bureau

6. SMACNA: Sheet Metal Contractors National Association

7. Hydronic Systems: Includes chilled water and heating hot water systems.

8. Air Systems: Includes all outside air, supply air, return air, exhaust air and relief air systems.

9. Flow rate tolerance: The allowable percentage variation, minus to plus, of actual flow rate from values (design) in the contract documents.

C. Coordination:

1. The actual TAB, Commissioning and DDC controls work of Air Handling

Systems shall be planned to occur on a weekend after hours when a equipment shutdown is scheduled.

2. Refer to Johnson Controls flow diagrams and sequence of operation for typical existing DNT and OP Building Air Handling Units and DOAS

Units controls.

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3. The TAB Contractor shall be work together with the Commissioning

Agent and Temperature Controls contractor to coordinate all activities to complete the project.

1.2 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Qualifications:

1. TAB Agency: The TAB agency shall be a subcontractor of the General

Contractor and shall report to and be paid by the General

Contractor.

2. The TAB agency shall be either a certified member of AABC or NEEB to perform TAB service for HVAC and water balancing of equipment. The certification shall be maintained for the entire duration of duties specified herein. If, for any reason, the agency loses subject certification during this period, the General Contractor shall immediately notify the COR and submit another qualified TAB firm for approval. Any agency that has been the subject of disciplinary action by either the AABC, TABB or NEBB within the five years preceding Contract Award shall not be eligible to perform any work related to the TAB.

3. TAB Specialist: The TAB specialist shall be either a member of AABC or an experienced technician of the Agency certified by NEBB. The certification shall be maintained for the entire duration of duties specified herein. Any individual that has been the subject of disciplinary action by either the AABC or the NEBB within the five years preceding Contract Award shall not be eligible to perform any duties related to the HVAC systems.

4. TAB Specialist shall be identified by the General Contractor within

60 days after the notice to proceed. The TAB specialist will be coordinating, scheduling and reporting all TAB work and related activities. The responsibilities would specifically include:

a. Shall directly supervise all TAB work.

b. Shall sign the TAB reports that bear the seal of the TAB standard. The reports shall be accompanied by report forms and schematic drawings required by the TAB standard, AABC or NEBB.

c. Would follow all TAB work through its satisfactory completion.

d. Shall provide final markings of settings of all HVAC adjustment devices.

e. Permanently mark location of duct test ports.

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5. All TAB technicians performing actual TAB work shall be experienced and must have done satisfactory work on a minimum of 3 projects comparable in size and complexity to this project. Qualifications must be certified by the TAB agency in writing. The lead technician shall be certified by AABC or NEBB.

B. Test Equipment Criteria: The instrumentation shall meet the accuracy/calibration requirements established by AABC National

Standards, TABB/SMACNA International Standards, or by NEBB Procedural

Standards for Testing, Adjusting and Balancing of Environmental Systems and instrument manufacturer. Provide calibration history of the instruments to be used for test and balance purpose.

C. TAB Criteria:

1. One or more of the applicable AABC, NEBB, TABB or SMACNA publications, supplemented by ASHRAE Handbook "2019 HVAC

Applications" Chapter 39, and requirements stated herein shall be the basis for planning, procedures, and reports.

2. Flow rate tolerance: For tolerances not mentioned herein follow 2011

ASHRAE Handbook "2019 HVAC Applications", Chapter 39, as a guideline.

a. Air handling unit and all other fans, cubic feet per minute:

Minus 0 percent to plus 5 percent.

b. Air terminal units (maximum values): Minus 2 percent to plus l0 percent.

c. Minimum outside air: 0 percent to plus 10 percent.

d. Individual room air outlets and inlets, and air flow rates not mentioned above: Minus 5 percent to plus l0 percent.

e. Heating hot water coils: Minus 0 percent to plus 5 percent.

f. Chilled water coils: Minus 0 percent to plus 5 percent.

1.3 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit names and qualifications of TAB agency and TAB specialists within 60 days after the notice to proceed. Submit information on three recently completed projects and a list of proposed test equipment.

B. Submit the following for review and approval:

1. Systems inspection report on equipment and installation for conformance with design.

2. Preliminary TAB reports covering flow balance, adjustments and performance tests of each building section of equipment tested.

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3. Final TAB reports covering flow balance, adjustments and performance tests of the entire Campus. This shall be submitted to the VA within 30 days after the project is complete.

4. Include in final reports uncorrected installation deficiencies noted during TAB and applicable explanatory comments on test results that differ from design requirements.

C. APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

1. The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent indicated by the reference thereto. In text the publications are referenced to by the acronym of the organization.

2. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning

Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE):

Handbook //2019//.......HVAC Applications ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 39, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing and Chapter

49.

3. Associated Air Balance Council (AABC):

7th Edition //2016// ....AABC National Standards for Total System

Balance

4. National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB):

9th Edition //2019// ....Procedural Standards for Testing, Adjusting, Balancing of Environmental Systems

2rd Edition //2019// ... Standard for Whole Building Technical

Commissioning of New Construction

5. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association

(SMACNA):

3rd Edition //2005// ....HVAC SYSTEMS Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

TABB- TAB Procedural Guide //Current Edition//

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 PLUGS

Provide plastic plugs to seal holes drilled in ductwork for test purposes.

2.2 INSULATION REPAIR MATERIAL

Provide for repair of insulation removed or damaged by TAB work.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL

A. Obtain applicable contract documents and copies of approved submittals for HVAC equipment and automatic control systems.

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3.2 SYSTEMS INSPECTION REPORT

A. Inspect equipment and installation for conformance with design.

B. Reports: Follow check list format developed by AABC, NEBB or SMACNA

(TABB), supplemented by narrative comments, with emphasis on air handling units and fans. Check for conformance with submittals.

3.3 TAB REPORTS

A. The TAB contractor shall provide raw data immediately in writing to the

COR if there is a problem in achieving intended results before submitting a formal report.

3.4 TAB PROCEDURES

A. TAB shall be performed in accordance with the requirement of the

Standard under which TAB agency is certified by either AABC or NEBB.

B. General: During TAB all related system components shall be in full operation. Fan rotation and motor loads shall be checked and corrected as necessary before proceeding with TAB.

C. Air Balance and Equipment Test: Include air handling units, fans, terminal units, ducted room diffusers/outlets/inlets.

1. Adjust fan speeds to provide design air flow.

2. Test and balance systems in all specified modes of operation, including variable volume and economizer modes. Verify that dampers and other HVAC controls function properly.

3. Variable air volume (VAV) systems:

a. AIR TERMINAL UNITS, Check and readjust flow rates if necessary to meet design criteria. Balance air distribution from ATU on full cooling maximum scheduled cubic feet per minute. Reset room thermostats and check ATU operation from maximum to minimum cooling, to the heating mode, and back to cooling. Record and report the heating coil leaving air temperature when the ATU is in the maximum heating mode.

4. Record final measurements for air handling equipment performance data sheets.

D. Water Balance and Equipment Test:

1. Adjust flow rates for equipment. Set coils to values on equipment submittals, if different from values on contract drawings.

2. Balance systems at design water flow and then verify that variable flow controls function as designed.

3. Record final measurements for hydronic equipment on performance data sheets. Include entering and leaving water temperatures for heating

23 05 93 - 6 and cooling coils. Include entering and leaving air temperatures

(DB/WB for cooling coils) for air handling units and reheat coils.

Make air and water temperature measurements at the same time.

3.5 MARKING OF SETTINGS

A. Following approval of Tab final Report, the setting of all HVAC adjustment devices including valves and dampers shall be permanently marked by the TAB Specialist so that adjustment can be restored if disturbed at any time.

3.6 IDENTIFICATION OF TEST PORTS

A. The TAB Specialist shall permanently and legibly identify the location points of duct test ports. If the ductwork has exterior insulation, the identification shall be made on the exterior side of the insulation.

All penetrations through ductwork and ductwork insulation shall be sealed to prevent air leaks and maintain integrity of vapor barrier.

3.7 SUMMARY

A. The noted work in this section shall be performed at a minimum per specification. Refer to inventory of equipment and plans for estimate of quantities. Each work requirement tested below shall be documented in the preliminary and final reports for the VA to review and accept.

Space Level Scope

1. Adjust and balance return air grilles to plan air volumes for ducted systems that do not have zone return VAV terminal boxes.

2. Adjust and balance exhaust air grilles to plan air volumes for ducted systems connected to DOAS.

3. Supply air VAV box minimum and maximum set point verification per plan.

4. Return air VAV box minimum and maximum set point verification per plan.

5. Exhaust air VAV box minimum and maximum set point verification per plan.

6. Space temperature sensor verification/calibration.

7. Verify VAV box reheat water coil valve sequence.

Floor Level Scope

1. Floor return air measuring station calibration and setpoint verification. Set to control to specified maximum duct air quantities.

2. Floor exhaust air measuring station calibration and setpoint verification. Set to control to specified maximum duct air quantities.

Air Handling Unit Level Scope

1. Set supply fan and return fan maximum air volume limits.

2. Set supply fan and return fan air volume offset differential.

3. Supply and return air measuring station calibration and verification.

4. Coordinate and set VFD ramp speed of fans with unit isolation damper opening/closing sequence.

5. Set and verify high and low limit static pressure setpoint cutouts.

6. Verify/calibrate unit temperature sensors.

7. Verification of fan static pressure reset sequence of operation.

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8. Set cooling and heating water coil flow.

9. Record coil water pressures and temperatures, in and out.

DOAS Unit Level Scope

1. Set outside air supply fan maximum air volume limits.

2. Set exhaust air fan maximum air volume limits.

3. Outside air and exhaust air measuring station calibration and setpoint verification.

4. Adjust and balance manual intake damper inside unit bypassing wheel.

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