230593 TAB for HVAC.pdf

Louis A. Johnson VAMC April 22, 2025 Eradicate Legionella Bid Documents Clarksburg, WV 23601 Project No:540-20-103

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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. Systems Readiness Report.

3. Balancing air systems; and testing performance of equipment and automatic controls.

4. Recording and reporting results.

5. Document critical paths of flow on reports.

B. Definitions:

1. Basic TAB used in this Section: Chapter 39, "Testing, Adjusting and Balancing" of 2023 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. Air Systems: Includes all outside air, supply air, return air, exhaust air and relief air systems.

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

1.2 RELATED WORK

A. Section 01 00 00, GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

B. Section 01 33 23, SHOP DRAWINGS, PRODUCT DATA, AND SAMPLES.

C. Section 23 09 23, DIRECT-DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HVAC.

1.3 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

A. The following publications form a part of this specification to the extent referenced. The publications are referenced in the text by the basic designation only. Where conflicts occur these specifications and the VHA standards will govern.

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B. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning

Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE):

2023....................ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Applications, Chapter

39, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing and

Chapter 49, Noise and Vibration Control

C. Associated Air Balance Council (AABC):

2016....................National Standards for Total System Balance, 7th

Edition

D. National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB):

2019....................Procedural Standard for Testing, Adjusting, and

Balancing of Environmental Systems, 9th Edition

2015....................Procedural Standard for the Measurement of

Sound and Vibration, 2nd Edition

S110-2019...............Whole Building Technical Commissioning of New

Construction, 2nd Edition

E. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association

(SMACNA):

20023...................HVAC Systems Testing, Adjusting and Balancing, 3rd Edition.

2024....................TAB Procedural Guide 1st Edition

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Submittals, including number of required copies, shall be submitted in accordance with Section 01 33 23, SHOP DRAWINGS, PRODUCT DATA, AND

SAMPLES.

B. Information and material submitted under this section shall be marked

“SUBMITTED UNDER SECTION 23 05 93, TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING

FOR HVAC”, with applicable paragraph identification.

C. 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.

D. For use by the COR staff, submit one complete set of applicable AABC, NEBB or TABB publications that will be the basis of TAB work.

E. Submit the following for review and approval:

1. Systems Readiness Report.

2. Intermediate and Final TAB reports covering flow balance and adjustments, performance tests.

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

4. Include in each report the critical path for each balanced branch (air). Every branch shall have at least one terminal device damper

100 percent open.

F. Prior to request for Final or Partial Final inspection, submit completed Test and Balance report for the area with noted critical paths.

1.5 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, NEBB, or

TABB to perform TAB service for HVAC. 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 (5) years preceding Contract Award shall not be eligible to perform any work related to the TAB. All work performed in this Section and in other related Sections by the TAB agency shall be considered invalid if the TAB agency loses its certification prior to Contract completion, and the successor agency’s review shows unsatisfactory work performed by the predecessor agency.

3. TAB Specialist: The TAB Specialist shall be either a member of AABC or TABB or an experienced technician of the Agency certified by

NEBB. The certification shall be maintained for the entire duration of duties specified herein. If, for any reason, the Specialist loses subject certification during this period, the General Contractor shall immediately notify the COR and submit another TAB Specialist for approval. Any individual that has been the subject of disciplinary action by either the AABC or the NEBB within the five

(5) years preceding Contract Award shall not be eligible to perform

23 05 93 - 4 any duties related to the HVAC systems, including TAB. All work specified in this Section and in other related Sections performed by the TAB Specialist shall be considered invalid if the TAB Specialist loses its certification prior to Contract completion and shall be performed by an approved successor.

4. TAB Specialist shall be identified by the General Contractor within sixty (60) days after the Notice to Proceed. The TAB Specialist will be coordinating, scheduling, and reporting all TAB work and related activities and will provide necessary information as required by the

COR. The responsibilities shall specifically include:

a. Directly supervising all TAB work.

b. 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, TABB or NEBB.

c. Following all TAB work through its satisfactory completion.

d. Providing final markings of settings of all HVAC adjustment devices.

e. Permanently mark location of duct test ports.

f. Documenting critical paths from the fan or pump. These critical paths are ones in which are 100 percent open from the fan or pump to the terminal device. This will show the least amount of restriction is being imposed on the system by the TAB firm.

5. All TAB technicians performing actual TAB work shall be experienced and shall have done satisfactory work on a minimum of three (3) projects comparable in size and complexity to this project.

Qualifications shall be certified by the TAB agency in writing. The lead technician shall be certified by AABC, TABB 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

Standard 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. All equipment shall remain in calibration, or be re-calibrated if certification expires, during the TAB procedures.

C. TAB Criteria:

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1. One or more of the applicable AABC, NEBB, TABB or SMACNA publications, supplemented by Chapter 39, "Testing, Adjusting and

Balancing" of ASHRAE Handbook "HVAC Applications" and requirements stated herein shall be the basis for planning, procedures, and reports.

2. Flow Rate Tolerance: Following tolerances are allowed. For tolerances not mentioned herein follow Chapter 39, "Testing, Adjusting and Balancing" of ASHRAE Handbook "HVAC Applications" as a guideline. Air Filter resistance during tests, artificially imposed, if necessary, shall be at least 100 percent of manufacturer recommended change over pressure drop values for pre-filters and after-filters.

a. Air handling unit and all other fans, cubic meters/min (cubic feet per minute): Minus 5 percent to plus l0 percent.

b. Air Terminal Units (maximum values): Minus 5 percent to plus l0 percent

c. Exhaust Hoods/Cabinets: 0 percent to plus l0 percent.

d. Minimum Outside Air: 0 percent to plus 10 percent.

e. Individual room air outlets and inlets, and air flow rates not mentioned above: Minus 5 percent to plus l0 percent except if the air-to-air space is 100 CFM or less the tolerance will be minus 5 to plus 5 percent.

f. Heating Hot Water Pumps and Hot Water Coils: Minus 5 percent to plus 5 percent.

g. Chilled Water and Condenser Water Pumps: Minus 5 percent to plus

5 percent.

h. Chilled Water Coils: Minus 5 percent to plus 5 percent.

3. Systems shall be adjusted for energy efficient operation as described in PART 3.

4. Typical TAB procedures and critical path results shall be demonstrated to the COR for one air distribution system (including all fans, 3 terminal units, 3 rooms randomly selected by the COR, one of which shall be a critical path) as follows:

a. When field TAB work begins.

b. During each partial final inspection and the final inspection for the project if requested by VA.

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PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 PLUGS

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

2.2 INSULATION REPAIR MATERIAL

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

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL

A. Refer to TAB Criteria in Article, Quality Assurance.

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

3.2 SYSTEM READINESS REPORT

A. The TAB Contractor shall measure existing air flow rates associated with existing systems utilized to serve renovated areas as indicated on drawings. Submit report of findings to COR.

3.3 TAB PROCEDURES

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

Standard under which TAB agency is certified by either AABC, TABB or

NEBB. Balancing shall be done proportionally to all applicable systems.

1. At least 1 trunk damper shall be 100 percent open.

2. At least 1 branch damper shall be 100 percent open per trunk.

3. At least 1 terminal device duct be 100 percent open per branch.

4. At least one hydronic balancing valve shall be 100 percent open per hydronic system.

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

Set controls and/or block off parts of distribution systems to simulate design operation of variable volume air or water systems for test and balance work.

C. Coordinate TAB procedures with existing systems and any phased construction completion requirements for the project. Provide TAB reports for pre-construction air flow rate and for each phase of the project prior to partial final inspections of each phase of the project. Return existing areas outside the work area to pre-constructed conditions.

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D. Allow 14-days’ time in construction schedule for TAB and submission of all reports for an organized and timely correction of deficiencies.

E. Air Balance and Equipment Test: Include air-handling units, fans, terminal units, fan coil units, room diffusers/outlets/inlets, computer room AC units, and laboratory fume hoods and biological safety cabinets.

1. Test and balance systems in all specified modes of operation, including variable volume, economizer, and fire emergency modes.

Verify that dampers and other HVAC controls function properly.

2. Variable Air Volume (VAV) Systems:

a. Coordinate TAB, including system volumetric controls, with

Section 23 09 23, DIRECT-DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HVAC.

b. Balance air distribution from ATU on full cooling maximum scheduled cubic meters per minute (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. Record and report outdoor air flow rates under all operating conditions (The test shall demonstrate that the minimum outdoor air ventilation rate shall remain constant under all operating conditions).

c. Adjust operating pressure control setpoint to maintain the design flow to each space with the lowest setpoint.

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

4. Record final damper settings for all manual volume dampers.

3.4 MARKING OF SETTINGS

A. Following approval of Tab final Report, the setting of all HVAC adjustment devices including valves, splitters and dampers shall be permanently marked by the TAB Specialist so that adjustment can be restored if disturbed at any time. Style and colors used for markings shall be coordinated with the COR.

3.5 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.

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

3.6 PHASING

A. Phased Projects: Testing and Balancing Work to follow project with areas shall be completed per the project phasing. Upon completion of the project all areas shall have been tested and balanced per the contract documents.

B. Existing Areas: Systems that serve areas outside of the project scope shall not be adversely affected. Measure existing parameters to document system capacity.

3.7 CRITICAL FLOW PATH

A. Provide a documented critical path for all fluid flows. There shall be at least one terminal device that can be traced back to the fan or pump where there is no damper or valves that are less than 100% open.

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