S06 - 585-19-118 - Att - Section 23 05 93 - Testing Adjusting and Balancing for Plumbing.pdf

02-01-20

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SECTION 22 05 93

TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR PLUMBING

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION

A. Testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB)Plumbing existing and new hot and hot water return systems. TAB includes the following:

1. Planning TAB procedures.

2. Design Review Report

3. Balancing hot water and hot water return water distribution systems;

adjustment of total system (existing and new) to provide design performance; and testing performance of equipment, controls and balancing assemblies.

4. Recording and reporting results.

B. Definitions:

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

9. 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 22 05 11, COMMON WORK RESULTS FOR PLUMBING.

B. Section 22 11 00, FACILITY WATER DISTRIBUTION

1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Refer to Articles, Quality Assurance and Submittals, in Section

22 05 11, COMMON WORK RESULTS FOR PLUMBING.

B. Qualifications:

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

Contractor and shall report to and be paid by the Plumbing

Contractor.

2. The TAB agency shall be either a certified member of AABC, NEEB, TABB or NEBB to perform TAB service for Plumbing, water balancing and testing 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 and Plumbing 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

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NEBB within the five 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 Resident Engineer 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 years preceding Contract Award shall not be eligible to perform any duties related to the Plumbing 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 must be performed by an approved successor.

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

30 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

Resident Engineer. 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, TABB or

NEBB.

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

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

e. Permanently mark location of test ports.

f. Shall document critical paths from the HWR pumps.

5. All TAB technicians performing actual TAB work shall be experienced and must have done satisfactory work on a minimum of 3 projects

22 05 93 - 3 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, TABB or NEBB

C. 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 Plumbing systems.

Provide calibration history of the instruments to be used for test and balance purpose.

D. TAB Criteria:

1. One or more of the applicable AABC, NEBB, TABB or SMACNA publications, similar to ASHRAE Handbook Chapter 38, and requirements stated herein shall be the basis for planning, procedures, and reports.

2. Typical TAB procedures and facility results shall be demonstrated to the Resident Engineer:

a. When field TAB work begins.

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

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Submit in accordance with Section 01 33 23, SHOP DRAWINGS, PRODUCT

DATA, and SAMPLES.

B. Submit names and qualifications of TAB agency and TAB specialists within 30 days after the notice to proceed. Submit information on three recently completed projects and a list of proposed test equipment.

C. For use by the Resident Engineer staff, submit one complete set of applicable AABC, NEBB or TABB publications that will be the basis of

TAB work.

D. Submit Following for Review and Approval:

1. Design Review Report within 60 days after the system layout on TAB is completed by the Contractor.

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

4. Systems Readiness Report.

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

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E. Prior to request for Final or Partial Final inspection, submit completed Test and Balance report for the facility.

1.5 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS

A. 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.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.2 INSULATION REPAIR MATERIAL

See Section 22 07 00; Insulation. 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 TAB systems.

3.2 DESIGN REVIEW REPORT

The TAB Specialist shall review the Contract Plans and specifications and advise the Resident Engineer of any design deficiencies that would prevent the Plumbing HWR systems from effectively operating in accordance with the sequence of operation specified or prevent the effective and accurate TAB of the facilities’ system guidelines. The

TAB Specialist shall provide a report individually listing each deficiency and the corresponding proposed corrective action necessary for proper system operation.

3.3 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 new and existing HWR balancing assemblies, check valves and HWR pumps. Check for conformance with submittals.

C. Hot water return temperature to be a minimum of 124 degrees F at the

HWR pumps in the Sub-Basement per ASHRAE Guideline 12

D. Hot water to be available at each faucet within 15 seconds of faucet activation.

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3.6 TAB REPORTS

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

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

3.7 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 HWR systems.

B. General: During TAB all related system components shall be in full operation. HWR pump rotation, balancing assemblies shall be checked and corrected as necessary before proceeding with TAB.

C. Coordinate TAB procedures with existing and new systems and any phased construction completion requirements for the project.

D. The work covered includes the providing of all labor, materials, tools, equipment, transportation, permits, certificates, and temporary protection necessary for or incidental to executing and completing the testing and balancing of the hot and recirculation water distribution systems as herein specified or as indicated on the drawings.

E. The balancing work shall be done by a contractor independent of those responsible for the Plumbing Trade work.

F. The work includes city and boosted pressure hot water distribution and recirculation systems. System initial rate of flow settings information has been designated at each existing and new circuit setter balancing valve(s) throughout the facility.

G. This Trade shall prepare a written report that shall detail all of the various readings taken.

1. The report shall include a cover page which will briefly describe each system along with any problems encountered.

2. The system shall include 2 sections of data.

a. Section 1: Readings at the pumps for the design and actual conditions including GPM, total developed head, shutoff head, motor horsepower, amps, volts, RPM, motor manufacturer nameplate data.

b. Section 2: Readings for the branch/device design and actual flow conditions including GPM, balance valve

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CV with flow curve and body size, measured differential pressure.

3. Reports shall be submitted for review and approval. Any omissions or inconsistencies shall be resolved before final payment and submittal approval occurs.

H. Testing Equipment

1. Water flow shall be read using a differential pressure meter having an accuracy of +1% of full scale.

2. All testing equipment shall be verified as to their accuracy.

Documentation shall be submitted certifying accuracy.

Certification shall be authenticated by an agent independent of the

Balancing Contractor.

I. Water Balance Requirements

1. ASHRAE recommended procedures shall be utilized for balancing.

Distribution loop return balance valves are to be balanced to the initial setting indicated at each valve.

2. A system inspection shall be conducted before implementing the water balance to ensure:

a. System has been flushed and vented of air.

b. All manual valves are open or in their normal operating position.

c. All automatic valves are in their open or proper operating positions.

3. Take pump(s) suction, discharge and differential pressure readings at both full flow and no flow. Read pump motor amperage and voltage, calculate approximate power and establish a pump curve comparing against the manufacturer's published rating curve.

4. All hot water recirculation loop return balance valves shall be adjusted to +5% of the design flow. The shortest runs shall be set first, followed by the longest.

5. Total flow at the pump(s) shall be adjusted utilizing the balance valve only after the distribution balance has been reviewed to confirm the most hydraulically remote loop is being satisfied.

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6. Follow ASHRAE Guideline 12 for minimum temperature of 124 degrees F for hot water return piping at the pumps in the Sub-Basement.

3.10 MARKING OF SETTINGS

Following approval of Tab final Report, the setting of all Plumbing adjustment devices including valves, pumps or balancing assemblies 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 Resident Engineer.

3.11 IDENTIFICATION OF TEST PORTS

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.

3.12 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. Coordinate phasing with Plumbing contractor and

COR, as each riser/floor/system/areas are to be balanced in a timely manner in conjunction with the Plumbing Trade’s progress.

3.13 COMMISSIONING

A. Provide commissioning documentation in accordance with the requirements of Section 22 08 00 – COMMISSIONING OF Plumbing SYSTEMS for all inspection, start up, and contractor testing required above and required by the System Readiness Checklist provided by the

Commissioning Agent.

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