D.2 Specifiication 23 05 93 Edited for 3B Tab Report.pdf

03-01-23

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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. Design Review Report.

3. Systems Inspection Report.

4. Duct Air Leakage Test Report.

5. Systems Readiness Report.

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

7. Recording and reporting results.

8. Document critical paths of flow on reports.

B. Definitions:

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

Balancing" of 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 and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National

Association.

7. Hydronic Systems: Includes chilled water, heating hot water, and glycol-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

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

E. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association

(SMACNA):

2002....................HVAC Systems Testing, Adjusting and Balancing, 3rd Edition

2024....................TAB Procedural Guide 2nd Edition

1.4 SUBMITTALS

A. Submittals, including number of required copies, shall be submitted to the COR through e-mail.

B. 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.

C. 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.

D. Submit the following for review and approval:

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

2. Duct Air Leakage Test Report.

3. Systems Readiness Report.

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

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

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6. 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.

E. 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 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 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 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

23 05 93 - 4 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. These critical paths are ones in which are 100 percent open from the fan 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:

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.

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SPEC WRITER NOTE: Coordinate tolerances with COR. Ensure spaces with specific air pressure relationships, the tolerance listed do not allow for the spaces to reverse pressure relationships.

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

3. 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).

a. When field TAB work begins.

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

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 Paragraph QUALITY ASSURANCE.

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

3.2 DESIGN REVIEW REPORT

A. The TAB Specialist shall review the contract documents and advise the

COR of any design deficiencies that would prevent the HVAC systems from effectively operating in accordance with the sequence of operation specified or prevent the effective and accurate TAB of the system. 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 checklist 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.

Verify that diffuser and register sizes are correct. Check air terminal unit installation including their duct sizes and routing.

3.4 DUCT AIR LEAKAGE TEST REPORT

A. TAB Agency shall perform the leakage test as outlined in "Duct Leakage

Tests and Repairs" in Section 23 31 00, HVAC DUCTS and CASINGS for TAB agency’s role and responsibilities in witnessing, recording and reporting of deficiencies.

3.5 SYSTEM READINESS REPORT

A. The TAB Contractor shall measure existing air flow rates associated with existing systems utilized to serve areas as indicated in the contract documents. Submit report of findings to COR.

B. Inspect each system to ensure that it is complete including installation and operation of controls. Submit report to COR in standard format and forms prepared and/or approved by the CxA.

C. Verify that all items such as ductwork piping, dampers, valves, ports, terminals, connectors, etc., that are required for TAB are installed.

Provide a report to the COR.

3.6 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.

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B. Do not proceed with the remaining systems until intermediate report is approved by the COR.

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 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.

B. General: During TAB all related system components shall be in full operation. Fan 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 for test and balance work.

C. Coordinate TAB procedures with existing systems and any phased completion requirements for the project. Provide TAB reports for air flow rate and for each phase of the project prior to partial final inspections of each phase of the project.

D. Air Balance and Equipment Test: Include air-handling units, fans, terminal units, fan coil units, room diffusers/outlets/inlets, exhaust fans.

1. Artificially load air filters by partial blanking to produce static air pressure drop of manufacturer’s recommended pressure drop.

2. Adjust fan speeds to provide design air flow. V-belt drives, including fixed pitch pulley requirements, provide new drive sets as required to adjust fan speeds.

3. 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.

4. Variable Air Volume (VAV) Systems:

a. 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

23 05 93 - 8 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. Confirm static pressure reset is operational and functioning properly.

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

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

F. Rooms with Specific Pressure Relationships Including Rooms.: Isolation

Rooms, and SPS rooms:

1. For rooms that require specific pressure relationships as noted in the contract documents report the following information:

a. Room differential pressure at minimum and maximum flows.

b. Room air changes per hour (ACH).

c. Adjust airflows to achieve the required air pressure relationships. Increase/decrease the supply/exhaust airflow as needed. For positively pressurized rooms the supply airflow shall be set per the contract documents and return/exhaust airflow shall be adjusted to achieve the required pressure relationship.

For negatively pressurized rooms the exhaust airflow per the contract documents and the supply airflow adjusted to achieve the required pressure relationship.

2. Adjust flow rates for equipment. Set to values on equipment submittals, if different from values in the contract documents.

3.10 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.

3.11 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.

3.12 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.

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