Attachment_VAV Review - Summary Report.pdf

Date Submitted:

April 3, 2023

Prepared by:

Global Facility Solutions, LLC

6310 Hillside Court | Suite 200 | Columbia, Maryland 21046

Ph. (301) 829-1642 | Fax (301) 829-1604

VAV Review

Summary Report

DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

301 West Preston Street, Rm. 104, Baltimore MD, 21201

La Plata, Barracks H 9500 Mitchell Road, La Plata MD, 20646

VAV Review Summary Report

DGS – La Plata, Barracks H

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

1. Summary of VAV Review Plan

1.1. Summary of General Building Info and Goal of VAV Review Plan

1.2. VAV FPT Review Plan

2. Involved Parties And Responsibilities

2.1. Owner:

2.2. State Police Facilities:

2.3. RCx Agent:

3. VAV Terminal Units Condition Summary:

4. Conclusion

5. Appendix 1 – FPTs Vav Terminal Units

6. Appendix 2 – Deficiency Photos

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1. SUMMARY OF VAV REVIEW PLAN

The La Plata Police Barrack H building is a state-owned facility located in La Plata, Maryland. It was originally constructed around the year 2000 and has a total square footage of approximately 12,000 square feet. The building is primarily used as a police barracks and administrative office for the

Maryland State Police. As part of the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) renovation effort for the building, they have requested a review of the VAV (Variable Air Volume) terminal units. The VAV terminal units are a critical component of the building's HVAC system and play a significant role in maintaining zone temperature control for the building.

The review of the VAV terminal units will include a functional performance testing (FPT) of the units to evaluate if they are operating as originally intended and to assess their current condition. The testing will also help to identify any issues or inefficiencies in the system that may be impacting the building's energy efficiency or occupant comfort. Overall, the DGS renovation effort for the La Plata

Police Barrack H building is intended to improve the functionality, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort of the facility, while also assess the remaining useful life of the VAVs.

Functional testing is an essential process for evaluating the existing condition of the VAVs. The VAV review plan for functional testing of the twenty-one (21), VAV terminal units with hydronic heating included the following steps:

1. Review the design and operating documentation of the VAV terminal units with hydronic heating.

2. Establish benchmarks for room space setpoint temperature, discharge air temperature, control valve actuation, damper actuation, and t-stat calibration.

3. Inspect components of VAV terminal units with hydronic heating, including the control valves, dampers, t-stats, and other sensors, to ensure they are functioning correctly.

4. Verify the calibration of the t-stats by comparing their readings to a reference thermometer.

If necessary, adjust the t-stats to ensure they are accurate. Take and record space CO2 parts per million (PPM) readings with handheld meter.

5. Verify that the valve is opening and closing based on the control signal from the building automation system (BAS) if applicable or local thermostat.

6. Verify that the damper actuator is opening and closing based on the control signal from the

BAS if applicable or local thermostat.

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7. Test the room space setpoint temperature by setting the t-stats to a specific temperature and verifying that the VAV terminal units are maintaining that temperature.

8. Test the discharge air temperature by measuring the air temperature at the VAV terminal unit discharge and verifying that it is within the specified range.

9. Record the findings and deficiencies from the functional testing and summarize recommendations for DGS to evaluate.

2. INVOLVED PARTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Department of General Services

301 West Preston Street, Rm. 104

Baltimore MD, 21201

Rob Andalora, Project Manager

La Plata, State Police Facilities Team

9500 Mitchell Road

La Plata, MD

Alan A. Rodriguez, State Police Facilities

Global Facility Solutions LLC

6310 Hillside Court

Columbia MD, 21046

Robert Calloway, PE, CxA, President/CEO (Project Oversight)

Justin Tunzi, PE, Mechanical Engineer (Project lead, conduct field investigation)

Tom Pilarz, EIT, Energy Engineer (conduct field investigation)

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3. VAV TERMINAL UNITS CONDITION SUMMARY:

The FPT sheets for the 21 VAV (Variable Air Volume) terminal units can be found in Appendix 1, and photos of the deficiencies can be found in Appendix 2. Each VAV was controlled locally by a manually operated thermostat. Upon observation, it was found that the VAVs had common deficiencies, including malfunctioned damper actuators (no modulation), outdated controls (line voltage 120v transformed to 24v to control devices), corroded heating water coils, moisture collecting underneath the unit, Inlet sizes observed to be less than design, and malfunctioned control valves. The occupants at the barracks also reported thermal comfort issues in both heating and cooling seasons and supplemental heating and cooling units were observed throughout the building. The VAVs were found to be in poor condition overall as summarized in the table below.

Building VAV Terminal Unit Summary

Description Rating

Damper Actuator operation

Heating Coil Condition

Control valve operation

Thermostat Calibration

Rating Index:

Newer equipment, good to excellent condition with no visible issues or concerns. Equipment that is well within the rated life cycle and the ownership hold term.

Equipment that is 50% or more through their rated life or showing signs of corrosion, operational issues impacting operation or energy saving opportunity.

Equipment that is at or near the end of the rated life cycle or showing excessive signs of wear and tear, corrosion, has known operational issues or has failed.

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4. CONCLUSION

The life expectancy of a VAV terminal units can vary depending on several factors, such as the quality of the initial installation, the level of maintenance provided over time, and the operating conditions of the system. According to ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-

Conditioning Engineers), the typical life expectancy of a VAV system is around 15 to 20 years.

However, with proper maintenance and regular retro-commissioning, a VAV system can last longer and continue to operate at peak performance. It's important to note that the life expectancy of a

VAV system can also be affected by changes in building use or occupancy, which may require modifications or upgrades to the system to accommodate new requirements.

The VAV terminal units at the La Plata Police Barrack H building is now past its life expectancy, and it is no longer functioning as efficiently as it should. This can lead to issues with occupant comfort and increased energy costs. DGS has identified the need to address this issue as part of its renovation efforts for the building. One option that DGS could consider is retrofitting the existing

VAVs with new control valves, damper actuators, and control systems. This would involve replacing the existing components with newer, more efficient ones that are compatible with an open protocol building automation system (BAS). With this type of system, the building controls could be accessed remotely or by desktop, making it easier to monitor and adjust the system as needed. However, it's important to note that retrofitting the VAVs with new components could end up being similar in price to a full replacement. This is because the cost of new components and the labor required to install them can add up quickly. Additionally, the existing VAVs may not be compatible with newer components, which could limit the effectiveness of the retrofit.

Another option that DGS could consider is a full replacement of the VAVs with new control valves, damper actuators, thermostats, and other components. This would involve removing the existing

VAVs and installing new ones that are designed to work with an open protocol BAS system. The new system could also integrate the existing perimeter finned tubed heat via control valves for improved thermal comfort and energy savings and address the observed heating water coil corrosion. While a full replacement may be more expensive initially, it could provide a longer-term solution with greater energy savings and improved occupant comfort. Additionally, the new components would likely be more reliable and require less maintenance, which could lead to additional cost savings over time.

In conclusion, DGS has several options to consider when addressing the outdated VAV terminal units at the La Plata Police Barrack H building. Ultimately, the decision will depend on factors such as the cost, compatibility, and long-term effectiveness of each option. Regardless of the decision, integrating an open protocol BAS system could provide significant energy savings and improved occupant comfort for the building.

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5. APPENDIX 1 – FPTS VAV TERMINAL UNITS

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6. APPENDIX 2 – DEFICIENCY PHOTOS

1. Corroded heating water coil 2. Typical localized T-stat for control, No BAS control

3. 120v to 24v controls power connection, shop drawing 4. Typical control valve from 1999

5. Cover removed off 1999 control valve. 6. Malfunctioned VAV actuator

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7. Typical VAV from 1999 8. Supplemental cooling observed in dispatch

9. Broken T-stat 10. Corroded heating water coil

11. Operable Window 12. Condensate Pan underneath VAV

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13. Observed supplemental heating 14. 120v transformed to 24v power

15. Fully open damper, no modulation 16. Partially open damper, no modulation

17. Typ control valve nameplate 18. Typ VAV nameplate and access door