15950_en.doc

SECTION 15950

HVAC TESTING/ADJUSTING/BALANCING

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 RELATED REQUIREMENTS

The provisions of Section 15050, "Basic Materials and Methods," apply to this section except as modified by this section.

1.2 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

Upon completion of the installation and start-up field testing, provide testing, adjusting, and balancing of air systems and water systems in order to provide the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) indicated or specified. The systems requiring the specified testing, adjusting, and balancing work are listed in the paragraph "Balancing Procedures." Accomplish all work in accordance with referenced standards except as modified by this specification section.

1.3 SUBMITTALS

a.

Qualifications of Testing, Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) Engineer: Submit within 90 calendar days after start of construction.

b.

TAB Agenda: Submit agenda and procedures for TAB work for entire project within 90 calendar days after the date of the approval of the TAB engineer's qualifications.

c.

Prerequisite Work Checklists: Submit at least 30 calendar days prior to the approved date for start of TAB engineer's associated field work.

d.

TAB Certified Test Reports: Submit within 30 calendar days after each seasonal TAB work session and the applicable TAB field work is completed.

e.

Duct air leakage test (see Section 15810). Duct air leakage test shall be performed during construction of the systems. The systems are required to pass the leakage test before final testing.

f.

Provide TAB report.

1.4 ABRIDGED WORK AND SUBMITTAL CHRONOLOGY

a.

90 days after start of construction: Engineer qualifications submitted.

b.

90 days after engineer approved: TAB agenda and procedures submitted.

c.

30 days prior to each field trip: Prerequisite check lists submitted.

d.

Duct air leakage test: during system construction.

e.

TAB work: Ambient temperature within first season limits.

f.

30 days after each TAB field work: Submit TAB report.

g.

45 days after each TAB report: Field data check.

h.

60 days prior to contract end: All TAB work complete, except for seasonal TAB work.

i.

TAB work: Ambient temperature within second season limits.

j.

Second seasonal TAB work.

k.

Second seasonal TAB data check.

1.5 DEFINITIONS

a.

Heating Equipment: Units which are designed to add heat to building indoor environmental air.

b.

Ventilating Equipment: Units which are designed to accomplish air changes in a building indoor environmental air.

c.

Cooling Equipment: Units which are designed to take away heat from building indoor environment air. Note that some cooling equipment has heating equipment associated with them.

d.

TAB: Testing, adjusting and balancing.

e.

TAB’d: Tested, adjusted and balanced.

f.

Season of Maximum Heating Load: That time of the year when the outdoor ambient temperature at the equipment installation site remains within the following tolerances throughout the period of data recording for TAB work: Indicated winter outdoor design dry bulb temperature plus 5.5oC, minus 11oC.

g.

Season of Maximum Cooling Load: That time of the year when the outdoor ambient temperature at the equipment installation site remains within the following tolerances throughout the period of data recording for TAB work: Indicated summer outdoor design dry bulb temperature plus 11oC, minus 5.5oC.

h.

TAB Data: TAB measurements reported on the submitted TAB reports, measurements taken from the HVAC systems at the equipment installation site by TAB measuring instruments. TAB data also includes equipment descriptive data taken from manufacturer's labels and nameplates.

1.6 TAB ENGINEER'S QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1.6.1 Independent Experienced TAB Engineer

Provide services of a qualified independent TAB engineer to perform and manage TAB work of air and water systems. The TAB engineer and TAB agency shall be legally independent of the installing contractors or the equipment suppliers for this project.

1.6.1.1 Required Experience

Engineer shall have acceptably accomplished TAB work meeting the requirements specified herein on at least two systems of the following design and size: 2 chiller systems of a minimum 350 kW and two low velocity heating/cooling air systems of a minimum 17,000 m3/hr.

1.6.1.2 Experience Verification Information Required

a.

Submit the TAB Report forms accepted by the owner for the two projects offered as experience. Project TAB report forms with formats other than forms attached at the end of this section may be approved if determined to be equivalent by the Contracting Officer.

b.

Name and address of buildings in which the two systems are located.

c.

Name and telephone number of the existing maintenance manager of each system.

1.6.2 The Administration

If the Contractor fails to submit the name of an acceptable TAB engineer, the Contracting Officer may select a TAB engineer who meets the qualification requirements of this specification to accomplish the work. The selection shall be binding upon the Contractor at no additional cost to the Government.

1.7 TAB ENGINEER'S ROLE

1.7.1 Reporting Work

The TAB agenda, including the design review report and the TAB certified test reports shall be prepared, signed, and dated by the TAB engineer.

1.7.2 Field Work

The TAB engineer shall be present full time at the project site when TAB work is being accomplished and he shall be responsible for the conduct, supervision, and management of the TAB work.

1.8 PREREQUISITE WORK REQUIRED

The Contractor shall be responsible for the completion of all HVAC equipment start-up and debugging prior to the TAB engineer arriving at the project site to begin the TAB work. Submit to the Contracting Officer at the time specified for review and approval verification in writing that the items have been acceptably completed.

1.9 COORDINATION OF SUPPORTING PERSONNEL

The Contractor shall provide the technical personnel, such as factory representatives or controls installer or equipment mechanics, required by the TAB engineer to support his TAB field measurement work during each seasonal work session.

1.10 WRITTEN NOTICE OF TAB FIELD WORK SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall provide notice to the Contracting Officer of the commencement of TAB field measurement work.

1.11 ACCURACY OF SYSTEM BALANCE

Air Systems: Plus or minus ten percent (10%) of specified value. Water system: Plus or minus ten percent (10%) of specified value with all automatic valves in the open to coil position.

1.12 BALANCING PROCEDURE

Procedure for air and water balance performance shall be in accordance with ASHRAE procedures or other procedures submitted to and approved by the Contracting Officer. Water balance shall not be accomplished by the temperature differential method.

1.13 MINIMUM INSTRUMENTATION REQUIRED

1.13.1 Air Balance

a.

Inclined manometer calibrated in no less than 0.0005 in. of water (0.1 Pa) divisions.

b.

Combination inclined and vertical manometer 0-2490 Pa is generally the most useful.

c.

Pitot tubes (usually an 457 mm and 1219 mm long tube covers most balancing requirements).

d.

A tachometer, which should be the high quality, direct contact, self-timing type.

e.

Clamp-on ampere meter with voltage scales.

f.

Deflecting vane anemometer.

g.

Rotating vane anemometer.

h.

Thermal-type (hot-wire) anemometer.

i.

Dial and glass stem thermometers.

j.

Direct reading flow hood.

1.13.2 Water Balance

a.

Water-over-mercury manometer or a recently calibrated differential pressure gauge.

b.

100 mm pressure gauges of the appropriate ranges and recently calibrated.

c.

Clamp on ampere meter with voltage scales.

PART 2 - EXECUTION

2.1 DESIGN REVIEW

A review of this project specification and the accompanying drawings shall be conducted by the TAB engineer to verify that the air systems and water systems are designed in such a way that the TAB engineer can accomplish the work in conformance with the requirements of this specification.

2.2 SITE VISIT

The TAB engineer shall visit the project site and survey each HVAC system installation prior to his preparation of the TAB agenda. The date of this site visit shall be reported on the submitted TAB agenda.

2.3 TAB AGENDA

A TAB agenda shall be submitted and approved by the Contracting Officer prior to start of testing, adjusting, and balancing work. The agenda shall include the following:

2.3.1 Report of Design Review

The agenda shall indicate deficiencies in the system's design that would preclude the TAB engineer from accomplishing his work in conformance with the requirements of this specification section. The agenda shall state that no such deficiencies are evident if this is the case. All TAB tests shall be in accordance with SMACNA HVAC ADLTM.

2.3.2 Work Strategy and Schedule

Describe fully the intended TAB procedure and TAB instrumentation to be used for the work on each system. Delineate the TAB work schedule. Indicate the method of approach to the TAB work from start to finish specifying the sequencing of the TAB work. List what measuring instruments are going to be used and what their application will be.

2.3.3 Simulated Loads

When simulated loads or false control inputs to HVAC systems are required to accomplish the specified TAB work, include complete procedures to accomplish this in the TAB agenda.

2.3.4 Seasonal Restrictions

In spite of the use of simulated loadings and false control inputs, the TAB engineer shall visit the project site for at least two TAB work sessions for field measurements. At a minimum, one work session shall be in the season of maximum heating load and one visit shall be in the season of maximum cooling load, the goal being to TAB the heating systems and cooling systems under their maximum outdoor environment-causing loading. Further, heating equipment shall be TAB'd only in the season of maximum heating load; cooling equipment shall be TAB'd only in the season of maximum cooling load. Note that some cooling equipment has heating equipment associated with them. Ventilating equipment may be TAB'd in either of the two seasons.

2.3.5 Support Required

Specify what technical support personnel is required from Contractors other than TAB agency, i.e., factory representatives for temperature controls or for complex equipment. Specify on which TAB testing workday each technical support personnel is needed. The TAB engineer shall be responsible for informing the Contractor in writing of these support requirements, i.e., what support personnel is needed and when they are needed. The Contractor shall ensure these support personnel requirements are met.

2.3.6 TAB tests reports

a. Report size: seal test summary shall be reduced in size included at the end of this section. Attach duct drawings to the report indicating with adequate numbering the areas where tests have been performed. The report shall be verified and countersigned by the TAB operation supervisor.

b. Instruments: Provide a list of testing instruments which will be effectively used. Modify instruments identification numbering, calibration date and calibration expiry date.

c. Certifications: they shall include the supervisor’s typed name and signature.

2.4 TAB REPORT

Submit for approval data on applicable TAB report forms included at the end of this section after each seasonal work session. Other TAB report forms may be used if deemed equivalent to the specified forms by the Contracting Officer. As a minimum, the proposed forms shall furnish all information required on the specified TAB report forms. Each report form shall indicate the outdoor ambient dry bulb temperature range within which the report form's data was recorded. All data required by the data forms shall be provided except as authorized otherwise by the Contracting Officer in his approval of the TAB agenda submittal. Reports shall be organized and ordered by system; each report shall have a table of contents and report content shall follow that table; each report and required copies shall be securely bound in a durable hard covered, water-resistant binder.

2.4.1 Certification

The TAB reports shall be certified by a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) who is versed in the field of air and water balancing and who is legally independent of any firm involved in the design or construction phases of the project. This certification shall include checking adherence to agenda and procedures, and a written evaluation of the report's compliance with the approved agenda and the specified procedures. Additionally, the certification shall include the PE's name, typed, his signature, the date of the signature, and the PE shall stamp the report with his registered PE stamp.

2.5 PROCEDURES

Provide all instruments and consumables to accomplish the specified TAB work. Conduct the following listed TAB work on the HVAC systems in conformance with submittal agendas and procedures.

a.

Maintenance and calibration of instruments.

b.

Accuracy of measurements.

c.

Preliminary procedures: Plan and schedule TAB procedures, including review of system design, and preparation of TAB report forms.

d.

Air distribution system TAB work.

e.

Water distribution system TAB work.

f.

Report TAB work data: Accomplish TAB work for each of the systems listed below. Submit data on applicable report forms.

1.

Air Systems:

a) Air handling unit systems, unit heaters, heating and ventilating unit systems, including fans (air handling unit fans), coils, ducts, plenums, mixing boxes and air distribution devices for supply air, return air, outside air, mixed air, relief air, and make-up air.

b) Exhaust fan and supply fan systems including fans, ducts, plenums, and grilles and registers.

c) Systems including fan, ducts, plenum and registers.

2.

Water Systems:

a) Chilled water systems including chilled water side of water chillers, pumps, all cooling coils, and system balancing valves.

b) Hot water systems including heating coils, unit heaters, pumps and system balancing valves.

c) Boilers.

3.

Refrigerant Systems:

a) Report refrigerant side operating conditions for all chillers and computer room packaged units.

2.6 INSPECTION

At a time after submittal of the certified TAB report but not more than 45 days after this submittal, the TAB engineer shall check for accuracy, in the presence of the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative or his representative of data recorded in the certified TAB report. Since each seasonal work session requires from the TAB engineer a TAB report, an inspection meeting the requirements specified herein shall be conducted after each seasonal work session to data check the submitted TAB report. Checked data, which shall be measured by instruments shall fall within a tolerance of plus or minus 5 percent of the data tabulated in the report. Data found to be out-of-tolerance shall be corrected by reworking the TAB work on each out-of-tolerance adjustment to bring them into the specified tolerance. In addition, all data that would change as a result of the TAB rework shall be retested, readjusted, and rebalanced. The corrected TAB work, including readjustment, retesting, recording data, submitted new certified TAB reports, and new inspection shall be accomplished in compliance with the requirements specified in this section. Compliance with these inspection requirements are a prerequisite to approval of the submitted TAB report.

2.6.1 Random selections for Data Checking

2.6.1.1 Air Systems Inspection Group

a.

Air Handling Unit, Make-Up Air Unit Systems, and Heating and Ventilating Unit Systems Inspection Group: Check all data entries for any 3 of these air systems.

b.

Exhaust and Supply Fan Systems Inspection Group: Check all data entries for any 4 of these air systems.

2.6.1.2 Water Systems Inspection Group

a.

Chilled Water Systems Inspection Group: Check all data entries for the water chillers. Check all data entries for the chilled water systems serving the air handling units, which are selected to be data checked under paragraph, "Air Systems Inspection Group." Chilled Water systems for this paragraph is defined as all service piping, including branches and balancing valves which pipe only chilled water used by the particular cooling coil being data checked.

b.

Hot Water Systems Inspection Group: Check all data entries for the hot water systems serving the air handling units, and unit heaters which are selected to be data checked under paragraph "Air Systems Inspection Group." Hot water systems for this paragraph is defined as all service piping, including branches and balancing valves which pipe only hot water used by the particular heating coil being data checked.

c.

Procedures outlined in paragraphs 2.6.1.2 a and b above also apply to chilled hot water systems.

2.6.2 Additional TAB Data Checking

If during random TAB data checkings, any of the data entered on any report form for a particular equipment system in an inspection group is found to be out-of-tolerance, then all data entries on all report forms submitted for one more system of that inspection group (randomly selected and not previously checked) shall be data checked by the TAB engineer in the presence of the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative. If any data on the TAB report forms for the one additionally checked systems in out-of-tolerance, then all data entries on all report forms submitted for another one system of that inspection group (randomly selected and not previously checked) shall be data checked by the TAB engineer in the presence of the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative. This added data checking therefore increases by one the number of randomly selected system reports for an inspection group checked each time a report form in group system is found to have data which is out-of tolerance.

a.

Example of Air Systems: If any of the data entered on any air system TAB report form submitted for Unit Heater System No. UH-1, is found to be out-of-tolerance, then all data on all TAB report forms, for one of the remaining unit heater air systems (not previously data checked) (i.e. UH-2) shall be data checked. Therefore, if out-of-tolerance data continues to be found by inspection, it is possible that all TAB report forms for all of the air systems in unit heater systems inspection group could be data checked by random data checking.

b.

Example for Water Systems: If any of the data entered on any water system TAB report form submitted for Unit Heater System No. UH-1 is found to be out-of-tolerance, then all data on all TAB report forms, for one of the remaining unit heater water systems (not previously data checked) (i.e. UH-2) shall be data checked. Therefore, if out-of-tolerance data continues to be found by inspection, it is possible that all TAB report forms for all of the water systems in unit heater systems inspection group could be data checked by random data checking.

2.7 MARKING OF SETTINGS

Following final acceptance of certified reports by the Contracting Officer, the settings of all HVAC adjustment devices including valves, splitters, and dampers shall be permanently marked by the TAB engineer so that adjustment can be restored if disturbed at any time. Do not mark devices until after final acceptance.

2.8 MARKING OF TEST PORTS

The TAB engineer shall permanently and legibly mark and identify the location points of the duct test ports. If the ductwork has exterior insulation, these markings shall be made on the exterior side of the ductwork insulation.

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Section 15950

Section 15950