Emerging Issues

HVAC systems have increased in complexity over the years. While the fundamentals track to
the basics developed by the pioneers in the early 20th century, the MER has many more
collateral design issues and liability concerns to consider today.

A. Energy
The energy crisis of the 1970s initiated a new focus on energy efficiency and shift to partload design dynamics. Energy wasteful solutions have become obsolete. Designing systems
with a peak load only perspective has become obsolete. Managing peak loads to reduce peak
energy demand has become essential. The MER must understand the impacts of equipment
part-load performance and overall, integrated system performance.
Energy codes and standards have aggressively forced equipment manufacturers to improve
the efficiency of equipment and integrated systems. Renewable energy solutions have
become, for some applications, economically feasible considerations. Owners have become
total ownership cost savvy and understand the bottom line impact of energy budgets and
energy consumption profiles. Dependence on fossil fuel based energy solutions is becoming a
concern. The MER must recognize the impact of the energy issue and respond to energy
efficient and renewable solutions.

B. Energy Modeling
Energy modeling is the process of using scientific methods and analytical tools to estimate
the energy consumption patterns of a given facility, constructed of given materials, located in
a given climate zone and operated according to given schedules. These tools and methods
range from simple hand calculations and spreadsheets to the most sophisticated software
packages designed to consider numerous building configurations, denote multiple zones,
model multiple systems with many varied hours of operation, and integrate with/to Building
Information Models.
Energy modeling should be utilized to help integrate and optimize a building's energy
consuming systems' performance over the expected life cycle of the facility. Those systems
include, but are not necessarily limited to, the building envelope, HVAC&R systems, area
lighting, water heating, pumping, elevators and personnel transportation devices, process and
plug type power loads. Plug type loads include items such as task lights, computers, space
heaters, appliances, TVs, etc.
Energy modeling may also be required if it becomes necessary to value engineer a project
after the design phase is complete. Simple substitutions of less costly materials, products,
equipment, or systems at this stage of a highly integrated building design may have serious
and profound negative effects on the building's future energy and environmental performance
if not properly analyzed prior to acceptance.
During the programming and/or schematic design phases the HVAC&R engineer should be
prepared to assist the architectural design professional and Owner in optimizing a building's
envelope and orientation design long before HVAC&R system selections and equipment
alternatives are considered. Simple shoe box type models considering the buildings basic

mass and scale may be quickly setup at this phase of design and zones with similar thermal
characteristics may be assigned within the building. Consideration should be given to the
building envelope materials (exterior wall cladding, wall insulation, roof materials and
insulation, fenestration materials), orientation, cost of materials, and local climate. During
this phase, a baseline model should be created with which to compare any alternative or
proposed designs. The baseline model may be a code required minimum building, a building
similar to one that the Owner is moving out of, or a building similar to one that the Owner
typically constructs.

C. Moisture Control
Moisture control has become a significant liability issue for the MER. A very negative trend
has been developing in the industry recently whereby buildings are making occupants sick
due to growth of mold. There is no one reason to explain why such a proliferation of mold
contamination cases has blossomed, but there are some fundamental factors that the MER
must keep in perspective while designing a facility, such as:

All water generation sources inside the facility need to be understood and minimized.
Construction of the building envelope must be properly applied to the climate zone in
question. The relationship of vapor retarders and air barriers needs to be correctly
understood.
All possible relative building air pressure relationships (internal and external) need to
be understood to avoid bringing undesirable, untreated moisture into the facility.

D. Ventilation and Dedicated Outside Air Systems (DOAS)

Application of ASHRAE Standard 62.1 may create some difficult design challenges for the
MER. The correct outside air ventilation requirements for a given space/zone/facility layout
may very easily exceed the summation of the simple people and area factor prescribed
ventilation rates when ventilation effectiveness is taken into account. When multiple spaces
are included into the same zone, calculations must be performed to identify the correct
ventilation rate that ensures adequate distribution to all spaces and zones for all operating
conditions. Depending on the zoning configuration, the multiple space calculation corrections
can increase the minimum required outside air quantity.
The utilization of excessive outside air will have a significant impact on cooling/heating
loads and the sizing/selection of equipment and plant solutions. Additionally, depending on
the climate zone in question, an undesirable high quantity of moisture could be coming into
the building. As latent cooling requirements increase, sensible heat ratios start to decrease. As
sensible heat ratios drop, the proper application of equipment to maintain space temperature
and humidity becomes problematic.
The increased outside air quantities also impact the minimum setting on variable volume
terminal units. It is conceivable that the terminal unit minimums could be so high that the
need for constant reheat may be required and the benefit of having the all air VAV system
becomes an energy liability.
DOAS systems provide a creative solution that addresses multiple issues. For example:

The DOAS approach allows the outside air latent load to be decoupled from the space
sensible load. The outside air path can be conditioned based on dew point control to
deliver neutral or cold air to a parallel space sensible cooling system. Space
temperature can then independently be controlled by the sensible cooling system.
The DOAS air path is 100% outside air, not mixed, and can be delivered at the
prescribed quantity directly to the space based on the people and area factor
ventilation rates. Multiple space calculations do not need to be considered.
Since no mixing is involved, ventilation rate delivery to the space/zone can actually
be verified and continuously monitored.
The new requirement in ASHRAE Standard 62.1 that requires occupied spaces be
held below 65% relative humidity now becomes achievable at part-load cooling
conditions.
The problems encountered with scroll compressor DX VAV units cycling off when
leaving air temperature is satisfied and raw outside air is pulled across a de-active
coil, are minimized. Additionally, the phenomena of moisture on the coil and in the
drain pan being re-evaporated back into the unconditioned air path can be eliminated.

E. Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM is the concept of using truly intelligent 3D modeling software to create optimized,
efficient, and environmentally friendly building designs. The concept has been around since
the advent of the first computer-aided drafting (CAD) system. However, the industry is still a
decade or more away from having commercially available software that integrates the needs
of every design and construction discipline as well as the ownership, operation, and
maintenance needs of the building owner throughout the useful life of a facility.
For example, a complete BIM solution would allow the Architect to create an intelligent 3D
model of a building, its site and location. That model would include the aesthetic, physical,
and thermal properties of each component as well as specification and cost data. Then the
Civil Engineer would use a software interface to allow the design of the site and analysis of
all utilities and drainage systems involved. Similarly, the Structural Engineer's software
would allow him to use the characteristics from the Architect's model to size structural
members and properly reinforce the structure based on each component's physical
characteristics and the project's geographic location. The MER would interface with the
Architect's model to seamlessly generate Energy Models and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of the
building's envelope and energy consuming systems, and so on for all other disciplines
involved. Finally, after all design is complete, the original modeling software would compile
the data from each discipline and generate a BIM and a set of digital Construction Documents
for use to construct the facility.
Use of the BIM would continue into the bidding phase by interface with a contractor's cost
estimating, scheduling, and project management software and manufacturers' material,
fabrication, and cost databases to generate optimized cost estimates and construction
schedules. During construction, the model would be continually updated to as-built
conditions including integration of manufacturers' complete operations and maintenance data
and instructions. At completion of construction the Building Information Model would be
turned over to the Owner for interface with facility management software to optimize the
operation and maintenance of the facility for the duration of its life.

F. Commissioning
See Building Commissioning.

G. Performance-Based Building Codes

See Fire Protection Engineering in the Design Disciplines section for a discussion of
Performance-Based Building Codes.

H. Acoustics
The fundamentals of equipment sound power levels, transmission paths, and resulting sound
pressure readings go beyond the application and understanding of basic thermodynamics. The
MER should have sufficient understanding of acoustics to be able to benchmark the sound
quality of the equipment applied as the design solution and attenuate sound paths accordingly
to the acoustical criteria for the occupied spaces.
While acoustical design techniques really haven't changed, the issuance of ANSI 12.60-2002
has changed the integrated design dynamic. A standard of care document is now in print that
details sound quality features for school environments. Successful compliance with this new
standard will require a concentrated coordination effort between mechanical and general
construction interest. All sound transmission paths (discharge, radiated, breakout, etc.) must
be analyzed to show anticipated space sound pressure based on equipment selection sound
power source energy. Equipment locations, equipment operating points, transmission path
construction, end room reflectance, and resulting sound pressure are all variables that the
MER needs to understand and manipulate.

I. High Density Data Servers

Facilities are becoming "smarter" and fully networked. This high-tech trend has created a
new challenge for the MER. Communication and data storage servers are adding significant
sensible cooling loads to the indoor environment. As server technology improves to provide
better speed and capacity, the sensible heat rejection load component keeps rising. Recent
studies show the heat rejection densities for server equipment doubling, maybe even tripling,
in just the next five year window. Rarely has the MER been faced with a commercial design
challenge wherein the HVAC infrastructure may be obsolete so quickly. High density loads,
hot/cold aisles, and phased capacity methodology are new issues that the MER will have to
address. See Information Technologies Engineering.