Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TO
HVAC
Industry
Overview
Technical Development Programs (TDP) are modules of technical training on HVAC theory,
system design, equipment selection and application topics. They are targeted at engineers and
designers who wish to develop their knowledge in this field to effectively design, specify, sell or
apply HVAC equipment in commercial applications.
Although TDP topics have been developed as stand-alone modules, there are logical groupings of topics. The modules within each group begin at an introductory level and progress to
advanced levels. The breadth of this offering allows for customization into a complete HVAC
curriculum from a complete HVAC design course at an introductory-level or to an advancedlevel design course. Advanced-level modules assume prerequisite knowledge and do not review
basic concepts.
This TDP provides a general overview of the commercial HVAC industry, providing an
awareness of: the design process; participants in the design and construction process; documents
involved in construction; a typical timeline of activities in the design and construction process;
and how these activities are influenced by the different participants in the process. This industry
is also influenced by regulatory agencies and legal concerns that are important to designers of
HVAC systems.
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Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1
Participants....................................................................................................................................... 3
Equipment Supplier Organizations .................................................................................................. 5
Industry Associations....................................................................................................................... 6
Legal Concerns ................................................................................................................................ 7
Delivery Methods .......................................................................................................................... 10
Plans and Specifications (Plan and Spec) .................................................................................. 11
Design-Build (D-B) ................................................................................................................... 12
Construction Management (CM) ............................................................................................... 13
Performance Contracting ........................................................................................................... 13
Typical Projects ............................................................................................................................. 13
HVAC Systems.............................................................................................................................. 15
HVAC Products ............................................................................................................................. 17
Summary........................................................................................................................................ 18
Work Session ................................................................................................................................. 19
Work Session Answers .................................................................................................................. 25
Glossary ..................................................................................................................................... 27
References.................................................................................................................................. 30
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Introduction
The HVAC (Heating,
Ventilating, Air Conditioning) industry is a large and
mature industry that serves
many markets. In fact, based
on the Commercial Buildings
Energy Consumption Survey
(CBECS) it is estimated that
there were 4,859,000 commercial buildings with 71.6
billion square feet of floor
space in the United States in
2003. Table 1 summarizes
the number of buildings and
floorspace based on market
segment.
Table 1
Number of Buildings and Floorspace by
Principal Building Activity, 2003
Number of
Buildings
(thousands)
All Buildings
Education
% of
Total
Total
Floorspace
2
(million ft )
4,859
71,658
386
8.0
9,874
13.7
% of
Total
Food Sales
226
4.7
1,255
1.8
Food Service
297
6.0
1,654
2.3
4.4
Health Care
129
2.7
3,163
Lodging
142
2.9
5,096
7.1
Mercantile
657
13.5
11,192
15.6
Office
824
17.0
12,208
17
Public Assembly
277
5.7
3,939
5.5
71
1.5
1,090
1.5
Religious Worship
370
7.6
3,754
5.2
Service
622
12.8
4,050
5.7
597
12.3
10,078
14.0
Other
79
1.6
1,738
2.40
Vacant
182
3.7
2567
3.8
Table 2
Number of Buildings and Floorspace
by Size of Building, 2003 (Preliminary)
Number of
Buildings
(thousands)
% of
Total
Total
Floorspace
2
(million ft )
% of
Total
All Buildings
4,859
71,658
1,001 to 5,000
2,585
53.2
6,922
9.7
5,001 to 10,000
948
19.5
7,033
9.8
10,001 to 25,000
810
16.7
12,659
17.7
25,001 to 50,000
261
5.4
9,382
13.1
50,001 to 100,000
147
3.0
10,291
14.4
100,001 to 200,000
74
1.5
10,217
14.3
200,001 to 500,000
26
0.5
7,494
10.5
Over 500,000
0.1
7,660
10.7
Introduction to HVAC
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Figure 1
By Building Age
The new construction market consists of projects in which the HVAC system is installed
when the building is originally constructed. This market includes projects in which the shell of
the building is constructed separately, with the HVAC system and other finish work installed later
under separate contracts after the tenants and their specific needs are identified.
The existing construction market
is usually identified as the renovation
or replacement market. It includes
system replacement projects, in
which the air conditioning system replaces a previously installed system,
and equipment replacement projects
in which some or all of the major
equipment is replaced. This market
also includes projects in which the air
conditioning system is installed many
years after the building is constructed
and no specific provisions were made
for its installation.
Figure 2
By Scope of Work
Introduction to HVAC
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
By Building Usage
% of Market
Office 17%
Other30%
Education 8%
Mercantile 13%
Figure 3
By Building Usage
Where market segment is based upon contracting arrangement, the segments can be designbuild, plan and specification (plan and spec), or construction management. In design-build work,
the design and the construction are provided by the same organization. In plan-and-specification
work, a design organization performs the design and creates design documents (called plans and
specifications) that are then used by a separate contractor organization to construct the building.
In construction management work, a third party oversees the design and construction activities to reduce risk and insure project completion, schedule, and cost.
Participants
Many different entitles are mvolved in a typical construction
project. Their usual relationships are
shown in Figure 4.
An owner provides the money to
construct a project, and assumes most
of the financial risk. A developer provides the concept and the business
plan, and usually manages the overall
project. The owner and developer
functions are frequently provided by
the same organization and referred to
as the Owner/Developer.
Figure 4
Typical Construction Project Organization
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
The prime contractor is usually responsible for coordinating all construction activity and
other contractual items relating to project cost and timing. Large or critical projects are frequently
constructed on a fast-track schedule when the major equipment is purchased and the construction
work is begun before the overall project design is completed. These projects may have a project
manager or a construction manager. A project manager coordinates the entire project, including
both design and construction work. A construction manager coordinates the construction activities, that must begin before the prime contract is awarded and continues until the project is
complete. Large developers and general contractors usually have project or construction management departments that operate independently of their normal business.
An architect provides the building design services for the project. The design of the HV AC,
structural, electrical, plumbing and other trades is provided by engineers in each specialty, by
contract with the architect. If these engineers are employed by the architect, the architect becomes
an Architect/Engineer.
Contractors provide the construction work. The contract for a prime contractor is a purchase
commitment from the owner or developer. A subcontractor has a contract with the prime contractor or a higher-level subcontractor. The prime contractor usually assumes responsibility for all
work at the job site, performs some of the work with his own employees, and provides the rest of
the work through use of subcontractors.
A general contractor is usually the prime contractor on a project. If the majority of the work
is of a special nature, such as replacement of air conditioning, the mechanical contractor may
serve as the prime contractor, with the general contractor becoming a subcontractor to the mechanical contractor.
The general contractor usually performs the work of constructing the building shell, such as
foundations, masonry and concrete work. The mechanical contractor, electrical contractor and
automatic controls contractors are typical subcontractors. Subcontractors also perform some
work, and arrange for other items through additional subcontractors. The test and balance subcontractor may work for the HVAC subcontractor, who works for the mechanical subcontractor, who
works for the prime contractor, etc.
The construction contract usually includes the commissioning, or startup phase of a project. A
commissioning agent or contractor is sometimes employed directly by the owner to provide a
more objective effort to identify and correct errors made during construction. Test and balance
contractors are specialists in measuring air and water flows and checking the performance of
equipment after it is placed in service. The startup of some equipment, especially chillers and
boilers, is performed by or supervised by a representative of the manufacturer, who is expected to
be most familiar with the proper procedures.
The building operations manager is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the
HVAC system. This is usually done by contract with a building management service on small
buildings. Large buildings usually have a full-time HVAC operation and maintenance staff on
site.
Service contractors provide either preventative maintenance or emergency repairs after the
system is in operation. Most construction contracts provide a 12-month warranty period. The
construction contractor must correct all failures or deficiencies, which are identified during the
warranty period, without charge.
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Equipment suppliers handle the sale of equipment for a project. The supplier may be a direct
sales office of the manufacturer, or a manufacturer's representative, who is an independently
owned company that typically sells several different types of equipment made by several different
manufacturers. A typical manufacturer' s representative may sell pumps from one manufacturer,
fans from another, etc.
A distributor buys equipment in large quantities from a manufacturer, and resells them to
dealers or independent contractors. Distributors tend to emphasize the products of one manufacturer and provide warehousing of products, marketing and training for their dealers. Some
distributors are independently owned, while some are owned by manufacturers.
Dealers are independently owned contractors who are franchised by distributors to install
equipment purchased from the distributor. The franchise arrangement may require the dealer to be
exclusive, in which case they buy all their equipment from one distributor in return for marketing,
training and financial assistance from that distributor.
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Industry Associations
Industry associations are formed to provide cooperative solutions to industry wide problems
that are best solved by collective effort. The following associations are typical of those involving
the HVAC industry.
ASHRAE (American Society of
Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) is primarily
concerned with creating information
for the design of projects. They publish the ASHRAE Handbook and
create many of the recommended
minimum standards, which influence
project design.
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J
National Fire
Protection Association
NFPA
Iii:\
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Underwriters'
Laboratories
International
Code Council
frigeration Institute) is primarily
cout:wt:xue
concerned with creating standards for
testing and rating the various types of
equipment. Equipment ratings, which Figure 6
are ARI certified, are more likely to Industry Associations
be correct and less likely -to be misleading. ARI also provides marketing statistics for air conditioning equipment manufacturers.
L\."ffll' -\lll.IX.U .
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) addresses building fire and smoke concerns, including fire and smoke dampers, duct and equipment construction materials and range hood
exhaust systems.
UL (Underwriters' Laboratories) is a non-profit organization divided into two parts. The first
section develops standards for the design and testing of product safety. These standards are
widely accepted as the benchmarks to be used in product safety testing. The second section of UL
is responsible for certification of products to the safety standards. Products may be tested by UL
for certification are listed in the UL directory and bear the UL label. Products tested to UL standards by an organization other than UL, such as CSA (Canadian Standards Association), AGA
(American Gas Association), and Intertech (ETL) are called UL accepted and are listed in that
organization' s directory and bear the label of the listing organization. UL may also test products
for specific applications that are not listed in its directory. These products are known as
UL recognized products. Local code officials generally accept the testing of these agencies to UL
standards as meeting the requirements for safety testing.
The International Code Council (ICC) is a non-profit association of building code officials
who develop building safety, energy efficiency, and fire prevention codes used for residential and
commercial construction. ICC has replaced other model code writing agencies such as Building
Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA), Southern Building Codes Congress (SBCC), and the
International Conference of Building Code Officials (ICBCO). The ICC model code is now used
as the basis of most all state and local building energy codes.
Introduction to HVAC
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Legal Concerns
The importance of legal issues to an equipment supplier depends upon the amount of money
involved and the organizational relationship of the HYAC supplier on the particular project. The
responsibilities of the supplier must be clearly identified.
The construction and operation of a building must be in accordance with the applicable local
and state building codes. These codes are usually based upon one of the model codes such as
ICC, which are written and sponsored by various associations of building code officials. The National Electric Code (NEC) is an example of a model code, which is written by an industry
association. Codes also include reference standards, which are written by industry associations
such as ASHRAE and ARI. ASHRAE Standard 15, for example, is the refrigeration safety standard that governs the design and installation of refrigeration systems. A model code or a reference
standard becomes part of the state or local building code when it is legally adopted by the appropriate governing body. The designer is responsible for meeting the elements of the design codes,
the contractor for meeting the construction elements of the codes, etc. The equipment supplier is
generally responsible for meeting HY AC equipment safety codes. This responsibility is absolute
when the construction documents identify the codes that must be met and when the purchase order for the equipment requires that the equipment be furnished in compliance with the
construction documents.
The official having jurisdiction is the government official who is responsible for enforcement
of the code item being considered. This official may be the fire marshal, the building inspector,
etc. Their interpretation of a code item is final, and they have the authority to enforce their decision by refusing to issue a certificate of occupancy for the building, which is necessary before the
building can be placed in use.
The HVAC systems are addressed
in a number of building construction
codes, mainly relating to life safety,
layout, design features, and performance (energy conservation). Across the
United States, the International Code
Council's family of publications has
been adopted almost universally. It is
safe to say that familiarity with the
International Building Code (IBC),
International Mechanical Code (IMC),
International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC), and International Fire
Code (IFC) will cover most of the
code-related requirements for HYAC
systems. See Figure 7. Always verify
your general understanding of the code Figure 7
requirements with the specific project Codes, Standards, and Guidelines
program before finalizing system se- (Reproduced with permission of I CC. All rights reserved.)
lection or closing out a design phase.
Introduction to HVAC
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Figure 8 shows the relationships
involved in building codes.
Licenses and pem1its for work at
the job site are usually obtained by the
contractors. The equipment supplier is
generally not responsible unless job
site labor is included and a special
license is required for this labor.
The construction documents for a
project are prepared by the designers
of the project, and include the plans
(drawings) and specifications. ArchiEquipment
tects and engineers who are properly
Manufacturer
registered by the local authorities to
perform such work must sign the con- Figure 8
struction documents for large projects.
Legal Issues - Codes
Equipment specifications and equipment selection criteria are included in the construction documents for "plan and specification"
projects, but may be issued separately for design-build projects.
Rather than copying the entire codes and reference standards that apply to a project, a typical
specification will simply state that all equipment must comply with the requirements related to
that item. The codes and reference standards for a project are usually listed at the beginning of
each major section of the specifications.
An addendum is a change or addition to the construction documents for a project. Addendum #1 might change the capacity of a chiller, for example, and Addendum #2 might add an
electronic variable speed drive to the air-handling unit. Failure to identify addendums and include
the changes in a quotation for the project may result in the delivery of the wrong equipment to the
job. The resulting expense and construction delay will create a very difficult situation for everyone involved.
A contract is the legal agreement between the participants on a project. A contract can be
created by the purchaser writing a purchase order that identifies the conditions of the sale. Acceptance of this purchase order by a vendor constitutes an agreement by the seller to all of these
conditions. A contract can also be created by the supplier making a proposal (an offer to sell),
which identifies the conditions of the sale. Acceptance of this proposal by a buyer constitutes an
agreement by the buyer to all of these conditions. The terms and conditions of proposals and purchase orders include the "fine print," which is usually on the back of the first page. Contractors
and equipment suppliers who do a lot of business together usually agree upon a standard proposal
and purchase order format.
A change notice is a revision to the contract between the owner and the prime contractor. A
change notice may include the changes resulting from several addenda that have been issued by
the designers of the project. For example, Change Notice 1 may include Addenda 1, 3, 4, and 9,
while Change Notice 2 may include Addenda 2 and 5 through 8. Some addenda are issued, but
never incorporated into the project because the cost is excessive or for some other reason.
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Introduction to HVAC
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Submittals and approvals are required for large projects, in order to confirm that the equipment being furnished is in accordance with the plans and specifications. The submittal and
approval requirements are described in the project specifications. The equipment being submitted
may have been the "basis of design," which is the exact equipment that the designer used to determine the size of the mechanical room, the arrangement of the piping and wiring, and the
features described in the specifications.
Construction Documents
Addendums to
(Plans and Specifications)
Equipment, which was not the basis of design, will almost always be
Proposal or
Quotation
different in some respect. These items
should be resolved during the bidding
and submittal processes. Considerable
experience is necessary in order to
identify what constitutes a significant
deviation, and how to either obtain
approval of the deviation or modify
the equipment to meet the specified
requirements. If incorrect equipment Figure 9
is installed, it may have to be removed
Legal Issues - Purchase Contract
and replaced without charge by the
contractor, probably at the expense of
the supplier.
Construction Documents
Figure 9 shows the relationship of the various documents that are most frequently encountered by equipment suppliers.
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Delivery Methods
There are many different methods of taking a project from the needs identification phase to
the completed building. The various design elements are not always completed in the same sequence or by the same members of the design team. Design is a shared, ongoing process that is
not always done by the HV AC designer. System selection needs to be responsive to this fact,
along with the many other criteria placed upon the process. Four common methods are shown
below. Features are shown in Figure 10.
Typical Projects
All types of
buildings
Complex or schedule
constrained
Complex or budget
constrained
Energy conservation
or system retrofits
Completed after
bidding
Before or after
bidding
Completed after
bidding
Who Works on
Them?
HVAC Designer
Either HVAC
Designer or
Contractor
Contractor
Who is Responsible
for HVAC Design?
HVAC Designer
D-B Contractor
Either HVAC
Designer or
Contractor
Contractor
Level of Design
Team Continuity
Complete through
process
Can become
fragmented
Depends on
Contractor control
Who Controls
Integrity of Design?
Controlled by
HVAC Designer
Often forced to
adjust to competing
needs
Contractor
Degree of Process
Burden
Greatest
Moderate to High
Least
Level of Owner
Involvement
Highest
Moderate
Moderate to Limited
Very Limited
Length of Schedule
1 to 4 years typical
3 to1 2 Months
Relative Cost to
Owner
Greatest - caused by
shortened schedule
Figure 10
Comparison of the Features of Delivery Methods
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Introduction to HVAC
Tmn ro ilieExperts.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
HVAC Design
Engineer
Subcontractors
HVAC
Subcontractors
therVendor
HVAC
Equipment
Supplier
HVAC
Service
Figure 11
Typical Construction Project Organization
Plan and Spec project delivery offers system selection as an up-front activity led by the
HVAC system designer (Figure 12). The designer completes drawings and specifications that
document what will eventually be
P lan and Spec Project Structure ( Fig 11)
provided by the construction contractor, often with minimal input by the
architect and client, and seldom if at
all from the eventual occupants.
Figure 12
Plan and Spec Project Structure
Introduction to HVAC
11
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
c:
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0
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tl
0
Criteria
System
Concept
Design Calculations
and Equipment
Selection
Plans
and
Specs
Figure 13
Cost and Difficulty of Making Changes
Design-Build (D-B)
Design-Build differs from Plan and Spec in that the construction bidding phase is moved up
to the front of the design process (Figure 14). Properly done, the client prepares building systems
performance plans and specifications
that are bid by contractor teams with
Owner-Prepared "Performance" Bid Package
design capability that carry forward
E~~ineerj
with the design process, meshing it
Warranty Period
Single-Line
Review of
with the construction activities to
Layouts
Contractor
Bid Packages
Owner Takes
shorten the overall project delivery
and
Beneficial Occupancy
Equipment
Contract Award
schedule.
Selections
J
Introduction to HVAC
12
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Performance Contracting
The performance contracting method of project delivery puts the greatest amount of decision-making in the contractor's hands. Usually a client is interested in lowering their energy costs
by replacing or upgrading a building system (like lighting, HVAC, or high-use motors), but is not
willing or able to provide the capital financing. Performance contracting transfers the financing
responsibility from the client to the contractor, who is then paid a percentage of the future savings
in energy costs.
Potential savings in energy costs are discovered during an energy audit of the facility and
proposed to the client by the contractor. HV AC systems are often a source of the energy savings,
both because of how much energy they use, and the savings that occur through improvements in
maintenance and operations. When significant upgrades in HVAC systems or a retrofit to another
system are suggested, the client needs to carefully review the impact on their employee comfort
and productivity to make sure it is a net gain. Many clients will bring in an HVAC systems consultant to review the recommended changes before authorizing the performance contractor to
proceed with the work.
Typical Projects
Residential projects are usually design-build projects handled by air conditioning dealers and
contractors. The purchaser is usually a developer in new construction, or a homeowner for existing buildings.
New small commercial systems are also design-build projects by air conditioning dealers and
contractors. The purchaser is usually a developer in new construction, and a business owner or
tenant for existing buildings. New large systems, above 100 tons, are usually plan and specification projects. The equipment sale is usually to a contractor, but the owner and the designer can be
very influential in determining the equipment supplier. In some cases, the equipment is purchased
directly by the owner.
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jNDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Equipment replacement projects are usually negotiated between the owner and a service contractor.
Regardless of the type of project, the sequence of events is as shown in Figure 15, which is
sometimes referred to as the "time line" of a project. The initial phase is an organizational phase,
in which the owner or developer
CONCEPT
DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION WARRANTY AND
ORGANIZATION
identify the major participants and
PHASE
PHASE
SERVICE PHASE
PHASE
PHASE
decide how the project will be
Organization Typo:
Project Criteria:
Load
Pricing
Resolve Equipment
Calculations
Failure and System
organized (negotiated, plan and
Comfort Level
Design/Build
Award
of
Operational
Problems
Plan and Spec
Costs
Equipment
Contracts
specification with competitive
Construction
Selection
Appearance
Management
Equipment
bids, etc.).
System Choice
Purchase
Air
Purchase Method :
Distribution
Coordination:
Competitive Bid
Submittal
The conceptual phase begins
Space Budgets
and Approval
Water
Negotiation
Distribution
with the identification of the purCreate Project
Installation
Team
Automatic
pose and general criteria for the
Controls
Commissioning
project by the owner. Each of the
Construction
Documents
design professionals then deterCoordinate
mines which general concepts are
Details
most appropriate to meet the established
criteria.
The Figure 15
requirements for each trade are Typ ical H VAC Proj ect Timeline
coordinated. Using the HVAC
system as an example, the equipment and duct space is allocated by the architect, the preliminary
electrical power requirements are provided to the electrical engineer, the equipment weights to
the structural engineer, etc. The budgets for each trade and for the entire project are established.
The HVAC system design phase is dominated by the HVAC designer, either an independent
consulting engineer or an employee of the design-build contractor. The designer confirms the criteria for the HVAC system, calculates the cooling and heating loads, selects the equipment,
designs the air, water and refrigerant distribution systems and the HVAC control system. Each
item must meet the space, cost and service requirements that were agreed upon during the concept
phase, or the designer must coordinate the new requirements with all of the affected parties. Design changes become increasingly difficult during this phase.
The constmction phase is dominated by the contractor. It includes the purchase of equipment,
installation of equipment, air and water distribution and control systems and the commissioning
of the HVAC system. To the contractor, timing is extremely important. Delays in equipment
submittals or deliveries can result in substantial increased cost to the contractor that may lead to
legal damage claims.
The warranty and service phase involves the owner and, for commercial projects, the building
management and service contractors as well. Everyone, including owner, tenants, contractor, architect and engineer, becomes aware of problems that affect or prevent operation of the HVAC
system. Prompt and fair resolution of any problems is extremely important.
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Introduction to HVAC
14
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
HVAC Systems
Many types of HVAC systems have been developed to serve a wide range of different markets and performance requirements. The choice of a suitable type of system is a logical first step
toward providing a satisfied client. The choice should be based on the priorities that have been
established for that individual project. These priorities include functional performance, costs and
many other considerations.
HVAC systems differ widely in their ability to provide the normal air conditioning functions,
which include the control of temperature, humidity, air motion, air quality (ventilation and air
purity) and sound level. Costs include the initial construction cost of the system; the cost of energy, makeup water, water treatment and disposal; the cost of operation labor, maintenance,
repair and equipment replacement; the cost of system modification to serve future tenants; and the
construction cost of building space for ductwork, piping and mechanical rooms. Other considerations include the architectural appearance of visible system elements, the probability and impact
. of HVAC system failures and the disruption of tenant activities related to maintenance of items in
tenant areas.
From the above, it should be obvious that the lowest construction cost system is inappropriate
for most applications. Most owners and system designers are very interested in providing appropriate systems, and are relatively open to discussion of these items. To be successful, these
discussions must occur before or during the concept phase of the project.
HVAC systems are generally classified by the type of refrigeration and by the type of air
system.
Refrigeration systems are either direct (called DX for "direct-expansion") or indirect. The
cooling coil in a DX system is cooled directly by the expansion of refrigerant inside the tubes of
the coil. The cooling coil in an indirect system is cooled by chilled water or brine that is circulated through a piping system between a water chiller and the cooling coil.
Packaged DX systems with a single refrigeration compressor, cooling coil and condenser in
close proximity to each other generally have low initial cost, and can be very efficient if the components are selected for high efficiency. They are usually simple and trouble-free. Split system
DX systems become more complex and prone to refrigerant leakage with increasing numher of
components and the length of piping. A single leak can result in loss of the entire refrigerant
charge of a system.
Chilled-water systems are generally preferred if one or two central water chillers can replace
a large number of separate DX systems, or if the refrigeration equipment must be remote from the
cooling coils. Water piping between the chiller and the cooling coils is simpler than refrigerant
piping. The refrigerant piping system can be factory-installed and tested on practically any size
chiller, and the possibility of refrigerant leakage is minimized.
Air systems are generally classified as either single or multiple zone systems. Single-zone
systems can serve any size building area as long as a single temperature control zone can provide
reasonable temperatures throughout the area served by that system. A window air conditioner and
a 50,000 cfm central system serving an exhibition hall are examples of single-zone systems. Multiple single-zone systems can be installed to provide separate zones within the building area, with
a separate temperature control for each single-zone unit.
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Introduction to HVAC
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Multiple-zone systems provide several or many temperature control zones from the same central equipment. One central air handler can serve over a thousand separate temperature control
zones. Many of these systems use room terminal units to serve each zone. Multiple-zone systems
are sub-classified in several ways, as shown below.
,-----------------------------
System
T pe
i Water-Cooled Packaged
~
Llll.......alol~-;;..,(lil~,,._,,,iiiilliil~~.................._.~.._--........~j..,;J
+-
l Commercial :
Duct-Free Spilt
!____________________________________________________ - -
, Commercial
'
1 1 1
I
4
2
~ - -------5
1 2 ----- ------ ----------- __J__ ---------------------------------------
: ~~
l - - - - - ---------- ---------r----.------r -~ 2-Pipe Changeov~!_______________________________ J____Hot~:_~_P_t :____;_____~-- _____;----~------+-------4________J___
-- ........-- -
- - - - .. -----
----
:
-<-
I Multizone
' 3 Deck Multizone
I Hotel, Apt.
t---Hote1, Apt-.---:---
'
1
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---r-sT
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'
'
-'--
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t----,! 5
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Figure 16
Multiple Zone System Characteristics
All-air systems are systems in which a central air system provides all of the cooling effect to
the individual zones. All-water systems do not have a central cold air system, but provide a separate chilled-water fan-and-coil unit to serve each zone. Combination air-water systems provide a
central conditioned air system to do a portion of the zone cooling and also provide a chilled-water
coil in each zone to supply the remaining zone cooling load. The performance and costs of the
multiple-zone systems vary widely and are beyond the scope of this discussion.
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Introduction to HVAC
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
HVAC Products
Products are also classified in many ways, beginning with the type of HVAC system for
which it is intended. A "room type chilled-water fan-coil unit" is obviously intended for use as
the room terminal of that type of system.
Products are classified by the degree of factory design, either factory-engineered or customdesigned; and by the degree of factory assembly, such as single-piece, split-system, or fieldassembled component. The design of a factory-engineered system has the advantages of being
tested before it is produced for sale and of continual improvement in response to product failures
of units previously manufactured. The fabrication of a factory-fabricated system has the advantage of production using properly trained labor with the optimum tooling and materials, plus
quality testing of the finished product.
A single-piece, factory-engineered assembled unit is inherently the most reliable and least
expensive. Split-systems provide the ability to locate the elements in more appropriate locations,
but with the possibility of poor refrigerant piping connections. Factory-engineered package
equipment is usually designed for the mass market, with commensurate lower equipment price.
Field-assembled components provide the ultimate in design flexibility for projects with unusual
needs such as extremely low energy consumption or extremely high fabrication quality.
Products are classified by the type of condenser, either air-cooled, water-cooled, or evaporative. Air-cooled units have greater electricity demand and consumption, but require much less
maintenance and do not require any makeup water, treatment, or disposal. The type of compressor is usually part of the classification, such as reciprocating, scroll, rotary screw, or centrifugal.
Finally, products are classified by
the components in the product. A
condensing unit includes a condenser
and a compressor, in order to condense the refrigerant that evaporates
in a remote DX cooling coil. A package water chiller is a complete
assembly of compressor, chiller, condenser, controls and wiring.
The CSI (Construction Specifications Institute) format is used by most
specification writers. The above discussion generally follows the CSI
classifications of HVAC equipment.
Indoor Unit
Furnace And Coil
Indoor Unit
AHU (Fan Coil)
Figure 17
Typical Components ofAir-Cooled Split System
Introduction to HVAC
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17
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Summary
The HVAC industry is a challenging and diverse marketplace. The size of the market is huge
considering the 4.9 million building base that might require some type of new HVAC system or
upgrade. Selection systems for this varied base can be complicated further by the multiple types
of systems that are available and the potential unique requirements of each building. Each participant in the design process is critical in assuring properly functioning systems are delivered to
building owners. Compliance with building codes and specifications are also the responsibility of
all members of the design and construction team.
The HVAC industry is an exciting business to be a part of. Customer requirements continually evolve and drive industry standards. Designers, manufacturers, and contractors must
constantly upgrade their knowledge to meet their customers' needs. The Technical Development
Program series is presented to help all players in the industry to develop, maintain, and upgrade
their skills in meeting customer needs.
<f,M@
Introduction to HVAC
18
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Work Session
MARKETS
1. For the HVAC industry, identify the two market segments that are based upon the age of the
buildings involved.
2. Identify the market segments that are based upon the usage of the building.
3. Identify the market segments that are based upon the type of design and contracting method.
PARTICIPANTS
4. Match the following participants in the HVAC industry:
Engineer
Contractor
Architect
provides the money and assumes the primary financial risk of the project.
B.
provides the concept and business plan for the project. May also provide the project management.
C.
D.
Owner
Developer
Commissioning Agent
E.
provide the construction work of purchasing and installing the items needed for the project.
F.
G.
Dealer
Service Contractor
- -- -
A.
H.
I.
handles the sale of equipment to the contractor. Usually sells products manufactured by several different
manufacturers.
an equipment sales representative who provides local
warehousing of products. Often provides training and
marketing services for a dealer network.
a contractor with a formal ongoing relationship with
an equipment distributor.
Equipment Sales
Representative
J.
Building Operations
Manager
K.
Introduction to HVAC
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19
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
LEGAL CONCERNS
8. Which entity (contractor, engineer, equipment supplier, etc.) has the primary responsible for
meeting the following requirements?
A. Building design codes
B. Building construction work codes
C. Equipment construction codes
D. Building licenses and pennits
9. What is a "national" building code or standard?
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Introduction to HVAC
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20
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
TYPICAL PROJECTS
HVAC SYSTEMS
19. There are many different types of HVAC systems - direct expansion or chilled-water, central
or unitary, etc.; and many different applications - offices, hotels, residences, shopping centers, etc. Is any one of these types of systems better than all of the others for all of the
different applications?
20. What is a DX system?
22. What is likely to be different if one type of HYAC system is chosen instead of another type?
HV AC PRODUCTS
26. Name some typical benefits of a "factory-assembled" product compared to a "field assembly"
of components.
di@.~
21
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
29. Why might a system designer be reluctant to change the concept of a system after it has been
agreed upon?
30. Why might a system designer be reluctant to change the selection of HVAC equipment after
it has been done?
31. Why might a system designer be reluctant to change the construction documents for a system
after they have been issued?
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Introduction to HVAC
22
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Notes
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Notes
<+
the Experti.----------------------_::ln~t~ro~d~u~c~t~io~n~t~o~H~V~A~C
Turn to
24
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
fMQi
25
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
wrong equipment is shipped to the job site and must be removed and replaced at the
supplier's expense.
TYPICAL PROJECTS
17. A. Organize: decide who does what
B. Concept: decide what is to be built and the appropriate budget
C. Design: determine capacity, arrangement and construction detail
D. Construction: Build and commission the project
E. Warranty and Service: Prevent or correct problems
18. A. If you have done good work with one of the organizers (owner, engineer, contractor) on a
previous project, they can influence the others to favor you when close decisions must be
made.
B. You may be able to identify situations, which would place you at a competitive disadvantage, and suggest changes to improve your position without hurting the overall cost or
performance of the project.
HVAC SYSTEMS
19. NO
20. A system in which refrigerant circulates "directly" through the cooling coil.
21. A system in which a water chiller is used to cool water. The chilled-water is circulated
through the cooling coils in the air-handling units.
22. A. functional performance: temperature, humidity, air quality and sound level
B. costs: design and construction, energy consumption, water and water treatment, operation
and maintenance
C. space: for duct, piping, equipment rooms
D. architectural appearance
23. A system that serves an area with one thermostat.
24. A system that serves several different areas and provides a separate temperature control zone
for each area.
HVAC PRODUCTS
25. less design cost, less chance of design errors
26. lower cost because of tooling and production quantity; better quality because of better
supervision and testing.
27. no water consumption or chemical water treatment is necessary
28. lower electricity consumption
HVAC DESIGN PROCESS
29. The other designers, such as the architect or electrical engineer, may have to change work
they have already done in order to accommodate the new concept.
30. The designer will not be paid for the time required to make the change, and there is risk that
this change will require changes to other items that have already been completed.
31. Addendums are time consuming and expensive. They also raise the issue of who is to blame
for the change.
<Cf,ji@fi
Introduction to HVAC
26
---
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
Glossary
addendum
air-water system
all-air system
all-water system
architect
ARI
ASHRAE
building operations
manager
change notice
revision to the contract between the owner and the prime contractor
commissioning agent
construction
management
construction
manager
contract
contractor
dealers
<ii@
27
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
design-build
developer
direct expansion
(DX)
distributor
engineer
equipment
replacement project
equipment supplier
fast-track schedule
ICC
new construction
market
NFPA
owner
Performance
Contracting
Plan and
Specification
<fihi+
Introduction to HVAC
Turn roilieExperts:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
28
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
prime contractor
project manager
reference standards
replacement market
service contractors
subcontractor
UL
<flip
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29
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
References
2003 International Building Code. Copyright 2002. Falls Church, Virginia: International Code
Council, Inc.
2003 International Energy Conservation Code. Copyright 2003. Falls Church, Virginia: International Code Council, Inc.
2003 International Mechanical Code. Copyright 2003, Falls Church, Virginia: International Code
Council, Inc.
cfiTurnto theExpertS:- - - - - - - - - -- -- --
30
Introduction to HVAC
- - -- -- - -- - -
Prerequisites:
None
Learning Objectives:
After reading this module , participants will be able to:
Describe the commercial and how its market is served .
Describe the participants in the construction process and total HVAC life cycle influencers
in the various market categories.
Understand the steps in the construction process of typical commercial projects .
Describe the commercial new construction process and influencers, plan and specification
and design build.
Describe the commercial retrofit, replacement and renovation market and how they are influenced by the construction process and decision makers.
Understand how codes and regulatory influences impact building decision.
Be able to identify how different industry organizations influence HVAC design.
Understand how influencers and regulatory influences affect system selection .
Understand how various players in the process can work together.
Appreciate who does what design in each method of going to market and know when it is
their turn to perform.
Supplemental Material:
TOP No.
TDP-701
Book
Cat. No.
796-067
Instructor CD
Cat. No.
797-067
Title
System Selection
Instructor Information
Each TDP topic is supported with a number of different items to meet the specific needs of the
user. Instructor materials consist of a CD-ROM disk that includes a PowerPoint presentation
with convenient links to all required support materials required for the topic. This always includes:
slides, presenter notes, text file including work sessions and work session solutions, quiz and
quiz answers. Depending upon the topic, the instructor CD may also include sound, video,
spreadsheets, forms, or other material required to present a complete class . Self-study or
student material consists of a text including work sessions and work session answers, and may
also include forms , worksheets, calculators, etc.