Hosting 40 million visitors each year, Central Florida's economy relies on eating and entertaining like few others. From high humidity to saltwater spray, and a food prep lab with multiple ventilation hoods, all sorts of challenges face HVAC designers striving for comfort in the Orlando area. By Barry Campbell
Will the new year actually be a happy one, or not? For those in the building automation sector, that might depend on understanding current trends, studying past trends in other industries, and taking the time to ask, "What's a SWOT?" By Paul Ehrlich, P.E.
How do you move forward by looking back? In the Harvard Business School's latest green initiative, it means enlisting a consulting firm to apply its hydraulic modeling software to the project. Scrutinizing the current system allowed the school to eliminate 26 tertiary pumps, improve current central plant performance, and help answer the questions necessary to prepare for substantial future growth. By Amanda McKew and
Howard McKew, P.E., CPE
When it comes to managing noise levels in VAV systems, there's more there than meets the ear. How much is too much? That's a good place to start. After that, silencers, duct liners, and vinyl flexible duct are but three tools at your disposal. Elsewhere, designers may face a less predictable predicament: What is too little noise? Consider these angles to master the sound of success. By Joanna R. Turpin
"Premature capacity installation," "stranded assets," "capacity under-utilization," and "capacity over-utilization" are all phrases that describe the challenge of designing today's datacom facility. Whether for new construction or a retrofit, sizing decisions about support systems carry a risk of the facility being underdesigned or overdesigned. This article advises designers on how to develop a load characterization or baseline for existing datacom operations, as well as for nameplate vs. measured load. The author highlights an ongoing asset in addressing this issue, the work of ASHRAE TC 9.9. By Don Beaty P.E.
With so many new products on the Expo floor this year in Orlando, the interested engineer has no time for Mickey Mousing around. We asked exhibitors for the latest on their booth offerings. Now you can peruse the highlights of those responses, and do some scouting to make sure your time in the aisles is worthwhile. Compiled By ES Staff
Many of the greatest sustainable design opportunities lie within the central utility plant. This article discusses a range of design concepts, including site selection, energy and water conservation, emissions, alternative fuels, materials selection, and innovation. By Bruce McLay, P.E., LEED,
and Geoff McMahon, P.E.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) announced the release of DocuBuilder® 4.0, the newest version of its electronic contract documents software application. AGC DocuBuilder® 4.0 provides owners, design professionals,
The ASHRAE Foundation Board has launched its Expanding the Network of Knowledge endowment campaign. ASHRAE officially kicked off the endowment campaign during its 2005 Winter Meeting held here February
Tridium Inc. and NovusEdge announced the development of the first integrated console for automated security and building management systems to be built using the next generation Niagara Framework®, NiagaraAX.
The Construction Specifications Institute will hold the 49th Annual CSI Show & Convention in Chicago April 19-23, 2005. For more information visit www.thecsishow.com.
NFPA will hold its Annual World Safety Conference & Exposition™, June 6-10 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas. Conference details can be found at www.nfpa.org/wsce
RSES and the R.W. Kellow Center of Learning will present a seminar titled "Electrical Troubleshooting," on April 9-10, 2005 at the Best Western Colonial Inn in East Windsor, CT.
Honeywell has released a free, Web-based version of its Building Control Workbench™, a tool designed to save consulting engineers and other design professionals time by helping them find the
Echelon Corporation announced at the 2005 AHR Expo, that the communications protocol underlying its market-leading technology has been incorporated into the European prEN 14908 building control standard.
RSES is now distributing Axxess Media Interactive programs at discounted prices to RSES members. The HVAC MAESTRO series is designed to help the professional HVAC service technician gain confidence in
AMCA International has released a new CD-ROM Control Damper Presentation designed to cover the types, performance, application, and installation of control dampers. It addresses the purpose behind the association's Certified
Bradley Corp. has enhanced the online sizing guide for its Navigator® Thermostatic Mixing Valves adding more functionality to the calculator, improved graphics, and more. The interactive sizing tool, available in
Autodesk, Inc. announced the 20th release of AutoCAD® and the latest release of AutoCAD LT® software, with features that the company says advance core drafting functions for more intuitive and
Efficiency Technologies, Inc. has introduced an easy-to-use chiller and boiler efficiency management tool that diagnoses equipment performance, troubleshoots problems, and generates comprehensive reports for only $400 per year (per
Data-Basics announced the addition of Bell Cabling Solutions (a division of Bell Professional Services) as a client. This partnership increases Data-Basics' roster of clients in the telecommunications industry and
HVAC Excellence recently released another technician certification "Carbon Monoxide and Combustion Analysis Certification," which addresses growing concern nationally about carbon monoxide as the building construction industry has changed considerably in
At a recent roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in partnership with GAMA, U.S. boiler manufacturers who export their products to China voiced an urgent
ARI has urged its members to support the "Cool and Efficient Buildings Act," which would set the depreciation period from 39 to 20 years for "any property which is part
Echelon Corporation, the creator of the LONWORKS® device networking platform for networking everyday devices to each other and the Internet, and WebGen Systems Inc., provider of advanced software for energy
ASHRAE will offer four professional development seminars, including two online courses, this spring. The ASHRAE Learning Institute's professional development seminars provide in-depth information that is timely, practical and advanced beyond
Advantech Corporation, Industrial Automation Group released the ADAM-6066, a high current relay output module to meet the requirements of power switching applications.
James W. Neumann, president of RB Royal Industries, Inc., has been elected to the National Fluid Power Association board of directors for a three-year term.
Algor, Inc. and Kubotek USA, Inc., supplier of the KeyCreator™ (formerly CADKEY®) design and manufacturing software, announced a new technology partnership. ALGOR has been named a Kubotek Solution Partner and
Echelon Corporation announced a new development kit that could dramatically simplify the process of evaluating and deploying control networks. This development kit is designed for the rapidly growing, price-sensitive "mass"
NFPA president and CEO, James M. Shannon, is urging all those involved in emergency planning to fully address the safety of people with disabilities through careful planning and training
ASHRAE has funded research to improve IAQ on planes and in homes and to protect occupants in government buildings. Twelve students have been approved to receive a total of $100,000
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council's (SBIC) High-Performance School Buildings Resource and Strategy Guide is designed to help those who make decisions about the design and construction of K-12 schools, by
MicroMain Corporation announced that it was awarded a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contract. MicroMain's software is now available to federal, state, and local agencies through GSA Schedule 70,
Data-Basics has unveiled version 6.1 of its SAM Pro Enterprise software suite, which further enables companies to improve their business performance, for its current clients.
Engineered Software, Inc. announced the release of its Software Development Kit (SDK), which works in conjunction with the company's innovative PIPE-FLO Professional program.
ASHRAE has published The ASHRAE Member's Survival Guide - Design/Build, which aims to provide readers with information about starting a D-B business, including background on the issues, consequences and liabilities
Advantech Corporation, Industrial Automation Group announced that their line of 15-in. flat panel monitors, part number FPM-2150G, is being phased out and replaced with a brighter, longer lasting model, the
Cannon Design announced that Jill Bergman, AIA, associate vice president, has relocated from the firm's New England region to its San Francisco office.
Stellar Contracting is ready to begin construction of The Tower, a seven-story 54,200-sq-ft luxury condominium complex for Serena Point LLC, in Jacksonville, FL.
Lilker Associates, a New York City-based MEP and technology engineering firm, announced that Martin Bowen, P.E., has been promoted to principal and associate department head of the Electrical Department; Steven
Woolpert LLP became incorporated on January 1, 2005. Due to sustained growth over the past decade, the privately held partnership transitioned to a privately held corporation under the name
Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. (AKA) announced that John Hrovat, OAA, was promoted to manager of architectural design; Athanasios Papademos, P.E., was promoted to technical director of electrical engineering; Cary
Holabird & Root LLC recently completed Hays Hall, a new science building at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN. The firm also designed a renovation for Goodrich Hall.
Carter & Burgess has elected Jonathan Schwartz, P.E., to the position of associate principal. Currently, Schwartz serves as program manager with the Energy & Power Solutions Group and was
At the Capitol Area East End complex, the building contractors found that the underfloor air distribution system simplified installation, and it also reduced the time that was needed to install
Keith Sinclair had a problem. He owned an attractive and ideally located office building in the South Pasadena area of Los Angeles County. The five-story building had 28,000-sq-ft of rentable
R.W. Beckett Corporation appointed Bob Bruno as sales engineer. His territory will include New Jersey, New York south of the Hudson River, Philadelphia/Eastern Pennsylvania and Staten Island.
Stulz-ATS recently completed an agreement with Knurr, a global leader in electronic environments, to provide an innovative solution for the IT industry - a high performance (20 KW) cooled enclosure
This brochure explains the company's single-screw compressors, specifically, the VSS single-screw compressor. Specifications for all 12 models comprising the line are included as well as dimensional drawings, a full
The company is offering both bronze and cast iron models of its "00" Series of circulators for its LoadMatch® single-pipe system applications. Features include a removable integral flow check to
The company's Model PRG-11/123-C3 and PRG-113-C3 microprocessor-controlled ultra-high efficiency purge unit for low-pressure centrifugal chillers is ARI certified and UL listed. The units does not have to be mounted
Paul R. Bertram, Jr. FCSI, CDT, LEED AP, has been elected to the national office of vice president-industry for the Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI).
The company's packaged cooling systems are designed to complement its cooling tower equipment or may be sold independent of a cooling tower. These systems may include plate-and-frame heat exchangers,
The company's line of pressure relief doors prevent ductwork from imploding or exploding in the event of excess pressure. The PZ10 model and the VT-10 model are designed to
Tomkins plc announced that its Air Systems Components business acquired Milcor Inc. from Gibraltar Industries for an undisclosed cash sum. Milcor is a multi-brand manufacturer of building products, selling to
The 70X variable-speed pumping system for pressure boosting applications includes up to three of the company's vertically mounted Series 1531 pumps with a check valve on the discharge of
Des Champs Technologies and Venmar CES, Inc. have resolved a patent dispute existing between the parties. Des Champs owns the U.S. Patent No. 5,179,998 entitled "Heat Recovery Ventilating Dehumidifier."
This brochure features the company's entire line of air filtration products, including disposable panel filters, pleated filters, high-efficiency rigid filters, and HEPA filters. An efficiency selection guide is included
Wago Corporation announced the addition of Eric Langhorst as regional sales manager covering Colorado, New Mexico, eastern Wyoming and eastern Montana.
Distech Controls is celebrating its 10-year anniversary as a manufacturer and provider of building automation systems. Founded in 1994, by current owner and CEO Etienne Veilleux, Distech Controls is a
The LCD Dominator Series is featured in this six-page brochure. Included are photos detailing the boiler's performance features; installation flexibility; and options, including slide-out heat exchangers. Specification charts and
Jerry Cordasco, vice president and general manager of Compass Technologies, has been appointed vice chairman of the Security Industry Association's (SIA) access control industry group.
Marley Cooling Technologies, Inc., a unit of SPX Corporation, unveiled its new MH Fluid Cooler with CoolBoost technology to the HVAC and industrial markets at the AHR Expo.
This catalog features the company's angle body piston valve line. Included is product information and specifications, ordering instructions, and detailed product drawings for each valves. The valves are suited
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers have built a compact prototype of the system, but plans to enlarge it significantly for use in bigger spaces, such as buildings, tented structures, and aircraft.
The company's GMA OpenAir™ actuator is designed for control of building HVAC dampers for applications where the damper is required to return to a fail-safe position in the event
According to show management, the 2005 AHR Expo set a new record for number of exhibiting companies with 1,871 exhibitors taking up 372,955 square feet of exhibit space.
Viessmann Manufacturing Company (U.S.) Inc. is now one of only 37 companies from the New England area to have received the highly distinguished Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program
AERCO International, Inc. has enhanced its C-More™ unit controller and AERCO BMS, a multiple unit boiler management system, with Modbus technology that enables facility managers to easily integrate the company's
The company's Xenta® 527 Web-based graphical interface is featured in this brochure. The Xenta 517 is a gateway for access into the company's I/NET® Seven high-performance security system. Included
Plexus Technology, a software company specializing in enterprise automation systems for commercial buildings, announced that it is a proud sponsor of both BuilConn Americas and BuilConn Europe. The BuilConn
Addenda that reflect the evolving nature of ASHRAE's building controls standard and its companion testing standard were recommended for public review at the Society's 2005 Winter Meeting.
Designed to increase awareness of the benefits of whole building integration and honor successful implementation strategies, the program celebrates the North American organizations and individuals who best support the vision of networked buildings.
Steril-Aire Inc. announced that it has filed suit against Dust Free for infringement of U.S. Patent Numbers 5,334,347; 5,817,276; 6,245,293; 6,267,924; 6,280,686; 6,313,470; and 6,627,000. This series of patents involves
Control Instruments Corporation recently named Debra Wood-Haley as director of sales; and Robert Nutting and Jeffrey Sampson as corporate account managers (in addition to their existing duties as regional
Moeller GmbH, a leading European supplier of low voltage industrial components and automation products, has sold the assets of its North American sales operation to John W. Hamm, a long
STV Incorporated announced that Ronald K. Wiseman was recently promoted to vice president, where he serves as director of information technology and Carl J. Mazeika has been promoted to vice
Peerless Boilers announced the dates and locations of its 2005 "Colors of Heat" training seminars. All locations will feature two seminars, each with a different topic. Topics include one-pipe steam
National Energy Control Corporation will conduct commercial HVAC controls training at two locations during the months of April and May 2005 at its training institute in Havertown, PA, and in
This catalog features the company's line of air management and life-safety devices. Included are lists of products, product specifications, and detailed diagrams.
Lochinvar® Corp. announced its 2005 schedule of classes at Lochinvar University. The training program is held at the company's world headquarters in Lebanon, TN, and aims to educate the
A technology partnership announced between Ember and Tendril Networks will enable companies to quickly and easily build applications that draw information from ZigBee™ networks. ZigBee is a wireless, standards-based
The Series 626-GH industrial pressure transmitter contains a highly accurate pressure sensor that offers 0.25% full scale accuracy on ranges from 0 to 5 to 0 to 5,000 psig,
R.W. Beckett Corporation has appointed John Manning as sales engineer. He will cover Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire (excluding Seacoast) and Vermont.
Ware (a company that delivers efficient, cost-effective boilers, rental boilers, chillers, boiler services and valves) recently purchased The Valve Shop and now offers its customers new, reconditioned and surplus valves
The company's ComfortPac™ packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps are featured in this brochure. Included are product photos, a list of standard features and benefits, and a performance