Fallout from “value engineering” spurs an idea about security and performance.
I recently ran into a project situation that got me thinking about a new criterion that owners may want to incorporate into their Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) prior to starting design. The project was a four-story apartment building with a central ERV and exhaust system. Pre-conditioned 100% outside air was ducted into each of the apartments, while toilet exhaust was ducted out. Interbuilding pressure relationships were to be maintained by balancing each apartment to have constant airflows in and out. The main supply and exhaust ducts ran above the corridor ceilings with takeoffs into each apartment and with both airstreams passing through a rooftop energy recovery unit.