This month’s Facility File will focus on the B2B March test for the commercial building energy retrofit HVAC application. The project delivery method is design-build with a guaranteed turnkey cost, so the D-B firm will assign a project manager with an energy management background to the project, along with an in-house HVAC and BAS engineering, technicians, and estimator staff to be involved in the design and cost estimate in the initial phase. The scope of work will be a basis of design meeting the owner’s HVAC and electrical system requirements, utility company’s requirements, and the O&M requirements.
It would be very beneficial for the building owner and her owner representative to read ASHRAE Handbook 2015 — Applications and read chapters 3 (commercial and public buildings), chapter 41 (building energy monitoring), chapter 42 (supervisorycontrol strategies and optimization), chapter 47 (design and application of controls), chapter 59 (HVAC security) , and chapter61 (codes and standards) to be knowledgeable of ASHRAE’s guidelines when preparing to authorize a design-build (D-B) firmto upgrade the buildings BAS.