This month’s Facility File will focus on a new central, high-efficient, hot water boiler plant to replace an antiquated remote high-pressure steam boiler plant serving a campus setting. The entire HVAC system will be removed following the installation and commissioning of a new central heating boiler plant located on an existing 45-building campus setting. This month’s discussion will be to address the B2B design intent of providing employee safety and accessibility to the equipment, shut-off valves, etc. necessary to effectively operate and maintain this new structure based on the owner’s building program.
At the recommendation of the design team leader, the HVAC consulting engineer, the campus executive board/owner has chosen the project delivery method to be IPD (integrated project delivery). The method of project deliver is based on ASHRAE 2015 — HVAC Applications Handbook chapter 58 (Integrated Building Design). Other safety and accessibility checklists will be located and downloaded from the internet and will be referenced by the IPD team as part of the basis of design directed toward plant and employee safety. This information, combined with the owner’s own knowledge of operating a central heating plant and a 45-building campus with underground hot water system distribution, will assist the IPD team in understanding intricacies owning, operating, and managing this building.