Ultraviolet C (UV-C) technology has been used since the 1990s to eliminate microbial buildup on cooling coils, air filters, duct surfaces, and drain pans. But despite the technology’s history and track record, some facility engineers remain uncertain. On the other hand, some come around quickly.
Probably a year before 9/11, I was asked my thoughts along the lines of, “What else should we commission beyond the standard building systems?” My client was the project engineer at the Department of Defense in the Pentagon. I suggested “commission project record drawings.” I guess you could say I made up the task of commissioning record drawings, but I got my point across.
Good IAQ management has become paramount in the construction industry, as study after study shows that employee productivity and health are directly related to the quality of air being delivered inside the workplace environment.
The Museum of the Bible’s project team was already up against the extremes of Washington weather and the high demands of IAQ for artifact preservation. A system that harnessed adequate cooling, heating, humidification, and ventilation capabilities would still have one more hurdle: a physical footprint of hardly Biblical proportion. Get a first look at this testament to design acumen and true collaboration.
When it comes to ductwork for VAV systems, could the shortest path to better air handling cost and efficiencies be round (or spiral)? Aided by static regain and streamlined installation, here’s the case for no more corners.