One of the first things we do when beginning the engineering design for a project is to check the current building codes for the locality we are working in.
Code and regulations require that LEL concentration of hydrogen (H2) be limited to 25% of LEL or 1% of room volume. The room ventilation method can be either forced or natural and either air conditioned or unconditioned.
A variety of standards and codes took center stage in some AHR/ASHRAE highlights, although some of them seem to be heading in completely different directions.
Chaos and order, maybe even yin and yang … however you want to describe it, this year’s AHR and ASHRAE gathering reflected eternally opposing forces at work.
Titus has released the TJD, a standard OMNI diffuser designed specifically to address low air volume codes. According to the company, while most air outlets typically work at 100 cfms, the patent pending TJD performs at 20 to 50 cfms and throws air at 50 ft per minute up to 9 ft from the diffuser. The high mixing increases the discharge isovel and its throw, providing uniform temperatures and equally distributed outside air throughout the space.
Life safety design on campus is hardly an academic exercise, but systems built to comply with older codes often get stuck in a senior slump. Execute a smart assessment to identify your upgrade options.
Atrium smoke control systems built during the 1980s and ’90s are commonly found in buildings at colleges and universities throughout the United States.
SPX Cooling Technologies has launched its new Recold® LC Evaporative Condenser. The condenser design reduces refrigerant charge by up to 40% and lowers fan energy consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional evaporative condensers, according to company officials.
Lochinvar LLC has released the NOBLE™ Fire Tube Combi Boiler. With three models ranging from 110,000 to 199,999 Btuh, the company says the Noble boiler offers easy installation and serviceability, true instantaneous response time, and a user-friendly interface. In addition to 10:1 turndown and 95% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), the Noble Fire Tube Combi Boiler is designed, engineered, and assembled in the USA.
Power management company Eaton has launched its new Pow-R-Line® PXBCM Branch Circuit Monitor panelboard. The integrated panelboard monitors up to 84 branch circuits and provides facility managers across industries with remote access to live energy readings.
Budgets, codes, and technologies are constantly shifting and evolving. These days, even the classrooms are often portable. Staying one step ahead will depend on your knowledge of current design options and how to integrate them into the space.