building codes | Engineered Systems Magazine

NABTU Applauds House Passage of the Moving Forward Act

July 3, 2020

“NABTU applauds Speaker Pelosi for moving forward this long-awaited, and desperately-needed infrastructure agenda," said Sean McVarvey, president, North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU). "We commend the commitment to local prevailing wage rates and those who demonstrated that infrastructure is not a partisan issue or political issue, but an American issue with broad support, and a policy we should advance to strengthen us globally."

St. Louis Approves Building Energy Performance Standard

The city is the first jurisdiction in the Midwest and the fourth in the country to pass a BPS standard.

May 11, 2020

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This BPS, unanimously adopted by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, establishes incrementally increasing energy-saving targets for buildings and advances the city on its path to eliminating community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.

White Paper

Adopting FEI for Greater Fan Efficiency

February 21, 2020

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The 2019 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES 90.1, “Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 90.1),” adopts a new fan efficiency metric, Fan Energy Index (FEI).

Central Chiller Plant Designs and Design Options — Are We Leading or Bleeding?

For engineers, how many codes, metrics, and standards are too many?

Chuck Dale-Derks, P.E.

September 20, 2019

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I have struggled with writing this article based upon what is being reported and what our industry leaders are recommending. It’s a fine balancing act, and I feel we may have too many plates spinning at once.

International Code Council Announces Adoption of 2018 I-Codes in New Jersey

September 19, 2019

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Updated codes mark a new era of safety and resiliency in the Garden State.

ASHRAE 90.1 Vs. IECC — Is it Time to Take a Stand?

Though these codes try to coexist like friendly allies, they seem to pair more like the mongoose and cobra.

John Varley P.E., FASHRAE

September 16, 2019

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Please raise your hand if you enjoy having two energy codes providing the standard of care for your projects.

International Code Council calls for input on building code changes

March 20, 2019

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The International Code Council will host its 2019 Committee Action Hearings from April 28-May 8 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Why Would A Hospital Consider Absorption Chillers?

While CHP is good, CCHP can be even better for your facility and its locale. The author surveys the potential benefits, building code input, and electrical considerations. After a couple of case studies, she then reviews considerable engineering re-sources the DOE provides for those contemplating a forward-looking but proven design.

Marcia Karr, P.E.

November 8, 2016

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Atypical load profile for a hospital might show heat energy increases in the winter, with electric demand peaks in the summer as seen in Figures 1 and 2.

The State Of The States

How does yours compete when it comes to energy efficiency policy?

Robert Beverly

November 5, 2016

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We had internal news to pass along last month, but this month brings news from the not-terribly-wide world of HVAC-related competition, so let’s roll the highlights …

ASHRAE joins White House conference on Resilient Building Codes

May 10, 2016

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In an effort to help buildings and systems withstand and recover from natural disasters, ASHRAE took part in the White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes.