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CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER (ISSN 0892-5046, Vol. 50, No. 7, GST #123397457) is published 11x per year, monthly except in February, by CFE Media, LLC, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Jim Langhenry, Group Publisher /Co-Founder; Steve Rourke CEO/COO/Co-Founder. CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER copyright 2013 by CFE Media, LLC. All rights reserved. CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER is a registered trademark of CFE Media, LLC used under license. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL 60523 and additional mailing of ces. Circulation records are maintained at CFE Media, LLC, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Telephone: 630/571-4070 x2220. E-mail: [email protected]. Postmaster: send address changes to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40685520. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Email: [email protected]. Rates for nonquali ed subscriptions, including all issues: USA, $ 145/yr; Canada, $ 180/yr (includes 7% GST, GST#123397457); Mexico, $ 172/yr; International air delivery $318/yr. Except for special issues where price changes are indicated, single copies are available for $20.00 US and $25.00 foreign. Please address all subscription mail to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Printed in the USA. CFE Media, LLC does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident or any other cause whatsoever.

DEPARTMENTS

07 | ViewpointWhat I learn each year from the MEP Giants

08 | MEP RoundtableTips and tricks for commis-sioning, balancing buildings

17 | Career SmartFinding your natural motivation

COVER STORY

30 | MEP Giants make nearly $1 billion more in 2013BY AMARA ROZGUS AND AMANDA MCLEMAN

33 | Mergers and acquisitions are back among MEP GiantsBY MICK MORRISSEY AND NEIL CHURMAN

19 | Codes & StandardsNEC Chapter 2: Wiring and protection

63 | Advertiser Index

64 | 2 More MinutesMentor tomorrows engi-neersand possibly your future boss

FEATURES

24 | Special report: Fan efficiency guidelinesBY MICHAEL IVANOVICH

41 | Selective coordination studies for mission critical environmentsBY KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LEED AP BD+C

36 | BIM for plumbing designBY JUNCHENG (JAMES) YANG,PE, CPD, LEED AP BD+C

46 | Integration: Buildingautomation and fire alarmsBY JON KAPIS, RICK LEWIS, ANDCRAIG STUDER, PE

50 | IAQ in health care settingsBY JAMES PAUL, PE, LEED AP

ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES

3www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

AUGUST 2013

Cover illustration by Tom Rybarczyk.

4 Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013 www.csemag.comConsulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013 www.csemag.com

Earn continuingeducation on-demandView on-demand webcasts atwww.csemag.com/webcast and pass the exam to earn continuing education. Topics include: Critical Power: Circuit Protection in Health Care Facilities Smart Electrical Systems: Meters, Submeters, and Smart Meters Critical Power: Standby Power for Mission Critical Facilities HVAC: ASHRAE 62.1, 62.2, and Air Movement

Consulting-Specifying Engineer is on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Follow CSE, join the discus-sions, and receive news and advice from your peers.

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Read the exclusive versions of these articles online at www.csemag.com/archives: Engineers take charge of upskilling for career development Are winglets a help or hindrance to HVLS fan performance? MEP Roundtable: Tips and tricks for commissioning, balancing buildings New products and technologies

The digital edition of this publication is greatly enhanced, including interactive tools, such as videos, Web links, and other items. Update your subscription, and receive the digital edi-tion on a new platform in your e-mail in-box: www.csemag.com/subscribe.

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Webcast: Modular data center designRegister at www.csemag.com/webcast for this webcast on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013.

The data center market has expanded dra-matically in the past few years, and it doesnt show signs of slowing down. Many clients and building owners are requesting modular data centers, which can be placed anywhere data capacity is needed. Modular data centers can help cash-strapped building owners add a new data center (or more capacity) to their site, and can assist facilities with unplanned outages, such as disruptions due to storms. Owners look to modular data centers to accelerate the floor ready date as compared to a traditional brick and mortar. Modular data centers are not for everyone, howeverthis webcast will explore whether its appropriate for your next project.

MEP Giants project profilesLearn about the types of projects the 2013 MEP Giants are involved in. Read project profiles from several MEP Giants engineering firms at www.csemag.com/giants. Building types include hospitals and health care facilities, schools, international buildings, labs and research facilities, office buildings, data centers, and many others.

Does your firm do any commissioning, retro-commissioning,re-commissioning, or test-adjust-balance?

Read the Q&A on commissioning buildings on page 8. To view more pollresults, visit www.csemag.com/poll/cse.

Retro-commissioning

Test-adjust-balance

Commissioning

All of the above

Re-commissioning

None of the above

e

g

g

e

g 59%

17%

10%

7%

e 4%

3%

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1111 W. 22nd St. Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL 60523630-571-4070 Fax 630-214-4504

CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL AMARA ROZGUS, Editor in Chief/Content Manager

630-571-4070 x2211, [email protected]

AMANDA MCLEMAN, Project Manager630-571-4070 x2209, [email protected]

BRITTANY MERCHUT, Project Manager630-571-4070 x2220, [email protected]

BEN TAYLOR, Project Manager 630-571-4070 x2219, [email protected]

MARK HOSKE, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2214, [email protected]

BOB VAVRA, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2212, [email protected]

PETER WELANDER, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2213, [email protected]

MICHAEL SMITH, Creative Director 630-779-8910, [email protected]

CHRIS VAVRA, Content [email protected]

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDANIL AHUJA, PE, LEED AP, RCDD, President, CCJM Engineers, Chicago

PETER ALSPACH, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Principal, Mechanical Engineer,

Arup, Seattle

J. PATRICK BANSE, PE, LEED AP, Senior Mechanical Engineer,

Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston

THOMAS BROWN, PE, Executive Vice President, RJA Group Inc., Laurel, Md.

MICHAEL CHOW, PE, LEED AP BD+C,Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Powell, Ohio

DOUGLAS EVANS, PE, FSFPE, Fire Protection Engineer,

Clark County Building Division, Las Vegas

JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CXA, Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee

RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE, Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C.

DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C,Associate Principal, ccrd partners, Dallas

WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,Principal Data Center Energy Technologist,

HP Technology Services, Chicago

KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP, Engineering Design Principal, KlingStubbins, Philadelphia

KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LC, LEED AP, President, Lane Coburn & Assocs., Seattle

KENNETH L. LOVORN, PE, President, Lovorn Engineering Assocs., Pittsburgh

MICHAEL MAR, PE, LEED AP, Senior Associate,

Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago

BRIAN MARTIN, PE, Electrical Engineer, CH2M Hill, Portland, Ore.

SYED PEERAN, PE, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, CDM Smith Inc.,

Cambridge, Mass.

BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP, Electrical Platform Leader and Quality Assurance Manager,

M+W Group, Chicago

RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM, Austin Operations Group Manager and

Senior Mechanical Engineer, Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas

GERALD VERSLUYS, PE, LEED AP, Principal, Senior Electrical Engineer,

TLC Engineering for Architecture, Jacksonville, Fla.

MIKE WALTERS, PE, LEED AP,Principal, Confluenc, Madison, Wis.

The annual MEP Giants program is one of the most interesting programs we conduct at Con-sulting-Specifying Engineer. Not only do we gather thousands of data points, but we also gather information that cannot be quantified.

Take the project profiles, for example. We ask all firms interested in being considered for the MEP Giants to tell us about three projects theyre work-ing on, and then we ask each of the 100 firms that makes it on the list to give us the details.

You can read these projects for yourself at www.csemag.com/giants, but let me give you the broad overview: Our engineers are kicking butt. The variety of proj-ects alone is staggering.

The kicking butt part comes in with the solutions to the challenges faced on each project. The No. 1 challenge the MEP Giants firms indicate they face is the economys impact on the construction market. When asked a similar question in other research studies we conduct, engi-neers will answer that theyre not given an adequate budget for good design. Money aside, the engineering firms youll

read about are coming up with savvy, sophisticated, and spendthrift solutions to a variety of engineering problems.

Another thing I learn each year is that engineers are constantly evolving. Its the nature of the beast for a consulting firm to morph to meet customer needs, but Im amazed at how fluid some firms have become. Adding an international division, for example, instantly brings

on new challenges. While not every MEP Giants firm is doing work out-side the United States, many are, and some have expanded into the fastest-growing building regions in the world, such as Asia and the Middle East.

Some of this innova-tion and globalization may be pushing the increased use of mobile apps by the MEP Giants. For example, the use of mobile applications for productivity and project management jumped from 43% to 54% in the past year. Engineering cal-culations saw a similar-sized jump, up to 44% use in 2013. Engineers are staying on top of technology to remain nimble, no matter where they are.

So whether your firm made this list or not, take a bit of advice: Stay on top of your game to keep competitive.

Editors Viewpoint

Send your questions and comments to:[email protected]

What I learn each yearfrom the MEP Giants

Amara Rozgus Editor in Chief


1111 W. 22nd St. Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL 60523630-571-4070 Fax 630-214-4504

CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL AMARA ROZGUS, Editor in Chief/Content Manager

630-571-4070 x2211, [email protected]

AMANDA MCLEMAN, Project Manager630-571-4070 x2209, [email protected]

BRITTANY MERCHUT, Project Manager630-571-4070 x2220, [email protected]

BEN TAYLOR, Project Manager 630-571-4070 x2219, [email protected]

MARK HOSKE, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2214, [email protected]

BOB VAVRA, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2212, [email protected]

PETER WELANDER, Content Manager 630-571-4070 x2213, [email protected]

MICHAEL SMITH, Creative Director 630-779-8910, [email protected]

CHRIS VAVRA, Content [email protected]

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDANIL AHUJA, PE, LEED AP, RCDD, President, CCJM Engineers, Chicago

PETER ALSPACH, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Principal, Mechanical Engineer,

Arup, Seattle

J. PATRICK BANSE, PE, LEED AP, Senior Mechanical Engineer,

Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston

THOMAS BROWN, PE, Executive Vice President, RJA Group Inc., Laurel, Md.

MICHAEL CHOW, PE, LEED AP BD+C,Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Powell, Ohio

DOUGLAS EVANS, PE, FSFPE, Fire Protection Engineer,

Clark County Building Division, Las Vegas

JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CXA, Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee

RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE, Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C.

DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C,Associate Principal, ccrd partners, Dallas

WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,Principal Data Center Energy Technologist,

HP Technology Services, Chicago

KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP, Engineering Design Principal, KlingStubbins, Philadelphia

KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LC, LEED AP, President, Lane Coburn & Assocs., Seattle

KENNETH L. LOVORN, PE, President, Lovorn Engineering Assocs., Pittsburgh

MICHAEL MAR, PE, LEED AP, Senior Associate,

Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago

BRIAN MARTIN, PE, Electrical Engineer, CH2M Hill, Portland, Ore.

SYED PEERAN, PE, Ph.D., Senior Engineer, CDM Smith Inc.,

Cambridge, Mass.

BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP, Electrical Platform Leader and Quality Assurance Manager,

M+W Group, Chicago

RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM, Austin Operations Group Manager and

Senior Mechanical Engineer, Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas

GERALD VERSLUYS, PE, LEED AP, Principal, Senior Electrical Engineer,

TLC Engineering for Architecture, Jacksonville, Fla.

MIKE WALTERS, PE, LEED AP,Principal, Confluenc, Madison, Wis.

Top ways to stay at the top:

1. Kick butt and find solutions

2. Continue to evolve

3. Use technology to your advantage.

Jerry BauersNational directorof commissioning

Sebesta BlombergKansas City, Mo.

Michael P. FeylerCo-director,building solutions group

RDK EngineersAndover, Mass.

Robert J. Linder, PESenior projectmanager

Karges-Faulconbridge Inc.St. Paul, Minn.

8 Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013 www.csemag.com

CSE: What tips can you offer engi-neers working on commissioning projects?

Michael P. Feyler: During the design phase, a meeting should be held for the commissioning engineer and the design engineer to review the systems chosen and the sequences of operations, plus a controls integration meeting to share experiences on similar systems and the results from previous projects with similar systems and building types for the systems being included within the design. During the sub-mittal phase, on complicated projects, it is beneficial for the design engineer, commis-sioning agent (CxA), and controls contrac-tor to meet prior to the final approval of the control scheme to ensure that all are in agreement on the control mythologies and sequences. During the construction phase, after the control submittal is approved, the commissioning engineer drafts the functional testing documents. Sharing the draft functional testing documents with the design team and contractors for their review and input will ensure that prior to

the release of the final testing documenta-tion, all parties have reviewed and provid-ed input on the documents, and all parties have a though understanding of the design intent. A beneficial procedure our team has incorporated into the commissioning speci-fication is for the contractors to dry run the system prior to commissioning. This requires the contractors to test the systems using the functional performance tests, to debug and check programming and opera-tion. RDK requires a sign-off of the dry run prior to site commissioning. All of the above ensure that the contractor has a full understanding of the system operation prior to commissioning.

Jerry Bauers: Effective execution of any field testing effort is almost entirely dependent on preparation prior to arrival at a project site. While a test procedure can be a long, complex process, its com-ponent parts should be quite simple and clear. Each step in a test procedure should be specifically designed to demonstrate an element of performance clearly and without confusion. And the purpose of that step (or series of related steps)

should be clear to the execution team. In the end, testing is only valuable if it either demonstrates success or points clearly to corrective actions that lead to success. Preparation prior to going to the field, understanding the systems to be tested, the objectives of each step of the test, and strategies to deal with the unexpected are essential to effective field execution.

Geremy Wolff: There are a number of tips: Break it down into manageable steps;

you cant eat an elephant in one bite. Take the time to review and play

devils advocate with the sequence of operation. Make sure that the sequence covers all aspects of operation including what happens during a loss of power and return to normal power after an emergen-cy (often ignored). And, if an engineer is going to borrow a sequence from a previous (similar) project, take the time to go through the sequence and make sure all the changes are made to make this one applicable to the project (often ignored). Have the installers pretest the sys-

tems before you attempt to commission

MEP Roundtable

Tips and tricks for commissioning, balancing buildingsBuilding commissioning is one of the most important (and complex) types of projects an engineer can be tasked with. Engineers give advice here and online, and manufacturers provide advice at www.csemag.com/archives.

James SzelSenior vicepresident

Syska Hennessy GroupNew York City

Barney YorkProject manager

RMF EngineeringBaltimore

Geremy WolffCommissioningmanager

McKinstryBellingham, Wash.


them. There is no greater waste of time than organizing a test and getting every-one out to the site and in place only to find out the contractor running the test is not ready, the system is not ready, or the contractors dont understand their role and responsibility. Change the way people view func-

tional testing. It should not be viewed as well, lets flip the switch as see what happens. Functional testing should be viewed as functional demonstration. We are not testing to see if it works, but rather demonstrating that it works in accordance with the designers expectations and the owners project requirements. Start from the basic concept of How

does it (the piece of equipment/system) turn on and turn off? If you cant prove those basic functions, then the rest is meaningless. Test from the approved as-pro-

grammed sequence of operation, not the engineers operating intent. The intent is usually vague and is not detailed enough to create a test from. Ensure there is time in the sched-

ule for the building automation system (BAS) provider and engineer to review the test scripts and provide comments weeks before the test is executed. You might find how you are planning to test the system cant be done, or that the sequence used to create the test is out of date and no longer applicable. Be flexible; know the test procedure

you spent all that time on will have to be modified in the field while performing the test.

Barney York: The best tip for engineers working on commissioning projects is to become proactively involved early with

the owner and design team and remain involved with both throughout the proj-ect. The CxA is there to assist the design team professionals and as such can help designers avoid problematic and costly errors that would otherwise be discovered during construction or occupancy. Early designer involvement helps the CxA better understand the design intent, and together the CxA and design team can incorporate the devices and sequences needed to successfully test and vali-date the systems operation. Continued involvement and communication with designers during construction and com-missioning helps the project team make minor adjustments to system performance as well as helps the designers further their professional development.

Robert J. Linder: A few tips we press upon our staff include: Do your homework; understand the

owners functional requirements that were to be met. There is no substitute for getting dirty

on a project; dont just sit at the direct digital control (DDC) front end observing operations. Develop detailed testing procedures

and dont skip steps.

Validate functionality and DDC reporting of all components before you test equipment; dont just trust the con-trols contractor. Functional verification is not com-

plete until all integrated systems testing is finished and conformance to the design intent was observed and documented.

James Szel: Understanding the sequence of operation is key. Review the operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals for information on how the equip-ment operates. If the sequences dont make sense, dont be shy about making that phone call to the engineer of record. If it still doesnt make sense, engage the vendors technical group. I recently went to a factory witness test at a major chiller vendor. We had some very detailed tech-nical questions. The vendor brought in its lead installation technician to speak with us. He was a great resource. It is important to remind the team that the end goal of commissioning is to hand over a quality, operational building to the owner.

CSE: What aspect of the BAS is most overlooked when initially designed?

Figure 1: At the Carolinas Medical Center Pineville near Charlotte, N.C., RDK Engi-neers commissioning work included an energy plant, providing critical utility sys-tems to the hospital. Courtesy: RDK Engineers


MEP Roundtable

York: A significant number of design firms do not have design engineers that fully understand BAS. As a result, the mentality is that the BAS contractor will make it work. When this occurs, draw-ings and specifications lack the techni-cal detail required to transfer the owners project requirements to the systems with-in the building. Unless the CxA for the project reviewing the project documents is knowledgeable in the design and func-tionality of the BAS, owners can be left at the mercy of the BAS contractor for numerous costly change orders and proj-ect schedule delays. We have assisted cli-ents with developing project requirements they can present to the design team before design begins for a project. When review-ing the project documents, we are already quite familiar with the design standards and are able to provide comments that ensure the documents are matching the clients requirements for the project. We have also assisted clients by having the BAS contractor demonstrate its program-ming for the project in a simulator prior to downloading the programming into BAS controllers on-site. This allows bugs to be worked out in advance, minimizing start-up and schedule delays.

Bauers: The two most often under-specified items in control systems are the sequences of control and the alarm-ing and reporting strategies to be imple-mented by the control vendor. With regard to sequences, we will also spend a disproportionate effort in understand-ing and clarifying the sequence of control to make its translation into control code as seamless as possible. We also work closely with the operating teams and the designer to define the graphics interface and an effective alarming and reporting strategy for the completed system. We replace the time honored control vendor tradition of working these things out with the operators at the end of the job.

Feyler: What is often overlooked is the skill-set of the building facility personnel that is left behind when the project team leaves. In some cases, the BAS if often over-sophisticated for the type of building

it is operating, and the training is often not long enough to ensure a successful turn-over. We offer the client additional system education via having the facility team join the CxA during the testing of the systems to observe how the system operates and how the BAS interacts with each system. In most cases, training put into a specifi-cation is classroom-style training and not field training or hands-on training that RDK offers during the testing phase and

warranty phases of the project. In addition, trending reporting should be included in the specification that would allow a con-tinuous commissioning of the building. This is not always the case; the CxA will always request trending reports prior to the testing of the systems.

Linder: Owner preferences are com-monly overlooked by the design team. Simple things like a fan status can end up being a thorn in the side of the building operator. Do you use a current switch, a pressure sensor, or a status command? These are all acceptable methods, but which is preferred? Communicate with your owner and dont overlook the details. A controls shop drawing review meeting

is a great way to cover these details. We invite the controls contractor, engineer, and the owners operations staff to a meeting where we dissect the controls shop draw-ing. All decisions are made at this meeting and the controls contractor leaves with an approved shop drawing to start their work. Everyone understands the decisions that were made, and why they were made.

Szel: Again, how the client intends to use the final configuration of the BAS is the most overlooked aspect. The initial design is usually good, choosing the points and describing the sequences of operation, but doesnt always take into account how the client is going to use its system. Get-ting the BAS contractor and the owner (or facility engineers who will be operating the building) into the same room early in the process helps the client get what it needs in the system without the contractor having to redesign a system at the end of the project when there is almost always a time crunch. Another overlooked aspect is often the integration between multiple control systems, such as multiple BAS systems. To provide optimum efficiency in operating the facility, it is important for there to integration between control sys-tems, so the operating team does not have multiple consoles, etc., to operate.

CSE: Describe a sequence of operations challenge you solved in a building automation/control system.

Wolff: This happens every day. One of the most common is how to control pres-sure within a building. The sequence to operate systems with combination return/relief fans and dedicated exhaust damp-ers is one we typically provide significant input on. One of the most common chal-lenges we face related to sequences of operation is that often the designers and controls technicians focus on each indi-vidual piece of equipment and lose sight of the overall function of the building as a whole. Through our process of looking at the building holistically, we can easily identify where an action of one system will strongly affect the actions or performance

Figure 2: RMF Engineerings commis-sioning projects include a criminal foren-sic laboratory at a North Carolina deten-tion center. Courtesy: RMF Engineering, HDR Architecture

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of another system. This is often overlooked in the implementation of the sequence.

Bauers: In the process of commis-sioning containment laboratories, we are tasked with complying with National Institutes of Health/U.S. Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention standards for pressurization of laboratories. In these standards, laboratories must remain under a negative pressure at all times, including

through transient failure conditions. Work-ing closely with the operations team and the control contractor at a Texas university, we were able to use the stack effect of the exhaust system to eliminate transient pres-sure reversals that are inherent to systems that respond to supply or exhaust failures with fully closed dampers. While the con-cept is novel, the success of our efforts was driven by our patient adjustment of con-

Figure 3: RDK Engineers Building Solutions Group recently provided LEED commission-ing for a new 183,000-sq-ft academic building at Boston College. Courtesy: RDK Engineers

MEP Roundtable

trol loop tuning and the timing of control responses to failures.

York: A science building had an issue with its laboratory exhaust fan system that consisted of three fans. When an additional fan was called to operate, the fan that was coming online would begin to freewheel backwards as soon as the isolation damp-er for the fan was fully open. Once the damper fully opened, an end-switch was made and the fan would attempt to turn in the correct direction. The fan could not overcome the backwards momentum and, as a result, the fans associated variable frequency drive (VFD) would trip on an overcurrent situation. We recommended adding a time-delay relay in series with the end-switch safety circuit and starting the fan at minimum speed prior to open-ing the isolation damper. As a result, the fan was able to start in the correct direc-tion prior to the isolation damper open-ing. Once the time-delay relay contact dropped out, the end-switch was made on the damper, keeping the safety circuit intact. Another project had a static pres-sure reset sequence for an air-handling unit (AHU) and associated terminal units based on terminal unit damper positions. We discovered that often a terminal unit with a mechanical or damper actuator issue would drive the AHU static pressure setpoint to the maximum value, thus wast-ing energy. We recommended additional programming that would identify terminal units responsible for this issue, temporarily remove them from the sequence, and send an alarm to alert the appropriate personnel to investigate the issue. As a result of the energy savings achieved from this change, the owner elected to implement the same change in other buildings on its campus as well.

CSE: How have changing HVAC, fire protection, life safety, and/or elec-trical codes and standards affected your work in commissioning?

Wolff: NFPA requirements have changed the way we handle measure-ment on mechanical systems. It used to

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be pretty common for one of our engi-neers to open up the electrical panel on a rooftop unit to take amp/volt readings or install a data logger without thinking twice. Arc flash training has taught us this is something to be very careful with and there is a proper procedure to follow and personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be used. In Washington state, commissioning has been a requirement under the energy code since 1997. How-ever, this code has been tough to enforce. The most recent version provides some additional compliance requirements with a compliance checklist that indicates the commissioning has been completed. We are now seeing inspectors looking for this document before they sign off on the final permits. One of the biggest challenges we face with regard to commissioning codes is one of education. There are a fair number of code officials that admittedly do not fully understand commissioning.

We, the commissioning industry, have recently started to work closely with the International Code Council to provide educational programs to the authority

having jurisdiction (AHJ) on what com-missioning is and, more importantly, what it is not.

Feyler: Building, mechanical, fire pro-tection, life safety, and electrical codes change on a cycle, allowing for designers and CxAs to keep informed of changes as the codes update. Projects to be permitted after a code cycle change are the most dif-ficult to perform design reviews of, so the CxA needs to become familiar with the adopted changes prior to the issuance of the new code. The CxA also needs to be familiar with the state the project is to be commissioned in, and be aware of what the adopted code is for that state and if the state has amendments to the adopted code. The CxA also needs to verify if the jurisdiction, city, town or county he or she is working in has the right to amend state adopted code or choose not to adopt por-tions or parts of state code. An example of this is Massachusetts; the state has the

MEP Roundtable

Figure 4: A BSL-3 laboratory, with a haz-ardous waste decontamination system, was one of the systems involved at a recent Sebesta Blomberg commission-ing project, conducted for a university in the northeastern U.S. Courtesy: Sebesta Blomberg

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Stretch Energy Code, an addition to the building code. It provides a more energy efficient alternative to the standard energy provisions of the code. A municipality may choose to or chose not to adopt the addition.

York: I find more and more codes are now beginning to require that systems be commissioned as part of the acceptance pro-cess. The end result for CxAs is our scope of services has expanded, and we must find talented and highly skilled individuals to oversee and validate these systems. Build-ing envelope, special inspections, and elec-trical testing are now becoming common request in requests for proposals (RFPs).

Szel: The changing codes are taken into consideration during the design process. We stay abreast of these codes to ensure the field installation is in compliance with the appropriate codes and standards. It is important for the design and commission-ing teams to have full knowledge of all local

codes and requirements, by the AHJ. The design and commissioning must be in com-pliance with those requirements.

CSE: What systems or best prac-tices do you suggest to test the building envelope?

Feyler: RDK works with clients that require the CxA carry the building envelope contractor. The practice of the building envelope team inserting requirements into the commissioning specification, implementing two design reviews of the architectural drawings with tracking of those comments prior to construction commencement, is one of the best practices. Basic building envelope commissioning includes win-dow testing, infrared scans, and moisture scanning of the roof.

Szel: Common building envelope test-ing practices include:

Air leakage testing Water penetration testing Thermal bridge testing. The air-leakage testing uses a

blower door testfor example, using the protocol of ASTM E77910. The PassivHaus Standard has stringent air-leakage requirements and is driv-ing this discussion with many clients. The simplest water penetration test sprays the faade using a calibrated nozzle, for example, following ASTM E1105. This helps identify possible problems for indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and durability, as well as thermal issues. To look for thermal bridges we use infrared scanning. There are also standards like ASTM C1060-11a to look at insulation in faade cavities.

Read the longer version of this online at: www.csemag.com/archives.

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Have you ever experienced a loss of self-motivation, or a drop in that internal drive to excel? Are your co-workers or employees just going through the motions, completing projects without real engagement? The causes of these phe-nomena can range from poor management to poor project mix. But they have one thing in common: in each case employees have lost some of their intrinsic motivationthe incredibly powerful, often-untapped impe-tus inside each of us.

Several recent works offer bold new insights in this area. In his excellent book Drive, Daniel H. Pink explores the modern forces constricting motiva-tion. First, extrinsic rewardsexternal incentives like paychecks, bonus pay, and praiseare insufficient to encour-age real engagement. Indeed, they can at times even stifle creativity. Second, some managers think their job is to simply con-trol employees, ensuring compliance and strictly monitoring output. As humans were born curious and generally self-directed, yet these two forces combined can curb our innate inspiration.

Autonomy, says Pink, can address these issues. Autonomy is defined not as go-it-alone independence, but rather as indi-vidual choice over methods and outcomes. Dozens of studies show autonomous motivation provides teeming benefits, including greater conceptual understand-ing, higher productivity, less burnout, and higher levels of psychological well-being.

Challenge yourself by asking: Does my company offer autonomy? That is, do managers meticulously review progress every few hours, redline plans incessantly,

and decree overly rigid standards? Or do they give junior engineers total creative control, absolute freedom to schedule milestones, and complete discretion on deciding when to check in with managers? Most firms necessarily fall between these two extremes, depending on size, project mix, and company culture.

If autonomy is so powerful, why isnt it better embraced? Several culprits exist. Of course, delivering just one set of disastrously unreviewed construction documents can end long-term clients in an instant. Thus, robust quality assurance is always needed. Second, when given unlimited time, engineers tend to over-detail; we solve the problem too much. So reasonable oversight is needed, especially given our industrys ever-tightening bud-gets and schedules. Finally, some argue that certain employees are simply not self-directed. In fact, blindly following direc-tions becomes second nature for many, but its still possible to return to the innate exploratory nature we had as children.

Despite the management status quo, its becoming clear that more autonomy can benefit our firms. Consider the following:

According to Jone L. Pearces Real Research for Managers, greater intrinsic rewards are attained by using a wider vari-ety of an employees skills, allowing com-pletion of a project from beginning to end, and permitting flexibility to plan, schedule, and complete a project. We care more about the work we are personally responsible for.

Effective mentors drop in regularly to be available to answer questions, not to bark orders. This encourages the project engineer to proactively think up the right

questions, and to appreciate managerial visits rather than dread them.

For the senior employee: When reviewing and correcting work, avoid the temptation to just give the right answer. One manager tended to mark up review sets to the Nth degree, sometimes basi-cally redesigning the project in red pen. To encourage autonomy, he later offered more broad advice, for example referring the designer to a previous similar project. While this took the designer more time, he learned more, took more pride in his work, and even devised novel corrections otherwise missed by the manager.

According to David H. Maisters Managing The Professional Service Firm, managers believe 40% to 50% of their work could be delegated to more junior employees. The above facts taken together suggest that deliberate delegation can not only free up managers time, but make younger employees more engaged and, eventually, more valuable to the firm.

If youre a manager, consider incorpo-rating these practices to the extent pos-sible. If youre not, and you want more autonomy, either apply pressure or apply for another position. Each of us deserves a position that puts our full skills to use, especially because its usually in the firms best interest.

Adam Forni is a senior associate at Lin-wood Engineering, Costa Mesa, Calif. He serves as the senior liaison for high-profile clients including several major developers and Fortune 500 companies. He is a Consulting-Specifying Engineer2013 40 Under 40 award winner.

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Article 200 is a fundamental prerequisite to understanding Chapter 2 of NFPA 70: National Electrical Code. Article 200 covers the Use and Identification of Grounded Conductors. Notice that neutral is not part of the title and is not included in the scope lan-guage. We often refer to the grounded conductor as the neutral, but this is not always correct.

Two examples of systems that are grounded where a neutral point is not available are shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, per 250.26, the neutral of alternating-current systems is grounded. Other sources, including IEEE142-Green Book and IEEE141-Red Book, refer to the grounded con-ductor as a grounded neutral. This article of the NEC avoids the term neutral and refers to the grounded neutral conductor as a grounded con-ductor. Article 200 covers conductor identifica-tion for grounded conductors, terminal identifica-tion, and grounded conductors in premise wiring. Please note that green grounding conductors are covered in Article 250.119. If you are looking for a historical perspective, read The historical development of neutral grounding practices by Edward Owen.

We intentionally ground a source to provide a reference point for protection devices. Accurately identifying grounded conductors and terminals makes it possible to connect circuits with correct polarity and eliminate unintentional connections to the grounding system. This is critical because our grounding conductor path may include race-ways, metal boxes, and other pathways. We dont want to intentionally apply current to these items that are exposed to personnel. We also dont want to create alternate paths back to the source.

Grounded conductors

A grounded con-ductor is connected to the earth to create a voltage reference that is close to zero. Only the voltage drop due to the impedance of the circuit is mea-sured. This reference is critical for opera-tion of protective devices. Even though the voltage is close to zero, this conductor is carrying current and is dangerous when energized. The next time someone tries to beguile you into an argument about the difference between the green wire and the white wire (connected at the source), just ask him if he would like to test that theory by holding the white wire in one hand and the green in the other when current is flowing. We must bear in mind that the grounded conductor intentionally carries current during normal operation.

Correct polarity is critical because a manufac-turers equipment safety protection design may be defeated when connected improperly. For example, internal circuit protection can be elimi-nated when circuit polarity is not maintained. A fuse connected on the return side of the circuit

BY JOHN SCHURING, PE, CH2M Hill, Portland, Ore.

Codes & Standards

NEC Chapter 2: Wiring and protectionNFPA 70: National Electrical Code Chapter 2 (Article 200) covers the use and identification of grounded conductors, providing requirements for identification of terminals, wiring systems, and grounded conductors. This is a quick overview of the code.

the green wire and the white wire (connected

Figure 1: Two examples where a neutral point is not available in a grounded system are shown. All graph-ics courtesy: CH2M Hill

Figure 2: This is an exam-ple of a component wired with reversed polarity.

is bypassed during a fault condition (see Figure 2).

Lamp screw shells are specifically required to be connected to the grounded connector in point 200.10 C. The shell of a lamp socket is relatively exposed to human hands and should not provide a path to ground. Correct polarity for

grounded conductors is required by the last point 200.11

200.2 general defines insulation and continuity requirements for a ground-ed conductor. The practice of using a metallic structure to connect grounded conductors cannot be used. Improper connections create a dangerous potential voltage difference between grounded conductor and ground. Stray currents create a voltage on metal that is exposed to personnel. Grounded conductors must be connected to terminals specifically intended for grounded connections. In a panelboard downstream from the service, this is a separate busbar that is insulated from the metal enclosure. Remember: the enclosure is connected to the grounding system and must be kept separate from the grounded system except at the service (see 250.184 B.7).

Insulation rating for grounded conduc-tors on 1000 V or less systems need to be rated the same as the phase conduc-tors. This applies to solidly grounded and impedance grounded systems. For solidly grounded systems greater than 1000 V, the grounded conductor insulation rat-ing is 600 V minimum. For impedance grounded systems greater than 1000 V,

the grounded conductor insulation must be rated the same as the phase conductors (see Figure 3).

The first sentence in 200.3 (Connec-tion to Grounded System) is difficult to understand. It states: Premise wiring shall not be electrically connected to a supply system unless the latter contains,

for any ungrounded conduc-tor of the interior system, a corresponding conduc-tor that is grounded. This article from the code comes from an older vernacular; it read almost the same back in 1938.

This section requires that the internal building wir-ing match the service. We are not allowed to connect or ground a system where the supply is not grounded. Article 250.20.B describes

grounding requirements more clearly. Three conditions require grounding:

1. When grounding limits the voltage to less than 150 V

2. 3-phase, 4-wire, wye connected system

3. 3-phase, 4-wire, delta connected system with a grounded midpoint con-nection.

NEC handbook Exhibit 250.4 shows a grounded conductor at the source. Gener-ally, the local utility provides a grounded service, but you should not assume that this is the case. I found an exception on a recent project in the Alaskan outback. Pole-top transformers are provided with a midpoint tap, but it is no longer connect-ed to ground. With the original high-leg delta wiring unchanged, a moving crane provides a path back to ground with vis-ible arcing.

Identifying grounded conductors For insulated grounded conductors of

6 AWG or less, the conductor must be manufactured to meet the identification requirements. Namely, it must have a continuous white or gray outer finish or three white stripes along the entire

length of the conductor. There are other options for mineral-insulated (MI) cable, photovoltaic (PV) power systems, fixture wires, and aerial cable.

1. MI due to nature of construction requires re-identification at terminals

2. Single-conductor, sunlight-resistant outdoor cable for PV systems allows dis-tinctive white markings at terminations (690.31)

3. Fixture wire allows ridges for the grounded conductor among other color options detailed in 400.22

4. Aerial cable may be identified by a ridge on cable.

Conductors larger than 6 AWG also require white or gray outer finish or three white stripes along the entire length of the conductor, but there is an option to re-identify the conductor by wrapping the cable with white or gray at termina-tion points. Paint, tape, or shrink tube are good options. Just be sure the identifica-tion completely circles the conductor.

Where grounded conductors of two dif-ferent systems are in the same raceway or enclosure, they must be identified dif-ferently from each other (200.6 D). Iden-tification requirements are the same as explained above, plus there is an option to have a colored stripe other than green running along the insulation. Color code labels are required at junction boxes and at termination equipment. An example color code table:

Alternate uses for conductors Conductors for systems greater than

50 V, identified by the manufacturer with white or gray, may be used for alternate purposes under the following conditions: Conductors within a cable assem-

bly that are not switched. Supply to the

Codes & Standards


Voltage:208 Y/120

Voltage:480 Y/277

Phase A Black Phase A Brown

Phase B Red Phase B Orange

Phase C Blue Phase C Yellow

Grounded conductor White

Grounded conductor

Black with three white stripes

Figure 3: Grounded conductor insulation require-ments for impedance grounded system are shown.

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switch is allowed but return from switch is not. Flexible cords as permitted in

400.22.

Where the grounded conductor is repur-posed, it must be identified by encircling the conductor with a color other than white, gray, or green. Red tape is com-monly used and paint is listed as an option; red shrink tube is a cleaner installation and it doesnt fall off. The white conductor can only be used as the energized leg to the switch. Troubleshooting the circuit and finding potential to ground on the white conductor clues the technician that this is a switch leg. Another advantage is that you end up with standard color coding at the device. This helps avoid confusion as to the purpose of the white conductor at the

switch because it is energized under operating condi-tions. This practice is going to be less common because the 2011 NEC now requires that the grounded conduc-tor also be carried to the switch and standard nonme-tallic cable assem-blies have only one neutral. 404.2 C is outside the scope of this article (see Figure 4).

This receptacle is switched and com-mon nonmetallic cable was used for a switch leg. Red tape was used to re-identify the ungrounded conductor. At the switch, while the circuit is energized, voltage can be found on the white repur-posed wire.

Terminal identificationFor devices 30 amp and less, terminals

must be identified. Ungrounded termi-nals must be distinguishable from the grounded terminals. Receptacles, plugs, and connectors require white metal or a W or white label. If the terminal is not visible, as in the case of push-pin devices, the label is required. Identifica-tion of terminals for devices has been in practice for a long time. Even this old two-pin device has white terminals for the grounded connection.

Where leads are provided with a screw shell, they must have a white or gray colored jacket for the conductor attached to the screw shell. Appliance termina-tion requirements have a separate point. Appliances with line-to-ground con-nections either hardwired or cord and cap require the grounded terminal to be identified.

Looking forward to the 2014 Edition of the NEC, one option to be voted on is whether gray stripes are an acceptable means of identification. For seven points where white stripes are allowed, gray

stripes have been proposed as an option. Point 200.2 revisions have been proposed by a high-voltage task group looking to improve consistency when discussing 1000 V system divisions. Another pro-posal was to add a fine print note to 200.1 Scope with reference to 250.26 for when a grounded conductor is a neutral conductor. However, this proposal was rejected because, according to the code-making panel, whether a grounded con-ductor is a neutral or not is not relevant to the requirements of Article 200.

Identification of the grounded con-ductor is straightforward once you have taken the time to understand Article 200. Mistakes not only cause confusion during commissioning, but also can be deadly.

John Schuring is an electrical engineer at CH2M Hill with more than 20 years of engineering experience. He works primarily in industrial applications and start-up of facilities.

Codes & Standards


Figure 5: Old non-grounding receptacles with grounded terminals are identified by white screws and a plate. Age: 50-plus years. These were phased out after the 1962 NEC required grounding recep-tacles.

Figure 4: This is a switched receptacle for a chain-hung fix-ture. The white conductor in NM cable has been re-identified with red tape and is connected to a hot conductor.

stripes have been proposed as an option.

Definitions Several important definitions from NEC Article 100 are:

Grounded conductor. A system or circuit conductor that is intentionally grounded.

Grounding conductor, equipment (EGC). The conductive path(s) installed to connect normally non-current-carry-ing metal parts of equipment together and to the system grounded conductor or to the grounding electrode conductor, or both.

Neutral conductor. The conduc-tor connected to the neutral point of a system that is intended to carry current under normal conditions.

Neutral point. The common point on a wye-connection in a polyphase system or midpoint on a single-phase, 3-wire system, or midpoint of a single-phase portion of a 3-phase delta system, or a midpoint of a 3-wire, direct-current sys-tem. Informational note: At the neutral point of the system, the vectorial sum of the nominal voltages from all other phases within the system that utilize the neutral, with respect to the neutral point, is zero potential.

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Despite the fact that fans in com-mercial HVAC systems consume more than 1 Quad of energy (1015Btus) annually in the U.S., they have not had explicit efficiency requirements in federal regulations or model codes and standards for energy efficiency and high-performance/green construction.

Those days are over. The 2012 International Green Con-

struction Code (IgCC) and ASHRAE 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings

Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (2013 Edition) have requirements for minimum fan efficiency. These require-ments are based on a standard published by the Air Movement and Control Asso-ciation International (AMCA Internation-al), AMCA 205: Energy Efficiency Clas-sification for Fans. AMCA 205 was first published in 2010, and its 2012 revision is ANSI accredited. The 2012 IgCCs fan efficiency provisions are based on AMCA 205-10; ASHRAE 90.1-2013s provisions are based on ANSI/AMCA 205-2012.

Additionally, AMCA and ASHRAE collaborated on fan-efficiency proposals for the 2015 International Energy Conser-vation Code (IECC), which were based on the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 language. The proposals cleared the first level of hearings in April 2013 and will undergo public review later in the year leading up to final-action hearings in October. AMCA International also is developing a proposal for ASHRAE 189.1: Standard for Construction of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Resi-dential Buildings.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dept. of Energy recently initiated the development of a federal efficiency regulation for commer-cial and industrial fans, with completion of the regulation expected in 2015/2016 and enforcement beginning as early as 2019/2020.

This article describes the fan efficiency provisions that are in place in IgCC-2012

Figure 1: A straight-line 65% efficiency requirement would eliminate fans under 20-in. diameter for most types of fans. A fan efficiency provision based on curves that account for smaller fan types (such as fan efficiency grades defined by AMCA Stan-dard 205) solves this problem. All graphics courtesy: AMCA International

Figure 1: A straight-line 65% efficiency requirement would eliminate fans under 20-in.

Fan efficiency requirements

Fan Pea

k To

tal E

fcien

cy (%

)

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

Fan Size (Impeller Diameter) (in.)

4035302520151050

FEG90

FEG85

FEG80

FEG75

FEG71

FEG67FEG63

FEG60

FEG56FEG53FEG50

65% efciencythreshold

Fans eliminated by65% efciency threshold

BY MICHAEL IVANOVICH, AMCA International, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Special report:

Fan efficiency guidelinesNew and proposed fan-efficiency provisions in commercial energy codesand standards are fostering cost-effective energy savings in HVAC systems.


and ASHRAE 90.1-2013, and briefly discusses what could lie ahead in future codes, standards, and regulations.

Rating fan efficiencyAMCA 205 defines a metric, called a

fan efficiency grade (FEG), that rates a fans ability to convert shaft power to air power, independent of motors and drives. FEGs are indices calculated from data taken at the peak total efficiency point on a fan curve developed during ratings certification tests.

AMCA developed FEGs as a dimen-sionless index to characterize the aero-dynamic quality of a fan. The metric accounts for the reduced peak total efficiency that occurs for smaller fans compared to that of larger fans of the same type. This characteristic is due to nongeometric manufacturing tolerances, disproportionate bearing losses, and other aerodynamic factors that have a greater impact on smaller fans than on larger fans. When plotted as a graph, the dif-ferences in efficiency across fan sizes define a banana-shaped curve. The nature of this curve prohibits setting a straight-line efficiency requirement (e.g., all fans must have a minimum efficiency of 65%) because doing so would eliminate many smaller fan sizes of even the most effi-cient types of fans (see Figure 1). Smaller fans inherently have smaller efficiencies because bearing losses, manufacturing tolerances, and the fan structure all have

a larger impact than they do for larger fans of the same design. The smaller fans, however, are designed for specific appli-cations and duty points (airflow and pres-sure). Eliminating them wholesale via an efficiency standard would not serve the industry well.

Figure 1 also superimposes FEG curves defined by AMCA 205 on the straight-line efficiency of 65%. Setting a fan efficiency requirement based on FEGs is as simple as a straight-line efficiency requirement (e.g., all fans must have a minimum efficiency of FEG 67). Note in Figure 1 how the FEG curves penetrate the box that defines the smaller sizes that would have been prohibited by a straight-line efficiency requirement.

The FEG curves are defined in such a way that all fans of a particular design, having geometric proportionality, should have the same FEG, although there are sometimes exceptions to this rule.

If an energy code has a minimum fan efficiency requirement of FEG 67, any fan model with that rating or higher will comply. The FEG is a simple metric to segregate fans that do or do not meet a specific code requirement or regulation.

Limiting sizing/selection practiceCommercial HVAC fans are usually

sized and selected using software that yields a range of fan sizes for a specific fan model for given airflow (cfm) and pressure conditions. Construction bud-

gets generally favor lowest-first-cost approaches, so the smallest fan size is generally selected. Although they may have the same FEG rating (as described earlier), the difference in actual efficien-cy and energy performance between the smallest and largest fan sizes is consid-erable.

Consequently, setting a minimum fan efficiency grade will not guarantee reduced fan-energy consumption unless care is taken to properly design the air distribution system and an appropriate fan selection is made. For this reason, AMCA 205 also prescribes that fans should be sized and selected to operate within 15 percentage points of the fans peak total efficiency. The sizing/selection window helps practitioners to right-size fans so they operate in their most efficient ranges of speed and pressure. The result is a higher first cost, but energy savings quickly recoup the higher cost. Table 1 shows the output of a manufacturers siz-ing/selection program for a double-width, double-inlet fan sized/selected for 80,000 cfm at 3-in. static pressure. The operat-ing costs are based on a run time of 16 hr per day, 250 days per year, and electricity cost of $0.10 per kWh.

Structuring a fan efficiency requirement

Fan-efficiency codes and standards written around AMCA 205 define a mini-mum FEG and a sizing/selection window.

Table 1: Output from fan sizing/selection software offers a range of sizes to meet airflow and pressure requirements. Note all sizes have the same FEG, but theres a considerable difference in energy consumption. The yellow-highlighted row shows a typi-cal fan selection. The green-highlighted row indicates more efficient and long-term cost effective fan selection. The energy sav-ings of the 60-in. fan will repay the higher first cost in less than 2 years.

Table 1: Fan output

Diameter (in.) FEG rating Total efficiency (%)Operating power (hp) Price ($)

Operating cost per year ($) Weight (lbs)

36 85 56 114 21,100 37,797 2,330

40 85 62 90 16,100 29,939 2,850

44 85 68 74 16,900 24,402 3,570

49 85 77 60 17,600 19,926 4,170

54 85 78 56 20,300 18,401 5,200

60 85 81 51 23,800 16,976 6,310

66 85 81 50 27,400 16,478 7,490


Fan efficiency provisions can be further refined by specifying applicable sizes, types, and exemptions, as well as require-ments for third-party certified FEGs and energy labels. The following are exam-ples of where fan-efficiency requirements based on AMCA 205 have been adopted or proposed for model codes and stan-dards for energy efficiency and green/high-performance construction.

IgCC-2012: The 2012 IgCCs fan-efficiency pro-vision includes a minimum FEG rating of 71 and siz-ing/selection window of 10 percentage points from peak static or total efficien-cy. It applies to stand-alone supply, return, and exhaust fans in buildings less than 25,000 sq ft.

This provision was based on AMCA 205-2010, which had a sizing/selection win-dow of 10%, not 15%. AMCA 205-2010 also listed fan types that it does not cover, including air curtains and jet fans, because these types do not conform to the conditions supporting FEG calculations. AMCA will be proposing significant changes to this language for the 2016 version of this model code.

ASHRAE 90.1-2013: The significance of having a new fan efficiency require-ment in ASHRAE 90.1 cannot be over-stated. ASHRAE 90.1 is the benchmark state energy code for federal efficiency programs, many utility rebate programs, and state energy codes. It also is a com-pliance path for the model energy code, International Energy Conservation Code. ASHRAE 90.1 also forms the basis for the ASHRAE standard for high-perfor-mance (green) construction (Standard 189.1), and the International Associa-tion of Plumbing and Mechanical Offi-cials (IAPMO) Green Supplement to the Uniform Mechanical Code and Uniform Plumbing Code.

Fan efficiency provisions in ASHRAE 90.1-2013 are written into the section that includes fan power limits. The fan power limits section encourages low-static-pressure air distribution systems, which save energy; however, it does not

place appreciable constraints on efficient fan efficiency or right-sizing of fans.

ASHRAE 90.1-2013 specifies a mini-mum FEG rating of 67 and a sizing/selection window of 15 percentage points of the fans peak-total-efficiency rating (Figure 2).

The Standard 90.1 provision applies to fans with a nameplate hp rating > 5 hp and fan arrays that have an aggregate motor nameplate rating > 5 hp. The provision has a number of exemptions, including pow-ered roof/wall ventilators, fans intended to operate only during emergencies, and fans in packaged equipment that has a third-party certification for air or energy performance. These exemptions will help engineers, contractors, building owners/operators, commissioning providers, and code officials learn how to implement fan efficiency requirements for the first time.

To learn more about the ASHRAE 90.1 fan efficiency requirement, read the article by John Cermak, PhD, and

Michael Ivanovich in the April 2013 issue of ASHRAE Journal. To learn how fan power limits and fan efficiency grades interact during a fan selection, read the article by Michael Brendel, PhD, in the May 2013 issue of HPAC Engineering.

IECC-2015: The fan efficiency provisions in ASHRAE 90.1-2013 were proposed for IECC-2015, with a few refinements: FEG ratings would have to be approved and labeled, measures that are defined within the IECC, and were included to sup-port compliance checking and enforcement:

APPROVED: Approval by the code official as a result of investigation and tests conducted by him or her, or by reason of accept-ed principles or tests by nationally recognized orga-nizations.

LABELED: Equipment, materials or products to

which have been affixed a label, seal, symbol or other identifying mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, inspection agency or other organization concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of the pro-duction of the above-labeled items and whose labeling indicates either that the equipment, material or product meets identified standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified pur-pose.

ASHRAE 189.1: AMCA has recently developed a continuous maintenance proposal that would insert a fan efficien-cy provision into ASHRAE 189.1. The provision is identical to the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 language, with the one exception being that the peak-total-fan-efficiency sizing/selection window is 10 percentage points instead of 15 percent-age points. If the proposal passes commit-tee votes, it could come out as an adden-dum for public peer review later in 2013.

Special report: Fan efficiency guidelines

Figure 2: The allowable selection range shown is based on opera-tion within 15 percentage points of the fans peak total efficiency, as specified in ANSI/AMCA 205-12.

Figure 2: The allowable selection range shown is based on opera-

Efficiency range

Flow(cfm)

(Pt )

( t )

Max 15 percentagepoints

Qmin Qpeak Qmax

Fan To

tal Pressure (P

t ) Fan Tota

l Ef

cien

cy (

t)

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Special report: Fan efficiency guidelines

U.S. Dept. of Energy: Development of the U.S. Dept. of Energys fan effi-ciency standard achieved a significant milestone with the publication of the Framework Document in the Federal Register on Feb. 1, 2013. The Frame-work Document presents DOEs per-spective of the fan market and the options it is considering for regulating commercial and industrial fans. AMCA International is collaborating with a number of industry stakeholders, includ-ing the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appli-ance Standards Awareness Project, and the California public to jointly develop a proposal to DOE for the efficiency requirement.

Among the most significant differ-ences a DOE standard will introduce is that a variety of fan types (DOE calls them classes) will be defined, and fan efficiency metrics and minimum energy efficiency performance requirements will be set for each class. Based on best-available information, a DOE require-

ment could be in place with enforcement between 2019 and 2020.

Future fan efficiency requirementsDOEs approach to defining fan class-

es and assigning a potentially unique

efficiency requirement for each of them is one that AMCA is looking to apply to future proposals for model energy codes and standards.

Additionally, because some types of fans are structurally integrated with motors and drives, a metric that incor-

porates the drive, motor, and control, is being developed. AMCA is working with European and Asian standards bodies and manufacturers to develop an internation-ally harmonized metric for wire-to-gas efficiency ratings, which could be applied to fan-motor and fan-motor-drive combinations. Also, some fan products, such as powered roof/wall ventilators, are assembled and sold with motors and drives, making a wire-to-gas metric more consistent with them, as well.

An example of a wire-to-gas metric is cfm-per-Watt, or W/cfm, which would provide a convenient way to establish fan efficiency requirements for fan-motor assemblies while FEGs are retained fans less motor and drive.

Beginning with the publication of AMCA 205 in 2010, the development of fan-efficiency provisions in model codes and standards for energy efficiency and green/high-performance construction began in 2012, and is picking up pace. A federal efficiency standard is under development by the DOE and might be active as early as 2019. Energy savings will come from requirements for mini-mum fan efficiency grades; however, greater energy savings is expected from provisions that have sizing/selection win-dows that encourage larger-diameter fans running at slower speeds and closer to peak-efficiency ratings.

First-generation fan efficiency provi-sions in U.S. model codes and standards are written around AMCA 205 and con-tain a minimum FEG rating, a sizing/selection window, and exemptions that limit applicability to specified sizes, types, and applications. Future, or sec-ond-generation fan efficiency require-ments may include additional metrics, such as a wire-to-gas rating.

Michael Ivanovich is director of strate-gic energy initiatives with AMCA Inter-national. Ivanovich develops and advo-cates consensus positions among AMCA member companies worldwide on codes, standards, and government regulations for energy efficiency and green construction.

Figure 3: This sticker can be applied to fans bearing AMCA-certified ratings for fan efficiency grade, and it can also appear in literature and software programs in accordance with AMCA 211-2005 (rev 1-13) Certified Ratings Program - Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance.

Many code jurisdictions are concerned about the growth and complexity of energy codes and stan-dards, making compliance checking and enforcement time-consuming and difficult. Consequently, more codes and standards are being written to require certified efficiency ratings and supporting labels, stickers, or other marks that facilitate online verification and visual inspection.

AMCAs Certified Ratings Program began certifying fan efficiency grades in 2010, after the AMCA 205 standard was published. Currently, more than 40 companies and more than 250 fan models have certified FEG ratings. AMCA also certifies manufacturers sizing and selection software to produce FEG ratings and fan-total-pressure data. Literature and software outputs that have certified FEG ratings are licensed to bear the AMCA FEG label (Fig-ure 3). AMCAs online database of certified ratings can be searched by manufacturer and type of product at www.amca.org. For a shortcut on finding certified FEGs, visit www.amca.org/feg.

Certified FEG ratings support compliance, enforcement

Figure 3: This sticker can

Among the most

significant differences:

a variety of fan types

will be defined, and fan

efficiency metrics and

minimum energy efficiency

performance requirements

will be set.

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The 2013 MEP Giants gener-ated $39.5 billion in total revenue during the previous fiscal year and slightly more than $6 billion in mechani-

cal, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire protection engineering design revenue. The jump is due to a host of new firms on the 2013 MEP Giants list, namely Jacobs Engineering Group, which came in at the No. 1 spot, pushing out the perennial top-position holders Black & Veatch and URS Corp. Other newcom-ers to the list include Mesa Assocs. (No. 21), Highland Assocs. (No. 55), Coff-man Engineers (No. 58), Wood Har-binger (No. 67), Morrison Hershfield (No. 92), Global Engineering Solutions (No. 94), Advanced Engineering Con-sultants (No. 98), and Kohler Ronan

LLC Consulting Engineers (No. 100). These additions, plus several firms that returned to the MEP Giants list after a year (or two) off, increased the revenue numbers.

Table 1 shows the top 10 firms based on MEP design revenue, which is how the MEP Giants are ranked. Table 2 shows the top 10 MEP Giants firms based on total gross revenue. The complete table of rankings is provided at www.csemag.com/giants. Total revenue rose from $33.8 billion in 2012; MEP design rev-enue totaled $5.3 billion in 2012. As seen last year, two-thirds (66%) of all firms revenue is generated from MEP design, with average MEP design revenue at $60.6 million per firm.

While total revenue increased over 2012 revenue, participants again indi-cated that the economys impact on the construction market was the great-est challenge (71%). According to Q2 2013 data, the research firm FMI reduced annual construction-put-in-place (CPIP) predictions to $913 billion, a 7% growth from 2012, due to shifting markets. This is down nearly $6 billion from the $918,897 million, 8% growth estimated in the Q1s outlook. However, FMI does expect growth to return to 8% growth in 2014 with annual CPIP reach-ing $989 billion. All markets reported by FMI were down; those with the smallest decrease are commercial con-struction (-0.8%) and amusement andrecreation (-2.0%).

Even in a down economy, the 2013 MEP Giants firms continueto show increased billings.

BY AMARA ROZGUS, Editor in Chief, and AMANDA MCLEMAN, Project Manager, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Oak Brook, Ill.

MEP Giants make nearly$1 billion more in 2013

Table 1: Top 10 firms by MEP design revenueRank Firm MEP design revenue ($)

1 Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 1,549,650,401

2 Black & Veatch 1,042,980,000

3 URS Corp. 550,000,000

4 exp 158,380,000

5 Parsons Brinckerhoff 156,000,000

6 HDR Inc. 121,765,835

7 Stantec Inc. 107,000,000

8 Burns & McDonnell 98,590,000

9 Affiliated Engineers Inc. 94,533,000

10 Arup 88,516,976

Table 1: Top 10 firms are listed by MEP design revenue. Jacobs Engineering Group topped the list as the No. 1 firm with 14% of its gross revenue dedicated to MEP design. All graphics courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer


The 2013 MEP Giants firms continue to work on several projects in hospitals, data centers, offices, and schools. Read about several project profiles in a special section at www.csemag.com/giants.

MEP Giants also indicated that they evenly split their time between new con-struction and retrofit/renovation, each coming in at 42%. Rounding out the proj-ects are commissioning or retro-commis-sioning (7%); maintenance, repair, and operations (7%); and other (2%). For a more in-depth report on commissioning, look for the October 2013 issue on the Commissioning Giants.

Engineering employment expandsThe 2013 MEP Giants firms employ

nearly 60,000 engineers, up from more than 55,000 in 2012 and 49,500 engineers in 2011. Engineers in the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection fields accounted for nearly 20,500 engi-neers, up from 18,000 engineers last year.

Figure 1 shows the breakdown of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers employed by the 2013 MEP Giants. Note that 88% of the 20,499 engineers employed by these firms are either mechanical or electrical engineers, 10% are plumbing engineers, and 2% are fir

Control Engineering August 2013

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