The Westar Aerospace and Defense Group facility located in Huntsville, Alabama is an 85,300 sq. foot office facility. The building was designed by Fuqua and Associates Architects of Huntsville, Alabama with CRS Engineers and Planners as the design engineers for the electrical and HVAC systems and was completed and commissioned in 2006. Environmental Systems Corporation was the HVAC subcontractor and elected to commission the project to implement our newly completed NEBB certification to evaluate the approach and value of the process. Commissioning was initiated during the construction phase with no input into the design of the project relative to the commissionability of the HVAC system. It was determined that commissioning increased the quality of the project by improving coordination between trades and sub-trades and by verification of the control sequence of operation of the systems. Energy efficiency of the building was improved and callbacks were reduced.
The HVAC system is a zoned water source heat pump system with natural gas boiler for the heat addition and an evaporative cooler for the heat rejection. Outside ventilation air is introduced into the building in accordance with ASHRAE 62 via a roof mounted dedicated outside air unit to maintain constant dew-point air at neutral temperatures. A total energy recovery wheel transferring sensible and latent energy from the exhaust air to the incoming ventilation air achieves heat recovery.
Paul Smith, P.E. served as the commissioning supervisor and wrote the field investigation verification (FIV) forms, operational performance testing (OPT) forms and the functional performance testing (FPT) forms. During the construction of the building Mr. Smith conducted the field investigation with assistance from Rob Nichols. As the equipment became operational, both Mr. Smith and Mr. Nichols verified and recorded the operational parameters and noted any issues that occurred. Once the building automation system came on line, Mr. Smith verified the sequence of operation with the control technicians. Trends were generated to verify the performance as well as establish a base line for the system performance. At the completion of the project, Mr. Smith reviewed the O&M manuals and verified the training of the building operator. The final commissioning report was presented to the Owner in May 2006.
Owner:
Samples Properties
305 Church Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
256.533.0003
