Industrial HVAC systems are health & safety systems first, and then we look at opportunities to save energy and provide a greener approach to design. Certain industrial spaces may contain flammable, combustible, and/or toxic concentrations of vapors or dusts under either normal or abnormal conditions. In spaces such as these, there are life-safety issues that this guide may not completely address. Special precautions must be taken in accordance with requirements of recognized authorities such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the facility’s insurance carriers, and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). In all situations, engineers, designers, and installers who encounter conflicting codes and standards must defer to the code or standard that best addresses and safeguards life safety.

Often Clients have their own corporate or project specific HVAC Design Basis, Specifications and Best Practices guides. Keep in mind that these are often of varying quality, may have a partial scope, be outdated and not entirely relevant to the International location or specific project scope.Make sure the client knows the risks and requirements that best suits this project. Each client has different Risk Profile usually based on their experience which may not be related to the project being designed.

To often the project budget is set by the Accountants and Project Managers rather than the Operators of the facility who do not always have enough input to prevent poor design of the new facilities.

Projects are often required to be engineered and constructed as ” Fit for Purpose” Built to Meet Code”, “Industry Standard”, Acceptable Building Practices” etc. Just remember that projects that only meet code, have the absolute minimum standard of design. That maybe OK for a warehouse, wash bay or office area; but for a Nuclear Facility, Refinery, Off Shore Platform or Operating room application, Fit for Purpose and Industry Standard should be a much higher standard. The intent of this presentation is to provide up to date international design approach to Industrial HVAC Engineering and Design.

Refer to ASHRAE Applications 2015 - Chapter 14 Industrial Air Conditioning for more details and information. Presentations Topics will include:

• Industrial Ventilation -Lesson Learned
• HVAC a Four Letter Word
• Ventilation of Hazardous Spaces
• Industrial HVAC a Fire & Safety System
• Industrial HVAC 101- The basics of Industrial Ventilation

ASHRAE looks to leaders like you to help us develop the technology that enables high performance for the life of buildings and systems. We depend on your practical experience and knowledge base to help us become better prepared and more marketable for the growing industry.

Becoming involved with ASHRAE provides you with a single resource for keeping up with technical advances in the industry. By joining, you gain direct access to new technology; universally recognized technical information; and you influence the direction of the built environment.

Below are a few ways in which you can get more involved with ASHRAE. Presentations Topics will include:

• ASHRAE Bio
• Chapter Level
• Regional Level
• Technical Committee’s
• Standards Committee
• Standing Committee’s
• Commenting Opportunities
• Conference Presentations,
• Publications and Handbooks Development and Review.

• Rules of Thumb are abbreviated short cuts, time savers, and approximations.
• Each is a quick estimation of what most systems should do most of the time, but remember that none of these numbers are infallible.
• The rules are not cast in concrete.
• Rules of thumb usually assume certain normal design and operating criteria, which are not always present.
• The rules are not to be used for system design purposes. Rather, they are the result of carefully studying good system designs.
• Technicians and engineers, can benefit from using Rules of Thumbs for estimating and solving operational problems.
• They do not always apply to every system, nor do they work in every circumstance.
• It is expected that the engineer or technician using them is a professional who can use reason and exercise caution in their application.

• Over Pressure of buildings often to much make up air.
• Under Pressure in building due to leaks, inadequate HVAC, poor construction, on site modifications.
• Improper HVAC Economizers operation (waste heat recovery.)
• Poorly controlled, designed and or constructed relief systems.
• Commissioning and Operation issues.

Pressurization is a critical for maintaining room cleanliness in Labs, Hospitals, Processing, Manufacturing, Control, Computer, MCC, VFD & Electrical Buildings, etc.

Design margins should be incorporated in the pressurization system to allow for building envelope seal degradation.

When pressurization is required for safety or code compliance, make provisions for periodic surveillance & testing.

Critical facilities require a leak test of exterior & interior walls, partitions, doors, and windows between two adjacent areas with different pressurization levels & any building elements between two areas with different pressurization levels.

• HVAC& R systems not only provide comfortable spaces for humans they are also health and safety systems.
• Designing, constructing and operating to ASHRAE Standards are a Risk Management approach to HVAC Systems
• They can protect people, animals, processes, equipment, products, etc.
• Often HVAC &R equipment and system failures, shutdowns, poor designs, installations and or operation can result in unexpected consequences including large financial, health, life safety losses to our clients facilities or worse neighboring facilities.
• HVAC systems provide the safe environment (including temperature, humidity, wind, wind direction, air motion, air quality, noise abatement and cleanliness) to facilities, processes and provide for the health, safety, and comfort of personnel
• Spaces may contain flammable, combustible, and/or toxic concentrations of vapors or dusts under either “ Normal or Abnormal” conditions.
• Codes and Standards tend to state minimum requirements without consideration for the many variables that must be considered.
• We should include fire & hazardous prevention, detection and alarm systems, active fire protection systems, room-to-room pressurization, smoke control, homeland security and emergency shutdown and response plans.

General updates to existing Cold Climate Building Design Guide Chapters.

• Cold Climate Design Residential Chapter
• Cold Climate Design Considerations for Seasonal and Off-Grid Applications
• Cold Climate Construction
• Cold Climate Operation & Maintenance of Building Mechanical Systems
• Cold Climate Oil & Gas Applications