Presentation by Jeff Watson, CCP, CEM, Director of Technical Services, Aramark

1. You Might Need
Commissioning If...
Presented to the Illinois Chapter ASHRAE
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
By Jeff Watson, CCP, CEM
Director, Technical Services
Aaramark

2. Case Studies
Jeff Watson CCP - Immediate Past President
Director Technical Services
ARAMARK
You might need Commissioning if…
You might need
Commissioning if…
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

3. IAQ Nightmare
As Found Conditions due to
Lack of clear direction
Bard Units w/OA damper always open
Diffusers Dripping on students
Partially loaded rooms
Solution
Modify damper setup
You might need Commissioning if…
Chill Water System Design
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

4. Chill Water System Design
Application – Serving Museum
Design Intent
100% redundant System
42 degree chill water supply
Air handlers expected to de-humidify
Chill Water System Design
Chill Water System Design
As Found Conditions
Installed per CD’s
Chill Water Supply between 47-58
Space Humidity between 65% - 82%
Solution
Install automatic chiller isolation valves
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

5. You might need Commissioning if…
Functional
Functional
Performance
Performance
Verification
Verification
Progress Toward
Exhaust System Unoccupied Airflow 150,000 Design System
(90% higher than design) CFM
Turndown
150,000 cfm 120,000 $60,000 Impact
System 6 CFM
is unable Allowed 103,000
Leakage CFM
to achieve 89,000
Unoccupied 5 84,000
CFM CFM 82,000
Initial
Mode CFM
Settings 4 Leakage Leakage
Measured
Exhaust
78,000 cfm
3
Final
Airflow
Design
(5 fans)
“Design” 2
Exhaust
Airflow
(2 fans) 1
Exhaust 25% 30% 40% 50% 55%
Fan Staging July Aug. Sept. Nov. Jan
2000 2000 2000 2000 2001
You might need Commissioning if…
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

6. Closed Loop Heating
System
Closed Loop Heating System
Closed Loop Heating
System
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

7. Closed Loop Heating
System
As Found Conditions due to
Incomplete work by subcontractor
Closed loop system installed and started up
Chemicals delivered but not put into system
Solution
Completely drain and flush system, install
dispersant and cleaner, and then final biocide
treatment.
You might need Commissioning if…
Discharge Air Supply Duct
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

8. Discharge Air Supply Duct
Discharge Air Supply Duct
As Found Conditions issue was a
Code clarification – access was provided
Fire damper access very limited creating an
unsafe maintenance access issue
Solution
Install portholes on all four sides of duct
You might need Commissioning if…
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

9. Mystery Electrical Problems
Building occupied three months
14 overhead projectors failed
Fire alarm panel failed 2 times requiring new
control boards
Intercom system failed 2 times requiring new
power supplies
Intermittent phone system failures
Mystery Electrical Problems
Mystery Electrical Problems
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

10. Mystery Electrical Problems
As Found Conditions due to
Work damaged by other trade and
Incomplete work by subcontractor
Main service ground located under main
parking lot.
Main building transformers had grounding
conductor running through cabinet but not
terminated.
Mystery Electrical Problems
Solution
Install new Main service ground
Bond grounding conductor at main building
transformers.
Mystery Electrical Problems
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

11. Mystery Electrical Problems
Mystery Electrical Problems
You might need Commissioning if…
0 – You Might Need Commissioning If...

12. Fire Safety Issue
Fire Safety Issue
Fire Safety Issue
As Found Conditions due to
Poor coordination between trades
Smoke detector installed by electrical sub not
realizing installation defeated fire damper
operation.
Solution
Move smoke detector 6 inches.
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

13. You might need Commissioning if…
Stuffy Office
Stuffy Office
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

14. Stuffy Office Area
As Found Conditions due to
Un-trained Maintenance staff
No one could explain why the cardboard
was bolted down to the return air
transfer grill.
Solution
Remove cardboard and duct tape and
balance system.
Family Slide Show
Photo-electric Temperature
Gauge
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

15. Materials Storage
Materials Storage
Point to Point Complete?
Sometimes closed equals open!
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

16. Hey Slim..are you sure the
power is off to this fan?
Can we upgrade to pressure
treated wood?
What’s wrong with this
picture
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

17. When did OSHA start requiring
wire mesh gloves as standard
PPE equipment?
On This Project!
You might not need Commissioning if…
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

18. Assumption = Perception Issue
Assumption = Perception Issue
Perception Issue
As Found Conditions due to
Perceived incomplete work
Outside air damper not open when running on
five different units
Controller not wired to power
Perceived solution
Wire 24 volts to controller and set up outside
air damper
You Might Need Commissioning If... –

19. Perception Issue
True As Found Condition
Outside air dampers were not open when running
Controller was wired to power
Damper motor was failed on five units – casualties of
the missing ground example above
True solution
Replace damper motor and set up outside air damper
You might need Commissioning if…
You’re an Owner that wants to be confident that
your building works…. when you move in!
You’re an A/E that wants to make sure that the
owners building meets your design intent.
You’re a contractor that wants help managing the
process of subcontracting technical trades and
eliminating warranty calls.
Jeff Watson
Watson-jeff@aramark.com
678-492-5892
– You Might Need Commissioning If...

20. 0 – You Might Need Commissioning If...