The Benefits of UFAD Systems That You Can Take to the Bank
In the quest for more efficient and adaptable building designs, underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional overhead (OH) HVAC systems. Two comprehensive studies – one by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at UC Berkeley and another by Global IFS and Dynamic Systems Inc. – provide valuable insights into how UFAD systems can save on first costs while offering a variety of operational benefits.
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Topics:
Underfloor,
Thermal Comfort,
HVAC,
Engineering,
Design Engineering
Promoting Healthy Indoor Air Quality in the Classroom
As HVAC professionals, one of our primary goals is to promote healthy indoor air quality in all spaces, and there are fewer applications where this is more important than in classrooms. It is estimated that approximately half of public school districts need to update or replace the HVAC systems in their schools.1
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Topics:
Displacement,
HVAC,
Engineering,
Design Engineering,
Tech Tip,
ASHRAE 62,
Filtration
Bringing Design to Reality
Back in 2022, a mixed-use building in the Downtown East Village neighborhood of Calgary, AB, managed by the Calgary Housing Corporation, was identified as violating the city’s noise bylaws due to excessive noise emitted by its air-conditioning condensers. To address the issue, the city had initially planned to purchase and relocate new low-noise variable refrigerant flow (VRF) condensers.
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Topics:
Acoustics,
Noise Control,
Acoustic Louvers,
Acoustic Panels,
Engineering,
Design Engineering
System Testing to Optimize Terminal Unit Acoustics
In many commercial HVAC systems, engineers pair VAV boxes, fan-powered boxes and fan coils with duct silencers to meet the acoustical requirements of a space. While all the components are tested to industry standards – AHRI 880 and AHRI 260 for terminal units and fan coils and ASTM E477-20 for silencers – the combination of these two categories in real-world installations isn’t always straightforward.
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Topics:
Noise Control,
HVAC Silencers,
Pressure Drop,
Velocity Profile,
Terminals,
HVAC,
Engineering,
Design Engineering
The Energy-Efficient Workhorse of Your HVAC System
Fan coil units, or FCUs, are a quiet but crucial part of many HVAC systems, helping to maintain comfortable temperatures in buildings of all sizes.
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Topics:
Fan Coils,
Controls,
Thermal Comfort,
HVAC Fundamentals,
HVAC,
Engineering,
Design Engineering,
Filtration
