Essential Cx Webinar Series | Earn Up to 6 CEUs

Passive Cooling and Natural Ventilation Design, Construction, Commissioning, and Operations

John Herboth, PE, CxA, Affiliated Engineers, Inc.

Learning Objectives:

Identify and describe both passive and active natural ventilation system design, construction, and operation concepts.
Identify areas of potential concern for passive and active natural ventilation system design, its components, its construction, and long-term operation.
Identify best practices for the design, construction, and operation in passive and active natural ventilation systems.
Describe the responsibilities and implications for operations personnel in identifying and solving passive and active ventilation system problems.

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These Weren’t the Droids We Were Looking For: Real Examples from Integrated Systems Testing

Mark Gelfo, PE, CxA, EMP, LEED Fellow, TLC Engineering Solutions

Why were there no EPO buttons on the garbage smashers on the Death Star? The Empire didn’t do Integrated Systems Testing! This session will be a fun and somewhat terrifying look at numerous real-world examples of “deficiencies” found from numerous commissioning projects, with an emphasis on issues found during Integrated Systems Testing. Every picture has a story and a lesson learned…even if we weren’t looking for it when we found it. What is Integrated System Testing (IST)? Simply put, it is the testing of all building systems together under multiple building conditions and event possibilities, including loss of power, fire alarm, storm events, and Rebel Alliance attacks. When we perform IST, we always find issues we weren’t looking for, and we will share some of those examples with you during this session.

Learning Objectives:

Understand what Integrated systems testing is and why it is an important part of the commissioning process.
Know what a black-site test is, and why it is an important test for any new building.
Apply lessons learned from our projects case study examples on their next commissioning project.
Understand why the original Star War trilogy is the best of the Star Wars saga.

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“It’s Life Safety Not Life Maybe: Commissioning Life Safety Systems”

Dave Guberud, CxA & Rachel Rueckert, CxA, Ring & DuChateau

As Commissioning Providers, we witness system under our scope of work for proper operation, (Cx button pushing is an entirely different discussion), and there are certain systems that we might yield to specialists like NFPA speaks to with an ITA (Integrated Testing Agent). Whether you are on the periphery or in deep pertaining to Life Safety we want to share our experiences in working with these ‘most important’ systems/devices of a building that all have to work together.

During this presentation, speakers will provide basic insights on what we look for in Life Safety systems so that they are not life maybe system. Having an awareness at a minimum of these systems on what they do, how they should get installed, and comminating in how they works is what we want to share. We will be discussing fire stopping and wall types, life safety dampers installation, what’s the meaning of IMC 607.3.3.2 and NFPA 90A Chapter 6, 6.1, difference in ‘one goes all goes’ versus ‘point of detection’ and action with its cascading effect of other devices, egress lighting, standby power, and even touch on IBC Section 909 ‘Smoke Control Systems.

Learning Objectives:

Gain an understanding on why fire stopping shouldn’t be done by the least experienced trades person on a project.
If you are hearing from the framer or the tinner that ‘I’ve been installing/framing Fire/Smoke dampers the same way for the last ten years’, that we have something to worry about.
Learn about the ‘like it or not’ marriage between HVAC and Fire Alarm.
What does 10 seconds means to us.
As with all things commissioning, we don’t have to be an expert in everything, but we need have wide ranging awareness and know the questions to ask; hopefully at the end of our presentation we’ve provided some additional awareness.

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Building Electrification Commissioning

Brendon Mattis, PE, CxA, LEED AP, Engineering Economics

Building electrification is the application of electrical solutions to space and process heating, including domestic hot water, in place of traditional fossil fuels. The goal of electrification is to eliminate the carbon dioxide emissions from carbon-based fuels (a.k.a. decarbonization) from the building energy sector and requires concurrent transformation of grid electricity generation to carbon free sources. Commissioning is critical to building electrification, beginning with reviewing/commenting on Owner’s Project Requirements and including system performance, reliability, maintainability, and resiliency objectives. This presentation will address the commissioning role in building electrification, explore case studies, and highlight challenges and opportunities. Nationally, 62% of electricity is currently generated from fossil fuels, providing about 1 unit of electrical output for 3 units of fuel energy input; source carbon must be considered to understand electrification impact on emissions. To ensure near term emissions reduction, electrification projects should first employ load reduction and energy efficiency strategies, and then apply systems that most efficiently utilize the required electrical input, avoiding electric resistance heating. Critical for electrification, heat pumps extract heat from low-grade sources, can provide 3 or more units of heat output per unit of electrical energy input, and may also displace some cooling energy input for simultaneous cooling needs. Applying heat electrical energy input, and may also displace some cooling energy input for simultaneous cooling needs. Applying heat pumps in cold climates can be challenging, as capacity and temperature output decreases with lower source temperatures, yet higher output is required for peak winter design capacity; high temperature requirements for older existing systems present additional challenges.

Learning Objectives:

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Planning for The Future: Automated Commissioning and Artificial Intelligence

Frank Shadpour, PE, SC Engineers

Abstract: What lies ahead for building commissioning? Our rapidly evolving world has been transformed by the widespread integration of open communication protocols such as BACnet/SC and RESTful API, reshaping the landscape of building commissioning. To thrive in this changing environment, proactive building commissioning authorities, designers, and owners must anticipate the inevitability of procedural obsolescence. The notion that outdated manual processes of the past will lead to positive outcomes and customer satisfaction is merely a myth. Commissioning businesses must know that failure to plan may lead to unintended outcomes. To secure a successful future, commissioning authorities must embrace forward-thinking strategies and adopt technologies that safeguard the building commissioning values against impending obsolescence. This webinar highlights cutting-edge commissioning technologies that leverage today’s advancements, including IoT, cloud-based dashboards, artificial intelligence, and other innovative approaches. It also addresses current topics related to automated commissioning, such as ASHRAE Guideline 13 and the implementation of wireless technology.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of automated commissioning.
Assess the impact of open communication protocols, such as BACnet/SC and restful API, on the landscape of building commissioning.
Identify the myths associated with outdated manual processes and their implications on positive outcomes and customer satisfaction in commissioning.
Gain insight into forward-thinking strategies that can help safeguard building commissioning values against impending obsolescence.
Discover cutting-edge technologies relating to automated commissioning, including Iot, BACnet/SC and ASHRAE Guideline-13.

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Who’s Ready to Test? How the ACG Building Systems Commissioning Guideline Defines Ready for Testing

Charles Jackson III, PE, PMP, CxA, LEED AP, CMTA, Inc.

As a commissioning provider, ready for testing has a different meaning for every stakeholder on a project. Through ACG Building Systems Commissioning Guideline, we will show you definitive milestones needed for being ready for testing. Getting everyone on the same page can help reduce wasted trips and level set expectations for all parties. The guideline provides an excellent resource for Owners, Contractors, and the rest of the Commissioning team to educate and guide our industry to deliver better building systems.

Learning Objectives:

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