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SERVING ARCHITECTS, CONTRACTORS, AND OWNERS IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Improve School Lighting VRF Zoning Rates An ‘A’ Do Codes Ensure Reliability?

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contents INSIDE

Today’s technology improves campus security. see page 16

F E AT U R E S 9 Better Lighting Sparks Better Grades Changes in lighting technology make it easier and less expensive for schools to reduce energy use and provide proper lighting.

12 VRF Zoning Rates An ‘A’ In Schools Zoning systems provide comfort to each room or space, cooling some rooms while heating others.

D E PA R T M E N T S 6 34 49 51 52

16 Making Schools Safe Now 37

School security doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Implementing technology over time, though, requires careful analysis.

20 Building Power: Do Codes Ensure Power Reliability? The impact of Hurricane Sandy gave U.S. power providers and code-making bodies a wake-up call.

The Green Angle Renovate! Multi-Family Energy Retrofit Showcases Index Portfolio PRODUCTS

37 40 42 45 47 48

HVAC & Plumbing Interiors Exteriors Windows & Doors Lighting & Electrical Building Technology

About The Cover

PROJECTS 26 Virginia G. Piper Sports Center, Phoenix 30 Bernalillo Elementary School, Albuquerque

march 2013 vol. 11 no. 2

32 Liberty Terrace, SUNY-Albany, NY

Education is the focus of this issue. The article on p. 9 discusses improving school lighting to enhance learning and save energy. On p. 12 is an article that looks into the benefits of using VRF/zoned systems in schools. The article on p. 16 addresses the critical issue of school security and how today’s technology is solving problems.

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contents ONLINE EDITORIAL PRODUCTS

CBPdigital E X T R A S

To learn more about the products mentioned in the features in this issue, visit our digital magazine at http://www.cbpmagazine.com/digital/mar2013. Turn to the article that interests you and click on the icon to download a spec sheet or watch a video. Below is a summary of this issue’s Digital Extras.

As part of our variety of online editorial products, Commercial Building Products presents Commercial Conversation at http://www.commercialconversation.com. Commercial Conversation is a series of semi-monthly podcasts in which the editors speak with commercial-construction industry experts about issues that affect specifier decisions. Podcasts are supported by a resource page and are available for download from the website.

Fenestration Spec Factors For Buildings: Mike Turner Mike Turner, vice president of marketing at YKK AP America Inc., Austell, GA, and board member of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, Schaumburg, IL, returns to discuss factors to consider when specifying fenestration for various building types. This podcast accompanies his article on p. 13 in which he discusses regional factors that affect fenestration specifications.

Sustainability And Its Future: Gale Tedhams Better Lighting Sparks Better Grades, p. 9: Visit our digital magazine, click on the icon in this article, and download a pdf brochure from Acuity that discusses how their products can improve school lighting. VRF Zoning Rates An ‘A’ In Schools, p. 12: This Digital Extra is an 84-page pdf catalog that presents features and specifications for Mitsubishi’s entire line of VRF zoning system products. Making Schools Safe Now, p. 16: This link will provide you with a brochure that outlines the features and functions of the Sargent Profile series v.G1.5 lock with an RF fob.

Gale Tedhams, director of product and supply chain sustainability, Owens Corning, Columbus, OH, shares her views of current trends and the future of sustainable construction, along with the roles the LEED, IgCC, and BioPreferred programs are playing in the process.

Making Labs Work For Today’s Research: Jay Brotman Jay Brotman, AIA, and a partner with Svigals & Partners, New Haven, CT, is a leading expert in laboratory design. In our ninth podcast, he discusses the latest trends in laboratory design, the impact of sustainable construction, and the challenges of renovation projects.

Expanding The Architect’s Role: Debra Kunce Debra Kunce, associate at Schmidt Associates Inc., Indianapolis, and AIA vice president, discusses how her firm has expanded the traditional role of an architectural firm and found business growth in a difficult economy.

Building Power: Do Codes Ensure Power Reliability?, p. 20: The Digital Extra link at the end of this article will take you to ASCO’s Power University, a valuable resource for specifying power backup and switching systems.

www.cbpmagazine.com offers many online products meriting investigation. Just click on the icons on the website.

Flooring Performs Under Wheelchair, Crutch Stress, p. 26: Visit our digital magazine, click on the icon at the end of this article, and download a brochure about Mondo’s Mondotrack training and competition track system. Daylighting Keeps The Cool In New Mexico School, p. 30: The Digital Extra icon that accompanies this story will deliver a pdf file that contains three brochures that describe the Tubelite products used in this project. Precast-Concrete Dorm Turns Gold, p. 32: Click on the icon in the digital magazine to download a brochure that provides other examples of using Oldcastle precast concrete in student housing. Renovate! Energy Retrofit Benefits Low-Income Housing, p. 34: This Digital Extra link will deliver a video that discusses Kingspan’s Path to NetZero energy program. Safety Technology Int’l ad, p. 44: Clicking on the Digital Extra icon will provide you with a pdf that contains more detail about STI’s 4-Channel Voice Receiver.

Recent blog topics: • • • •

Construction employment increases in metro areas USGBC’s top 10 states for LEED ICC-ES certifies Abet Laminati exterior panels 2013 construction outlook improves

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M A R C H 2013

VOLUME 11, NO. 2

Commercial

BUILDING PRODUCTS

SERVING ARCHITECTS, CONTRACTORS, AND OWNERS IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

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EDITORIAL Gar y L. Par r Edit orial Dir ec t or

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Marjie O’Connor Senior Edit or

865.777.4009 moconnor @ cbpmagazine.com

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editor’s NOTEBOOK

Dropped, Not Broken A questions that pops into my head from time to time is, How many times do cell phones get dropped onto concrete or all manner of slop at construction sites? (I know this seems like a made-up setup for what is to follow, but it’s the honest truth. That question has passed through my strange little mind on more than one occasion. I actually think about these things. I can’t help it.) I’m confident the extended answer to that question is: More often than you think and the resultant damage to the phones has probably ruined more than one day. This question revisited me about three months ago when I received an offer to try a Ballistic HC iPhone case manufactured by Ballistic Case Co., Sunrise, FL. I said yes. I wanted to experience the size, bulk, and weight of one of these militarygrade phone protectors. I was also curious about whether, once encased, I would actually be able to use my iPhone. At least with this product, I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised. The Ballistic product has a backing case with shockabsorbing “bumps” on all sides and at the corners. The front snaps onto the main case and has a window the same size as the phone screen. For extreme conditions, there is a “gel” jacket that covers everything but the screen. I had no trouble operating the buttons or plugging in the power cord or headphones. The screen cover does not hinder The Ballistic screen operations in any way. The gel cover has “plugs” that keep HC case puts a dirt and debris out of all ports. Once you encase your phone with healthy shield this thing, you’ll have no doubt that it’s fully protected. of protection Dropping the phone? Yes, I did. I was scared to death, but around the iPhone. I held the phone at chest height, gritted my teeth, and dropped it on concrete. It wasn’t planned, but it landed on a corner and bounced. Absolutely no damage. Bulk? Weight? I carried my phone in the Ballistic case for more than a month. The case is definitely bulkier than my regular phone case and I suppose adds a bit of weight. But I didn’t think it was noticeable and the design offers excellent grip and handling. I quit using it because my soft, pampered life doesn’t place my phone in harsh conditions, but if I were going to spend extended periods at jobs sites or in harsh conditions, the first thing I would do is put it in the Ballistic case. This is the first time I’ve devoted this space to any kind of a product review but, given what you, our readers, do for a living, I thought it would be useful for you to know of my experience. The company makes a wide variety of cases for mobile phones. Visit their website at www.goballisticcase.com to learn more. The only benefit I received from this venture was a chance to play with the product. You may benefit by saving your phone from complete destruction.

Gary L. Parr Editorial Director

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS (USPS 23077) is published nine times/year in January, March, April, May, June, July, September, October, and November, by ConSource LLC, 1300 S. Grove Ave., Suite 105, Barrington, IL 60010 (Phone: 847-382-8100). Periodicals postage paid at Barrington, IL, and additional offices. Entire contents copyright 2013 by ConSource LLC. All rights reserved. SUBSCRIPTION: COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS is mailed free to major users of commercial building products across several industries. Non-qualified subscriptions in the United States are $24 for one year. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS, Creative Data, 440 Quadrangle Dr., Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440-9719. For other circulation information, call 630-739-0900.

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The Green Angle

Energy Market Needs Construction Standards Development of industry-wide standards will drive consistency, efficiency, longevity, and cost savings. Jelani Rucker, JMC Steel Group

olar construction isn’t good only for the environment; it’s great for the U.S. economy as well. The U.S. solar industry provides high-quality employment opportunities for 120,000 workers at nearly 15,000 locations in all 50 states. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Washington, solar manufacturing will continue to expand in 2013 as a fast-growing, dynamic industry. A stronger and more competitive U.S. domestic manufacturing base encourages this growth. The U.S. solar industry continues to be a bright spot in the economic recovery, which is why now, more than ever, it’s important to establish industry-wide solar-construction standards that will allow the industry to flourish and reach its fullest potential. Why the need for solar-construction standards? A major component of the solar industry is the design, manufacturing, and installation of the infrastructure that supports solarpanel arrays. While panel technology continues to become more efficient, infrastructure solutions have evolved at a slower pace. This disconnect makes the case for the solar industry to develop its own set of construction standards to mitigate the customization of each solar project and establish a baseline process. North America’s increasing demand for green energy and the development of industrywide standards will drive consistency, efficiency, longevity, and cost savings. Solar-construction standards will not only provide cost savings for contractors and solar-parts manufacturers but will allow the industry to innovate and maintain its level of integrity for long-lasting, green-building solutions. As a whole, the lack of standards in the solar industry makes it difficult for manufacturers to compete in an apples-to-apples market. Everything is customized or job specific. There is no standard or competitive edge for any project. The standards for each project are plucked from other applications in which these products are used. However, when those outside standards are applied to solar, they don’t necessarily match up, resulting in product breakdown within 10 to 15 years. That gives the solar industry a black eye. In reality, the solar products aren’t to blame; it’s the lack of construction standards—regulated testing, rules of thumb, installation guidelines, best practices—that results in negative implications for the whole industry.

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Let’s take connecting a mounting system to support piers, for example. When there’s no set of standards for these connections or joining methods, how do you build and manufacture a product to support the industry? As a contractor, how do you train your personnel so they know how to install and build the system? As an industry, how do you handle incurring all of the extra cost when every project is custom, which leads to more time and more money for every solar project? It’s not sustainable.

Development D l off iindustry-wide d id standards d d for solar-energy construction would drive efficiency, innovation, longevity, and reduced overall costs.

Identifying the problem Some of the specific obstacles facing the solar industry include: • Design, installation, and construction comprise 50% of total cost. The average cost of a completed PV system dropped by 17% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the first quarter of 2011. Overall, the average price of a solar panel has declined by 47% since Q1 2011. This indicates that the installation costs have not declined as fast (Data provided by SEIA.). • Each solar project is custom. This leaves opportunities for widespread inconsistency within the industry and increases the probability for error, which increases costs. Because permit and licensing requirements vary with the location of the project, inconsistency within the industry (galvanizing or not galvanizing support piers, joining methods for connecting racks to support piers, electrical equipment/wiring solutions) is quite common. Typical discrepancies that arise during the construction of a PV project include: – foundations not suited to ground conditions – discovery of hazardous or contaminated substances during excavation

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– incorrect orientation of modules – insufficient cross-bracing on mounting structures – incorrect use of torque wrenches – damaging cables during construction/ installation. • All risks are not the same. Reducing any of the risks mentioned above through a warranty has now become a necessity, allowing project managers to combat common objections to solar projects. However, the warranty supplied with support structures varies and may include a limited product warranty of as long as 10 years and a limited finish warranty of five years or less. What’s more, products used in a solar farm require 20-year warranties on the PV panels. The structures, wiring, and other materials need to work for 20 years as well. Industry standards could increase stakeholder confidence by ensuring longterm viability of solar projects without requiring documentation for decade-long guarantees. • Solar installations have an increasing impact on the U.S. economy. The SEIA projects that, over the next four years, the U.S. solar market will increase 40%, becoming the largest solar market in the world. With an increasing demand for solar projects, there is an equal pressure to reduce project costs. This balance is difficult to maintain without industry-wide standardization. These obstacles make a clear case: To keep up with the growth and demand for solar energy, the industry must identify areas of inconsistency and develop concepts for standardizing solutions. Solar construction standards must exist to ensure accuracy, safety, and proper installation through specific constraints. Standards help to reduce wasted labor and materials. If standards exist, personnel can be trained better and work faster with less downtime and fewer mistakes. With no standards, there can be no innovation. Consistent quality maintenance and a set of industry standards will put the U.S. at the forefront of innovative green-energy solutions. Jelani Rucker is director of marketing and newbusiness development for JMC Steel Group, Chicago. visit our digital magazine at www.cbpmagazine.com/digital/mar2013 and click on the icon.

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feature EDUCATION New lighting in laboratories contributes to a 50% overall reduction in electrical use at Towson Univ., Towson, MD.

Better Lighting A Sparks Better Grades Changes in lighting technology make it easier and less expensive for schools to reduce energy use while providing proper lighting that accommodates a variety of needs. Tim Hogan, Acuity Brands

ccording to Energy Star officials at the Department of Energy, Washington, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational institutions spend more than $14 billion annually on energy. What is even more shocking is as much as 30% of that energy may be used inefficiently or unnecessarily. In fact, the cost of that wasted energy is $4 billion more than what is spent to feed K-12 students in the National School Lunch Program. In addition to a vast amount of energy consumption, many schools are operating with 50-year-old technology and building standards. According to the California Energy Commission, Sacramento, in 2006 the average age of California schools was more than 40 years. However, it is more than aging buildings that is pressuring educational facilities to upgrade. Schools are faced with rising energy costs and more stringent energy codes and standards, all while overall funding and budgets are shrinking. Additionally, the way of teaching and learning is changing. Thanks to advancements in technology, classrooms today need to be multifunctional to support an integrated approach to teaching, group activities, audiovisual lessons, productivity, and beyond. Schools are using collaborative learning strategies, indoor and outdoor components, and more technology (video projectors, tablet computers, smart boards) during lessons, driving the good old

blackboard to the brink of extinction. Reducing electricity usage from lighting is one of the simplest things U.S. schools can do to reduce energy consumption, upgrade facilities, and meet the needs of evolving technology. The good news is the lighting industry is changing too, making it easier and more economical to reduce energy use.

The 21st century luminaire Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electric luminaires are changing the way we think about lighting. Whether fluorescent or LED, new luminaires deliver superior illumination, improved aesthetics, greater flexibility, and reduced energy consumption. Advancements in LED technology are redefining light fixtures. Choosing LED solutions expands lighting options, simplifies applications, and enhances capabilities as LEDs, luminaires, and controls evolve. LED sources are known for lower energy consumption and their long life, but the key is really how they can be controlled. Smart luminaires are equipped with plug-and-play controls and lumen-management systems that unlock the maximum potential of LEDs. If a new installation is not an option, there are also LED and fluorescent retrofit kits that can achieve similar results without installing entirely new fixtures. Modern retrofit solutions can deliver superior illumination, improved

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feature EDUCATION

Clayton State Univ., Morrow, GA, took advantage of advances in lighting technology to upgrade the lighting system in the gymnasium. The difference between the before (top) and after lighting is dramatic.

aesthetics, greater flexibility, and reduced energy consumption. These kits can replace outdated parabolic or lensed troffers without ever having to break the ceiling plane. Retrofit kits enable installation of component parts into the housing of old fixtures, maintaining their integrity and delivering the appearance and efficiency of a modern fixture. In addition to better light quality and aesthetics, retrofit kits are installed from below the ceiling plane for virtually no disruption to an organization’s productivity. This is helpful for educational facilities such as colleges and universities that do not close for extended periods of times, or for year-round K-12 facilities. Clayton State Univ. in Morrow, GA, is one example of institution leadership and facilities directors taking advantage of advances in lighting technology. As part of a gymnasium renovation, the team recognized the need to upgrade their lighting system. “We were faced with a lighting system that required lots of maintenance for lamps and ballast replacements,” said Darren Thomas, director of facilities management. “And the light levels were too low and uneven for high-level competitive basketball.” The facilities team studied a number of alternatives and trial installations before adopting the I-Beam LED high bay from Lithonia Lighting, Conyers, GA, for its relighting. The project also benefited from a team that could handle the installation and from a rebate from Georgia Power, based in Atlanta. The team was able to increase light levels from about 25 footcandles to about 100 footcandles while reducing electricity use. The new lighting system, which meets NCAA Class I performance levels, is a perfect example of reducing costs and improving the functionality of the campus environment.

Daylighting

No dark stacks at the library at Towson Univ., which features energy-efficient lighting to promote learning and studying.

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Schools can achieve even greater efficiency by using natural light. Daylighting delivers efficient lighting with physiological and psychological connections to the outdoors. Skylights, windows, and tubular daylighting systems can capture, transport, and diffuse high-quality natural lighting into classrooms, which helps reduce the amount of electric lighting needed during the day. “A substantial amount of energy can be saved by using daylight harvesting, but it also can positively influence student performance,” said Zachary Schneider of CMTA Engineers, Prospect, IN, designers of high-performance school buildings. “Studies show bringing daylight into a classroom is a very important component of a successful learning environment.” Daylighting is always evolving. New tubular daylighting systems networked directly

Merchandise at the Towson Univ. bookstore benefits from brighter LED lighting.

with controls and electric lighting provide the ability to capture natural light but to also turn it “off,” dim it, and change the contrast ratios to complement electric lighting. The result is a more comfortable and flexible learning environment. Through digitally controlled louvers, tubular daylighting systems and skylights can be controlled to enhance classroom technology such as audiovisual presentations.

Controls for saving energy Smart sensors and controls increase fixture life, increase energy savings, reduce maintenance time and costs, and further tailor lighting solutions to complement classroom needs. Sensors and controls can be paired with electric lighting and daylighting solutions. They can be as simple as occupancy sensors and as complex as programmed control settings for classroom activities that may require different light levels, such as audiovisual presentations and testing. Integrated with lighting and daylighting, they keep the building illuminated appropriately for safety while providing simple control of building lighting, and, ultimately, a better learning environment. “Controls can offer us many options for energy savings, especially with schools and their schedules,” said Schneider. “When designing a controls system, we evaluate the sequence of operations with the facility. In the case of schools, we can actually shut everything off at 4 p.m., when the teachers leave, and give the janitorial staff an override. We try to get very specific about the lighting controls for maximum energy savings.” Now more than ever, lighting can be tailored to activities. School facilities can have elementary students in a classroom during the

day and adult education during the evening, easily converting the classroom to support different types of learning.

cost of about $200 to $300 per day, which amounts to more than $100,000 a year,” said Kolb.

The lighting ecosystem Integrated lighting solutions deliver Integration of electric lighting, daylighting, and controls provides a smart and simple lighting solution that improves the learning environment and reduces operational expenses. Whether in libraries, music rooms, science labs, or student centers, an integrated lighting system can meet the needs of students, teachers, and the facility alike. Take, for example, Towson Univ. in Towson, MD. The school’s energy bills were nearing $10 million annually. An estimated 25% to 40% could be attributed to lighting. In the interest of achieving environmental and budgetary goals, the university decided that cutting its energy consumption was imperative. For the campus-wide project, the university selected more than 15,000 Lithonia Lighting RT5 fluorescent fixtures in 2-foot by 2-foot and 2-foot by 4-foot configurations, in addition to a number of RT5 fluorescent retrofit kits. The university also installed integrated controls, including occupancy sensors and photocell controls for daylighting. “Even though we decreased the number of lamps in most areas on campus from four to two with the new fixtures, we actually experienced improved foot-candle levels and achieved better light quality with fewer lamps,” said Steve Kolb, the university’s energy manager. “In most areas, we were able to reduce lighting energy by 50% or more.” The university expects to meet all original estimates in money and energy savings. “In just the library alone, we have seen an actual reduction in

Creating a better learning environment in a fiscally responsible way should be a key priority in K-12 and higher-education facilities. Quality of light, the return on investment, building codes, and sustainability standards must be key factors in specifying a lighting system. Light quality is what ensures occupants are visually comfortable. Integrated electric lighting, daylighting, and controls solutions deliver the right kind of light, and the right amount of light, exactly where it’s needed, and only when it’s needed, all at the lowest total lifecycle cost. Certainly cost plays an important role when selecting a lighting upgrade. Specifiers should think past the initial cost and focus on the total lifecycle cost, including upfront equipment cost and energy and maintenance costs. LEDs, daylighting, and controls are all attainable options for implementing sustainable solutions. Lighting systems can be compatible with controls that will leverage system performance and reduce the bottom line. These are sustainable, innovative solutions that will benefit schools for years to come and help prepare the industry for the next generation. Tim Hogan is vice president for education markets at Acuity Brands, Conyers, GA.

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feature HVAC

Gilbert Hall, a new residence dorm at Pacific Univ., Forest Grove, OR, stays comfortable in every part of the building thanks to VRF zoning. Photo courtesy of Pacific Univ. and Mahlum Architects Inc., Portland, OR. Photographer: Lincoln Barbour

VRF Zoning Rates An ‘A’ In Schools Zoning systems provide comfort to each room or space, cooling some rooms while heating others.

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MARCH 2013

proven HVAC technology worldwide, variable-refrigerant-flow (VRF) zoning systems are poised for dramatic growth in all areas of commercial construction. Precise zone control, flexibility, and energy efficiency make VRF systems ideally suited for elementary and secondary schools as well as college and university buildings and residence halls. VRF zoning systems are sustainable, cost-effective HVAC solutions that offer many benefits, including energy savings, increased comfort, design and installation flexibility, lower maintenance costs, and quiet operation. For extra credit, VRF technology offers the ability to capture a significant number of points toward LEED certification. VRF zoning provides comfort control to buildings with multiple floors and areas by moving refrigerant through piping to the zone to be cooled or heated. Regardless of time of day, sun or shade, season of the year, or special requirements, the systems provide personalized comfort to each room or space, simultaneously cooling some zones while heating others. The systems have many features, including:

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Energy efficiency. Because its inverter compressor varies its motor rotation speed and capacity (the indoor units vary their capacity, too), the system precisely meets each zone’s load. Power consumption is reduced because the system operates only at the levels needed to maintain a constant, comfortable indoor environment. In addition, certain indoor units have sensors that compare air and floor temperatures and adjust the output as needed to optimize comfort. Lighter weight. VRF zoning systems are 31% lighter than chilled-water systems, so they are easier to handle and less expensive to transport. Moreover, the load can be distributed across an existing structure or avoided altogether by mounting the units on the ground. Lower life-cycle costs. The total installed cost of a VRF zoning system is less than or equal to the total installed cost of most conventional systems. The systems need much less maintenance and require no special trades to change or clean filters and outdoor condensing units. Quiet operation. The system’s inverter

Gilbert Hall, Pacific Univ., Forest Grove, OR ounded in 1849, Pacific Univ. is listed annually

tight spaces,” Shea said.

ica’s Best Colleges. Although the university has

measure of a building’s energy usage, comparing

a small student body (slightly less than 3,000), it

energy consumed by similar buildings in identical

is big on sustainable practices. In addition to sus-

climates. Monitoring actual performance, Pacific

tainability research and curricula, Pacific boasts

Univ. has calculated that Gilbert Hall achieved an

a permaculture project, bike rental program, and

EUI of 46 kbtu/sq. ft./year. The average EUI num-

organic and local food options. But perhaps the

ber for student housing projects in the Northwest

university’s most important sustainable project

United States is 80 kbtu/sq. ft./year—and unlike

is its green-campus master plan, which includes

Gilbert Hall, most of those buildings do not have

five LEED-certified buildings.

air conditioning.

by U.S. News & World Report as one of Amer-

Following the success of another VRF zoning

The energy use index (EUI) is a standard

Pacific Univ. officials are thrilled by the

system installation, Pacific Univ. chose the same

results. “Gilbert Hall is performing wonderfully,”

technology for Gilbert Hall, a new 60,000-sq.-ft.

said Chuck Carpenter, the university’s facilities

student residence featuring 26 apartments and

engineer. In addition to garnering a LEED Gold

suites for 157 students. VRF zoning systems are

certification, the building also met the aggressive

ideal for student housing because they offer

Architecture 2030 Challenge benchmark for en-

design flexibility while supporting varying cooling

ergy efficiency. Gilbert Hall’s outstanding energy

and heating demands, according to Brian Shea,

performance has been replicated each year, de-

project manager for the HVAC contractor for

spite record-breaking low temperatures the past

the Gilbert Hall project, American Heating Inc.,

few winters. Pacific Univ. officials hope to make

Portland, OR. “[VRF zoning] is a great option for

VRF zoning the benchmark HVAC technology for

today’s buildings where there are more and more

all new student-housing projects.

technology is inherently quiet because it ramps up and down to meet the needs of the space served. Its outdoor compressor is encased in sound-dampening insulation to further reduce noise. Likewise, the indoor unit is designed for quiet performance. Discreet indoor units. A wide variety of indoor-unit styles offer greater design flexibility. Styles include wall mounted, floor standing (concealed and exposed), and vertical concealed. Ceiling options include suspended, recessed, and ceiling ducted. Design and installation flexibility. The compact air-source outdoor units, water-source units, indoor units, and other components can be installed in tighter spaces because they require less piping and duct space. They generally include two refrigerant pipes with a non-polar, two-wire control connection, which means faster installations.

Saving money during installation That fast installation, which requires fewer installers than conventional systems, lets schools

save money before the system is even turned on. “Given a tight budget, aggressive schedule, and our primary focus on sustainability, the VRF zoning system was the perfect choice,” said Kurt Haapala of Mahlum Architects, Portland, OR. “It met renovation and new-construction time crunches, such as [installation] during summer break.” An added bonus is greatly improved indoor-air quality (IAQ) with virtually no pollutants and lower humidity. “Our indoor-air quality is greatly improved—so improved that one student with serious asthma issues was finally able to attend classes in the building again,” reported Lawrence Kicak, manager of HVAC operations and refrigerant compliance at Emory Univ., Atlanta.

LEED goes to school U.S. colleges and universities are recognized as thought leaders on the forefront of important societal and scientific trends, so it is no surprise that they often are environmental stewards. A report by the U.S. Green Building Council,

Despite large exterior surfaces of glass, the interior space at Gilbert Hall stays comfortable thanks to VRF zoning, which sends heat or cooling exactly where it’s needed. Photo courtesy of Mahlum Architects Inc. Photographer: Lincoln Barbour

Washington, reveals that of all LEED-certified buildings, nearly 14% are on college campuses: 3,430 higher-education projects are registered or certified under the LEED rating systems. VRF zoning systems can contribute points in several LEED categories under Energy & Atmosphere (EA) and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): New Construction and Major Renovations; Core and Shell Development; Existing Buildings; Schools (new and renovation); Retail (new and renovation); and Healthcare (new and renovation). For all LEED certifications, building designs can gain points through VRF zoning technology in several ways: • Energy & Atmosphere (EA), Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems prerequisite. A VRF zoning system meets this prerequisite because it has an integrated control system providing for testing, control, and reporting. • Minimum Energy Performance prerequisite. VRF zoning technology provides the means to exceed ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999, achieving the

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MARCH 2013

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feature HVAC Minnie Howard Middle School, Alexandria, VA

n 2008, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) hired Hayes Large Architects LLP and B2E

geothermal closed-loop water system to the

were drilled 300 feet beneath the school’s park-

six VRF-zoning units. “The installation was

Consulting Engineers, both of Leesburg, VA, to

ing lot. Shapiro & Duncan Inc., Rockville, MD,

hassle-free, and the system started up the

help turn the 50-plus-year-old Minnie Howard

installed the six VRF zoning units next to the

very first time with no glitches,” said Chris Ott,

campus into a laboratory for testing green-

backup boilers, the solar heat exchanger, and

project manager, Shapiro & Duncan. “When you

building technologies that could be implemented

the makeup outside-air unit. Shapiro & Duncan

consider there are 8,000 feet of piping, that’s

system-wide. Hayes Large and B2E devised an

also set up the complex plumbing network,

amazing.”

innovative package of technologies to create

connecting 8,000 feet of piping that joined the

In the end, the VRF zoning system out-

one of the most energy-efficient schools in

performed expectations. “The Minnie

the country. The technologies included a

Howard system stands in a league of its

creative combination of solar and ground-

own,” said Ott. “The school went from an

source geothermal energy to significantly

antiquated chiller that was keeping water

reduce cooling and heating costs, a water-

at 40 F and two huge, inefficient boilers

source VRF-zoning system to simultaneously

maintaining 180 F water all the time—even

cool and heat the building, water-source

if it wasn’t needed—to a variable-speed

heat pumps, solar-heat exchangers, ultra-

condensing unit coupled to a geothermal

low-flow plumbing fi xtures, and tubular

w well system that only runs if an indoor air

skylights to bring natural light to class-

handler needs cooling or heating. Add to

rooms, corridors, and bathrooms. Forty-two

tthis the ability to cool and heat simultane-

solar-collector panels placed on the school’s

ously and to zone with multiple condensing

front provide water heating and serve as a sunshade, reducing glare and cooling costs.

Six VRF-zoning units are part of the extensive HVAC renovation at the middle school. Photos courtesy of Mitsubishi Electric U.S. Cooling & Heating Division.

prerequisite for minimum energy performance. • Minimum IAQ Performance prerequisite. VRF zoning systems can meet this criterion (Sections 4 through 7 of ASHRAE Standard 62.1- 2004) through indoor units with ventilation connections or integrated dedicated outside-air systems. • Optimize Energy Performance credit. The VRF zoning system’s inherent energy efficiency provides high levels of energy savings above ASHRAE Standard 90.1. Inverter technology, heat recovery, and zone controls provide the best opportunities for energy savings. • Measurement and Verification credit. VRF integrated controls and maintenance software monitor and report building-energy usage on an ongoing basis. • Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring Integrated Controls credit. CO2 monitoring can be incorporated into a VRF system. Likewise, certain indoor units use MERV 8 filtration to meet the credit’s intent. 14

For the new geothermal system, 60 wells

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MARCH 2013

•

units, and you have another energy-saving milestone.”

Controllability of Systems—Thermal Comfort credit. VRF’s zoning capability allows occupant control with wall-mounted remote controllers. • Thermal Comfort—Design credit. VRF zoning systems and the building envelope must be designed to meet requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, Thermal Comfort

Conditions for Human Occupancy. • Thermal Comfort—Verification credit. When properly designed into a building, VRF zoning systems provide temperature and humidity control in accordance with ASHRAE 55-2004 guidelines. • Schools IEQ. VRF zoning systems also can c contribute to a specific Schools c certification requirement and Part of an overall effort to reduce energy use, solar panels at o one specific credit. Minnie Howard Middle School provide water heating and serve as a sunshade. Other elements include • Minimum Acoustic Envia geothermal system,water-source heat rronment prerequisite. Many pumps, and solar-heat exchangers. V VRF zoning system indoor units h have noise levels that fall at or b below 45 dB(A), as specified. For more information a about how VRF zoning ssystems can contribute to L LEED certifications, visit the U U.S. Green Building Council’s w website at www.usgbc.org.

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for free information, CIRCLE 3 and visit our digital magazine at www.cbpmagazine. com/digital/mar2013 and click on the icon.

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877-213-2333 213 2333 www.samsung-security.com For free information, circle 205

feature SECURITY Perimeter doors, the first line of school defense, must close and lock properly. All photos: Gary L. Parr

Technology can monitor secondary door status from a central location. Visitors should be directed to a single point of entry.

Making Schools Safe Now School security doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Implementing different technologies over time, though, requires careful analysis of likely issues. Chris Gaughan, Assa Abloy 16

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n the surface, a school’s mission seems quite clear: to teach, nurture, and educate. Whether it’s an elementary school, a high school, or a university, schools are where students are free to explore and learn about the world around them. The tools needed for a school to be successful also seem rather obvious: teachers, books, and chalkboards, to name a few. But just as important is a safe and secure environment. Though tragedies of the sort that have shocked the country in recent years remain anomalies, every school must plan for the worst. Government authorities and school administrators are tasked with the challenge of securing students and staff without allowing fear to dictate the atmosphere and attitude of a school. Access-control companies can couple innovative technologies with practical applications to address the needs of many types of facilities, including schools. Yet, until they’re needed, those solutions should not be top of mind for everyday users. Specifiers for security and life-safety systems need to consider options to protect schools from the start of construction or renovation planning. A secure facility keeps unauthorized individuals from entering the building, protects from dangers within the school, and ensures ready or controlled egress

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as necessary. However, each school is unique, and there’s no “one size fits all” security solution. Despite invariably tight budgets for schools, there are a number of steps architects and school districts can take to improve shortterm security while mapping out a long-term plan. A school’s security system needs to do the following: • control and monitor access with traditional locking solutions and/or access-control technology • quickly secure a classroom from the inside through use of specially designed locksets • provide a safe means of egress from the building. To accomplish these objectives, companies offer a wide range of solutions, from mechanical locks to networked access-control systems that provide an entire facility with real-time lockdown capability. Specifiers should consult with a certified security professional to ensure that they choose the best solution for the facility.

The basics The first order of business is to secure perimeter doors and critical interior spaces that can serve as areas of refuge, such as classrooms. Start with the fundamentals: • Do all doors easily close and latch? • How does the existing hardware control and monitor access? • If a master key and key-control system are in

feature SECURITY ▲

Constant activity at high schools, during and after regular school hours, requires careful specification of locks/latches and access-control systems to provide needed security.

▲ Campus buildings, such as those at Florida Southern College, Lakeland, present unique challenges. Today’s locks and accesscontrol technologies provide needed security and flexibility.

use, what are the key-control policies? • Does the key system have procedures to prevent unauthorized distribution? Any gray areas in the system must be addressed immediately to conform with federal and local codes, including fire codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Before selecting hardware, specifiers should determine the best locking scenario for every door in the facility, which can include the following options: • The door remains locked throughout the day, limiting access to a single point. • The door remains unlocked except in an emergency situation. • All door locks are controlled from a central location. Once specifiers identify the operating scenario for each type of opening, they can choose hardware that will achieve that scenario. Many companies’ products were developed specifically to allow teachers and staff to quickly and easily secure a facility in an emergency situation.

Locking up a plan Traditional classroom locks can only be locked by key from the outside. Today’s locks offer several functions that allow the classroom to be secured from the inside, reducing the chance of harm to students, teachers, and staff. For example, classroom-security intruder devices can be locked from the inside or outside and offer the additional assurance of visual indicators when the door is secure. School systems should consider changing locks that are lockable only from outside to ones that are also lockable from the inside. On the other hand, exit devices should facilitate safe

egress while restricting access from the outside. Typically used on perimeter doors, panic bars are the first line of defense against intruders. Exit devices, such as electronic monitoring, can improve school security. An access-control system can monitor many elements, including the latch-bolts and levers, for security breaches caused by doors being propped open or vandalized.

closed, latched, and secured. Another major benefit of an EAC system is that it can provide a complete audit trail for every credential in the system. Records of the activity of every lock are stored in a central database, including which credentials were used to gain entrance and what time the user entered the room.

Building a system The fob is on the job Falling between a mechanical lock and an access-control system, stand-alone electronic locks use a keypad, card reader, or a combination to allow access. A radio frequency (RF) fob, similar to a car remote, is also available to lock down stand-alone electronic locks by pressing a panic button. From as far as 75-feet away inside of the classroom, the panic button secures the door and disables all user credentials to prevent entry by unauthorized persons. This technology permits everyday access for those with a PIN or credential but secures the classroom quickly in an emergency. Stand-alone locks also provide some advanced features, including audit capability and temporary access codes. For specifiers in search of even tighter security, electronic access-control (EAC) systems provide it with control and monitoring functions. Their wired or wireless electronic locks are tied into the master access-control system, permitting configuration of every lock through the main system. Access codes can be changed almost instantly from a central location. EAC systems also provide monitoring functions that enable precise tracking of anyone who uses a lock anywhere in the system, as well as the status of critical doors to ensure they are

If it is not feasible to add a full EAC system right away, a gradual approach may be helpful, starting with basic stand-alone electronic locks that operate with a keypad or credential to reduce the need for keys and their potential for theft and loss. Wireless devices that interface with a school’s WiFi system and IT infrastructure are easier, faster, and more cost-effective to install than devices that require a hard-wired connection. Although the pressure to make sure a school’s security is greater than ever before, it’s imperative to keep in mind that the quick fix may not always be the best fix. Implementing the wrong life-safety and security upgrades can be more harmful than no solution at all. The shortterm benefits of any changes to a system must be considered while ultimately looking at how they will fit into a school’s total security picture, now and in the long term. Chris Gaughan is director of product management, commercial mechanical products, architectural hardware group, of Assa Abloy, New Haven, CT.

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MARCH 2013

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BUILDING POWER

BUILDINGG POWER

F E AT U R E

ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Do Codes M Ensure Power Reliability? The impact of Hurricane Sandy gave U.S. power providers and code-making bodies a wake-up call. Bhavesh S. Patel, ASCO 20

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MARCH 2013

ore than 8 million utility customers lost electrical power as a result of Hurricane Sandy’s devastating impact, according to David Sandalow, acting undersecretary of energy and assistant secretary for policy and international affairs, Department of Energy, Washington (see table, p. 24). He described the storm’s damage during his presentation at the Columbia Univ., New York, Energy Symposium on November 30, 2012—one month after Sandy slammed into the East Coast of the U.S. “Sandy’s impact on energy infrastructure was especially devastating,” Sandalow said. “High winds took down power lines. Rising seas flooded electric substations. Within 24 hours of Sandy’s landfall, more than 8 million utility customers lost power. Fueldistribution networks were paralyzed. Critical terminals for petroleum and petroleum products were badly damaged. Many service stations lost power and couldn’t pump gas, leading to long gasoline lines in the New York/New Jersey area.” Historically, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York,

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has been at the top of the list to receive patients evacuated from other healthcare facilities when disasters— natural or not—strike. However, Bellevue, the premier trauma center in Manhattan, had to evacuate more than 300 patients due to loss of electrical power. Although the emergency generators, which are located on the 13th floor, were operational, fuel issues prevented their continued operation. According to the New York Times, the fuel pumps that feed the emergency generators are located in the basement at Bellevue, which was still flooded after pumping out 17 million gallons of water. Of course, water and electrical equipment, such as fuel pumps for emergency generators, don’t mix.

More of a guideline Why are facilities that must operate to provide services during disasters allowed to locate critical electrical-system components in vulnerable areas? Although designs of this magnitude require a great deal of thought and planning, it’s difficult to include every

The loss of power in Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy is evident by the number of dark buildings that had key infrastructure located in the basement and, therefore, under water.

possible scenario. Even codes and standards, as extensive as they are, can’t cover everything. According to NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems, 2013 edition, Annex A, paragraph A.7.2.4, “EPSS [emergency power supply system] equipment should be located above known previous flooding elevations where possible.” Also, according to paragraph A.7.2.5, “For natural conditions, EPSS design should consider the ‘100-year storm’ flooding level or the flooding level predicted by the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes [SLOSH] models for a Class 4 hurricane.” The preceding are suggestions from Annex A: Explanatory Material. They are not requirements. The body of NFPA 110 is less emphatic about flooding. In Chapter 7: Installation and Environmental Considerations, paragraph 7.2.4 states: The rooms, enclosures, or separate buildings housing Level 1 or Level 2 EPSS equipment shall be designed and located to minimize damage from flooding, including that caused by the following:

(1) flooding resulting from fire fighting (2) sewer-water backup (3) other disasters or occurrences. Note that these flooding references appear in section 7.2.2: Outdoor EPS [emergency power supply] Installations. However, the previous section, 7.2.1: Indoor EPS Installations, doesn’t address flooding at all. NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code, 2012 edition, echoes the language in NFPA 110. However, NFPA 99 is more specific in its Annex B: Additional Explanatory Notes, paragraph B.12.3.2.4: “Flooding into a facility’s lower levels where utilities are often housed results in a disruption of these services.” Paragraph B.12.3.2.5 states, “Power is lost typically as a result of high winds and flooding. Generators and transfer switches have been lost due to their location below the high water mark.” Again, Annex B offers observations and suggestions—not requirements. NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC), 2011 edition Article 517, is explicit in defining division of a facility’s electrical according to applicability: which loads are essential and which are nonessential. Of the essential electrical system, it defines the equipment system, critical branch, and life-safety branch. However, as with NFPA 110 and NFPA 99, the NEC does not address flooding in great detail. NEC Article 517.35 (C) states, “Careful consideration shall be given to the location of the spaces housing the components of the essential electrical system to minimize interruptions caused by natural forces common to the area, e.g., storms, floods, earthquakes, or hazards created by adjoining structures or activities.” NEC Articles 700 and 701 address capacity for emergency systems and legally required standby systems, respectively. “The sizing requirements of 700.4 and 701.4 say that emergency generators have to be able to handle all the loads, but do not apply to hospital generator sets,” said Tom Divine, senior engineer and project manager, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston.

“Hospital generators in particular … have to run for extended periods. For hospitals, you may size according to prudent demand factors and historical data.” While natural disasters are mentioned in these codes, explicit requirements are not. “The codes are not terribly detailed,” Divine said. “They suggest placing generators with an eye toward a list of possible disasters. But they just give you a list and don’t tell you much. Every segment of the country has its own kind of disasters.”

Location, location, location Do the codes go far enough to enable adequate emergency coverage? Ken Lovorn, president, Lovorn Engineering Associates, Pittsburgh, doesn’t think so. “They talk about not putting life-safety branch and critical branch wiring in the same raceway [517.30 (C) (1): Separation from Other Circuits]. But they don’t talk about having physical separation that’s distant enough to really prevent a simultaneous outage.” NEC Article 517, paragraph 517.30 (C) (1) states, “The life-safety branch and critical branch of the emergency system shall be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment and shall not enter the same raceways, boxes, or cabinets with each other or other wiring.” According to Lovorn, there are some references about having the normal switchgear in the same room as the emergency generator. “But there’s nothing to prevent you from having the generator, switchgear, and the paralleling gear in the basement,” Lovorn said. “The industry needs more regulation, more codes. “The location of the electrical equipment should be addressed,” Lovorn continued. “I have encountered many situations where facilities put the electrical switchgear in the lowest level and they get high water, a flood, or a pipe breaks. The electrical equipment ends up getting wet. And water and electricity are immiscible.” Sandalow’s Columbia Univ. presentation included similar admonitions. “In flood zones, critical electrical

Flooding stops even basic features such as escalators. These are on the street level. Anything in the basement of this building is completely under water and useless.

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MARCH 2013

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BUILDING POWER Effective Generator Sizing

enerators sized to accommodate the anticipated maximum simultaneous load can result in testing problems using a live connected load. Actual building load is often insufficient to test large generators beyond a small portion of the generator’s rated nameplate loading. This situation can cause wet stacking, a condition in which unburned fuel condenses in the exhaust system. Sizing the generator closer to the anticipated running load averts wet stacking and ensures that the base load exceeds 40% of the generator’s capacity. However, this creates a scenario where generators have less capacity than desired. One solution is to use load banks to supplement the generator loading during testing. Another solution is to procure multiple smaller generators instead of using a single large unit. Although it requires more capital, this approach solves several issues: generator loading, power system redundancy, and power quality issues. With a single generator, motor-starting currents, nonlinear loads, and various block loads can affect generator voltage, current, and frequency stability. However, operating multiple smaller generators on an aggregate bus arrangement is more likely to provide stable steady-state operation, better power quality, unit redundancy, and spare generators, if necessary. It also minimizes the chance of wet stacking by solving the 40% loading issue. Hurricane Sandy significantly damaged the region’s fuel-distribution infrastructure. “The Northeast might look to the Gulf Coast for some lessons,” said David Sandalow, Department of Energy, Washington, acting undersecretary of energy and assistant secretary for policy and international affairs. “After Hurricane Katrina, refineries and other pieces of fuel infrastructure were hardened. Some power lines were put under-

ground; backup generators were positioned; in some places, fuel infrastructure was elevated or barriers erected. Several years later, when Hurricane Ike approached, fuel storage tanks and pumping trucks were pre-positioned in key locations and priority was given to restoring power to the fuel infrastructure.” “One of the problems with diesel generators: You have to count on them for an extended outage,” said Tom Divine, senior engineer and project manager, Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston. “But you can’t always count on the availability of diesel fuel and deliveries.” Ken Lovorn, president of Lovorn Engineering Associates, Pittsburgh, said the codes “need to have something in place so diesel fuel for emergency generators can be replaced in a timely fashion—even if you have a disaster like Sandy.” But how much fuel is enough fuel? In the summer 2011 issue of Pure Power magazine, an article titled “Keeping genset fuel flowing during disasters” written by Robert M. Menuet, GHT Limited, Arlington, VA, said: “Identifying the amount of fuel needed to power your critical equipment during a reasonably predictable natural catastrophe is the first step. A rough consumption calculation for diesel generators is 7 gallons/hour for each 100 kW of generator rating; i.e., a 200-kW generator would consume 14 gallons of diesel fuel/hour. A typical goal for on-site storage is three days worth of fuel. A site requiring a 2-MW generator installation should have approximately 10,000 gallons of available stored fuel to provide a three-day supply.” After Superstorm Sandy, however, some facility managers may want to increase that supply, at least when a major storm is predicted. Three days can be just the beginning of a long wait for utilities to be restored.

NFPA 110, Annex A, Recommendations For Long-Term Fuels Storage

he following text is from NFPA 110, Annex A, paragraph A.7.9.1.2. While this information makes recommendations based on industry best practices, it does not stipulate specific requirements. To optimize the long-term storage of fuels for prime movers, the fuel tanks should be kept cool and dry, and the tanks as full as possible. Tanks that are subject to temperature variations can experience accelerated fuel degradation, especially if the tanks are outside and above ground or close to an extreme heat source if stored inside a structure. The more constant and cooler the tank temperatures, the less likely temperature-related fuel degradation will occur. Tank ullage [air space] should be kept to a minimum. Excess air space allows warm, humid air to enter the tank and condense moisture during the cool evening. Also, prolonged exposure to ambient air, which is 20%

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MARCH 2013

oxygen, can facilitate oxidative degradation of the fuel. Fuel storage tanks should be kept as dry as possible and have provisions for water drainage on a regular basis. The presence of water can lead to microbiological contamination and growth, which in turn can lead to general or pitting corrosion of steel tanks and components, possibly resulting in filter plugging, operational issues, or a hydrocarbon release to the environment. Regularly scheduled surveillance of the fuel allows the operator(s) to evaluate the condition of the fuel and make important decisions regarding the quality of the fuel dedicated to reliable operation of the prime mover. Fuel maintenance and testing should begin the day of installation and first fill in order to establish a benchmark guideline for future comparison. Laboratory testing services should always be sought from a qualified or certified petroleum laboratory.

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equipment such as breaker boxes and building connections should not be in basements or on ground floors,” Sandalow said. “This point may seem obvious, but this basic vulnerability is found in thousands of buildings in low-lying areas. Building codes in general do not address this. In the days and weeks following Hurricane Sandy, water damage to critical electric equipment dramatically slowed electric restoration in many locations.” “We do a lot of thinking about disasters based on our experience here in Houston with Tropical Storm Allison,” Divine said. Tropical Storm Allison hit in June 2001, dropping more than 40 inches of rain in Texas. The worst flooding occurred in Houston, inundating the city’s downtown area and severely damaging hospitals and businesses. “I’ve never [personally] had to recover from a natural disaster,” said Divine. “I did a project where we put 2 million sq. ft. in a better situation to cope with a disaster, but it was after the recovery. We took a reference level of 47 ft. above sea level as being the nominal flood plain. The medical center went to 48, and our hospital went to 49. Everybody pushed it a foot higher than the last guy. “After we picked the nominal flood level, we looked

Electrical equipment is the example of critical infrastructure that needs to be protected and properly located so it can provide service during emergencies. Keep it out of the basement or ensure its location is never affected in any manmade or natural disaster.

for anything [electrical] below it that served something above it,” Divine added. “For example, the main service entrance was at about 16 feet. That’s 30 feet deep in water if the 47-foot nominal flood level is reached. We elevated that service entrance to 49 feet. We elevated the second service entrance from 30 feet to 68 feet. We tried to get above what we saw as the 500-year flood plain.” Lovorn has encountered similar situations. Typically, natural-gas engines are used to operate naturalgas compressor stations. “In this particular compressor station, they decided to put in an electrically driven gas compressor,” Lovorn said. “I went to look at the site and discovered a stream running beside the compressor station. When I learned that the plan was to locate the electrical equipment at the compressor station floor level, I told them it was a really bad idea. I said, ‘There are no codes that say that I should do or should not do what you’re asking me to do. But I think it’s really poor design, and I suggest that we elevate the level of the electrical equipment to at least the level of the adjacent road.’ Within two years of the installation, Lovorn got

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a call during a storm from the electrical contractor, who told him that the water was within 6 inches of the floor of the platform for the electrical equipment. “If we had put it down where they wanted to, they would have had 4 feet of water in the electrical gear.” NFPA 110, Annex A, paragraph A.7.2.4 states, “EPSS equipment should be located above known previous flooding elevations where possible.” But again, this is a suggestion—not a requirement.

Capacity matters While the topic of healthcare facilities quickly comes to mind when disasters strike, other types of facilities, such as police stations, fire stations, emergency-management centers, emergency-call centers, and government facilities, involved in national security are also crucial to public safety and wellbeing and described in the 2008 edition of the NEC, Article 708.2: Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS) as “power systems for facilities or parts of facilities that require continuous operation for the reasons of public safety, emergency management, national security, or business continuity.” Article 708.1, Informational Note No. 1, states, “Critical operations power systems are generally installed in vital infrastructure facilities that, if destroyed or incapacitated, would disrupt national security, the economy, public health, or safety; and where enhanced electrical infrastructure for continuity of operation has been deemed necessary by governmental authority.” The local authorities can require a designated area—or all of a facility—to comply with 708. If only a designated area, as opposed to the entire facility, is required to comply with 708, that area is labeled a Designated Critical Operations Area (DCOA). Data centers, telecommunications installations, weather-radar systems, and even banking and financial systems are within the scope of Article 708. These services glue our modern society together. While 708 provides a higher level of protection for these mission-critical facilities and services, does it go far enough to ensure capacity? Article 708.22 (A) states, “A COPS shall have capacity and rating for all loads to be operated simultaneously for continuous operation with variable load for an unlimited number of hours, except for required maintenance of the power source. A portable, temporary, or redundant alternate power source shall be available for use whenever the COPS power source is out of service for maintenance or repair.” However, 708.22 (B) allows the emergency power source to supply COPS emergency, legally required standby, and optional loads where the source has adequate capacity or where automatic selective load pickup and load shedding is provided as needed to ensure adequate power to (in order of priority): COPS and emergency circuits legally required standby circuits optional standby circuits. Data-center owners and hospital managers may see the emergency-power capacity issue as a glass that’s either half full or half empty. While some may feel that emergency power must accommodate every load in the facility—even during extended outages—attitudes

• • •

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MARCH 2013

Hurricane Sandy Electric Outages By State As of 9 a.m. EDT Oct. 30, 2012, the following states reported a total of 8,114,433 customers without power in the affected areas. This table provides a breakdown, by state, of the number of customers affected at the height of the storm. Impacted State Connecticut Delaware

Current Customer Outages

Percentage of Customers Without Power

Peak Outages Reported in DOE Situation Reports

Customers Restored Since Peak

626,440

31%

626,440

45,137

10%

45,137

District of Columbia

3,583

Indiana

7,537

<1%

7,537

Maine

90,727

Maryland

311,020

12%

311,020

Massachusetts

298,072

68,619

Michigan New Hampshire

141,992

20%

141,992

New Jersey

2,498,447

62%

2,498,447

New York

1,967,874

21%

1,967,874

4,005

<1%

15,466

11,461

North Carolina Ohio

254,207

Pennsylvania

1,267,512

20%

1,267,512

Rhode Island

116,308

23%

116,308

Vermont

17,959

Virginia

182,811

West Virginia

212,183

21%

212,183

TOTAL

8,114,433

Note: States with fewer than 1,000 outages are not included in the table. Due to a large number of service providers, including investor-owned utilities and cooperatives, the number of customer outages reported may not be comprehensive. Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, Hurricane Sandy Situation Report # 4, Oct. 30, 2012 (10 a.m. EDT); http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/2012_SitRep4_Sandy_10302012_1000AM.pdf

tend to change when it’s time to find the necessary funding. However, many data-center owners expend the capital for generating capacity to keep their facilities alive. One reason for this disparity is that data centers have a narrow range of loads—computers, routers, servers, and the HVAC to keep them cool. On the other hand, healthcare-facility loads are extremely diverse, necessitating division and prioritization of loads. NEC also addresses the duration of COPS operation. Article 708.22 (C) states, “(C) Duration of COPS Operation. The alternate power source shall be capable of operating the COPS for a minimum of 72 hours at full load of DCOA with a steady-state voltage.” Note that the power-source capacity must be capable of handling the full DCOA load, regardless of whether that designated area is a portion of a facility or the entire facility. Also note that 72 hours is a minimum duration, with no mention of a maximum. Finally, the steady-state voltage must be regulated to within ±10% of nominal utilization voltage, regardless of load. Telecommunications is another area protected by Article 708. Data centers must be operational to provide availability. However, operational does not guarantee availability. During Hurricane Sandy, some telecommunications carriers maintained service, while others did not. NEC Article 708 offers the necessary protection. NFPA 110 Annex A suggests from 48 to 96 hours as a minimum fuel capacity for emergency generators. It also offers suggestions for long-term fuel storage (see NFPA 110, Annex A, recommendations for long-term fuels storage).

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Hurricane Sandy affected hospitals and other healthcare facilities, data centers, fuel providers, emergency agencies, and other critical entities. To prevent these vulnerabilities, code-making bodies and authorities must work more closely to ensure the public is protected. While much of the necessary language exists, there is really no widespread infrastructure to coordinate its execution. “In 2001, our primary customers completely changed their minds about what readiness means [because of Tropical Storm Allison],” said Divine. “We all changed our minds about what a lot of water means.” Sandalow agreed. “Hurricane Sandy was yet another reminder that disaster response is a complex undertaking that requires sustained partnerships engaging federal, state, and local agencies, the private sector and civil society, academia, and even community clubs and religious groups. Our work together must begin long before disaster strikes. There is always room for improvement, and Sandy has illustrated ways our energy systems are still vulnerable to disruption.” BP

AUTHOR Bhavesh S. Patel is director of marketing and customer support at ASCO, Florham Park, NJ, a business of Emerson Network Power.

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project FLOORING The flooring in the equipment room at the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center will hold up to some unusual traffic, including wheelchairs. The lighter-colored flooring on the right is designed to withstand the weight of the equipment.

Flooring Performs Under Wheelchair, Crutch Stress T

he first of its kind in the western United States, the 45,000-sq.-ft. Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center, Phoenix, offers a variety of options to encourage healthy, active living for people with disabilities of all kinds. From a weight room to rock climbing to team sports, the activities at this interactive facility provide clients with a feeling of inclusion from the moment they enter. The addition of colorful, safety-centered flooring from Mondo USA, Conshohocken, PA, brings a “wow” factor to the building, encouraging return visits. The designers at award-winning Baldinger Architectural Studio, Tempe, AZ, were able to bring to life the vision for this new sports center. “The entire focus of this project was to create a building that was completely dedicated to people with disabilities,” said Ilan Baldinger, principal. “Often, when sports complexes are built, having facilities or equipment for the disabled is somewhat of an afterthought. However, at the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center, it is the primary goal.” Accessibility for all meant incorporating hospital-sized elevators and ramps, allowing wheelchair users to travel between the upper and lower floors. An accessible aquatic center

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MARCH 2013

Rubber flooring at a sports and fitness center for people with disabilities handles the unique contact presented by rubber wheels and crutch tips while providing easy cleanup. with locker rooms and shower facilities was crafted to answer the needs of this diverse group. The design team followed all regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure users could enjoy the facilities to the fullest extent. In some cases, the design team adopted more stringent design guidelines based on actual observation and experience gained from the first phase of the Disability Empowerment Center completed in 2009. “We wanted everything in the center to be as accessible as possible,” said Baldinger.

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Safety meets aesthetics The Arizona desert landscape inspired the color palette with beige and terra-cotta as the principal colors. While the tones created a relaxing atmosphere for users of the center, the rubber flooring played a large part in the safety considerations. “Before deciding on the flooring, we toured several other fitness facilities and realized that Mondo was what we needed,” said Baldinger. “We liked the look of it and Mondo’s reputation for durability is well-known in the sporting industry. The low-maintenance factor means the cleaning staff only needs to use one product for all the rooms or areas. This results in a cost saving for the center.” Several styles of flooring were used throughout the building, including Natura in the foyer and common areas, Bollo on the ramps and stairs, Sport Impact in the weight room, and Mondotrack for the 1/10-mile track, which is suspended above the basketball court. Natura was also incorporated into the trainers’ area and used on the front of the registration desk to give a millwork look. Another reason why Mondo works is that it’s virtually odor-free. “The facility has members who are sensitive to smells. To be truly accessible, the products we used had to be free of scent,” said Baldinger. Continued on pg. 28.

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project FLOORING Standing up to the test ▲ ▲

A track featuring Mondo flooring circles above a basketball court. The colors for all of the flooring are related to the natural colors in the Arizona desert outside. The basketball court has to withstand more than sneakers. Players use specially designed wheelchairs that accelerate, stop, and turn quickly, so the floor has to be durable and easy to maintain.

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The exercise-equipment area has a light birchcolored Sportflex floor with a gray border wide enough for wheelchairs to pass each other, according to Baldinger. This duo-tone design ensures that the heavy machines are only placed on the lighter-colored flooring, which can endure the weight. Bollo ensures traction on the wheelchair ramps and safety for people using the stairs. “Bollo is a great product because it has a tactile feeling, so people in wheelchairs know when they are on the ramp,” said Greg Wedge, project manager for Baldinger. “The Mondo flooring holds up very well to traffic, which includes everything from crutches to wheelchairs. Other materials that were used previously, such as carpet, showed the wear and tear and collected a lot of dirt.” He said easy cleanup is very important when the weather changes. “When people come into the facility and their wheelchair has gone through dirt or wet areas, muddy tire tracks are left on the floor. Simple soap and water can be used for a quick clean.” With a large variety of wheelchair styles used in the facility, it is essential that the flooring handle the ongoing pressure. “There are several types of wheelchairs, each with varying weights,” said Wedge. “The rugby wheelchair is lighter with slanted wheels. The power wheelchairs are significantly heavier, and we’ve been assured Mondo can take the directional change and other non-linear moves.”

Healing powers of camaraderie The Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center is not only a facility for members to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is also a gathering place for like-minded people. “One of the things that we find very helpful to people who are new to their injuries is peer support,” said Amber Blanchard, manager, who has a degree in therapeutic recreation. “Just like people, all injuries are different. You can’t just give the same exercise prescription for the same injury. “A lot of times people come in feeling like their life is over and they’ll never be able to do anything again. When they left rehab, they were often sure their life would be limited. Then they come in here and see people with the same type of injuries having a great time playing wheelchair basketball and rugby and rock climbing. They will learn how to adapt the equipment to work with their injuries.”

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2013 THE FUTURE. ILLUMINATED. We see the future clearly. And so will you. Philadelphia, PA USA Pennsylvania Convention Center 4.21.13 – 4.25.13

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project WINDOWS The exterior of Bernalillo Elementary School includes a storefront entrance and curtainwall framed with recycled aluminum and finished with an eco-friendly process.

Daylighting Keeps The Cool In New Mexico School Careful planning and sunshades keep interiors full of light and temperatures comfortable.

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MARCH 2013

he first new elementary school in New Mexico’s Bernalillo Public Schools district in 30 years unifies two existing school campuses as part of the district’s reorganization and facilities master plan. Located about 20 miles north of Albuquerque, the new 64,500-sq.-ft. Bernalillo Elementary School was constructed on a compact site next to the existing middle school. The Albuquerque-based building team included Fanning Bard Tatum (FBT) Architects AIA Ltd, Enterprise Builders Corp., and Southwest Glass & Glazing Inc. The site for the new school was split by an existing irrigation acequia (ditch) that restricted the campus’s buildable area. A two-story facility, however,

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allowed a very compact footprint, enhancing the efficiency of the building in usable space and energy consumption. FBT designed the $10-million elementary school as a high-performance school with building materials and system selection promoting a healthy, sustainable environment. “Natural daylighting was very important to the design of the school,” said FBT project manager Jeremy Trumble, LEED AP. “Students and teachers were relocated from an existing facility that had very small windows, making the learning environment dark and stuffy, as well as limiting visual access for safety and security.” The school’s teaching classrooms are

project WINDOWS arranged in three separate wings, corresponding to the three grade levels at the school. According to Trumble, “The library occupies an important corner at the middle of the second level, providing a central access point for each gradelevel wing and offering unrestricted views of the adjacent Rio Grande valley and surrounding vistas.”

Dealing with sunlight Providing natural views and light began with the school’s orientation. “The majority of the classrooms face north or south to help control the direct and indirect sun into each room,” continued Trumble. “Exterior sunshades were added to increase the controllability of the natural light.” Max/Block sunshades by Tubelite, Grand Rapids, MI, maximize daylighting and minimize solar heat gain from the windows. These benefits, coupled with recycled content and outside views, are key criteria for projects pursuing certification through the LEED rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington. “The extrusions were produced from an industry-leading recycled composite,” said Mary Olivier, Tubelite’s marketing manager. “Sunshades help significantly lower building cooling costs and energy use, while still letting natural light fill the workspace.” Olivier also noted that the Bernalillo Elementary School’s large expanses of glazing “not only enhance safety and security, but reinforce the transparency of the building.”

Green all over Optimizing strength and thermal performance at Bernalillo Elementary School, Tubelite’s T14000 series storefront and 400 series curtainwall accommodate a wide range of glass options and infills. The curtainwall relies on an exterior screw-applied pressure bar to secure the glass. The storefront system offers the flexibility of glazing from either inside or outside, which reduces installation time and associated labor costs. Linetec, Wausau, WI, finished the storefront and curtainwall systems’ recycled-aluminum framing members for the school by applying paint to the interior and clear anodizing to the exterior. This eco-friendly process sends 90% less waste to landfills than traditional anodizing. It also gives the metal a matte finish, which helps hide small defects in the recycled material and on the aluminum surface of architectural products. More commonly, painted finishes have been used to coat recycled aluminum. At Linetec, the paint is applied and controlled in an environmentally effective manner to minimize or even eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The painted and anodized architecturalgrade finishes minimize maintenance and further protect the material under the extreme heat and UV rays of the New Mexican sun, and daily high-traffic use from school children.

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Sunshades prevent excessive solar heat gain through windows and doors, contributing credits toward LEED certification.

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MARCH 2013

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project EXTERIORS Photos courtesy of Oldcastle BSD

Liberty Terrace, a 500-student dormitory complex, was built with precast-concrete building systems.

Precast-Concrete Dorm Turns Gold F

ive hundred upperclassmen began the 2012 academic year by moving into a new residence hall at the State Univ. of New York (SUNY)-Albany. Liberty Terrace, a 185,000-sq.ft., $60 million, all-precast-concrete dormitory complex, includes two wings, each five stories tall, with 250 bedrooms in each wing. All apartments include four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living/dining area. Also included in the complex is a community center with a fitness center, lounges, and meeting rooms. With the school’s green tradition in mind, campus administrators chose precast-concrete building systems from Oldcastle Precast Inc., Selkirk, NY, because of a short-term construction schedule, limited construction budget, and energy-efficient attributes, thus maximizing their return by providing excellent life-cycle benefits. Oldcastle was responsible for the design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of the entire precast structure.

Building with precast concrete The building’s precast structural shell has recastconcrete, exterior load-bearing wall panels that run longitudinally across the perimeter of the building. The interior precast walls form the divisions for the building’s corridors. The load-bearing wall panels were erected before 32

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SUNY uses precast-concrete construction to build a LEED-Goldquality dormitory. the support structure because the roof and floor members bear directly on haunches or ledges in the panels. Precast beams, slabs, and lintels were placed, and hollow core slabs, used predominantly for floor and roof deck components, then spanned from exterior precast wall to interior precast corridor wall. All of the precast components are integral to the overall structure of the buildings and provide an integrated exterior and interior finish specified by the university. Jointing the precast exterior wall panels maintains continuous insulation and a fire-rated joint. This was achieved by insulating, caulking, and fire-safing each precast vertical and horizontal wall-panel joint. The interior-corridor precast wall panels had cast-in electrical boxes and conduit where required. Insulated exterior load-bearing and nonload-bearing wall panels vary in thickness and

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provide a steady state R-value of 21.49 and a performance R-value of 28.35, using 4 inches of polystyrene insulation. The exterior insulated wall panels were cast with rigid insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete with a form-liner finish. In addition, the interior and exterior precast wall panels were cast with either embedded weld plates or slotted inserts. Welded connections are designed for wind and/or seismic loads and to satisfy structural-integrity requirements. The precast concrete hollow-core plank, stairs, landings, and beams were manufactured in accordance with Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) Manual 116. All of the precast components were fabricated in accordance with PCI MNL117, PCI MNL-120, and ACI 318 Building Code requirements for structural concrete, Building Code of New York State 2007 Edition, and provisions set forth in ASCE 7-02. Oldcastle crews erected installations of precast-concrete components according to PCI MNL-127 and 135.

Benefits of precast Construction with a precast-concrete wall and hollow-core slab system improves efficiency in the construction process, building use, and building maintenance. Precast wall panels and hollow-core slabs arrive at a construction site

project EXTERIORS fully formed. Therefore, no concrete is poured onsite, reducing construction time and significantly reducing the number of on-site workers. On-site waste is also reduced. Incorporating the architecture into the structure enlarges panel sizes, minimizing the number of joints. This prevents water penetration that can weaken a structure and cause unsightly staining and mold problems. The advantages benefit every member of the construction team—especially the owner, whose goals are always paramount. In terms of energy efficiency, the integral insulating layer of sandwich-concrete wall panels produces several benefits: • superior insulating properties due to the high thermal mass of concrete are unmatched by any other material, including wood and steel, resulting in excellent R-values • no breaks in the thermal protection, compared with wood or steel systems • a thermal mass that reduces daily temperature swings • elimination of air infiltration at joints between panels due to a secure, consistent envelope.

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Exterior load-bearing wall panels run longitudinally across the perimeter of the building. Interior precast walls form the building’s corridors.

Assets abound with precast concrete, especially in dormitory settings. Insulated concrete panels can be made moisture-free by sandwiching two layers of precast concrete with insulation, keeping interior temperatures stable while reducing energy costs. Precast panels provide sound dampening between rooms and keep outside noises to a minimum, providing quiet study space. Also, fire endurance is an inherent property of precast concrete. Using precast concrete contains a fire, thus providing sufficient time for safe evacuation.

Green concrete The use of precast concrete allowed SUNY-Albany to realize additional green benefits of precast-concrete construction, including the use of recycled content and locally sourced materials that contributed to LEED credits. The entire construction project is environmentally friendly in a number of ways. It incorporates features such as permeable pavement, a green roof, rain gardens, daylight maximization, and the use of recycled and locally sourced materials. The buildings are heated and cooled with a geothermal system using the constant temperature of the earth to moderate cooling and heating energy needs. The university is working with a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, for the design and installation of the eco-friendly mechanical system. As a result of the design and the integration of precast concrete with other ecologically safe building applications, SUNY is expecting to attain the Gold level for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

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2012 Spray-Seal Awards and Testimonials “Without the Hardcast Spray-Seal solution – completing this job would not have been possible.” —Nathan Dills, President of ACP Sheet Metal “We found that the Hardcast Spray-Seal System is a much faster way to seal ductwork…It’s more efﬁcient, more cost effective and it does a better job.” —Ken Kendrick, Project Manager for Bright Sheet Metal “Using the Spray-Seal system is life changing, instead of a crew of men, this is now a one-person operation, done either from the ground or from a scissor lift. It’s faster, it’s cleaner and we’re using less product, plus every single test that I’ve done after spraying with Spray-Seal has passed, some with 0% leakage which is unheard of.” —Tim McNeff, Mid-Atlantic Mechanical Project Manager

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Renovate! look for the building. Other elements of the project include installation of high-efficiency boilers, solar collectors to heat water, extensive air sealing within the apartments and central exhaust system, and new refrigerators and light fixtures. The project recently won the Mayor’s Sustainability Award for Boston, also earning praise from Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. While shooting for LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, the building received LEED Platinum.

Solar collectors on the roof and the new super-insulating shell of Kingspan panels helped the project at Castle Square earn LEED Platinum. Photos: Damianos Photography, Framingham, MA

Super-insulated shell

Energy Retrofit Benefits Low-Income Housing Tenants committed to saving energy and improving their building’s appearance sparked the largest deep-energy retrofit in the country, resulting in a 72% energy savings.

aced with a completely outdated, energynew to many professionals in architecture and condevouring building and a rapidly gentrifying struction,” said Paul Bertram, FCSI, LEED AP, direcneighborhood, Boston’s Castle Square Tenants tor of environment and sustainability for Kingspan Organization (CSTO) accomplished what few Insulated Panels North America, Deland, FL. would consider possible: They applied an aggresDesigned by a seasoned project team and sive, deep-energy retrofit (DER) strategy to a 1960s featuring insulated metal panels from Kingspan, affordable-housing development, beautified the the Castle Square Deep Energy Retrofit program neighborhood in the process, and retained lowrepresents a successful partnership between CSTO, and moderate-income rents for residents. Even which holds majority ownership in the Castle better, the soon-to-be-completed project will not Square Apartments, and WinnCompanies, Boston, displace a single resident during the extensive cona developer that owns the minority share. The struction. The total energy savings for this project insulated metal cladding, comprising Kingspan’s will amount to more than M Mini-Wave and Micro72%, according to CSTO. R Rib panels installed over DER is an industry cona mineral-fiber blanket b sensus term referring to buildbacked by a fluid-applied ing renovations that attempt a air and moisture barrier, to return energy savings of at w was attached directly to the o least 50%, typically by focusoriginal uninsulated brick ing on improving the encloa and concrete walls. sure’s insulating value, sealing The overcladding w against air leaks, and scaling will help deliver the lion’s The sleek new exterior of Castle Square down heating and cooling s share of the uncommonly is a marked contrast to the neighboring equipment. “The concept of h high energy savings while building’s older façade. p the deep-energy retrofit is providing a fresh new

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According to the CSTO, the façade re-skinning with Kingspan panels, along with air sealing, reduces Castle Square’s heating needs by 61% and cooling by 68%. The strategy originated with Elton + Hampton Architects, Roxbury, MA; Building Science Corp., Boston; Biome Studio, Boston; Petersen Engineering, Portsmouth, NH; and Pinck & Co., Boston, all familiar with deep-energy retrofits. Applied to the original brick and concrete envelope with a liquid-applied air barrier and a layer of mineral fiber, the cladding provides an insulation value of R-41, twice what current codes require. The 5-inch panels accomplish the DER’s enclosure goals while furnishing the building with its beautiful and durable new facade. The insulated metal panels solved several challenges at once: adding exterior insulation and air barriers to greatly improve thermal comfort, allowing residents to stay in their homes during construction, and achieving a sleek, modern look that pleased residents and neighbors alike. “Tenants tell us they’re now very proud of the multifamily building’s look,” said Kingspan’s Bertram. “But more importantly, the residents now tell us that they feel more comfortable and healthy, and their energy bills are coming down.” Other benefits of the deep-energy retrofit continue to accrue. The retrofit construction work for the project created more than 200 jobs. The project was partly funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources High Performance Grant Program, as well as through the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, Green Retrofit Program. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, have been studying Castle Square and other projects around the country to measure the effect of energy retrofits on air quality and, in particular, asthma rates in residents.

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products HVAC & PLUMBING

70-ton water-to-water heat pump The company’s TMW-series (Tranquility Modular Water-to-Water) is available in 30and 50-ton sizes and now includes model 840, a 70-ton unit. With the ability to operate in applications for geothermal, cooling towers, or hybrid systems, the series can be used with radiant floor heating, snow/ice melt, chilled water for fan coils, industrial process control, hot/chilled water for make-up air, and other applications that require cost-effective heated or chilled water. Staggered top-mount water connections allow linking of multiple units for large-capacity installations in a compact footprint that passes through a 36-inch doorway. Large front and rear service panels provide quick access even with multiple units installed side by side. Control systems are compatible with most building-automation systems. ClimateMaster Inc. Oklahoma City Free information: Circle 50 EDITORS’ CHOICE

TMW series heat pumps: • Available in 30-, 50-, and 70-ton sizes • Can be connected in a compact footprint • Compatible with most building-automation systems

Indoor split system The Aston series indoor split system provides the efficiency of geothermal and the versatility of a split system. When added to an existing fossil-fuel system, the geothermal unit provides efficient heating and cooling with backup. When combined with the company’s air handler, the unit is Energy-Star-rated and eligible for a tax credit. GeoStar Fort Wayne, IN Free information: Circle 52

Gauge strap HVAC Strap allows users to position a gauge for hands-free use. The product hangs the manifold in easy-to-access places, allowing fast, accurate reading without damaging the unit or gauges. AmiraLin Innovations Columbia, MO Free information: Circle 51

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Inverter scroll compressor VZH inverter scroll compressor uses a brushless, interior permanent-magnet design and is optimized for different pressure ratios to reportedly deliver energy savings of more than 30% when compared with a unit equipped with a fixed or mechanically modulating compressor. Cooling capacities range from 13 to 26 TR with a 4:1 modulation ratio. The unit is available with optimization at two different pressure ratios for chiller or rooftop applications. Danfoss Baltimore Free information: Circle 53

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MARCH 2013

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products HVAC & PLUMBING

Shower system Hydro Ban shower system includes a sloped linear shower pan, preformed benches and shelves, and new drain finishes. Products are constructed of lightweight high-density polystyrene and are said to be 100% waterproof. Once set in place, they function as substrates onto which tile can be immediately adhered. Drain finishes are available in brushed, polished, oil-rubbed bronze, and tile-ingrate versions. Laticrete International Inc. Bethany, CT Free information: Circle 54

High-capacity boiler ClearFire-LC high-capacity, condensing hydronic boiler uses AluFer heat-transfer technology and a highturndown burner with advanced controls to deliver reported efficiency to 98% with ultra-low emissions in a compact footprint. Available in six sizes from 4,000 to 12,000 MBTU/hour, the unit is said to save a facility as much as 50% in operating costs, compared with a traditional steam or hot-water system. Cleaver-Brooks Thomasville, GA Free information: Circle 55

VRF-zoning outdoor units The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s variable-refrigerant-flow zoning R2-series and Y-series cooling and heating systems have industry-leading efficiencies, a smaller footprint, and improved heating startup. Both series use inverter-driven compressor technology and intelligent controls. The R2 series is a two-pipe system that provides simultaneous cooling and heating. Y-series units cool or heat as many as 50 zones through one outdoor unit. Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating Suwanee, GA Free information: Circle 56

HVLS fan AirElite fan has a powerful motor, onboard electronics, and fully integrated control system, combined within a streamlined power unit and elegant frame. Using the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6ixBlade technology, the fan also has a low profile and provides quiet operation. Diameters between 8 feet and 20 feet are available in a variety of custom colors. MacroAir San Bernardino, CA Free information: Circle 57 38

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products HVAC & PLUMBING Control system

Compact geothermal heat pump

The company’s ACS control system is a flexible controller designed to maximize energy savings in modular boiler plants. The controller reportedly can stage and coordinate the operations of as many as 32 boilers. Used with the company’s KC 1000, Benchmark, and Modulex boilers, the controller has a low-voltage, twisted-pair, shielded wire between the panel and boilers. Aerco International Inc. Blauvelt, NY Free information: Circle 58

Envision2 Compact geothermal heat pump is available in 0.75- to 6-ton capacities and uses the Aurora generation of communicating controls. Options include a factory-installed, 24-V, motorized on/off water valve for VFD pumping with automatic internal water-flow control, hotgas bypass and reheat, and high-efficiency PSC, five-speed ECM, or variable-speed ECM motors. All units use R410A refrigerant. WaterFurnace International Fort Wayne, IN Free information: Circle 61

The best line of automatic transfer switches provides a choice of 30-cycle or 3-cycle closing and withstand ratings Condensing heat boiler Caliber boiler is a condensing, lightweight hydronic boiler said to have ultra-low CO and NOx emissions. The unit uses a Honeywell SOLA control and a variable-speed premix combustion system capable of a 5:1 turndown. Models from 300,000 to 850,000 BTU/hour are available. Fulton Companies Pulaski, NY Free information: Circle 59

Most transfer switch manufacturers offer some combination of 3-cycle and short-time closing and withstand-rated switches.

Circular sink collection With a molded, unfinished-looking exterior and slightly askew rim, the company’s contemporary circularbasin sinks bring a different design look. Sinks are available in a full range of vibrant hues and are made with Volvic lava stone. Pyrolave USA Raleigh, NC Free information: Circle 60

Only Russelectric offers full lines of 3-cycle and 30-cycle rated UL tested, listed, and labeled ATSs and bypass/isolation switches. Don’t settle for less than the best automatic transfer switches… Insist on Russelectric.

Made in USA

www.russelectric.com 1-800-225-5250 An Employee-Owned Company An Equal Oppor tunity Employer

For free information, circle 213

products INTERIORS

Seamless designer flooring Reflexions is a decorative addition to the company’s seamless resinous flooring. A poured-in-place combination of the company’s durable and reliable resin systems with pigment effects, the flooring produces one-of-a-kind looks with reported maintenance savings of as much as 85%. The smooth, glass-like finish is UV stable to provide consistent color for the life of the floor. The flooring is CA-01350 air-quality and VOC compliant and can contribute to LEED credits. Available in 12 standard colors that can be used separately or with accents, the flooring provides a seamless beauty for applications including foodservice, retail, education, and hospitality. Dur-A-Flex Inc. East Hartford, CT Free information: Circle 62

Reflexions: • Seamless, resinous flooring with pigmentation • Glass-like finish • UV stable and VOC compliant urally inherent antimicrobial and antistatic properties. The product’s Topshield 2 finish provides occupancyready installation and durable performance. More than 150 colors and eight structures are available. Forbo Flooring Systems Hazleton, PA Free information: Circle 64

Old-World-design tile Jacquard collection includes Damask Modern and Baroque Motif patterns that embrace Old World design in large-format porcelain tile. Damask tiles are 24 inches by 24 inches and are available in gray on black, brown on gray, and cream on green. Baroque colors are white and tan, teal and cream, and brown and black in the same size. Imagine Tile New York Free information: Circle 63

Wall-to-wall flooring

Renewable flooring The Next Generation of Marmoleum flooring is made from natural, renewable ingredients and is USDAcertified 100% bio-based. The material features nat40

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

MARCH 2013

Bouclé flooring complements the company’s existing line of non-directional construction that highlights the use of bi-color yarns. The flooring has a rich texture that provides visual interest without a dominating pattern. Colors include ink, pebble, gray, coffee, and salt. The product can contribute to LEED credits and also contains Microban antimicrobial protection. Chilewich New York Free information: Circle 65

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EDITORS’ CHOICE

Quick-application paint Speedhide Pro-EV paint is available in a sealer and primer with three levels of sheen and three bases and is said to provide excellent hide and coverage, adhesion, and uniformity. The environmentally friendly product has less than 50 g/L VOC. PPG Pittsburgh Free information: Circle 66

Broadloom modular collection Power Surge carpet collection integrates softened geometrics with high-luster yarn. The collection is said to bridge the generational gap by accommodating open-floor layouts for today’s workplaces. Patterns include Amplitude, Frequency, and Wavelength and are available in 13 colors. The Mohawk Group Calhoun, GA Free information: Circle 67

products INTERIORS

Floor coverings

Grille ceilings

The company and Nemschoff offer the Merge sleepover flop sofa for healthcare environments. Offering multiple configurations supporting a variety of activities, including sleeping, working, and dining, the sofa offers comfort for guests without interfering with a caregiver’s patient access. With an integrated table, recliner, 75-inch sleep surface, and storage, the furniture includes a locking caster system and anti-microbial surface. Herman Miller Healthcare Zeeland, MI Free information: Circle 69

WoodWorks Grille ceiling systems have vertical and horizontal blade design options and a tegular edge for installation in standard suspension systems. Panels are available in 2-foot by 2-foot and 2-foot by 4-foot sizes in maple, light cherry, dark cherry, and walnut standard finishes. Panel placement can create linear and checkerboard patterns, depending on blade configurations. Use of acoustical infills behind the panels provides sound absorption. Armstrong Ceilings Lancaster, PA Free information: Circle 70

High-performance fabrics Gallery fabric collection includes high-performance textiles suitable for institutional, contract, education, and healthcare interiors. Core fabrics include Acanthi, Albers, Delaunay, Leger, and Mythos and provide interpretations of artistic works. Faux-leather Perspective is a 54-inch upholstery embroidered to create a visually compelling pattern. Brentano Wheeling, IL Free information: Circle 71

PPatient-room i furniture f i

modulararts.com I 206.788.4210 I now with 50 InterlockingRock ® designs I made in the USA

Consequence 2.0 and Yarn Storm floor-covering collections create unique interior aesthetics through multi-dimensional patterns and color. Consequence uses a linear approach with layers of tonal colors with undulating lines. Yarn Storm uses horizontal and vertical hand-knit textures that balance chaos with precision. Both use recycled content and are available in a range of colors. Milliken Spartanburg, SC Free information: Circle 68

Lightweight, High Quality, AlphaGypsum Panels with steel-reinforced joints, precisely interlock for seamless surfaces of any size. No ﬁnicky track or z-clips. No formaldehyde! Smooth, rock-hard surface. Follows standard wall ﬁnish schedules. 10 YEARS, 50 DESIGNS, and over 250,000 PANELS WORLDWIDE! DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED ENTIRELY IN THE USA.

For free information, circle 214

products EXTERIORS

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Polycarbonate wall systems

Series 3440 interlocking polycarbonate wall systems are said to combine beauty, durability, and economy. Panels as long as 54 feet (vertical) can form a continuous, highly insulating wall. Daylighting is unbroken by vertical or horizontal aluminum framing. The lightweight systems use 40-mm polycarbonate glazing available in clear, opal, bronze, blue, and green, with custom colors available. The product provides insulating values to R-5.3 with a 200-times greater impact resistance than ordinary glass. The panels are Class A fire/smoke rated. ExTech/Exterior Technologies Inc. Pittsburgh Free information: Circle 94

Series 3440: • Interlocking polycarbonate wall systems • Unbroken daylighting • Class A fire/smoke rated

Joint flashing Bear Skin joint flashing works with the company’s WeatherBoards fiber-cement lap siding. The flashing is a durable, non-corrosive material that is said to prevent water and wind-driven rain from infiltrating the butt joints of lap siding. The flashing is available in seven colors custom-matched to ColorMax colors to ensure a seamless finish. CertainTeed Corp. Valley Forge, PA Free information: Circle 97

Structural St t l bbrick ik

with calibrated foam. According to the company, if an outside joint fails, leaks exit to the outside of the building and can be located within 20 feet of the failure the day after the rain event. Easi-Set Industries/Slenderwall Midland, VA Free information: Circle 98

Structural brick, in a wide selection of color and sizes, is available in through-wall units. Colors include grays, buffs, reds, browns, and blacks. Products are ASTM C 652-12, Grade SW, and Type HBX certified. Belden Brick Co. Canton, OH Free information: Circle 95

Self-drilling screw

1303ext09p

XEQ self-drilling screw for exterior metal applications has a hardened tip at 52 HRC and a load-bearing, threaded shank that is less than 34 HRC. The dualhardened treatment is said to result in a screw that is easier to drive and is more ductile. Simpson Strong-Tie Dublin, CA Free information: Circle 96

MorZip is a dual-purpose wall and roof system that provides design flexibility. The profile can be used on vertical and horizontal surfaces, providing a reported seamless transition from wall to roof and back again. The system is available in copper, stainless steel, zinc, and aluminum with panel widths measuring 12, 16, and 18 inches. Applications include convex lay-down or mechanical curves, concave mechanical curving, and curved and straight tapered panels. Morin Bristol, CT Free information: Circle 99

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

MARCH 2013

Dual-purpose wall/roof systems

Joint-leak detection

1303ext14p MR

H2Out is a secondary drainage, street-level, sealant joint-leak detection system. The system uses two layers of sealant sandwiched around a drain strip and backed with a foam rod. Each building panel is isolated using sealant dams and drain tubes filled

Get free product information at www.cbpmagazine.com

products EXTERIORS mat provides a better bond between the material and the insulation layer when low-rise adhesives are used. The mat overlaps on the back of the board to provide a clean joint and an overall smoother appearance than with the previous version of the board. Georgia-Pacific Gypsum Atlanta Free information: Circle 102 1303ext08p xt08p 8p

Product-line uct-line app The company’s iPad app for the metalconstruction industry is available. Once downloaded, the app works by swiping left to right to change products and swiping up and down to reveal more information about each product. Information is included on project installations and technical specifications. Atas International Inc. Allentown, PA Free information: Circle 100

Edge To Edge & Deck To Sky™ Best PVC Membranes

Custom Prefabricated Flashings

Duro-Guard™ Insulation

EXCEPTIONAL® Metals Edge Details & Accessories

The Industry’s Best Warranties

Exterior glass-wall systems The Monarch all-purpose, custombuilt movable/folding glass walls are thermally insulated. The walls and lift-and-slide doors are designed to function in climate conditions throughout North America. Hufcor Inc. Janesville, WI Free information: Circle 101

Duro-Last® is your single-source for complete roofing systems, engineered to provide long-term edge to edge and deck to sky™ protection. Installed by authorized contractor, then inspected and warranted by the industry’s largest and best-trained quality assurance team.

CONTACT DURO-LAST ROOFING, INC. FOR THE “WORLD’S BEST ROOF”®

Enhanced roof board DensDeck Prime roof boards include enhancements to the facings, front and back, to provide broad compatibility and high performance with all roofing adhesives, including low-rise foam and low VOC. A stronger back

800-248-0280 www.duro-last.com / Twitter: @durolast “Duro-Last”,”EXCEPTIONAL”, and the “World’s Best Roof” are registered marks owned by Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. EXCEPTIONAL Metals is a division of Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.

For free information, circle 215

products EXTERIORS

Wireless 4-Channel Voice Receiver “Medicine Cabinet Door Open”

“Front Door Open”

“Customer Service Alert” “Mailbox Alert” “Cliente Sevicio Alerta” “Rear Door Motion Alert”

Aluminum-composite material Reynobond composite material for exteriors and interiors consists of a polyethylene or fire-retardant compound core between two sheets of aluminum, brushed aluminum, zinc, or copper. This creates a flat surface said to virtually eliminate dimpling, buckling, and oil canning. The material can be routed, drilled, punched, cut, bent, curved, and formed. Standard and custom finishes are available, including anodic colors and the nature-inspired Design Line advancedpolymer finishes. Alcoa Architectural Products Eastman, GA Free information: Circle 103

Self-adhered flashing HydroFlash self-adhered flashing is said to provide superior adhesion and temperature application. The flashing can be installed in cold weather to 0 F and applied wet. Made of a block copolymer with a split-release liner, the flashing seals around nails. No primer is needed for application. Available in 4, 6, and 9 inches with a 7-mm thickness, the product is compatible with a wide range of building materials including OSB, CDX sheathing, and vinyl. Benjamin Obdyke Inc. Horsham, PA Free information: Circle 104

STI-V34104

Wireless 4-Channel Voice Receiver

· Sounds prerecorded programmable voice messages when alerted. · Ten tones/tunes, 53 selectable words (English or Spanish). · Easy programming voice prompt. · Select up to four words to create a custom message. · Monitors up to four STI transmitting devices at a single, convenient location. · 1000’ range line of sight · Supervised for low battery and connection. · Monitor: exit doors, driveways, mailboxes, garage doors, gates, windows, extinguishers, pools, sheds, cabinets, push buttons, etc.

Georgia Technical University, G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Atlanta, GA

Safety Technology International, Inc. www.sti-usa.com/cbp10 800-888-4784 2013 STI

For free information, circle 216

Prest®

Hanover® Roof & Plaza Pavers Hanover® Roof and Plaza Pavers create aesthetically appealing rooftops and plaza gardens while providing environmental benefits.

For free information, circle 217

products WINDOWS & DOORS

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Interior door Madison molded interior door has a recessed, one-panel design. The simple, clean lines accommodate a wide range of architectural styles. Available with a smooth, primed surface, the door is also available in bi-fold, narrow, or passage styles. Hollow core or ProCore solid-door configurations are available. The door contains pre-consumer recycled wood and is available in a no-added-formaldehyde option. Jeld-Wen Inc. Klamath Falls, OR Free information: Circle 72

Madison interior door: • Recessed, one-panel design • Variety of styles • No-added-formaldehyde option

frame without changing the metal profile. Available in roll form, the material is easy to handle and eliminates the twisting that can occur with rubber gaskets. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Granville, NY Free information: Circle 74

Glass-wall systems Moveo acoustical glass wall from Modernfold has an STC of 45 to provide exceptional resistance to unwanted sound transmission while maintaining daylighting benefits. Additional moveable systems include horizontal rails, single-point fitting, and folding sliding systems. Clear glass is standard. Many custom-color specifications are also available including smoke gray, bronze, etched, and silkscreen. Dorma Reamstown, PA Free information: Circle 73

Foam spacer gaskets Norton Thermalbond Xpress foam spacer gaskets are liner-less, semi-rigid gaskets with an adhesive on one side. The gasket can be placed at any location on the

Folding window Ultra series folding window accommodates eight panels on each side, spanning more than 50 feet. Panels can be as wide as 39 3/8 inches with heights to 72 inches. Double-pane insulating glass with low-e coating, 3-inch stiles and rails, and a 1 3/4-inch-thick pine-wood construction are standard. Optional sizes for stiles, rails, and thicknesses are available, as are glass types, hardware, screens, sills, and divided lites. Kolbe Windows & Doors Wausau, WI Free information: Circle 75

Steel flood door The company’s steel flood door provides 24/7/365 protection without the need for exterior flood panels. Doors are tested for impact and floodwaters to 60 inches deep. Glazing is optional. Savannah Trims Inc. Lake Park, FL Free information: Circle 76

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MARCH 2013

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

products WINDOWS & DOORS Entrance systems

Blast-hazard series

Enhanced app An enhanced SunGuard app features multiple languages and integrates project databases from installation sites worldwide. The app allows users to explore the line’s products while interacting with a wide variety of projects. Projects can be viewed in landscape or portrait with high-resolution images and improved mapping. Guardian Industries Corp. Auburn Hills, MI Free information: Circle 77

BHM blast-hazard mitigation series combines blast mitigation, energy performance, and recycled content to meet government buildings’ high-security and green goals. The series includes curtainwall systems and operable windows. Products include SuperWall curtainwall, which meets blast performance to 33-psi peak pressure. The system accommodates cladding for steel tubes. A screw-spline construction in multiple frame depths presents a uniform, three-inch exterior sightline. Wausau Window and Wall Systems Wausau, WI Free information: Circle 78

The company’s product catalog for its custombuilt entrance systems is available on CD. Systems include flush doors, monumental doors, framing, panels, vision lites, and related hardware products. Information is included on exportable AutoCAD drawings, along with photo gallery updates showing entrance installations in a variety of environments. The Express Program that offers expedited delivery on popular doors is detailed. Special-Lite Inc. Decatur, MI Free information: Circle 79

Balanced-door app An iPad app provides a wide variety of information about the company and its products. Through tap-tozoom photography and text, video playback, and interactive features, users can explore the company’s custom-balanced entry systems. Ellison Bronze Inc. Falconer, NY Free information: Circle 80

DORMA’S WORLD OF ACCESS TO DESIGN AND AESTHETICS —

Daylight modeling

A Room Full of Possibilities

DORMA introduces its design center concept—a 360-degree experience in access technology located centrally in New York City. This spacious, beautifully appointed setting is a center of gravity for architects, designers, planners, and business partners. Interactive displays exhibit the right products for every project and every location, with industry experts on hand to advise on the best possible implementation. More than just a conventional showroom, the design center features an innovative multimedia table, granting access to hassle-free technology with state of the art presentation.

DORMA World of Access 1040 Avenue of the Americas 22nd Floor New York, NY 10018

To schedule a visit, call 646-574-7464 or e-mail designctr@dorma-usa.com

www.dorma-usa.com

For free information, circle 218

The company’s website demonstrates daylight modeling simulation with sample 3-D renderings, videos, and example daylighting reports. Information is available about services and technologies that allow architects and designers to demonstrate the impact of their daylighting designs and their alternatives. Kalwall Corp. Manchester, NH Free information: Circle 81

products LIGHTING & ELECTRICAL

High-power LED track head Hornet high-power LED track head is said to deliver the power of a ceramicmetal-halide fixture while surpassing it with enhanced control, instant on, dimmability, and long life. The luminaire uses 21 W, delivers 1,131 lumens, and can be configured with a vertical or horizontal ballast housing. Engineered for optimal thermal and optical performance, the Hornet HP focuses LED lighting, delivering clean, crisp light beams with consistent color. The fixture is also available in 2,700 K, 3,500 K, and 4,000 K CCTs and spot, flood, wide flood, and linear-spread light distributions. Amerlux Fairfield, NJ Free information: Circle 82

Hornet:

EDITORS’ CHOICE

• High-power LED track head • Delivers 1,131 lumens • Vertical or horizontal ballast

formed from three rhombic, overlapping, curved petals, intertwining yet not touching. A wide range of colors and metal finishes is available. Derek Marshall Lighting Sandwich, NH Free information: Circle 86

Architectural LED wallpack Fire-rated fixture cover

LED high/low-bay lamp, fixture

FixtureShield kits use the company’s mineral-wool boards to provide R-value, improved sound control, and fire rating. Available for 2-foot by 2-foot and 2-foot by 4-foot light fixtures, custom kits are available for nonstandard light sizes, can lights, and speakers. Thermafiber Inc. Wabash, IN Free information: Circle 83

LED BayMax high/low-bay retrofit lamp and DesignLights Consortium LED highbay fixture replace inefficient lighting in large-scale environments. The 43-W LED lamp delivers a high lumen output and crisp white light. A ballast bypass allows re-use of the existing mogul base. The high-bay fixture is designed for ceilings 20 feet and higher. MaxLite West Caldwell, NJ Free information: Circle 85

Laredo LNC2-18LU is an addition to the Laredo series. Available in a 45-W configuration that reportedly delivers 3,306 lumens with an efficiency of 74 lumens/W, the unit is a high-performance wallpack with applications in entry and perimeter locations. The compact design uses 18 high-CRI LEDs for mounting heights to 15 feet. Hubbell Lighting Inc. Greenville, SC Free information: Circle 87

Low-profile wallpacks LED step lights Brick lights are a series of LED step lights with a wide selection of face plates and finishes. The luminaires are the size of a standard brick and install in brick walls, patios, walkways, and steps. Each light has 24 LEDs and uses 4 W. Nora Lighting Commerce, CA Free information: Circle 84

Art-glass fixture Juno chandelier features three cylindrical pendants dropped from a curved armature in the form of an S-curve. Pendants are made of American art glass

Slim LED wallpacks produce 97 lumens/W mounted as an uplight or a downlight. The fixture’s compact, low-profile design allows mounting at low heights and is ADA-compliant. Wallpacks are available in 12-, 18-, and 26-W models with cool, neutral, or warm color temperatures. RAB Lighting Northvale, NJ Free information: Circle 88

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MARCH 2013

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

products BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

Redundancy for on-site power control All of the company’s on-site power-control systems are equipped with dual PLC controls for automatic generator set starting and stopping, status and alarm annunciation, synchronizing, and priority load control. If the primary PLC fails, the backup PLC assumes operational control. If both PLCs were to fail, a manual control system allows operating personnel to synchronize and parallel the generators onto the bus, as well as to add and shed load. Instruments and devices that facilitate manual operation are mounted on a hinged panel that can be specified to swing left or right for viewing from adjacent control cubicles during manual operation. All systems are UL listed and designed and built in accordance with ANSI, IEEE, and NEMA standards. Russelectric Inc. Hingham, MA Free information: Circle 89

On-site power-control systems:

EDITORS’ CHOICE

• Equipped with dual PLC controls • Manual control system as failsafe • Hinged panel for manual-control access

Controller Allure EC-Smart-View series controllers have integrated CO 2 and motion sensors. The four-in-one communicating sensor is said to reduce time and installation costs and offers additional energy savings, supporting demand-controlled ventilation and

occupancy-based control strategies for HVAC and lighting. The company offers a range of technology for energy efficiency and comfort solutions. Distech Controls Inc. Quebec Free information: Circle 90

Temp/RH data loggers Hobor UX100 series data loggers track temperature and relative humidity in indoor environments. The matchboxsized loggers collect indoor data in a range of applications and are said to deliver high accuracy, have a larger measurement capacity, and more LCD display features. A large memory capacity allows use with fewer site visits. Onset Bourne, MA Free information: Circle 92

For free information, circle 219

Remote alarm system

UPS addition

B series intrusion-control panels provide remote operation from smart phones and tablets. Panels can be programmed to control individual rooms or as many as four distinct areas. Panels check for open windows and doors, monitor smoke detectors, and activate panic devices. Built-in IP communication enables alarm transmissions to a central monitoring station. Bosch Security Systems Inc. Fairport, NY Free information: Circle 91

FirstLine P parallelable, threephase UPS line offers units for 160 to 250 kVA applications. The online, double-conversion units are said to have efficiencies to 98% while delivering maximum availability and flexibility. As many as eight units can run in parallel. Staco Energy Products Co. Dayton, OH Free information: Circle 93

advertising SHOWCASE

Turn your roof tops into beautiful, useful decks The PAVE-EL® Pedestal System • Transforms flat roofs into attractive, maintenancefree, landscaped paver stone terraces. • Elevates paver stones for perfect drainage. • Levels paver stones and ensures their uniform spacing for an ideal roof terrace surface. • Ideal for laying paver walkways in roof gardens.

ENVIROSPEC INCORPORATED

716-689-8548 • www.envirospecinc.com

Greenbuild booth 1032

AIA booth 2003

Greenbuild Booth 4565N

Free information: Circle 220

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TOLL FR E E 866.443. F LE X (3539)

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with corner beads

CURVED FRAMING MADE

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TRIM-TEX

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Tel.866.443.3539 SEE ALL OUR LEADING CURVABLE FRAMING PRODUCTS AT:

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New Products for 2013 Framing Angle Deflection Bead Chamfer Bead

1-800-874-2333 www.trim-tex.com

Request a catalog!

Greenbuild booth #939

AIA booth 3414

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Greenbuild booth 644

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MARCH 2013

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

advertising SHOWCASE FLOOD BARRIER SHIELD FOR DOORS

Simple to install and remove, water-tight barrier protect. Available in widths for inside or outside jamb mounting, and in stock heights of 10”, 20”, 24”, 30” and 36”- or to speciﬁc heights needed. The USA made, aluminum shield requires no tools to install into pre-mounted vertical channels when needed. The unit complies with FEMA and FIA regulations, for doors. The key to the shields impermeability is the use of neoprene rubber that lines the sides and the bottom to ensure a water-tight seal and also compensates for any gaps at the threshold or sill.

Introducing the Cleaver-Brooks Large Capacity Condensing Boilers

12,000 MBTU IN A CONDENSING BOILER. THE BAR HAS BEEN OBLITERATED. Cleaver-Brooks ClearFire®-LC (CFLC) gives large facilities a condensing boiler option up to 12,000 MBTU. The CFLC uses patented AluFer heat-transfer technology and a high-turndown burner with advanced controls to deliver peak efﬁciency and ultra-low emissions. The CFLC is a cost-effective alternative to installing multiple smaller boilers or less-efﬁcient, non-condensing boilers of similar capacity. Learn more at cleaverbrooks.com/Clearfire or call 1.800.250.5883. ©2013 Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.

FOR INFORMATION: www.ﬂoodbarrierfordoors.com www.zerointernational.com

Greenbuild Booth 4353N

Greenbuild booth 833

AIA booth 552

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Design Flexibility with Security

A WIDER PALETTE FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS.

Commercial or residential, indoor or outdoor, our unique products offer advanced sound absorption and barrier solutions.

Introducing noraplan sentica ®

Call 813-980-1400 or visit www.acoustiblok.info

www.nora.com/us/sentica4

to learn more about Acoustiblok and our specialized noise reducing products: • QuietFiber® • Acoustiblok® • Acoustifence® • Quiet-Cloud® • Acoustiblok Wallcover ® • All Weather Sound Panels® • Thermablok® Aerogel Insulation

FREE

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View Our Installation Video At:

800+ projects

acoustiblok.com/acoustiblok-video.php

REQUEST YOUR FREE GUIDE liveroof.com/designguide Code #CBP13R (800) 875-1392

AIA booth 514

Greenbuild Booth 1313N

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MARCH 2013

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supplier INDEX

Commercial

BUILDING PRODUCTS

page number

circle number

SERVING ARCHITECTS, CONTRACTORS, AND OWNERS IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Acoustiblok ................................................. 50 .................... 231

Gary L. Parr E xe cu t i ve V ic e Pr esiden t , C onSour ce L L C 847.382.8100 ex t .101 gpar r @ cbpmagazine.com

Alcoa Architectural Products .................. 8 ...................... 204

Jack Curley

Capital Safety............................................. 25 .................... 207

Regional Sales Manager Nor t heas t 201.569.5481 201.805.9529 cell jcur ley @ cbpmaga zine.com

Scott Cunningham

ASCO ........................................................... 2 ...................... 201

Carlisle HVAC Products ............................ 33 .................... 211

COMING

Cleaver-Brooks Inc. ................................... 50 .................... 227

in future issues

ClimateMaster Inc. .................................... BC ................... 235 CPI Daylighting .......................................... 50 .................... 228

Regional Sales Manager Sou t heas t , Mid-Sou t h, OH, IN 770.913.0115 678.576.1487 cell s cunningham @ cbpmaga z ine.com

DORMA ....................................................... 46 .................... 218 Duro-Last Roofing Inc. .............................. 43 .................... 215 Envirospec Inc. .......................................... 49 .................... 220

Jon Heng Patricia Heng

Flex-Ability Concepts ................................ 49 .................... 224

Regional Sales Manager s Wes t C oas t , MN, MO 626.799.3610 jheng @ cbpmagazine.com pheng @ cbpmagazine.com

Hanover Architectural Products ............. 44 .................... 217 Huber Engineered Woods ......................... 23 .................... 206 LG Electronics ............................................ IBC.................. 234

Tracy Ryle Inside S ales, Regional S ales IL , MI, W I 847.382.8100 ex t . 103 t r y le @ cbpmagazine.com

Lightfair ....................................................... 29 .................... 210 LiveRoof ...................................................... 50 .................... 230

APRIL

Marga Parr Pr oduc t ion Manager 847.382.8100 ex t . 115 mpar r @ cbpmagazine.com

Hospitality

Major Industries ........................................ 49 .................... 222

Lighting Technology

MBCI ............................................................ 4 ...................... 202

Flooring Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating ... 7, 49 ................ 203, 223

Ellen Sandkam Lis t Ren t al Ser v ices 847.382.8100 ex t . 110 esandk am @ a t plis t s.com

MAY

ModularArts ............................................... 41 .................... 214

Healthcare Interior Surfaces Building Envelope

Nora Systems Inc. ..................................... 50 .................... 233 Norton Door Controls ................................ 27 .................... 208

Jill Kaletha Philips Emergency Lighting ...................... 49 .................... 226

F os t er Repr in t Ser v ice 866.879.914 4 ex t . 168 jillk @ f os t er pr in t ing.com

Russelectric Inc. ........................................ 39 .................... 213 Safety Technology International Inc. ..... 44 .................... 216

Arthur L. Rice C hair man / C E O 847.382.8100 ex t . 106 ar ice @ a t pne t wor k .com

Salsbury Industries ................................... 48 .................... 219 Samsung Techwin America ...................... 15 .................... 205 Stonhard ..................................................... IFC .................. 200 Thybar Corp. ............................................... 38 .................... 212 SE RECYCL EA E L P

Tjernlund Products Inc. ............................ 49, 50 .............. 221, 232 Trim-Tex....................................................... 49 .................... 225

Commercial Building Products ConSource LLC 1300 S. Gr ove Avenue, Sui t e 105, Bar r ing t on, IL 60010 847.382.8100 w w w.cbpmaga zine.com

Varco Pruden Buildings ............................ 28 .................... 209 Zero International ...................................... 50 .................... 229 Get free product information at www.cbpmagazine.com

MARCH 2013

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS 51

portfolio A

conference room at the Microsoft New England

Research and Development Center, Cambridge, MA, features custom overhead lighting from iLight Technologies, Chicago, that doubles as artwork while contributing to the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LEED Gold status. The project renovated several floors of a 1980s high rise. Designers: TRO Jung/Brannen, Boston. Lighting design: D. Schweppe Lighting Design, West Concord, MA, and Cosentini Associates, Cambridge, MA. Project manager: Jones Lang LaSalle, Chicago. General Contractor: Turner Construction Co., Boston. Photo: Richard Mandelkorn, Boston.

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PRODUCTS

MARCH 2013

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One brand. One source. One solution.

ClimateMaster® delivers complete water-source or geothermal heating and cooling solutions for every segment of the commercial construction market. Because we can provide all the components required for most applications, you are assured a perfectly matched, perfectly controlled, perfectly installed system.

1. All the Heating and Cooling Required. A ClimateMaster® system will provide both heating and cooling to the building, changing modes based on the building load. Heat can even be transferred from one part of the building to another. A single control system will manage all these functions. You’ll need less equipment and have a completely integrated system.

4. vFlow™ Variable Water Flow. vFlow™ variable water ﬂow technology represents a major advance in system performance. vFlow™ not only builds the major water circulation components into the unit for a clean installation, it also intelligently varies the water ﬂow to minimize energy consumption and improve system reliability. Get the entire ClimateMaster® system story by calling 1-877-436-6263 to connect with a ClimateMaster® Commercial Representative.

2. Multi-Protocol DDC Controls. Factory-mounted Direct Digital Controls lower installation costs by reducing problematic on-site wiring. Implement a variety of building automation protocols through a PC, and read fault codes from any remote location.

3. Energy Recovery Ventilator. Improved IAQ is achieved with an ERV, coupling outdoor air treatment directly to space conditioning equipment. Stand-alone and mated rooftop conﬁgurations are available to meet your design requirements.

To learn about career opportunities with ClimateMaster®, visit climatemaster.com today. A company of LSB Industries, Inc. - NYSE symbol LXU

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ClimateMaster® is a proud supporter of the Geothermal Exchange Organization - GEO. For more information visit geoexchange.org