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Vol. 57, Number 10

NOVEMBER 2020

BUILDING SOLUTIONS 10 | Implementing 2019 NFPA 110

The 2019 edition of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems includes a variety of revisions and updates that clarify design

ON THE COVER: How much are you worth? Read about this year’s salary survey on page 6. Courtesy: CFE Media and Technology

NEWS &BUSINESS 5 | Viewpoint

How will jobs change during COVID-19?

6 | Salaries climb while bonuses drop

Are your salary, bonuses and current work conditions on par with others in the industry? Review the current report to learn where you rank among your peers Total compensation change, increased 46%

40%

2016 versus 2017 2017 versus 2018 2018 versus 2019

43%

18%

Increased 5% to 9%

Engineers and owners must consider NFPA requirements when designing and maintaining alternate power supply systems to ensure reliable service

26 | Five considerations for lighting control systems Demystify lighting controls by asking the right questions

32 | Understanding fire pumps, their applications and sizing

Learn about fire pump types, drivers, sizing and components

ENGINEERING INSIGHTS

17% 12%

Increased 1% to 4%

20 | Designing an emergency power supply system

14%

13%

Increased 10% or more

38 | Designing, retrofitting hospitals during COVID

While COVID-19 has changed many aspects in a health care facility, some things remain identical

CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER (ISSN 0892-5046, Vol. 57, No. 10, GST #123397457) is published 11x per year, monthly except in February, by CFE Media and Technology, LLC, 3010 Highland Parkway, Suite #325 Downers Grove, IL 60515. Jim Langhenry, Group Publisher/Co-Founder; Steve Rourke CEO/COO/Co-Founder. CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER copyright 2020 by CFE Media and Technology, LLC. All rights reserved. CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER is a registered trademark of CFE Media and Technology, LLC used under license. Periodicals postage paid at Downers Grove, IL 60515 and additional mailing offices. Circulation records are maintained at CFE Media and Technology, LLC, 3010 Highland Parkway, Suite #325 Downers Grove, IL 60515. Telephone: 630-571-4070. E-mail: cse@omeda.com. Postmaster: send address changes to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, PO Box 348, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40685520. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: , PO Box 348, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Email: cse@omeda.com. Rates for nonqualified subscriptions, including all issues: USA, $165/yr; Canada/Mexico, $200/yr (includes 7% GST, GST#123397457); International air delivery $350/yr. Except for special issues where price changes are indicated, single copies are available for $30 US and $35 foreign. Please address all subscription mail to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, PO Box 348, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. Printed in the USA. CFE Media and Technology, LLC does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident or any other cause whatsoever.

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November 2020

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CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL AMARA ROZGUS, Editor-in-Chief/Content Strategy Leader ARozgus@CFEMedia.com CHRIS VAVRA, Associate Editor CVavra@CFEMedia.com AMANDA PELLICCIONE, Director of Research APelliccione@CFEMedia.com MICHAEL SMITH, Creative Director MSmith@CFEmedia.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD JERRY BAUERS, PE, Vice President, NV5, Kansas City, Mo. MICHAEL CHOW, PE, CEM, CxA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Columbus, Ohio TOM DIVINE, PE, Senior Electrical Engineer, Johnston, LLC, Houston CORY DUGGIN, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, Energy Modeling Wizard, TLC Engineering Solutions, Brentwood, Tenn. ROBERT J. GARRA JR., PE, CDT, Vice President, Electrical Engineer, CannonDesign, Grand Island, N.Y. JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Cx A, Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee JOSHUA D. GREENE, PE, Associate Principal, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Waltham, Mass. RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE, Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C. DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Certus, Carrollton, Texas WILLIAM KOFFEL, PE, FSFPE, President, Koffel Associates Inc., Columbia, Md. WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, Senior Energy Engineer, Oak Park Ill. KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP, Engineering Manager, Jacobs, Philadelphia JULIANNE LAUE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP, Director of Building Performance, Mortenson, Minneapolis DAVID LOWREY, Chief Fire Marshal, Boulder (Colo.) Fire Rescue JASON MAJERUS, PE, CEM, LEED AP, Principal, DLR Group, Cleveland BRIAN MARTIN, PE, Senior Electrical Technologist, Jacobs, Portland, Ore. DWAYNE G. MILLER, PE, RCDD, AEE CPQ, CEO and Co-Founder, UNIFI Labs Inc., Las Vegas GREGORY QUINN, PE, NCEES, LEED AP, Principal, Health Care Market Leader, Affiliated Engineers Inc., Madison, Wis. BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP, Principal, Electrical Discipline Leader, SmithGroup, Chicago SUNONDO ROY, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President, CCJM Engineers Ltd., Chicago JONATHAN SAJDAK, PE, Associate/Fire Protection Engineer, Page, Houston RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM, Austin Operations Group Manager/Senior Mechanical Engineer, Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas MATT SHORT, PE, Project Manager/Mechanical Engineer, Smith Seckman Reid, Houston SAAHIL TUMBER, PE, HBDP, LEED AP, Senior Associate, Environmental Systems Design, Chicago MARIO VECCHIARELLO, PE, CEM, GBE, Senior Vice President, CDM Smith Inc., Boston RICHARD VEDVIK, PE, Senior Electrical Engineer and Acoustics Engineer, IMEG Corp., Rock Island, Ill. MIKE WALTERS, PE, LEED AP, Campus Energy Market Leader, MEP Associates, a Salas O’Brien Company, Verona, Wis.

How will jobs change during COVID-19? While many things have remained the same year over year, the pandemic promises to upend portions of the engineering industry

ost people would say COVID-19 also may have an affect they’re not paid what on job changes, salaries and other jobthey’re worth. Wheth- related issues. Fortunately, 72% indicater it’s a minimum wage ed that the coronavirus pandemic has job or a highly paid CEO position, not had an affect on their salary. But everyone is always clamoring for more 10% reported that their salary had been money, bonuses, health benefits and decreased 20% or more, which does not vacation. Every aspect of bode well for the industry if a job is worth something, it extends to a reduction in whether it’s paid time off, force or some other workon-site childcare or cash in force changes. Some firms the bank. have a backlog of work or This year’s respondents have diversified to change are made up of a diverse focus during this crisis, while group, as usual. When asked others are hurt extensively by about primary job function, the economic downturn or Amara Rozgus, 40% indicated they were by the loss of work in certain Editor-in-Chief engineers, 35% said engibuilding types. neering management and Looking at the reporting 20% said senior administration. Of the period, which encompasses data from 252 respondents, 11% were owners. 2019, the average number of projects This bunch is an educated one, with each respondent worked on was seven. 60% holding a bachelor’s or dual bach- With the economy fluctuations and the elor’s degree, and 26% holding a mas- intense bidding for new projects, it will ter’s degree. The largest group (44%) be interesting to see whether that numindicated they studied electrical engi- ber rises or falls during the COVID-19 neering, and following that trend, 39% pandemic. said they primarily specified electrical/ Firms looking to obtain new work or power systems. Six in 10 respondents branch out should pay close attention to hold a professional engineer’s license in specialties that respondents indicated one or more locations. were subcontracted during the reportInterestingly, 55% have worked for ing period. The top five: their current employer for less than 10 years, with 36% working at their firm • Fire/smoke systems design: 29% for less than five years. The number of • Electrical systems design: 28% people who have worked for their cur• Acoustics: 26% rent employer for 10 years or longer • Commissioning: 24% was 48% for the last reporting period, • Security systems design: 22% which down slightly from the report before that. This is starting to look like To learn more about whether you’re a trend of individuals changing jobs earning a salary and bonus on par with more frequently. your peers, turn to page 6. cse

APRIL WOODS, PE, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President, WSP USA, Orlando, Fla. JOHN YOON, PE, LEED AP ID+C, Lead Electrical Engineer, McGuire Engineers Inc., Chicago

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consulting-specifying engineer

November 2020

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NEWS&BUSINESS

2020 SALARY SURVEY By Amara Rozgus, Editor-in-Chief, and Amanda Pelliccione, Research Director

Salaries climb while bonuses drop Are your salary, bonuses and current work conditions on par with others in the industry? Review the current report to learn where you rank among your peers Salary by system specified Engineering system primarily specified

Average base annual salary

Average nonsalary compensation

TOTAL

Electrical/power

$104,554

$15,407

$119,961

Fire protection/life safety

$136,750

$17,086

$153,836

Lighting

$106,735

$18,941

$125,676

Mechanical (including HVAC, plumbing)

$105,921

$13,066

$118,987

Electrical/power compensation Primary job function

Average base annual salary

Average nonsalary compensation

TOTAL

Senior administration

$126,750

$55,833

$182,583

Engineering management

$102,801

$11,563

$114,364

Engineer

$100,108

$7,161

$107,269

Fire protection/life safety compensation Primary job function

Average base annual salary

Average nonsalary compensation

TOTAL

Senior administration

$190,625

$43,300

$233,925

Engineering management

$118,600

$2,800

$121,400

Engineer

$107,500

$6,500

$114,000

Lighting design compensation Primary job function

Average base annual salary

Average nonsalary compensation

TOTAL

Senior administration

$141,600

$57,800

$199,400

Engineering management

$103,333

$6,667

$110,000

Engineer

$88,500

$1,444

$89,944

Mechanical (including HVAC, plumbing) compensation

Primary job function

Average base annual salary

Average nonsalary compensation

TOTAL

Senior administration

$111,176

$30,824

$142,001

Engineering management

$137,188

$9,705

$146,893

Engineer

$85,267

$6,979

$92,246

•

November 2020

consulting-specifying engineer

he sixth annual Consulting-Specifying Engineer salary survey of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and lighting engineers shows that the average base annual salary in 2019 was $111,729, a 7% increase over the 2018 average of $104,349. Average nonsalary compensation was $14,255 in 2019, a 13% decrease from the 2018 nonsalary compensation of $16,358. This is a deviation from the last reporting period, when the average base salary was nearly flat compared with the previous report and nonsalary compensation was up approximately $3,000 higher than 2017 numbers, or an increase of 20.5%. Half (49%) of all respondents said they worked at a consulting engineering firm, 15% indicated they were either an in-house engineer for government agency, public utility company, industrial/commercial institutional firm and 14% work for an architectural engineering firm. Only 11% indicated they worked for a design/build, construction/contracting firm. These numbers are based on the anonymous responses of professionals from a variety of engineering disciplines and at different levels in their professional career. Of these respondents, 91% are male, exactly the same as last year. From the 2019 study results, 27% of respondents are 50 to 59 years old, 23% are 30 to 39 years old, 21% are 60 to 69 years old and 15% are 40 to 49 years old. This distribution creates an almost-normal bell curve with negative kurtosis. Younger staff, defined by the U.S. Department of Labor as 40 or younger, equate to 29% — about the same as last year’s survey respondents, which reported 30% in this age group. On the flip side, at the right end of the bell curve, 28% are 60 or older. This, coupled with the lack of technical and professional development training at engineering firms, should be a concern for several engineering firms as their technical proficiency departs. See Figure 1 for the comparison of age groups over the past several years. www.csemag.com

The good news is that total compensation has grown for the majority of respondents. As shown in Figure 2, compensation increased 1% to 4% for 43% of respondents, 5% to 9% for 17% of respondents and 10% or more for 13% of respondents. This is similar to last year’s increase in total compensation. When comparing compensation, the numbers changed again this year. Those who primarily specify fire protection/life safety systems earned $153,836 (an increase from $116,992 in the 2018 calendar year). Lighting system designers came in second, earning an average of $125,676 in 2019, an increase from the previous reporting period in which they earned an average of $93,818. Closely tied for 2019 average salaries were those who worked in electrical/power systems ($119,961) and mechanical systems ($118,987). This is a change from 2018 in which they earned $126,554 and $119,686, respectively. See the compensation tables for a more detailed breakdown. The average respondent has 25 years of experience. See Figure 3 for the number of years respondents have worked in their respective specialties.

COVID-19 impacts

According to the survey, 14% of respondents are looking to change jobs in the next year and 19% aren’t sure, meaning close to two-thirds of employees are not looking for a new position. Because this study was conducted well into the COVID-19 pandemic, that reluctance to change to a new company is likely due to the wildly fluctuating job market. Several things changed for survey respondents since the nationwide pandemic began: • Required use of new online or virtual tools: 42%. • Moved some work to remote work (working at home): 40%. • Stopped travel completely: 39%. • Moved all work to remote work (working at home): 37%. • Changed company’s hiring practices: 18%. • Seeking new clients and revenue options: 16%.

Current age 2019, average age 50 2018, average age 48 2017, average age 48

31% 27%

23% 22%

15%

21%

24% 22% 21%

16%16% 15% 10%

8% 6%

Younger than 30 years old

30 to 39 years old

40 to 49 years old

50 to 59 years old

60 to 69 years old

70 years old or older

Figure 1: The age of survey respondents continues to remain on the older side; most respondents are older than 40. The average age of this year’s respondents is 50, an uptick from 48 years old last year. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Total compensation change, increased 46%

2016 versus 2017 2017 versus 2018 2018 versus 2019

43%

40%

18%

17% 12%

Increased 1% to 4%

Increased 5% to 9%

14%

13%

Increased 10% or more

Figure 2: Most respondents to the study saw their total compensation increase 1% to 4%, as has been typical in previous years. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Industry experience in years 40 or more

As seen in past studies, the vast majority of respondents are either very satisfied (41%) or satisfied (48%) with their jobs. That’s a slight dip from last year’s 90% of happy employees, but still well within the margin of error.

Less than 10

18% 24%

15% 23% 20%

Survey methodology

A survey was emailed to Consulting-Specifying Engineer audience members and information was collected in August and September 2020. A total of 252 qualified responses were returned, with a margin of error of +/-6.2% at a 95% confidence level. Participants frequently had the option to select more than one response, thus totals do not always equal 100%. cse

www.csemag.com

10 to 19

30 to 39

20 to 29

Figure 3: The average number of years in the industry is 25, according to respondents from this year’s research study. Last year, it was 23 years of experience, a slight variation. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer consulting-specifying engineer

November 2020

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

NFPA 110

By Richard Vedvik, PE, IMEG Corp., Rock Island, Ill.

Implementing 2019 NFPA 110 The 2019 edition of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems includes a variety of revisions and updates that clarify design

he 2019 edition of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems includes a variety of revisions and updates that clarify the intent of the technical committee with a few added requirements. Code references in this article are to the 2019 edition, unless stated otherwise. One of the changes is a revision to the description of the primary source, renamed to “normal” to align with other sections and NFPA 70: National Electrical Code. NEC does not define when a

standby power system is needed, but explains how to implement, test and maintain the functionality of these systems. NFPA 110 has two primary equipment and system definitions that will be referenced throughout this article: emergency power supply and emergency power supply system. The EPS is the source of energy that provides an alternate source when the primary or normal, source fails and includes any common bussing or overcurrent protection devices associated with the alternate source. The EPSS is the equipment that distributes the electrical energy generated by the EPS. The scope of EPSS equipment includes every distribution component from the output of the EPS to the transfer switch(es). See Figure 1 for a delineation of EPS and EPSS scope.

Defining parameters

Figure 1: Having a clear understanding of what falls under the classification of emergency power supply versus emergency power supply system is important when applying the various requirements of NFPA 110. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

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November 2020

consulting-specifying engineer

Before the specific requirements of NFPA 110 can be applied, there are three parameters defined in Chapter 4 that need to be determined: type, class and level. The type refers to the amount of time, in seconds, that is allowed to occur between the loss of the primary or normal, source and the acceptance of the alternate or standby, source. Options for power restoration time are 10 seconds, 60 seconds, 120 seconds, manual and uninterruptible. Uninterruptible is a classification used for uninterruptable power supply systems and is not applied to standby generator systems. The “class” refers to the amount of runtime, in hours, that is required before the alternate or standby, source requires refueling or recharging. Options for run time include five minutes, 15 minutes, two hours, six hours, 48 hours and class X. Class X is a timeframe that is required by other sections of NFPA 110, other codes or the authority having jurisdiction. Level classification relates to the type of loads served and is specified by other codes. A level 1 www.csemag.com

Figure 2: The physical arrangement of supply and return fuel oil piping requires careful consideration to allow for reliable operation without opportunity for overflow situations. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

system has more stringent requirements than a level 2 system. Systems can be classified as level 1 or level 2 with the difference being the risk to loss of human life given the failure of the system. If building occupants are at risk of serious injury or death due to a failure of the system to function, then the system must be classified as level 1, as noted in NFPA 110 4.4.1. Examples of this include, but are not limited to, health care as required by NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code and high-rise occupancy types as required by the International Building Code. Level 2 systems are specified when loss of life is not a possibility, given a failure of the EPS or EPSS. One example of a level 2 load could be air handling unit or building conditioning equipment. Unless expressly required in other building codes, a risk analysis should be performed to determine which level is applicable to the system. Designers familiar with NFPA 99 may notice that the level classification for an EPS and EPSS is similar, but different, from the category classification of patient care spaces in NFPA 99 Chapter 4. For example, 2018 NFPA 99 identifies a type 1 essential electrical system and a type 2 EES; those definitions correlate to a level 1 EPSS or a level 2 EPSS, respectively. Engineers should pay careful attention to how terminology is used in each code section referenced. NFPA 110 does not define which of these three classifications are applicable to which types of systems, rather those are defined in other building or NFPA codes. Examples of other code sections that reference NFPA 110 and identify the classifications are: • The 2018 edition of NFPA 101 7.2.3.12 requires a type 60, class 2, level 2 EPSS for pressurization systems serving building egress enclosures. www.csemag.com

Figure 3: For large systems with multiple emergency power supplies, the engineer should identify automatic transfer switch load shed wiring and assign priority for each optional or equipment branch. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

• The 2018 edition of NFPA 99 6.7.1.2.4.1 requires type 10, class X, level 1 generator sets and references NFPA 110 for health care occupancies. • The 2018 edition of NFPA 101 11.8.5.3.1 requires a type 60, class 1, level 1 standby power system be provided for high-rise structures.

Learning

OBJECTIVES

• Understand the changes to the 2019 edition of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. • Learn the definitions of EPS and EPSS. • Consider classifications of type, class and level.

Continued on page 14 consulting-specifying engineer

November 2020

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

NFPA 110

CASE STUDY: Upgrading a hospital’s EPSS

250-bed trauma center hospital campus needed an upgrade to the emergency power supply system equipment to replace aging infrastructure and improve system reliability. The existing EPSS equipment consisted of more than 20 automatic transfer switches and associated distribution panels and transformers connected to paralleled diesel generator sets located in a remote central utility plant. The equipment was divided into two locations. The electrical rooms in both locations contained both EPSS and normal service equipment in the form of 15-kilovolt switchgear, unit substations and normal service switchboards. This was common-

‘

ment. In this case, the EPSS equipment was directly across from the normal service equipment. The age of the equipment is another useful factor due to the understanding that older equipment can have a higher chance of catastrophic failure. There are many facilities across the country that have a similar physical arrangement, and corrective action should be reviewed in all instances. To determine an appropriate scope for the project, the first step was to perform a detailed study that identified three primary areas requiring correction: • The physical location of the EPSS equipment.

The end result is a design that adheres to the currently adopted editions of all applicable codes.

’

place at the time of construction but the 2019 edition of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems section 7.2.3 requires that the EPSS equipment be located in a separate room from normal service equipment (when the voltage is greater than 150 volts to ground and the amperage is greater than 1,000 amperes. These rooms had both conditions. The intent of this section of code is to prevent a catastrophic failure of the normal service equipment from damaging the EPSS equipment. When evaluating this condition, engineers should factor in the nature of the occupancy and the risk to building occupants. For level 1 systems in health care occupancies, the risk of loss of life is high. Another factor to consider is the physical arrangement of the equip-

•

November 2020

• The configuration and condition of the EPSS distribution, which did not meet the vertical segregation requirement of NEC Art 700.10. • The comingling of emergency loads at the branch circuit level. It was discovered that there was a lack of subdivision of the proper emergency branches as required by NFPA 70: National Electrical Code Article 517. The code requires separation of life safety, critical and equipment with very specific loads permitted on each branch and like many facilities of this vintage, proper separation did not exist. The study identified the need to correct the branch circuit separation at the panelboard level to rightly assign branches at the transfer switch level.

consulting-specifying engineer

The result of the study spawned a project with a clearly defined scope to upgrade the EPSS and bring the aged system up to current codes and standards. The next challenge was phasing and constructability. An electrical infrastructure upgrade project in a fully operational hospital impacts the clinical teams and patient care areas alike. The electrical distribution changes create outages that inevitably impact the ability for the facility to provide care to patients without the proper planning. This requires a concerted team effort between the owner, design engineer and construction team to plan all outages with the least amount of impact to patient care. An impact assessment should be performed by the engineer, in cooperation with the facility, to identify and document the plan during the design phase. Some solutions may result in increased costs or complexity and some solutions may be a total departure from initial assumptions. For this project, a local electrical contractor with decades of onsite experience was engaged to be a part of the design team and they participated in meetings with the facility and clinical representatives to determine what impacts each ATS replacement would have. The input provided by the electrical contractor was incredibly valuable and most instances included a story that went something like “the last time we had to shut that down we learned this…” Being able to learn from the past to improve the future plan is key. As a result, the drawings did not rely on a single, overall one-line diagram that simply showed demo and new scope as an initial and final arrangement. Instead, each ATS was given its own diagram with every panel served by the ATS identified and www.csemag.com

Figure 5: Three options are presented for replacing an existing transfer switch while minimizing outage durations. These options assume a new location will be needed and illustrate how wiring connections would be made. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

specific notes for the outage mitigation strategy. Some strategies allowed for outages at certain time frames or seasons (when equipment was involved). Some strategies required temporary power for loads, with the source of the temporary power identified. The notes went into detail of what to do with the old ATS location and options included to remove the cabinet and refeed the load or reuse the cabinet as a junction box or to remove the cabinet and intercept the feeder elsewhere in the path. Each option carries a different outage timeframe and thus a unique strategy. Some of the challenges uncovered with this project that required close coordination were: • The entire surgical department was on a single emergency feeder without a second emergency or normal source available in the rooms. Changing the ATS feeding this department would result in a complete outage of the department. • When the distribution upgrades affect the elevators, the ability to transport patients is affected. This requires coordination during design for where patients www.csemag.com

will need to be moved to during the outage, if an emergent case requiring transport to a caesarian-section room or operating room is required during the outage. • Outages affecting imaging equipment required a coordinated shutdown effort because the uninterruptable power supply duration would be exceeded. • The information technology and information systems departments are also vital to the operability of a health care facility, and while those systems are usually on a UPS, the available runtime needed to be evaluated along with the expected outage duration and risk associated with the outage lasting longer than expected. The new design took all of these aspects into consideration by creating two new EPSS electrical rooms to house new, code-compliant distribution and new ATS equipment. To mitigate extended outages to the entire emergency system, separate feeders were routed to the existing generator paralleling gear. The latest editions of NFPA 110, NFPA

70 and NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code were strictly followed to provide the most reliable system possible. The design also provided a consistent nomenclature across the entire facility’s EPSS. The new naming convention included the existing name as the first characters then added a unique number (if missing), along with an abbreviation for the branch. For example: ATS-6 would become ATS-6CR, thereby providing a concise reference as to which branch the system fed. Changing names of panels or equipment in existing facilities must be done with great care due to the impact it can have on existing labeling in junction boxes, equipment or panels. The branch panel comingling was evaluated largely impart to a previous effort by the facility to update all of the branch panel schedules and physical testing of each circuit. With this in hand, the design team recommended individual circuit relocations and provided a design for additional panelboards where necessary. The end result is a design that adheres to the currently adopted editions of all applicable codes. New equipment installations must comply with adopted codes for working clearances, overcurrent protection, coordination and environment.

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Continued from page 11

Figure 4: Careful consideration is required to orient the airflow pathway for a generator, taking velocity, pressure drop and cooling into account. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

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Section A.4.2 of the annex in NFPA 110 identifies that class X usually consists of 48- or 96-hour run times and correlates a 96-hour run time with level 1 systems in category C or higher seismic design categories. The idea behind fuel storage that lasts several days is due to the proclivity of natural disasters that could prevent fuel delivery to facilities with a level 1 classification. While the annex lists requirements for high seismic areas, the same risk analysis could be applied to areas subject to flooding or hurricanes to ensure that critical facilities are able to operate when fuel delivery is hindered. Further, the designer or facility should ensure that the EPS, EPSS and fuel refilling locations are accessible and above flood plains. The 2019 edition of NFPA 110 has several revisions that are related to the assigned level. Section 5.6.4.7 (6) has a new requirement for level 1 EPS battery chargers to have temperature compensation. Battery charger requirements are explained in more detail in table 5.6.4.2 with differences in level 1 and level 2 systems explained. Another revision includes section 7.9.13, which was first added in the 2016 edition. This addi-

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12 REASON

tion to the code prohibited the use of automatically actuated valves, i.e., solenoid valves, in fuel oil supply or return lines. In 2019, a statement was added to this section that clarifies that this applies to level 1 EPS, which can be interpreted to mean that a level 2 EPS may have actuated valves in the supply or return piping. The installation of automatically actuated valves may be due to the physical arrangement of the fuel oil system components in existing systems where overhead piping presents an overflow condition. It is common for fuel oil systems to be shared between standby diesel generators and boilers that use fuel oil as a secondary source. Because boilers and EPS components are not co-located, the physical arrangement of fuel oil piping is crucial to allow for gravity draining back to the main tanks, as required by section 7.9.4.2.

Code updates and revisions

NFPA 110 explains several aspects of the starting, stopping and emergency stop controls with revisions for the 2019 edition. Section 5.6.5.2 (2)(c) is simplified for 2019 and eliminates the specific requirement in previous editions for how local contacts shall behave. In the 2016 edition, starting was to be accomplished by closing a set of contacts. Stopping was to occur when those contacts were opened. For 2019 this wording is simplified to state that contacts can both start and stop the prime mover. This provides flexibility for the manufacturer for contact behavior and configuration.

You may already be using it. R-32 is a key component of many other blended refrigerants.

T H I S I S J U S T O N E O F 3 2 G R E AT R E A S O N S TO C H O O S E R -3 2 R E F R I G E R A N T. S E E T H E M A L L AT R 3 2 R E A S O N S . C O M .

Figure 6: Patient bed headwalls contain a vast amount of utilities. This image shows what’s inside the wall, behind the finished headwall paneling. Courtesy: IMEG Corp. consulting-specifying engineer

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

NFPA 110

Figure 8: Operating rooms require sufficient space to allow for the patient, hospital staff and medical equipment. They include overhead booms to deliver utilities to the patient area. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

Section 5.6.5.5 explains the acceptable methods for initiating the cranking cycle of a prime mover. Section 5.6.5.5 (2) has a similar revision where the requirements for contact behavior are simplified. Part 5.6.5.5 (5) was added in 2019 to clarify prime mover starting methods when an automatic transfer switch is not present. In addition to the typical starting and stopping scenarios, an emergency stop is required by section 5.6.5.6. This section was revised for clarity of intent and allows for the emergency stop to be located on an exterior enclosure. This revision also added a new section 5.6.5.6.2 with a standalone requirement to limit the access to the emergency stop as opposed to the previously stated requirement to “prevent inadvertent operation.” Section 5.6.5.6.3 is new for 2019 and requires labeling to identifying the purpose of the emergency stop, requiring that the prime mover be identified. These new sections are important for both single generator installations and multiple generator installations and designers will need to carefully coordinate with the facility to ensure that emergency stop switch locations are coordinated. Section 6.3 is reworded to clarify paralleled generator set load shed/add requirements and now must include logic to maintain power quality

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REASON through load management strategies. One of the main ways that connected loads can be managed to protect the EPSS is through load step programming, which is a process by which the generator paralleling logic assigns inhibit signals to ATSs to control when they transfer. During design and installation, each ATS is assigned a priority. The highest priority loads are transferred first, as determined by the type classification discussed previously. Typically, for systems using multiple generators, the standby generators are sized such that all of the highest priority loads are within the capacity of one generator set. This allows for the restoration time, as defined by the specific type rating, to be met without waiting for all of the generators to sync together. As stated in 6.3.1 (2), as additional generators are added, additional loads can be added, in order of their priority. Optional or equipment branches, whose loads do not pose a threat to loss of life, can be removed from the EPSS when connected loads are in excess of the EPS capacity. This is usually determined by monitoring the output frequency of the EPS. When a frequency dip occurs, the logic monitors the severity and duration and programming determines the point at which ATS loads are removed. The previously assigned priorities determine the order the loads are removed, as stated in section 6.3.1 (3). Another method of load management may be accomplished by the paralleling logic providing the available gen-

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Figure 7: The interior of a transfer switch contains a mix of power supply conductors and control cabling. Courtesy: IMEG Corp. consulting-specifying engineer

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

NFPA 110

erator capacity to a mechanical control system to vary the mechanical system load. One example of this approach is for electric centrifugal chiller systems where the chiller load and pumping load can be actively controlled.

Installation guidelines

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NFPA 110 Chapter 7 covers the environmental conditions and the installation requirements for the EPS and EPSS

tal Protection Agency and the regulations of nonroad compression-ignition engines designated “heavy equipment.” When peak shaving is desired with the use of diesel generator sets, the requirements of 40 CFR Part 1039 for Tier 4 emission standards will apply. Section 7.11 covers the protection requirements including fire suppression, fire detection, lightning protection and seismic shock protection. Other physi-

When multiple generators are in the same room, the designer should evaluate static pressure effects with all units running. equipment. Section 7.1.5 describes the behavior of the EPS relative to the availability of the normal or utility source. This section also allows for peak shaving in coordination with the utility provider. Note that the ability to use an EPS when the normal source is available is carefully limited by the Environmen-

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cal concerns include flooding and projectiles due to high windstorms (i.e., tornadoes or hurricanes), as noted in section 7.2.4. Chapter 7 also includes testing requirements and the 2019 edition added a requirement for coolant temperature during two-hour full-load

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testing. The new wording in section 7.13.4.3 clarifies that the coolant temperature must stabilize at least 30 minutes before the end of the test. This requirement prevents the chance of overheating if the system is running for more than two hours and further clarifies that the temperature stability should be relative to the outdoor air temperature. Proper thermal management is important for any cooling system and the two primary types of generator set cooling are unit-mounted and remotemounted radiators. For unit-mounted radiators, the arrangement of the EPS in the room relative to the size and location of the outdoor air intake and discharge plenums is important. The air moving through the room experiences static pressure relative to the path and type of obstructions. If the obstructions result in static pressures that exceed the capacity of the unit-mounted radiator fan, the capacity of the generator system is reduced. Louvers, dampers, ducts, plenums, etc. each have an effect on the static pressure effects. When multiple generators are in the same room, the designer should evaluate static pressure effects with all units running. This is a very important item to consider when upgrading or replacing existing installations. Newer units, whether the same size or larger, are likely to have different requirements for allowable static pressure. For remote radiator arrangements, static pressure is less likely to be a concern, however, the location of the remote radiator and fan combination is of important consideration. The location should allow for adequate airflow and reduce the chance of short-cycling the air, which occurs when the hot discharge air is drawn back into the fan and pushed through the radiator again. Concerns with airflow are not limited to cooling — they also exist for the exhaust system. Section 7.10.4 addresses this in generic terms. The backpressure experienced by the engine due to the physical arrangement and size of the exhaust piping can affect the ability of the engine to make rated power output. A careful study is required during design to ensure backpressure is properly managed. As with airflow, exhaust

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Nonproprietary. R-32 is readily available from multiple suppliers. Figure 9: An inside view of a 15-kilovolt generator paralleling switchgear shows a portion of the control components and cabling required. Courtesy: IMEG Corp.

sizing and routing should be evaluated for any generator set replacement or upgrade. While Section 7.2.3 was not changed for the 2019 code cycle, it is worth discussing due to the frequent occurrence that is seen in the field. Section 7.2.3 prohibits EPS and EPSS equipment from being installed in the same room as normal service equipment that is both greater than 1,000 amperes and greater than 150 volts to ground. It is very common for older installations to have both normal service unit substations or switchgear in the same room as the generator distribution, paralleling and transfer switches (EPSS). When replacing transfer switches, the designer and facility manager should consider if the existing location falls under the prohibited environment of Section 7.2.3 and if so, a new location must be found. Engineers should be aware of both the currently adopted codes and the latest editions of code to understand both the interpretation and the intent. As codes evolve, the intent tends to be clarified in each subsequent edition. The consistent theme of NFPA 110 is one of reliability, making a level 1 standby emergency power system as reliable and robust as possible to prevent harm or loss of life to building occupants. cse Richard Vedvik is a senior electrical engineer and acoustics engineer at IMEG Corp. He is a member of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board. consulting-specifying engineer

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WITH MORE THAN 100 MILLION UNITS INSTALLED WORLDWIDE, R-32 IS ENDORSED BY:

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

NFPA 110

By Mario Vecchiarello, PE, CEM, GBE, CDM Smith, Boston; Jeff Donaldson, PE, CDM Smith, Boston; and Tyler Roschen, PE, CDM Smith, Raleigh, N.C.

Designing an emergency power supply system Engineers and owners must consider NFPA requirements when designing and maintaining alternate power supply systems to ensure reliable service

lectrical and mechanical engineers should identify and apply NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems and NFPA 70: National Electrical Code requirements when designing alternate power supply systems. The first step to design an emergency power supply system is to identify the operational requirements of the essential loads to properly classify the EPSS and select the appropriate type of equipment. Engineers must determine what the EPSS is required to power in the event of a normal power failure. This typically requires the input of the architect and the client (i.e., building occupant) and a review of the applicable state or jurisdictions adopted building codes. This review will deter• Understand the differences mine if the alternative power source is between emergency and considered a Level 1 or Level 2 system standby and between Level 1 as defined by NFPA 110. and Level 2 emergency power In addition to the requirements of supply systems (EPSS). NFPA 110, the engineer needs to deter• Learn the NFPA 70 NEC mine if the emergency power sup(2020) and NFPA 110 (2019) requirements in emergency and ply is characterized as an “emergency,” standby power supply system “legally required standby” or “optional design. standby” system per Articles 700, 701 • Understand the importance and 702 of the 2020 edition of NFPA of maintenance and testing to 70, respectively. These articles include comply with both Level 1 and specific requirements for the system Level 2 systems. performance, ancillary equipment arrangement, fire protection measures, etc. According to Section 3.3.4 of NFPA 110, an EPSS is “a complete and functioning EPS system coupled to a system of conductors, disconnecting means and overcurrent protective devices, transfer switches and all control, supervisory and support devices up to and included the load terminals of the transfer equipment needed for the system to operate as a safe and reliable source of electric power.” Defining a system in terms of standby or emergency sometimes causes confusion because NFPA

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110 uses the term “emergency power system” for both emergency and standby systems.

Classification of EPSS

The classification of the EPSS depends on the minimum time in which the EPSS is designed to operate at rated load without needing to be refueled or recharged. See NFPA 110 Table 4.1(a) for classifications of EPSSs. The designated type of EPSS defines the maximum time in which the load terminals of the transfer equipment can be without acceptable electrical power based on the essential load requirements. See NFPA 110 Table 4.1(b) for types of EPSSs. Both the classification and the type of EPSS are dependent on the level the EPSS is classified as and based on a review of applicable state and local codes, discussions with the authority having jurisdiction and coordination with the owner or end user of the EPSS. NFPA 110 delineates the EPSS into two distinct levels that dictates installation, performance and maintenance requirements: • Level 1 systems are required where the failure of the equipment to perform could result in loss of human life or serious injuries. For instance, these systems are typically provided for life safety, emergency or critical loads as defined in NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code, NEC Article 700, NFPA 110, NFPA 101: Life Safety Code and applicable building codes. Section 700.12 of the NEC requires the power to be “available within the time required for the application but not to exceed 10 seconds.” This would designate this EPSS as Type 10 or less. • Level 2 systems are required where failure of the EPSS to perform is less critical to human life and safety. These systems are provided for both legally required standby or optionwww.csemag.com

al standby systems as defined in NEC Articles 701 and 702, respectively. The time that is required for power to be restored to Level 2 installations is dependent on the applicable codes and application for each installation: –Level 2 systems that are legally required by NEC Article 701 must have standby power available within 60 seconds or less after normal power loss in accordance with Section 701.12. –Level 2 systems designated as optional standby EPSS is dependent on the end users’ needs and applicable codes. The end users’ essential load needs will determine the acceptable time from loss of utility power to when the EPSS provides adequate power. A combination of different types and classifications of EPSSs are sometimes provided in a facility to economically meet the operational requirements of the various essential loads. For instance, there may be a an EPSS requirement as follows: All the essential loads require a minimum time of 48 hours in which the EPSS must operate at its rated load without being refueled or recharged; a small portion of the essential loads, such as supervisory control and data acquisition, cannot tolerate any power interruption between normal power loss and the time it takes the standby generator to start and accept load. However, the majority of the essential loads can tolerate a 60-second power interruption between normal power loss and EPSS power restoration. A combination EPSS system consisting of a Class 48, Type 60 EPSS provides power to the essential loads that can tolerate the 60-second power restoration and also provides power to a Class 0.083, Type U EPSS to power the uninterruptable essential (SCADA) loads. The Class 0.083, Type U EPSS will continue to provide power to the uninterruptable loads for a period of up to five minutes to bridge the 60-second power restoration time of the Class 48, Type 60 EPSS. If there is a need for a centralized emergency system to provide power to life safety loads, such as emergency egress lighting, a third type of EPSS would be required to comply with Level 1 requirements of NFPA 110, NFPA 101 and Article 700 “Emergency Systems” of the NEC. NEC Article 700 requires that the emergency circuits be kept entirely independent of all other wiring and equipment unless otherwise permitted in Sections 700.10(B)(1) through (B)(5). For this situation, a Class 1.5, Type U, UL 924 rated uninterruptible power supply system located in a two-hour rated space would be an acceptable solution. Because the UPS provides continuous power to the emergency loads during loss of normal power, it meets the NEC Section 700.12 requirement, which states that on loss of normal power, www.csemag.com

Figure 1: An emergency power supply system provides generator backup with uninterruptible power supply for uninterruptable loads. Courtesy: CDM Smith

power shall be available within the time required for the application but not to exceed 10 seconds. The Class 1.5 rating also meets the NEC Section 700.12 (C) requirement of 90 minutes of battery capacity to supply the load during loss of normal power. It is very important to note that when combining Level 1 and Level 2 EPPSs and normal power equipment, the physical separation requirements defined in NEC Article 700 must be considered. See Figure 1 for an example of this type of installation.

Transfer switch equipment

Transfer switches are required to transfer electric loads from one power source, typically called the “normal” power source, to another, typically called the “emergency” or “standby” power source and back again. Where life safety, emergency or critical branch loads are supplied, the automatic transfer switch shall be listed (UL 1008 for ATSs rated 1,000 volts and less) for emergency service as a completely factory-assembled and factory-tested apparatus. The transfer equipment shall be provided with either mechanical interlocking or with an approved alternate method to prevent the interconnection of consulting-specifying engineer

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NFPA 110

the two separate power sources. NFPA 110 requires the ATS to be capable of electrical operation and mechanical holding, transfer and retransfer of the load automatically and visual annunciation when “not-in-automatic.” The ATS is required to have undervoltage-sensing devices that monitor all the ungrounded lines of the normal source of power to initiate the engine startup and the process to transfer power to the EPS on loss of adequate power on the normal power source. These voltage sensing devices are also used to initiate the process of transferring the essential loads back to the normal source of power. The transfer to normal power typically occurs after a predetermined time delay after the normal source returns to within an acceptable voltage to support the loads.

In addition to voltage sensing all ungrounded lines of the normal source of power, at least one ungrounded line of the EPS shall be monitored for both voltage and frequency. These sensing devices inhibit the transfer of the essential loads to the EPS until both the voltage and frequency of the EPS are within a predetermined acceptable range to support the essential loads. NFPA 110 identifies time delay devices within the automatic transfer scheme of the EPS to provide reliable power to the essential loads through properly transitioning the loads from one power source to the other. Sections 6.2.5 through 6.2.11 of NFPA 110 provide the detailed requirements and significance of the various time delay devices to ensure reliable power to the essential loads

CASE STUDY: EPSS retrofit at water treatment plant

DM Smith was contracted in 2017 to design the electrical distribution system upgrade at the City of New Bedford’s Quittacas Water Treatment Plant in Freetown, Mass. The project included the replacement of an existing 2,400-volt switchgear which was used to manually select between two separate utility services and a 2,250-kilowatt diesel-driven generator. During preliminary design, the stakeholders decided to change the site distribution voltage to 13.2 kilovolts, which is the same voltage obtained from the utility. This case

study discusses the design decisions and process to best meet the client’s needs and budget, while also providing a reliable system for this essential drinking water infrastructure for the City of New Bedford. The first design discussions with the client considered whether the upgrade should replace the existing generator. Because this facility is a water treatment plant, the emergency power supply system was designed in accordance with NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (2017), NEC Article 701, Legally Required Standby.

Figure 4: The 1,200-kilowatt natural gas driven generator set has a remote radiator. Courtesy: CDM Smith

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The treatment plant already had two separate electrical utility services that were confirmed by the utility to be from separate substations, so the team investigated using the additional service as the standby power source. NEC Article 701.12(F) permits a separate electrical service to be used as a standby power source for a legally required standby system. After further investigation, it was determined that although the utility services come from completely separate substations, the services share common utility poles coming into the plant. These common poles were deemed as a common failure point and the use of Article 701.12(F) and the separate utility service as the standby power source was not fully met. Due to the proximity of the generator to a drinking water supply source, a directive from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recommended using a gaseous fuel in lieu of diesel fuel. The design team investigated using a gaseous fuel supply because of this directive. Article 701 of the NEC requires onsite fuel supply except where www.csemag.com

If an EPSS uses two or more paralleled generator sets as the alternate power source, the transfer of loads to the EPS shall be sequenced by load priority to provide power to the essential loads. To ensure power will be available to the essential loads within the required time from normal power loss, consideration needs to be given to the time it takes the system to detect under voltage, initiate the starting of the generator(s), time for generators to reach acceptable voltage and frequency and breakers opening and closing. Therefore, the designer and the owner need to identify and categorize the essential loads by priority. For example, first-priority loads are the most critical and are therefore energized as soon as power within acceptable voltage and frequency lim-

acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and as permitted by Chapter 5.1.1(3) of NFPA 110: Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. The use of liquid propane (LP) would meet the requirement for on-site fuel supply, but would have required multiple generators paralleled together to meet the generator set size needs for the essential loads and the existing site would not be able to accommodate the multiple units. Ultimately, the use of a natural gas driven generator was determined to be acceptable in accordance with NEC 701.12(D)(3) due to the low probability of simultaneous loss of the two electric utility services and the natural gas service. The final step in the design process before implementation was to determine the size of the generator. The existing generator size of 2,250 kilowatts was oversized as a result of improvements in the water treatment plant processes and increased efficiencies of electrically driven equipment that was replaced because the generator’s installation. The design team sized the generator based on an analysis www.csemag.com

its is available. Each time an additional generator is paralleled to the emergency/standby bus, the next priority load shall be energized until all emergency and standby loads are powered. Upon failure of one or more engine generator sets, the loads shall automatically shed starting with the least priority load first and continuing in ascending priority so that the highest priority load is the last load to be affected. See Figure 2 for a typical Level 2 medium-voltage one-line diagram consisting of two paralleled standby generators using electrically interlocked medium voltage breakers, which are permitted for use in accordance with NFPA 110 Section 6.1.6 if the loads being served do not include life safety, emergency or critical branch loads.

of the utility bills and by developing a sizing calculation on current operation. The soft starting and stopping of large raw water and finish water pumps, now controlled by variable frequency drives, was also considered, resulting in a 13.2-kilovolt natFigure 5: This shows the graphical user interface ural gas generator located on 13.2-kilovolt service entrance switchgear. rated at 1,200 kiloCourtesy: CDM Smith watts. Coordination with major generator equipment vendors was crititransfer controls was used as the cal on this project to determine the main distribution system for this physical size of the generator set water treatment plant. A generaincluding the alternator and remote tor bus was separated by two tie radiator. The finished product was breakers and the generator will a natural gas engine generator set only be called to start when both footprint similar to a 2,500-kilowatt utility sources lose power. diesel engine (see Figure 4). Chapter 6.1.6 of NFPA 110 perAlthough most decisions dismits the use of electrically intercussed above rely heavily on NEC locked medium-voltage circuit Article 701, NFPA 110 was also crit- breakers for source transfer conical in the design of the distribution trol. The source selection automatsystem design for this upgrade. A ic transfer controls graphical user main (utility A) – tie – (generator interface is displayed on the front bus) – tie – main (utility B) 13.2-kilo- of the 13.2-kilovolt switchgear (see volt switchgear with automatic Figure 5). consulting-specifying engineer

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An important aspect of the EPSS installation is to minimize the probability of equipment or cable failure within the EPSS. Some methods used to minimize the probability of equipment of cable failures are to: • Locate the EPS as close to the critical loads as possible. • Segregate the emergency feeders and circuits from the normal ones to prevent failure of one from taking out the other. • Locate critical EPS equipment in locations that are protected from natural conditions such as floods, storms, fire, earthquakes, etc. and human causes such as vandalism, sabotage and similar occurrences.

Figure 2: This demonstrates a typical medium voltage one-line diagram consisting of two paralleled standby generators. Courtesy: CDM Smith

An EPS is permitted to serve optional loads provided the EPS has adequate capacity or if the system is equipped with automatic selective load pickup and load shedding. The automatic selective load pickup/shedding shall provide priority to the Level 1 loads, Level 2 loads and any optional loads in that order to ensure power is provided to the most critical loads. Although the purpose of the EPS is to provide backup power to essential loads when utility power is available, it is acceptable to use the EPS for other purposes such as peak load shaving and utility load curtailment. However, additional air permitting issues may need to be addressed under these scenarios.

Installation and environmental considerations

Chapter 7 of NFPA 110 establishes minimum requirements and considerations relative to the installation and environmental conditions. The performance of the EPSS can be affected by geographic location, building type, classification of occupancy and hazardous contents.

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The EPS design team must also consider minimizing single points of failure within the EPS to reduce the probability of power disruption to the protected loads due to material and equipment failures. For Level I EPS installations located indoors, NFPA 110 requires that the EPS be installed in a separate two-hour fire resistant rated room separated from the rest of the building. This room shall only include the EPS equipment and equipment that serves this space. Level 1 EPSS equipment shall not be installed in the same room with normal service equipment that is rated over 150 volts to ground and rated 1,000 amperes or greater. Outdoor Level 1 or Level 2 EPSS equipment shall be installed in a suitable enclosure that protects the equipment from the environmental conditions as required by the local building codes. This enclosure shall only include the EPS equipment and equipment that serves this space. There are additional requirements for mounting the energy converter, lighting, heating, cooling, ventilating, EPS cooling system, fuel system, exhaust system, protection and distribution for the EPSS. As shown in Figure 3, the exhaust system shall be installed so that exhaust gases cannot reenter the building. NFPA 110 indicates that the exhaust system equipment shall be installed in accordance with other applicable standards, such as NFPA 37: Standard for the Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines.

Testing and maintenance

Routine maintenance and operational testing for the EPSS is critical to ensure reliability of the system. A suggested EPSS maintenance schedule is included in NFPA 110 Chapter 8. EPSS maintenance and testing should be customized based on manufacturer’s instruction manuals, minimum requirements of Chapter 8 in NFPA 110 and the AHJ. www.csemag.com

An important aspect of routine maintenance is to inspect the generator set weekly and exercise it monthly under load for a minimum of 30 minutes. The ATS is used to exercise the generator automatically. The exercising shall follow one of two methods: • The EPS shall be loaded so that it maintains a minimum exhaust temperature based on manufacturer recommendations. •The EPS shall be exercised with a minimum load no less than 30% of the rated kilowatts of the EPS under operating temperatures. Loading under the recommended 30% of rated load can cause wet stacking, which is a buildup of unburned fuel or carbon in the exhaust system of the EPS that could prevent the engine from delivering its rated load when needed. Storage batteries used in conjunction with the system require weekly inspections and shall be maintained per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Properly maintained batteries are crucial for any EPSS. Batteries that have not been maintained or tested regularly are susceptible to failure, which will cause the EPS to not start and provide emergency power to the system when needed. Testing of the EPSS is critical to ensure that each component is working correctly. Every component in conjunction with the EPSS shall be included in the required inspections and testing. This includes the EPS itself, transfer switches, circuit breakers, batteries, etc. The testing should also ensure EPSS complies with the maximum time that the generator is required to accept load after power loss, based on the EPSS Level, Class and Articles 700 and 701 of the NEC. Testing the operation of the EPS consists of simulating a power outage. Simulation is typically initiated by using the test switches on the ATS or by opening a normally closed breaker. For more complex systems where multiple ATSs are used, the ATSs should be rotated monthly for testing. The testing consists of electrically operating the transfer switch from the normal power contact to the emergency power contact and then returning to the normal power contact. The test should also be initiated from a cold start. The entire Level 1 EPSS shall be tested at least once every 36 months in addition to the inspections and testing of the individual components indicated above. This requirement is to ensure the EPSS is capable of running for the duration of its EPSS classification. However, if the EPS is designated as a class greater than four hours, the test shall be allowed to terminate after four hours of continuous operation. www.csemag.com

Figure 3: Shown is an indoor level 2 emergency power supply diesel generator installation. Exhaust systems must be installed so that exhaust gases cannot reenter the building. Courtesy: CDM Smith

Circuit breakers used within the Level 1 EPSS shall be exercised annually with the EPS in the “off ” position. Breakers rated above 600 volts shall be tested every six months. These breakers include the main and feeder breakers between the EPS and the transfer switch load terminals and should also be tested under simulated overload conditions every two years. cse Mario Vecchiarello is a senior vice president and technical delivery manager at CDM Smith. He is a member of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advisory board. Jeff Donaldson is a senior electrical engineer and project manager at CDM Smith. He has more than 10 years of experience working in the power electrical engineering field providing design engineering and construction observation of electrical systems for municipal, industrial and private clients. Tyler Roschen is an electrical engineer at CDM Smith, where he is focused on electrical power system design. He has six years of industry experience in electrical power systems and construction services. consulting-specifying engineer

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LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND LIGHTING CONTROLS By Kate St. Laurent, LC, Associate IALD, CannonDesign, Boston

Five considerations for lighting control systems Demystify lighting controls by asking the right questions

ny designer or engineer involved in commercial buildings will tell you there are numerous factors at play when designing and specifying a lighting system. In addition to a project’s aesthetic goals, the designer must comply with applicable local, state and national codes and must consider sustainability, user-friendliness, ease of use, maintainability, ongoing functionality of the system and, of course, the project’s budget and schedule. With so many often-competing considerations, it is important to know at the onset of a project what questions to ask so the lighting system specified and ultimately installed meets the key • Recognize the different lighting drivers of the project. Below are five control systems. key considerations to set you up for • Know how to talk to clients success in designing a lighting conabout lighting controls. trol system for your project.

Learning

OBJECTIVES

• Understand how to document lighting controls for ease of installation.

1. Know the code

A solid design always starts with a code review. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the applicable energy codes; the U.S. Department of Energy website is a great place to start. Take the time to understand the requirements at the national (e.g., ASHRAE Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings or International Energy Conservation Code) and state level (e.g., California Title 24), then check any local municipality requirements, as they could be more stringent than state or nati onal codes, particularly when it comes to light pollution (exterior/site lighting) and energy-saving measures. Also, it is important to think about code with relation to the design period for the project. Is a new code going to be adopted within the year that would impact your design? Most jurisdictions require automatic shut-offs at a minimum so lights can be turned off when a space isn’t occupied, for example. Many jurisdictions also require daylight responsive controls to allow lights to be turned off, often automatically, when ample sunlight is available. Be prepared to communicate to your clients that the days of specifying simple toggle switches are already gone.

2. Talk with clients

Figure 1: The health care building approach is shown from the Northwest, showing stacked lobby and waiting rooms perfect for daylighting. Courtesy: Anton Grassi, CannonDesign

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Most clients are comfortable enough with LED technology that it is not as hard a sell as it was even five years ago. In addition to the significant energy savings, today’s LED luminaires cost virtually the same — in many cases less — than similar products using legacy lamp technologies. LED luminaires are also typically more readily stocked and available and their native dimming allows them to integrate seamlessly with energy codes required lighting controls like daylight harvesting. Lighting controls, however, are a bit of a different story. Most clients can tell you a horror story or two about having to deal with a lighting control system that was overly complicated or didn’t give www.csemag.com

them the functionality that they actually wanted despite having all the bells and whistles. The reality is that with today’s technological advancements, a lighting control system can provide a client the moon and stars, it can provide maximum flexibility and it can deliver output data for analysis. It can control mechanical systems, shades and respond immediately to changes in power grid availability and demand. Beyond building engineering systems functionality, it can tie into room scheduling software, help guide a user in a space, even make suggestions to decrease population density in times of COVID19, but the old adage stands: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” This is true, at least not without careful design thinking. The good news is that many manufacturers have gotten the message from end users and are now creating products that respond to concerns of overcomplicating control system designs. Conversations with the client, the users and those responsible for maintenance should happen early enough in the design process to take advantage of their input and again after the system is designed to ensure their needs are met. These early conversations should address how the systems need to function and the latter should cover how they need to be programmed and commissioned, as well as maintained, to ensure continued success. On-site factory training by the control system manufacturer is often a useful addition to the lighting controls specification and gives the end users and those maintaining the system a firsthand opportunity to familiarize themselves with the features and functionality. It is also beneficial to have this training recorded for reference or when onboarding a new employee. This can be invaluable down the road if the system has an issue and requires maintenance. www.csemag.com

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Figure 2: While overridden for the photograph, the use of daylight-harvesting solutions hits multiple targets: reduced fixture counts, lower energy use and support of an architectural “openness,” reinforcing the cheery, neighborhood-focused brand revitalization. Courtesy: Anton Grassi, CannonDesign

It is important to know at the onset of a project what questions to ask so the lighting system specified and ultimately installed meets the key drivers of the project.

Rather than bypassing the lighting control system, familiarity with the system and how to troubleshoot issues can empower facilities staff and operations team to capitalize on the full value of their system. At the end of the day, successful lighting systems are paired with control systems that find the right balance between optimization and intuitiveness for the end user.

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3. Understand different lighting control system

The good news is that many manufacturers have gotten the message from the end users and are now creating products that respond to the concern of overcomplicating control system designs. Today’s lighting control systems can be broadly separated into two main categories: wired and wireless systems. Wired controls, as they sound, are hard-wired systems connecting the control devices and luminaires. These can use line voltage control devices, typically reserved for spaces which are exempt from automatic shut off code requirements, or low-voltage wiring. Low-voltage controls are commonly used to achieve today’s code-mandated code requirements and employ a wired approach where power is provided to the luminaire and to the switching/control device, but the control communication wires between the switch/control device and the luminaires are low voltage. In many cases, this consulting-specifying engineer

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LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND LIGHTING CONTROLS means the control wires can be run without conduit, which saves on labor and installation costs. “Plug and play” distributed lighting control systems, which typically use ethernet-style cabling, further simplify these systems. These systems hard-wire a “room controller” device that acts the brain for the space and then use the data cabling to connect the spaces devices (switches, dimmers, presence and daylight sensors) and send control information to the spaces’ connected lighting. In addition to reduced installation costs up front, these types of systems also allow for simplified space reconfigurations or reprogramming of control sequences. LED control options for dimming require coordination in any control system, but with these room-controller-based configurations it is particularly important to ensure that the dimming protocol of the fixture controlled by the system is matched with the controller. Most control systems offer the suite of 0 to 10 volts, electronic low-voltage and forward-phase dimming that are the most common protocols used by LED fixture manufacturers.

These systems aren’t quite at a place where they can easily integrate digital multiplex and color changing lighting applications, but as fixtures equipped with circadian shift and correlated color temperature tuning become more prevalent on the market, new solutions for control integration are emerging to enhance these systems as well. Wireless lighting control systems are another example of system simplification. In these systems, luminaires are powered normally, but instead of hard-wired controls, they communicate through a wireless signal via sensors, control stations and a central processor. Wireless control systems are great for renovations and existing buildings where running hard-wired connections would be cost prohibitive. There is also a use in new construction, capitalizing on the same labor savings. In addition to the installation savings involved with wireless systems, the lack of hard wiring allows for easy reconfiguration, offering clients future-proofing flexibility — another hot topic in the face of a global pandemic like COVID-19.

CASE STUDY:

Integrating medical building lighting

his freestanding 30,000-square-foot medical office building — designed to be the first of many on a campus — was a pilot-style prototype for future branches of a prominent Massachusetts health care organization working to change its care delivery strategy. Before meeting with the client, the CannonDesign team was aware of the lofty net zero energy goals, and also understood that there was a strong push to keep the cost low so that it could be easily repeated on other sites. The project followed the 2015 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and the client was forward-thinking, but had enough experience with different lighting systems to know its level of comfort. Having used a similar product on another site, the team looked to implement fixtures outfitted with onboard presence and daylight-sensing controls.

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This type of system, while a higher material cost, had a lower installation cost and eliminated the need for a separately installed control system of maintainable parts. It created deep, granular, energy savings out of the box. The integrated control system CannonDesign specified — a new feature for the client — also allows fixtures to be controlled individually or grouped by zone or space, providing design flexibility to suit other sites as well as reconfiguration future-proofing for changes down the road. A condition of this type of system is that it can feel unnatural to a user if each individual light in a larger space is acting independently, so grouping the fixtures made for a welcoming environment. The program of the space was repeatable from exam rooms, team stations, corridors, lobby/waiting and back of house support spaces. To maintain visibility from

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the building approach, the lobby ended up facing northwest. With the site located in the Northern Hemisphere, this meant for most of the day there was ample useable daylight in the lobby, with a small time period in the afternoon/evening where direct sun would penetrate the lobby, late enough to avoid unwanted glare. This offered great opportunities for daylight harvesting. Because a system like this had such granularity in how it was configured, it was important for the programmers and commissioning team to have a strong and clear set of drawings to guide them during installation. A sequence of operations accompanied each space type, traditional switch legs helped to denote which fixtured required grouping or zoning. To meet sustainability goals, the project relied primarily on direct lighting approaches to minwww.csemag.com

There have been concerns raised about the security of wireless lighting systems and their ability to be used to access larger building systems for which they can tie into. Most manufacturers stand behind the security protocols put in place in their systems; however, a common recommendation is to keep the system closed off from the internet via a firewall. There can be additional maintenance required, which is important for the client to be made aware of before choosing this control system as many wireless devices require batteries, with varying lifespans of 5 to 10 years. A recent innovation that really streamlines the specification process is onboard lighting controls. Instead of layering a control system onto a lighting plan to control the lighting system — the traditional way these systems have been designed — each fixture has its own presence sensor, which can be programmed to occupancy or vacancy mode depending on the application, as well as its own photosensor. This type of system offers granular control for maximum controllability and the deepest possible energy savings, but fixtures can also be grouped together in a zonal control approach.

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Energy data February

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imize required lighting energy, and attention was paid to lensing, optics and cutoff to ensure visual comfort was upheld. Undercabinet lighting was used in all exam rooms to achieve higher light levels where the task required, without over lighting the entire space. The calculated lighting power density was a low 0.6 watts/square foot. Extensive energy modeling was performed to gauge how well the building envelope and all of the systems would work together. An occupancy schedule was used based not only on the hours of operation, but with existing data from other buildings. The lobby façade was evaluated for the special daylight autonomy to show which areas of the space would achieve greater than 30 footcandles for more than 50% of business hours annually. The project has been operational now for more than a year.

Figure 3: The client’s interest in exploring “internet of things” technology and controls integration led to the prolific use of luminaires equipped with onboard sensors and network-ready connectivity in corridors, patient rooms and workspaces. Courtesy: Anton Grassi, CannonDesign

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Figure 7: This graph compares modeled whole building energy consumption data with actual utility data, depicting an overall energy performance within tolerances of modeled data. Courtesy: CannonDesign

When data were compared, overall energy usage was higher in the cooler months and lower in the warmer months. Annually, the building is operating just about where the energy model indi-

cated. This can be contributed to accurate assumptions in the design phase, but more importantly, commissioning and ongoing commissioning to ensure the design intent was met.

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LIGHTING SYSTEMS AND LIGHTING CONTROLS This is useful when individual fixtures adjusting in real time could be distracting, such as in an open office on a partially cloudy day or when activity in part of a zone wants to trigger the rest of a zone, such as in a corridor where occupancy is detected at one end and the section of corridor wants to energize to provide clear and safe-feeling wayfinding. At the moment, the variety of fixture types with onboard sensors are someA well-written what limited and the systems are often designed to work within fixture types in sequence of manufacturer families, but not necessarily across manufacturer types, although operations can there are some original equipment manufacturer solutions that are an excepbe an important tion and we are seeing more and more tool for successoptions appearing in the market. There are also limitations to this ful review of a system in terms of quantity of zones and how they are controlled, so at the project seeking moment spaces which require preset dimming scenes and more complex colthird-party or-changing RGBW+/digital multiplex solutions still need a more robust concertifications. trol solution such as a separate scene controlling station.

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4. Document the intent

Once the appropriate control system is selected — even a hybrid approach — another key step to success is developing a clear sequence of operations, which describes the lighting control system functionality in detail. A step-by-step, timeline approach to each required control scenarios writ-

ten in plain English is a critical document to bringing the design of the system to realization. A good sequence of operations includes chronological instructions describing how the system is to function as different actions (such as a press of a button on a wall station) or time events (such as sunrise, sunset, close of business, start of business, maintenance sweep, security sweep, etc.) occur. The sequence of operations dictates which events take precedence over others (for example, a special lighting scene for a holiday) or when special events, such as a fire alarm trigger or a loss of normal power, override the system to provide emergency functionality. A clear sequence of operations provides a valuable tool to communicate the intent of the design to multiple parties; it allows the designer to describe in sufficient detail the functionality of the system to communicate with clients and end user groups to ensure their needs are met. It also communicates the required functionality of the system to the control system manufacturer, any estimators quoting the system, the team of installers, which often involves a low-voltage systems contractor in addition to the electrical contractor for many modern lighting control systems, and ultimately the programming technician and training team. A well-written sequence of operations can also be an important tool for successful review of a project seeking U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification, International WELL Building Institute WELL certification or other third-party certifications that require a detailed understanding of specific control functionality to be awarded points or credits. Setpoints are another element of information included in good sequence of operations. When describing spaces that have occupancy or vacancy sensors, describe exactly what the intended timeout period will be. Most manufacturers’ products come out of the box with a factory default set to 10 or 20 minutes; however, code often allows up to 30 minutes before shut-off. While a short timeout period of five minutes of inactivity or less would be perfectly appropriate for setpoint in a supply closet, the same short timeout in a science lab might be a nuisance and the code allowed maximum may be the better solution in that space type. Configuring specific setpoints based on the tasks, users and activity profiles of an area allows the potential for maximum energy savings.

5. Commissioning Figure 4: In patient care areas, dimmable and zoned high-quality lighting sources are controlled separately, enabling flexibility to provide different functional illuminances to suit various tasks. Courtesy: Anton Grassi, CannonDesign

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Programming and commissioning of systems are often performed by a third party, and is sometimes not performed at all. When these “critical path” steps are skipped in the turnover process, much of the energy-saving functionality and flexibility of the intended system never comes to fruition. www.csemag.com

Commissioning of lighting systems should be included in the specification manual for a project with startup and functional checklists. For programming, the key to a smooth process is to have as much of the functionality ironed out in the sequence of operations and included in the drawing set or accompanying specifications. Omission of the sequence of operations from the drawing set altogether or even key pieces of information like missing timeout setpoint need to be addressed before the building is commissioned and turned over for the building to function as intended. Another key piece of information often left off the sequence of operations is the target illuminance levels for each space’s daylight sensor calibration. An example: A daylight sensor would only need to sense 10 to 15 footcandles at the floor of daylight contribution in a circulation space to start to dim/ switch off the lights connected to that sensor. But in a classroom that daylight setpoint would want to be 30 to 40 footcandles at the work plane (desk height, instead of the floor) before the electric lights start to respond to daylight. Daylight setpoints matched with illuminance level targets and clearly outlined in the sequence of operations, again allow optimization of the energy consumption of the lighting system after the system is properly commissioned. Commissioning of the building’s systems is not limited to lighting controls and often the lighting controls act as a trigger to activate or deactivate other building systems. A common example is occupancy sensors triggering heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in a space. In this scenario, the occupancy sensor needs to be specified with a second set of contact closures to not only send a signal to the lighting fixtures to turn off when the space is unoccupied, but to also send a signal to the HVAC system to similarly stop supplying cooling/heating to the now unoccupied space. Integration of these systems can save on device counts and installation costs, but it needs to be clear in the drawing set and the sequence of operations that that occupancy sensor will be pulling double duty and needs to be installed equipped with that functionality. Once the system is installed, commissioned and fully operational, training and ongoing commissioning ensure continued success for life of the system. On-site training is offered as a service by many manufacturers and time allowances included in the specification of the lighting and control system should account for enough time to meet with the myriad groups that may need to interface with the system. This may include different user groups, especially when spaces are designed for multiuse flexibility, as well as facilities and maintenance personnel. Ongoing system commissioning is the final piece that ensures the design will stand the test of time. Proper communication between devices and www.csemag.com

Figure 5: Scarcity of lighting financial support made multipronged solutions important. Procedural room downlights equipped with 1% dimming prioritize patient comfort, while delivering appropriate setup and cleaning lighting levels. Courtesy: Anton Grassi, CannonDesign

Figure 6: A spatial daylight autonomy study using Lightstanza modeling software shows maximum daylighting impact from the northwest-facing lobby and waiting spaces. Courtesy: CannonDesign

calibration of device setpoints should be regularly checked to confirm that the functionality of the system and the energy savings intended are being realized. Monthly system checks are recommended to guarantee the most granular energy savings —the earlier an issue is detected, the more impact the resolution can bring. As technology improves, more of the ongoing commissioning is becoming digital and automatized. Today’s networked lighting control systems able to be configured to communicate issues digitally and in real time, by sending alerts to an operational dashboard or even directly to the operator via email or text message. With attention to potential design issues and careful coordination between stakeholders and the implementation and installing team, clients can see the true power of a well-integrated design. cse Kate St. Laurent is a senior member of CannonDesign’s lighting studio. consulting-specifying engineer

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

CODES AND STANDARDS

By Vincent T. Favale, PE, CPD, CFPS, NICET Level II, WSP USA, New York City

Understanding fire pumps, their applications and sizing Learn about fire pump types, drivers, sizing and components

ire pumps are an essential part of most fire protection systems, as they allow for taller buildings, smaller piping and higher pressure and flow rates in systems. Incorrectly sized or selected pumps can result in not enough pressure or flow being created, which can cause several problems: • Systems function incorrectly. • Spray patterns from sprinklers don’t develop properly. • Not give enough pressure to hose valves at the top of a high-rise building. • Too much pressure, causing components to burst and break open during use.

Learning

To size and select the correct pump, it is important to have an understanding of the different oper• Know the different types of fire ating principles, types, drivers and pumps, including operating applications for fire pumps. principles, types and driver There are two main principles of options and their applications. operation of pumping water, centrifu• Learn how to size a pump based gal and positive displacement. on the most demanding factor. Centrifugal pumps use the prin• Understand the other ciple of a spinning action to genercomponents needed to design a ate centrifugal forces — water starts fire pump system. off in the center of an impeller and as the impeller rotates it is thrown to the outer parts of the impeller. This is similar to a spinning ride at a carnival; as the ride speeds up the people inside are pushed against the wall. The faster the spin, the more force is applied to the people inside. Positive displacement uses the principle of capturing a select amount of liquid in a single revolution and using a mechanical process to displace

OBJECTIVES

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that liquid. Think of an air compressor, with an outside energy source and pistons to compress the air. A defined volume is allowed into the chamber when the piston at the bottom and the intake are open. As the outside motor spins, the shaft the intake is closed and the piston is forced up. In the case of water and water-based fluids, they can’t be compressed, so they build up pressure as the piston moves up. Once the outlet valve is opened, that water can flow out of the chamber. Each one of the operating principles have its advantages and disadvantages. Centrifugal pumps are better at higher flow rates when compared to positive displacement, which provide constant flow at a range of pressures and typically have low flow rates and higher pressures. Popular applications of centrifugal pumps are low- and high-rise buildings and utility/campus central pumping stations. Positive displacement pumps are used to pump fluids that are not always water, such as foam concentrate or in systems that require high water pressures, such as water mist systems.

Fire pump types

Positive displacement pumps come in two main types, reciprocating and rotary. Reciprocating is described above and consists of plunger-style pumps. Rotary-style pumps use a spinning internal mechanism, such as lobe pumps, to capture water and move it through the chamber of the pump. This is similar to rotary engines in some automobiles — inside a specially designed chamber, a center lobe or rotor with vanes rotates and forces water through the pump body. A select volume of water is captured in each rotation by the lobes and the vanes and pressure is added to the system. Centrifugal pumps come in several types: horizontal split-case, vertical in-line, vertical line shaft and end suction pumps. Horizontal split case is one www.csemag.com

Figure 1: This shows an installed fire 1,000 gallons per minute firm pump for a high rise-building in Washington, D.C. Courtesy: WSP USA

of the most popular pumps used in building application due to its range of flow and pressures that falls in line with most buildings. Horizontal splitcase pumps are characterized by a housing that is split in half and bolted together. The driving motor or engine and the impeller are parallel to each other and are connected to each other with a shaft. The motor/engine and impeller are mounted on a pump skid, with the motor/engine and impeller to rotate around their horizontal axis. Vertical in-line pumps are similar to horizontal split-cases in that they use a motor in parallel to the impeller, but in the case of in-line pumps, the impeller and motor are mounted to rotate around their vertical axis, with the motor most commonly being located on top of the impeller. This creates a solution for tight pump rooms as they will take up less floor space. Vertical line shaft pumps are similar to the vertical in-line pump, with the motor and impeller mounted to rotate around the vertical axis. They differ in that a vertical line shaft pump uses a long vertical shaft to connect to either an impeller or set of impellers remotely located. Typically, these pumps are used to pull water from sources below the pump, such as an underground well, lake/pond or a below-grade water tank where the net positive suction head is too great for other kinds of pumps. End suction pumps are unique in that water comes into the pump typically in the horizontal direction into the center of the pump and leaves in the vertical direction.

Fire pump drivers

There are three driver types outlined in NFPA 20: Standard for Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection: electrical motor, diesel engine and steam turbine systems. The motors/engines are what drive the impellers and spin the shafts that provide water to the systems. Electrical motors are the most common type of driver, and are outlined in NFPA 20 Chapter 9. This is due to their ease of use, the limited number of additional items required for operation and their cost-effectiveness. An electrical motor takes electrical power provided from either a utility connection, generator or other approved power source. As the motor turns, it spins a shaft that is connected to the impeller. The second most commonly used driver is a diesel engine, outlined in Chapter 11. Diesel engines are good choices in places were the power gird is unreliable, not sized to handle the load or a lack of of emergency power, such as a generator. A diesel motor comes mounted on the same skid as the

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pump. The system uses a combusThere are three tion engine to turn the impeller. Unlike the electrical motors, dieseldriven pumps require a lot more driver types outlined infrastructure and maintenance, such as on-site diesel storage fuel in NFPA 20: electrical tanks, batteries for engine startup, combustion air for the engine, motor, diesel engine increased ventilation and an engine exhaust system in the room and a and steam turbine governor system. The governor system is important because the systems. risk of the diesel engine producing too much power and spinning the impeller too fast. The last type is steam turbine systems, as found in Chapter 13. These are very rarely used. This is because steam has to be generated by a separate unit (boiler, steam generator, etc.) and steam must either be available at all times or there is a delay while the steam is generated and the generators need to be provided with emergency fuel and power. The only places these pumps are seen are in older installations that are using steam for other process, such as power plants, factories and other industrial settings. Like the diesel engines, steam-driven pumps require governors to keep from overspinning the impeller. Another critical part of the fire pump design is the pressure maintenance pump, commonly called the jockey or makeup pump. The pumps are used to maintain the pressure in a system without the main fire pump turning on, but they are not powerful enough to keep up with the demand of an active system. Sizing the pumps is tricky as NFPA 20 does not give a firm guidance. Section 4.26.1 calls out that a means of maintaining pressure in the system shall be provided by:

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BUILDING SOLUTIONS

CODES AND STANDARDS • A jockey pump.

• Water mist positive displacement units (mostly for high-pressure, low-flow applications such as water mist system). • Other approved methods. Most fire protection engineers use the 1% rule for finding the flow rate, taking 1% of the rated flow of the main fire pump for sizing. The pressure rule of thumb is to add 10 pounds per square inch to the pressure of the system. These rules do not fit all applications. Systems with higher leakage rates such as underground piping can be undersized and will not keep up with the leakage. To see the impact on leakage rates, consult NFPA 24: Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances Chapter 10. One way to tell if a pump is undersized is if the fire pump turns on when there is no use of the system. This means that the jockey pump is not keeping up with the leakage rates. Oversized jockey pumps will produce a water hammer effect. This is due to the pump quickly coming on and slamming off. The pump will also be short cycling, which can cause damage to the pump.

Two important terms to understand when designing fire pumps are cavitation and NPSH. Cavitation is when small vapor pockets are produced in the flow of liquid in the pump. When the pockets encounter the surface of the impeller or reach an area of high pressure in the pump, they implode causing damage to the surrounding components, most notably the impeller. This is caused by the liquid pressure falling below the vapor pressure of the fluid being pumped. This is seen in areas where the pump is located far above the water source, this is known as static loss. Recently there has been a push in some parts of the country to raise pumps above flood plain levels which increase the risk of cavitation. Another reason is if the supply pressure is too low. This can be due to too much friction losses in the piping, likely causes are supply piping too small, high friction loss fitting such as backflow preventors, valves and other fittings. Cavitation can be easy to find from problems with the pumps holding pressure to performance in the system changes, but one of the fastest ways to identify it is the sound the pump makes when running. For a normal pump you will hear the hum of the motor and the spin of the impeller. In a cavitating pump it will sound like there is gravel or marbles in the pump smacking around. Typically, this is a loud sound that can be heard when the pump is running, so ideally you would hear this during an annual test and not a real fire, so you had time to go and fix the problem.

Sizing a fire pump

Figure 2: This shows an installed fire 500 gallons per minute fire pump for a high rise-building in Jersey City, N.J. Courtesy: WSP USA

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A fire pump is designed to handle the most demanding fire sprinkler system. In a typical building like a high-rise office, there is the sprinkler demand on each floor, along with the standpipe. Other types of buildings may have a foam system for fuel oil storage or foam systems for helipads on the roof — or any number of different systems. The first step in sizing a fire pump is to identify the most demanding system. In most commercial buildings, the standpipe is the most demanding system. The requirements for the design of a standpipe system are in NFPA 14: Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems. An example for determining the standpipe demand is below. This example used NFPA 14-2016 for all the section reference. Be sure to always verify the editions of the applicable code and reference standards that are required for project. This can be found in most U.S. building codes in the referenced standards chapter. The building is a new high-rise office building, 280 feet in height to the roof, contains four staircases and is provided with a class I standpipe system, with one hose valve at each level in each staircase and no horizontal standpipes outside the www.csemag.com

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input #12 at www.csemag.com/information

BUILDING SOLUTIONS

CODES AND STANDARDS

Figure 3: A general fire pump room schematic layout diagram is shown. Courtesy: WSP USA

staircases. The building is fully sprinklered and has a full emergency generator for life safety systems, including load for a fire pump. In this case the most demanding system is going to be the standpipe system. This can be confirmed by running a hydraulic calculation for the most demanding sprinkler system and comparing it to the calculations of the standpipe system. To find the flow rate of the fire pump we use NFPA 14-2016 Chapter 7. • The first standpipe riser has a demand of 500 gallons per minute, each additional standpipe adds 250 gpm. The calculated demand would be 1,250 gpm (NFPA 14-2016 7.10.1.1.1 and 7.10.1.1.3). • However, there is limit of 1,000 gpm for fully sprinklered buildings, so the demand drops to 1,000 gpm (NFPA 14 2016 7.10.1.1.5). To find the pressure required it should be looked at as:

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consulting-specifying engineer

• Demand at the top + static losses+ pipe friction losses - source water pressure • The demand at the top of the building is 100 psi for a Class I system (NFPA 14-2016-7.8.1). • The static losses and pipe friction losses can be found using the height of the building and piping layout and a hydraulic calculation. For details on hydraulic calculations see NFPA 14-2016 Chapter 8. –Loss due to elevation would be 280 feet/2.31 (psi per foot) = 121 psi. –Pipe losses are another 20 psi, based on hydraulic calculations. • The supply water pressure was found to be 30 psi at the required calculated flow. • 100 psi + 121 psi + 20 psi – 30 psi = 211 psi is the pressure we need to add into the system with the pump. www.csemag.com

The demand and pressure fall in line with the area for a centrifugal pump. In this case, because there are no details provided about the size of the room or other space requirements, we are free to select either a horizontal split-case or vertical turbine based off the pumping types and capacity ranges provided in the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook 20th Edition. If it is determined that the sprinkler load is the most demanding, such as in a warehouse or a long flat building, then the pump is sized based off the hydraulic demand of the sprinkler system.

Fire pump components

Other components that need to be considered are the controllers for the pumps. They are what turn the pumps on and, in the case of the jockey pump, off again. This is done using small sensing lines. Each pump has its own line and it is tied between the controllers and the discharge or system side of the pump. When the pressure in the piping falls, it signals the controller to turn on the pumps. In the case of the jockey pump, the controller will it turn off when a set pressure is reached. Test headers are used to test a fire pump by providing a route to flow water through the

‘

If it is determined that the sprinkler load is the most demanding, such as in a warehouse or a long flat building, then the pump is sized based off the hydraulic demand of the sprinkler system.

pump without sending it thought the rest of the system. Where a test header connection is used, it sits on the discharge side of the fire pump and is sized according to the fire pumps rated size. The table for centrifugal pump sizing is NFPA 20-2016 table 4.27. Finally, check valves are needed on the discharge side of each pump to disallow water pressure or flow to force the pump to spin backward and cause damage to it. cse

’

Vincent T. Favale is an associate fire protection engineer with WSP with a specialty in large-scale and special projects. He has more than seven years of experience and holds a master’s degree in fire protection engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

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input #13 at www.csemag.com/information

ENGINEERING INSIGHTS

MEP ROUNDTABLE

Designing, retrofitting hospitals during COVID While COVID-19 has changed many aspects in a health care facility, some things remain identical CSE: What’s the current trend in hospitals, health care facilities and medical campus projects? Luis Alvarez Colon: Hospitals tend to require spaces that will allow the staff to treat a range of patients, from general to critical care, in the same room. We are seeing more emphasis on incorporating energy efficient designs such as advance lighting controls and LED lighting in all spaces. Additionally, there is a big focus on solutions in technology to address cleaning protocols to reduce harmful bacteria that causes hospital-acquired infections. Automated continuous environmental disinfection technology is often used for operating room light fixtures. Allison Graves: We are seeing that many of our health care clients are beginning to recover from the initial onslaught of the COVID crisis. Patient wings that were emptied to make room for COVIDpositive patients have been reactivated for elective procedures. Business as usual seems to be taking the place of the hysteria that was experienced earlier this year. However, many of the capital improvement projects that were put on hold or shelved remain so. While the medical centers are beginning to financially recover, they are not releasing funds for new work, opting to see what will happen this fall with a second wave of COVID infection.

Jeff Hankin: Facilities and organizations are closing the gap on revenue streams between inpatient and outpatient services, due in part to technological advances in clinical care, value-based payments, science and discovery and the COVID-19 pandemic and future surge/ pandemic planning. Further, trends see facilities and organizations focused on virtual and community health, health equity and the shift that will occur moving some clinical care away from the hospital setting. Health care facilities, particularly hospitals, will adapt their business models toward narrower physical offerings, focused on high-acuity, complex cases and with increased virtual offerings. Technology and data will be pervasive and transform delivery models. Smart spaces and digitally enabled health care facilities will be a necessity given consumer demands. Donald R. Stevens: Current trends are more of a wait and see approach. New projects that were already underway will be allowed to continue. New projects are on hold until it can be determined what type of construction will be required/ requested to treat COVID-19 patients. This will include separate barriers and path of travel once patients are inside the building, as well as determining what type of air handling equipment will need to be modified or replaced. Reed Paitich: We see a lot of our health care clients focusing on upgrading

Luis Alvarez Colon, PE Associate Page Austin, Texas

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consulting-specifying engineer

Allison Graves, PE Principal RTM Engineering Consultants Chicago

their facilities to add more negative-pressure airborne infection isolation rooms. Many smaller facilities only have one or two rooms and are trying to expand by reusing existing equipment and resources to limit their expenses in these uncertain times. Another common project is optimization building automation system verification and test and balance. With older facilities, the current code required ASHRAE 170: Ventilation of Health Care Facilities ventilation air changes per hour are often falling short. Optimizing the BAS along with some test and balance rework can usually bring facilities up to current code. CSE: How has COVID-19 changed your work in the past six months? Allison Graves: Over the past six months, our workload has not changed much in terms of projects for medical facilities. Many of the larger projects that were in progress at the time of the initial COVID crisis continued to more forward, albeit slower than usual. New safety protocols, video conferencing, etc. have completely changed the landscape of how we implemented active projects, but they continued to move forward. Now, six months later, we find much of the work slowing down, larger projects finishing up and little prospect for new work going into the new year. Donald R. Stevens: Most of the Jeff Hankin, PE, LEED AP Senior Principal Stantec San Diego

www.csemag.com

Figure 1: Virtual design and construction was used to help the client visualize the finished interior at St. Anthony Regional Cancer Center in Carroll, Iowa. Courtesy: Wold | HFR Design

change is in the interaction (or the lack thereof) by using virtual meetings of all types to interact with the owner and the contractor. All hospitals only allow essential workers to enter their campus and those workers who have taken extra training on precautionary measures on working in a health care environment. All planning and other meetings are held virtually. Reed Paitich: Ventilation system enhancements have really been a focus on most projects. Identifying existing building system features to improve the effectiveness in removing virus contaminants is a priority. Three common inquiries from owners include confirmation of building controls to properly maintain 40% to 60% relative humidity, ultraviolet sanitizing lights (both at the air handler and within the occupied zone) and bipolar ionization technology. It’s important to consider the potential unintended health risks sometimes associated with UV and bipolar ionization systems. We recommend working with your design professionals to safely employ some of these technologies. Luis Alvarez Colon: COVID-19 has changed the way we communicate within Reed Paitich, PE Associate Wold Architects and Engineers Saint Paul, Minn.

www.csemag.com

our groups as well as with external disciplines. Most of our team members have shifted to remote work. Our production is done primarily remotely. We have meetings via video conference to maintain our commitment as an integrated design firm. The number of physical visits has declined. Site visits are done either off hours, when the construction workers are less likely to be working, or digitally. We are relying on the general contractors to document current conditions via photos and videos instead of personally going to the site. Overall, it has worked very well. There are some instances where, due to the complexity and precautions on-site, we are not going. CSE: What types of challenges do you encounter for these types of projects that you might not face on other types of structures? Donald R. Stevens: The challenge is

that the expectations can change more rapidly than getting the work completed. Everyone is using the best information that they have available at the time of design. Construction will start and then a new best practice is revealed and working

in the moment is now real. Change orders are more prevalent and using on a costplus basis because the design is constantly changing. That is why most work is on hold until more is known on how to deal with this virus. Reed Paitich: The most challenging part of projects during COVID-19 is modifying existing infrastructure while still remaining operational within the occupied hospital, specifically the medical-surgical and emergency departments. It’s critical that organizations are able to stay operational and continue to bring in revenue during the crisis. Careful planning between the owner, construction partner and design professional before and during the projects is required.

M More ROUNDTABLE

GO ONLINE

Read more at www.csemag.com about: • Automation, controls and technology. • Codes and standards. • Electrical, power and lighting. • Fire and life safety. • HVAC and plumbing. • Sustainability and energy efficiency.

Keith D. Prata, PE, LEED AP BD+C

Donald R. Stevens, CHFM, CHC

Mechanical Department Manager Bala Consulting Engineers Boston

Director - Health Care Facilities Lockwood Andrews & Newnam Inc. (LAN) Austin, Texas

consulting-specifying engineer

November 2020

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Case studIes

Case studies provide valuable discovery of challenge situations, recommended

solutions, and implementation actions to solve specific real-life issues.

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ENGINEERING INSIGHTS

MEP ROUNDTABLE

All facilities shall complete a NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code risk assessment and ensure all project team members are informed on the outcome of the assessment. Keith D. Prata: The challenges to building a new hospital are the same as for nearly all ground-up projects to date: construction budget must be maintained, change management must be an active, not a passive activity, and the building opening date must be met. The challenges to renovating an existing hospital are all of the above with the added challenge of phasing the new construction around an active hospital. Luis Alvarez Colon: The most noticeable challenges and differences between health care projects and other project types are the electrical distribution systems. Given the fact that there are spaces in which the failure of equipment can cause major injury or death to the patients, the distribution is divided into normal and essential systems. The essential systems are divided into three branches: life safety, critical and equipment. Each one has specific loads to provide the necessary care to the patients that need it the most. The required loads are dictated by NFPA 99: Health Care Facilities Code Chapter 6.4 and NFPA 70: National Electrical Code Article 517. Life Safety and Critical branches have strict requirements to be kept independently from all other wiring and equipment to maintain their integrity in case of an emergency power outrage or fire. cse

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CaSe Study University of Virginia maintenance team relies on ABB to keep campus running Challenge:

Keeping university buildings running smoothly during regular times is no small feat, much less during an unforeseen campus shutdown as when the COVID19 pandemic closed the University of Virginia in spring 2020.

Solution: The maintenance team responsible for the McCormick zone of campus relied on more than 65 ABB Ability™ Smart Sensors for mechanical products to keep their critical environments stable and operational. Solution: Knowing when there was a problem, without physically being there, allowed the team to operate safely during unprecedented times and to better manage time and budget, while ensuring all the labs are stable and occupants comfortable.

Summary:

The team ensures that buildings maintain comfortable temperatures and that each research laboratory has a stable environment for controlled experiments. Past maintenance practices required nearly daily work on air handling equipment where some of the fan assembly is built inside the box, making it impossible to access while running. It’s difficult to hear or get vibration and temperature readings without shutting down the unit and compromising the building environments. The team learned about the ABB Ability Smart Sensors for mechanical products, a monitoring solution that provides an overall health indication of equipment. The sensor gives warnings on decreasing health status, and the ability to monitor equipment remotely means maintenance teams can check their equipment without actually being on-site.The team started installing several on bearings in 2019. When proved successful by alerting the maintenance team to problems, they added sensors to bearings on critical HVAC units across the facility. As sensors were added, the team encountered warnings on equipment that they weren’t aware needed maintenance. After each correction, the team added a sensor to compare to conditions prior to repair. The absence of warnings and nearly perfect vibration levels proved that repairs had been done properly. Based on sensor data, the team now knows what needs attention each day, rather than relying on a prescribed maintenance schedule.

Images are representative of the HVAC application but are not from the University of Virginia.

baldor.abb.com 479.646.4711 input #17 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study AERCO Solution Lowers Nursing Home Fuel Costs by 20%

Challenge:

Improve reliability and performance of aging boiler system that was providing space heating and domestic hot water to 395-bed nursing home.

Solution: Consolidated Engineering designed a retrofit system featuring three AERCO Innovation 1060 tankless water heaters and three Benchmark 2000 MBH high-efficiency boilers. They also converted the system from oil to natural gas.

ReSult: The AERCO-based solution lowered fuel costs, raised system operating efficiencies, and improved overall operation so the boilers did not have to run for most of the year. The result was a 20% reduction in fuel costs compared to the year prior.

SummaRy: A central plant of three, 40-year-old oil-fired steam boilers provided space heating and domestic hot water for a 395-bed nursing home in Pennsylvania. The system was meeting demand but it was old and only operating at 50-60% efficiency. The Innovation 1060 and Benchmark 2000 units, with their 95+% efficiency and compact design, brought many benefits: Installation – The units’ small footprint and ability to fit through a doorway made installation seamless and easy. Plus, the compact size allowed all three Benchmark units to fit in the same footprint as one legacy steam boiler, so a new emergency generator was installed. Both the Innovation and Benchmark units were common vented, which lowered costs. Performance – Each on-demand, tankless heater is capable of 29 GPM at a 70°F temperature rise: enough to handle the entire building load, without any additional storage. An AERCO Control System (ACS) operates the system on an outdoor air reset schedule to maximize system efficiency. The price of heating oil was 3x that of natural gas when the project was undertaken. The conversion, along with the high-performance AERCO Innovation and Benchmark units, lowered fuel costs, raised operating efficiencies, and meant the boilers didn’t have to run for a good portion of the year. The result was fuel bills that were one fifth of the prior year.

AERCO, A Watts Brand 100 Oritani Drive, Blauvelt, NY 10913 800.526-0288 • AERCO.com input #18 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Big Ass Fans Improve Comfort, Increase Operational Efficiency in Warehouse Networks Challenge:

As the amount of automated equipment and the number of associates increase to meet today’s e-commerce and supply chain needs, the HVAC equipment in initially well-conditioned spaces can quickly become insufficient, leading to increased temperatures that decrease productivity and increase heat stress.

Solution: Big Ass Fans’ proposed solution provided a 24-inch AirEye fan at an interval of approximately every three workstations.

ReSult: After installing Big Ass Fan’s AirEye directional fans, 95% of occupants said they were more comfortable, feeling up to 8.5 degrees cooler. This project featuring over 200 fans led to six-figure cost savings in employee productivity.

SummaRy:

When a Fortune Top-10 e-commerce company set out to make their fulfillment centers more comfortable and productive, they turned to Big Ass Fans. Sortation and fulfillment areas in modern warehouse and distribution facilities can be extremely challenging work environments. As the amount of automated equipment and the number of associates increase to meet today’s e-commerce and supply chain needs, workplaces can quickly become insufficient, leading to increased temperatures that decrease productivity and increase heat stress. The primary areas of concern for the pilot facility focused on areas where equipment and associate density was the highest. Specifically the upper levels of a mezzanine where associates pick and stow purchase or newly stocked items. BAF’s proposed solution provided a 24-inch AirEye fan at an interval of approximately every three workstations. As a validation test, BAF conducted occupant thermal comfort surveys from associates in the designated testing area both before and after the test fans were installed. Additionally, air velocity, ambient air temperature, and relative humidity measurements were collected in the test area both before and after the test fans were installed, using small data loggers and a hot wire anemometer. Following the installation of fans, the responses were overwhelmingly positive. Now, we are proud to serve more than 300 worldwide locations for the world’s largest online retailer.

newconstruction@bigassfans.com 1-877-244-3267 www.bigassfans.com input #19 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study The global stance on R-32 refrigerant.

Challenge:

Impending refrigerant regulation changes are making manufacturers find alternatives to replace R-410A. Proposed laws will likely require the use of lower-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants in air conditioning equipment as early as 2023.

Solution: R-32 refrigerant exceeds the proposed low-GWP requirement and offers many additional benefits that make it an ideal choice for the future.

ReSult: R-32 will help manufacturers meet important environmental goals, while also achieving significant equipment and system efficiencies.

SummaRy:

Because of R-32’s availability, low cost, and excellent performance, it has long been used as a key ingredient in blends, including R-410A. In fact, R-32 is the pure, single component refrigerant that helps make blends like R-410A so efficient. Now, with future regulations calling for lower GWP, it’s time to revisit the benefits of R-32 as a sole component, rather than as part of a blend. R-32’s excellent thermodynamic performance characteristics means it could have up to 40% less charge than R-410A in certain applications. That can result in lower refrigerant usage, as well as a potential reduction in the amount of refrigerant leaking to the environment. Being a pure, singlecomponent refrigerant also means that unlike a blended refrigerant, R-32 can’t lose its composition over time. Plus, it can be topped off and recharged in the field in both liquid and gas phases. And, because the composition doesn’t change, it’s easy to clean and reuse on site. R-32 can be reclaimed and recycled with a simple cleaning process, as compared to blends with less stable HFOs that must be distilled to their pure compounds and then remixed. With more than 100 million R-32 units already in operation worldwide and more than 20 million coming on line every year, R-32 has become the de facto global standard. Learn why R-32 is the ideal alternative to replace R-410A at www.r32reasons.com.

input #20 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Eaton eliminates arc flash hazard zones with factory integrated Arc Reduction Vacuum Fault Interrupter (AR-VFI) Transformer technology Challenge:

During commissioning and startup, there are many pieces of medium and low voltage equipment that are being energized for the first time. In a genuine data center arc flash event, an overlooked shipping support caused an arcing fault to occur between the A and B phase buswork in a low voltage UPS.

Solution: Utilizing an integrated primary vacuum fault interrupter (VFI), coupled with internal low voltage sensing and local microprocessor-based relaying, the hazard zone was eliminated from the system all together.

ReSult: Thanks to the AR-VFI’s incredible faultclearing speed of only 2.22 cycles, the resultant damage of the arc flash incident was quite minor.

SummaRy: The incredibly mild outcome of this real-life arc flash incident highlights the major benefits of the AR-VFI integrated technology. Eaton’s AR-VFI Transformer provides integrated, and factorytested protection technology as a turnkey solution for commercial and industrial customers looking for dramatic improvements in fault clearing time, equipment reliability, and personnel safety without major investment. A factory integrated approach to transformer and switchgear limit the number of variables in a system, offering greatly simplified arc flash hazard calculations and optimal system design. The reduction in footprint of the integrated gear and minimization of low voltage buswork in the system allow for a greatly reduced or all-together eliminated arc flash hazard zones and decreased overall capital cost as well. Utilizing secondary sensing technology paired with primary interruption highlights the maximized arc flash safety, ease-of-use to the end user, and overall practical and monetary benefits of a fully integrated, factory-tested solution. Learn more at Eaton.com/ARVFI

input #21 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study ElectroCell Systems’ Solutions-Based Technologies at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Challenge:

Provide Cleaner Greener Open and Closed Loops, remove 98-99% of Suspended Solids (down to one micron and below) Improve Heat Exchange Efficiencies 100% of operating time not just 3%, 10% or 30%.

Solution: Continuously provide an optimum efficiency of Chiller and Cooling Tower operations. Save Make-Up Water 20-25% due to reduced compression pressure on chillers and improve the effectiveness of Chemical Water Treatment.

ReSult: Cleaner Greener Operation – less energy, water, maintenance, service and repair. Operate at or below Manufacturers Specifications. WIN – WIN – WIN for all parties.

SummaRy:

The scope of this project involved five separate ElectroCell Systems: Two open loops in the Central Chiller Plant and two satellite chiller plants as well as addressing one central closed loop throughout the campus that service a total of 2.6 Million square feet of Medical Facility Operations. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is home to the Penn State College of Medicine. Founded in 1963 through a gift from The Milton S. Hershey Foundation, is one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the country. “ElectroCell is a good company to work with and has helped us improve our chilled water production capabilities”, stated Kevin Kanoff Campus Energy Engineer. “Paul McLaine and his team were very capable and took extra time to understand our operation. Their understanding of chilled water production was beneficial in developing a side-stream particle precipitator system to meet our needs.” www.youtube.com/channel/UCrrx_4vMC0PS8SJHtZxl6Ng

Three Patented Process System address Scale, Corrosion or Biological (especially Legionella), we integrate several processes for both Open and Closed Loops, reduce Kw Per ton on the Chiller, Reduce Make Up Water, enhances performance of Chemical Treatment Program and Reduces the Maintenance, Repair and Service. We also, improve the efficiency of the chillers, reduce the Kw on the Pumps and Fans in the Cooling Towers. ElectroCell Systems 3320 Nazareth Road, Easton, PA. 18045 800-949-3445 • www.electrocellsytems.com input #22 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Greenheck delivers comfortable air—and exceptional energy savings—to nonprofit animal shelter. Challenge:

Provide superior energy savings and improve indoor air quality for employees, visitors, and animals. Eliminate odors by increasing frequency of fresh air changes. Separate kennel air from the office and community center to prevent odor infiltration. Remove humidity from frequently washed kennel areas and from incoming outside air during hot, humid Iowa summers.

Solution: Greenheck model ERCH dedicated outdoor air system with heating, cooling, and total enthalpy energy recovery wheel; SP ceiling exhaust fans; CSP inline cabinet fan.

ReSult: The system achieved greater energy savings than originally projected, operated quietly, and eliminated odors in the office and community areas.

SummaRy:

The Almost Home Animal Shelter, operated by the nonprofit Humane Society of North Central Iowa in Fort Dodge, is a 10,000-square-foot facility featuring 32 indoor/outdoor kennels, offices, a veterinarian room, a training room, and a community center. Two Greenheck ERCH dedicated outdoor air systems with heating and cooling were installed to service the office area and the kennel area separately. Model ERCH employs total enthalpy energy recovery wheels, modulating supply and exhaust fans, and CO2-based demand control systems for optimum energy efficiency. Fresh outdoor air is preconditioned year-round by the enthalpy wheel, recovering up to 80% of the heating and cooling energy contained in the exhaust air. The enthalpy wheel also removes the humidity from the warm summer air prior to entering the cooling coil, reducing the overall tonnage required to temper the fresh outdoor air and greatly reducing energy usage. Factory-mounted variable frequency drives (VFDs), modulated by the CO2 levels, further enhance the unit’s efficiency by only delivering the required amount of outdoor air to the space. Ceiling exhaust fans and an inline cabinet fan were installed to remove stale air from all areas as well as excessive moisture from the frequently washed kennel area. The results? Reduced energy costs, quiet operation, and fresh, comfortable, odorless air for both human inhabitants and the animals.

info@greenheck.com • 715-359-6171 www.greenheck.com input #23 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Gripple Provides Suspension Solutions for Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium Challenge:

Finding an efficient method of suspending stadium services, including 144" x 77" rectangular and 86" spiral ductwork.

Solution:

Gripple’s Standard No.5 Cable Hanger was chosen, providing a fast and secure 715 lb Safe Working Load per hanger.

ReSult:

More than 3 million pounds of sheet metal and 250 Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes were suspended with over 200,000 Gripple cable hangers, reducing installation costs by more than 50%.

SummaRy:

The U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, with its unique, bold, and iconic design, is the proud home of the Minnesota Vikings football team as well as other sports and entertainment events, and was the host stadium for Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018. This 1.75 million square foot, 72,000-seat venue was to be Minnesota’s largest commercial construction project to date. The Harris Mechanical team chose Gripple to work with on this project to provide suspension solutions for all of the Ductwork and Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes being hung. The primary hanger solution used was Gripple’s Standard No.5 Cable Hanger Kits, consisting of ¼" diameter cable in a 7x19 strand configuration, with a 715 lb Safe Working Load and 5 to 1 safety factor per hanger. Some of the mechanical services being hung with Gripple included 144" x 77" rectangular duct, as well as 2,500 feet of 84" spiral duct being suspended 200 feet above ground level. In total, more than 3 million pounds of sheet metal and 250 variable-air volume boxes were suspended with over 200,000 Gripple cable hangers, reducing installation costs by more than 50% versus the traditional threaded rod suspension method.

grippleinc@gripple.com • 866-474-7753 www.gripple.com input #24 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study MELTRIC Provides Reliable, Durable, Cost-Effective Switch-Rated Solution to Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Challenge:

The Glasgow Municipal Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant needed reliable electrical connectors that could meet their power needs, were durable, and that could withstand a harsh, wet environment.

Solution: They installed MELTRIC DSN 20 Switch-Rated plugs and receptacles. The devices are UL/CSA listed, horsepower rated, and are Type 4X/IP69/IP69K watertight; the UV- and impact-resistant casings can handle the tough outdoor conditions without cracking or breaking.

ReSult: The MELTRIC Switch-Rated plugs and receptacles are a huge success. The compact size, reliability, and weathertight durability of the Switch-Rated devices make them ideal for this electrical installation and location.

SummaRy:

Safety, convenience, and cost-savings also factored into the decision to choose MELTRIC. With Switch-Rated devices, users can safely make and break connections under full load. The devices meet the NFPA 70E definition of “Normal Operation.” Because of that, no special PPE or voltage testing is required. With MELTRIC SwitchRated plugs and receptacles, qualified technicians can safely connect or disconnect equipment; they don’t need to wait for an electrical contractor to unwire hardwired equipment. This saves the plant time and money, as there may not be an electrician on staff. In fact, according to Jeff Rankin, Glasgow’s Water and Wastewater Plant Manager, the price of both MELTRIC connectors combined, cost less than that of an electrical contractor making one site visit. MELTRIC Switch-Rated devices eliminate the possibility of pulling an arc at disconnection. This keeps workers safe from arc flash and other serious electrical injuries. This is especially important for Glasgow plant workers, as the RAS pump station walkway is a solid steel platform. The electrical connectors must be grounded, safe to touch, and eliminate the possibility of sparking, especially while standing on the platform. Additionally, built-in lockout/tagout provisions simplify OSHA-mandated LOTO compliance.

mail@meltric.com 414-433-2700 www.meltric.com input #25 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Miura’s Compact-Sized Steam Boilers Have Provided the Big Solution to Greenwich Hospital for 20+ Years. Challenge:

When Greenwich Hospital broke ground on a new building, years ago, physical space was at a premium, since the sterilization facility adjacent to the boiler plant required more square footage. That meant the two large firetube boilers that were part of the original plans no longer worked.

Solution: After careful research, Greenwich selected several Miura EX-200 SGO Gas/Oil Series High Pressure Steam Boilers Miura boilers, noting a number of important advantages including compact size; efficient operation; and lower emissions, which allowed the hospital to “go green.”

ReSult: Over 20 years later, the hospital has begun adding more Miura boilers.

SummaRy: Having recently celebrated their 60th year as a steam boiler manufacturer, Miura’s “Made in The USA” once-through watertube boilers have become the most-chosen in the world, and the fastest growing in North America. Businesses, schools and hospitals like Greenwich have discovered that these impressive boilers offer a range of benefits that stand out against traditional firetube boilers, including: On-Demand Steam, which produces full steam Over 20 years later, Greenwich Hospital began replacing from a cold start in less than 5 minutes, and lets users some of their seven Miura EX-Series boilers with new units. turn boilers on/off fast according to load demand, while saving money and conserving resources; enhanced reliability, compact, modular design; advanced controls and remote monitoring; and an industry-best safety record. In addition to the compact size, Miura’s On-Demand Steam caught the attention of the Greenwich Hospital staff, since efficiency was critical as this Northeast hospital’s steam demand fluctuated throughout the day. At times, they were only doing 1,000 pounds an hour, but that could quickly go up to 8,000-9,000 pounds an hour, and Miura’s multiple boiler installation meant more control and minimum waste. In 2020, Miura, along with Armstrong International, and Hartford Steam Boiler/Munich RE, introduced Steam-as-a-Service (SaaS), a costeffective, highly-efficient solution with no capital required and just a single monthly fee, another industry-first in the US market. Miura’s EX Gas/Oil Series High Pressure Steam Boilers are available from 100HP to 300HP, in 50HP increments.

us.info@miuraz.com • 888-309-5574 miuraboiler.com input #26 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Above Ceiling Access and Barrier Management Policy and Procedure Standardizes Firestopping to Ensure Compliance and Occupant Safety Challenge:

Establish a program to improve Baptist Health’s life safety systems.

Solution: A rigid Above Ceiling Access and Barrier Management Policy and Procedure has been established that changes the way contractors perform services at specified BH facilities. It also formalizes how work is expected to be performed.

ReSult: Policies, procedures and training to maximize “defend-in-place” strategies and ensure patient and employee safety.

SummaRy:

Baptist Health is the largest health system in the state of Arkansas, with 11 community hospitals and 3,000 beds, as well as clinics and multiple ancillary facilities at campuses throughout the state. Baptist Health recognized the need to establish a program to improve its life safety systems in hiring engineer Joshua Brackett, PE, SASHE, CHFM, as Special Projects Manager in 2017. Contractors performing above ceiling projects did a great job with the plumbing and/or electrical work, but they weren’t always firestopping when the jobs were completed. “Our goal was to establish procedures and permit process not only to ensure compliance, but occupant safety – we have to protect patients,” Brackett said. “We needed to create an above the ceiling permit program that had some teeth in it for all of our primary facilities.”

EZ-Path allows for fire-rated and non-fire-rated barriers to interconnect seamlessly.

“The fact that STI Firestop provides training was another critical function in our decision. Most of the certified contractors, staff leaders, and supervisors have been trained by STI. It’s important that everybody understands firestopping and the criticality associated with passive fire protection, especially in defend in place occupancies.”

BH also established an in-house firestopping products stocking program, standardizing on STI Firestop products including EZ-Path. Anything that involves new cabling has to go through an EZ-Path. “I worked with EZ-Path as a specifying engineer and loved the application,” Brackett said. The Above Ceiling Access and Barrier Management Policy and Procedure program accomplished the unthinkable: changing the “we’ve always done it that way” mentality. “There’s a reason we do this – it’s because of smoke and fire,” Brackett said. “It’s on all of us to protect patients. Bottom line is, we’re all legally liable for patients’ lives.”

800-992-1180 • customerservice@stifirestop.com • www.stifirestop.com input #27 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Winar Connection selects Starline Track Busway as electrical distribution system for its new facility Challenge:

At Winar’s facility, traditional pipe and wire was used for its electrical distribution needs and the company was forced to rearrange production around the electrical infrastructure, as opposed to arranging it for optimal efficiency.

Solution: Winar chose to install a flexible, overhead busway system that had a continuous, open-slot to access power, meaning it was extremely easy for Winar to move pieces of equipment from one side of the building to the other without worrying about electrical access.

ReSult: By choosing Starline Track Busway for its power distribution, Winar ensured its access to power would never be a hindrance on future growth.

SummaRy:

When the company began its transition into manufacturing in 2006, Winar Connection discovered its building was not conducive to production. This resulted in Winar constructing a brand new, 80,000 sq. ft. facility that was built around its production processes. As the company grew, implementing new state-of-the-art equipment posed many challenges; including having to decide where to place the equipment, and then contracting an electrician to hardwire it in place. Additionally, it could take up to eight weeks to relocate existing equipment across the facility when these changes occurred. Winar knew it had to find a solution to avoid the electrical flexibility constraints it had experienced in its old building. Winar chose the 100 amp Starline Track Busway product because it needed a system that could grow with the company. Using Starline, the same workstation rearrangement that used to take up to eight weeks was reduced to a single day. Where previously the best way to move hardwired equipment was by use extension cords – a significant safety hazard – by utilizing Starline, Winar could simply unplug a plug-in unit, safely move it to its new location, and have equipment ready within 15 minutes. Ultimately, Winar can configure its production layout for operational efficiency and can rest assured that access to power will not bottleneck future changes. Read the complete case study: https://bit.ly/2HjLkM4 or watch the video: https://bit.ly/34nP5J1

info@starlinepower.com • +1 724-597-7800 • www.starlinepower.com input #28 at www.csemag.com/information

CaSe Study Independent school district switches spec to PEX for their plumbing systems Challenge:

Due to explosive growth, the Katy, Texas, Independent School District needed an efficient, economical and durable piping solution to value engineer several new school projects.

Solution: Originally specified with copper and CPVC, the district rewrote their spec to include PEX, which offered the system longevity they needed, while meeting tight production schedules and budgets.

ReSult: Everyone involved in the projects, from engineers and contractors to building owners and maintenance, appreciated the benefits of PEX, including speed of installation, material cost savings, long-term service and warranty.

SummaRy:

After years installing copper and CPVC in their projects, the Katy Independent School District was looking for options to value engineer two of their new high schools. Plumbing contractor Letsos Company of Houston suggested adding PEX to the specification after their successes in other projects. Mike Rostvold of Uponor and Jim McStravock of Pepco Sales, met with the engineer as well as the school district’s maintenance staff and head of construction to educate on the properties and benefits of PEX. “The maintenance staff loved the low-effort system while the construction team appreciated the installation ease with no torches or glues. Additionally, the district valued the longevity and the 25-year transferable limited warranty,” said Rostvold. “After the meeting, the district rewrote their spec to include PEX.” Interestingly, while PEX wasn’t in the Katy ISD design standard, it was installed in eight schools previously, being accepted as a value-engineered product. In the winter of 2017-2018, when there was freezing in the area, the only buildings that didn’t have pipe failure were the ones plumbed with PEX. “Freeze protection is just one of the advantages of PEX,” said Anthony Gardner, senior plumbing estimator at Letsos Company. “The speed of installation and the material cost savings are also great benefits. Additionally, Uponor’s design support, field training and job site walkthroughs helped us to meet tight production schedules.”

800.321.4739 • customer.service@uponor.com uponor-usa.com input #29 at www.csemag.com/information

EDUCATION for ENGINEERS

October 20, 2020 11AM PT | 1PM CT | 2PM ET

Fire and life safety system design

E B O O K | FA L L E D I TI ON

HVAC

E B O O K | FA L L E D I T I O N Approved for 1 LU/HSW with AIA CES

CSE_20_11

Articles inside

Five considerations for lighting control systems

Designing an emergency power supply system

Understanding fire pumps their applications and sizing