Source: HVAC Equations, Data, and Rules of Thumb

PA RT

16
HVAC System
Selection Criteria

h v a c e q u at i o n s , d ata , a n d r u l e s o f t h u m b

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 HVAC System Selection Criteria

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16.01 HVAC System Selection ­Criteria

A. Building ­Type
1. Institutional: hospital, prisons, nursing homes, ­education.
2. Commercial: offices, ­stores.
3. Residential: hotel, motel, ­apartments.
4. Industrial, ­manufacturing.
5. Research and development: ­laboratories.

B. Owner ­Type
1. Government.
2. Developer.
3. Business.
4. Private.
C. Performance ­Requirements
1. Supporting a process: computer facility, telephone ­facility.
2. Promoting a ­germ-­free ­environment.
3. Increasing sales and rental ­income.
4. System ­efficiency.
5. Increasing property ­salability.
6. Standby and reserve ­capacity.
7. Reliability, life expectancy: frequency of maintenance and ­failure.
8. How will equipment failures affect the building? Owner ­operations?
D. Capacity ­Requirements
1. Cooling loads: magnitude and ­characteristics.
2. Heating loads: magnitude and ­characteristics.
3. Ventilation.
4. Zoning ­requirements:
a. Occupancy.
b. Solar ­exposure.
c. Special ­requirements.
d. Space temperature and humidity ­tolerances.
E. Spatial ­Requirements
  1. Architectural ­constraints:
a. Aesthetics.
b. Structural ­support.
c. Architectural style and ­function.
  2. Space available to house equipment and ­location.
  3. Space available for distribution of ducts and ­pipes.
  4. Acceptability of components obtruding into occupied space, physically and ­visually.
  5. Furniture ­placement.
  6. Flexibility.
  7. Maintenance ­accessibility.
  8. Roof.
  9. Available space ­constraints.
10. Are mechanical rooms/shafts ­required?
F. Comfort ­Considerations
1. Control ­options.
2. Noise and vibration ­control.
3. Heating, ventilating, and air ­conditioning.
4. Filtration.
5. Air quality ­control.

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 HVAC System Selection Criteria

HVAC System Selection Criteria 151

G. First ­Cost
1. System cost. Return on ­investment.
2. Cost to add ­zones.
3. Ability to increase ­capacity.
4. Contribution to life safety ­needs.
5. Air quality ­control.
6. Future cost to replace and/or ­repair.
H. Operating ­Costs
1. Energy ­costs.
2. Energy ­type:
a. Electricity. Voltage available, rate ­schedule.
b. Gas.
c. Oil.
d. District ­steam.
e. District chilled ­water.
f. Other ­sources.
3. Energy types available at project ­site.
4. Equipment ­selection.
I. Maintenance ­Cost
1. Cost to ­repair.
2. Capabilities of owners maintenance ­personnel.
3. Cost of system failure on ­productivity.
4. Economizer ­cycle:
a. Airside ­economizer.
b. Waterside ­economizer.
5. Heat ­recovery.
6. Future cost to ­replace.
7. Ease and quickness of ­servicing.
8. Ease and quickness of adding ­zones.
9. Extent and frequency of ­maintenance.
J. Codes
1. Codes govern HVAC and other building systems ­design.
2. Most building codes are adopted and enforced at the local ­level.
3. Most of the states have adopted the International Series of ­Codes.
4. Codes are not enforceable unless adopted by municipality, borough, county, state, ­etc.
5. Codes ­regulate:
a. Design and ­construction.
b. Allowable construction ­types.
c. Building ­height.
d. Egress ­requirements.
e. Structural ­components.
f. Light and ventilation ­requirements.
g. Material ­specifications.
6. Code ­approaches:
a. Prescriptive. Dictate specific materials and methods (ASTM A53, Steel Pipe,
Welded).
b. Performance. Dictate desired results (HVAC system to provide and maintain a design
temperature of 70°F winter and 75°F/50 percent RH summer).
7. Codes developed because ­of:
a. Loss of ­life.
b. Loss of ­property.
c. Pioneered by insurance ­industry.

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 HVAC System Selection Criteria

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8. 2003 International Code Council Series of Codes (ICC):

a. 2003 International Building ­Code.
b. 2003 International Mechanical ­Code.
c. 2003 International Energy Conservation ­Code.
d. 2003 International Plumbing ­Code.
e. 2003 International Fire ­Code.
f. 2003 International Electric Code (Administrative Provisions—References the
National Electric Code—NFPA 70).
g. 2003 International Fuel Gas ­Code.
h. 2003 International Residential ­Code.
i. 2003 International Existing Building ­Code.
j. 2003 International Performance ­Code.
k. 2003 International Private Sewage Disposal ­Code.
l. 2003 International Property Maintenance ­Code.
m. 2003 International Zoning ­Code.
n. 2003 International ­Wildland-­Urban Interface ­Code.
9. 2006 International Code Council Series of Codes (ICC):
a. 2006 International Building ­Code.
b. 2006 International Mechanical ­Code.
c. 2006 International Energy Conservation ­Code.
d. 2006 International Plumbing ­Code.
e. 2006 International Fire ­Code.
f. 2006 International Electric Code (Administrative Provisions—References the
National Electric Code—NFPA 70).
g. 2006 International Fuel Gas ­Code.
h. 2006 International Residential ­Code.
i. 2006 International Existing Building ­Code.
j. 2006 International Performance ­Code.
k. 2006 International Private Sewage Disposal ­Code.
l. 2006 International Property Maintenance ­Code.
m. 2006 International Zoning ­Code.
n. 2006 International ­Wildland-­Urban Interface ­Code.

16.02 Heating System Selection ­Guidelines

A. I f heat loss exceeds 450 Btu/hr. per lineal feet of wall, heat should be provided
from under the window or from the base of the wall to prevent ­downdrafts.

B. I f heat loss is between 250 and 450 Btu/hr. per lineal feet of wall, heat should be
provided from under the window or from the base of the wall, or it may be provided
from overhead diffusers, located adjacent to the perimeter wall, discharging air
directly downward, and blanketing the exposed wall and window ­areas.

C. I f heat loss is less than 250 Btu/hr. per lineal feet of wall, heat should be pro-
vided from under the window or from the base of the wall, or it may be provided
from overhead diffusers, located adjacent to or slightly away from the perimeter
wall, discharging air directed at, or both directed at and directed away from, the
exposed wall and window ­areas.

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