phvac Dec 2006.qxd - Plumbing & HVAC

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Ventilation Ultra-violet installation stops mould in Toronto condo towers Located on Toronto’s waterfront in the Harbourfront Centre District, Number One York Quay is one of the Toronto’s most prestigious condominium developments. The complex includes more than 800 luxury suites from 600 – 2,000 sq. ft. with some units as large as 4,000 sq. ft. But even the most luxurious facilities are not immune to mould buildup within fan coil and makeup air units. It is a universal occurrence that is not eliminate existing mould, the board did extensive research in concert with onsite property manager Brookfield Residential Services Ltd. of Toronto. They looked into removing mouldy insulation lining the inside of the fan coils and replacing it with new insulation and coils, but the cost would have been prohibitive (about $2.5 million); and the solution would have been temporary, as mould would be certain to return in time. They investigated a number of sprays and coatings, but none offered a practical solution. After further research, they decided to install UVC Emitters (lamps) by Steril-Aire of Burbank, California (www.steril-aire.com). As reported in the last issue of P&HVAC, UVC lamps in high-rise condominiums, to perform a complete audit of the project. This audit included detailed study and photo documentation of all 1,240 fan coils, as well as an evaluation of what had to be done to restore each unit to good operating condition. The findings of this exhaustive survey filled eight four-inchthick binders. “The audit provided us with a detailed roadmap of the required work and the projected costs,” Wigley said. Determined to refurbish the units and eliminate existing mould, the board did extensive research… limited to hot and humid climates. Mould growth in the cooling coil at the heart of the air conditioning system can be the culprit when people develop allergies, asthma and other symptoms related to poor indoor air quality. The York Quay condominium board decided to take a proactive approach to ensure that mould did not become a problem for its 2000 residents. Finding a solution The fan coil units in the two 40-story towers had been operating for nearly 20 years and were showing their age. Determined to refurbish the units and operate in the “C” wavelength of the ultraviolet spectrum to target the DNA of mould, bacteria and viruses, killing the cells or making replication impossible. Installed in air conditioning systems opposite the coil, UVC has been proven to have a dramatic impact on mould proliferation. Bathing the coil continuously in germicidal energy ensures that mould will not return. Testing the plan The first step was to install the lamps in a dozen fan coils to test their effectiveness. The make-up air units serving the two towers were also equipped with UVC at that time to ensure that the air entering from the rooftop intakes would be as clean as possible. The maintenance department photographed the coils and took mould samples for analysis by an independent lab. Three months later, additional photo documentation and mould testing was performed to measure results. Before and after Petri dish sampling measured 99+ percent reductions in mould counts on the test units. Photographs provided further visual evidence of the improvement, as coils were now noticeably cleaner and free of mould and organic buildup. Residents also reported reductions in asthma and allergy symptoms. UVC retrofit Climanetics technicians began in - stalling the UVC devices in February of 2008 and completed the project about eight weeks later. Each unit required just one 12” or 16” UVC lamp to cover the length of the coil. Sergio Colalillo, vice president of operations for Climanetics, reports: “We retrofitted every suite in the two towers with UVC – except, of course, for the units that had already been equipped with the lights during the test program. We coated the drain pans with rust-inhibiting waterproof paint on all units. We replaced drain hoses and insulation on an as-needed basis, and also repaired any control valves or thermo stats that were not working properly.” Colalillo says that the total scope of work averaged about two man-hours per fan coil and was performed using a production line strategy. “We had a crew of five, and each person had a specific task to perform over and over as we went through the building floor-byfloor,” he notes. “This approach helped the work to flow much more efficiently. “Since we could not access the suites without the consent of residents, it was a monumental task to orchestrate approvals for entry,” Colalillo adds. “The logistics for all this were handled very ably by Brookfield Residential Services. With the help of their organizational skills, we were able to complete the work on time and on budget.” The total price tag was about $650,000. Going forward, Climanetics will return once a year just prior to cooling season to change the filters, replace the UVC Emitter tubes, and perform a Number One York Quay is one of Toronto’s most prestigious condominiums. general clean-up. The in-house maintenance crew will do a supplementary autumn filter changeouts in between the annual service cycles. Colalillo notes that they use a tackified media filter that offers a higher arrestance rate and better dust removal ability than standard fan coil filters. What advice does Wigley offer to other condominium boards considering UVC technology? “We recommend a full audit as we commissioned at Number One York Quay. We are great believers in UVC technology, but it isn’t a cure-all for every single problem in an air conditioning system, especially with older equipment. An independent evaluation of the total system can be very helpful.” Wigley adds: “Keeping to a changeout schedule is also vital. Even though a UVC light may still be shining, after a year it loses output and effectiveness. Annual replacement of the bulbs or tubes is necessary to prevent mould and other contaminants from building up in the coils again. Bulb replacement is a necessary expense but, fortunately, the cost is quite modest.” Crews retrofitted 1,240 fan coils. Audit, final planning “By the conclusion of the test period, we were convinced that UVC lights were an excellent solution, but we also believed that the lights could only perform at their best if the fan coils were in proper working order,” reported condominium board president Ken Wigley. The board brought in Climanetics, Inc. of Vaughan, Ontario (www.climanetics.ca), an HVAC service company specializing After three months exposure, dirty coils like the one at left were substantially cleaner. 20 Plumbing & HVAC Product News – April 2009 www.plumbingandhvac.ca
Controls Product Profile Energy conservation control system The new Climate Control Network System from Uponor is designed to control all the different energy efficient HVAC technologies in a home without the complexity of some existing controls. A modular, expandable integrated hardware and software package connects all of a structure’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and other household components. Via its slim, flush-mount wall thermostats, an optional high-definition Touch Panel Interface (TPI) or remote access computer, this “all-in-one” system provides better energy-efficiency, control and monitoring. Key features include: • Several options to adjust room temperatures to provide a comfortable environment when at home and save energy when away or at night – i.e. minimum and maximum setpoints, setback and/or set-up schedules, relative humidity setpoint and vacation calendar. • Fast and easy installation. System is also well suited for retrofit application operating on a two-wire communication line and new Cat. 5 wiring. • An optional feature called “master passing” allows user to transfer comfort control to any thermostat within a group by simply pressing a button on the thermostat. • The network sends as well as receives information throughout the network. As a result, neither the end user nor installer needs to program each system component separately. • An optional notification system permits the service contractor to monitor and manage a customer’s network online, while making rapidresponse changes to meet comfort needs and eliminating separate service calls. • This system is modular and expandable, allowing users to program components needed now with flexibility to include others later i.e. sprinkler systems, outdoor lighting, snow melt zones and septic tanks. The Climate Control Network System can control multiple HVAC technologies. Uponor Circle no. 316 Well pump control The SubCon Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) from SJE-Rhombus provides an energy efficient solution for residential water well pump control. Water pres sure is monitored continuously and the VFD will auto matically ad just pump speed to maintain a constant pressure. The set pressure, along with other parameters, is easily adjusted via the keypad. The easy-toread alpha-numeric display features current pressure in PSI, target pressure setting, pump speed (Hz), pump amps, pump run time and error codes. SJE Rhombus Circle no. 313 follow the leader Refrigeration system optimization The ECO3 from Smartcool Systems is designed to provide cost savings and environmental benefits by optimizing the energy efficiency of air conditioning and refrigeration systems with one or two compressors. It works with existing air conditioning and refrigeration equipment and controls to reduce energy consumption by about 15 per cent. It can also optimize the heating cycle of compressor-driven heat pumps. Smartcool Systems Circle no. 314 Humidity sensor The new Model SRH Humidity Series product line from Setra Systems is designed to measure relative humidity in a room, duct or outside and is available in accuracies of plus/minus two, three and five percent. The line consists of a wall display, duct mount, and outside air unit. A replaceable sensor tip en sur - es an accurate, calibrated, and cost ef - fective humidity control system, says the manufacturer. Setra Systems Circle no. 315 Honeywell has been making the world a cooler place to live for more than 50 years. And for over a decade we ve invented and brought to market more new fluorocarbon technologies that cool our environment than anyone else. Only a world leader can say that. In the air conditioning industry we invented R410-A, the new global refrigerant standard for use in commercial and residential air conditioners around the world. And when appliance manufacturers were faced with a phase out of a key raw material we were the first to commercialize a fluorocarbon, non-ozone depleting replacement, helping reduce cost while maintaining energy efficiency. In the automotive industry we were the first company granted a patent for ultra-low, global-warming refrigerants that can meet tough new European regulations. These innovations are backed by a $200M investment in capacity – ensuring a secure future for our customers. And nothing is cooler than that. For more information about Honeywell Genetron , ® visit www.honeywell.com/genetron or www.410A.com © 2008 Honeywell International Inc. Circle Number 118 for More Information www.plumbingandhvac.ca April 2009 – Plumbing & HVAC Product News 21
Page 1 and 2: These innovative sinks appear to be
Page 3 and 4: Kitchen & Bath Issue In This Issue
Page 5 and 6: Hot Seat April 2009 Volume 19, Numb
Page 7 and 8: Industry News In Brief Electrical a
Page 9 and 10: Another major problem is that too m
Page 11 and 12: Plumbing at Saputo Stadium New Mont
Page 13 and 14: Kitchen and Bath Hydration station
Page 15 and 16: Go Green with WILO Placing infrared
Page 17 and 18: Heating Easy to install Allied Air
Page 19: make sense for a European consumer?
Page 23 and 24: Tools & Instruments Circuit breaker
Page 25 and 26: SELLING your contracting business S
Page 27 and 28: A West Coast success story It didn
Page 29 and 30: Mechanical Marketplace The bulletin
Page 31 and 32: TITANIUM STABILIZED — Stainless S

phvac Dec 2006.qxd - Plumbing & HVAC

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?