Building Design: Curb Appeal, Efficient HVAC, and the Importance of Total System Balance

摘要

Commonly, projects are awarded to test and balance firms at a point well beyond the design phase during the construction phase. Occasionally, a facility's modern or innovative architecture results in odd-shaped buildings with cramped HVAC mechanical spaces. Architectural decisions often override mechanical decisions in these buildings and can result in poor HVAC performance relative to design. Incorporating the Total System Balance process, specifically the initial contract document review and analysis, can alleviate some potential roadblocks to ideal system performance, or at least notify the design team of potential shortcomings. One such circumstance was a project situated on an odd-shaped plot of land. This multi-story project had both circular and rectangular rooms with very few parallel walls and limited ceiling plenum space for electrical and mechanical equipment installation. Additionally, the design incorporated one small basement mechanical room which housed all air-handling units, and pumps for the building, including the exhaust fan system. The architectural preference was to ensure only one rear/lower section of the building contained visible louvers or penetrations pertaining to the HVAC system.