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 Customize hazardous area
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2017 Thomas & Betts Corporation. All rights reserved.
input #3 at www.csemag.com/information
 JULY 2017

COVER STORY Conventional design model

36 | Integration: electrical

Disjointed
Disconnected
and HVAC systems
Integration of electrical and HVAC
systems requires both careful design Operator Designer

and integrated controls. This type Operate Design

of system integration can provide a

more energy-efficient building. d
Build
Dis
nte Dis joi
joi cte
d co nte
Dis
HANS GRABAU, PE e nn d
onn ect
c ed
Dis

Contractor

ON THE COVER: Modern central utility plants are purpose-

built spaces that house large heating, cooling, and power
FEATURES
equipment. These systems are critical to the building perfor-
mance and requires extensive coordination among trades 46 | The benefits and challenges
to insure proper operation, fit, and service clearances. Using of wireless fire alarm systems
data analysis to right size building loads during design can
Although designers should consider wireless
have a significant impact on the cost of the building and the
equipment. Courtesy: NV5 fire alarm systems for their portability, easy
installation, and flexibility, they must also con-
sider cost-effectiveness for each application.
DEPARTMENTS GREGORY K. SHINO, PE

05 | Viewpoint 29 | Codes & Standards

Starting the conversation, The development of
changing the game ASHRAE 90.4: Energy
Standard for Data Centers 52 | Assessing wireless fire alarm systems
07 | Research Fire protection engineers should assess the costs, ben-
Lighting in government/ 61 | Digital Edition efits, history, technology, and code-compliance aspects of
military facilities Exclusive low-power wireless fire alarm systems and wireless smoke
Replacing an EPSS at a alarms.
11 | Career Smart hospital WILLIAM E. KOFFEL, PE, FSFPE
Six principles for master-
ing the art of project 63 | Advertiser Index
management
64 | Future of
Engineering ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES
12 | MEP Roundtable
Integrating teams Use the icons to identify topics of interest.
Tips to design multifamily
and mixed-use buildings for success AUTOMATION & CONTROLS HVAC
COMMUNICATIONS LIGHTING
23 | Codes & Standards ELECTRICAL PLUMBING
ASHRAEs new energy FIRE, SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY
standard for data centers

CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER (ISSN 0892-5046, Vol. 54, No. 6, GST #123397457) is published 11x per year, monthly except in February, by CFE Media, LLC, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite
#250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Jim Langhenry, Group Publisher /Co-Founder; Steve Rourke CEO/COO/Co-Founder. CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER copyright 2017 by CFE Media, LLC. All rights reserved. CONSULTING-
SPECIFYING ENGINEER is a registered trademark of CFE Media, LLC used under license. Periodicals postage paid at Oak Brook, IL 60523 and additional mailing offices. Circulation records are maintained at CFE Media, LLC, 1111
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changes are indicated, single copies are available for $30.00 US and $35.00 foreign. Please address all subscription mail to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Printed
in the USA. CFE Media, 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.

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 3

Precision Cooling
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input #4 at www.csemag.com/information
 Editors Viewpoint
CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL
AMARA ROZGUS, Editor-in-Chief/Content Manager
630-571-4070 x2211, ARozgus@CFEMedia.com
EMILY GUENTHER, Associate Content Manager
630-571-4070 x2220, EGuenther@CFEMedia.com
AMANDA PELLICCIONE, Director of Research
APelliccione@CFEMedia.com
MICHAEL SMITH, Creative Director
630-779-8910, MSmith@CFEmedia.com
ELISA GEISHEIMER, Production Coordinator
630-571-4070 x2213, EGeisheimer@CFEMedia.com
Amara Rozgus,
Editor-in-Chief
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
CORY J. ABRAMOWICZ, PE, LEED AP,
Associate, Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago
PETER ALSPACH, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Principal, Mechanical Engineer, Arup, Seattle
JERRY BAUERS, PE,
Starting the conversation,
Vice President, NV5, Kansas City, Mo.
MICHAEL CHOW, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Columbus, Ohio
changing the game
L
TOM DIVINE, PE,
Senior Electrical Engineer, ater this month, Im part of a group have changed my career plans, but I cer-
Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston
CORY DUGGIN, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
of professionals speaking with tainly would have had my eyes opened
Energy Modeling Wizard, TLC Engineering for Architecture Inc., high school females about career to a whole menagerie of options. Would
Brentwood, Tenn.
ROBERT J. GARRA JR., PE, CDT,
options. This speed-networking event I have considered fire protection engi-
Vice President, Electrical Engineer, will allow about 35 young girls to meet neering? Would my love of science have
CannonDesign, Grand Island, N.Y.
JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, C X A,
professional women from a variety of guided me toward research or working at
Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee backgrounds and learn a little about a tech company? Would I have become
JOSHUA D. GREENE, PE,
Vice President, JENSEN HUGHES, Framingham, Mass.
what our jobs are and how we got here a patent attorney, putting my knowledge
RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE, (education, career transitions, etc.). I of science and love of details into play?
Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C.
have 60 seconds to share my profes- Many of the people Im going to meet
DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Senior Vice President, WSP, Dallas sional background with each student, so may not have anyone in their family who
WILLIAM KOFFEL, PE, FSFPE, Id better start working on an amazing has gone to college. For me, the ques-
President, Koffel Associates Inc., Columbia, Md.
WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
story about my career and well-thought- tion was not whether Id go to college,
Senior Mechanical Engineer - Mission Critical, out plans. Do I tell them Ive been laid but rather what college I should attend.
exp US Services Inc., Chicago
KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP,
off twice? Do I share that most pursuits Im guessing many of these girls do not
Engineering Manager, Jacobs, Philadelphia in print journalism are poorly paid? have anyone in their immediate circle of
JULIANNE LAUE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
Senior MEP Engineer, Center for Sustainable Energy,
What do I say when Im asked about friends or family who have even asked
Mortenson Construction, Minneapolis obtaining two degreeswas it really them that question, so Im pleased to be
DAVID LOWREY,
Chief Fire Marshal, Boulder (Colo.) Fire Rescue
worth it? (Short answer: yes.) part of a group of professionals who can
BRIAN MARTIN, PE, Afterward, well break out into small help them think about their options.
Senior Electrical Engineer, Buildings and Places,
AECOM, Portland, Ore.
groups. The girls will select the group Have you participated in events like
DWAYNE G. MILLER, PE, RCDD, AEE CPQ, by their level of interest in each profes- this, perhaps at your local high school?
Chief Executive Officer, NV5, Las Vegas sionals short description and have the Or have you spoken with college students
RODNEY V. OATHOUT, PE, CEM, LEED AP,
Principal, Regional Engineering Leader, opportunity to learn more, ask ques- who are still trying to determine what
DLR Group, Overland Park, Kan. tions, and generally pick our brains. path to pursue in engineering? And espe-
FREDDY PADILLA, PE, ATD,
Principal/Senior Electrical Engineer, Page, Austin, Texas The groups organizers do this every 6 cially for the women in this audience:
GREGORY QUINN, PE, NCEES, LEED AP, months with a different group of high What did your career path look like, and
Principal, Health Care Market Leader,
Affiliated Engineers Inc., Madison, Wis. school students from around the Chi- how are you navigating it today?
BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP, cago area. Most are underprivileged, Ill report back after the event,
Associate, SmithGroupJJR, Chicago
from other countries, and may have no which I assume will be amazing and
SUNONDO ROY, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Vice President, CCJM Engineers Ltd., Chicago idea what a professional career could eye-opening for everyone. Please share
RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM, look like for them down the road. your stories, too. I want to learn about
Austin Operations Group Manager and
Senior Mechanical Engineer, Had this type of career day been how youre changing the face of engi-
Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas
available to me, Im not sure I would neering.
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, Verona, Wis.
JOHN YOON, PE, LEED AP ID+C,
Lead Electrical Engineer, McGuire Engineers Inc., Chicago www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 5
MACH-ProView
LCD
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 Prescriptive HVAC, controls
specifications
Never
Always

Rarely
6%

20%
14%
research
2017 LIGHTING AND LIGHTING CONTROLS STUDY

60%
Lighting in government/military facilities

Frequently
Figure 1: Seventy-four percent of
firms are regularly writing prescrip-
tive HVAC and controls specifications.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engi-
neer 2015 HVAC and Building Automa-
tions Systems Study
T
he Consulting-Specifying Engineer
2017 Lighting and Lighting Con-
trols Study indicated that 45% of
engineers specify, design, or make prod-
uct selections for government buildings
and/or military facilitiesand eight in
10 of these engineers are responsible for
determining the requirements/writing
specifications for these projects. Below
are five lighting engineering and design
findings as they relate to government/
military facility projects.
3. Specifications: Engineers are most
frequently issuing prescriptive lighting
system specifications (77%) for govern-
ment/military facility projects, followed
by performance specifications (65%).
4. Outlook: Eighteen percent of
engineers are concerned about frequent
changes to codes and standards; the
usage of controls, building automation,
and addressable systems; and keeping
up with new/changing technology for
lighting design.

8 in 10 engineers usually
write performance fire and life safety
system specifications. Source:
Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2016
Fire and Life Safety Study
1. Revenue: The average firm earns
$790,000 annually from lighting and
lighting control products specified into
new and existing government/military
facilities, with 42% bringing in more
than $1 million each year.
2. Systems specified: The top three
lights or lighting control products being
5. Comparing products: Overall
quality is most important when select-
ing a lighting product for a govern-
ment/military facility; engineers are
also looking at product energy effi-
ciency, their previous experience with
manufacturers, and superior service
support.

62% of engineers are chal-

lenged by frequent changes to
electrical and power codes and
standards when designing these sys-
tems. Source: Consulting-Specifying
Engineer 2016 Electrical and Power
Study
specified into these facilities are LEDs
(94%); lighting controls and/or address-
View more information at
www.csemag.com/2017LightingStudy.
able systems (78%); and any size T5, T8, Amanda Pelliccione is the research direc-
or T12 (55%). tor at CFE Media.
Top 5 lighting design challenges for government,
military facilities
Inadequate budget for
good design
71%

55: Average age of an engineer Speed of project

delivery
54%
responsible for specifying or buying
lighting fixtures, equipments, and Codes and standards
52%
controls selections. Source: Consult- changing frequently

ing-Specifying Engineer 2017 Light- LEED, ASHRAE 90.1, California

ing and Lighting Controls Study
More research
Consulting-Specifying Engineer cov-
ers several research topics each year.
All reports are available at
www.csemag.com/research.
Title 24, sustainable design
48%
Lighting controls sequence of
operations, integration, etc.
48%
Figure 2: When working on lighting engineering and design for government/military
facilities, engineers are having the most difficulty with insufficient budgets for high-
quality designs (71%) and meeting a clients expected delivery date (54%). Source:
Consulting-Specifying Engineer

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 7

 AASYMBOL
SYMBOL
FREEDOM
FREEDOM
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input #7 at www.csemag.com/information
 Career Smart
Six principles for mastering the
art of project management
Project managers reveal their secrets to success.
P
roject managers who directly inter-
act with clients and production
teams are the linchpins to success.
To leverage the most valuable assets, we
decided to initiate a training program
that would supplement industry semi-
nars with specific project-management
principles that have been instrumental
in our most successful projects. To fully
understand and define these principles,
eight successful managers were asked
about the five most important practices
for successful project management.
The survey resulted in a wide range
of responses that fit into one of six
categories. The survey also helps to
understand the approach to apply these
practices on a daily basis. The following
is a brief overview of each practice.
1. Vision
The best project managers envision
a projects evolution from the start.
There is no straight path to success, so
anticipating the challenges early on can
prevent major problems from occur-
ring later. Though experience assists in
developing the project vision, valuable
research can be done to compensate
for a lack of experience. Reviewing past
projects, consulting with experienced
managers, and reading case studies on
similar projects all provide less experi-
enced project managers with informa-
tion to consult moving forward.
Ultimately, project managers that
envision the path to each project
www.csemag.com
STEPHEN McADAMS,
RMF Engineering, Baltimore
milestone and anticipate challenges
before they occur will better position
themselves for success.
2. Preparation
The managers believe time invested in
preparation have the greatest return when
it comes to future effort and costs. This
philosophy is carried through each com-
ponent of the project including progress
meetings, field surveys, milestone submis-
sions, and site visits. Careful preparation
throughout a project helps avoid mistakes
and ensures everyone is on the same page.
3. Communication
Once the project plan is developed,
it must be communicated to the client
and production staff. The communica-
tion process is critical and never-ending.
Good communication may be very
subjective, but there are certain com-
munication skills that usually prove to be
extremely effective, such as responding to
clients in a timely manner, or consider-
ing the recipient when determining the
method of communication.
4. Quality
Everyone values a quality product, but
the process should not be overlooked.
The final product along with the process
should be held to the highest standards.
For every aspect of the project plan,
successful project managers strive to
achieve high quality throughout even
the smallest items.
5. Accountability
One of the most detrimental things
a project manager can do to a project is
hide their own mistakes. Mistakes become
more expensive when they go unresolved.
Project managers who address issues in
a timely manner and hold themselves
accountable for finding a solution are
always highly appreciated by clients.
6. Culture
The most valuable project manag-
ers create a positive team culture for
every project by taking an interest in
the professional development of each
team member, as well as in the cli-
ents needs. In the consulting business,
being able to develop young profes-
sionals into qualified managers and
technical staff is an invaluable attri-
bute that can propel careers.
Strong project managers are the
backbone of engineering firms. Train-
ing teams in the fundamentals of proj-
ect management and the six principles
that lead to project success has sup-
ported a firms growth and staff devel-
opment.
Stephen McAdams is an associate at
RMF Engineering. He leads RMFs mas-
ter-planning group, which specializes in
developing strategies for utility systems,
infrastructure growth, and energy. He has
been with RMF for more than 20 years
and is a member of the International Dis-
trict Energy Association.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 11
 MEP Roundtable
Tips to design multifamily
Brian Berg,
PE, LEED AP, CEM
Associate Principal
Glumac
and mixed-use buildings
Irvine, Calif.
Multifamily dwellings and mixed-use buildings are becoming more
prevalent. Some best practices and tips are offered for engineering
systems in these residential buildings.
David Crutchfield, PE
Principal CSE: Whats the No. 1 trend you see
RMF Engineering today in the design of multifamily dwell-
Charleston, S.C. ings and mixed-use buildings?
Brian Berg: Were seeing a lot of large com-
plexes taking the mixed part of mixed-use
to the extreme. Retail, restaurants, offices,
hotel, residential, grocery stores, and parking
are typically being built as part of one large
complex. Oftentimes, this is being done on a
multilevel podium with tower(s) stacked on
Kieran Healy, PE top. And sometimes all those uses are in one
Mechanical Engineer
CCJM
tower. Parking is either all underground or a
Chicago combination of underground and wrap-style
lots where residential units line up around
the aboveground parking. These are all being
built in either dense urban areas or less dense
burgeoning areas near an abundance of pub-
lic transportation options.
David Crutchfield: One interesting trend
we are seeing is a desire for mixed-use spaces
to support lifestyle activities. For example,
Lui Tai, PE occupants often want an in-house gym or
Technical Services Director space for outdoor activities. Were also see-
JENSEN HUGHES ing an increasing number of people working
Toronto
or studying from home, so they need flex-
ible mixed-use spaces that can accommodate
their lifestyle. Overall, this indicates a larger
movement toward people becoming increas-
ingly reliant on their homes or dorms to cater
to all their needs underneath one roof.
Kieran Healy: A growing trend we have
seen within the Chicago housing market is
the retrofitting of central cooling systems
Robert J. Voth
Executive Vice President
into low- and mid-rise multifamily build-
Bala Consulting Engineers ings that were built in the 1980s or earlier.
King of Prussia, Pa. To stay competitive with new construction,
12 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
property managers have needed to provide
cooling in buildings that were often only
heated with perimeter fin tubes or in-slab
radiant flooring. Many owners have opted for
water-source heat pumps or variable refriger-
ant flow (VRF) systems to reduce the overall
energy required to both heat and cool the
building. These systems are unique in that a
vertically tiered renovation approach can be
used to keep the majority of units occupied
while others are being renovated.
Lui Tai: In Ontario, the recent trend is to
install automatic sprinkler protection in mul-
tifamily-dwelling units, such as retirement
and care homes. After a few high-profile inci-
dents in retirement and care homes from the
last decade where there were reported fatali-
ties, the fire code is mandating that these
types of buildings be reviewed to comply with
the retrofit code. Within the retrofit code,
there is the mandatory requirement that all
such multifamily homes be retrofitted with
automatic sprinklers by the year 2019.
Robert J. Voth: Amenities remain a highly
attractive part of the development as compe-
tition for occupants is intensifying in mar-
kets outside of New York City. Additionally,
mixed-use developments are moving to a
smaller-scale, very efficient build model.
CSE: What other trends should engi-
neers be on the lookout regarding such
projects in the near future (1 to 3 years)?
Healy: Developers are becoming increas-
ingly competitive with each other as they
strive to capture and maintain residents in
www.csemag.com
mixed-used facilities. Be on the look-
out for more luxury amenities, such as
full fitness and yoga studios, confer-
ence centers with commercial kitchens,
rooftop pools and spas, and lobby bars
and coffee shops. Mechanical, electrical,
and plumbing (MEP) systems have to be
sized to allow that flexibility, supporting
longer-duration occupancy of common
areas versus a transient occupancy where
residents are only passing through from
interior to exterior and back.
Crutchfield: The infrastructure to
support personal devices, such as cell
phones, tablets, and laptops, for people
who work from home have driven a
need for higher levels of cabling and
power in mixed-use buildings. Connec-
tivity solutions, such as USB chargers
built into receptacles and information
technology (IT) wiring ready for the
next level of bandwidth, are becoming
standard and critical to building a mar-
ketable project.
Tai: The use of alternative solutions
to resolve issues that do not match the
prescriptive requirements of the build-
ing code. This is particularly true for
new builds, but can also apply to exist-
ing facilities. In new construction,
alternative solutions allow more flexible
designs that are not envisioned by the
prescriptive code; and in existing facili-
ties, they allow less destructive work to
take place.
Voth: Suburban markets centered
around multi-use villages will remain
a strong market. Engineering firms will
need to understand the 4-story stick-
built-over-concrete development model
to remain competitive.
Berg: These complexes seem to be
getting bigger and more prevalent.
California has a housing shortage right
now, so housing is popping up all over
the place with multifamily mixed-use
projects as the developments of choice.
This is what we see locally, but we have
projects throughout the state and coun-
try of similar types.
www.csemag.com
CSE: Please describe
a recent project youve
worked onshare
details about the project
including location, sys-
tems engineered, team
involved, etc.
Tai: Recently, we took
on a project to design and
install automatic sprinklers
into 75 existing retirement-
home facilities across
Canada (for one owner).
Because it is a retrofit proj-
ect, the level of difficulty
was increased. We had to
come up with innovative
engineering methods to
do the work that would
cause only minimal impact
to existing residents and
deal with possible asbestos
issues, disease outbreak,
and inadequate water sup-
plies. To avoid costly errors
and delays, we worked with
a procurement company to schedule and Figure 1: Bala engineers provided services for
administer the work, completing the $55 The Bridge in Philadelphia, a highly efficient,
million project within 18 months to the 17-story building featuring 146 apartments.
satisfaction of the owner. It incorporated a VRF system and central
Voth: The Bridge in Philadelphia is domestic hot-water generation to obtain LEED
an efficient 17-story building with 146 certification. The team worked to include the
apartments. The project used a VRF build partner from the beginning of the project
system and central domestic hot-water to help boost the efficiency of the design and
generation to obtain U.S. Green Build- build process; time to market was less than 20
ing Council LEED certification. The months. Courtesy: Rendering by Volley
team included the build partner from
the beginning of the project, which led architect and Old Veteran Construction
to a very efficient design and build pro- as construction manager to completely
cess. Time to market was less than 20 redevelop the 132,000-sq-ft building on
months. a 2.5-acre site originally constructed in
Healy: The Fannie Emanuel Senior 1963. As the MEP/fire protection (MEP/
Apartments is a 20-story senior-living FP) engineer for the project, we selected
facility with 181 single-bedroom apart- systems to increase comfort and acces-
ments owned by the Chicago Housing sibility for senior citizens and brought
Authority (CHA) in Chicagos West fire alarm and sprinkler systems up to
Garfield Park neighborhood. As part current code. HVAC systems includ-
of a $61 million gut-rehab project, we ed a 276-ton air-cooled heat pump
worked with Holabird & Root as the VRF system with ducted evaporators,
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 13
 MEP Roundtable
condensing boilers with panel radia-
tors as supplemental heat, dedicated
outside-air system (DOAS) with energy
recovery for corridor make-up air and
toilet exhaust, and demand-controlled
ventilation (DCV) system for 1st-floor
offices and community spaces. Plumb-
ing systems included new condensing-
water heaters, intelligent domestic
booster pump, and low-flow plumbing
fixtures. Electrical upgrades included
new 4,000-A switchgear and metered
distribution, video surveillance and IT
infrastructure, LED lighting fixtures,
and a 350-kW generator for life safety
and standby loads.
Crutchfield: RMF Engineering was the
MEP engineer for the Coastal Carolina
University Student Housing project in
Conway, S.C. The complex consisted of
333,100 sq ft and 1,270 beds in a series
of stand-alone buildings. This project
Figure 2: Engineers specified a sprin-
kler in a project involving multifamily
residences incorporating a combination
of steel and chlorinated polyvinyl chlo-
ride (CPVC) pipes. Courtesy: JENSEN
HUGHES
14 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
used DOAS to provide code-required
ventilation air and building make-up
air. Fan coils with heating and cooling
coils are provided in the rooms to allow
for individual room climate control. In
addition to the dorm rooms, community
spaces were provided on each floor at a
ratio of two large community spaces, one
quiet student room, and one living room
per 35 residences. Wireless and wired
internet connectivity, access control
and security systems, high-efficiency
laundry machines, a convenience store
and student cooking kitchen, custodial
and maintenance storage, apartments
for live-in staff, administrative offices,
and reception and meeting space were
all included in the buildings. Outdoor
spaces incorporated sand volleyball
courts, a covered pavilion complete with
a fireplace, a grilling area, and plenty of
courtyard green space.
Berg: Were working on a high-rise
project in downtown Sacramento, Calif.,
thats wrapping up construction at the
moment. The project has two levels of
underground parking; four podium
levels of retail, restaurants, and offices;
and a 12-story tower with hotel and
residential units on top of the podium.
We selected a condenser-water system
to serve multiple types of water-cooled
HVAC equipment to suit the occupancy
use.
CSE: What are some unique ele-
ments/considerations to designing/
retrofitting multifamily dwellings
and mixed-use buildings?
Voth: The existing building floor plate
is key, as the configuration for an effi-
cient unit layout will drive the develop-
ment opportunity. We have typically
engineered all new systems in our retro-
fit projects; therefore, incoming services
need to be reviewed carefully, especially
the domestic water, sanitary, and gas
services, as residential projects demand
a higher usage for these services.
Berg: There are always living spaces
nearby where we want to put equip-
ment. Acoustics become a big issue in
the HVAC world, but we need to be
extra conscious of equipment selections,
locations, and acoustic- and vibration-
mitigation measures with living quarters
throughout. Make sure there is always
an acoustical engineer on the design
team for these types of projects to help
inform the MEP designs. Architects
and developers often want to move the
emergency generator to the roof so it
is out of the publics view and/or kept
out of subterranean parking to allow for
more spaces. Moving a generator out of
the garage would also help lessen HVAC
costs to get radiator exhaust and engine
exhaust out of the building. Locating on
the roof causes its own set of challenges,
necessitating fuel day tanks, rated shafts
for the fuel lines, and an expensive float-
ing slab to deal with vibrations during
generator exercising if its located on top
of living spaces.
Tai: For retrofit projects of multi-
family-dwelling buildings, the biggest
consideration is to minimize impact
to existing residents. This includes
the design, which would require the
least amount of work done within each
dwelling unit and the most work done
in common areas. Detailed to-the-
hour scheduling is required on a daily
basis to ensure that any work required
within residents spaces are completed,
so residents can return to their units as
scheduled. In a senior-living environ-
ment, infection control is another major
consideration.
CSE: Is your team using BIM in
conjunction with the architects,
trades, and owners to design a proj-
ect? Describe an instance in which
youve turned over the BIM model to
the owner for long-term operations
and maintenance.
Healy: Our experience on numerous
projects has been that the design model
was not shared with the construction
team. Whether for design-liability
reasons or otherwise, we just havent
www.csemag.com
seen the logical extension of sharing
the design model with contractors nor
have we had clients requiring this in
conventional design-bid-build projects.
This may change in design-build proj-
ects where the designer and the builder
have a contractual relationship that may
offset liability concerns.
Voth: All of our projects are delivered
in BIM. To date, we have not turned
a BIM model over to an owner in the
mixed-use market space, we have turned
BIM models over in our corporate and
higher education projects. We have typi-
cally taken the BIM model to LOD400
and then turned it over to the contractor
for the construction period.
Crutchfield: BIM has become the nor-
mal tool in the design of all buildings.
RMF has not delivered a job in CAD in
about 18 months. The next step in pull-
ing the most functionality out of BIM is
getting the long-term facility staff to use
the model as a tool in the operation of the
facility. A cultural shift is slowly unfold-
ing in which the facilities staff is outfitted
with the devices necessary to access and
use a BIM model. We suggest that each
projects closeout materials be provided
on an Apple iPad or laptop that is pre-
loaded with the BIM model and neces-
sary maintenance-scheduling software.
We have noticed that if we dont drive the
transfer of technology this way, the facility
staff will print a set of drawings as theyve
always done in the past. If there is a paper
set of drawings on the site, the electronic
documents may never be accessed again.
Tai: Traditionally, sprinkler designs
are completed using more special-
ized software, such as HydraCAD and
SprinkCAD. We are watching the trend
in using BIM closely and have switched
to AutoSprink, which is a software spe-
cially made for sprinkler design in 3-D
and is compatible with other BIM draw-
ings created in 3-D. At the end of the
project, the 3-D model showing the con-
trol valves and pump controls are turned
over to the owner(s) to allow them to
visually prepare for the required peri-
odic inspections.
www.csemag.com
CSE: What are some of the chal-
lenges incorporating the IoT into
facility design for existing build-
ings?
Healy: The IoT is, in theory, a great
concept. Personally, Ive adopted all
sorts of gizmos and gadgets that adjust
themselves based on whether Im home
or not, or that send me text messages
when my laundry is done. In owned
properties, the owner has complete
control over security and who has
access to settings and data. A chal-
$2,085,000:
Average total annual dollar amount
of fire and life safety systems
specified for new and existing
engineered multidwelling build-
ings, retail complexes, and/or
restaurants. Courtesy: Consulting-
Specifying Engineer 2016 Fire and
Life Safety Study
lenge in incorporating the IoT into
multitenant facility design is imple-
menting it in such a way that privacy
and security isnt compromised for
the tenants. Maintaining firewalls for
network security infrastructure and
personal privacy within multitenant
facilities will be a major roadblock in
implementing these technologies on a
larger scale.
Tai: For existing facilities, having
a fully addressable system would
sometimes mean complete replace-
ment of field wiring, as the type and
condition of existing wiring is not
compatible for addressable circuits.
Because the previously embedded
conduit and wire cannot be reused,
r unning new wiring throughout
the building can be costly and may
create unsightly conduits in open
spaces.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
CSE: When working on monitoring
and control systems in multifamily
dwellings and mixed-use buildings,
what factors do you consider?
Voth: Primarily, central system reli-
ability and performance; we typically do
not reach into the occupant level of con-
trol. We are seeing a trend to submeter
domestic water usage through the con-
trol systems. On higher-end work using
four pipe fan coil systems, we are using
the central control and monitoring sys-
tem to submeter energy usage for chilled
and hot water.
Crutchfield: We always try to keep
in mind that the staff charged with the
maintenance and control of a facility
could be any age and could operate at
a variety of skill levels. There could be
staff members who are fresh from a
trade school where they were trained
with an iPad and, therefore, have no
desire for paper sets of drawings or
operations and maintenance (O&M)
manuals. Or, there could be more sea-
soned staff members who have worked
on buildings for their entire careers
and have no desire to use any device
other than their personal cell phone
and a stack of manuals. Knowing that
our systems must be easy to maintain
by either type of person, using vastly
different methods of troubleshooting,
diagnosis, and repair is imperative to
having a building that functions prop-
erly.
Berg: Theres a lot of submetering
involved to charge tenants for the ener-
gy they use. On the HVAC side, these
larger projects typically all involve some
sort of central utility plant, and theres
a need for British thermal unit meters
for condenser, chilled, or hot water to
charge the tenants appropriately. Weve
worked with special submetering com-
panies to set up a system of monitoring
and billing the tenants for the energy
they use. Weve also set up all of the sub-
metering through the buildings direct
digital control system that the building
owner uses to generate the tenant billing
15
 MEP Roundtable
themselves. It all comes down to how Healy: When designing projects with- performed to help inform the architect
the operator would like to handle their in Chicago, the Chicago Energy Con- of envelope limitations and what impact
billing. So, well make sure we have that servation Code 2015 (CECC, which is desired envelope designs have on the
conversation with the operator early in a localized version of the International mechanical and lighting systems. The
the project to identify the desire and Energy Conservation Code; IECC) often additional costs of some of the needed,
design appropriately. plays a big role when deciding the type premium MEP systems to achieve a cer-
Tai: For retirement and care homes, of engineered systems to use or which tain envelope design could be enough for
we must take flexibility into consider- features must be included in a system. the architect to rethink glazing perfor-
ation when designing fire alarm sys- When using the CECC or IECC, engi- mance or design to remain within budget.
tems. For example, smoke-detector sen- neers should generally be well-versed in This comes up time and again on these
sitivity and fire alarm audibility must the exceptions that may apply to their large mixed-use projects, and we make
be field-adjustable to allow changes project to avoid specifying unnecessary sure were always keeping an eye on the
to be made based on each tenants liv- equipment that may add unneeded cost energy component from the conceptual
ing habits. As an example, for a tenant and operational complexity to a project. phase on through design. Well maintain
who is always baking, the smoke detec- Tai: In Canada, national building constant communication with the archi-
tor installed near the kitchen must be codes and fire codes are sometimes tect on where the building stands with
adjusted so that it does not always go adapted by provinces and made into regards to energy compliance.
into nuisance alarm every time the oven provincial building and fire codes. For
is opened. life safety system designs, the codes CSE: What are some solutions/
would reference other applicable Cana- best practices to ensure that mul-
CSE: Please explain some of the dian and international standards. Typi- tifamily dwellings and mixed-use
codes, standards, and guidelines cally, fire alarm designs are governed by buildings are in compliance with
you use during the design process. UL of Canada; standards and sprinkler codes and standards?
Which codes/standards should designs reference NFPA standards.
engineers be most aware of in their Berg: As energy codes get more Berg: Have a code consultant on
design of engineered systems in aggressive, ensure that initial and ongo- board early, meet in person with city
such projects? ing code-compliance calculations are and fire officials to get important deci-
sions made and understood by all par-
ties, and document everything.
Healy: One solution is to include an
integrated MEP coordination sheet at
the front of the MEP drawings where
all equipment requiring building
utilities are scheduled with their spe-
cific utility requirements. This table
ensures the designers and contrac-
tors know what disciplines need, to
make sure they are including neces-
sary services to all applicable equip-
ment. This sheet also can highlight
the applicable codes that may have an
impact on the design of those equip-
ment. Care should be taken to avoid
duplication and potential ensuing
conflicts between the drawings and
Figure 3: The Coastal Carolina University Student Housing project involved 333,100 specifications if one changes and the
sq ft of facility, accommodating a total of 1,270 beds in a series of stand-alone build- other isnt revised. However, there can
ings. Features specified by RMF Engineerings team included dedicated outdoor units also be references to the applicable
that provide code-required ventilation air and building make-up air including fan coils specification sections for each piece of
with heating and cooling coils, allowing for individual room climate control, wireless equipment to ensure the correct codes
and hard-wired internet connectivity, access control and security systems, high- and standards references are followed
efficiency laundry machines, and more. Courtesy: RMF Engineering without duplication.

16 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 www.csemag.com

input #8 at www.csemag.com/information
MEP Roundtable
Tai: For every jurisdiction, it is impor-
tant to know the applicable code that
applies to the multifamily dwellings
and mixed-use buildings. For example,
in Ontario, the retrofit requirement for
a retirement home would differ from
that for a residential rental building.
Authorities often overstep their author-
ity by requesting changes that are not
retroactively applied to some existing
buildings. If in doubt, always consult
with a code consultant.
CSE: How are codes, standards,
or guidelines for energy efficiency
impacting the design of such build-
ings?
Tai: Energy efficiency is now part of
the building code requirement in Ontar-
io. Even though it has not yet made a sig-
to meet current energy codes. Architects
are still designing many predominantly
glass buildings because the market really
demands it at the moment, but that glaz-
ing is high-performing, the accompany-
ing HVAC systems are extremely effi-
cient, and the connected lighting loads
and lighting controls are aggressive.
CSE: What new code or standard
do you feel will most impact mul-
tifamily dwellings and mixed-use

81%
of engineers most
frequently write performance fire
and life safety system specifica-
tions for engineered multidwelling
buildings, retail complexes, and/or
restaurants. Courtesy: Consulting-
Specifying Engineer 2016 Fire and
Life Safety Study
nificant impact to our design, the trend
is definitely moving toward achieving
it. For example, LED visual strobes will
soon replace the traditional high-inten-
sity strobes, which draw a lot of power.
This will, in turn, demand smaller
power supplies and smaller gauge field
wiring, leaving a much smaller ecologi-
cal footprint.
Berg: Higher-performing envelopes
and higher-performing HVAC and
lighting systems are being implemented
buildings? This may be a code that
your authority having jurisdiction
(AHJ) has not yet adopted, but you
feel will directly impact your work.
Berg: Three-story and less multi-
family new-construction buildings in
California will need to be designed to
net zero energy standards starting in
2020. Thats the next code cycle, but
many developers are not fully aware of

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input #9 at www.csemag.com/information
the requirements, so education needs
to occur with all parties in the market-
place.
Healy: With recent changes to the
LEED v4 rating system, more prop-
erty owners will begin pursuing LEED
ratings for buildings that are 4 stories
and higher, leading to different design
approaches than what currently occur.
The added flexibility in selecting wheth-
er to use the Multifamily Midrise or the
New Construction rating system will
reduce some of the past issues that made
multifamily certifications extremely
costly for owners and difficult to design
for architects and engineers.
Tai: With the increase in hybrid or
electrical vehicles on the road, a new
code requirement might be added for
charging stations inside the garage for
multifamily and mixed-use dwelling
buildings. There is still a lot of work
to be done to standardize the charg-
ing requirement between the many
automobile manufacturers, however,
before the building code can request
that charging stations be provided in
these multifamily-dwelling buildings.
CSE: What are some of the chal-
lenges for fire and life safety system
design for multifamily dwellings and
mixed-use buildings? How have you
overcome these challenges?
Tai: The conflicting requirements of
life safety versus security always pose
an interesting challenge. In a fire sce-
nario, all doors must be released to allow
for safe egress from the building, yet in
some secured areas, keeping the doors
secure is almost equally important to
stop patients from wandering off in case
of a nuisance alarm. We often introduce
a small time delay into the release of a
secured door, which would allow staff
input #10 at www.csemag.com/information
members of a nursing home to confirm
the fire condition and then be present
at this unsecured door to attend to the
needs of those in evacuation.
Berg: Space is always tight and valu-
able for high-rise multifamily build-
ings, so its often a challenge squeezing
in smoke exhaust and smoke-exhaust
make-up air shafts. Well often use a
make-up air shaft for double-duty and
provide space conditioning during nor-
mal operation through the same shaft.
CSE: Describe the cost and com-
plexity of fire protection systems
involved with such structures. Have
they changed over the years?
Voth: Fire protection systems have
dramatically changed when structures
exceed 340 ft in height. Current tech-
niques include a spare high-zone fire
pump and secondary-water street service.
 MEP Roundtable
Depending on the regional AHJ, storage facility, thus must use the egress eleva-
tanks for fire protection systems may be tors. Designated egress elevators are
required at the top of the building. installed in a 4-hour-rated shaft, with
Tai: The cost of the intelligent con- designated stops (i.e., every 10 or 15
trol systems for the multifamily dwell- stories) along the way, which are con-
ing and mixed-use building has gone up structed as fire-rated and pressurized
because of the sophisticated computing spaces. The elevator call button in
power of the control panels. However, these designated stops are connected
hardware cost for field wiring is reduced to the smoke detector in the corre-
due to the programmability of the sys- sponding elevator lobby, which would
tem components. Overall, the cost of the stop the egress elevator from stopping
fire protection system is only increased on this floor should the smoke detector
marginally over the years. The notice- be activated.
able increase in cost comes from the Voth: We are engineering dedicated
requirement that all sleeping rooms firefighter wireless communication
must be equipped with visual signaling systems in all of our supertall struc-
devices. tures; egress stairways are now suffi-
cient to let firefighters into the build-
CSE: In supertall, high-rise mul- ing while providing an egress path for
tifamily dwellings and mixed-use occupants.
buildings, what types of areas of ref-
uge, elevator egress, or other solu- CSE: What unique HVAC require-
tions have you implemented? ments do multifamily dwellings and
mixed-use buildings have that you
Tai: In a typical high-rise building, wouldnt encounter in other build-
smoke detectors are designed into ings?
every elevator lobby to allow eleva-
tors to return home on any fire condi- Healy: Once of the biggest dif-
tion. The smoke detector installed on ferences in multifamily residential
the home floor will send the elevators buildings with owned units (condo-
to their alternative home floor. In a miniums) versus other types of rental
supertall, high-rise building, occu- and commercial buildings is ensuring
pants cannot use the stairs to exit the that all systems for each unit are locally
Top 3 lights, lighting products used in engineered
multidwelling/retail complexes/restaurants
95%
73%
59%
LEDs Lighting controls,
controls T5,
T5 T8,
T8 or
addressable systems T12 (any size)
Figure 4: According to a recent research study, LEDs are the No. 1 product specified
in multidwelling/retail complexes/restaurants. Courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engi-
neer 2017 Lighting and Lighting Controls Study
powered and accessible and under the
control of the unit owner. Due to the
relatively small size of these units, the
HVAC equipment serving these units
are fairly small and generally not too
efficient, and theres no coordination
between units to allow diversity and
central system economies of scale.
Berg: We tend to end up with multi-
ple system types to suit the occupancy.
Im working on a mixed-use building
right now with a condenser-water sys-
tem serving multiple types of mechani-
cal units. We have water-source heat
pumps for the residential floors and
podium retail, water-cooled VRF for
hotel floors, vertical self-contained
water-cooled variable air volume for
office floors, and radiant in the lobby
areas that gets hot water and chilled
water produced by water-cooled VRF
systems.
CSE: Have you specified VRF sys-
tems, chilled beams, or other types
of HVAC systems into one of your
multifamily dwellings and mixed-use
buildings? If so, describe its chal-
lenges and solutions.
Berg: Weve used VRF on some
mixed-use buildings, typically for hotel
occupancies, but not for residential.
The preference of splitting up utili-
ties between residential tenants usu-
ally steers us toward water-source heat
pumps or chilled-water fan coil units to
more easily submeter energy usage via
British thermal unit meters.
Voth: We see a significant move
toward VRF in many of our multifam-
ily projects, especially when LEED cer-
tification is an objective. We typically
do not use chilled beams in any proj-
ects that include operable windows, as
the beams will sweat.
Healy: One of the biggest challenges
in implementing a large-scale VRF sys-
tem for a multifamily complex is man-
aging refrigerant loss that may occur
from the small pipe sizes and magni-
tude of fittings required to distribute

20 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 www.csemag.com

refrigerant throughout a large footprint. While investigating
existing installations, our firm has come upon VRF instal-
lations that were losing more than 100% refrigerant charge
each year. Consider installing refrigerant-monitoring sys-
tems in shafts or other areas where fittings may be concealed,
installing valves at branch controllers to isolate zones, and
using continuous-refrigerant line sets between branch con-
trollers and terminal units to reduce the likelihood of leak
points being buried within walls or ceilings. Refrigerant
piping will inevitably leak over time; make sure the design
solution will allow a property manager to find and seal those
leaks easily.

CSE: What types of DOAS are owners and facility

managers requesting to keep their facility air fresh?

Voth: As a standard of practice, we use a DOAS with

heat recovery including latent heat recovery on all of our
projects. We have been powering the relief fans on emer-
gency power to eliminate the need for fire/smoke damp-
ers throughout the building risers. We document subduct
connections in lieu of fire smoke dampers when the relief
fan is on emergency power.
Healy: For multifamily dwellings, facility managers have
often requested variable-volume DOAS with energy-recovery
plates. This allows them to reduce airflow when not needed
and recover energy between code-required toilet exhaust
and corridor make-up airstreams. For mixed-used facilities,
systems with DCV are often requested for commercial areas
to account for occupant loads using carbon dioxide sensors.
Facility managers are able to account for commercial vacancies
and varying occupancy throughout the day and week.

CSE: What unusual systems are owners requesting

that help save energy and/or electricity when a space is
unoccupied?

Tai: We have received a unique request from a building

owner who wants to have occupancy sensors on all exit
lights, such that the exit signs will turn off when the room
is unoccupied.
Berg: Weve used key cards in hotel rooms to shut off
lights and HVAC. Weve used occupancy sensors to reset
outside-air quantities and temperature setpoints. Demand-
control ventilation is pretty common in retail and food and
beverage spaces on podium levels to save energy when the
customer traffic is light.

Read more at
www.csemag.com about:
n Automation and controls
n Electrical and power
n Integration and interoperability.

input #11 at www.csemag.com/information

Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 21
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 Codes & Standards

ASHRAEs new energy standard

for data centers
ASHRAE Standard 90.4 is a flexible, performance-based energy
standard that goes beyond current ASHRAE 90.1 methodology.

BY BILL KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP, BEMP; exp, Chicago

The data center industry is fortunate to have
many dedicated professionals volunteering their
time to provide expertise and experience in the
development of new guidelines, codes, and stan-
dards. ASHRAE, U.S. Green Building Council,
and The Green Grid, among others, routinely call
on these subject matter experts to participate in
working committees with the purpose of advanc-
ing the technical underpinnings and long-term
viability of the organizations missions.
For the most part, the end goal of these work-
ing groups is to establish consistent, repeat-
able processes that will be applicable to a wide
range of project sizes, types, and locations. For
ASHRAE, this was certainly the case when it
came time to address the future of the ASHRAE
90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-
Rise Residential Buildings and how it applies to
data centers.
ASHRAE Standard 90.1 and data centers
ASHRAE 90.1 has become the de facto energy Learning
standard for U.S. states and cities as well as many objectives
countries around the world. Data centers are  Explain ASHRAE Standard
considered commercial buildings, so the use of 90.1.
ASHRAE 90.1 is compulsory to demonstrate  Understand the fundamen-
minimum energy conformance for jurisdictions tals of ASHRAE Standard 90.4.
requiring such. Specific to computer rooms,  Explore how ASHRAE
ASHRAE 90.1 has evolved over the last decade 90.4 will impact data center
and a half, albeit in a nonlinear fashion. The 2001, mechanical/electrical system
design.
2004, and 2007 editions of ASHRAE 90.1 all have
very similar language for computer rooms, except
for humidity control, economizers, and how the
baseline HVAC systems are to be developed. It is
not until the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 edition where
there are more in-depth requirements for com-
puter rooms.
For example, ASHRAE 90.1-2010 contains a
new term, sensible coefficient of performance

Dry-bulb temperature frequencies (Seattle, Wash.)

1,600
1,479
1,414
1,400 1,338
1,289
1,200 Hours
Annual hours

1,001
1,000
872
800
600 505
400 285
264
200 155
59 72
10 17
0
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Dry-bulb temperature bin (F)

Figure 1: In Washington State, climate analysis for Seattle shows relatively mild dry-bulb temperatures through the year with little
variation. All graphics courtesy: exp

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 23

 Codes & Standards
(SCOP), an energy benchmark used for
computer and data processing room
(CDPR) air conditioning units. The
construct of SCOP is dividing the net
sensible cooling capacity (in watts) by
the input power (in watts). The defini-
tion of SCOP and the detail on how the
But even before ASHRAE 90.1-2013 was released,
the data center community was pushing for
clearer criteria for energy-use compliance.
units are to be tested comes from the Air
Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration
Institute (AHRI) in conjunction with the
American National Standards Institute
(ANSI) and was published in AHRI/ANSI
Standard 1360: Performance Rating of
Computer and Data Processing Room Air
Conditioners.
With the release of ASHRAE 90.1-2013,
additional clarification, and requirements
related to data centers including informa-
tion for sizing water economizers and an
introduction of a new alternative compli-
ance path using power-usage effectiveness
(PUE) were included. As a part of the PUE
alternate compliance path, cooling, lighting,
power distribution losses, and information
technology (IT) equipment energy are to be
documented individually. But since the req-
uisites related to IT equipment (ITE) listed
in ASHRAE 90.1 were originally meant
for server closets or computer rooms that
consume only a piece of the energy of the
Dewpoint temperature frequencies (Seattle, Wash.)
2,500
2,000
1,500
Annual hours
1,000
800
600
400
200
104 160
2 18
0
10 15 20 25
Figure 2: Climate analysis for the city of Seattle shows dewpoint temperatures indicating elevated moisture levels.
24 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
total building, there were still difficulties in
demonstrating compliance. Yet there was
no slowdown in technology growth; proj-
ects began to slowly include full-sized data
centers with an annual energy usage greater
than the building in which they are housed.
Even with all the revisions and additions
to ASHRAE 90.1 relating to data centers,
there were still instances that proved dif-
ficult in applying ASHRAE 90.1 for energy-
use compliance.
Fortunately, as the data center com-
munity continued to evolve in sophisti-
cation in designing and operating highly
energy-efficient facilities, so did ASHRAE
90.1 with the release of the 2013 edition.
But even before ASHRAE 90.1-2013 was
released, the data center community was
pushing for clearer criteria for energy-use
compliance. It was crucial that these crite-
ria would not stifle innovation, but at the
same time provide logic and consistency on
how to comply with ASHRAE 90.1. Many
in the data center engineering community
(including ASHRAE) knew something
needed to change.
ASHRAE Standard 90.4-2016
Due to ASHRAE 90.1s history, (dat-
ing back to 1976) and its demonstrated
1,905 1,598
1,596
1,372
733
640
267
5
30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75
Dewpoint temperature bin (F)
effectiveness in reducing energy use in
buildings, several questions needed to be
addressed before new criteria could be
developed. What would be the best way
to develop new language for data center
facility energy use? Should it be an over-
lay to the existing standard? Should it be
a stand-alone document? Should it be
a stand-alone document and duplicate
all the language in ASHRAE 90.1? How
should the technical processes developed
by The Green Grid and U.S. Green Build-
ing Council be folded into the standard?
Would it be able to keep up with the fast-
paced technology developments that are
truly unique to data centers?
Fast-forward a few years and in mid-
2016, ASHRAE published ASHRAE 90.4-
2016: Energy Standard for Data Centers.
Coming in at just 68 pages, ASHRAE 90.4
doesnt seem to be as detailed as compared
with other standards released by ASHRAE
(ASHRAE 90.1 weighs in at just over 300
pages). But this is by designinstead of
trying to weave in data center-specific lan-
guage into the existing standard, ASHRAE
wisely chose to create a (mostly) stand-
alone standard that is only applicable to
data centers and contains references to
ASHRAE 90.1. These references mainly
are for building envelope, service-water
heating, lighting, and other requirements.
Using this approach avoids doubling up
on future revisions to the standard, mini-
mizes any unintended redundancies, and
ensures that the focus of ASHRAE 90.4
is exclusive to data center facilities. Also,
Hours
80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
www.csemag.com

issuing updates to ASHRAE 90.1 will
automatically update ASHRAE 90.4 for
the referenced sections. In the same way,
updates to ASHRAE 90.4 will not affect
the language in ASHRAE 90.1.
Using ASHRAE 90.1 will not automati-
cally require the use of ASHRAE 90.4. In
fact, since many local jurisdictions oper-
ate on a 3-year cycle for updating their
building codes, many are still using the
ASHRAE 90.1-2013 or earlier. The nor-
mative reference in ASHRAE 90.4 is
ASHRAE 90.1-2016; however, the final
say on an administrative matter like this
will always fall to the authority having
jurisdiction (AHJ).
Fundamentals of ASHRAE 90.4
ASHRAE 90.4 gives the engineer a
completely new method for determining
compliance. ASHRAE introduces new
terminology for demonstrating compli-
ance: design and annual mechanical load
component (MLC) and electrical-loss
components (ELC). ASHRAE is careful
to note that these values are not compara-
ble to PUE and are to be used only in the
context of ASHRAE 90.4. The standard
includes compliance tables consisting of
the maximum load components for each
of the 19 ASHRAE climate zones.
Assigning an energy efficiency target,
either in the form of design or an annual-
ized MLC to a specific climate zone, will
certainly raise awareness to the inex-
tricable link between climate and data
center energy performance (see Fig-
ures 1 and 2). Since strategies like using
elevated temperatures in the data center
and employing different forms of econo-
mization are heavily dependent on the
climate, an important goal is to increase
the appreciation and understanding of
these connections throughout the data
center design community.
Design mechanical-load component
MLC can be calculated in one of two
ways to determine compliance. The first
is a summation of the peak power of the
mechanical components in kilowatts,
as well as establishing the design load
of the IT equipment, also in kilowatts.
www.csemag.com
ASHRAE maximum MLC comparison
Calculated MLC
0.40
0.35
Annualized MLC
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
1A 1B 2A 2B
Figure 3: The calculated mechanical load component (MLC) values (in blue) show
an improved performance over the MLC values in ASHRAE 90.4 (in red). This
shows that it is feasible to outperform the minimum requirements and gain a bet-
ter understanding of how energy use can be reduced in specific climates using
smart design strategies.
ASHRAE 90.4 has a table of climate
zones with the respective design dry-
bulb and wet-bulb temperatures that are
to be used when determining the peak
mechanical system load. The calcula-
tion procedure is shown below. It must
be noted that when comparing the calcu-
lated values of design MLC, the analysis
must be done at both 100% and 50% ITE
load; both values must be less than or
equal to the values listed in Table 6.2.1
(design MLC) in ASHRAE 90.4.
Design MLC = [cooling design power (kW)
+ pump design power (kW)
+ heat rejection design fan power (kW)
+ air handler unit design fan power (kW)]
data center design ITE power (kW)
Annualized mechanical-load
component
The concepts used for the annu-
alized MLC path are like the design
MLC, except an hourly energy analysis
is required when using the annualized
MLC path.
This energy analysis must be done
using software designed for calculating
energy consumption in buildings and
must be accepted by the rating author-
ity. Some of the primary requirements of
the software include the dynamic char-
acteristics of the data center, inside and
outside.
The following are some of the software
requirements used in the modeling:
ASHRAE 90.4 maximum annualized MLC
3A 3B 3C 4A 4B 4C 5A 5B 5C 6A 6B 7
ASHRAE climate zone
 Test in accordance with ASHRAE
Standard 140: Standard Method of
Test for the Evaluation of Building
Energy Analysis Computer Programs.
 Able to evaluate energy-use status for
8,760 hours/year.
 Account for hourly variations in IT
load, which cascades down to electri-
cal system efficiency, cooling system
operation, and miscellaneous equip-
ment power.
 Include provisions for daily, weekly,
monthly, and seasonal building-use
schedules.
 Use performance curves for cool-
ing equipment, adjusting power use
based on outdoor conditions as well
as evaporator and condenser tem-
peratures.
 Calculate energy savings based on
economization strategies for air- and
water-based systems.
 Produce hourly reports that compare
the baseline HVAC system to a pro-
posed system to determine compli-
ance with the standard.
 Calculate required HVAC equipment
capacities and water- and airflow
rates.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 25
 Codes & Standards
Since ASHRAE 90.4 categorizes com-
pliance metrics based on climate zone, it
is imperative that the techniques used in
simulating the data centers energy use
are accurate based on the specific loca-
tion of the facility. As such, the
simulation software must perform the
One of the most
distinctive requirements
of data centers is
the high degree of
reliability.
analysis using climatic data including
hourly atmospheric pressure, dry-bulb
and dew point temperatures as well as
wet-bulb temperature, relative humid-
ity, and moisture content. This data is
available from different sources and in
the form of typical meteorological year,
(TMY2, TMY3), and EnergyPlus Weather
(EPW) files that are used as an input to
the main simulation program.
This compulsory hourly energy-use
simulation considers fluctuations in
mechanical system energy consumption,
particularly in cases where the equipment
is designed for some type of economizer
mode, as well as energy reductions in vapor-
compression equipment from reduced lift
due to outdoor temperature and moisture
levels. This approach seems to be the most
representative of determining the energy
performance of the data center, and since
it is based on already established means
of determining building energy use (i.e.,
hourly energy-use simulation techniques),
it also will be the most understandable.
Again, it must be noted that when com-
paring the calculated values of annualized
MLC, the analysis must be done at both
100% and 50% ITE load; both values must
be less than or equal to the values listed
in Table 6.2.1.2 (annualized MLC) in the
ASHRAE standard. It also is important to
note that both the design and annualized
MLC values are tied to the ASHRAE cli-
mate zones.
26 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
When energy use is calculated using
simulation techniques, it becomes obvious
that the energy used has a direct correla-
tion to the climate zone, primarily due to
the ability to extend economization strat-
egies for longer periods of time through-
out the year. If we compare calculated
annualized MLC values for data centers
with the MLC values in ASHRAE 90.4,
the ASHRAE requirements are relatively
flat when plotted across the climate zones.
This means the calculated MLC values in
this example have energy-use efficien-
cies that are in excess of the minimum
required by the standard (see Figure 3).
Annual MLC = [cooling design energy (kWh)
+ pump design energy (kWh)
+ heat rejection design fan energy (kWh)
+ air handler unit design fan energy (kWh)]
data center design ITE energy (kWh)
Design electrical-loss component
Using the ASHRAE 90.4 approach to
calculate the ELC defines the electrical
system efficiencies and losses. For the
purposes of ASHRAE 90.4, the ELC con-
sists of three parts of the electrical system
architecture:
1. Incoming electrical service
segment
2. Uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) segment
3. ITE distribution segment.
The segment for electrical distribution
for mechanical equipment is stipulated to
have losses that do not exceed 2%, but is
not included in the ELC calculations. All
the values for equipment efficiency must
be documented using the manufacturers
data, which must be based on standardized
testing using the design ITE load. The final
submittal to the rating authority (the orga-
nization or agency that adopts or sanctions
the results of the analysis) must consist of
an electrical single-line diagram and plans
showing areas served by electrical systems,
all conditions and modes of operation used
in determining the operating states of the
electrical system, and the design ELC cal-
culations demonstrating compliance. Tables
8.2.1.1 and 8.2.1.2 in ASHRAE 90.4 list the
maximum ELC values for ITE loads less
than 100 kW and greater than or equal to
100 kW, respectively. The tables show the
maximum ELC for the three segments indi-
vidually as well as the total.
The electrical distribution systems
efficiency impacts the data centers over-
all energy efficiency in two ways: the
lower the efficiency, the more incoming
power is needed to serve the IT load. In
addition, more air conditioning energy
is required to cool the electrical energy
dissipated as heat.
ASHRAE 90.4, Section 6.2.1.2.1.1, is
explicit on how this should be handled:
The systems UPS and transformer cool-
ing loads must also be included in [the
MLC], evaluated at their correspond-
ing part-load efficiencies. The standard
includes an approach on how to evaluate
single-feed UPS systems (e.g., N, N+1,
etc.) and active dual-feed UPS systems
(2N, 2N+1, etc.). The single-feed systems
must be evaluated at 100% and 50% ITE
load. The dual active-feed systems must
be evaluated at 50% and 25% ITE load, as
these types of systems will not normally
operate at a load greater than 50%.
Addressing reliability
of systems and equipment
One of the distinctive design require-
ments of data centers is the high degree of
reliability. One manifestation of this is the
use of redundant mechanical equipment.
The redundant equipment will come online
when a failure occurs or when maintenance
is required without compromising the origi-
nal level of redundancy.
Different engineers use different
approaches based on their clients needs.
Some will design in extra cooling units,
pumps, chillers, etc. and have these pieces
of equipment running all the time, cycling
units on and off as necessary. Other designs
might have equipment to handle more strin-
gent design conditions, such as ASHRAE
0.4% climate data (dry-bulb temperatures
corresponding to the 0.4% annual cumula-
tive frequency of occurrence).
www.csemag.com

And yet others will use variable-speed motors to vary
water and airflow, delivering the required cooling based on
a changing ITE load. Since these design approaches are quite
different from one another, Table 6.2.1.2.1.2 in ASHRAE 90.4
provides methods for calculating MLC compliance under
these scenarios.
Performance-based approach
ASHRAE 90.4 uses a performance-based approach rather
than a prescriptive one to accommodate the rapid change in
data center technology and to allow for innovation in develop-
ing energy efficiency cooling solutions. Some of the provisions
seem to especially encourage innovative solutions including:
 Onsite renewables or recovered energy. The standard
allows for a credit to the annual energy use if onsite
renewable energy generation is used or waste heat is
recovered for other uses. Data centers are ideal can-
didates for renewable energy generation, as the load
can be constant through the course of the daytime and
nighttime hours. Also, when water-cooled computers
are used with high-discharge water temperatures, the
water can be used for building heating, boiler-water
preheating, snow melting, or other thermal uses.
 Derivation of MLC values. The MLC values in the
tables in ASHRAE 90.4 are considered generic to allow
multiple systems to qualify for the path. The MLC
values are based on systems and equipment currently
available in the marketplace from multiple manufactur-
ers. This is the benchmark for minimum compliance
that must be met. But ideally, the project would go
beyond the minimum and demonstrate even greater
energy-reduction potential.
 Design conditions. The annualized MLC values for air
systems are based on a delta T (temperature rise of the
supply air) of 20F and a return-air temperature of 85F.
However, the proposed design is not bound to these
values if the design temperatures are in agreement with
the performance characteristics of the coils, pumps, fan
capacities, etc. This provision from the standard gives
the engineer a lot of room to innovate and propose
nontraditional designs, such as water cooling of the
ITE.
 Trade-off method. Sometimes mechanical and electri-
cal systems have constraints that may disqualify them
from meeting the MLC or ELC values on their own
merit. The standard allows, for example, a less efficient
mechanical system to be offset by a more efficient elec-
trical system and vice versa. Another benefit of using
this approach comes from the mechanical and
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 27
62% of engineers identified energy efficiency to
be a critical challenge affecting the future of HVAC sys-
tems in data centers. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engi-
neer 2015 HVAC and Building Automation Systems Study
electrical engineer having to collaborate by going
through an iterative, synergistic design process.
Publishing ASHRAE 90.4-2016 is a watershed momentto
date, there has not been a code-ready, technically robust approach
to characterize mechanical and electrical system designs to judge
conformance to an energy standard. This is no small feat, con-
sidering that data center mechanical/electrical systems can have
a wide variety of design approaches, especially as the data cen-
ter industry continues to develop more efficient ITE requiring
novel means of power and cooling. And since ASHRAE 90.4 is a
separate document from ASHRAE 90.1, as computer technology
changes, the process to augment/revise ASHRAE 90.4 should be
less difficult because they are two separate documents. While
certainly not perfect, ASHRAE 90.4 is a major step along the path
of ensuring energy efficiency in data centers.
Bill Kosik is a senior mechanical engineer at exp in Chicago. Kosik
is a member of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial advi-
sory board.
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 Codes & Standards

The development of ASHRAE 90.4:

Energy Standard for Data Centers
ASHRAE 90.4 is a new energy standard for data centers that
calls for meeting minimum efficiency requirements.

BY JOHN YOON, PE, LEED AP ID+C, McGuire Engineers Inc., Chicago

W
hen addendum bu was added to
ASHRAE 90.1-2007: Energy Stan-
dard for Buildings Except Low-
Rise Residential Buildings in 2010, it caught
the data center industry off-guard. While data
center operators had a considerable amount of
representation on the ASHRAE TC9.9: Mis-
sion Critical Facilities, Data Centers, Technol-
ogy Spaces and Electronic Equipment technical
committee that shapes the environmental stan-
dards for data centers, the ASHRAE 90.1 Stand-
ing Standards Project Committee (SSPC 90.1)
was something else altogether. This addendum
added significant prescriptive requirements to
ASHRAE 90.1 for air- and water-side economiz-
ers in data center HVAC systems.
Up until that point, data center HVAC sys-
tems were effectively exempt from energy code Figure 1: This is a photo of multiple condensing units on the roof of an older
requirements. The major players in the data cen- colocation facility. The power usage of these condensing units would count
ter industry reacted strongly to these changes toward the heat-rejection peak fan-power portion of the mechanical load com-
and the resulting firestorm served to help shape ponent. All graphics courtesy: McGuire Engineers Inc.
future standards development, namely ASHRAE
90.4-2016 Energy Standard for Data Centers. The major change attributed to addendum bu Learning
was the addition of economizer requirements for objectives
What was 90.1-2007 addendum bu? cooling systems with fans that serve computer
 Explain ASHRAE 90.4:
Addendum bu added a new definition to rooms. This more or less aligned data centers Energy Standard for Data
ASHRAE 90.1: computer room. This defini- with requirements for HVAC systems in other Centers.
tion was as follows: types of buildings and affected sections 6.4.1.1,  Explore the performance
A room whose primary function is to house 6.5.1, and Table 6.8.1H within ASHRAE 90.1- requirements of ASHRAE
equipment for the processing and storage of 2007. There were several exceptions to the econ- 90.4 versus the prescriptive
electronic data and that has a design electronic omizer requirement including when: requirements of ASHRAE
90.1-2007, addendum bu.
data equipment power density exceeding 20 W/
 Calculate energy efficiency
sq ft of conditioned floor area.  The total combined design load of all
in data centers.
This definition has been altered substantially computer rooms in a building is less
in recent versions of the code, which will be than 3,000,000 Btu/h (250 tons) and not
discussed. chilled-water cooled.

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 29

 Codes & Standards
n If chilled-water cooled, the room
design load is less than 600,000
Btu/h (50 tons).
n Less than 600,000 Btu/h (50 tons)
of computer room cooling is being
added to an existing building.
n The authority having jurisdiction
(AHJ) does not allow cooling tow-
ers.
n Where at least 75% of the design
load is critical in nature (i.e.,
NEC Article 708: Critical Opera-
tions Power Systems, Tier IV data
centers, data centers that process
financial transactions, etc.).
The economizer provision affected
every climate zone except for zones 1A
and 1B (in the United States, typically only
tropical regions, such as the southern tip
Figure 2: A step-down transformer within
a server room power distribution unit is
shown. The inefficiency associated with
the transformer would count toward the
ITE distribution segment loss portion
of electrical loss component.
30 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
of Florida, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Hawaii
are in these climates zones).
Why did the data center
industry object to bu?
While the foreword to the addendum
clearly outlined ASHRAEs justification
for the new requirements and exceptions
contained in it, the data center industry
still had unusually strong objections. The
primary issue was that the requirements
were prescriptive, mandating specific
design solutions. The data center indus-
trys argument was that in a product
sector experiencing explosive growth/
change, they should not be limited with
prescriptive requirements that stifle tech-
nical innovation. Rather, the preference
was that the requirements be perfor-
mance-based and focus solely on quan-
tifying energy efficiency, not the exact
methods used to achieve that efficiency.
The data center industrys most public
response to addendum bu was published
on Googles public policy blog in April
2010. Google traditionally reserves use
of this widely read forum for official
commentary on privacy, net neutrality,
anti-trust, and similar major regulatory
topics. This open-letter response was
signed by the whos who of the data cen-
ter industry. ASHRAE did issue a formal
response to the open letter, maintaining
that the new exceptions in combination
with alternative compliance paths, such
as the energy cost budget method, rea-
sonably addressed those concerns. By
this point, however, the lines had already
been drawn between the two groups.
Why did efficiency requirements
suddenly apply to data centers?
Like all new codes and standards,
nothing happens quickly. Changes are
generally the result of a long, deliber-
ate sequence of events. ASHRAE has
long considered addressing data center
energy efficiency in ASHRAE 90.1. In
August 2007, the EPA issued a report
on data center energy efficiency to the
U.S. Congress. The key takeaway from
this report was that the nations data
centers were responsible for about 1.5%
(61 billion kWh) of total U.S. electrical
consumption in 2006. The report further
forecasted that this use would double by
2012. Now with the issue quantified, the
wheels of change could be set in motion.
Given this dramatic projected increase
in energy usage, adoption of new energy
efficiency requirements would be justi-
fiable per the key provisions of federal
energy efficiency legislation in effect at
that time, the Energy Policy and Con-
servation Act of 1975 (EPCA) and the
Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct).
Those projections ended up being
wrong. Based on a Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory report issued 9 years
later in 2016, usage did not increase near-
ly as dramatically as predicted. Instead of
doubling, data center electrical usage was
estimated at about 1.8% (70 billion kWh)
of total 2014 U.S. electrical consumption.
This represents only a 15% increase from
2006 levels.
Ironically, the forecasting error is
mostly attributed to the emergence of
hyperscale/cloud data centerswhich
include many of the signatories to
Googles open letter who have since
embraced forms of air and water econo-
mizers in a significant percentage of their
data centers. Google, in fact, has managed
to reduce its fleetwide trailing 12-month
power-usage effectiveness (TTM PUE) in
2016 to 1.12, even when using fairly con-
servative metrics.
The emergence of ASHRAE 90.4
Traditionally, energy codes have
addressed only HVAC systems used for
comfort cooling and heating and left
out requirements for systems related to
process cooling/heating. With the afore-
mentioned conflicts over new data cen-
ter efficiency requirements starting with
the addendum to 90.1-2007, members of
the technical committee for TC9.9 initi-
ated a new standard in response to those
perceived shortcomings. After almost 5
years of work, the result was ASHRAE
90.4-2016: Energy Standard for Data
Centers.
www.csemag.com
Figure 3: A generalized formula for how to calculate the electrical loss component (ELC). For systems with redundant paths of
power, the worst-case path must be included in the calculation. Also, any equipment efficiencies used for this calculation must
also consider the level of redundancy. For example, the efficiency of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) at 100% load cannot
be used if it is part of a 2N redundant system where, under normal conditions, the UPS will never see a load of more than 50%.
Similar to the mechanical load component, the ELC calculations have to be made for 100% and 50% IT equipment load.

Even though ASHRAE 90.4 was a con-
sensus standard with input from numer-
ous industry groups, there was still sig-
nificant heated debate, specifically over
minimum acceptable efficiency levels
and associated measurement metrics.
One of the first hurdles was agreeing
on a formal definition for a data center.
As mentioned previously, addendum bu
had added an unusually broad definition
for a computer room. Based on that ear-
lier definition, there would be no useful
distinction between an intermediate dis-
tribution frame (IDF) closet in an office
building and a large, hyperscale data
center. The proposed addendum cs to
ASHRAE 90.1-2010 laid the groundwork
for ASHRAE 90.4 by attempting to revise
the definition of computer rooms. That
addendum also introduced a new defi-
nition, data center, to which ASHRAE
90.4 now applies. Those two definitions
have since been revised in subsequent
addenda to ASHRAE 90.1.
The final definitions as incorporated
into ASHRAE 90.4 make a distinction
between these two occupancy types by
adding power usage thresholds for each.
The revised definition in ASHRAE 90.4
for a computer room is as follows:
A room or portions of a building serv-
ing an information technology equipment
(ITE) load less than or equal to 10 kW or
20 W/sq ft or less of conditioned floor area.
A data center is defined by ASHRAE
90.4 as follows:
A room, building, or portions thereof,
including computer rooms being served
by the data center systems, serving a total
ITE load greater than 10 kW or 20 W/sq
ft of conditioned floor area.
This distinction is important. ASHRAE
90.1 still applies to computer rooms but
does not apply to the mechanical and
electrical distribution systems in data
centers. However, ASHRAE 90.1 still
applies to other portions of data centers,
namely envelope, service-water heating,
and lighting. Neither standard applies to
mechanical and electrical equipment in
telephone exchanges or essential facilities
(i.e., NEC Article 708 Critical Operations
Power Systems, Tier IV data centers, data
centers that process financial transac-
tions, etc.).
Efficiency is meaningless if
you cant calculate it
A primary point of contention during
the writing of ASHRAE 90.4 was how to
quantify minimum efficiency require-
ments. The Green Grid Association,
a consortium of data center industry
companies that works to improve the
efficiency of data centers worldwide,
developed a metric known PUE. PUE
is a ratio that quantifies the relationship
between the energy specifically used by
ITE and the total energy used by a data
center. It is the most widely accepted effi-
ciency metric in the industry. However, it
has a few shortcomings:
 It indicates nothing about the
efficiency of the ITE itself. Since
it does not consider productivity
(how much compute processing
capability per unit of data center
input power or percentage usage
of computer server equipment),
underused ITE can skew the energy
profile of the overall facility.
 While it is useful in provid-
ing insight to how energy usage
changes in response to changes
in a data centers infrastructure
(deployment of new servers,
changes to how air conditioning
equipment is operated, etc.), it is
based on actual measured energy
usage of an active data center. It
can change dramatically based on
changes in uncontrollable factors
(i.e., server use, weather, etc.). It
is not especially useful for theo-
retical baseline calculations per-
formed during the initial design of
the data center.
 Depending on the Green Grid level
of metering (where or how it is

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 31

 Codes & Standards
measured), you may not capture all
measured energy consumption in a
way that is directly comparable to
otherwise similar facilities.
The ASHRAE 90.4 committee initially
tried, during early draft revisions of the
In place of PUE, ASHRAE 90.4
brought forth two new metrics,
electrical loss component
(ELC) and mechanical load
component (MLC).
standard, to apply a concept that they also
called PUE, but potential confusion over
comparisons to the Green Grid version of
PUE eventually led to the elimination of
PUE nomenclature from ASHRAE 90.4.
In place of PUE, ASHRAE 90.4
brought forth two new metrics, electrical
loss component (ELC) and mechanical
load component (MLC). A conscientious
decision was made to address mechanical
system and electrical distribution system
efficiencies separately. The ultimate goal
of separating the two was to provide more
design flexibility. If either the mechani-
cal or electrical systems didnt meet the
minimum efficiency level required by
the standard, an alternative compli-
ance path could be used where trade-
offs would be allowed. For example,
if replacement of a major portion of
the electrical distribution system (i.e.,
deployment of a new larger uninter-
ruptible power supply; UPS) triggered
a compliance requirement for an exist-
ing facility, replacement of an other-
wise functional existing mechanical
system that didnt meet the minimum
required efficiency could potentially be
avoided by an offsetting increase in the
efficiency of that new electrical distri-
bution equipment.
The associated minimum-efficiency
threshold levels were structured to
effectively create an 80/20 policy where,
after trade-offs are considered, gener-
ally only the bottom 20% of existing
facilities will be forced into upgrades.
Electrical loss component
ELC quantifies the inefficiencies/
losses of different parts of the electrical
distribution system, from the utility ser-
vice entrance all the way through to the
receptacle at the ITE cabinet. The ELC
value is the percent loss (i.e., a 75% over-
all efficiency equates to an ELC of 0.25).
There are three distinct segments of
this power path defined by ASHRAE
90.4 as follows:
 Incoming electrical-service seg-
ment (from the utility service
disconnect/demarcation to the UPS
input)
 UPS segment (limited to the UPS
equipment and any associated
paralleling gear for multimodule
designs)
 ITE distribution segment (from
the UPS output to the end of the
branch circuit at the point of use/
receptacle including all trans-
formers/power distribution units,
remote power panels, busduct,
branch conductors, etc.)
The focus here is solely on the portion
of the electrical distribution system that
delivers power to the data center ITE
load. If multiple paths to the ITE exist,
the pathway with the greatest losses needs
to be used in the calculation. However,
losses attributed to the portion of the
electrical distribution system serving
associated supporting systems (com-
puter room air conditioning units,
chillers, lighting, etc) are not included
in ELC. Also, emergency/standby gen-
erator systems that are normally off
are not considered as part of ELC cal-
culations.

Figure 4: A generalized formula for how to calculate the mechanical load component (MLC). Note that the power for each system
is the maximum design value as required to support design ITE load at the outdoor weather conditions for the appropriate climate
zone. MLC must be calculated for the mechanical systems at both 100% and 50% IT equipment loads. An alternative MLC formula
considers annualized power usage (kWh instead of kW for each system), which may be more advantageous where energy model-
ing/hourly simulation can prove reduced energy usage.

32 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 www.csemag.com

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input #15 at www.csemag.com/information
 Codes & Standards
The ELC calculation for the UPS seg-
ment also recognizes that efficiency is
affected by the physical size of the UPS
system and by the level of redundancy.
For example, it is expected that in a fully
redundant 2N UPS system, neither UPS
will be loaded to more than 50% under
normal operating conditions. A lightly
loaded UPS will generally be less effi-
cient than a more heavily loaded UPS
with less redundancy. As such, maxi-
mum allowable ELC values as detailed
in tables 8.2.1.1 and 8.2.1.2 include the
following considerations:
 Is total ITE design load either less
than or greater than 100 kW?
 Is UPS system configuration single-
feed (N, N+1, etc.) or dual-feed
with two distinct output busses
(2N, 2N+1, etc.)?
ELC calculations must be made at
two different load points (100% and
50% of the load expected at each UPS).
For example, ELC calculations for a 1N
UPS would be made at 100% and 50%,
and those for a 2N UPS would be made
at 50% and 25%.
Mechanical load component
MLC takes a slightly different calcu-
lation approach than ELC. MLC is the
sum of all data center HVAC equipment
power usage (including humidification,
if present) divided by the baseline ITE
design power. Unlike ELC, where the
overall system is subdivided into three
parts, the distinction is de-emphasized
between individual data center HVAC
system components.
Rather, the overall power usage of the
data centers HVAC system is the key
metric here. The only consideration is
that the maximum acceptable MLC value
changes depending on the climate zone
in which the facility is located. This may
make certain HVAC technologies that are
more effective in certain climate zones
more attractive. Regardless, this focus
on the system rather than the individual
34 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
components effectively makes MLC
performance-based and not prescrip-
tive, which addresses some of the
intense criticism directed at the adden-
dum bu for ASHRAE 90.1.
To give the design team more flex-
ibility, there are two MLC compliance
pathspower and energy. ASHRAE 90.4
does not mandate that one or the other
be used in specific situations. Rather, the
decision concerning which path is more
appropriate is left to the design team. The
power-compliance path calculates peak
MLC at both 100% and 50% ITE design
loads (kW). The energy path calculates
annualized MLC at both 100% and 50%
ITE design loads (kWh). Ultimately, the
determining factor for which path is more
appropriate lies in whether seasonal vari-
ability in weather at the data center loca-
tion will hurt or help overall HVAC sys-
tem efficiency.
How existing facilities are addressed
The very first question that many cli-
ents will nervously ask is if ASHRAE 90.4
applies to their existing data center. The
answer is a definite maybe. Since this
is a new standard, it is unclear exactly
how individual AHJs will interpret and
apply it. Some of the language, especially
as it pertains to alterations, is somewhat
confusing. However, ASHRAE 90.4 does
attempt to make a distinction between
new data centers, additions to existing
data centers, and finally, alterations to
existing data centers. The applicability
is as follows:
 All provisions of ASHRAE 90.4
apply to new data centers.
 ASHRAE 90.4 applies to an addi-
tion only if it increases area or con-
nected load by 10% or more.
 Alterations shall comply, provided
that compliance will not result in
the increase of energy consump-
tion for the building. An alteration
is defined as replacement not in
kind.
62% of engineers identi-
fied energy efficiency to be a criti-
cal challenge affecting the future
of HVAC systems in data centers.
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engi-
neer 2015 HVAC and Building Auto-
mation Systems Study
When will ASHRAE 90.4 take effect?
SSPC 90.4s original goal was to have
the issuance of ASHRAE 90.4 to coincide
with the release of ASHRAE 90.1-2016.
However, after the first public review of
ASHRAE 90.4, more than 600 comments
were received in 45 days. While the
sheer volume of comments was not
totally unexpected, it did slow down the
adoption process.
Per the ANSI requirements for a
consensus-based standard-making pro-
cess, any issues raised during the public
commentary period must be formally
addressed prior to acceptance of the
standard. Ultimately, this meant that final
approval was delayed until mid-2016.
While placeholders referencing ASHRAE
90.4 were incorporated into ASHRAE 90.1-
2016, it is unclear if ASHRAE 90.4 will be
adopted by the International Code Coun-
cil (ICC) during the current code-devel-
opment cycle for inclusion in the 2018
International Energy Conservation Code
(IECC). Proposals for inclusion by refer-
ences were brought before the ICC 2016
Group B Committee last year, but were
rejected. The reason for rejection wasnt
necessarily because of any inherent flaw in
ASHRAE 90.4. Rather, the standard was
new and had not been reviewed. Regard-
less, if the prevailing energy code in a par-
ticular jurisdiction is IECC, it is question-
able that ASHRAE 90.4 will be enforced
any time in the immediate future for those
locations.
John Yoon is a lead electrical engineer at
McGuire Engineers Inc. and is a member
of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer
editorial advisory board.
www.csemag.com
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 Integration: electrical
and HVAC systems
Integration of electrical and HVAC systems requires both careful
design and integrated controls. This type of system integration can
provide a more energy-efficient building.
BY HANS GRABAU, PE, NV5, Las Vegas
Learning
objectives
 Understand how build-
ing systems can be inte-
grated, such as electrical and
mechanical systems.
 Learn about building man-
agement systems and build-
ing automation systems.
 Assess ways to integrate
engineered systems to
achieve greater energy effi-
ciency in buildings.
36 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
T
echnology has changed the
way modern buildings are
designed and operated. It
has improved the reliabil-
ity and efficiencies of the
modern electrical and mechanical sys-
tems. Equipment is more efficient due
to advanced component design and the
incorporation of onboard computer con-
trols and logic.
Building management systems (BMS)
are more advanced than ever and can
operate the systems to much tighter
tolerances. The improvements have
changed the way todays engineers can
design and operate buildings to maxi-
mize energy consumption and minimize
their impact on the environment.
To achieve these goals, the various
building systems must operate together
instead of working as stand-alone sys-
tems. Integration has compelled electri-
cal and mechanical engineers to work
more closely together during the various
design phases so they can incorporate
the required tools and logic to seamlessly
operate the modern smart building.
The integrated design team
For many years, projects were designed
by teams comprised of architects and
engineers (civil, structural, fire/life safe-
ty, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical).
This team approach worked well for most
projects because the design expertise was
contained within the group. The design
team was a stand-alone component that
had limited exposure with the construc-
tion team and the owner once the build-
ing was in operation. This relationship is
illustrated in Figure 2.
Although each team was coordinat-
ing internally, the coordination efforts
between the design team, contractor,
and owner were disjointed and discon-
nected. This resulted in buildings that
were designed with specific efficiency
measures but constructed with systems
that were more cost-effective than base
design, which resulted in them not
operating according to the original
design intent.
This dynamic needed to change as
buildings became more complex due to
advancements in technology, building
materials, and construction methods. It
was necessary for the traditional design
team to expand and seek advice from
specialized consultants who work for the
architect (acoustics, vertical transporta-
tion, building envelope, audio/video,
security and surveillance, information
technologies, etc.) and nontraditional
resources that work for the owner.
As building systems become more
advanced and energy consumption
becomes a prime driver in system design,
it is imperative that the systems operate
www.csemag.com
Figure 1: Modern central utility plants (as shown on the cover) are purpose-built spaces that house large heating, cooling, and power
equipment. These systems are critical to the building performance and requires extensive coordination among trades to insure prop-
er operation, fit, and service clearances. Using data analysis to right size building loads during design can have a significant impact
on the cost of the building and the equipment. All graphics courtesy: NV5

according to the design intent. Building
owners have been turning to commis-
sioning agents (CxA; often called com-
missioning providers, or CxP), energy
engineers, and in some cases, various
specialized trade contractors to certify
the actual system operation meets the
design specifications. In the past, these
consultants and contractors were typi-
cally hired by the owner and operated
independently of the design team.
In recent years, however, the vari-
ous experts have become involved early
in the design process and are integral
members of any successful design team.
This model has become so successful that
many engineering firms have hired these
consultants and contractors to provide an
expanded service offering to their clients.
Allowing these specialists to participate
in the early phases of design is key to
delivering a successful smart building to
the owner.
These specialized disciplines can assist
the engineers by providing operational
feedback during design that can greatly
influence how systems are sized, config-
ured, and operated. This feedback can
include but is not limited to:
 Review of sequence of operations
to incorporate practical experience
 Preliminary electrical, heating,
and cooling load profiles based on
region and building type
 Estimated energy consumption for
proposed systems to identify the
most efficient system option
 Financial models to assist the
owner in making informed deci-
sions
 Review of equipment submittals to
assist the engineers in identifying
variances
 Review and analysis of potential
value-engineering (VE) solutions
proposed by trade partners.
The feedback loop between opera-
tions and design allows the integrated
team to operate under a different model
that includes more communication and
coordination throughout the entire life-
cycle of the building (see Figure 2). The
operation-driven design model facili-
tates sharing of information between
the design team, contractor, and owner.
The model produces a building with
integrated systems that are operated as
they were designed and to peak efficien-
cy. As the building ages, the operational
feedback is used to tweak the systems to
improve efficiency or identify areas of
the building that may require mainte-
nance or upgrades.
Coordination during the
design phases
The design effort required to success-
fully integrate the building electrical and
mechanical systems cannot be viewed
as a single checkbox in the designers
to-do list. Integration must be a con-
scious effort among the various design
professionals involved in the project. As
each member of the team begins their
respective designs, information needs
to pass freely from one discipline to the
other. Coordination between the engi-
neers must be intentional to deliver the
appropriate information at the right time
so as to minimize mistakes and prevent
wasted effort.
For example, as the electrical engi-
neer begins to conceptualize the electri-
cal distribution system, that engineer
will need to understand the impact that
the mechanical systems will have on

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 37

 Integrating electrical, HVAC systems
the electrical infrastructure serving the
building. What are the estimated equip-
ment loads? Where are the loads located?
How does the equipment operate? The
electrical engineer can make assump-
tions based on experience, but will need
the input of the mechanical engineer to
finalize the design.
As buildings systems become more
advanced, collaboration during each
phase of design is crucial to the success-
ful delivery of a high-performing build-
ing. It is even more critical when design
services are provided by multiple firms
or the design is dependent on the input
from architects and other specialized
The schematic design (SD) phase of the project is the
starting point for every design and is the time where the
electrical and mechanical engineers begin to conceptualize
the building systems to meet the project needs.
consultants. To make the collaboration
effort meaningful, each member of the
design team needs to understand what
information is important to the other
designers and when it is required.
Schematic design phase
The schematic design (SD) phase of
the project is the starting point for every
design and is the time where the elec-
trical and mechanical engineers begin
to conceptualize the building systems
to meet the project needs. The intent of
this phase is to investigate various system
options and arrive at a clearly defined
concept that meets the owners objec-
tives. The SD phase defines the param-
eters that will influence how the building
systems are sized and configured.
The concept design is typically con-
veyed through a basis-of-design (BOD)
narrative and large-scale drawings that
can demonstrate basic spaces, scale,
and relationship of components. Once
approved, this concept will guide the
engineers through the design evolution
of the various building systems.
38 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
During the SD phase, the electrical and
mechanical engineers begin to investigate
different system options that meet the needs
of the project. Each discipline starts to per-
form calculations and develop technical
schematics to define the various options.
Expected engineering tasks that
require coordination and input from
others at this stage are:
n Review applicable building codes,
building certifications (LEED,
Green Globes, Energy Star, etc.),
and design standards to identify
impacts on the proposed building
systems.
n Determine the level of energy
performance based on building-
use type and define key metrics,
such as energy use intensity or
power usage effectiveness.
n Estimate electrical loads for the
project and begin coordination
with the civil engineer and electri-
cal utility.
n Estimate mechanical loads
(heating, cooling, water, sewer,
and gas) and begin coordination
with the civil engineer and utility
companies.
n Preliminary sizing of electrical
and mechanical equipment.
n Preliminary sizing of required
plant rooms.
n Preliminary electrical single-line
distribution.
Coordination efforts between the vari-
ous disciplines should begin to ensure
that the proposed systems can integrate.
At this point, much of the coordination
is kept within the mechanical, electri-
cal, and plumbing (MEP) design team.
Critical information required to prelimi-
narily size the electrical and mechanical
systems include:
n Estimated electric loads for the
major mechanical equipment
(chillers, cooling towers, pumps, air
handling units, large fan systems)
n Estimated heat-rejection rates of
major electrical equipment (substa-
tions, transformers, uninterrupt-
ible power supplies, also known as
UPS)
n Preliminary locations of major
electrical and mechanical equip-
ment
n Available power and voltage
n Estimated UPS and generator loads
(if applicable).
Design development phase
The design development (DD) phase
of the project expands upon the concepts
developed in the SD phase. The design-
team members begin to focus more time
on developing the technical aspects of the
building systems and material specifica-
tions. At the same time, open issues iden-
tified at the completion of the SD phase
can now be addressed and resolved.
The refinement of the system con-
cepts and increased coordination help
to minimize the possibility of major
system revisions during the next phase
of design. During this process, the rela-
tionship between each system and its
spatial impact on the design is defined.
The owner is now able to start envi-
sioning what the project will look like
when complete and how it will func-
tion. While most design issues should
be resolved by the end of the DD phase,
some will continue to be refined,
resolved, or modified during the sub-
sequent phases of the project.
The DD phase also is the point in the
design where coordination efforts expand
beyond the electrical and mechanical
engineers to include the CxA and the
energy engineers. The entire design team
reviews the various system concepts, pre-
liminary control diagrams, and sequenc-
es of operation. Preliminary load profiles
www.csemag.com
are defined for the building to assist with equipment sizing and develops plant-room n Finalize plant-room sizing and
preparing electrical, heating, and cooling layouts and system layouts. Expected engi- layouts.
loads. Based on this information, system neering tasks that require coordination n Develop system layouts detailing
modifications are made that will enhance and input from others at this stage are: major horizontal and vertical infra-
the performance of the equipment and structure (ductwork, piping, con-
maximize energy savings. n Review proposed system design duits, bus ducts, etc.) pathways.
The anticipated deliverables at this is in accordance with applicable n Refine electrical single-line distri-
stage will include an updated BOD docu- building codes, building certifica- bution.
ment, drawings of appropriate scale to tions (LEED, Green Globes, Energy n Develop BMS and metering control
convey the more detailed level of coor- Star, etc.), and design standards. sequences and control diagrams.
dination and outline specifications that n Define energy efficiency measures
begin to define the quality level of the and incorporate them into system Coordination efforts between the
materials and system components. It also design. various disciplines intensify as more
is important to note that many of todays n Refine electrical-load estimates for detail is incorporated into the design of
projects use these deliverables to produce the project based on the chosen the systems. The DD phase is also the
preliminary construction-cost budgets or design, and continue coordination start of coordination with the special-
lock contractors into a guaranteed maxi- with the civil engineer and electri- ized consultants. Their input at this stage
mum price. At this point, it is imperative cal utility. helps the design team to identify system
that each discipline is coordinating and n Refine mechanical-load estimates modifications required to incorporate
disseminating the correct information to (heating, cooling, water, sewer, and the technology that makes todays high-
the entire design team. gas) for the project based on the performance buildings efficient and
During the DD phase, the electrical and chosen design, and continue coor- environmentally friendly. Information
mechanical engineers select the systems dination with the civil engineer and critical to continue coordination and
that best fit the function of the build- utility companies. integration of the electrical and mechan-
ing and start to incorporate more detail n Refine electrical and mechani- ical systems include:
into the technical design. Each discipline cal equipment sizing based upon
refines load estimates, calculations, and selected system design. continued on page 42

Conventional design model Operation-driven design model

ework
Disjointed
Disconnected

m
fra
y Audit, Operationa
l feed
c

bac
benchmark, k
ien

and monitor
fic
rational ef

Designer
Oper
Operator Designer Operator

Operate Design
Operate Design
ation-dri

Design
optimization
n
ficatio
Ope

Build
Veri

Build
Op

Dis
era

ted
ve

n Dis joi
tio

joi ed co n ted Efficiency-

ect
n-

Dis nn
o

pt
n

n focused im
on ect ize
c ed
Dis commissioning
d
de

des
ign
Contractor
s

ig
Contractor n

Figure 2: The graphic on the left illustrates the disjointed process of design, construction, and operation that has been used for
many years. Each phase was seen as independent functions that did not require input or feedback from the various parties. The
operation-driven design model on the right seeks to break down these barriers by introducing various feedback loops and verifi-
cation steps that are meant to influence design.

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 39

 CASE STUDY: Integrated resort
E
nergy is one of the primary drivers of innovation in modern building
design. As energy costs continue to increase, the industry is turning
to engineers to take an active role in designing systems that result
in more efficient buildings. Why is it so important that the engineers
drive this effort? The answer is simple; it is the building infrastructure (light-
ing, cooling and heating systems, hot-water systems, etc.) that accounts for
much of the energy usage.
Figure 3 illustrates the expected energy usage of a recently designed inte-
grated resort project. It is evident that lighting and the HVAC systems account
for more than 75% of the overall energy usage in the building. Using LED
lighting and high-efficiency cooling systems, incremental changes in these
systems can have a dramatic effect on the overall energy usage.
For example, one of the most common methods of recognizing energy
savings in building cooling systems is to centralize the cooling function into
a central utility plant (CUP). The size of the CUP and the cooling equipment
installed within is a function of the building location, type/use, size, and the
calculated cooling loads. The resort project referenced used a centralized
chilled-water system, which circulated chilled water to the various cooling
coils throughout the property.
As the design progressed into the design
development stage, it was apparent to the
team that the electrical capacity for the site
was going to become a concern.
The largest energy consumers in the cooling system are the chillers (see
Figure 4). Reducing this consumption is not as easy as increasing chiller
efficiency. There are other components that influence the performance of
the overall system: chilled-water temperature design, condenser-water
temperature design, cooling tower fan energy, pump configurations, pump
energy, use of variable frequency drives, air handling unit coil sizing, etc.
The challenge presented to the engineer is how to design the mechanical
systems to minimize energy consumption while maintaining low first costs
and maximizing the use of available space.
Integrated resort building energy usage
General power
Lifts
Plant HVAC
equipment
7% 3%
13%
55%
22%
Lighting
Figure 3: The chart represents the expected breakdown of the
energy usage for a typical integrated resort building, showing
that the building systems are the major consumers of power,
not the occupants.
40 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
To better understand how designers can use the operational-driven design
model to overcome these challenges and provide owners with innovative
designs, we will take a closer look at how the chilled-water system was
optimized for this integrated resort project. The project was a mixed-use
facility consisting of a three-level underground garage, two high-rise hotel
towers, and a multilevel podium, which included a casino, shopping area,
food and beverage venues, nightclubs, a state-of-the-art theater, and various
back-of-house functions.
The total project area was approximately 3.9 million sq ft with plans for
a future expansion of 1.2 million sq ft. During the design, it became evident
that the building program and the incoming electrical service would not
support a traditional chilled-water design. The system would need to be
redesign to fit the project parameters. Some of the factors that influenced
this decision included:
 Limited electrical capacity for the site
 Limited space available in the central plant
 Reduction in calculated load based on operational data
 Owners desire to increase operating efficiency while decreasing
operating costs
 First-cost savings to the project.
The design of the integrated resort during the schematic phase followed
more closely with the traditional model described in Figure 2. The design
team calculated preliminary system loads for the property based on the
original area program. The loads were used to develop several system
concepts to present to the owner. Preliminary central plant equipment and
central air handling systems were sized to determine the electrical loads
while system information was provided for the rest of the spaces to calcu-
late an electrical allowance for secondary HVAC systems. This information
was coordinated with the electrical engineer, who began negotiations with
the utility company to size the incoming service and the main electrical
distribution gear.
As the design progressed into the design development stage, it was
apparent to the team that the electrical capacity for the site was going to
become a concern. If the site exceeded 30 MW, the utility would require the
owner to construct a high-voltage substation to serve the property. Based
Integrated resort central plant energy breakdown
Cooling towers
Chilled water
pumps
7%
12%
68%
13%
Condenser water pumps Chillers
Figure 4: The energy consumed in a typical central utility plant
is primarily associated with the chillers.
www.csemag.com
on the schematic level loads, the building demand exceeded this limit and ments were made to the control diagrams and sequences to fine-tune
would require a dedicated substation. control of the system and maximize system performance.
Because the property was constructed with a zero-lot line, there was To close the coordination loop, the design team reviewed the final sys-
no place to install the substation. The design team needed to find ways tem concept with the electrical engineer to make sure that the proposed
to reduce the overall electrical load. The largest load in the building was configuration could be supported by the electrical infrastructure. The
related to the chilled-water system; this was the most logical place to start. electrical team evaluated the various operating modes to make sure that
The design team revised the schematic cooling loads to incorporate more the system did not exceed the power threshold required to maintain the
detailed building program information. At the same time, several different building electrical demand below 30 MW.
chiller configurations were being evaluated based on maximizing chiller Through the close coordination effort during the design development phase,
efficiencies. During the re-evaluation process, the owner decided to hire the design team identified a serious issue that would have had a significant
an energy engineer and a CxA to provide a different perspective. It became impact on both the project schedule and budget. The design team, assisted
apparent very quickly that each consultant had an area of expertise that by nontraditional consultants, rationalized reduced building loads, analyzed
could benefit the project. The chilled-water optimization project was now multiple system options, and optimized the chilled-water system to reduce
going to follow a nontraditional model, the operation-driven design model. overall electrical consumption. This process resulted in an innovative solution
The base system design consisted of eight water-cooled centrifugal to a complex issue and provided the owner with a high-performance building
chillers using a variable-flow pumping arrangement to circulate chilled that will save energy for many years to come.
water. Four large-capacity heat pumps were used to provide heating hot
water to the building while pretreating the condenser water serving the Cooling and heating capacity
chillers (see Figure 5 for base equipment list). Cooling capacity Phase 1 Phase 2
Because the energy engineer had already completed several energy Sum of peaks 15,880 tons 19,380 tons
retrofits at the owners other properties, they had access to a wealth of Block load 13,480 tons 16,475 tons
information. The energy engineer had firsthand knowledge on how integrated Block load 12,000 tons 13,500 tons
resorts were operated and how to improve upon standard chiller designs. optimized (11% savings) (18% savings)
Most important, they had 2 years of operational data, which was analyzed Heating capacity Phase 1 Phase 2
and used to rationalize a smaller building load based upon actual building
Sum of peaks 58,000 MBH 65,250 MBH
operation of similar use groups (see Figure 6).
Block load 43,500 MBH 49,000 MBH
The team then used the rationalized load to develop different concepts
to determine the system with the best operating efficiency. The optimized Block load 40,000 MBH 45,000 MBH
optimized (8% savings) (8% savings)
design consisted of three pairs of series-counterflow chillers using a
variable-flow pumping system. A variable speed drive was installed on Figure 6: This table summarizes the heating and cooling loads
one chiller to provide improved part-load performance. Two double-bundle for the building before (SD) and after (DD) input from the ener-
machines, which can be used as either a heat pump or a chiller, were used to gy engineer was used to optimize the design.
provide heating hot water during heat pump mode or base load the building
in chiller mode (see Figure 7 for optimized equipment list). Optimized plant equipment summary
During the optimization phase, the team relied heavily on the operational
(3) 4,000 TR series counterflow sets, 0.559/0.574 kW/ton
experience of the CxA, who reviewed each of the options to identify control
CHWR = 56.0F, CHWS = 42.0F, 6,900 gpm/set
issues that would cause problems during the commissioning phase. Adjust- CWS = 90.0F, CWR = 100.0F, 11,125 gpm/set
Chillers
(2) 1,600 TR double bundle chiller, 0.684 kW/ton
Base plant equipment summary
CHWR = 56.0F, CHWS = 42.0F, 2,775 gpm/CH
(8) 2,750 TR CWS = 90.0F, CWR = 100.0 F, 4,580 gpm/CH
Chillers
CHWR = 56.0F, CHWS = 42.0F, 4,700 gpm/CH
(2) 7,521 kW, 1.184 kW/ton
(6) 560 TR, 0.670 kW/ton, COPh = 6.2, COPc = 11.45 Heat
CHWR = 56.0F, CHWS = 42.0F, 2,775 gpm/hp
Heat pump
CWS = 90.0F, CWR = 80.0F, 1,345 gpm/hp HWR = 125.0F, HWS = 140.0F, 3,470 gpm/hp
pumps
HWR = 125.0F, HWS = 140.0F, 1,060 gpm/hp
Cooling 6-Cell, Field erected, 672 kW Fan power
Cooling 6-cell, Field erected, 894 kW Fan power tower CWS = 90.0F, CWR = 100.0F, 49,445 gpm total
tower CWS = 90.0F, CWR = 100.0F, 53,920 gpm total
HW
HW boilers boilers (3) 8,200 MBH, (1) 2,600 MBH
(4) 8,200 MBH
(LPG) (LPG)

Figure 5: The base plant equipment summary lists the major Figure 7: The optimized plant equipment summary lists the
system components as designed during the schematic design major system components after operational feedback was
phase, prior to review of building loads or input from outside incorporated into the design to rationalize building loads to
consultants. reduce energy consumption.

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 41


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Integrating electrical, HVAC systems
continued from page 39
n Revised electric loads for the major
mechanical equipment (chillers,
cooling towers, pumps, air han-
dling units, large fan systems) and
preliminary loads for secondary
mechanical equipment (fans, fan
coils, terminal boxes, heat pumps,
split systems, dampers, etc.)
n Revised heat-rejection rates of
major electrical equipment (sub-
stations, transformers, UPS) and
preliminary heat-rejection rates
for low-voltage and information
technology (IT) equipment
n Revised locations of major elec-
trical and mechanical equipment
and preliminary locations of sec-
ondary electrical and mechanical
equipment
n Revised UPS and generator loads
(if applicable)
n Identify life safety equipment
locations and power require-
ments.
n Preliminary electrical-, heating-,
and cooling-load profiles based
on project-specific criteria
n Preliminary BMS and metering
control sequences and control
diagrams
n Preliminary electrical loads and
locations for direct digital control
(DDC) panels and devices
n Preliminary energy modeling (if
applicable).
Construction document phase
The construction document (CD)
phase of the project is the culmination
of the design effort. It is the point in the
process where the engineers address the
remaining outstanding issues and evalu-
ate the proposed VE options presented
by the contractors. If value-engineering
options are proposed, the design team
can evaluate the options and coordi-
nate with the other disciplines to make
sure a mechanical VE option does not
adversely affect the electrical design or
cost. This information, along with all the
concepts and comments from the pre-
42 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
vious phases, is compiled into the final
system design.
The engineers will provide detailed
infor mat ion ab out t he te chnic a l
aspects of the overall systems and the
specified equipment that set forth the
requirements for the construction of
the project. During this process, the
relationship between each system
and its spatial impact on the project
is finalized. The design team is tasked
with coordinating the final design
information between disciplines to
ensure that all project requirements
are satisfied. Coordination becomes
even more important within the last
few weeks of the design schedule to
identify last-minute changes and the
impact these changes may have on the
designs of the other disciplines.
As the CD phase progresses, the role
of the CxA and the energy engineers
becomes more critical. This is the last
opportunity for the design team to
incorporate comments and suggestions
based on a review of system concepts,
control diagrams, and the sequences of
operation. This feedback, usually based
on operation experience, allows the
designers to modify the systems with the
appropriate technology and components
required to achieve the proposed build-
ing performance.
The system enhancements will make it
possible for the building owner to con-
trol the building systems and collect ana-
lytical data to provide real-time feedback
to the BMS. Without this operational
feedback, the BMS cannot adjust system
performance to achieve the anticipated
performance and predicted energy sav-
ings.
The anticipated deliverables at this
stage would include a final BOD docu-
mentdrawings of appropriate scale
that set forth the detailed requirements
necessary for construction, and final
specifications that define the require-
ments of the building materials, equip-
ment, and systems. When the con-
struction drawings are complete, the
client will have sufficient information
to secure contractor bids, obtain the
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 Integrating electrical, HVAC systems
required permits, and ensure that the
contractor is building the project as the
design team intended.
During the CD phase, the electrical
and mechanical engineers complete
the system design and incorporate
final technical details. Each discipline
There is a unique opportunity for engineers to
provide value to the owner during construction
through continued coordination of the design. The
engineers become guardians of the design during
the bid and construction administration phases.
finalizes load estimates, calculations,
equipment sizing, plant-room layouts,
and system layouts. Expected engineer-
ing tasks that require continued coor-
dination and input from others at this
stage are:
n Perform a final review to ensure
the system design is in accordance
with applicable building codes,
building certifications (LEED,
Green Globes, Energy Star, etc.),
and design standards.
n Evaluate final energy efficiency
measures and verify all com-
ponents and modifications are
incorporated into the final system
design.
n Calculate final electrical loads
associated with the system design
and verify that the system is fully
coordinated with the civil engineer
and electrical utility.
n Calculate final mechanical loads
(heating, cooling, water, sewer, and
gas) associated with the system
design and verify systems are fully
coordinated with the civil engineer
and utility companies.
n Finalize the electrical and mechani-
cal equipment sizing based upon
final load calculations.
n Finalize plant-room sizing and
layouts.
n Finalize system layouts detailing
major horizontal and vertical infra-
44 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
structure (ductwork, piping, conduits,
bus ducts, etc.) pathways as well as all
secondary and branch pathways.
n Finalize electrical single-line dis-
tribution.
n Finalize BMS and metering control
sequences and control diagrams.
Coordination efforts between the
various disciplines and specialized
consultants continue as the design of
the systems are finalized. At this stage,
most of the systems are fairly defined
and only require minimal modifica-
tions. The design should be nearing
completion, and it is important that
the communication between the dis-
ciplines and specialized consultants
does not stop. Information critical to
continue coordination and integration
of the electrical and mechanical sys-
tems include:
n Final electric loads for the major
mechanical equipment (chillers,
cooling towers, pumps, air han-
dling units, large fan systems) and
secondary mechanical equipment
(fans, fan coils, terminal boxes, heat
pumps, split systems, dampers, etc.)
n Final heat-rejection rates of major
electrical equipment (substations,
transformers, UPS), low-voltage
equipment, and IT equipment
n Final locations of major and sec-
ondary electrical and mechanical
equipment
n Final UPS and generator loads
(if applicable)
n Final electrical loads and locations
of the life safety equipment
n Final electrical-, heating-, and
cooling-load profiles based on
project-specific criteria
n Final BMS control sequences and
control diagrams
n Final electrical loads and locations
for DDC panels and devices.
Bid and construction
administration phases
The importance of the bid and construc-
tion administration (CA) phases is some-
times overlooked by the design team. In
most cases, the design teams have limited
exposure during the construction phase.
The design-team involvement is usually
limited to review of contractor shop draw-
ings, response to contractor requests for
information, perform a limited quantity
of onsite observation visits, and address
issues related to design as the systems are
installed.
However, there is a unique opportunity
for engineers to provide value to the owner
during construction through continued
coordination of the design. The engineers
become guardians of the design during the
bid and CA phases. The design team can
work with the owners to de-scope the con-
tractor bids and make sure that the integ-
rity of the design is maintained. The design
team can work with the CxA to implement
the coordinated design that was agreed
upon during the DD and CD phases.
Modern owners and developers are
pushing the limits of building design
and challenging todays engineering
professionals to become more creative
with system design. The demand to
bring projects to market quicker and
more cost-effectively is reducing the
margin of error during the design phase.
Engineers must place more emphasis on
effective communication and increased
coordination between the disciplines
to deliver a fully integrated building.
Thorough coordination of the design
has never been more critical.
Hans Grabau is executive director of
mechanical at NV5. His expertise is in
multiple market sectors including large
mixed-use gaming and hospitality proj-
ects, mixed-use commercial develop-
ments, mission critical facilities, and
central plant design both domestically
and internationally.
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 The benefits and
challenges of wireless
fire alarm systems
Although designers should consider wireless fire alarm systems for
their portability, easy installation, and flexibility, they must also consider
cost-effectiveness for each application.
GREGORY K. SHINO, PE, NV5, Las Vegas
Learning
objectives
 Explore the fundamentals of wire-
less fire alarm technology.
 Understand how to use wireless
fire alarm technology and its advan-
tages for nonresidential applications.
 Realize the benefits of fire alarm
technology and its current develop-
ments.
46 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
W
hen provisions for
wireless alarms were
in their infancy, most
authorities would
not permit their
installation due to reliability concerns
and the fact that manufacturers had not
actively sought development. Architects
and interior designers complained that if
they, or the owner, did not like the loca-
tion of a fire alarm device or appliance,
it would require multiple trades to relo-
cate the device or appliance,
even if it was just a foot or
two away from the original
location. An electrician
would have to come out to
relocate the conduit, back-
box, and wiring, and the
fire alarm technician would
have to reinstall the device
or appliance. In many cases,
other trades would also
Figure 1: A wireless fire
alarm annunciator near the
main entrance to Casa de
Shenandoah. All graphics
courtesy: NV5
have to get involved, like drywall, fram-
ing, etc.
While the advent of 3-D modeling
allows design teams to coordinate equip-
ment locations more accurately, owners
and designers still may not get the feel
for a space until it is built. Mock-ups are
often used, but it is not cost-effective
to mock-up an entire building. Fortu-
nately, for those designers dealing with
last-minute locations for fire alarm
devices, wireless technology has come
a long way in the past 20 years, and the
future looks bright.
Defining wireless fire alarm
technology
In its present state, wireless technology
is not the be-all and end-all that allows
designers to put devices and appliances
wherever they want. The spacing crite-
ria of NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and
Signaling Code still applies. Designers
must meet the minimum standards set by
NFPA 72 for locating equipment on walls
and ceilings. The locations of devices and
appliances must meet the performance
objectives for either detecting fires or
notifying occupants, as applicable. Most
www.csemag.com
important, wireless does not mean that
there will not be any wires. Just like your
Wi-Fi connection at home, there will be
transmitters and receivers that must be
wired and powered.
Residential detection and notifica-
tion are specifically known in NFPA
72 as single- or multiple-station smoke
alarms. Smoke alarms that are installed
in new homes are generally required to
be connected to 120 V ac power along
with a battery backup. New installations
also require the alarms to actuate in mul-
tiple rooms if smoke is detected in only
one room. That technology is wired or
wireless depending on the type of system
installed.
Ultimately, though, what designers and
owners have been yearning for is wire-
less fire alarm systems for commercial
applications.
Wireless fire alarm technology is
referred to in NFPA 72 as low-powered
radio (wireless) systems. That specifi-
cally refers to the use of wireless signal
transmission via radio wave signals. The
frequencies and modulation types are all
regulated by the Federal Communica-
tions Commission (FCC), but the low-
power frequencies for fire alarm sys-
tems are typically outside of thresholds
requiring licenses.
The term low-powered radio also
indicates that signals are not able to be
transmitted over appreciable distances.
Manufacturers of wireless fire alarm
systems will clearly indicate the maxi-
mum distance between transmitting and
receiving devices.
Some manufacturers have developed
technology that uses fire alarm devices
as a transmitter and a receiver to create
a mesh that allows the network to com-
municate in multiple directions rather
than just bi-directionally. However, the
distance limitations still apply, and often
the groups of transmitter/receivers must
still be within range of a repeater or a pri-
mary network panel.
Historically, authorities have been wary
of wireless fire alarm systems, primarily
because of their reliability. These days,
however, even in-building firefighter
Figure 2: A wireless fire alarm repeater panel was installed in a pantry located just beside
the main kitchen in the Casa de Shenandoah. Conduit for wires is still required for notifica-
tion appliances. Inside the main kitchen to the right, a wireless smoke detector is located
on the ceiling.
two-way communication systems are
being prescribed by building and fire
codes requiring two-way radio communi-
cation systems and eliminating the tradi-
tional firefighter phone jacks in buildings.
Two-way radio communication systems
are being enhanced within buildings with
the similar type of repeater technology
used in wireless fire alarm systems. Both
technologies also follow similar principals
for distributed antennae systems (DAS)
that are provided in buildings to enhance
mobile telephone signals.
Implementing wireless fire
alarm technology
Similar to what is required by the Inter-
national Fire Code for two-way radio
communications, designers and install-
ers of the available wireless fire alarm
systems must determine if the site and
building are suited for wireless technol-
ogy by conducting a radio frequency (RF)
survey. For emergency two-way radios,
heat maps often can be used by identify-
ing the emergency broadcast frequency-
signal strength at various locations and
identifying when the signal falls below
acceptable levels. In-building repeaters or
DAS would be used to boost the primary
signal. For wireless fire alarm systems,
the approach may vary but generally
requires that actual wireless fire alarm
transmitters and receivers be onsite
with equipment to evaluate their signal
strength throughout areas of the building
or property where they will be installed.
There are instances where the use of
wireless fire alarm systems may not be
effective. As with most radio frequency
transmission, building materials or other
environmental aspects may impact the
ability to install wireless fire alarms. In
some cases, concrete construction may
limit signal strength and even metal
buildings may interfere with signals.
Cores of taller buildings, like concrete/
masonry elevator cores or stair cores,
may reduce signals due to their construc-
tion. Prior to installing, the designer and
installer should conduct a thorough RF
survey with their equipment. If the build-
ing is new construction, designers should
evaluate construction materials with the
design team and still conduct an RF sur-
vey after construction. For new build-
ings, there should be mitigation measures
in place in the event that the RF survey
determines wireless fire alarm system
communication may be questionable.
Where are the best places for wireless
fire alarm systems? While most manufac-
turers would like to answer with every-
where, they are also honest enough to
state in their literature that not all facili-
ties may be appropriate for wireless fire
alarms. If you paired one of the greatest
advantages of wireless fire alarms with

www.csemag.com Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 47

 Wireless fire alarm systems
one of their strongest detractors, existing
construction or retrofits would be where
wireless fire alarms are most advanta-
geous. Since there are significantly fewer
wired pathways, and RF surveys can be
conducted at any time, existing buildings
are key markets for wireless fire alarm
systems.
Casa de Shenandoah: Renovating a
private residence into a museum
While Las Vegas is known for its bright
lights and pizzazz, there are actually sites
that locals and tourists agree are histori-
cal. Mr. Las Vegas himself, Wayne New-
ton, formerly owned Casa de Shenandoah,
a 52-acre property with eight homes. The
property now serves as an attraction with
the main house, a 9,000-sq-ft mansion,
serving as a museum showcasing his lav-
ish lifestyle.
Figure 3: The Casa de Shenandoah was orig-
inally provided with a fire alarm system. This
annunciator panel located near the kitchen
reported which building on the property was
in alarm.
Unfortunately, changing a private
residence to a museum does not happen
overnight. To make the private residence
accessible to the public, negotiations with
authorities required that fire alarm detec-
tion devices be installed throughout the
mansion with notification appliances
along the publicly accessible path of the
museum tour. The most effective means
to make this happen was to provide a
wireless fire alarm system.
The benefits of a wireless fire alarm
system were immediately apparent.
Wireless smoke detectors could be
installed throughout the building without
48 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
impacting historical finishes. While the
fire alarm panels and repeaters required
wiring for power, they could be strategi-
cally located to limit the impact to aes-
thetic finishes. Since not all parts of the
mansion were open to the public, the
fire alarm panel and repeaters could be
placed such that they could easily trans-
mit and receive yet were not in plain sight
of the public.
However, one aspect became clear: A
wireless fire alarm is not truly wireless.
The notification appliances required
wiring both for monitoring and power.
Fortunately, the installation of notifica-
tion appliances was limited to areas that
were directly accessible to the public. In
this case, it was possible to group appli-
ances in strategic locations near repeat-
ers and panels to limit the impacts to the
building.
Today, thousands of visitors visit Casa de
Shenandoah each year to marvel at the life-
style Mr. Las Vegas was able to accrue. For
the owners and authorities, they know
the public is afforded more safety than
the previously private residence allowed.
The case study demonstrates that
wireless fire alarms are not truly wire-
less because of the panels and notifica-
tion appliances. However, with savvy
designers and installers, those obstacles
become simple workarounds. During the
RF survey, and working with the owner
and architect, the designers and installers
of the Casa de Shenandoah project were
able to identify locations for panels and
repeaters while simultaneously identify-
ing how they could install the notifica-
tion appliances with minimal intrusion.
As noted previously, even a home
Wi-Fi system is going to require some
wires for power and a connection to the
internet; its the same with wireless fire
alarms. The additional challenge is that
most required notification appliances are
not wireless. At least one manufacturer
has developed a low-frequency sounder
for audible notification, but speakers and
visual notification appliances (strobes)
may require years more of development.
To the developers of the low-frequency
sounders credit, they tapped one of the
most popular markets for wireless fire
alarms: residential hotels, motels, and
dormitories, since NFPA 72 requires
low-frequency audible alarms in sleep-
ing areas.
The biggest issue associated with wire-
less notification appliances is the power
consumption they require. Fire alarm
system designers know from battery
and voltage-drop calculations that the
power-hungry notification appliance
is the primary driver of battery size. In
their quiescent state, notification appli-
ances consume very little power. When
the alarms sound and the strobes flash,
the alarm appliances can and will drain
batteries quickly.
Technology in both sound and light is
continually improving such that wireless
notification appliances should be devel-
oped long before automated flying cars.
Improvements in consumer-use wireless
home speaker technology may assist with
further development of audible fire alarm
notification appliances.
Developments in LED technology and
its low-power consumption will inevita-
bly improve visual fire alarm notification
appliances. Even battery technology has
advanced in leaps and bounds over the
past decade. However, further develop-
ment of these products and technologies
as applied to wireless fire alarm notifica-
tion appliances will not happen quickly
without consumer demand, authority
approvals, and appropriate standards
development.
One potential benefit of wireless fire
alarm notification appliances is making
them smart. Fire alarm notification
appliances are not addressable on fire
alarm systems. That is, depending on
how the notification appliance circuits
are installed, it may be difficult to deter-
mine which in a series of appliances is
dysfunctional since they do not have
independent addresses like detection
devices. A wireless notification appli-
ance would be required to be monitored
through the same means as a detection
device. It would have a physical address
on a network so that if something were
wrong with the appliance, a trouble
www.csemag.com
signal would be annunciated at the fire
alarm control panel. With an indepen-
dent address, it would be easily identifi-
able within the building.
Even though wireless notification
appliances are not fully developed, the
devices associated with initiating technol-
ogy are mostly covered. Smoke detectors,
carbon monoxide detectors, and manual
fire alarm pull stations have been fully
developed. Water flow switch monitor-
ing, valve tamper monitoring, and similar
technology will require a box wired for
power near the devices to be monitored.
Similarly, relay boxes for elevator recall,
HVAC shutdown, and other equipment
interfaces will have a box requiring power
and monitoring. However, if your sprin-
kler riser room is remote from your fire
alarm control panel or you need to retro-
actively implement elevator recall and do
not want to or cannot wire, wireless could
be the way to go.
For now, there are many projects that
can take advantage of the existing wire-
less fire alarm technology that is avail-
able. One of the early users of wireless
fire alarm systems were low-rise hotels
and motels. While most existing hotels
and motels have the minimum required
single-station smoke alarms, many are
upgrading to addressable systems so
they know almost immediately if they
have problems with guests tampering or
disabling smoke detectors.
Wireless smoke detectors, combined
with wireless low-frequency sounders,
become an easy choice for hotel and
motel operators that want to upgrade
their systems with minimal downtime.
With minimal wiring for power to panels
and repeaters and the requisite Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act guest rooms,
the installation is quicker and allows
operators to turn over guest rooms with
very little interruption to business.
Wireless fire alarm systems are partic-
ularly effective for campus-style hotels
or garden-style apartments. If each of
the buildings is sprinklered and requires
fire alarm systems, wireless fire alarm
system panels and repeaters are much
easier to install than trenching wiring
www.csemag.com
Figure 4: Wireless fire alarm annunciator panel located between two main rooms in
the Casa de Shenandoah. While the panel stands out, it can be located so as not to
detract from the finer points of the building.
underground to each building. Similarly,
industrial facilities with multiple build-
ings separated from one another can ben-
efit from the wireless technology. Wire-
less fire alarm technology can be equally
effective for common, but not often
thought-about applications like carnival
funhouses, zoos, or mobile exhibits.
In cities like Las Vegas, where con-
ventioneers descend upon the scene
frequently and in masses, authorities
often regulate well to protect the public.
Two-story convention booths, 5,000-
sq-ft mobile exhibits, and 60,000-sq-ft
tents are not uncommon places where
fire departments have required fire detec-
tion and alarms due to the unique hazard
to the public. A wireless fire alarm system
also is portable and more easily relocated
from one event to another.
With their portability, ease of instal-
lation, and flexibility, wireless fire alarm
systems can be an easy sell for some. Cost
is also a factor. A wireless fire alarm sys-
tem is going to be more expensive part-
for-part than a traditional wired fire
alarm system. Smaller systems are likely
to cost more than larger systems. There
are cost savings in larger systems as a
result of the associated wiring, termina-
tions, and troubleshooting associated
with wiring.
What generally is not on the sell sheets
is the long-term costs associated with
wireless fire alarms. If you think chang-
ing your batteries in your home smoke
alarms is a hassle every time you move
the clocks forward or back, consider
changing all the batteries in a 300-room
hotel/motel once a year, both for the
smoke detectors and the low-frequency
sounder. Some might argue that they
should be doing that anyway if the prop-
erties have single-station alarms, and
they would be right. However, upgrading
to a wired, addressable smoke-detection
system with low-frequency sounder
bases wouldnt require the same battery
replacement, since the batteries are at the
panel and not the detector.
The required types of batteries and
what they cost should also be considered.
Will the building maintenance person-
nel be able to obtain the required battery
types off the shelf or are they a custom
order? How long will it take personnel
to change the batteries? Most forward-
thinking manufacturers have developed
their products based on commercially
available batteries that are readily avail-
able either off the shelf or through bulk
purchase and are as simple as changing
batteries in home smoke alarms. How-
ever, caution should be taken to confirm
that this is the case; otherwise, the build-
ing maintenance personnel and manage-
ment will forever question who made the
decision to go to wireless.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 49
 Wireless fire alarm systems

Figure 5: At the main entrance to Casa de Shenandoah, the finishes are visually stunning. A wireless fire alarm smoke detector
can be seen at the top of the stairs while a wireless manual pull station can be seen through the railing. The audio/video notifica-
tion appliance is not wireless, but can be seen at the top doorway to the left.

Though it may be obvious to con-
sulting-specifying engineers, designers
should thoroughly evaluate the prop-
erties of any fire alarm system and the
local installer prior to final engagements.
Commercial wireless fire alarm systems
must have the appropriate listings with
a nationally recognized testing labora-
tory. UL 864: Standard for Control Units
and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems
applies to both wireless and wired fire
alarm systems and has specific provisions
for low-powered radio (wireless) systems.
Wireless fire alarm system manu-
facturers may have their systems listed
through Factory Mutual (FM) or UL, and
their listings may contain useful infor-
mation concerning applicability and/or
installation criteria. Some states, larger
cities, and other jurisdictions may have
specific listing criteria or approval orga-
nizations. The California State Fire Mar-
shal and City of New York Fire Depart-
ment are two examples of public agencies
that may evaluate fire alarm systems for
specific installations.
Since wireless fire alarm systems are
subject to the requirements of NFPA
72, their data sheets should indicate the
approved pathway-class designations that
the system can achieve. Wired-systems
pathway classes include A, B, C, D, E, or
X designations. Wireless systems might
include Class A, C, E, and X. Another
benefit of wireless fire alarms is they are
not subject to ground faults and open
circuits.
The technology, flexibility, and por-
tability of wireless fire alarm systems
are appealing for many reasons. To suc-
cessfully incorporate the newest low-
frequency radio (wireless) fire alarm sys-
tems into a specific project, the first step
would be to evaluate the technology that
manufacturers have to offer and consult
with them. Local fire alarm companies
may have some experience and knowl-
edge, but designers should definitely
consult with the manufacturers techni-
cal representatives as they should know
their technology best.
The development of wireless fire
alarm systems is continually improving.
Advancements in wireless speaker and
strobe technology must continue so that
both detection devices and notification
appliances may be considered truly wire-
less. Perhaps in the not-to-distant future,
architects and interior designers will be
able to have even more flexibility with
field-placing devices and appliances
within the guidelines of NFPA 72, of
course.
Gregory K. Shino is technical director of
fire protection engineering at NV5, with
more than 15 years of experience in design
and commissioning of fire suppression, fire
alarm and detection, and smoke-control
systems. He is a member of the Society of
Fire Protection Engineers, NFPA, and the
International Code Council.

50 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 www.csemag.com

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 Assessing wireless
fire alarm systems
Fire protection engineers should assess the costs, benefits, history,
technology, and code-compliance aspects of low-power wireless fire alarm
systems and wireless smoke alarms.
BY WILLIAM E. KOFFEL, PE, FSFPE; Koffel Associates Inc., Columbia, Md.
O
Learning
objectives
 Explain how NFPA 72:
National Fire Alarm and
Signaling Code directs engi-
neers in their design of wire-
less fire alarm systems.
 Review case studies that
incorporate low-power
wireless fire alarm systems.
52 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
ften considered new
technology, commercial
wireless fire alarm sys-
tems have now been in
existence for more than
30 years. Prior to 1987, the use of wire-
less fire alarm systems suffered due to the
lack of listing standard criteria, absence
of recognition in what is now referred to
as NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Sig-
naling Code, and overall concerns with
performance features.
With the development of UL stan-
dards for wireless fire alarm systems and
requirements being included in NFPA 72
in 1987, commercial fire alarm systems
as we know them today were born and
started to become an acceptable technol-
ogy. Before applications are discussed,
lets first explore the requirements cur-
rently in NFPA 72.
NFPA 72-2016
The application of the section origi-
nally intended to apply to wireless fire
alarm systems has been expanded by
referring to low-power radio systems.
As with more traditional fire alarm sys-
tem equipment and components, the
standard states that equipment in low-
power radio systems shall also be listed
for use as a fire alarm system (NFPA
72-2016: 23.16.1).
While traditional fire alarm systems
are required to have a primary and sec-
ondary source of power, the primary
battery is permitted to be the sole source
of power for a low-power radio system
(NFPA 72-2016: 23.16.2). However, the
reliability of the battery power source
is enhanced by requirements that:
 The battery must be capable of
operating the transmitter/trans-
ceiver for a period of at least 1 year.
 A distinctive, low-battery trouble
signal shall sound at least every 4
hours, if the signal is silenced, for
a period of at least 7 days prior to
the battery not being able to oper-
ate the device properly. The trouble
signal shall identify the specific
transmitter/transceiver served by
that battery and each transmitter/
transceiver shall serve no more
than one device.
 Catastrophic battery failure shall
result in a trouble signal, which
again will sound every 4 hours if
silenced.
 Battery failure in one transmitter/
transceiver shall not impact any
other transmitter/transceiver.
Alarm signals from low-power radio
systems shall have the same priority and
response time as required for traditional
www.csemag.com
Figure 1: The CWSI wireless fire alarm system devices includes a control panel, remote annunciator, repeater, relay box, fire alarm
pull station, and several other integrated products. Courtesy: Johnson Controls Inc.
fire alarm systems. In addition, each
transmitter/transceiver shall repeatedly
transmit alarm signals every 60 seconds
until the initiating device is restored to a
non-alarm status.
The integrity of such systems is moni-
tored by requiring trouble signals under
the following conditions (NFPA 72-2016:
23.16.4):
 Within 200 seconds of loss of com-
munication with a device
 Immediately upon removal of a
transmitter/transceiver from its
installed position
 Reception of an interfering
transmission.
Lastly, when a low-power radio
transmitter/transceiver is used to actu-
ate remote devices, the performance is
required to be essentially the same as a
traditional fire alarm system.
NFPA 72 contains some additional
requirements for the acceptance test-
ing of low-power radio systems, above
and beyond the requirements for all fire
alarm systems. These include the use of
the manufacturers published instruc-
tions and the as-built drawings pro-
vided by the system supplier to verify
correct operation after the initial test-
ing phase has been performed by the
www.csemag.com
CASE STUDY: Facility uses low-power radio system
T
he project involved an old building used as a hospital. As with many older buildings,
many of the interior walls were solid, thick walls. The existing fire alarm system
could not be maintained in an operational status, and the current location of initiating
devices and alarm-notification appliances was not acceptable based on current codes. Lastly,
the health care organization already had begun the design of a replacement facility, and the
existing building would no longer be used for patient care and treatment.
The facility considered three options:
1. Traditional fire alarm system. The primary concern expressed with this option was the cost
and time needed to route cable to the location of new initiating devices and alarm-notification
appliances. Associated with the time factor was the disruption to providing adequate patient
care and treatment in a relatively noise-free environment.
2. Low-power radio system. The primary concern expressed with this option was the time
and cost associated with maintaining and replacing the batteries in each device.
3. Continue to use the existing system. The primary concern expressed with this option was
the ongoing challenges and costs associated with repairing the system and a concern that
the system was unreliable to the point that the accrediting organization would no longer
accredit the facility.
Once the decision was made to use a low-power radio system, the facility continued to try and
limit the cost of the system. The facility was able to negotiate an equipment-lease arrangement
with the manufacturer so that they did not pay the full purchase price for the equipment. Lastly,
the concerns regarding the cost of battery replacement were reduced due to the fact that the
system would only be in service for a few years, and therefore the cost was clearly less than the
cost of installing wiring and cable.
supplier or by the suppliers designated The alternative communications path
representative. shall be confirmed between the wireless
In addition, starting from the func- control unit and peripheral devices used
tional operating condition, the system to establish initiation, indication, con-
shall be initialized in accordance with the trol, and annunciation. Lastly, the system
manufacturers published instructions. shall be tested for both alarm and trouble
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 53
 Wireless fire alarm systems
conditions (NFPA 72-2016; Table such, the choice to use low-power radio Another benefit of low-power radio
14.4.3.2). systems rests with the designer of the fire systems is the reduced installation time,
The First Draft Report for the 2019 edi- alarm system. Common applications are especially in a retrofit project. Manu-
tion of NFPA 72 indicates that most of the those in which installing fire alarm cable facturers of such systems will often cite
above provisions will remain unchanged. is either costly or challenging. hotel retrofit projects in which one can
There is a new section proposed to address In a historical building, for example, install the detection devices faster than
situations in which two or more batteries a low-power radio system may be desir- the room can be serviced.
are used to power a device (FR 3009). able because installing cable in concealed Today, technology exists that allows for
spaces may adversely impact the histori- tandem smoke operation in residen-
Applications cal features of the building; installing tial properties that have multiple smoke
NFPA 72 does not limit the applica- surface-mounted raceway also is not alarms/detectors in a common apartment
tions of low-power radio systems. As desirable. or large hotel room. The installation of a
low-power radio system in such facili-
ties should take considerably less time
As with any fire alarm system, when properly designed, than a traditional fire alarm system with
reduced disruption to the residents or
installed, inspected, tested, and maintained, low-power guests in the facility.
radio systems provide the level of system performance
New and existing buildings
required and expected in those situations in which a code Low-power radio systems, or wireless
fire alarm systems, have been available
requires a building, or portion thereof, to be protected in the United States for more than 3
decades. The reliability and performance
with a fire alarm system. of such systems have improved due to the

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CASE STUDY: Multifamily-complex fire alarm system
T
his project involved a large, multibuilding residential complex
in which the individual fire alarm control units in each building
reported to one of two master fire alarm control units for the entire
site. The connection between the individual buildings and the master fire
alarm control units was by cable installed in underground conduit. In
addition, some valve supervisory switches were connected to fire alarm
control units in nearby buildings using the underground conduit.
The site was experiencing routine faults due to the condition of the
cables in the underground conduit and an ongoing presence of water in
the conduit. It should also be noted that the site had methane gas issues
that needed to be addressed.
The homeowners association considered three options presented by the
engineer:
1. Replace the existing underground conduit system. Not only was
this option costly and disruptive, but also the presence of methane
gas at the site essentially precluded any new trenching for a replace-
ment system.
2. Connect the fire alarm control units in the individual buildings
to a supervising station using cellular service. This option was
actually the cheapest with respect to equipment costs, but the
homeowners association would then be subjected to an ongoing
monthly cost for the cellular service. In addition, the individual valve
supervisory switches would still be using the underground conduit
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system to connect to a fire alarm control unit unless changes were
made to those devices as well. However, this option would result in
the supervising station receiving more specific information in that
the individual initiating device could be identified.
3. Replace the existing underground conduit system with a low-
power radio system. This required interfacing the existing fire alarm
control units with low-power radio system transmitters. Due to the
size of the site, additional transmitters also were required to properly
communicate with the master fire alarm control units. As proposed,
this option would result in the supervising station receiving the specific
panel (building location) and the type of signal: alarm, supervisory, or
trouble. The isolated valve supervisory switches could also be con-
nected to a fire alarm control unit using low-power radio transmitters.
When comparing the costs of the cellular service option against the
low-power radio system option, the initial cost for the low-power radio
system was about 170% of the cost of the cellular service option. When
comparing the monthly costs, the cellular service was 700% of the cost
of the low-power radio system. In approximately a 2-year period, the
cost of the cellular service option would be greater than the cost of the
low-power radio system.
Before committing to the low-power radio system, the manufacturer of
the equipment conducted a site assessment to make sure that the signals
could be properly communicated.
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Wireless fire alarm systems
SWIFT wireless product recalled
NAME OF PRODUCT: SWIFT wireless gateway sold with fire alarm systems
HAZARD: The smoke detectors connected to the gateway can fail to activate properly when
significant environmental contaminants are present, posing a risk that consumers will not be
alerted to a fire.
Figure 2: The SWIFT wireless fire
alarm system was recently recalled.
Courtesy: Honeywell International
Stay current with
technology and
trends in electrical,
mechanical,
lighting, and fire/life
safety.
To subscribe, visit
www.csemag.com/subscribe
CSE_StayInformed_HalfHorizontal_2016.indd 1
RECALL DATE: May 12, 2017
RECALL NUMBER: 17-151
DESCRIPTION: This recall involves the SWIFT
wireless gateway sold with fire alarm systems.
The gateways are round, white, and measure
8 in. in diameter. The gateways are the bridge
between the fire alarm control panel and the
detectors. These systems are used primarily
for indoor or covered areas in commercial
buildings, such as in office buildings, hotels,
industrial facilities, and apartment complexes.
The model number and date codes are
printed on the back of the gateway on a white
label on the circuit board. For specific details
of the brand and model numbers involved in
the recall, go to www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017.
stay
informed
changes in the listing standards and the
requirements in NFPA 72.
As with any fire alarm system, when
properly designed, installed, inspected,
tested, and maintained, low-power radio
systems provide the level of system per-
formance required and expected in those
situations in which a code requires a
building, or portion thereof, to be pro-
tected with a fire alarm system. While
the two case studies on pages 53 and 55
address their use in existing buildings,
such systems are a viable option for new
buildings.
William E. Koffel is president of Kof-
fel Associates. He is chair of the NFPA
Correlating Committee on Life Safety
and a member of numerous NFPA tech-
nical committees. He is a member of the
Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial
advisory board.
6/29/2017 12:07:16 PM
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DE-1 Replacing an EPSS

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A health care facility requires an emergency
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 Replacing an
EPSS at a hospital
A health care facility requires an emergency power supply
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any loss of electrical systems.
BY SAM AWABDEH, PE, Peter Basso Associates, Troy, Mich.
Figure 1: Power from four generators
is fed to the paralleling switchgear and
distributed to all transfer switches and
emergency generators. All graphics
courtesy: Camille Sylvain Thompson,
Peter Basso Associates
DE1 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
A
n emergency power sup- Generator location
ply system (EPSS) is an To provide enough power to a signifi-
important component of cantly sized hospital, the engineering
health care facility opera- team, along with the hospitals facilities
tions. It is the lifeline of management staff and project manager,
every hospital. Replacement of these need to consider the locations of the gen-
systems while keeping the hospital fully erators and the paralleling switchgear.
operational can be challenging, therefore These systems should be moved from
critical steps must be taken to ensure that what might be a hazardous location.
the transition from one system to the One consideration would be to locate
next is flawless. the emergency electrical
Regardless of the size Learning system on the 1st floor (or
of the facility, an EPSS is objectives higher) of a powerhouse
required in every health to avoid any potential
care setting for the safety  Demonstrate how to avoid hazardous flooding con-
disruption to a fully opera-
and security of patients, cerns. In any case, the
tional hospital when imple-
staff, and visitors. Hav- menting a new emergency generator, switchgear, and
ing this standard in place power supply system. other required equipment
helps health care facilities  Understand why the loca- need to be located above
avoid patient evacuation tion of a new EPSS matters. the local floodplain. In
when faced with a natural areas exposed to seismic
disaster that has caused the electrical sys- activity, systems should not be located
tem to unexpectedly shut down. on rooftops or in basements in case of
However, even with mandatory laws an earthquake or other natural disasters.
such as NFPA 70: National Electrical
Code 517-25 requiring the implementa- Maintaining an N+1 system
tion of an EPSS, things can go terribly Due to the critical nature of emer-
wrong; as was the case for a prominent gency power in hospitals, implement-
hospital in New York City during Super- ing a system with the highest amount of
storm Sandy. When the hospitals backup reliability is preferred, especially as the
generators failed or proved inadequate, last line of defense securing the safety of
the hospital was forced to evacuate nearly its patients, staff, and visitors. Adding
1,000 patients. This is a risk that most a generator equal in size to the largest
health care facilities do not want to take. existing generator provides the added
www.csemag.com
Figure 2: A panel monitors the statuses of each generator and the fuel
day tanks. It combines generators and substations into one monitoring
system. The monitoring panel activates when there is a loss of power,
and the paralleling switchgear signals the emergency generators.
reliability of an N+1 system, where N
equals the actual electrical emergency
load of the hospital and +1 doubles that
actual electrical emergency load to pro-
vide added security in case of un unex-
pected shutdown.
In larger hospitals, there typically is
more than one emergency generator in
place. For example, consider a major
health care facility in Troy, Mich. To sup-
port a major expansion at the hospital,
three existing 745, 900-, and 1,200-kW
emergency generators were replaced
with two larger 2,000-kW generators.
The decision to move to larger genera-
tors also was a result of the NFPA 110:
Standard for Emergency and Standby
Power Systems Table 4.1 code require-
ments or the 10-second rule that states,
The life safety and critical branches
shall be installed and connected to the
alternative power source so that all func-
tions supplied by these branches speci-
fied here shall be automatically restored
to operation within 10 seconds after
interruption of the normal source (NEC
517.31).
Typically, it is not recommended to
design an emergency system that relies
on synchronizing two or more genera-
tors together within 10 seconds or less.
Good engineering practice recommends
that the emergency system design takes
into consideration the capacity of one
generator, which shall exceed the life
safety and critical emergency loads. The
other emergency loads in the hospital
shall be delayed until other generators
are synchronized and connected to the
emergency paralleling switchgear.
Loads requiring emergency power other
than the life safety and critical branches are
permitted to be delayed based on NFPA
70. 517.34 (A) (B). Once the transfer is
complete, the remaining generators are
connected to the new emergency system.
Then the remaining loads of the essential
www.csemag.com
electrical system shall be
transferred to the emergency
paralleling switchgear.
Staying fully operational
during transition
In most cases, imple-
mentation of a new EPSS
is designed and completed
in multiple phases to avoid
disruption to the existing
emergency system in the
hospital. Any changes to the
EPSS, including the replace-
ment or modification of the
existing emergency system,
will introduce the possibil-
ity of losing the alternative
power.
Therefore, most of the
work would need to be scheduled around
the hospital staff and administrators
working schedules, therefore requiring
temporary reallocation of usable spaces
within the hospital. A temporary gen-
erator might be the solution to be able
to keep the availability of the alterna-
tive power source while the permanent
emergency generators are being replaced.
Special attention to the transfer switch-
es control wires shall be considered to
assure the availability of emergency
power when any of the automatic transfer
switches call for it.
The bottom line in any health care
environment is the safety and well-being
of patients, staff, and visitors. Following
these and other guidelines will assist the
design and construction team in creat-
ing a smooth transition between an
existing and new EPSS that will make
any growing health care facility better
equipped for handling an unexpected
loss of power.
Sam Awabdeh is vice president at Peter Figure 3: One of four emergency genera-
Basso Associates. tors feeds the paralleling switchgear.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017 DE2
Product & Literature Digest

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 Future of Engineering
Integrating teams for success
Integrate the architectural and engineering teams for project success.
G
lobalization of markets, social
media, the Internet of Things,
sustainability, and global poli-
tics all have a profound impact on an
engineers daily life. The rate of change
of every aspect of life also results in
unprecedented volatility in an engineers
work. Social media has created a new
level of transparency to the internal
workings of corporate entities. This
transparency, combined with the pres-
sure from the instant gratification
generation to respond to any stimulus
immediately and resolutely, pushes cli-
ents to move more quickly than before.
With virtual reality, networking,
BIM coordination, and other available
tools, the ability to present questions
and obtain feedback from clients has
reached a new high. These tools allow
engineers to not only convey questions
more clearly, but also to review options
and determine paths forward more
quickly.
There is, however, one link that
traditionally eludes a large percentage
of projects. While code officials and cli-
ents push toward more integrated solu-
tions and faster delivery, all too often,
the architectural and engineering (AE)
industry continues to operate under the
same process. The architect meets with
the clients, determines their goals (with
a heavy emphasis on architecture), cre-
ates space plans, obtains client buy-in,
and then engages the engineers to do
their part. This results in either multiple
revisions to an approved floor plan
(or worse, increase in building foot-
print) or the popular make it work
scenario. In todays market of high-
64 Consulting-Specifying Engineer JULY 2017
JOHN GROSS, PE, ATD;
speed design and integrated buildings,
engineers continue to design in silos.
Architectural/engineering
team integration
Recently, an increasing number of
projects are executed with a fully inte-
grated AE team from programming
through to completion. This should
not be confused with an AE firm, as
sitting under the same roof does not
mean integral operation, nor should it
be assumed that separate architects and
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing
(MEP) cannot operate as an integrated
team. This is about project approach
and team chemistry.
One of the most critical decision
points early in a project is choosing
the type of HVAC system. If involved
during programming, engineering
can inform architecture on optimum
equipment room sizes and locations.
Increasing efficiency requirements have
rendered many rules for space allocation
obsolete.
Variable refrigerant flow systems
dont have the same space require-
ments as centralized air handling
unit systems, which affects the pro-
gram dramatically. Improvements in
acoustics have made centrally located
equipment rooms less objectionable,
giving architects more flexibility in
space layouts. As there are far fewer
exceptions for economizers, under-
standing the options for economizer
type, available exceptions, and archi-
tectural implications if an economizer
is used can play a key role in building
configuration.
Page, Houston
Electrically, changing requirements
in NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical
Safety in the Workplace has introduced
options such as arc-resistant switchgear.
The required accessories significantly
impact mechanical and architectural
design with blast panels and louvers.
Transformers have increased in physical
size, again, to improve efficiency. Code
requirements relating to lighting design,
lighting controls, and daylight require
unprecedented coordination between
the architect and electrical engineer, not
only to clearly explain options to clients,
but also to document the design for
permitting.
If an integrated design approach is
used, it makes the process run more
smoothly. Through programming,
architects and engineers can work out
a space program and floor plan that is
viable from the day it is approved. By
using BIM tools, engineers can locate
equipment while checking site lines to
ensure it is not visible from certain loca-
tions within a facility. But most impor-
tantly, by working as an integrated AE
team from start to finish, architects and
engineers can provide the owner with a
facility where the infrastructure melds
into the design.
John Gross is the principal /mechanical
engineering director at Page in Houston.
With 13 years of experience in data cen-
ter, green building, and large chiller plant
design and commissioning, Gross is Pages
lead direct digital controls and forensic
analysis engineer.
Read the longer version of this online at:
www.csemag.com/archives.
www.csemag.com
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