Anda di halaman 1dari 82

Invest in Gold

Electric motors consume 63 percent of all electricity used


in U.S. industry. Designed and built to meet or exceed
NEMA Premium efficiency standards, BaldorReliance
Super-E motors run cooler, last longer and cost less every
minute they operate.

Energy Efficient
Unmatched Quality

Fractional to 15,000 Hp, BaldorReliance Super-E


motors reduce your electricity costs with a return on your
investment thats as good as gold.

Superior Reliability

baldor.com

American Made Since 1920

479-646-4711

Download a QR reader app and


scan this code for more information.
http://qr2.it/Go/1031256

2012 Baldor Electric Company

input #1 at www.csemag.com/information

input #2 at www.csemag.com/information

The best transfer switches and bypass/isolation


switches come with
the best controller

Other transfer switch controls spit out status


or error codes that must be deciphered.
The new Russelectric RPTCS Controller displays
status messages in plain English and in color.
With real-time voltage and frequency metering,
as well as optional current and power metering,
power quality monitoring, waveform capture,
and historical trending, the RPTCS ATS Controller
makes other controls seem positively ancient.
Dont settle for old-fashioned ATS controls
Insist on Russelectric.

Made in USA

www.russelectric.com
1-800-225-5250
An Employee-Owned Company
An Equal Oppor tunity Employer

input #3 at www.csemag.com/information

AUGUST 2013

FEATURES
24 | Special report:
Fan efficiency guidelines
BY MICHAEL IVANOVICH

36 | BIM for plumbing design


BY JUNCHENG (JAMES) YANG,
PE, CPD, LEED AP BD+C

Cover illustration by Tom Rybarczyk.

BY KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LEED AP BD+C

COVER STORY
30 | MEP Giants make nearly
$1 billion more in 2013
BY AMARA ROZGUS

AND

AMANDA MCLEMAN

33 | Mergers and acquisitions


are back among MEP Giants
BY MICK MORRISSEY

41 | Selective coordination studies


for mission critical environments

AND

46 | Integration: Building
automation and fire alarms
BY JON KAPIS, RICK LEWIS, AND
CRAIG STUDER, PE

NEIL CHURMAN

DEPARTMENTS
07 | Viewpoint

19 | Codes & Standards

What I learn each year from


the MEP Giants

NEC Chapter 2: Wiring and


protection

08 | MEP Roundtable

63 | Advertiser Index

Tips and tricks for commissioning, balancing buildings

64 | 2 More Minutes

17 | Career Smart

Mentor tomorrows engineersand possibly your


future boss

Finding your natural


motivation

50 | IAQ in health care settings


BY JAMES PAUL, PE, LEED AP

ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES
AUTOMATION & CONTROLS

HVAC

COMMUNICATIONS

LIGHTING

ELECTRICAL

PLUMBING

FIRE, SECURITY & LIFE SAFETY

CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER (ISSN 0892-5046, Vol. 50, No. 7, 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 2013 by CFE Media, LLC. All rights reserved. CONSULTINGSPECIFYING 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
W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Telephone: 630/571-4070 x2220. E-mail: customerservice@cfemedia.com. Postmaster: send address changes to CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER, 1111
W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40685520. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite #250, Oak Brook, IL 60523.
Email: customerservice@cfemedia.com. Rates for nonqualified subscriptions, including all issues: USA, $ 145/yr; Canada, $ 180/yr (includes 7% GST, GST#123397457); Mexico, $ 172/yr; International air delivery $318/yr.
Except for special issues where price changes are indicated, single copies are available for $20.00 US and $25.00 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 AUGUST 2013

Earn continuing
education on-demand

online now csemag.com


MEP Giants project profiles
Learn about the types of projects the 2013 MEP Giants are
involved in. Read project profiles from several MEP Giants
engineering firms at www.csemag.com/giants. Building types
include hospitals and health care facilities, schools, international
buildings, labs and research facilities, office buildings, data
centers, and many others.

Does your firm do any commissioning, retro-commissioning,


re-commissioning, or test-adjust-balance?
59%

g
Re-commissioning

17%

All of the above


e

10%

Commissioning
g

Retro-commissioning
g

7%
3%

Test-adjust-balance
e

e 4%
None of the above
Read the Q&A on commissioning buildings on page 8. To view more poll
results, visit www.csemag.com/poll/cse.

Webcast: Modular
data center design
Register at www.csemag.com/webcast for this
webcast on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013.
The data center market has expanded dramatically in the past few years, and it doesnt
show signs of slowing down. Many clients and
building owners are requesting modular data
centers, which can be placed anywhere data
capacity is needed. Modular data centers can
help cash-strapped building owners add a new
data center (or more capacity) to their site, and can assist facilities with unplanned
outages, such as disruptions due to storms. Owners look to modular data centers
to accelerate the floor ready date as compared to a traditional brick and mortar.
Modular data centers are not for everyone, howeverthis webcast will explore
whether its appropriate for your next project.
4

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

View on-demand webcasts at


www.csemag.com/webcast and pass
the exam to earn
continuing education.
Topics include:
Critical Power:
Circuit Protection in Health
Care Facilities
Smart Electrical Systems: Meters,
Submeters, and Smart Meters
Critical Power: Standby Power for
Mission Critical Facilities
HVAC: ASHRAE 62.1, 62.2, and Air
Movement
Read the exclusive versions of these
articles online at www.csemag.com
/archives:
Engineers take charge of upskilling
for career development
Are winglets a help or hindrance
to HVLS fan performance?
MEP Roundtable: Tips and tricks for
commissioning, balancing buildings
New products and technologies
The digital edition
of this publication
is greatly enhanced,
including interactive
tools, such as videos,
Web links, and other
items. Update your
subscription, and
receive the digital edition on a new platform in your e-mail
in-box: www.csemag.com/subscribe.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer is on
Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and
Twitter. Follow CSE, join the discussions, and receive news and advice
from your peers.
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/CSEmag
Google+:
http://tinyurl.com/CSEgoogleplus
LinkedIn:
http://tinyurl.com/CSElinkedin
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/AmaraRozgus

www.csemag.com

Valves and Valve Actuators

Install long-lasting reliability to lower


maintenance costs and reduce energy
A complete selection at a competitive price

Help HVAC systems operate better


by retrofitting to Siemens. With
body sizes ranging from to 20,
our valves are designed for easy
installation and compatibility with
existing parts. Theyll get to work
right away to make an immediate
impact on energy efficiency and
building comfort while helping
preserve the life of pumps and
other equipment.
With our universal valve retrofit
kits, you can upgrade existing
globe valves by simply installing
higher quality Siemens actuators
eliminating the need for costly
and time-consuming whole-valve
replacements.

The perfect pair for all types of


HVAC applications
Our complete selection of valves
teams up with an extensive offering
of pneumatic or electronic actuators
for precise control of water, steam,
and glycol solutions:
NEW! Pressure Independent
Control Valves
599 Series Zone Valves
Powermite Globe Valves
Flowrite Globe Valves
599 Series Ball Valves
Magnetic Valves
Butterfly Valves

FREE sizing and selection


tool, and FREE tagging
Download the Siemens Valve
Sizing and Selection Tool,
SimpleSelect, to simplify
the time-consuming tasks
of sizing, selection, and scheduling. Plus, our free factory
assembly and valve tagging
expedites installation at
the job-site.

Scan your
smartphone over
the code to learn
more about
SimpleSelect.

From sizing to selection, we look


forward to helping you today!

www.usa.siemens.com/hvac
input #4 at www.csemag.com/information

Because the apple doesnt fall too far from the tree.
MovinCool is a brand of DENSO Corporation, the worlds

extreme temperature cycling in a thermal shock chamber

largest manufacturer of automotive air conditioners.

and exposure to eight different types of dust

As part of DENSOs legacy, all MovinCool

particulates. So, its no coincidence that MovinCool is

HVAC products must conform to the companys

the only spot air conditioner designed to meet stringent

automotive standards. Thats why every component

automotive quality standardsand that MovinCool

in a MovinCool spot air conditioner must pass

offers the industrys only full three-year manufacturers

50 rigorous tests, including three-axis vibration,

warranty. In fact, you might say its just good genes.

800-264-9573

www.movincool.com

See how MovinCool can improve your operations today. Download our free guide, Using Ceiling-Mount
Spot Air Conditioners as a Cost-Effective Way of Cooling Server Rooms, at www.movincool.com/cmcooling
2013 DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc. MovinCool, SpotCool and Ofce Pro are registered trademarks of DENSO Corporation.

input #5 at www.csemag.com/information

Editors Viewpoint
1111 W. 22nd St. Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-571-4070 Fax 630-214-4504

CONTENT SPECIALISTS/EDITORIAL
AMARA ROZGUS, Editor in Chief/Content Manager
630-571-4070 x2211, ARozgus@CFEMedia.com

AMANDA MCLEMAN, Project Manager

630-571-4070 x2209, AMcLeman@CFEMedia.com

BRITTANY MERCHUT, Project Manager

630-571-4070 x2220, BMerchut@CFEMedia.com

Amara Rozgus
Editor in Chief

BEN TAYLOR, Project Manager


630-571-4070 x2219, BTaylor@CFEMedia.com

MARK HOSKE, Content Manager


630-571-4070 x2214, MHoske@CFEMedia.com

BOB VAVRA, Content Manager


630-571-4070 x2212, BVavra@CFEMedia.com

PETER WELANDER, Content Manager

630-571-4070 x2213, PWelander@CFEMedia.com

MICHAEL SMITH, Creative Director

630-779-8910, MSmith@CFEmedia.com

CHRIS VAVRA, Content Specialist


CVavra@CFEMedia.com

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

ANIL AHUJA, PE, LEED AP, RCDD,


President, CCJM Engineers, Chicago
PETER ALSPACH, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Associate Principal, Mechanical Engineer,
Arup, Seattle
J. PATRICK BANSE, PE, LEED AP,
Senior Mechanical Engineer,
Smith Seckman Reid Inc., Houston
THOMAS BROWN, PE,
Executive Vice President, RJA Group Inc., Laurel, Md.
MICHAEL CHOW, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Principal, Metro CD Engineering LLC, Powell, Ohio
DOUGLAS EVANS, PE, FSFPE,
Fire Protection Engineer,
Clark County Building Division, Las Vegas
X A,
JASON GERKE, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CX
Mechanical Engineer, GRAEF, Milwaukee
RAYMOND GRILL, PE, FSFPE,
Principal, Arup, Washington, D.C.
DANNA JENSEN, PE, LEED AP BD+C,
Associate Principal, ccrd partners, Dallas
WILLIAM KOSIK, PE, CEM, LEED AP BD+C, BEMP,
Principal Data Center Energy Technologist,
HP Technology Services, Chicago
KENNETH KUTSMEDA, PE, LEED AP,
Engineering Design Principal,
KlingStubbins, Philadelphia
KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LC, LEED AP,
President, Lane Coburn & Assocs., Seattle
KENNETH L. LOVORN, PE,
President, Lovorn Engineering Assocs., Pittsburgh
MICHAEL MAR, PE, LEED AP,
Senior Associate,
Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago
BRIAN MARTIN, PE,
Electrical Engineer, CH2M Hill, Portland, Ore.
SYED PEERAN, PE, Ph.D.,
Senior Engineer, CDM Smith Inc.,
Cambridge, Mass.
BRIAN A. RENER, PE, LEED AP,
Electrical Platform Leader and Quality Assurance Manager,
M+W Group, Chicago
RANDY SCHRECENGOST, PE, CEM,
Austin Operations Group Manager and
Senior Mechanical Engineer,
Stanley Consultants, Austin, Texas
GERALD VERSLUYS, PE, LEED AP,
Principal, Senior Electrical Engineer,
TLC Engineering for Architecture, Jacksonville, Fla.
MIKE WALTERS, PE, LEED AP,
Principal, Confluenc, Madison, Wis.

What I learn each year


from the MEP Giants

read about are coming up with savvy,


he annual MEP Giants program
sophisticated, and spendthrift solutions to
is one of the most interesting
a variety of engineering problems.
programs we conduct at ConAnother thing I learn each year is that
sulting-Specifying Engineer. Not only
engineers are constantly evolving. Its
do we gather thousands of data points,
the nature of the beast for a consulting
but we also gather information that
firm to morph to meet customer needs,
cannot be quantified.
but Im amazed at how fluid some firms
Take the project profiles, for
example. We ask all firms interested in have become. Adding an international
division, for example, instantly brings
being considered for the MEP Giants
on new challenges. While
to tell us about three
not every MEP Giants
projects theyre workTop ways to
firm is doing work outing on, and then we ask
stay at the top:
side the United States,
each of the 100 firms
1. Kick butt and find
many are, and some have
that makes it on the list
solutions
expanded into the fastestto give us the details.
2. Continue to evolve
growing building regions
You can read these
in the world, such as Asia
projects for yourself at
3. Use technology to
and the Middle East.
www.csemag.com
your advantage.
Some of this innova/giants, but let me give
you the broad overview: Our engineers tion and globalization may be pushing
the increased use of mobile apps by the
are kicking butt. The variety of projMEP Giants. For example, the use of
ects alone is staggering.
mobile applications for productivity and
The kicking butt part comes in with
project management jumped from 43%
the solutions to the challenges faced on
to 54% in the past year. Engineering caleach project. The No. 1 challenge the
culations saw a similar-sized jump, up to
MEP Giants firms indicate they face is
the economys impact on the construction 44% use in 2013. Engineers are staying
market. When asked a similar question in on top of technology to remain nimble,
no matter where they are.
other research studies we conduct, engiSo whether your firm made this list
neers will answer that theyre not given
or not, take a bit of advice: Stay on top
an adequate budget for good design.
Money aside, the engineering firms youll of your game to keep competitive.

Send your questions and comments to:


ARozgus@CFEMedia.com

www.csemag.com

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

MEP Roundtable

Tips and tricks for commissioning,


balancing buildings
Building commissioning is one of the most important (and complex) types of projects an
engineer can be tasked with. Engineers give advice here and online, and manufacturers
provide advice at www.csemag.com/archives.

CSE: What tips can you offer engineers working on commissioning


projects?
Michael P. Feyler: During the design
phase, a meeting should be held for the
commissioning engineer and the design
engineer to review the systems chosen and
the sequences of operations, plus a controls
integration meeting to share experiences
on similar systems and the results from
previous projects with similar systems
and building types for the systems being
included within the design. During the submittal phase, on complicated projects, it is
beneficial for the design engineer, commissioning agent (CxA), and controls contractor to meet prior to the final approval of
the control scheme to ensure that all are in
agreement on the control mythologies and
sequences. During the construction phase,
after the control submittal is approved,
the commissioning engineer drafts the
functional testing documents. Sharing the
draft functional testing documents with
the design team and contractors for their
review and input will ensure that prior to

the release of the final testing documentation, all parties have reviewed and provided input on the documents, and all parties
have a though understanding of the design
intent. A beneficial procedure our team has
incorporated into the commissioning specification is for the contractors to dry run
the system prior to commissioning. This
requires the contractors to test the systems
using the functional performance tests, to
debug and check programming and operation. RDK requires a sign-off of the dry
run prior to site commissioning. All of the
above ensure that the contractor has a full
understanding of the system operation prior
to commissioning.
Jerry Bauers: Effective execution of
any field testing effort is almost entirely
dependent on preparation prior to arrival
at a project site. While a test procedure
can be a long, complex process, its component parts should be quite simple and
clear. Each step in a test procedure should
be specifically designed to demonstrate
an element of performance clearly and
without confusion. And the purpose
of that step (or series of related steps)

Jerry Bauers
National director
of commissioning
Sebesta Blomberg
Kansas City, Mo.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

Michael P. Feyler
Co-director,
building solutions
group
RDK Engineers
Andover, Mass.

should be clear to the execution team. In


the end, testing is only valuable if it either
demonstrates success or points clearly to
corrective actions that lead to success.
Preparation prior to going to the field,
understanding the systems to be tested,
the objectives of each step of the test, and
strategies to deal with the unexpected are
essential to effective field execution.
Geremy Wolff: There are a number
of tips:
Break it down into manageable steps;
you cant eat an elephant in one bite.
Take the time to review and play
devils advocate with the sequence of
operation. Make sure that the sequence
covers all aspects of operation including
what happens during a loss of power and
return to normal power after an emergency (often ignored). And, if an engineer
is going to borrow a sequence from a
previous (similar) project, take the time
to go through the sequence and make sure
all the changes are made to make this one
applicable to the project (often ignored).
Have the installers pretest the systems before you attempt to commission
Robert J. Linder, PE
Senior project
manager
Karges-Faulconbridge
Inc.
St. Paul, Minn.

www.csemag.com

them. There is no greater waste of time


than organizing a test and getting everyone out to the site and in place only to
find out the contractor running the test
is not ready, the system is not ready, or
the contractors dont understand their role
and responsibility.
Change the way people view functional testing. It should not be viewed
as well, lets flip the switch as see what
happens. Functional testing should be
viewed as functional demonstration. We
are not testing to see if it works, but rather
demonstrating that it works in accordance
with the designers expectations and the
owners project requirements.
Start from the basic concept of How
does it (the piece of equipment/system)
turn on and turn off? If you cant prove
those basic functions, then the rest is
meaningless.
Test from the approved as-programmed sequence of operation, not
the engineers operating intent. The
intent is usually vague and is not detailed
enough to create a test from.
Ensure there is time in the schedule for the building automation system
(BAS) provider and engineer to review
the test scripts and provide comments
weeks before the test is executed. You
might find how you are planning to test
the system cant be done, or that the
sequence used to create the test is out of
date and no longer applicable.
Be flexible; know the test procedure
you spent all that time on will have to be
modified in the field while performing
the test.
Barney York: The best tip for engineers
working on commissioning projects is to
become proactively involved early with

www.csemag.com

Figure 1: At the Carolinas Medical Center Pineville near Charlotte, N.C., RDK Engineers commissioning work included an energy plant, providing critical utility systems to the hospital. Courtesy: RDK Engineers

the owner and design team and remain


involved with both throughout the project. The CxA is there to assist the design
team professionals and as such can help
designers avoid problematic and costly
errors that would otherwise be discovered
during construction or occupancy. Early
designer involvement helps the CxA
better understand the design intent, and
together the CxA and design team can
incorporate the devices and sequences
needed to successfully test and validate the systems operation. Continued
involvement and communication with
designers during construction and commissioning helps the project team make
minor adjustments to system performance
as well as helps the designers further their
professional development.
Robert J. Linder: A few tips we press
upon our staff include:
Do your homework; understand the
owners functional requirements that
were to be met.
There is no substitute for getting dirty
on a project; dont just sit at the direct
digital control (DDC) front end observing
operations.
Develop detailed testing procedures
and dont skip steps.

James Szel
Senior vice
president

Geremy Wolff
Commissioning
manager

Syska Hennessy
Group
New York City

McKinstry
Bellingham, Wash.

Validate functionality and DDC


reporting of all components before you
test equipment; dont just trust the controls contractor.
Functional verification is not complete until all integrated systems testing
is finished and conformance to the design
intent was observed and documented.
James Szel: Understanding the
sequence of operation is key. Review
the operations and maintenance (O&M)
manuals for information on how the equipment operates. If the sequences dont
make sense, dont be shy about making
that phone call to the engineer of record.
If it still doesnt make sense, engage the
vendors technical group. I recently went
to a factory witness test at a major chiller
vendor. We had some very detailed technical questions. The vendor brought in its
lead installation technician to speak with
us. He was a great resource. It is important
to remind the team that the end goal of
commissioning is to hand over a quality,
operational building to the owner.
CSE: What aspect of the BAS
is most overlooked when initially
designed?

Barney York
Project manager
RMF Engineering
Baltimore

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

MEP Roundtable
York: A significant number of design
firms do not have design engineers that
fully understand BAS. As a result, the
mentality is that the BAS contractor will
make it work. When this occurs, drawings and specifications lack the technical detail required to transfer the owners
project requirements to the systems within the building. Unless the CxA for the
project reviewing the project documents
is knowledgeable in the design and functionality of the BAS, owners can be left
at the mercy of the BAS contractor for
numerous costly change orders and project schedule delays. We have assisted clients with developing project requirements
they can present to the design team before
design begins for a project. When reviewing the project documents, we are already
quite familiar with the design standards
and are able to provide comments that
ensure the documents are matching the
clients requirements for the project. We
have also assisted clients by having the
BAS contractor demonstrate its programming for the project in a simulator prior to
downloading the programming into BAS
controllers on-site. This allows bugs to
be worked out in advance, minimizing
start-up and schedule delays.
Bauers: The two most often underspecified items in control systems are
the sequences of control and the alarming and reporting strategies to be implemented by the control vendor. With
regard to sequences, we will also spend
a disproportionate effort in understanding and clarifying the sequence of control
to make its translation into control code
as seamless as possible. We also work
closely with the operating teams and the
designer to define the graphics interface
and an effective alarming and reporting
strategy for the completed system. We
replace the time honored control vendor
tradition of working these things out with
the operators at the end of the job.
Feyler: What is often overlooked is the
skill-set of the building facility personnel
that is left behind when the project team
leaves. In some cases, the BAS if often
over-sophisticated for the type of building

10

it is operating, and the training is often not


long enough to ensure a successful turnover. We offer the client additional system
education via having the facility team join
the CxA during the testing of the systems
to observe how the system operates and
how the BAS interacts with each system.
In most cases, training put into a specification is classroom-style training and not
field training or hands-on training that
RDK offers during the testing phase and

Figure 2: RMF Engineerings commissioning projects include a criminal forensic laboratory at a North Carolina detention center. Courtesy: RMF Engineering,
HDR Architecture

warranty phases of the project. In addition,


trending reporting should be included in
the specification that would allow a continuous commissioning of the building.
This is not always the case; the CxA will
always request trending reports prior to the
testing of the systems.
Linder: Owner preferences are commonly overlooked by the design team.
Simple things like a fan status can end up
being a thorn in the side of the building
operator. Do you use a current switch, a
pressure sensor, or a status command?
These are all acceptable methods, but
which is preferred? Communicate with
your owner and dont overlook the details.
A controls shop drawing review meeting

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

is a great way to cover these details. We


invite the controls contractor, engineer, and
the owners operations staff to a meeting
where we dissect the controls shop drawing. All decisions are made at this meeting
and the controls contractor leaves with an
approved shop drawing to start their work.
Everyone understands the decisions that
were made, and why they were made.
Szel: Again, how the client intends to
use the final configuration of the BAS is
the most overlooked aspect. The initial
design is usually good, choosing the points
and describing the sequences of operation,
but doesnt always take into account how
the client is going to use its system. Getting the BAS contractor and the owner (or
facility engineers who will be operating
the building) into the same room early
in the process helps the client get what it
needs in the system without the contractor
having to redesign a system at the end of
the project when there is almost always a
time crunch. Another overlooked aspect
is often the integration between multiple
control systems, such as multiple BAS
systems. To provide optimum efficiency
in operating the facility, it is important for
there to integration between control systems, so the operating team does not have
multiple consoles, etc., to operate.
CSE: Describe a sequence of
operations challenge you solved in a
building automation/control system.
Wolff: This happens every day. One of
the most common is how to control pressure within a building. The sequence to
operate systems with combination return/
relief fans and dedicated exhaust dampers is one we typically provide significant
input on. One of the most common challenges we face related to sequences of
operation is that often the designers and
controls technicians focus on each individual piece of equipment and lose sight
of the overall function of the building as
a whole. Through our process of looking
at the building holistically, we can easily
identify where an action of one system will
strongly affect the actions or performance

www.csemag.com

www.mtuonsiteenergy.com

20V 4000 generator set

ENSURES A CONSTANT
FLOW OF POWER.
AND PEACE OF MIND.
Continuous power is essential to factories, data centers and hospitalswherever
revenue or lives are at risk. MTU Onsite Energy offers reliable emergency power
solutions. Backed by more than 60 years of experience, our diesel generator
sets provide an industry-leading 85 percent average load factor, plus reliability
and availability. Choose from a complete power portfolio including the 3,250 kW
Series 4000, the largest diesel generator set to receive IBC certification.

READ OUR CUSTOMERS STORIES.


Visit www.mtuonsiteenergy.com and
click on Press for case studies.

input #6 at www.csemag.com/information
A TOGNUM GROUP COMPANY

MTU Onsite Energy Corporation / 100 Power Drive / Mankato, Minnesota 56001 / USA / Phone 800 325 5450 / www.mtuonsiteenergy.com

MEP Roundtable
of another system. This is often overlooked
in the implementation of the sequence.
Bauers: In the process of commissioning containment laboratories, we
are tasked with complying with National
Institutes of Health/U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards
for pressurization of laboratories. In these
standards, laboratories must remain under
a negative pressure at all times, including

through transient failure conditions. Working closely with the operations team and
the control contractor at a Texas university,
we were able to use the stack effect of the
exhaust system to eliminate transient pressure reversals that are inherent to systems
that respond to supply or exhaust failures
with fully closed dampers. While the concept is novel, the success of our efforts was
driven by our patient adjustment of con-

Figure 3: RDK Engineers Building Solutions Group recently provided LEED commissioning for a new 183,000-sq-ft academic building at Boston College. Courtesy: RDK Engineers

Dion Neri, Sr. Engineer, MCG Surge Protection

People,
NOT
Voice
Mail.

Since 1967, weve tackled the toughest transient surge problems with individual care and
concern for thousands of applications... from the top of world-class observatories to the
bottom of seismic boreholes. If you have a question, youll get one of our engineers on the
phone immediately, and theyll support you before, during, and after the sale.
We design and manufacture Gold Standard Industrial-grade
AC Power Line, Data Line, Direct Current and Low Voltage
Protectors. Always made in the USA.
Watch our Senior Engineer Dion Neri give a no-nonsense,
3-minute talk about AC protection by searching for MCG
Surge in YouTube. Stop by the shop at www.mcgsurge.com.

MCG

1-800-851-1508

www.mcgsurge.com
input #7 at www.csemag.com/information

trol loop tuning and the timing of control


responses to failures.
York: A science building had an issue
with its laboratory exhaust fan system that
consisted of three fans. When an additional
fan was called to operate, the fan that was
coming online would begin to freewheel
backwards as soon as the isolation damper for the fan was fully open. Once the
damper fully opened, an end-switch was
made and the fan would attempt to turn
in the correct direction. The fan could not
overcome the backwards momentum and,
as a result, the fans associated variable
frequency drive (VFD) would trip on an
overcurrent situation. We recommended
adding a time-delay relay in series with
the end-switch safety circuit and starting
the fan at minimum speed prior to opening the isolation damper. As a result, the
fan was able to start in the correct direction prior to the isolation damper opening. Once the time-delay relay contact
dropped out, the end-switch was made
on the damper, keeping the safety circuit
intact. Another project had a static pressure reset sequence for an air-handling
unit (AHU) and associated terminal units
based on terminal unit damper positions.
We discovered that often a terminal unit
with a mechanical or damper actuator
issue would drive the AHU static pressure
setpoint to the maximum value, thus wasting energy. We recommended additional
programming that would identify terminal
units responsible for this issue, temporarily
remove them from the sequence, and send
an alarm to alert the appropriate personnel
to investigate the issue. As a result of the
energy savings achieved from this change,
the owner elected to implement the same
change in other buildings on its campus
as well.
CSE: How have changing HVAC,
fire protection, life safety, and/or electrical codes and standards affected
your work in commissioning?
Wolff: NFPA requirements have
changed the way we handle measurement on mechanical systems. It used to

input #8 at www.csemag.com/information

MEP Roundtable
be pretty common for one of our engineers to open up the electrical panel on
a rooftop unit to take amp/volt readings
or install a data logger without thinking
twice. Arc flash training has taught us
this is something to be very careful with
and there is a proper procedure to follow
and personal protective equipment (PPE)
that must be used. In Washington state,
commissioning has been a requirement
under the energy code since 1997. However, this code has been tough to enforce.
The most recent version provides some
additional compliance requirements with
a compliance checklist that indicates the
commissioning has been completed. We
are now seeing inspectors looking for this
document before they sign off on the final
permits. One of the biggest challenges
we face with regard to commissioning
codes is one of education. There are a fair
number of code officials that admittedly
do not fully understand commissioning.

Figure 4: A BSL-3 laboratory, with a hazardous waste decontamination system,


was one of the systems involved at a
recent Sebesta Blomberg commissioning project, conducted for a university in
the northeastern U.S. Courtesy: Sebesta
Blomberg

We, the commissioning industry, have


recently started to work closely with the
International Code Council to provide
educational programs to the authority

having jurisdiction (AHJ) on what commissioning is and, more importantly,


what it is not.
Feyler: Building, mechanical, fire protection, life safety, and electrical codes
change on a cycle, allowing for designers
and CxAs to keep informed of changes as
the codes update. Projects to be permitted
after a code cycle change are the most difficult to perform design reviews of, so the
CxA needs to become familiar with the
adopted changes prior to the issuance of
the new code. The CxA also needs to be
familiar with the state the project is to be
commissioned in, and be aware of what
the adopted code is for that state and if
the state has amendments to the adopted
code. The CxA also needs to verify if the
jurisdiction, city, town or county he or she
is working in has the right to amend state
adopted code or choose not to adopt portions or parts of state code. An example
of this is Massachusetts; the state has the

Together, we can move clean air,


guaranteed. From the compressor
outlets to the machines with
optimal flow, minimal downtime
and increased plant productivity.

Transair: Compressed Air


Pipe Systems 1/2 to 6
When you partner with the global leader in compressed air pipe systems, expect to move your business and the
world forward. From various fittings to highly integrated pipe systems, Transairs aluminum pipe ensures higher
longevity of equipment and avoids frequent changes of filtration elements. Not to mention, Transairs energy
savings element is critical to lowering your overall cost of ownership. So partner with Parker, and get ready to
move clean air, guaranteed.

input #9 at www.csemag.com/information

Scan to see a
Transair video.

www.parkertransair.com ph 480 830 7764

Stretch Energy Code, an addition to the


building code. It provides a more energy
efficient alternative to the standard energy
provisions of the code. A municipality
may choose to or chose not to adopt the
addition.
York: I find more and more codes are
now beginning to require that systems be
commissioned as part of the acceptance process. The end result for CxAs is our scope
of services has expanded, and we must find
talented and highly skilled individuals to
oversee and validate these systems. Building envelope, special inspections, and electrical testing are now becoming common
request in requests for proposals (RFPs).
Szel: The changing codes are taken into
consideration during the design process.
We stay abreast of these codes to ensure
the field installation is in compliance with
the appropriate codes and standards. It is
important for the design and commissioning teams to have full knowledge of all local

codes and requirements, by the AHJ. The


design and commissioning must be in compliance with those requirements.
CSE: What systems or best practices do you suggest to test the
building envelope?
Feyler: RDK works with clients that
require the CxA carry the building
envelope contractor. The practice of
the building envelope team inserting
requirements into the commissioning
specification, implementing two design
reviews of the architectural drawings
with tracking of those comments prior
to construction commencement, is one
of the best practices. Basic building
envelope commissioning includes window testing, infrared scans, and moisture
scanning of the roof.
Szel: Common building envelope testing practices include:

THERES MORE THAN ONE WAY TO

SUPPRESS A FIRE
IN YOUR DATA CENTER

Air leakage testing


Water penetration testing
Thermal bridge testing.
The air-leakage testing uses a
blower door testfor example,
using the protocol of ASTM E77910.
The PassivHaus Standard has stringent
air-leakage requirements and is driving this discussion with many clients.
The simplest water penetration test
sprays the faade using a calibrated
nozzle, for example, following ASTM
E1105. This helps identify possible
problems for indoor environmental
quality (IEQ) and durability, as well
as thermal issues. To look for thermal
bridges we use infrared scanning.
There are also standards like ASTM
C1060-11a to look at insulation in
faade cavities.
Read the longer version of this online at:
www.csemag.com/archives.

WE SUGGEST YOU CHOOSE

THE ONE THAT WONT


GET YOU WET
Fike clean agent systems, the most effective way to
suppress fires, protect your high-value assets and
eliminate potential downtime.
Extinguishes a Fire FASTER Than Water
Is Safe for People
Requires No Clean-up
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO CHOOSE

FIKE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

Waterless clean agent


fire suppression

INERT GAS

with IMPULSE

designed to be safe
and economical

TECHNOLOGY

WWW.FIKE.COM

1-866-758-6004
input #10 at www.csemag.com/information

SYSTEMS

SMALL SPACE
CLEAN AGENT

Fire Protection Systems

Sales

Service

Commissioning

Engineering

Installation

Reliable Controls is a global BACnet BMS


supplier that has teamed-up with locally
owned independent controls contractors to
build a nationwide network of Authorized
Dealers, covering all of the major centers in
North America.
Visit our website to locate a Reliable Controls
Authorized Dealer near you, or contact one of
our five regional sales offices in North America.
www.reliablecontrols.com/contact

Western Canada Sales


Ph: 403.873.5131

Western USA Sales


Ph: 415.892.4165

Midwestern USA Sales


Ph: 614.545.8020

Eastern USA Sales


Ph: 215.817.5108

input #11 at www.csemag.com/information

Eastern Canada Sales


Ph: 905.355.2340

Career Smart
BY ADAM FORNI, PE
Linwood Engineering, Costa Mesa, Calif.

Finding your natural motivation


Several books offer resources to help boost that internal drive to excel.

ave you ever experienced a loss of


self-motivation, or a drop in that
internal drive to excel? Are your coworkers or employees just going through
the motions, completing projects without
real engagement? The causes of these phenomena can range from poor management
to poor project mix. But they have one thing
in common: in each case employees have
lost some of their intrinsic motivationthe
incredibly powerful, often-untapped impetus inside each of us.
Several recent works offer bold new
insights in this area. In his excellent
book Drive, Daniel H. Pink explores
the modern forces constricting motivation. First, extrinsic rewardsexternal
incentives like paychecks, bonus pay,
and praiseare insufficient to encourage real engagement. Indeed, they can at
times even stifle creativity. Second, some
managers think their job is to simply control employees, ensuring compliance and
strictly monitoring output. As humans
were born curious and generally selfdirected, yet these two forces combined
can curb our innate inspiration.
Autonomy, says Pink, can address these
issues. Autonomy is defined not as go-italone independence, but rather as individual choice over methods and outcomes.
Dozens of studies show autonomous
motivation provides teeming benefits,
including greater conceptual understanding, higher productivity, less burnout, and
higher levels of psychological well-being.
Challenge yourself by asking: Does
my company offer autonomy? That is, do
managers meticulously review progress
every few hours, redline plans incessantly,

www.csemag.com

and decree overly rigid standards? Or do


they give junior engineers total creative
control, absolute freedom to schedule
milestones, and complete discretion on
deciding when to check in with managers?
Most firms necessarily fall between these
two extremes, depending on size, project
mix, and company culture.
If autonomy is so powerful, why isnt
it better embraced? Several culprits
exist. Of course, delivering just one set
of disastrously unreviewed construction
documents can end long-term clients in
an instant. Thus, robust quality assurance
is always needed. Second, when given
unlimited time, engineers tend to overdetail; we solve the problem too much. So
reasonable oversight is needed, especially
given our industrys ever-tightening budgets and schedules. Finally, some argue
that certain employees are simply not selfdirected. In fact, blindly following directions becomes second nature for many,
but its still possible to return to the innate
exploratory nature we had as children.
Despite the management status quo, its
becoming clear that more autonomy can
benefit our firms. Consider the following:
According to Jone L. Pearces Real
Research for Managers, greater intrinsic
rewards are attained by using a wider variety of an employees skills, allowing completion of a project from beginning to end,
and permitting flexibility to plan, schedule,
and complete a project. We care more about
the work we are personally responsible for.
Effective mentors drop in regularly
to be available to answer questions, not to
bark orders. This encourages the project
engineer to proactively think up the right

questions, and to appreciate managerial


visits rather than dread them.
For the senior employee: When
reviewing and correcting work, avoid the
temptation to just give the right answer.
One manager tended to mark up review
sets to the Nth degree, sometimes basically redesigning the project in red pen.
To encourage autonomy, he later offered
more broad advice, for example referring
the designer to a previous similar project.
While this took the designer more time,
he learned more, took more pride in his
work, and even devised novel corrections
otherwise missed by the manager.
According to David H. Maisters
Managing The Professional Service
Firm, managers believe 40% to 50% of
their work could be delegated to more
junior employees. The above facts taken
together suggest that deliberate delegation
can not only free up managers time, but
make younger employees more engaged
and, eventually, more valuable to the firm.
If youre a manager, consider incorporating these practices to the extent possible. If youre not, and you want more
autonomy, either apply pressure or apply
for another position. Each of us deserves
a position that puts our full skills to use,
especially because its usually in the
firms best interest.
Adam Forni is a senior associate at Linwood Engineering, Costa Mesa, Calif.
He serves as the senior liaison for highprofile clients including several major
developers and Fortune 500 companies.
He is a Consulting-Specifying Engineer
2013 40 Under 40 award winner.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

17

input #12 at www.csemag.com/information

Codes & Standards


NEC Chapter 2: Wiring and protection
NFPA 70: National Electrical Code Chapter 2 (Article 200) covers the use
and identification of grounded conductors, providing requirements for
identification of terminals, wiring systems, and grounded conductors.
This is a quick overview of the code.
BY JOHN SCHURING, PE, CH2M Hill, Portland, Ore.

rticle 200 is a fundamental prerequisite


to understanding Chapter 2 of NFPA 70:
National Electrical Code. Article 200
covers the Use and Identification of Grounded
Conductors. Notice that neutral is not part
of the title and is not included in the scope language. We often refer to the grounded conductor
as the neutral, but this is not always correct.
Two examples of systems that are grounded
where a neutral point is not available are shown
in Figure 1. Alternatively, per 250.26, the neutral
of alternating-current systems is grounded. Other
sources, including IEEE142-Green Book and
IEEE141-Red Book, refer to the grounded conductor as a grounded neutral. This article of the
NEC avoids the term neutral and refers to the
grounded neutral conductor as a grounded conductor. Article 200 covers conductor identification for grounded conductors, terminal identification, and grounded conductors in premise wiring.
Please note that green grounding conductors
are covered in Article 250.119. If you are looking
for a historical perspective, read The historical
development of neutral grounding practices by
Edward Owen.
We intentionally ground a source to provide a
reference point for protection devices. Accurately
identifying grounded conductors and terminals
makes it possible to connect circuits with correct
polarity and eliminate unintentional connections
to the grounding system. This is critical because
our grounding conductor path may include raceways, metal boxes, and other pathways. We dont
want to intentionally apply current to these items
that are exposed to personnel. We also dont want
to create alternate paths back to the source.
www.csemag.com

Grounded
conductors

A grounded conductor is connected


to the earth to create
a voltage reference
that is close to zero.
Only the voltage drop
due to the impedance Figure 1: Two examples where a neutral point is not
of the circuit is mea- available in a grounded system are shown. All graphsured. This reference ics courtesy: CH2M Hill
is critical for operation of protective
devices. Even though
the voltage is close to
zero, this conductor is
carrying current and
is dangerous when
energized. The next
time someone tries to
beguile you into an
argument about the
difference between
the green wire and the white wire (connected Figure 2: This is an examat the source), just ask him if he would like to ple of a component wired
test that theory by holding the white wire in one with reversed polarity.
hand and the green in the other when current is
flowing. We must bear in mind that the grounded
conductor intentionally carries current during
normal operation.
Correct polarity is critical because a manufacturers equipment safety protection design may
be defeated when connected improperly. For
example, internal circuit protection can be eliminated when circuit polarity is not maintained. A
fuse connected on the return side of the circuit
Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

19

Codes & Standards


the grounded conductor insulation must
be rated the same as the phase conductors
(see Figure 3).
The first sentence in 200.3 (Connection to Grounded System) is difficult to
understand. It states: Premise wiring
shall not be electrically connected to a
supply system unless the latter contains,
for any ungrounded conductor of the interior system,
a corresponding conductor that is grounded. This
article from the code comes
from an older vernacular; it
read almost the same back
in 1938.
This section requires that
the internal building wiring match the service. We
are not allowed to connect
or ground a system where
Figure 3: Grounded conductor insulation requirethe supply is not grounded.
ments for impedance grounded system are shown.
Article 250.20.B describes
grounded conductors is required by the grounding requirements more clearly.
Three conditions require grounding:
last point 200.11
1. When grounding limits the voltage
200.2 general defines insulation and
continuity requirements for a ground- to less than 150 V
2. 3-phase, 4-wire, wye connected
ed conductor. The practice of using a
metallic structure to connect grounded system
3. 3-phase, 4-wire, delta connected
conductors cannot be used. Improper
connections create a dangerous potential system with a grounded midpoint convoltage difference between grounded nection.
conductor and ground. Stray currents
NEC handbook Exhibit 250.4 shows a
create a voltage on metal that is exposed
to personnel. Grounded conductors must grounded conductor at the source. Generbe connected to terminals specifically ally, the local utility provides a grounded
intended for grounded connections. In a service, but you should not assume that
panelboard downstream from the service, this is the case. I found an exception on
this is a separate busbar that is insulated a recent project in the Alaskan outback.
from the metal enclosure. Remember: the Pole-top transformers are provided with a
enclosure is connected to the grounding midpoint tap, but it is no longer connectsystem and must be kept separate from ed to ground. With the original high-leg
the grounded system except at the service delta wiring unchanged, a moving crane
provides a path back to ground with vis(see 250.184 B.7).
Insulation rating for grounded conduc- ible arcing.
tors on 1000 V or less systems need to
be rated the same as the phase conduc- Identifying grounded conductors
tors. This applies to solidly grounded and
For insulated grounded conductors of
impedance grounded systems. For solidly 6 AWG or less, the conductor must be
grounded systems greater than 1000 V, manufactured to meet the identification
the grounded conductor insulation rat- requirements. Namely, it must have a
ing is 600 V minimum. For impedance continuous white or gray outer finish
grounded systems greater than 1000 V, or three white stripes along the entire
is bypassed during a fault condition (see
Figure 2).
Lamp screw shells are specifically
required to be connected to the grounded
connector in point 200.10 C. The shell
of a lamp socket is relatively exposed
to human hands and should not provide
a path to ground. Correct polarity for

20

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

length of the conductor. There are other


options for mineral-insulated (MI) cable,
photovoltaic (PV) power systems, fixture
wires, and aerial cable.
1. MI due to nature of construction
requires re-identification at terminals
2. Single-conductor, sunlight-resistant
outdoor cable for PV systems allows distinctive white markings at terminations
(690.31)
3. Fixture wire allows ridges for the
grounded conductor among other color
options detailed in 400.22
4. Aerial cable may be identified by a
ridge on cable.
Conductors larger than 6 AWG also
require white or gray outer finish or three
white stripes along the entire length of
the conductor, but there is an option to
re-identify the conductor by wrapping
the cable with white or gray at termination points. Paint, tape, or shrink tube are
good options. Just be sure the identification completely circles the conductor.
Where grounded conductors of two different systems are in the same raceway
or enclosure, they must be identified differently from each other (200.6 D). Identification requirements are the same as
explained above, plus there is an option
to have a colored stripe other than green
running along the insulation. Color code
labels are required at junction boxes and
at termination equipment. An example
color code table:
Voltage:
208 Y/120
Phase A

Black

Voltage:
480 Y/277
Phase A

Brown

Phase B

Red

Phase B

Orange

Phase C

Blue

Phase C

Yellow

Grounded
conductor

White

Grounded
conductor

Black with
three
white
stripes

Alternate uses for conductors

Conductors for systems greater than


50 V, identified by the manufacturer with
white or gray, may be used for alternate
purposes under the following conditions:
Conductors within a cable assembly that are not switched. Supply to the
www.csemag.com

With the
ETL Mark,
theres

safety
in numbers.

Recognize the fastest-growing


safety mark in North America.
Any qualified NRTL can provide safety testing and certification. But the ETL Mark from
Intertek stands for more than just compliance. Our engineers have extensive industry,
technology and product expertise. We test to the latest standards from ANSI/UL, CSA,
NFPA and more, so you can be confident that a product bearing the ETL Mark meets
proper code requirements.
Every day, more and more manufacturers (of appliances, lighting, fire/
security, and industrial equipment, just to name a few) are choosing the
ETL Mark for their product safety certification.
Visit www.intertek.com/CS3 today or call 800-WORLDLAB to learn
more about Intertek and ETL certification.
input #13 at www.csemag.com/information

Definitions

Codes & Standards


switch because it
is energized under
operating conditions. This practice
is going to be less
common because
the 2011 NEC now
requires that the
grounded conductor also be carried
to the switch and
standard nonmetallic cable assemblies have only one
neutral. 404.2 C is
Figure 4: This is a switched receptacle for a chain-hung fixoutside the scope
ture. The white conductor in NM cable has been re-identified
of this article (see
with red tape and is connected to a hot conductor.
Figure 4).
This receptacle is switched and common nonmetallic cable was used for a
switch leg. Red tape was used to reidentify the ungrounded conductor. At
the switch, while the circuit is energized,
voltage can be found on the white repurposed wire.
Figure 5: Old non-grounding receptacles
with grounded terminals are identified by
white screws and a plate. Age: 50-plus
years. These were phased out after the
1962 NEC required grounding receptacles.

switch is allowed but return from switch


is not.
Flexible cords as permitted in
400.22.
Where the grounded conductor is repurposed, it must be identified by encircling
the conductor with a color other than
white, gray, or green. Red tape is commonly used and paint is listed as an option;
red shrink tube is a cleaner installation and
it doesnt fall off. The white conductor can
only be used as the energized leg to the
switch. Troubleshooting the circuit and
finding potential to ground on the white
conductor clues the technician that this is
a switch leg. Another advantage is that you
end up with standard color coding at the
device. This helps avoid confusion as to
the purpose of the white conductor at the
22

Terminal identification

For devices 30 amp and less, terminals


must be identified. Ungrounded terminals must be distinguishable from the
grounded terminals. Receptacles, plugs,
and connectors require white metal or a
W or white label. If the terminal is
not visible, as in the case of push-pin
devices, the label is required. Identification of terminals for devices has been in
practice for a long time. Even this old
two-pin device has white terminals for
the grounded connection.
Where leads are provided with a screw
shell, they must have a white or gray
colored jacket for the conductor attached
to the screw shell. Appliance termination requirements have a separate point.
Appliances with line-to-ground connections either hardwired or cord and
cap require the grounded terminal to be
identified.
Looking forward to the 2014 Edition
of the NEC, one option to be voted on
is whether gray stripes are an acceptable
means of identification. For seven points
where white stripes are allowed, gray

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

Several important definitions from NEC


Article 100 are:
Grounded conductor. A system or
circuit conductor that is intentionally
grounded.
Grounding conductor, equipment
(EGC). The conductive path(s) installed
to connect normally non-current-carrying metal parts of equipment together
and to the system grounded conductor
or to the grounding electrode conductor,
or both.
Neutral conductor. The conductor connected to the neutral point of a
system that is intended to carry current
under normal conditions.
Neutral point. The common point on
a wye-connection in a polyphase system
or midpoint on a single-phase, 3-wire
system, or midpoint of a single-phase
portion of a 3-phase delta system, or a
midpoint of a 3-wire, direct-current system. Informational note: At the neutral
point of the system, the vectorial sum
of the nominal voltages from all other
phases within the system that utilize the
neutral, with respect to the neutral point,
is zero potential.
stripes have been proposed as an option.
Point 200.2 revisions have been proposed
by a high-voltage task group looking to
improve consistency when discussing
1000 V system divisions. Another proposal was to add a fine print note to
200.1 Scope with reference to 250.26 for
when a grounded conductor is a neutral
conductor. However, this proposal was
rejected because, according to the codemaking panel, whether a grounded conductor is a neutral or not is not relevant to
the requirements of Article 200.
Identification of the grounded conductor is straightforward once you have
taken the time to understand Article
200. Mistakes not only cause confusion
during commissioning, but also can be
deadly.
John Schuring is an electrical engineer
at CH2M Hill with more than 20 years
of engineering experience. He works
primarily in industrial applications and
start-up of facilities.
www.csemag.com

+
25
years
CUSTOMER

SATISFACTION

Hot Water. On Time. Every Time.


With quality, durability, and integrity at our core, Keltechs tankless water heaters
deliver water at an exact temperature faster, seamlessly, and more efficiently than
traditional water heating systems.
For over 25 years, Keltech has manufactured highly engineered tankless solutions covering
light, medium, and heavy duty applications including scientific laboratories, food processing
facilities, and hazardous chemical environments.
Contact us today to learn more about our complete
product line or a custom solution to fit your needs.

P: (800) 999-4320 W: keltech-inc.com

DESIGN. ENGINEERING. VALUE.


input #14 at www.csemag.com/information

Special report:

Fan efficiency guidelines

New and proposed fan-efficiency provisions in commercial energy codes


and standards are fostering cost-effective energy savings in HVAC systems.
BY MICHAEL IVANOVICH, AMCA International, Arlington Heights, Ill.

espite the fact that fans in commercial HVAC systems consume


more than 1 Quad of energy (1015
Btus) annually in the U.S., they have not
had explicit efficiency requirements in
federal regulations or model codes and
standards for energy efficiency and highperformance/green construction.
Those days are over.
The 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and ASHRAE
90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings

Fan efficiency requirements


90

Fan Peak Total Efficiency (%)

FEG90

65% efficiency
80
threshold

FEG80

70

FEG71

FEG85

FEG75
FEG67
FEG63

60

FEG60
FEG56
FEG53
FEG50

50
40
30
20
0

Fans eliminated by
65% efficiency threshold
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Fan Size (Impeller Diameter) (in.)

Figure 1: A straight-line 65% efficiency requirement would eliminate fans under 20-in.
diameter for most types of fans. A fan efficiency provision based on curves that
account for smaller fan types (such as fan efficiency grades defined by AMCA Standard 205) solves this problem. All graphics courtesy: AMCA International

24

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings


(2013 Edition) have requirements for
minimum fan efficiency. These requirements are based on a standard published
by the Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA International), AMCA 205: Energy Efficiency Classification for Fans. AMCA 205 was first
published in 2010, and its 2012 revision
is ANSI accredited. The 2012 IgCCs fan
efficiency provisions are based on AMCA
205-10; ASHRAE 90.1-2013s provisions
are based on ANSI/AMCA 205-2012.
Additionally, AMCA and ASHRAE
collaborated on fan-efficiency proposals
for the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which were based
on the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 language.
The proposals cleared the first level of
hearings in April 2013 and will undergo
public review later in the year leading
up to final-action hearings in October.
AMCA International also is developing
a proposal for ASHRAE 189.1: Standard
for Construction of High-Performance,
Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Dept. of Energy
recently initiated the development of a
federal efficiency regulation for commercial and industrial fans, with completion
of the regulation expected in 2015/2016
and enforcement beginning as early as
2019/2020.
This article describes the fan efficiency
provisions that are in place in IgCC-2012
www.csemag.com

Table 1: Fan output


Diameter (in.)

FEG rating

Total
efficiency (%)

Operating
power (hp)

Price ($)

Operating cost
per year ($)

Weight (lbs)

36

85

56

114

21,100

37,797

2,330

40

85

62

90

16,100

29,939

2,850

44

85

68

74

16,900

24,402

3,570

49

85

77

60

17,600

19,926

4,170

54

85

78

56

20,300

18,401

5,200

60

85

81

51

23,800

16,976

6,310

66

85

81

50

27,400

16,478

7,490

Table 1: Output from fan sizing/selection software offers a range of sizes to meet airflow and pressure requirements. Note all
sizes have the same FEG, but theres a considerable difference in energy consumption. The yellow-highlighted row shows a typical fan selection. The green-highlighted row indicates more efficient and long-term cost effective fan selection. The energy savings of the 60-in. fan will repay the higher first cost in less than 2 years.

and ASHRAE 90.1-2013, and briefly


discusses what could lie ahead in future
codes, standards, and regulations.
Rating fan efficiency

AMCA 205 defines a metric, called a


fan efficiency grade (FEG), that rates a
fans ability to convert shaft power to air
power, independent of motors and drives.
FEGs are indices calculated from data
taken at the peak total efficiency point
on a fan curve developed during ratings
certification tests.
AMCA developed FEGs as a dimensionless index to characterize the aerodynamic quality of a fan. The metric
accounts for the reduced peak total
efficiency that occurs for smaller fans
compared to that of larger fans of the
same type. This characteristic is due to
nongeometric manufacturing tolerances,
disproportionate bearing losses, and other
aerodynamic factors that have a greater
impact on smaller fans than on larger
fans. When plotted as a graph, the differences in efficiency across fan sizes
define a banana-shaped curve. The nature
of this curve prohibits setting a straightline efficiency requirement (e.g., all fans
must have a minimum efficiency of 65%)
because doing so would eliminate many
smaller fan sizes of even the most efficient types of fans (see Figure 1). Smaller
fans inherently have smaller efficiencies
because bearing losses, manufacturing
tolerances, and the fan structure all have
www.csemag.com

a larger impact than they do for larger


fans of the same design. The smaller fans,
however, are designed for specific applications and duty points (airflow and pressure). Eliminating them wholesale via an
efficiency standard would not serve the
industry well.
Figure 1 also superimposes FEG curves
defined by AMCA 205 on the straightline efficiency of 65%. Setting a fan
efficiency requirement based on FEGs
is as simple as a straight-line efficiency
requirement (e.g., all fans must have a
minimum efficiency of FEG 67). Note in
Figure 1 how the FEG curves penetrate
the box that defines the smaller sizes that
would have been prohibited by a straightline efficiency requirement.
The FEG curves are defined in such a
way that all fans of a particular design,
having geometric proportionality, should
have the same FEG, although there are
sometimes exceptions to this rule.
If an energy code has a minimum fan
efficiency requirement of FEG 67, any
fan model with that rating or higher will
comply. The FEG is a simple metric to
segregate fans that do or do not meet a
specific code requirement or regulation.

gets generally favor lowest-first-cost


approaches, so the smallest fan size is
generally selected. Although they may
have the same FEG rating (as described
earlier), the difference in actual efficiency and energy performance between the
smallest and largest fan sizes is considerable.
Consequently, setting a minimum
fan efficiency grade will not guarantee
reduced fan-energy consumption unless
care is taken to properly design the air
distribution system and an appropriate
fan selection is made. For this reason,
AMCA 205 also prescribes that fans
should be sized and selected to operate
within 15 percentage points of the fans
peak total efficiency. The sizing/selection
window helps practitioners to right-size
fans so they operate in their most efficient
ranges of speed and pressure. The result
is a higher first cost, but energy savings
quickly recoup the higher cost. Table 1
shows the output of a manufacturers sizing/selection program for a double-width,
double-inlet fan sized/selected for 80,000
cfm at 3-in. static pressure. The operating costs are based on a run time of 16 hr
per day, 250 days per year, and electricity
cost of $0.10 per kWh.

Limiting sizing/selection practice

Commercial HVAC fans are usually


sized and selected using software that
yields a range of fan sizes for a specific
fan model for given airflow (cfm) and
pressure conditions. Construction bud-

Structuring a fan efficiency


requirement

Fan-efficiency codes and standards


written around AMCA 205 define a minimum FEG and a sizing/selection window.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

25

Special report: Fan efficiency guidelines

Fan Total Efficiency (t )

26

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

Fan Total Pressure (Pt )

Fan efficiency provisions in ASHRAE Michael Ivanovich in the April 2013 issue
Fan efficiency provisions can be further
refined by specifying applicable sizes, 90.1-2013 are written into the section of ASHRAE Journal. To learn how fan
types, and exemptions, as well as require- that includes fan power limits. The fan power limits and fan efficiency grades
ments for third-party certified FEGs and power limits section encourages low- interact during a fan selection, read the
energy labels. The following are exam- static-pressure air distribution systems, article by Michael Brendel, PhD, in the
ples of where fan-efficiency requirements which save energy; however, it does not May 2013 issue of HPAC Engineering.
IECC-2015: The fan
based on AMCA 205 have
efficiency provisions in
been adopted or proposed
Efficiency range
ASHRAE 90.1-2013 were
for model codes and stanproposed for IECC-2015,
dards for energy efficiency
Max 15 percentage
points
with a few refinements:
and green/high-performance
FEG ratings would have
construction.
( t )
to be approved and
IgCC-2012: The 2012
labeled, measures that are
IgCCs fan-efficiency prodefined within the IECC,
vision includes a minimum
(Pt )
and were included to supFEG rating of 71 and sizport compliance checking
ing/selection window of
and enforcement:
10 percentage points from
APPROVED: Approval
peak static or total efficienby the code official as a
cy. It applies to stand-alone
result of investigation and
supply, return, and exhaust
tests conducted by him or
fans in buildings less than
Flow
Qmin
Qpeak
Qmax
her, or by reason of accept25,000 sq ft.
(cfm)
ed principles or tests by
This provision was based
on AMCA 205-2010, which Figure 2: The allowable selection range shown is based on opera- nationally recognized organizations.
had a sizing/selection win- tion within 15 percentage points of the fans peak total efficiency,
LABELED: Equipment,
dow of 10%, not 15%. as specified in ANSI/AMCA 205-12.
materials or products to
AMCA 205-2010 also listed
fan types that it does not cover, including place appreciable constraints on efficient which have been affixed a label, seal,
symbol or other identifying mark of a
air curtains and jet fans, because these fan efficiency or right-sizing of fans.
ASHRAE 90.1-2013 specifies a mini- nationally recognized testing laboratory,
types do not conform to the conditions
supporting FEG calculations. AMCA mum FEG rating of 67 and a sizing/ inspection agency or other organization
will be proposing significant changes to selection window of 15 percentage points concerned with product evaluation that
this language for the 2016 version of this of the fans peak-total-efficiency rating maintains periodic inspection of the production of the above-labeled items and
(Figure 2).
model code.
The Standard 90.1 provision applies to whose labeling indicates either that the
ASHRAE 90.1-2013: The significance
of having a new fan efficiency require- fans with a nameplate hp rating > 5 hp and equipment, material or product meets
ment in ASHRAE 90.1 cannot be over- fan arrays that have an aggregate motor identified standards or has been tested
stated. ASHRAE 90.1 is the benchmark nameplate rating > 5 hp. The provision has and found suitable for a specified purstate energy code for federal efficiency a number of exemptions, including pow- pose.
ASHRAE 189.1: AMCA has recently
programs, many utility rebate programs, ered roof/wall ventilators, fans intended
and state energy codes. It also is a com- to operate only during emergencies, and developed a continuous maintenance
pliance path for the model energy code, fans in packaged equipment that has a proposal that would insert a fan efficienInternational Energy Conservation Code. third-party certification for air or energy cy provision into ASHRAE 189.1. The
ASHRAE 90.1 also forms the basis for performance. These exemptions will help provision is identical to the ASHRAE
the ASHRAE standard for high-perfor- engineers, contractors, building owners/ 90.1-2013 language, with the one
mance (green) construction (Standard operators, commissioning providers, and exception being that the peak-total-fan189.1), and the International Associa- code officials learn how to implement fan efficiency sizing/selection window is 10
tion of Plumbing and Mechanical Offi- efficiency requirements for the first time. percentage points instead of 15 percentTo learn more about the ASHRAE age points. If the proposal passes commitcials (IAPMO) Green Supplement to the
Uniform Mechanical Code and Uniform 90.1 fan efficiency requirement, read tee votes, it could come out as an addenthe article by John Cermak, PhD, and dum for public peer review later in 2013.
Plumbing Code.
www.csemag.com

Increased flexibility
for you. Limitless value
for your clients.

Simplex TrueAlert ES brings the exceptional flexibility of addressable


technology to the design of fire alarm notification systems. You can go
further with less cable and experience fewer design roadblocks. The
system is reliable, cost effective and highly scalable, so it can grow as
life-safety needs evolve. And, its all backed by SimplexGrinnell and
eServices, our industry-leading suite of remote diagnostics and lifesafety system management tools. With TrueAlert ES notification, were
advancing safety and securityso you can offer more value to your clients.

See 7 reasons why TrueAlert ES can save lives, time and money.
www.NotificationReinvented.com.

Safer. Smarter. Tyco.


input #15 at www.csemag.com/information

Special report: Fan efficiency guidelines


U.S. Dept. of Energy: Development
of the U.S. Dept. of Energys fan efficiency standard achieved a significant
milestone with the publication of the
Framework Document in the Federal
Register on Feb. 1, 2013. The Framework Document presents DOEs perspective of the fan market and the
options it is considering for regulating
commercial and industrial fans. AMCA
International is collaborating with a
number of industry stakeholders, including the American Council for an Energy
Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, and
the California public to jointly develop
a proposal to DOE for the efficiency
requirement.
Among the most significant differences a DOE standard will introduce is
that a variety of fan types (DOE calls
them classes) will be defined, and fan
efficiency metrics and minimum energy
efficiency performance requirements
will be set for each class. Based on bestavailable information, a DOE require-

ment could be in place with enforcement


between 2019 and 2020.
Future fan efficiency requirements

DOEs approach to defining fan classes and assigning a potentially unique

Among the most


significant differences:
a variety of fan types
will be defined, and fan
efficiency metrics and
minimum energy efficiency
performance requirements
will be set.
efficiency requirement for each of them
is one that AMCA is looking to apply to
future proposals for model energy codes
and standards.
Additionally, because some types
of fans are structurally integrated with
motors and drives, a metric that incor-

Certified FEG ratings support


compliance, enforcement

any code jurisdictions are concerned about the


growth and complexity of energy codes and standards, making compliance checking and enforcement
time-consuming and difficult. Consequently, more codes
and standards are being written to require certified
efficiency ratings and supporting labels, stickers, or
other marks that facilitate online verification and visual
inspection.
AMCAs Certified Ratings Program began certifying fan
efficiency grades in 2010, after the AMCA 205 standard
Figure 3: This sticker can
was published. Currently, more than 40 companies and
be applied to fans bearing
more than 250 fan models have certified FEG ratings.
AMCA-certified ratings for
AMCA also certifies manufacturers sizing and selection
fan efficiency grade, and it
can also appear in literature software to produce FEG ratings and fan-total-pressure
data. Literature and software outputs that have certified
and software programs
FEG ratings are licensed to bear the AMCA FEG label (Figin accordance with AMCA
211-2005 (rev 1-13) Certified ure 3). AMCAs online database of certified ratings can be
Ratings Program - Product searched by manufacturer and type of product at www.
amca.org. For a shortcut on finding certified FEGs, visit
Rating Manual for Fan Air
www.amca.org/feg.
Performance.

28

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

porates the drive, motor, and control, is


being developed. AMCA is working with
European and Asian standards bodies and
manufacturers to develop an internationally harmonized metric for wire-togas efficiency ratings, which could be
applied to fan-motor and fan-motor-drive
combinations. Also, some fan products,
such as powered roof/wall ventilators,
are assembled and sold with motors and
drives, making a wire-to-gas metric more
consistent with them, as well.
An example of a wire-to-gas metric is
cfm-per-Watt, or W/cfm, which would
provide a convenient way to establish
fan efficiency requirements for fan-motor
assemblies while FEGs are retained fans
less motor and drive.
Beginning with the publication of
AMCA 205 in 2010, the development of
fan-efficiency provisions in model codes
and standards for energy efficiency and
green/high-performance construction
began in 2012, and is picking up pace.
A federal efficiency standard is under
development by the DOE and might be
active as early as 2019. Energy savings
will come from requirements for minimum fan efficiency grades; however,
greater energy savings is expected from
provisions that have sizing/selection windows that encourage larger-diameter fans
running at slower speeds and closer to
peak-efficiency ratings.
First-generation fan efficiency provisions in U.S. model codes and standards
are written around AMCA 205 and contain a minimum FEG rating, a sizing/
selection window, and exemptions that
limit applicability to specified sizes,
types, and applications. Future, or second-generation fan efficiency requirements may include additional metrics,
such as a wire-to-gas rating.
Michael Ivanovich is director of strategic energy initiatives with AMCA International. Ivanovich develops and advocates consensus positions among AMCA
member companies worldwide on codes,
standards, and government regulations for
energy efficiency and green construction.
www.csemag.com

Connect with Uponor.


Connect with a higher level of confidence.
The commercial plumbing industry is discovering what residential builders have relied upon since 1972
Uponor, Inc. quality PEX-a pipe and reliable ProPEX expansion fittings. With more than 15 billion feet of pipe and
over 500 million fittings in service, Uponor has more than proven its powerful properties.
Uponor Advantages
Most tested, trusted, listed and code-approved PEX-a for commercial
Cost-effective solution providing faster installs and stable material costs
Comprehensive offering of pipe, fittings and accessories
Plenum rated, approved for fire-resistive construction
Full-service design and technical support
Uponorengineering.com resource portal for CAD, Specs, Submittals, BIM, LEED
In fact, the only connection tighter than our ProPEX fitting is the one between Uponor and our partners.
Uponor provides the expertise, products and partnership to help you differentiate and build your business.

PEX-a PLUMBING
FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS

Uponorpro.com/plumbing2013
Scan to see our featured
commercial plumbing case
studies and to request your
free design assistance manual.
input #16 at www.csemag.com/information

RADIANT
HEATING & COOLING
PRE-INSULATED PIPE

MEP Giants make nearly


$1 billion more in 2013
Even in a down economy, the 2013 MEP Giants firms continue
to show increased billings.
BY AMARA ROZGUS, Editor in Chief, and AMANDA MCLEMAN, Project Manager, Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Oak Brook, Ill.

he 2013 MEP Giants generated $39.5 billion in total


revenue during the previous
fiscal year and slightly more
than $6 billion in mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire
protection engineering design revenue.
The jump is due to a host of new firms
on the 2013 MEP Giants list, namely
Jacobs Engineering Group, which came
in at the No. 1 spot, pushing out the
perennial top-position holders Black &
Veatch and URS Corp. Other newcomers to the list include Mesa Assocs. (No.
21), Highland Assocs. (No. 55), Coffman Engineers (No. 58), Wood Harbinger (No. 67), Morrison Hershfield
(No. 92), Global Engineering Solutions
(No. 94), Advanced Engineering Consultants (No. 98), and Kohler Ronan

Table 1: Top 10 firms by MEP design revenue


Rank

Firm

MEP design revenue ($)

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

1,549,650,401

Black & Veatch

1,042,980,000

URS Corp.

550,000,000

exp

158,380,000

Parsons Brinckerhoff

156,000,000

HDR Inc.

121,765,835

Stantec Inc.

107,000,000

Burns & McDonnell

98,590,000

Affiliated Engineers Inc.

94,533,000

10

Arup

88,516,976

Table 1: Top 10 firms are listed by MEP design revenue. Jacobs Engineering Group
topped the list as the No. 1 firm with 14% of its gross revenue dedicated to MEP
design. All graphics courtesy: Consulting-Specifying Engineer

30

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

LLC Consulting Engineers (No. 100).


These additions, plus several firms that
returned to the MEP Giants list after a
year (or two) off, increased the revenue
numbers.
Table 1 shows the top 10 firms based
on MEP design revenue, which is how the
MEP Giants are ranked. Table 2 shows
the top 10 MEP Giants firms based on
total gross revenue. The complete table
of rankings is provided at www.csemag.
com/giants. Total revenue rose from
$33.8 billion in 2012; MEP design revenue totaled $5.3 billion in 2012. As seen
last year, two-thirds (66%) of all firms
revenue is generated from MEP design,
with average MEP design revenue at
$60.6 million per firm.
While total revenue increased over
2012 revenue, participants again indicated that the economys impact on
the construction market was the greatest challenge (71%). According to
Q2 2013 data, the research firm FMI
reduced annual construction-put-inplace (CPIP) predictions to $913 billion,
a 7% growth from 2012, due to shifting
markets. This is down nearly $6 billion
from the $918,897 million, 8% growth
estimated in the Q1s outlook. However,
FMI does expect growth to return to 8%
growth in 2014 with annual CPIP reaching $989 billion. All markets reported
by FMI were down; those with the
smallest decrease are commercial construction (-0.8%) and amusement and
recreation (-2.0%).
www.csemag.com

Methodology

The 2013 MEP Giants firms continue


to work on several projects in hospitals,
data centers, offices, and schools. Read
about several project profiles in a special
section at www.csemag.com/giants.
MEP Giants also indicated that they
evenly split their time between new construction and retrofit/renovation, each
coming in at 42%. Rounding out the projects are commissioning or retro-commissioning (7%); maintenance, repair, and
operations (7%); and other (2%). For a
more in-depth report on commissioning,
look for the October 2013 issue on the
Commissioning Giants.
Engineering employment expands

The 2013 MEP Giants firms employ


nearly 60,000 engineers, up from more
than 55,000 in 2012 and 49,500 engineers
in 2011. Engineers in the mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, and fire protection
fields accounted for nearly 20,500 engineers, up from 18,000 engineers last year.
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of the
mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and
fire protection engineers employed by
the 2013 MEP Giants. Note that 88% of
the 20,499 engineers employed by these
firms are either mechanical or electrical
engineers, 10% are plumbing engineers,
and 2% are fire protection engineers.
Several opportunities are open to
MEP Giants outside the United States
and North America while the U.S.based construction market lags. For
example, 48% of firms are providing
engineering services in Asia, including
China, India, and Japan. Other areas of
growth include the Middle East (42%
of firms are providing services), Europe
(30%), the Caribbean (29%), and South
America (26%).
When it comes to sustainable engineering, the number of U.S. Green Building
Council LEED projects has held nearly
steady over the past three years; 2285
projects were submitted for LEED certification in 2013, 2214 in 2012, and 2365
in 2011. The number of projects submitted in 2013 to the U.S. EPA Energy Star
Buildings Label program remained steady
www.csemag.com

At the beginning of the year, the Consulting-Specifying Engineer staff collected and analyzed data
from more than 100 consulting and engineering firms. Some of the top mechanical, electrical, plumbing
(MEP), and fire protection engineering firms submitted their firms profile to the Consulting-Specifying
Engineer staff; however, not all consulting firms were willing or able to participate in this years MEP
Giants survey. The minimum MEP design revenue required for consideration is $1 million.
In 2013, more than 100 engineering firms provided their information for the MEP Giants program,
with quite a few newcomers. Because many of these newcomers are relatively large, several perennial
firms fell off the list. Data and percentages are based on the top 100 companies that responded to the
request for information; the results do not fully represent the construction and engineering market as
whole. However, with nearly identical questions asked in previous years and more than 100 engineering
firms participating this year, we present a qualified look of where the top engineering firms stand in 2013.

as well, with 401 submitted in 2013 and


414 submitted in 2012.
The 100 firms listed here dont handle
all aspects of engineering. Many subcontract specialty services, including: acoustics (64%), security system design (30%),
computational fluid dynamics modeling
(26%), and construction management
(25%). Security system design saw the
largest increase from 25% last year to
30% this year.
Smart technology

Like other businesses, engineering


firms keep up with various technologies,
especially software and design tools. At
least nine out of 10 firms use the following software: computer-aided design
(CAD), building information modeling
(BIM), energy analysis, Revit MEP, and
project management and collaboration.
New tools include smartphone apps,
with several respondents using technologies offered by product manufacturers
or app developers. In 2013, the MEP
Giants are using apps in productivity and
project management (54%), engineering
calculations (44%), and file preview or

Engineers on staff
Electrical
engineers

43%

Mechanical
engineers

45%

Fire protection
engineers 2%

Plumbing
engineers

10%

Figure 1: Among the 20,499 mechanical,


electrical, plumbing, or fire protection
engineers employed by the 2013 MEP
Giants, 9195 are mechanical engineers,
8753 are electrical engineers, 2058 are
plumbing engineers, and 493 are fire protection engineers.

product catalogs (43%). All of these


represent a growth of at least 10% over
last years results. Product manufacturers and educators take note: These apps
arent going away.
Read the longer version of this online at:
www.csemag.com/giants.

Table 2: Top 10 firms by gross annual revenue


Rank

Firm

Gross annual revenue ($)

URS Corp.

11,000,000,000

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

10,893,780,000

Black & Veatch

3,279,000,000

Parsons Brinckerhoff

2,637,922,000

Stantec Inc.

1,882,900,000

HDR Inc.

1,659,800,000

Burns & McDonnell

1,556,000,000

40

CDM Smith Inc.

1,213,000,000

exp

527,934,000

49

STV

373,538,000

Table 2: This shows the top 10 firms by gross annual revenue. URS Corp., with the
highest gross annual revenue, reports 5% of its total as MEP design revenue.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

31

Energizing a more powerful


and capable Panama Canal.

Follow the Charge


The Panama Canal Expansion
program is a tremendous
undertaking. It entails
powering up an extra lane with
newly engineered locks to
double traffic capacity. As well
as managing and controlling
power for wider, deeper
canals to accommodate vast
container ships out of Asia.
Its a singular feat of human
engineering that inspired in us,
at Eaton, equally innovative
power management solutions.
A comprehensive, integrated

power solution that goes


beyond reliability.
Were there to support the
Canal Authority for the entire
project. From providing
groundbreaking products to
advanced engineering services
to commissioning support.
The Panama Canal has spared
over 900,000 ships a trip
around the continent. With
Eaton expertise, it will be
well equipped to take on a
million more.

Eaton.com/followthecharge
input #17 at www.csemag.com/information

2013 Eaton. All rights reserved.

2013
Sponsored by

Eaton & Cooper:


Building upon a

solid foundation.
Looking toward a brighter future.

B -L

O
CR

INE

-H

SE

U
S

D
IN

ARE
W
R
E
POW

LER
L
E
O
USE R
O
H
NG AMME
I
T
S
H
WE
ERN
L
T
AN
CU
M
SS
BU

H
O
AL

POWER DISTRIBUTION &


CIRCUIT PROTECTION
Low and medium
voltage switchgear
Panelboards and switchboards
Circuit breakers
Fuses
Transformers

BACKUP POWER PROTECTION

LIGHTING & SECURITY

SOLUTIONS FOR
HARSH & HAZARDOUS
ENVIRONMENTS

Uninterruptible Power
Supplies (UPS)
Power distribution units
Paralleling switchgear
Transfer switches
Surge protection and power
factor correction

Emergency lighting
Fire systems and hazardous
area communications
Recessed and outdoor lighting
Ambient lighting

Enclosures
Lighting and notication
Safety grating
Wiring devices
Airow management

an expanded offering of products,

POWER DISTR
& CIRCUIT PRO
STRUCTURAL &
WIRING DEVICES

COO
P

ER

BACKUP POWER
PROTECTION

SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH &


HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

CONTROL & AUTOMATION


Low and medium voltage motor
control centers
Variable speed drives
Automation and
control components

STRUCTURAL &
WIRING DEVICES

ENGINEERING SERVICES

Switches and receptacles


Cable trays and cable
support systems
Enclosures and
airflow management
Strut systems and safety grating

Equipment start-up
and commissioning
Emergency and disaster
recovery services
Equipment reconditioning
and retrofits

services and support.

RIBUTION
OTECTION
ENGINEERING SERVICES

CONTROL & AUTOMATION

LIGHTING & SECURITY

Eaton.com/consultants

united
to energize

possibilities.
B

Eaton and Cooper united-LINE


to energize a world that
demands
more.
ER
S

IN

-H

SE

CR

ARE
W
R
E
POW

ELL companies with rich histories have combined. The


MO Two
result is an organization that is more focused and more
COO
PE

USE R
O
H
NG AMME
I
T
S
H
WE
ERL
T
CU

O
AL

capable than ever of providing the holistic solutions


design engineers need to address todays most critical
electrical power management challenges. Drawing on a
history of over 100 years in electrical power management,
N
todays Eaton is building on a legacy of innovation
AN in
M
product design and manufacturing S
processes
to bring to
S
our customers a portfolio unmatched
BU in the industry. From
groundbreaking products to advanced energy solutions
and engineering services, customers around the globe
count on Eaton.

AT
O

Visit eaton.com/consultants to learn more.

2013
PERCENTAGE OF MEP DESIGN BILLINGS:
Building
automation/controls Other

5%
g
ionin
miss
Com
7%

6%

HVAC
32%

Lighting
7%
Fire/life safety/
security 7%
Plumbing
11%

Electrical/power
26%

by the numbers
$39,519,323,856

7,905

71%

Grand total gross revenue

LEED Accredited Professionals

$6,062,878,885

2,285

Cite the ecomonys impact on the


construction market as their biggest
corporate challenge

Grand total MEP design revenue

Projects submitted for U.S. Green


)\PSKPUN*V\UJPS3,,+JLY[PJH[PVU

59,853
Engineers employed by the
2013 MEP Giants

STRUCTURAL & WIRING DEVICES

48%
Indicate they provide engineering
services in Asia

91%
Indicate they provide engineering
services in the South Atlantic region
of the United States
BACKUP POWER PROTECTION

SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH


& HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

LIGHTING & SECURITY

MEP Giants indEx


FIRM NAME

2013 RANK

Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd.


Affiliated Engineers Inc.
AKF Group LLC
Alfa Tech
Allen & Shariff Corp.
Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corp.
Arup
Bala Consulting Engineers
Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC
Barton Assocs. Inc.
Black & Veatch
Bridgers & Paxton Consulting Engineers Inc.
Brinjac Engineering
BSA LifeStructures
Burns & McDonnell
Buro Happold Consulting Engineers
Cannon Design
ccrd partners
CDM Smith Inc.
CJL Engineering Inc.
Coffman Engineers Inc.
CTA Architects Engineers
DLR Group
Dynamix Engineering Ltd.
EEA Consulting Engineers
ESD (Environmental Systems Design Inc.)
exp
EYP
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc.
Gannett Fleming Inc.
Ghafari Assocs. LLC
GHT Ltd.
Global Engineering Solutions
Glumac
GPI/Greenman-Pedersen Inc.
H&A Architects & Engineers
H.F. Lenz Co.
Harley Ellis Devereaux
HDR Inc.
Heapy Engineering
Henderson Engineers Inc.
HGA Architects and Engineers
Highland Associates
I.C. Thomasson Assocs. Inc.
Interface Engineering
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
Jordan & Skala Engineers Inc.
Joseph R. Loring & Associates Inc.
Karpinski Engineering
KJWW Engineering Consultants

CONTROL & AUTOMATION

ENGINEERING SERVICES

98
9
17
63
84
42
10
60
27
97
2
56
93
52
8
18
16
45
40
70
58
50
38
86
88
28
4
31
99
61
43
57
94
26
68
39
44
73
6
48
13
24
55
47
41
1
53
59
71
29

FIRM NAME
Kohler Ronan LLC Consulting Engineers
Kohrs Lonnemann Heil Engineers PSC
(dba KLH Engineers)
LEO A DALY
Lizardos Engineering Assocs. PC
M.E. GROUP Inc.
M/E Engineering PC
Matrix Technologies Inc.
McClure Engineering
M-E Engineers Inc.
MEP Assocs. LLC
Mesa Assocs. Inc.
Michaud Cooley Erickson
Middough Inc.
Morrison Hershfield
Newcomb & Boyd
Optimation Technology Inc.
P2S Engineering Inc.
PageSoutherlandPage
Parsons Brinckerhoff
PEDCO E&A Services Inc.
Peter Basso Assocs. Inc.
Primera Engineers Ltd.
Professional Engineering Consultants PA
RDK Engineers
Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering PC
RMF Engineering Inc.
Ross & Baruzzini Inc.
Salas OBrien LLC
Sebesta Blomberg
Setty Group
Smith Seckman Reid Inc.
Spectrum Engineers
SSOE Group
Stanley Consultants
Stantec Inc.
STV
Syska Hennessy Group
ThermalTech Engineering Inc.
THORSON BAKER & Assocs. Inc.
TLC Engineering for Architecture Inc.
TME Inc.
Triad Consulting Engineers Inc.
TTG (TMAD, TAYLOR & GAINES)
URS Corp.
Vanderweil Engineers
WD Partners
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Wick Fisher White
Wood Harbinger
WSP

2013 RANK
100
66
23
75
85
46
74
95
30
96
21
51
15
92
64
20
76
36
5
89
78
91
83
37
82
35
79
65
33
80
19
72
22
25
7
49
11
77
90
32
68
54
34
3
14
62
81
87
67
12

POWER DISTRIBUTION
& CIRCUIT PROTECTION

To learn more visit:


Eaton.com/consultants

For information about this years MEP Giants, and a

RanK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37

FiRM naME

LOCatiOn

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.


Black & Veatch
URS Corp.
exp
Parsons Brinckerhoff
HDR Inc.
Stantec Inc.
Burns & McDonnell
Affiliated Engineers Inc.
Arup
Syska Hennessy Group
WSP
Henderson Engineers Inc.
Vanderweil Engineers
Middough Inc.
Cannon Design
AKF Group LLC
Buro Happold Consulting Engineers
Smith Seckman Reid Inc.
Optimation Technology Inc.
Mesa Assocs. Inc.
SSOE Group
LEO A DALY
HGA Architects and Engineers
Stanley Consultants
Glumac
Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC
ESD (Environmental Systems Design Inc.)
KJWW Engineering Consultants
M-E Engineers Inc.
EYP
TLC Engineering for Architecture Inc.
Sebesta Blomberg
TTG (TMAD, TAYLOR & GAINES)
RMF Engineering Inc.
PageSoutherlandPage
RDK Engineers

STRUCTURAL & WIRING DEVICES

BACKUP POWER PROTECTION

Pasadena, CA, U.S.


Overland Park, KS, U.S.
San Francisco, CA, U.S.
Brampton, ON, Canada
New York, NY, U.S.
Omaha, NE, U.S.
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Kansas City, MO, U.S.
Madison, WI, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
Lenexa, KS, U.S.
Boston, MA, U.S.
Cleveland, OH, U.S.
Buffalo, NY, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
Nashville, TN, U.S.
Rush, NY, U.S.
Madison, AL, U.S.
Toledo, OH, U.S.
Omaha, NE, U.S.
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.
Muscatine, IA, U.S.
San Francisco, CA, U.S.
Watertown, MA, U.S.
Chicago, IL, U.S.
Rock Island, IL, U.S.
Wheat Ridge, CO, U.S.
Albany, NY, U.S.
Orlando, FL, U.S.
St. Paul, MN, U.S.
Pasadena, CA, U.S.
Baltimore, MD, U.S.
Austin, TX, U.S.
Andover, MA, U.S.

SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH


& HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

LIGHTING & SECURITY

d about how to enter in 2014, visit www.csemag.com/giants

WEB addREss
www.jacobs.com
www.bv.com
www.urscorp.com
www.exp.com
www.pbworld.com
www.hdrinc.com
www.stantec.com
www.burnsmcd.com
www.aeieng.com
www.arup.com
www.syska.com
www.wspgroup.com
www.hei-eng.com
www.vanderweil.com
www.middough.com
www.cannondesign.com
www.akfgroup.com
www.burohappold.com
www.ssr-inc.com
www.optimation.us
www.mesainc.com
www.ssoe.com
www.leoadaly.com
www.hga.com
www.stanleyconsultants.com
www.glumac.com
www.brplusa.com
www.esdglobal.com
www.kjww.com
www.me-engineers.com
www.eypae.com
www.tlc-engineers.com
www.sebesta.com
www.ttgcorp.com
www.rmf.com
www.pspaec.com
www.rdkengineers.com
CONTROL & AUTOMATION

tOtaL GROss REVEnUE FOR


FisCaL YEaR ($ Us)
10,893,780,000
3,279,000,000
11,000,000,000
527,934,000
2,637,922,000
1,659,800,000
1,882,900,000
1,556,000,000
105,503,000
255,940,354
82,098,402
78,982,000
63,400,000
64,818,040
122,000,000
202,200,000
62,000,000
194,220,000
76,624,442
61,208,000
52,500,000
188,820,000
171,225,253
112,300,000
150,000,000
47,300,000
41,500,000
38,763,000
51,092,154
35,385,861
85,381,169
35,924,021
31,185,273
53,049,110
32,179,874
98,500,000
31,200,000
ENGINEERING SERVICES

tOtaL MEP dEsiGn


REVEnUE ($ Us)
1,549,650,401
1,042,980,000
550,000,000
158,380,000
156,000,000
121,765,835
107,000,000
98,590,000
94,533,000
88,516,976
71,398,402
63,975,420
60,230,000
57,541,639
57,340,000
57,200,000
56,000,000
55,000,000
52,870,865
50,158,420
49,000,000
46,853,134
46,230,818
45,100,000
42,450,000
42,400,000
41,500,000
37,987,740
37,493,938
35,385,861
33,000,000
31,282,007
31,185,273
30,775,687
29,013,374
28,565,000
28,100,000

tOtaL MEP
REVEnUE %
14%
32%
5%
30%
6%
7%
6%
6%
90%
35%
87%
81%
95%
89%
47%
28%
90%
28%
69%
82%
93%
25%
27%
40%
28%
90%
100%
98%
73%
100%
39%
87%
100%
58%
90%
29%
90%

tOtaL
EnGinEERs
14,916
3,100
11,151
897
6,037
2,133
3,250
1,904
395
728
295
1,000
382
241
636
138
318
1,420
241
157
86
440
308
91
432
76
149
189
202
155
106
78
77
148
120
43
123

POWER DISTRIBUTION
& CIRCUIT PROTECTION

To learn more visit:


Eaton.com/consultants

For information about this years MEP Giants, and a

RanK
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
68
70
71
72

FiRM naME

LOCatiOn

DLR Group
H&A Architects & Engineers
CDM Smith Inc.
Interface Engineering
Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corp.
Ghafari Assocs. LLC
H.F. Lenz Co.
ccrd partners
M/E Engineering PC
I.C. Thomasson Assocs. Inc.
Heapy Engineering
STV
CTA Architects Engineers
Michaud Cooley Erickson
BSA LifeStructures
Jordan & Skala Engineers Inc.
Triad Consulting Engineers Inc.
Highland Associates
Bridgers & Paxton Consulting Engineers Inc.
GHT Ltd.
Coffman Engineers Inc.
Joseph R. Loring & Associates Inc.
Bala Consulting Engineers
Gannett Fleming Inc.
WD Partners
Alfa Tech
Newcomb & Boyd
Salas OBrien LLC
Kohrs Lonnemann Heil Engineers PSC
(dba KLH Engineers)
Wood Harbinger
GPI/Greenman-Pedersen Inc.
TME Inc.
CJL Engineering Inc.
Karpinski Engineering
Spectrum Engineers

STRUCTURAL & WIRING DEVICES

BACKUP POWER PROTECTION

Omaha, NE, U.S.


Glen Allen, VA, U.S.
Cambridge, MA, U.S.
Portland, OR, U.S.
Lincolnshire, IL, U.S.
Dearborn, MI, U.S.
Johnstown, PA, U.S.
Houston, TX, U.S.
Rochester, NY, U.S.
Nashville, TN, U.S.
Dayton, OH, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
Billings, MT, U.S.
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.
Indianapolis, IN, U.S.
Norcross, GA, U.S.
Morris Plains, NJ, U.S.
Clarks Summit, PA, U.S.
Albuquerque, NM, U.S.
Arlington, VA, U.S.
Seattle, WA, U.S.
New York, NY, U.S.
King of Prussia, PA, U.S.
Camp Hill, PA, U.S.
Dublin, OH, U.S.
San Jose, CA, U.S.
Atlanta, GA, U.S.
San Jose, CA, U.S.
Ft. Thomas, KY, U.S.
Bellevue, WA, U.S.
Babylon, NY, U.S.
Little Rock, AR, U.S.
Moon Township, PA, U.S.
Cleveland, OH, U.S.
Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.

SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH


& HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

LIGHTING & SECURITY

d about how to enter in 2014, visit www.csemag.com/giants

WEB addREss

tOtaL GROss REVEnUE FOR


FisCaL YEaR ($ Us)

tOtaL MEP dEsiGn


REVEnUE ($ Us)

tOtaL MEP
REVEnUE %

tOtaL
EnGinEERs

www.dlrgroup.com
www.ha-inc.com
www.cdmsmith.com
www.interfaceengineering.com
www.aonfpe.com
www.ghafari.com
www.hflenz.com
www.ccrd.com
www.meengineering.com
www.icthomasson.com
www.heapy.com
www.stvinc.com
www.ctagroup.com
www.michaudcooley.com
www.bsalifestructures.com
www.jordanskala.com
www.triadcei.com
www.highlandassociates.com
www.bpce.com
www.ghtltd.com
www.coffman.com
www.loringengineers.com
www.bala.com
www.gannettfleming.com
www.wdpartners.com
www.atce.com
www.newcomb-boyd.com
www.salasobrien.com

116,400,000
43,335,401
1,213,000,000
25,193,936
25,010,728
110,200,000
27,397,740
25,000,000
22,687,000
23,500,000
22,106,880
373,538,000
43,028,636
20,000,000
45,582,887
20,374,428
19,138,700
27,000,000
16,868,884
16,834,469
39,088,829
15,000,000
16,430,000
305,600,000
42,000,000
29,912,082
18,702,574
15,237,000

27,500,000
26,720,014
25,270,982
25,193,936
25,010,728
25,000,000
23,135,045
23,000,000
22,687,000
22,300,000
22,106,880
21,975,000
20,653,745
20,000,000
19,964,056
18,667,929
17,600,000
17,550,000
16,868,884
16,834,469
16,052,801
14,700,000
14,615,000
14,517,000
14,400,000
13,983,334
13,979,192
13,713,000

24%
62%
2%
100%
100%
23%
84%
92%
100%
95%
100%
6%
48%
100%
44%
92%
92%
65%
100%
100%
41%
98%
89%
5%
34%
47%
75%
90%

81
158
2,031
46
99
208
48
55
135
51
76
521
112
51
39
55
19
84
36
64
217
74
70
888
61
30
149
25

www.klhengrs.com

14,072,830

13,369,188

95%

109

www.woodharbinger.com
www.gpinet.com
www.tmecorp.com
www.cjlengineering.com
www.karpinskieng.com
www.spectrum-engineers.com

13,045,904
185,000,000
16,000,000
12,992,858
12,076,943
11,108,943

13,045,904
13,000,000
13,000,000
12,841,251
12,076,943
11,108,943

100%
7%
81%
99%
100%
100%

52
412
49
32
89
25

ENGINEERING SERVICES

POWER DISTRIBUTION
& CIRCUIT PROTECTION

CONTROL & AUTOMATION

To learn more visit:


Eaton.com/consultants

For information about this years MEP Giants, and a

RanK
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

FiRM naME

LOCatiOn

Harley Ellis Devereaux


Matrix Technologies Inc.
Lizardos Engineering Assocs. PC
P2S Engineering Inc.
ThermalTech Engineering Inc.
Peter Basso Assocs. Inc.
Ross & Baruzzini Inc.
Setty Group
Westlake Reed Leskosky
Rist-Frost-Shumway Engineering PC
Professional Engineering Consultants PA
Allen & Shariff Corp.
M.E. GROUP Inc.
Dynamix Engineering Ltd.
Wick Fisher White
EEA Consulting Engineers
PEDCO E&A Services Inc.
THORSON BAKER & Assocs. Inc.
Primera Engineers Ltd.
Morrison Hershfield
Brinjac Engineering
Global Engineering Solutions
McClure Engineering
MEP Assocs. LLC
Barton Assocs. Inc.
Advanced Engineering Consultants Ltd.
Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc.
Kohler Ronan LLC Consulting Engineers

STRUCTURAL & WIRING DEVICES

BACKUP POWER PROTECTION

Southfield, MI, U.S.


Maumee, OH, U.S.
Mineola, NY, U.S.
Long Beach, CA, U.S.
Cincinnati, OH, U.S.
Troy, MI, U.S.
St. Louis, MO, U.S.
Fairfax, VA, U.S.
Cleveland, OH, U.S.
Laconia, NH, U.S.
Wichita, KS, U.S.
Columbia, MD, U.S.
Lincoln, NE, U.S.
Columbus, OH, U.S.
Philadelphia, PA, U.S.
Austin, TX, U.S.
Cincinnati, OH, U.S.
Richfield, OH, U.S.
Chicago, IL, U.S.
Atlanta, GA, U.S.
Harrisburg, PA, U.S.
Rockville, MD, U.S.
Saint Louis, MO, U.S.
Eau Claire, WI, U.S.
York, PA, U.S.
Columbus, OH, U.S.
Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.
Danbury, CT, U.S.

SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH


& HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

LIGHTING & SECURITY

d about how to enter in 2014, visit www.csemag.com/giants

WEB addREss
www.harleyellisdevereaux.com
www.matrixti.com
www.leapc.com
www.p2seng.com
www.thermaltech.com
www.peterbassoassociates.com
www.rossbar.com
www.setty.com
www.wrldesign.com
www.rfsengineering.com
www.pec1.com
www.allenshariff.com
www.megroup.com
www.dynamix-ltd.com
www.wfweng.com
www.eeace.com
www.pedcoea.com
www.thorsonbaker.com
www.primerachicago.com
www.morrisonhershfield.com
www.brinjac.com
www.theges.com
www.mcclureeng.com
www.mepassociates.com
www.ba-inc.com
www.aecmep.com
www.ftch.com
www.kohlerronan.com

CONTROL & AUTOMATION

tOtaL GROss REVEnUE FOR


FisCaL YEaR ($ Us)
37,100,000
29,006,654
10,800,000
13,135,743
26,900,000
11,016,000
22,207,233
9,975,475
25,600,000
10,650,000
29,500,000
52,100,000
8,468,881
8,133,153
8,126,951
7,898,256
10,200,000
13,671,000
20,233,150
21,871,877
7,917,674
6,850,000
7,410,000
6,565,111
6,551,902
6,408,191
49,600,000
6,325,000

ENGINEERING SERVICES

tOtaL MEP dEsiGn


REVEnUE ($ Us)
11,000,000
10,968,742
10,800,000
10,721,442
10,600,000
10,116,000
9,993,255
9,975,475
9,800,000
9,600,000
8,950,000
8,524,701
8,468,881
8,133,153
8,126,951
7,898,256
7,650,000
7,250,000
6,917,000
6,899,166
6,890,645
6,850,000
6,600,000
6,565,111
6,551,902
6,408,191
6,400,000
6,325,000

tOtaL MEP
REVEnUE %
30%
38%
100%
82%
39%
92%
45%
100%
38%
90%
30%
16%
100%
100%
100%
100%
75%
53%
34%
32%
87%
100%
89%
100%
100%
100%
13%
100%

tOtaL
EnGinEERs
52
131
75
50
54
52
30
71
38
29
78
44
36
31
44
22
23
63
63
43
29
49
35
39
35
23
155
46

POWER DISTRIBUTION
& CIRCUIT PROTECTION

To learn more visit:


Eaton.com/consultants

Doug Dillie
Industry Manager Electrical Consultants

Congratulations to our MEP Giants Winners


Eaton is once again proud to sponsor the 2013 Consulting-Specifying Engineers MEP Giants edition. This is our
fifth consecutive year as a sponsor, and as always, we are privileged to work alongside such an exceptional
group of professionals. Congratulations to all of the organizations named as 2013 Giants. Over the past years,
you have created solid foundations upon which you build your continued successes.
The past year has proven to be giant for Eaton as well. Our recent acquisition of Cooper Industries has
significantly expanded the global scale of our electrical business. Todays Eaton has a larger geographic
footprint, and an even broader portfolio of products, services and solutions that meet the demanding electrical
power management needs of our customers around the world.

COOFrom the incoming substation to the facilitys primary power distribution and power quality equipment, and
through
PER to the primary lighting and plug-based loads, Eaton works closely with specifying engineers to help
make buildings more reliable, efficient and safe.
As the integration of these businesses evolves over the next several years, we will continue to offer all our
existing tools for designing and specifying electrical distribution systems. Those include our Consulting
Application Guide (CAG), the leading design/application guide in the industry, as well as our Product
Specification Guide, BIM models for both our standard and engineered to order products, and several other
helpful tools and resources such as the CoSpec Specifier Center for B-Line products.
In addition, Eaton provides local application expertise for all your projects. Contact your Eaton representative
to learn more or email our Consultant Support Group at consultantsupporteg@eaton.com.

AT
O

At Eaton, we are energized by the challenge of powering a world that demands more. With more than
100 years of experience in electrical power management, we have the expertise to offer solutions for today
that make a difference for tomorrow. Again, on behalf of Eaton, Id like to offer all of this years Giants my
sincerest congratulations.

Douglas A. Dillie
Industry Manager, Electrical Consultants
Eaton

Mergers and acquisitions


are back among MEP Giants
After a brief pause last year, MEP leaders are back in the M&A game.
BY MICK MORRISSEY and NEIL CHURMAN, Morrissey Goodale LLC, Newton, Mass.

f mergers and acquisitions are an


indicator of economic healthand
they arethen a sense of optimism
appears to have returned to the
Consulting-Specifying Engineer
MEP Giants. Over the past year, 17
of the MEP Giants were involved in a
merger or acquisition (M&A), up from
12 the prior year. The MEP Giants took
a look around, made a judgment call that
the worst of the storm had passed, and
stepped back into the M&A game.

Domestic deals outpacing


international deals

The uptick in M&A activity among


the MEP Giants reflected a resurgence in
overall U.S. domestic M&A activity for
architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in all sectors. The total
number of domestic M&A deals (deals
involving a U.S.-based seller) grew 3%
to a record 180 last year (see Figure
1)its highest level since before the
Great Recession. A growing stock market, increased housing starts, and lower
unemployment figures all contributed to
the positive economic picture in the United States. Firms that struggled to survive
during the recession began to hit their
stride and thrive over the most recent
years. Many firms that were considering
M&A prior to the recession placed those
plans on hold until economic conditions
and company performance improved.
Conditions have now changed, with many
firms seeing more project opportunities
and positive indicators from clients
particularly in the private sector.
www.csemag.com

As more project opportunities and


private sector dollars flowed into the
market, the MEP Giants were among the
firms that were ready to take advantage of
the new normal. The MEP Giants deepened their mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), or fire protection engineering
competencies through acquisitions of specialized services firms and also expanded
their services portfolio and geographic
reach with some smart mergers.
MEP Giants that made deals in the past
year included:
Henderson Engineers (No. 13; Kansas City, Mo.) acquired acoustic and
audio visual design firm Acoustical
Design Group (Kansas City, Mo.)
Greenman-Pedersen (No. 68; Babylon, N.Y.) acquired multi-discipline engineering, surveying, and environmental
service firm Abate Associates Engineers
and Surveyors (Buffalo, N.Y.).
Uptick in interstate deals

If the increase in M&A activity is clue


that the MEP Giants are feeling more
bullish on the economy, then the uptick
in deals taking place across state lines
confirms it. Through the first 6 months
of 2013, almost two-thirds of all deals
have been interstatethat is, firms from
two different states merging (see Figure 2). This is an important indicator of
economic health. Deals that take place
across state lines tend to be a result of a
firms expansion strategy and an indicator
of confidence in the future. During the
recession and through the recovery, we
tracked interstate M&A activity at record

The uptick in M&A activity


among the MEP Giants
reflected a resurgence in
overall U.S. domestic M&A
activity for architecture,
engineering, and construction
firms in all sectors.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

33

Domestic M&A activity: 2007-2013

Interstate M&A activity: 2007-2013


62%

175

180

175
150

180

60%

152

58%
56%

90

54%
52%

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013
YTD

Figure 1: Domestic M&A activity was up 3% in 2012 over 2011.


All graphics courtesy: Morrissey Goodale LLC

lows in the 54% to 57% range. But the


first half of 2013 has seen an end to that.
The prevailing sense of optimism has
created a shift to an offensive M&A
approach as buyers seek firms that will
allow them to grow (not just defend or
maintain) revenue and market share.
MEP Giant EYP (No. 31; Albany,
N.Y.) has been notable for its expansion
through M&A recently, completing two
deals beyond its home state in 2012 and
early 2013. One deal saw the merger of
its energy and sustainability services division, EYP Energy, with The Weidt Group
(Minnetonka, Minn.), a leading building energy and software consultancy. In
another expansionthis time into the
resurgent SoutheastEYP also acquired
certain assets of 20-person architectural
design, programming, master planning,
health care planning, and interior design
firm BJAC (Raleigh, N.C.).
International deal-making slows

While domestic activity is rebounding, overseas M&A is more sluggish.


This reflects the global economic picture where the U.S. economywhile not
exactly boomingis stronger than that in
most of rest of the world. It appears that
much of the uncertainty that clouded the
United States economic forecast in 2011
has begun to be resolved, while the European debt crisis continued to cause grief
among international buyers and sellers.

34

50%

2007

2008

2010

2011

2012

2013
YTD

Figure 2: Interstate M&A activity is back up to higher than 60%


in 2013.

European bailouts of Greece (twice), Ireland, Portugal, and Cyprus, and a bailout
of Spains banks appear to have caused
buyers and sellers, especially those with
significant exposure to European debt
and equity markets, to let things cool off
before jumping back into the M&A game.
Finally, in June 2013, French President
Francois Hollande declared an end to

The sense of optimism


has created a shift to an
offensive approach as
buyers seek firms that will
allow them to grow revenue
and market share.
the eurozone debt crisis, which stymied
growth for nearly 4 years in the European
Union. Interestingly, U.S. firms may have
capitalized on the uncertainty, snapping up
more international firms than at any point
since 2007 (see Figures 3 and 4). We may
have seen a tipping point in 2011, as there
was an equal amount of cross-border deals
in and out of the U.S. In 2012, U.S. firms
bought 23 international firms, whereas
only 18 non-U.S. firms ventured inside our
borders. Much of this activity is driven by
U.S.-based publicly traded design firms
that are seeking to grow beyond the U.S.
market. We expect that publicly traded
firms will continue to make acquisitions

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

2009

to support the growth required to drive the


value of their stock.
One of the public companies that
made a cross-border deal in 2012 was
the largest MEP Giant, Jacobs Engineering Group (No. 1; Pasadena, Calif.),
which acquired acquire Team Maroc
(Rabat, Morocco), a 171-person fullservice engineering and management
consultancy with services that include
engineering design, studies, work monitoring, and supervision related to road
infrastructure, highways, water supply,
and a variety of building types.
Continued consolidation among firms

Among the 17 MEP Giants that reported being involved in a merger or acquisition this year, there were several notable
deals that further consolidated the MEP
space. Perhaps most significant was leading Canadian engineering services firm
Genivars (Montreal, Quebec) acquisition of MEP Giant WSP Group (No. 12;
London), the global design, engineering, environmental, and energy consultancy. The transaction created a firm
with 14,500 employees in more than 30
countries and further consolidated MEP
services in Canada, Northern Europe, the
U.K., and the United States.
Among the 16 MEP Giants that reported acquiring firms in 2012, there were
a number of deals where firms sought
to bolster their existing mechanical,
www.csemag.com

electrical, or plumbing services. Affiliated Engineers Inc. (No. 9; Madison, Wis.)


acquired Ross Infrastructure (Baltimore),
a consulting engineering firm specializing in the analysis, planning, design,
and operation of complex infrastructure systems, including the generation
and distribution of chilled water, steam,
and electrical systems, including peak
shaving and cogeneration. AEI cited the
acquisition as a response to the growing
nationwide need for highly efficient central plant systems, alternative and renewable fuel options, cogeneration systems,
and integrated energy plans.
SSOE Group (No. 22; Toledo) acquired
CRS Engineering & Design Consultants
(Birmingham, Ala.), a 50-person multidiscipline engineering firm specializing
in health care, government, higher education, and other institutional facilities and
offering services that include electrical
engineering, plumbing engineering, fire
protection engineering, mechanical and
HVAC engineering, lighting design, telecommunications design, and security system design. KJWW Engineering Consultants (No. 29; Rock Island, Ill.) acquired
25-person MEP engineering consulting
firm Moore Engineers (Carmel, Ind.).
This interstate deal allowed KJJW to
expand territory beyond existing markets
while bolstering MEP expertise. Energy
planning and design firm Salas OBrien
(No. 65; San Jose, Calif.) acquired

International deal flow


30
27
23
20

18

19 19

19
14

12

10

2007

2008

2009

2010

International buyer of U.S. firm

2011

2012

U.S. buyer of international firm

2013
YTD

Figure 4: Cross-border deal activity has slowed down due to uncertainty.

architectural, mechanical and electrical


engineering, and interior design firm
KDW (Seattle). Consolidation within
the MEP industry has continued into 2013
as Stantec (No. 7; Edmonton, Alberta)
acquired the assets of IBE (Sherman
Oaks, Calif.) a 50-person building engineering firm that specializes in high-performance, sustainable design of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
It appears that Consulting-Specifying
Engineers MEP Giants seek to continue to improve, enhance, and grow their
MEP offerings through acquisitions. As
energy efficiency and green design continues to expand,
more engineering
International M&A activity: 2007-2013
firms are seeking to
offer clients highperformance services in HVAC and
157
plumbing, as well
135
123
as electrical effi102
ciency, to meet that
83
77
demand. In many
cases, MEP firms
43
may look outside
of their traditional
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
space for acquisiYTD
tion opportunities
that complement
Figure 3: International M&A activity was down 14% in 2012 over
current services.
2011.
www.csemag.com

18

Whats next?

Is M&A full speed ahead again? The


pace of consolidation appears to be ramping back up within the U.S. Our research
suggests that the buyers are back to
growth-oriented deal making, and sellers,
many with a few years of strong financial
results since the recession, may be looking for an exit. As globalization continues,
mega-projects and alternative delivery
make competition fiercer. When coupled
with small firms need for leadership and
ownership transition as the baby boomers prepare to retire, we anticipate seeing
continued consolidation within the AEC
industry carry through the end of 2013
and beyond.

Mick Morrissey is managing principal of


Morrissey Goodale LLC, a management
consulting and research firm that serves the
AEC industry exclusively. An engineer by
training, Morrissey has assisted numerous
MEP firms in the areas of strategy development and implementation, leadership
development and transition, technical and
professional talent recruitment, ownership
transition, and mergers and acquisitions.
Neil Churman is a principal consultant at
Morrissey Goodale and leads the firms
Houston office. He works with AEC firms
to deliver strategic business solutions.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

35

BIM

for plumbing
design

The use of BIM in plumbing projects creates deeper project knowledge,


delivers a more robust product, and can reduce total project costs.
BY JUNCHENG (JAMES) YANG, PE, CPD, LEED AP BD+C, GHT Limited, Arlington, Va.

Learning
objectives
Understand the basics
of how BIM can be used in
plumbing and piping projects.
Learn the advantages of
Autodesk Revit MEP software.
Anticipate some of the
challenges faced by plumbing
designers using Revit, and
gain knowledge of potential
solutions.

uilding information modeling (BIM)


is a powerful tool that is transforming the design and construction industry. As more building owners
become familiar with the technology and
even mandate its use, successful architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC)
firms understand that they must embrace
the BIM revolution if they want to stay
competitive and keep pace with industry
trends. Consulting engineers need vision
and commitment to integrate BIM into
their practice as it matures for mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire
protection design.

Across the MEP disciplines, designers voice common challenges related to


BIM. MEP software is typically a generation or two behind software for structural engineering, and further behind that
for architects. Designers need intensive
training to start using it, and the skills
they develop are of the use it or lose
it variety. Breakdowns in project team
communication can jeopardize drawing
quality and project schedules. However,
with upfront planning and a focus on
collaboration, there are solutions. The
plumbing discipline has the farthest to
go in terms of software development, but
there are a few simple shifts that designers can make to dramatically increase
productivity.
Dont let the learning curve of implementing BIM distract you from the bigger picture. The use of 3-D modeling
software creates deeper project knowledge, delivers a more robust product,
and can reduce total project costs.
Big-picture guidelines

GHT Limited, Arlington, Va., uses


Autodesk Revit MEP software. Its
important for designers to understand
that Revit functions very differently from
AutoCADits not just a 3-D version

Figure 1: This Revit model of the plumbing


design for a commercial office building is
used for metric modeling and coordination. All graphics courtesy: GHT Limited

36

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

www.csemag.com

of the drafting software. In addition to


the X and Y coordinates, you have the Z
coordinate and material data collection
information, as well as the potential to
integrate time, cost, and lifecycle management data. Designers must show the
plan view of X and Y; the Z coordinate
will be decided by the cut plan view set
by the user.
One of Revits unique features is the
Families function. Families are divided
into three groups. The first group is the
System Families, which are pre-existing
within the software. The second group
is the Loadable Families. This group is
customized by the user, based on the
project needs. The third group is the InPlace Families, which are loadable but
cant be exported out of the project in
which they were made. All families have
one thing in common: They are 3-D parametric objects.
Traditionally designers draw a rectangle, square, circle, or other type of shape
to represent an object for 2-D AutoCAD drafting. Some of these objects
are available in Revit format from the
material or equipment manufacturer, but
not alwaysdesign teams should check
availability at the beginning of the project and plan to create them in-house if
they dont exist yet. Be aware that when
an object is provided by the manufacturer, it may contain much more information than what you require, which may
slow down productivity due to the files
large size. As software development is
progressing, firms should plan to allow
design teams research and development
time for creating efficiencies for their
Revit projects, which will cut costs in
the long run.
Owners are understandably excited
about BIM software, though they are not
always aware of how its use will affect
the project budget and scope, leading to
challenges later in the job. Engineering
consultants can make the process more
successful by educating their clients
about the impacts of using BIM during
the proposal and negotiation stage. Help
them understand the benefits they will
gain to offset their concerns that it might
www.csemag.com

Figure 2: The cylinders on the bottom left show placeholder objects for equipment
not available in a Revit loadable family.

Why should plumbing designers embrace Revit?


n Creates an opportunity for the designer to better understand the design.
n Delivers a single model with dynamic views you can customize to show specific compo
nents, such as a lighting plan, ceiling to slab view, large mechanical spaces, central plants,
and ceiling plenums. Sections can be cut and displayed quickly for any area as a result of
the comprehensive information available in the model.
n Allows designers the ability to make a change in one place and have that change automati
cally and immediately replicated in every place it should occur throughout the model.
n Offers the capability to pull data like fixture units and flow for sizing.
n Provides the ability to set up typical design and document schedules that can rapidly
increase documentation time.
n Gives designers the functionality to create Groups of typical connections that can be
designed and copied to other floors, as well as to reuse data-rich plumbing Families that
can cut future Families development time.
n Delivers a higher level of model detail when using manufacturer-specific fittings and
accessories.
n Offers systems data that provides in-depth detail of pipe length and fitting sizes for crucial
mechanical equipment selections for hospitals and labs.
n Supports working in a collaborative model that forces interdisciplinary coordination, which
ultimately produces a better product for the owner.

add a premium. To support this effort,


designers must vocalize how the use of
BIM impacts their workflow to their
firms executives.
Revit is a collaborative tool, so allocate time for collaboration. The use of
Revit typically requires more team coordination than do projects in AutoCAD,
and this should be reflected in project
planning and cost estimating for design.
On a Revit project, getting consultants on
board and involved earlier in the project,
potentially in the concepts or schematics

phase instead of the design-development


phase, should lead to a better coordinated
finished model, resulting in fewer problems during construction.
Revit design tips for plumbing design

Plumbing design can be more complicated in Revit than HVAC or electrical design because it deals with sloped
piping, a sanitary drain vent, storm
drain lines, and so on. The latest versions of Revit have improved the ability
to design sloped piping, though it can

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

37

BIM for plumbing design


be time consuming if you need to con- efficient in Revit, we would recommend
nect multiple sloped pipes together and avoiding this practice, as it can decrease
retain the slope with the correct fittings. the operational speed of the overall Revit
The plumbing design also requires lots model and reduce productivity. In addiof piping in small spaces. In addition, tion, we have found difficulties with
plumbing design in AutoCAD is typical- plotting sheets linked in from CAD with
ly schematic in nature, so it requires
a shift in mind-set for designers to
start thinking of their components as
real-life objects and how they will be
installed during construction.
Here is some advice on common
situations plumbing designers face
in Revit.
Time savers: Designers transitioning to Revit often comment that it
takes more time to accomplish a task
in Revit than it does in AutoCAD.
Consider the following to shave time
from your workflow:
n Revit is a graphical database.
Plumbing involves repetitive design
components, so if you save common
designs in groups you can reuse them
on future projectssimilar to blocks
in AutoCAD. In Revit, it can be faster
to reconfigure the design than to start
from scratch. GHT Limiteds team
designed a standard pump room with
all the components and piping in
Revit, and created a group. Copying
this standard into new projects and
reconfiguring it has saved us many
billable hours when the building
types are similar. As we all know, Figure 3: Vertical plumbing in a tight space is
no two buildings are exactly alike shown in this installation model.
when it comes to the layout and utility connections, though in many cases respect to fonts and other items that are
you should be able to use similar types not necessarily compatible with Revit.
n Drafting views create a view showof pumps, fittings, and accessories.
n If youre under deadline pressure and ing details that are not directly associhave to delegate plumbing work to col- ated with the building model, like riser
leagues who are not proficient in Revit, diagrams and detail sheets. This approach
they can draw in CAD and the files can be works well for supporting information,
linked to a drafting view, and later incor- like riser diagrams, cover sheets, and
porated into Revit. Any changes required details.
n Revit lets you design pipe placeholdon the CAD file can be made in the CAD
file, and you can manage the link to Revit ers. This is especially helpful for large
for automatic updates. This is most help- buildings; you can simply touch a button
ful if you are new to using Revit and are and they update throughout the model.
under pressure to get your portion com- However, many users have found it
pleted on time. Once you become more more useful to complete the work within
38

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

standard Revit piping systems and change


pipe sizes as required by selecting individual sections or whole systems in place
of this element. In addition, we recommend using placeholders only during the
schematic design phase.
n If you have a pipe that runs
above and below the floor, the program has tools that make it easy to
tap into pipes at the same and different elevations. It also has a visibility
that shows when piping is below the
view range; this is discussed in more
detail in the section on visibility
n Typically you wont know all pipe
sizes until the layout is finished, but
that doesnt mean you should wait to
get started until the end of the design
process. Tag each pipe with an estimated size before you exit your drawing; when you go back, you can quickly update the information if necessary
n Practice every day whether
youre working on a Revit job or
not. Even spending 10 minutes a day
using Revit can help you maintain
your skills, and reduce retraining
time in the future
Visibility: Some plumbing designers express difficulty with graphics
and visibility, especially in regard to
printing, with Revit. Part of the solution lies in your view and workset:
n Elements can be hidden or
misplaced outside the floor plans.
Adjusting visibility graphics allows
you to cut the view depth lower
than the floor plan. For example, the
standard view will not show a drain in
the slab. To make it show up, set the
visibility view depth lower. You can
extend the view into beyond mode,
which changes line worka dashed line
means its not on that level, but it does
exist. This may also result in structural
or architectural elements showing up
along with the below-slab piping. Be
aware that this may cause plotting and
clarity issues with the drawings when
submitted to the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) or the owner. An alternate
solution would be to modify the hidden
www.csemag.com

Farenhyt - The Power of Choice.

Silent Knight has


the Comprehensive Solution!
Will you be ready to respond when your building
is hit with a life threatening emergency?
You will be with Silent Knights NEW
Emergency Communication System.
The IFP-2000ECS is a fire alarm control panel integrated
with an Emergency Communication System (ECS).
Loud and Clear Messages - with up to 2000 Watts
of audio power
Get the Right Message to the Right People - with Dual
Channel capability of the new ECS-DUAL50W Amplier
Extensive Expansion Capability - 636 points expandable
to 10,176 points
Flexibility in Messaging - Up to 128 audio circuits
mappable to 64 audio switches
Robust Audio - With back-up amplier

Visit www.farenhyt.com to check out the new solutions


of Emergency Communications Systems today!

input #18 at www.csemag.com/information

F a r e n h y t TM S e r i e s

Be Ready

BIM for plumbing design


object by extending it above the floor in order to achieve the
visibility.
n Make sure you are in the correct workset. Use filters to
display plumbing equipment and pipes in the plumbing views,
add all of your components to the plumbing workset, and
complete all design in that space. This will enable you to print
only the components you want to see and filter out what you
dont want to see.
n Using the underlay option in the properties dialogue box
while in a floor plan allows you to see a phantom view of
piping or equipment below the floor level you are working in.
This is helpful for coordination and layout of pipe runs and
riser locations, as well as avoiding conflicts
Connections: In Revit, plumbing connections are typically
shown on the MEP model, not the architects model. When an
architect updates the model and moves a restroom or deletes a
wall, the MEP model assumes the plumbing host is still there. As
a result, Revit wont allow the modification. You cant just grab
and rotate the plumbing when an architectural change happens;
you have to redo the connections. To speed this process:
n Create a Group and keep it in general relationships; dont
connect directly to fixtures until the architect tells you that no
more changes will be made, to avoid having to disconnect and

2012 The Metraflex Company

The 100% pre-tested,


pre-assembled,
seismic-ready joint
Its goof-proof.
No assembly required.
You know it will work.
Get the details at
www.MetraFire.com

Revit...Revit
CAD drawings
online

1-800-FIRELUP 1-855-347-3587
input #19 at www.csemag.com/information

reconnect all piping. We consider it a best practice to not host


plumbing piping on objects, as it can save significant time when
the architectural background model changes.
n Remember to pay attention to deliverables. Its not always
cost-effective to show every single plumbing connection in Revit,
especially for projects where you anticipate a lot of last-minute
changes. Waiting to make final connections until floor plan decisions are reasonably complete adds order and flexibility.
Document coordination versus full documentation: There
are times when it is appropriate to use Revit for document coordination rather than full documentation. The most important factor in success with this approach is making that decision at the
beginning of the job. The cost to fix plumbing mistakes later is
comparably high, because water goes through the entire building
and cant be modified in sections. The project team and owner
must be on the same page from day one; they must agree on the
approach and stick with it.
n Before beginning the design, ask what level of detail is
required and clarify the deliverable. Can modeling stop below
2-in. diameter pipe? Can it be performance based? The plumbing
only needs to be defined as far as the subcontractor will need it
to install, some of which can be done in AutoCAD.
n In our experience, full Revit documentation has worked
best on complicated projects where many changes are expected.
When using Revit for document coordination only, be strategic
in identifying the areas that typically present clash problems.
The MEP cant be fully responsible for all areas due to the lack
of exact materials, lack of control over the installation sequence
that occurs in the field, and level of contractor experience
n Either way, the use of Revit allows contractor questions
to be answered more quickly, because there is more information about the design. The model allows you to visualize
the final product on the screen before its constructed in the
field. And as the level of detail in Revit increases, the speed
follows suit. Theoretically, the use of BIM should result in a
much better coordinated set of plans which, in turn, should
minimize requests for information (RFI) during construction
and help keep the project on time and budget.
n Revit also provides a benefit in coordinating with other
disciplines. Sloping pipes take up a lot of room in the ceiling
plenum, where everyones fighting for space. Revit can make
collaboration easier for plumbing designers, as they can see
the ductwork, cable trays, etc., that are already there, and
help the architect set the final ceiling height throughout the
building. Ceiling plenum coordination is a significant benefit
in areas like Washington, D.C., where height limits put ceiling
space at a premium.
Juncheng (James) Yang is a Senior Associate and Plumbing
Section Head at GHT Limited. He has more than 15 years of
experience delivering highly creative, technically exceptional
plumbing designs for commercial, governmental, and institutional projects.

Selective coordination studies


for mission critical environments
Isolating an electrical fault condition to the smallest area possible is
essential in providing the most reliable electrical distribution system
with maximum uptime for your facility.
BY KEITH LANE, PE, RCDD, LEED AP BD+C, Lane Coburn & Assocs. LLC, Bothell, Wash.

Learning objectives

Time in seconds

n unexpected loss of power can


have a significant effect on busi Learn the basics of protective device coordiness, especially in a mission critnation studies.
ical environment. Isolating an electrical
Know the proper sizing of the transformer
primary breaker.
fault condition to the smallest area possi Understand selective coordination impacts
ble is essential in providing the most relion arc fault.
able electrical distribution system with
maximum uptime
for your facility.
Current in amperes
Expensive elec1000 45A
ET4A
T4A
4A 30
tronic distribuET4A 30
tion protection
equipment is not
100
worth the extra
cost unless a
proper protective
10
device coordination study is provided by an expe1
rienced electrical
engineer.
TX Inrush
A properly
0.10
coordinated system will limit an
electrical fault
0.01
to the nearest
0.5 1
10
100
1K
10K
upstream protective device. After
Figure 1: This indicates a 30 kVA transformer protected by a 45
a one-line diaamp circuit breaker. The Tx refers to the transformer inrush.
gram of an elecThe 45 amp breaker curve is represented by the red hash marks.
trical distribution
This breaker curve is to the right of the Tx ensuring that
system is comthe transformer inrush will not trip the breaker during system
pleted and the
startup. The green curves at the top of the graph represent the
brand and model
transformer damage curves. The breaker should be as far to the
of the protecleft of the damage curves as possible. All graphics courtesy:
tive devices are
Lane Coburn & Assocs.
www.csemag.com

selected, an overcurrent protective coordination study can be completed. Protective devices can consist of both fuses and
breakers. Evaluating the merits of choosing to use fuses or circuit breakers is
beyond the scope of this article. The primary focus of this article is adjustable trip
circuit breakers as the protective device.
Several parameters can be selected for
each protective device. The total number,
type, and sensitivity of the settings will
depend on the specific device. Adjustment of these parameters allows for
what is referred to as curve shaping.
Curve shaping allows for better coordination between upstream and downstream
overcurrent protection devices. Below is
a list of the common possible parameters.
Continuous current rating

Continuous current rating is often


called the current sensor or plug. There
are several possibilities:
Long-time pickup (long time per
unit): This is the long-time trip setting of the
overcurrent protective device. This parameter, also known as continuous amps, is a percentage of the breakers nominal rating and
can typically be set at 20% to 100%. This
setting is usually achieved with a thermal
overload in a molded case circuit breaker.
Long-time delay: This setting allows
for inrush from motors to pass without
tripping the breaker. This setting effects
the position of the I squared T slope just
below the continuous current setting.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

41

Selective coordination studies


Short-time pickup: This is typically
provided with an adjustment of 5 to 10
times. This setting allows downstream
overcurrent protection devices to clear
faults without tripping upstream devices.
It can also be adjusted to allow for transformer inrush current.
Short-time delay and instantaneous
override: This setting postpones the
short-time pickup. It can be a fixed setting or an I squared T ramp setting. This
allows for better coordination between
upstream and downstream devices. An
instantaneous override can be set at high
current to override this function and protect electrical equipment. The I square T

function of the short-time delay can provide better coordination when coordinating a breaker with a fuse.
Instantaneous: This setting will trip
the overcurrent protective device with no
intentional delay.
Ground fault setting (ground fault
per unit): This is the percentage of the
rating of the breaker for the ground fault
setting. Per the NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, ground fault cannot exceed
1,200 amps, regardless of the size of the
breaker.
Ground fault delay: This setting
allows for a time delay before ground
fault pickup, which allows for better selective coordination
between multiple
Selective coordination in elevators
levels of ground
fault protection. In
Selective coordination is required when more than one elevator is
addition, the time
supplied by a common feeder, per NEC Article 620-62. Figure 2 shows an
delay cannot exceed
example of a coordination study illustrating the feeder breaker overcur1 second (60 cycles)
rent protection, the elevator fuse overcurrent protection, and the elevator
for ground fault curmotor start-up curves.
rents of 3,000 amps
or more.

Current in amperes

1000

EV BRKR

100

PAS EL2 30 HP

PAS EL1 15 HP

10

100 AF

Time in seconds

70 AF

0.10

0.01
0.5 1

10

100

1K

10K

Figure 2: The graph indicates a 200 amp breaker in the main distribution gear feeding an elevator control panel with a 100 amp
and a 70 amp fuse. The study must ensure that the two fuses
will trip in a fault condition in any one of the separate elevator
feeders and will not trip the 200 amp main breaker. A fault in
one of the elevator feeders that took out the main breaker would
essentially take out both elevators.

42

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

Before beginning a coordination


study, the electrical
engineer should
design a oneline diagram and
coordinate with
the electrical contractor and/or the
equipment provider to determine the
actual equipment
to be installed.
The following are
required to provide
an accurate protective coordination
study:
Description,
make, and catalog
numbers of protective devices
Full load current at the protective device

Transformer kVA, impedance, and


inrush data
Available fault current at the protective device
Conductor cable information including current carrying capacity and insulation type
Protective device design requirements from the serving utility.
It is common to perform complicated
electrical protection coordination studies
with computer software. These software
platforms typically contain libraries that
include most of the common overcurrent protective device required settings.
Sometimes new device settings have to
be developed by the electrical engineer
in the software program.
As noted above, with the review of protective coordination study basics, an electrical systems reliability can be assured
only if proper coordination is implemented between protective devices. The
next portion of this article will review
instances where the National Electrical
Code requires a protective coordination
study and where K-rated transformers
are employed to deal with electronics and
nonlinear loads can reduce reliability if
not properly coordinated.
Using K-rated transformers

On a typical transformer, the current


and associated magnetic field is 90 deg
out of phase with the voltage. When you
close a breaker and turn on a transformer,
the instantaneous magnetic field can be
twice as high as normal. In an ideal
transformer, the current required to supply this magnetic field would also be twice
as high. However, in a real transformer,
the core is saturated and the actual current
required to create the field can be 12 times
as high as normal. Factors such as the size
of the transformers cores and the time the
voltage is applied play roles in determining the amount of inrush current.
The actual inrush current mentioned
above is different depending on the actual transformer manufacturer. It is critical to contact the specific manufacturer
of the transformer supplied in the field.
www.csemag.com

Time in seconds

A short circuit is noted


If actual transformer inrush
Current in amperes
as one of the items that can
data is not known, common
1000
cause an overcurrent. The
industry standard is to assume
typical molded case circuit
the inrush is 12 times for 0.1
2500 Main
breaker combination with
seconds and 25 times for 0.01
100
400 A
the upstream breaker someseconds. Figure 1 illustrates
what larger than the downthe transformer inrush at 12
stream breaker does not have
times for 0.1 seconds.
10
a problem coordinating in
Electrical engineers were
the overload area of the time
running into trouble some
current curve, but a high
years back when the K131
level of current in the short
rated transformer was becomcircuit area of the time curing more prolific in regular
rent curve can represent sigoffice and mission critical
0.10
nificant problems to selective
facilities. A K13-rated transcoordination.
former is often just a larger
NEC Section 700.1 finetransformer with a smaller
0.01
print note (FPN) No. 3:
rating to compensate for har10K
1K
100
10
0.5 1
Emergency systems are
monics. The same 110 amp
generally installed in places
breaker typically on the pri- Figure 3: This graph illustrates the ground fault setting for a
of assembly where artificial
mary side of a regular 75 kVA 2,500 amp main breaker and the ground fault setting for a 400
illumination is required for
transformer may trip when amp sub breaker. There is clear separation between the ground
protecting a 75 kVA, K13 fault curves. A ground fault on the 400 amp feeder would trip the safe exit and panic control
Emergency systems may
transformer. For sizing of 400 amp breaker before tripping the 2,500 amp main breaker. If
also provide power for such
the primary side overcurrent the 2,500 amp main breaker tripped, the entire system would go
functions as ventilation, fire
protective device for K13 or down, not just the 400 amp feeder.
detection and alarm systems,
higher rated transformers, I
recommend multiplying the input full load protective devices and their ratings and elevators, fire pumps, public safety communication, and industrial processes.
amps of a transformer by 125% and going settings.
NEC Section 701.2 FPN: Legally
to the next common size up. In addition,
NEC 517.26 - application of other
a breaker with the instantaneous setting is articles: The essential electrical system required standby systems are typically
often required to allow for the transformer shall meet the requirements of Article installed to serve loads, such as heating
and refrigeration systems, communicacurrent inrush. As a final step, I recom- 700, except as amended by Article 517.
mend a coordination study to ensure the
NEC 700.27 - coordination: Emer- tion systems, sewage disposal, lighting
system will work before it is too late, after gency system(s) overcurrent devices shall systems, and industrial processes, that,
construction is complete and the engineer be selectively coordinated with all supply when stopped during any interruption
of normal electrical supply, could create
is stuck with an angry owner.
side overcurrent protective devices.
NEC 701.18 - coordination: Legally hazard or hamper rescue or fire fighter
required standby system(s) overcurrent operations.
Understanding the code
To understand the full potential devices shall be selectively coordinated
impacts of recent changes to the NEC, it with all supply side overcurrent protec- Arc flash studies
is important to quote the new definition tive devices.
We are seeing more requirements for
For clarity, it is important to include arc flash studies for critical infrastructure.
of selective coordination and the new
codes in sections 100, 517, 700, and 701 the NEC definition (Section 100) of over- The amount of arc flash energy levels that
as they apply to emergency and standby current and the fine-print notes defining can be produced at any point in an elecsystems, which are a part of mission criti- emergency systems and legally required trical distribution system depends on the
standby loads in Sections 700 and 701:
cal systems:
amount of fault current that is available
Overcurrent: Any current in excess and the speed at which the overcurrent
NEC 100 definitions coordination
(selective): Localization of an overcur- of the rated current of the equipment or protective device operates.
rent condition to restrict outages to the ampacity of the conductor. It may result
The arc flash calculation will determine
circuit or equipment effected, accom- from overload, short circuit, or ground the amount of thermal incident energy to
plished by the choice of overcurrent fault.
which an electricians chest and face can
www.csemag.com

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

43

Selective coordination studies


be exposed to at working distances. This
energy level is measured in Joules/cm2 or
calories/cm2.
These calculations are provided to
determine the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required
to operate or maintain the equipment
with exposed live parts. The flash
boundary is the approach distance limit
to the exposed live parts during maintenance, operation, or testing. If the electrician is not appropriately protected in
this flash boundary, he could receive
second-degree burns.
Typically, a fault current study is first
performed on a project. The second step
is to perform a coordination study to
determine the optimum settings of the
overcurrent protective devices and protective relays to provide for as much
selective coordination as possible. Then
as a third step, after the settings of the
breakers and relays are determined, the
arc flash study is performed. Therefore,
settings that provide the optimum separation between the time current curves and
isolate a fault to the smallest area possible
may actually cause higher levels of arc
flash energy.
NEC 517-17 requires that if ground
fault protection is provided for the service
disconnecting means, then an additional
step of ground fault protection shall be
provided in the next level of feeder disconnecting means downstream toward the
load. Figure 3 is an example of a properly
coordinated ground fault study.
Ground fault settings

NEC 230-95 indicates that all 480 V,


3-phase services 1,000 amps and over
must be installed with a ground fault
relay. The setting of the ground fault
relay cannot exceed 1,200 amps, regardless of the size of the overcurrent protection device. In addition, the time delay
cannot exceed 1 second (60 cycles) for
ground fault currents of 3,000 amps or
more. There shall be a minimum of 6
cycles (0.1 second) ground fault delay
between ground fault devices in health
care facilities.
44

Figure 4: This is an aerial shot of the construction of the SABEY Intergate Quincy
Data Center Facility. Lane Coburn & Assocs. worked closely with the owner, electrical
contractor, and switchgear vendors to ensure proper coordination between all overcurrent protective devices for optimum protection and uptime of the facility.

Ground fault settings for main breakers


serving downstream motors that are set
too low or too fast may trip a main overcurrent protection device before tripping
the local thermal magnetic overcurrent
protection device during motor starting
ground faults. On the other hand, ground
fault settings that are too high can cause
undue damage before a ground fault is
interrupted. It is important to provide the
ground fault setting that will not permit
nuisance tripping, but will protect the
electrical equipment from excessive damage during an event.
It has been my experience that sometimes perfect coordination between a set
of devices cannot be obtained. Certain
settings may be required on a breaker that
could affect the settings of many breakers. In some cases, there may be many
levels of breakers that cause overlap of
the breaker curves within the tolerance of
the curves. In these cases experience will
help the engineer make judgment calls as
to compromises in coordination between
devices. The engineering behind providing protective coordination studies is not
a perfect science.
Often, completed projects have no
protective device study. In such cases

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

the breaker manufacturer will ship the


breakers with all settings set to the most
sensitive. This will ensure the most protection but will increase false trips and is
typically not good for the reliability and
uptime of the systems. As soon as the
owner complains of a false trip, the facility personnel will probably set all of the
dials to least sensitive. This will reduce
false trips, but may not adequately protect
the electrical system and reduce selective
coordination of the system.
A coordination study is typically
required to ensure that the most reliable
electrical system has been installed. In
addition, there are instances where NEC
requires that a study be performed. In
either case, the cost of a coordination study
is pretty cheap insurance for most installations that would be adversely affected by
an extensive power outage.
Keith Lane is president and CEO of Lane
Coburn & Assocs. He is a member of the
Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial
advisory board, and was a 2008 40 Under
40 award winner. Lane has more than 20
years of experience designing, commissioning, and optimizing mission critical
facilities.
www.csemag.com

Now you can see your critical power


management systems like never before.
ASCO PowerQuest. The vision to see what others cant.
PowerQuest delivers the answers you need about your Critical Power
Management System (CPMS) precisely when you need them. Finally,
theres one single gateway to reliably monitor all the critical power
data points in your facilities.
Communicate, monitor and control power transfer switches, generator
paralleling switchgear, gensets, breakers, loadbanks, and more
Review test schedules, event logs, power reports and trends
Add and shed loads based on capacity and priority
Analyze power quality issues with precise sequence of events recording
Enjoy dynamic visualization over flexible, convenient and secure systems
ASCOs PowerQuest. The singular solution to manage your critical power infrastructure.
www.EmersonNetworkPower.com/ASCO (800) 800-ASCO ascoapu.com
ASCO Power Switching & Controls
Just another reason why Emerson Network Power is a global leader in
maximizing availability, capacity and efficiency of critical infrastructure.

Emerson and ASCO are trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or one of its affiliated companies. 2013 Emerson Electric Co. CS104QR ASCO Power Technologies

E M E R S O N . C O N S I D E R I T S O L V E D.
input #20 at www.csemag.com/information

Integration:

Building automation
and fire alarms

The building automation system can control all aspects of a building


or campus, including its fire alarm system. This outlines best practices
for integrating a fire alarm into a BAS.
BY JON KAPIS, RICK LEWIS, AND CRAIG STUDER, PE; The RJA Group Inc.

Learning
objectives
Understand the efficiencies
of integrating building automation with fire protection
systems.
Name various communication protocols, such as BACnet and LonTalk.
Learn about inspection and
testing of systems.

46

he responsibilities of a chief building engineer are becoming more


challenging as technology advances. Bigger and taller buildings are being
constructed with an increasing emphasis
on energy efficiency and comfort, and the
ever-increasing demand to keep construction costs and operating expenses down.
In addition, building codes are changing
the way these buildings are constructed
in order to improve safety with an eye on
new construction methods and materials.
There is also the somewhat traditional
mind-set among those within the design
and engineering community that building
automation and fire alarm systems should
maintain a significant level of separation
with minimal connectivity or interaction.
Most of this belief stems from the fear of
the unknown and the desire to mitigate
risk along with the old adage of This is
the way weve always done it. In reality, the integration of building automation
and fire alarm systems can result in overall
reduction in equipment, installation, and
maintenance costs while still maintaining
the level of safety required for these systems to operate.
With the advent of smart building
technology, heating, cooling, electrical,
lighting, security, and other systems need
monitoring and intercommunication for

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

optimized efficiency and operation. With


sophistication comes the need for a building automation system (BAS) to allow for
nearly seamless operation of these various
interrelated equipment.
Like BAS, fire protection and alarm
systems have also evolved into sophisticated computer-based systems, which
integrate fire detection and emergency
communication systems as part of overall building operations during an emergency event.
Often fire protection and alarm systems
must interact with other building systems
to provide a proper level of protection.
While the fire alarm system is fully capable of performing and initiating the necessary actions to accomplish the fire alarm
and building systems responses, efficiencies can be obtained by integrating with
the BAS. These efficiencies include minimizing additional equipment, expediting
system acceptance testing, reducing installation costs, and sharing and consolidating
information at a central location where all
of the building systems can be precisely
monitored during emergency incidents.
Smoke control systems are a good
example of the marriage of building
mechanical systems with fire protection/
fire alarm systems. Fans are starting or
stopping, dampers are opening or closing,
www.csemag.com

Integration examples

Figure 1: This modular building controller containing


open processors gateways
with communication drivers
is used when integrating
building automation systems
with other equipment communicating over a multitude
of communications protocols. Courtesy: Siemens

and doors may be closing or unlocking


while elevators being recalled. Although
both the BAS and fire alarm systems have
specific tasks to perform, there is a certain level of priority and sequences that
must be followed. Failure to follow the
proper priority or sequence may not only
be non-code compliant, it may also lead to
equipment damage or risk to human life.
For example, if a smoke control fan operates before dampers open, ductwork may
be damaged or door opening forces may
be increased beyond acceptable levels for
egress.
Communication

When the fire alarm system takes control of equipment that is not a listed component of the fire alarm control unit, the
fire alarm system must either override
the natural operating mode of the building equipment or pass off that command
via a simple switch or data communications to the building mechanical systems.
Likewise, each manufacturers BAS has
its own protocol for monitoring conditions and communicating operational
commands to maintain the proper building
environment and efficiency. There are also
standard open communication protocols
such as LonTalk and BACnet that can be
used to communicate with a multitude of
www.csemag.com

sing a fire/smoke damper that is part of an engineered smoke control system complying with
International Building Code Section 909 as an example, at each damper location we have a
smoke detector for detection of smoke, an actuator that controls the opening and closing of the
damper, and an end switch to provide positive confirmation of the damper open and closed position. Because the fire alarm system already needs to have circuitry to this location for individual
smoke or duct smoke detectors, that same pair of wires can be used to monitor the open and
closed position of the damper, essentially eliminating two pairs of wires back to the BAS controller. The position status signals of the damper can then be transmitted from the fire alarm system,
through the gateway, and into the BAS along with the active alarm point information. This leaves
the wiring to the actuator as the only BAS wiring needed at the damper location.
As another example, lets use a stairway pressurization fan that is being controlled by a variable
frequency drive (VFD). Typically, a VFD would be connected to the BAS via a digital signal while
the fire alarm system would provide override of the VFD using dry contacts to stop it or put it into
a smoke mode condition. Allowing the BAS to perform all of the control functions permits the
adjustment of the fan speed through the BAS to regulate for atmospheric conditions by employing
other equipment connected to the BAS, such a digital differential pressure sensors. Using the BAS
solely for control eliminates any connection to the fire alarm system, with the activation commands being sent through the gateway.
Taking advantage of the aforementioned efficiencies gained by integrating the BAS with the fire
alarm system requires planning in the design process. This planning process is the same whether
it is a design build or a design assist type of project delivery. The building owner and operator
must be involved in the process of establishing the design criteria or at the least have influence
over it. In a typical design build or design assist process, the integration of these two systems is
an afterthought and often never considered. The end user must be made to understand that the
efficiencies gained by integration will pay dividends long into the lifecycle of the building.

equipment from various manufacturers in


order to achieve an integrated building
system.
The communication protocol for a fire
alarm control unit to communicate to
and from its indicating (input), initiating (output), and sometimes notification
appliances is typically an analog or digital
communications signal carried over what
is referred to as a signaling line circuit
(SLC). Because communications signals
are typically proprietary protocol, each
SLC is dedicated to a specific manufacturers equipment and cannot include connection of incompatible devices that use a
different signal protocol.
Therefore, in order to integrate system
alarm and control functions with the BAS
in a manner other than relay logic, fire
alarm system manufacturers had to also
design and support the open communication protocols used for building automation, in a manner that would not compromise the integrity or the operation of the
fire alarm system. This process of sharing
information between both fire alarm and
BAS came to be known as bridging, or
open gateway processing. Because of the
strict code and listing requirements of fire
alarm systems, much of this communication has been primarily limited to one-way
communication. However, some of the

manufacturers of both fire alarm and BAS


do produce equipment such as gateways
that are listed for bi-directional communication with their equipment.
The use of these open gateway processors has the potential to eliminate the
need for costly interface equipment and
enclosures. A single gateway can replace
hundreds of conventional or electronic
relays and input sensors for control and
monitoring while also eliminating the
need for multiple wire terminations that
can decrease the potential for system failure points.
How to know whether to integrate

There are advantages and disadvantages


to consider when determining whether to
integrate a BAS and a fire alarm system.
The most common consideration is when
the building has a complex smoke control system. An integrated system is also
seen in facilities involved in process control that may be affected by a fire alarm
event. For the purpose of this article, when
used primarily in controlling the spread
of smoke, integration of the various systems that normally have independent
connections helps to facilitate improved
communication, redundancy, and cost savings. Additionally, the building engineer
will have the ability to determine from a

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

47

Integrating BAS and fire alarms


single source what is causing the mechani- and thus simplifies the troubleshooting as low-voltage systems that communicate
to their respected devices through an anacal equipment to operate, shut down, open, process.
Because many components that affect log or digital signal. Their wiring methor close.
Take a case of a building with separate air and smoke movement within a building ods and materials are similar, and often
building automation and fire alarm sys- are shared between HVAC and fire alarm their respective equipment is located in
tems: When the building engineer receives systems, lets take a step backward in the the same general area and is performing
a call from an occupant complaining about evolution of the building process. When the same basic functions with one sigincreased temperature or whistling air building systems are being commissioned nificant difference: the fire alarm system
within the ductwork and finds that the for proper operation by either an authority uses individual point addressable monitor
fan is shut down or a damper is closed, having jurisdiction (AHJ) or an indepen- and control modules while the BAS uses
the building engineer is more apt to call dent third-party group, coordination must digital input/output driver assemblies that
a controls contractor to investigate the occur between multiple trades. At this communicate with different protocols.
Why is this important? Because
problem before he calls their fire
the BAS still requires individual
alarm service provider. Should
pairs of conductors to each point
the problem be related to an overbeing controlled or monitored by
ride of controls by the fire alarm
the digital input/output module,
systems, not only does the buildresulting in more wire being needing engineer have to wait for the
ed and longer installation time.
controls contractor to diagnose the
problem, he also has to call the fire
alarm contractor to come out and
Creating a code-compliant
fix the problem. This process can
integrated system
take time to correct; meanwhile,
When considering system intebuilding occupants are uncomfortgration, the ability of the BAS to
able and inconvenienced.
control a smoke control system
Figure 2: In this integrated building management system
Sometimes this can even lead display, various aspects of the facility can be reviewed
operation falls under the auspice
to finger-pointing between the in one screen. Courtesy: Siemens
of the jurisdictions building code,
two service providers as to whose
often based on the model buildproblem it really is. In this scenario, the point in the construction process, each ing codes. The IBC has been adopted by
fire alarm control of a fan or a damper is trade is independently looking to complete a large portion of the United States and
required to be ahead of the hand-off-auto its own scope of work and more often than is used in this article as an example. IBC
switch for the power to the equipment so not is under pressure to finish the specific Section 909 covers smoke control systems,
the inadvertent shutdown of the equipment scope in a designated timeframe. Some- the procedures for determining system
does not inhibit the operation of the fire times this leaves a disconnect between parameters, the acceptable methods that
alarm feature. A failure of the fire alarm the fire alarm and mechanical trades that may be used to accomplish smoke consystem control relay could shut down the results in disruption during start-up and trol, and the requirements to document the
fan or close the damper without an alarm commissioning.
systems actual performance. It recognizes
The integrated system approach allows that the smoke control system is a life safebeing present on the fire alarm system or
fault condition occurring on the fire alarm for those individuals responsible for con- ty system and must maintain the same high
trolling air movement to be focused on level of reliability required for any type of
control unit.
With an integrated building automation proofing and balancing the mechanical fire protection or fire alarm system.
and fire alarm system, this scenario plays system, while the fire alarm contractors
Section 909 requires smoke control sysout in a different manner. The BAS, when focus on the detection and annunciation tems to be initiated by sprinkler system or
listed accordingly to UL Standard 864 of the alarm events. Much in the same smoke detection system operation, dependUUKL listing, to provide code required manner as referenced in the previous ing on the type of system being designed.
smoke control functions, can rely on a example, the problems can get resolved It also requires systems providing control
digital alarm signal from the fire alarm more expeditiously and the systems can input or output to the mechanical smoke
system, passed through a gateway, as the be brought on-line.
control systems to comply with Section
If we focus on the installation of a build- 907 (Fire Alarm and Detection Systems)
only means outside the BAS to influence
control over the building mechanical ing management system (BMS) and a fire and NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and
systems. The responsibility for fan and alarm system, we see many similarities. Signaling Code, and states that such sysdamper control is solely with the BAS Each of these control systems is classified tems must be equipped with a control unit
48

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

www.csemag.com

that complies with UL 864 and has to be


listed as smoke control equipment.
UL 864 requirements cover control units
and accessories that are used to meet the
requirements of many NFPA standards,
including NFPA 72, NFPA 92A: Standard
for Smoke-Control Systems, and NFPA
92B: Guide for Smoke Management Systems in Malls, Atria, and Large Areas. Each
system is tested by UL, which then lists the
complying equipment under the
UUKL designation in the product directory. The fire alarm and
building automation systems must
meet these requirements and be
listed in order to control a smoke
control system and be configured
as an integrated system.

control systems is based on many variable


conditions, including temperature, wind
conditions, and the quality or tightness
of the construction. These conditions tend
to make testing and adjusting of the smoke
control system difficult at best.
Integrating BAS can help minimize
test stress by adjusting the fan speed of
individual fans through programming. In
a situation of excessive stair pressuriza-

future opportunities to inappropriately


change the settings, possibly making the
system ineffective. Care must be taken
to limit access to this programming and
provide logging procedures to document
when and why changes are made.
Documentation

After all the work is done by the engineers, contractors, inspectors, and the AHJ,
the integrated system operation is
approved and the owner receives
its total cost of ownership and,
eventually, its final certificate
of occupancy. However, the
project is not over. It is critical
that the owner receives and carefully stores all record documents
related to the integrated system.
As a building ages, things change
Inspection and testing
and systems are modified. When
Integrated systems require
changes occur, the contractors
enough time to test and to verify
making the changes can use the
that the system interoperability is
documentation to maintain the
functioning properly. It is imporinteroperability of the integrated
tant that the engineer as well as
system as well as revise the drawthe installing contractor and the
ings to reflect changes made. In
equipment vendors understand
addition, the modified systems
the impact of these requirements Figure 3: Integrated building management systems offer
should be retested to confirm
on providing an approved and many possibilities. Courtesy: Honeywell
their revised performance. Docucode compliant installation.
Due to the complexity of these systems tion, the individual fan can be adjusted to mentation of the testing should be incorpoand the required integration, testing must limit its airflow to the stair, resulting in rated with the existing record documents.
Integrating fire protection and fire alarm
confirm that the functions and sequences a lower level of pressure affecting door
work correctly under both automatic and opening forces. Similarly, for individual systems with BAS can be cost-effective
zone smoke control system performance, and provide a more efficient operation. It
manual modes.
The inspection and testing of integrated the fan speed can be adjusted on a zone- is imperative that the design and installasystems is usually exasperating and time- by-zone basis, based on the fire alarm sig- tion is well planned and coordinated, and
that the system is properly maintained
consuming, and often requires multiple nal received by the BAS.
The downside to this operation is that the over its lifetime.
rounds of retesting before all the deficiencies are corrected. This is often caused BAS controls are typically located remotedue to all of these different systems being ly to the fire alarm control panel and the Jon Kapis is the operations manager in the
completed late in the schedule and not firefighters smoke control panel, both of Seattle office of The RJA Group, and has
enough time to get the kinks out prior which normally reside in a fire command more than 32 years of experience in fire
to final testing. Anything that can expedite room. BAS controls and system components alarm and building systems integration.
the commissioning process is beneficial to are usually located for the convenience of Rick Lewis is a senior consultant in the
the buildings staff and HVAC equipment. San Francisco office of The RJA Group,
the overall project.
One of the advantages of using the BAS Under test conditions, additional personnel with more than 28 years of experience in
as an integrated part of the smoke control may be required to monitor the BAS controls the fire and security alarm industry. Craig
Studer is vice president in the Chicago
system is the systems ability to modify to make any required modifications.
While modifying fan output for each office of The RJA Group, with more than
operating conditions to accommodate
actual ambient conditions through the smoke zone condition is a more expedient 30 years of consulting experience in builduse of VFDs. The design of the smoke method to obtain approval, it also provides ing commissioning and system integration.
www.csemag.com

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

49

IAQ

in health care
settings

Engineers should use evidence-based design when engineering air systems in


hospitals and health care facilities to ensure top-notch indoor air quality (IAQ).
BY JAMES PAUL, PE, LEED AP, Peter Basso Associates, Troy, Mich.

Learning
objectives
Understand data from Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in order to better
design hospital air systems.
Know which codes and
standards pertain to indoor
air quality (IAQ) in hospitals.

50

nderlying disease, organ transplants, chemotherapy, or other


factors can lead to weakened
immune systems, which increase the
effects of disease-causing organisms
in a hospital environment. For 1 in 20
inpatients, a visit to the hospital for can
cause their illness to progress and, in
some cases, become terminal. Hospitals
by their nature contain a higher concentration of disease-causing germs and
viruses than other environments.
In the past decade, the health care
industry has made tremendous strides in
reducing this negative trend. However,
a level of threat still exists to patients,

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

staff, and visitors. Hospital designers,


builders, operators, and employees must
work together to put an end to this threat.
This article attempts to shed light on the
role of the HVAC engineer in preventing
hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
Hospital-acquired infections

HAIs are significant contributors to


the high cost of health care. According
to a 2007 report, in 2002 there were
more than 1.7 million HAIs in the U.S.,
costing between $28.4 billion and $33.8
billion and resulting in an estimated
98,987 deaths. Recently, the U.S. government has taken measures to provide
www.csemag.com

Figure 1: In this post-anesthesia care


unit at Oakwood Healthcare Systems
Southshore Medical Building in Trenton,
Mich., air quality is closely monitored. All
Graphics Courtesy: Peter Basso Assocs.

additional stimulus to reduce the incidence of HAIs. The Affordable Care


Act (ACA) of 2011 provides funding
for public health initiatives to further
improve outcomes and reduce the incidence of HAIs by doing the following:
Improve infrastructure for preventing HAIs, mainly through reporting and
data analysis
Develop new initiatives for preventing HAIs
Improve the National Health care
Safety Network (NHSN) and electronic
reporting of lab records to reduce data
entry and improve record-keeping
Partner with state governments to
increase the number of staff dedicated
to HAI prevention.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) seeks to provide
evidence-based guidance for infection
control and prevention. On the CDC
website, the 15 most common diseases
and organisms involved in HAIs are
listed. The site also provides guidance
for patients and health care professionals on how to prevent these diseases. A
brief summary is shown in Table 1. Only
two of the 15 disease-causing organisms
described on the CDC website are airborne.
More important, however, is the fact
that the sources of HAI outbreaks are
often not known. In a recent study in the
American Journal of Infection Control,
researchers studied a database of more
than 1500 documented HAI outbreaks in
order to shed light on the sources. Their
findings revealed that in a significant portion of outbreaks the source of the infection could not be determined.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170

In 2008, ASHRAE, the American


Society for Healthcare Engineering
(ASHE), and the American National
www.csemag.com

Figure 2: This building information modeling (BIM) representation of Bell Memorial Hospital in Alpena, Mich., shows its associated ductwork.

Standards Institute (ANSI) adopted a


common standard for the ventilation
of health care facilities. In 2010, the
Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI)
adopted ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170: Ventilation of Health Care
Facilities as part of its Guidelines for
Construction of Healthcare Facilities.
The FGI Guidelines are increasingly
being adopted around the world as the
standard to which health care facilities
must be designed. Standard 170 is written in enforceable code language. The
standard is a consensus document and
is continuously updated with interpretations and new findings. It is scheduled
to be re-issued in 2014 as part of the
revised FGI Guidelines.
The main topics covered in the standard are systems, equipment, space
ventilation, planning, construction, and
system startup. Systems addressed are
emergency power, ventilating, heating,
and cooling. Equipment requirements
include air handling unit design, cooling tower placement, humidifiers, and
air distribution devices. Planning, construction, and startup requirements apply
to the HVAC systems serving surgery
and critical care spaces.

All the provisions of the standard


must be followed; however, the main
features that affect HVAC system design
are: minimum filter efficiencies, selection and location of supply air outlets,
minimum outdoor air and total air ventilation rates, air pressure relationships,
and temperature/humidity requirements
for various types of spaces and ease of
maintenance/cleaning. While applying
the standard it is critical that HVAC
system designers understand the classification of the spaces they are designing for. This requires dialogue with the
architects, infection control personnel,
and the buildings users to understand
how the spaces will be used.
Filtration

Bacteria and viruses can survive on


droplets or particles 5 microns or smaller and can remain airborne indefinitely;
therefore, air filtration is a primary means
of reducing the concentrations of airborne
bacteria in hospitals. Studies have shown
that 99.9% of airborne bacteria in hospitals are removed by having 90% to
95% efficient (MERV 14) filters in the
air handling units. In air handling systems serving inpatient care areas, two

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

51

IAQ in health care settings


filters are required, with the first filter
upstream of fans and coils and the second
filter downstream of the cooling coils and
supply fan.
Standard 170 requires HEPA (MERV
17) filters for protective environment
rooms designed for patients with high
susceptibility to infections. The standard
does not address the use of ultraviolet
radiation lights inside of air handling
units as a means for killing pathogens;
however, some studies have shown that
these devices can be effective in preventing microbial growth.

Air and ventilation requirements

Operating rooms, protective environment rooms, and burn units are required
by the standard to have Type E, nonaspirating air devices located in the ceiling. These are typically laminar flow diffusers. Nonlaminar flow diffusers can
entrain room air into their supply pattern
and potentially carry airborne bacteria
toward the patient. The diffusers should
be located directly over the patient and
the return or exhaust should be located
away from the patient with two devices
at or near floor level located diagonally

opposite to maintain the laminar airflow.


Outdoor air usually contains very low
densities of airborne bacteria. If the air
handling units outdoor air intake is located away from sources of contamination
and is well maintained, the use of outdoor
air ventilation to reduce concentrations of
airborne bacteria indoors can be effective. Unfortunately, there is little empirical data showing the relationship between
ventilation rates and infection rates.
Because the capital costs and energy
costs to heat and cool outdoor air can be
high, it is expected that the next release

Table 1: Common diseases and organisms in hospital environments


Name
1

Acinetobacter

Common source
Soil and

Transmitted by
Contact
n Contaminated
medicines

B. cepacia

Soil and water

n Devices
n Person to person
contact

Leads to
n Pneumonia
n Other infections

Typical in
ICU

Reduce risk by
n Hand hygiene
n Other infections

Respiratory
infections

Immune
suppressed

Hand hygiene

Clostridium difficile

Infected surfaces

Contact

Colitis

Immune
suppressed

Disinfecting surfaces

Clostridium sordellii

Rare

Not known

Pneumonia, etc.

Obstetrics/
gynecology

Being researched

Enterobacteriaceae (drug
resistant)

Human gut

Contact

Infection

Long-term care

Hand hygiene

Hepatitis

Infected people

Contact

Liver disease

Specific
populations

n Disinfecting devices

Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)

Infected people

Rare in hospital
setting

AIDS/infections

Specific
populations

Personal protective
equipment

Influenza

Community
(seasonal)

Airborne or contact

Flu

General
population

Flu vaccine

Klebsiella

Human gut

Contact

Pneumonia, etc.

General
population

Hand hygiene

10

MRSA
(drug-resistant)

Human nose

Contact

Skin infections

Surgery patients

Hand hygiene

11

M. abscessus

Soil and water

Open wounds

Skin infections

Wound patients

Wound hygiene
n Hand hygiene

12

Norovirus

Human gut

Contact

Nausea, diarrhea

Immune
suppressed

13

Staphylococcus aureus

Skin

Contact

Widespread
infections

Immune
suppressed

14

Tuberculosis

Infected people

Airborne

TB

Specific
populations

15

Vancomycin-resistant
enterococci (VRE)

Human gut

Urinary tract
Bloodstream
infections

Long-term
antibiotic users

n Laundering

n Surface disinfection
n Surface disinfection
Hand hygiene
Isolation
n Hand hygiene
n Surface disinfection

Based on research compiled by the CDC, this represents the most common sources leading to diseases and organism growth in
health care environments, along with potential opportunities to reduce the risk of infection.

52

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

www.csemag.com

Figure 3: A nurse/adminstrative station is on each patient level of Oakwood Healthcare Systems Southshore Medical Building,
Trenton, Mich.

of Standard 170 will reduce some of the


air change rates of outdoor air that have
been used traditionally.
When the total air circulation rate is
increased and the air handling system is
equipped with high-efficiency filters, the
filters will remove more airborne bacteria from the airstream. There is some
theoretical research, mostly on surgical
settings, showing a potential for reduction in airborne particle counts and associated surgical site infections. There is
very little empirical evidence to show a
linkage between increased total ventilation rates and decreased infection rates.
In fact, there is actually clinical trial evidence showing an increase in surgical
site infections at hospitals using laminar
airflow (rather than turbulent airflow)
in surgery theaters. This is significant
because Standard 170 currently recommends laminar airflow in surgery theaters despite the clinical trial evidence
to the contrary. Clearly, more clinical
trial research is needed in order to recommend ventilation systems for surgery
theaters based on facts, not just theories.
The simple approach of moving air
from clean to less clean areas is the principle behind the required pressure relationships in Table 7-1 in Standard 170.
The table classifies more than 70 types
www.csemag.com

of areas as to whether they should be in


a positive or negative pressure relationship with respect to adjacent areas. For
some areas there is no requirementthe
space maybe positive, negative, or neutral with respect to adjacent areas. For
areas where there is a pressure relationship requirement, the return or exhaust
air must be ducted.
Compared to earlier regulations,
Standard 170 has reduced the requirements for adding humidification to
many areas. For clinical reasons, most
surgery and critical care areas require
a minimum of 20% relative humidity,
but all occupied areas are required to
maintain humidity levels below 60%,
which also helps to reduce concentrations of airborne pathogens.
Standard 170 requires air handling
units and air distribution systems to have
conveniently located access doors, panels, or other means for access and cleaning. For the most part, compliance with
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
is sufficient. This applies to the design,
installation, start-up, operation, and
maintenance of all air handling systems.
The future of HAIs in health care

It is clear that more empirical research

is needed regarding the causes of HAI


outbreaks. The organisms that cause
HAIs are produced in many sources,
but the role of the infection control professional should be to defeat the methods by which they are transmitted to
patients, caregivers, and visitors.
Until more empirical information is
available, the role of the HVAC engineer in infection control should be to use
accepted standards to reduce the likelihood that the HVAC systems will promote the growth or transmission of these
organisms by using accepted design and
construction standards.
Every health care facility is unique.
Designers of these facilities must
become familiar with all the requirements of Standard 170 and should work
closely with the clinical and maintenance staff to ensure that the requirements for providing a safe, reliable, and
clean environment are met.
Jim Paul is a vice president with Peter
Basso Assocs. He has significant experience in mechanical engineering design
and is knowledgeable in the design of
complex HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection systems for a variety of project
types with a particularly strong emphasis
on health care facility design.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

53

Product & Literature Digest

Why Should You


Filter Your Water?

The 3,250 kW Series 4000 diesel generator set


from MTU Onsite Energy is designed to respond to

Scale formation reduces the heat transfer rate and


increases the water pressure drop through the heat

transient loads and quickly recover from voltage and frequency dips commonly associated with cycling loads and
motor starting. In standby applications, the units reserve
power capabilities enable the generator to accept its full
rated load in a single step in accordance with NFPA 110.

exchanger and pipes. In fact, one study has shown


that .002" fouling will increase pumping needs by 20%.

The Best Engineered Water Filtering


Solution Always Costs Less
2 67 2 S . L a C i e n e g a B l v d . L o s A n g e l e s , C A 9 0 0 3 4 U S A
( 8 0 0 ) 3 3 6 - 194 2 ( 310 ) 8 3 9 - 2 8 2 8 F a x : ( 310 ) 8 3 9 - 6 87 8
w w w. t e k l e e n . c o m
info@tekleen.com
Input #100 at www.csemag.com/information

http://www.mtuonsiteenergy.com/products
Input #101 at www.csemag.com/information

Another
e-newsletter?

3.5" wide x 4.5" high


Pantone 382c
PrOInErT2 ...not Your Ordinary Inert Gas System
Inert gas systems are the safe, natural way to extinguish a fire.
For years, Fikes PROINERT has been known as the safer and
more economical solution. Now available in 300 bar, the new
PROINERT2 offers improved valve actuation and increased design
options--all at a reduced cost! PROINERT2 also features improved
actuation, unlimited pipe runs and expanded nozzle options for
the most flexible, cost-effective inert gas solution available.

CSEs e-newsletters provide


you with helpful and
specific information
thats directly applicable
to your career:
n HVAC Solutions
n Pure Power
n Fire and Life Safety Solutions
n NewsWatch

Input #102 at www.csemag.com/information

n Electrical Solutions

Upload your Digital Ads to the CFE Ad Portal. Its Easy and Secure!
Sign up today... its FREE!

Log on today at http://ads.cfemedia.com and


start using this simple, fast and convenient service!

n Product Showcase
n CSE Codes & Standards

Follow the easy step-by-step instructions to submit


a new ad. Once uploaded, review your ad on screen
for compliancy, then approve for submission.
The portal also offers helpful tips for pdf creation,
plus a useful archive and status report of all ads
you have submitted.

http://ads.cfemedia.com

54

Consulting-Specifying
Engineer AUGUST 2013
cse201009_portalFiller.indd 1

Subscribe today at:

www.csemag.com

9/14/2010 5:22:05 PM

cse201201_QTRpg_enewsltts.indd 1

www.csemag.com

1/9/2012 4:19:01 PM

The following is an
alphabetical listing of the
participating advertisers
in CSEs annual
Internet Profile program
in-print and on-line:



Bradley Corp.
Generac
Intertek

Mitsubishi Electric
Cooling & Heating
Russelectric
Silent Knight by Honeywell
Uponor
Please visit the
participating advertiser
Websites where you will
find the latest multi-media
programs, interactive
features, and useful
product information
for engineers.

Bradley Corporation
Drives Commercial
Plumbing Innovation
Bradley Corp. (www.bradleycorp.com)
headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wis.,
designs and manufactures emergency
fixtures, commercial plumbing fixtures,
tankless water heating systems, washroom
accessories, partitions, and solid plastic
lockers. Bradleys history began 92 years
ago with the invention of the washfountain
a revolutionary public hand washing fixture
designed to save water and operational
costs in public facilities. Since then, Bradley
has developed a number of innovative
restroom products and technologies that
help engineers, specifiers and facility
owners meet their building goals.
Today, Bradley offers the greatest depth and breadth of commercial plumbing products designed for use in
schools, restaurants, office buildings, recreational facilities, airports and stadiums, and serves industrial
markets worldwide with its full line of innovative emergency eye/face washes and drench showers.
To view a variety of Bradleys key products used in commercial washrooms and locker room applications
visit http://www.bradleycorp.com/gallery.
Product spotlight: Bradleys Keltech Tankless Tempering Systems
One of Bradleys latest product innovations in the realm of industrial safety fixtures Keltech Tankless
Tempering Systems delivers instantaneous ANSI-required tepid water to emergency safety showers and
eye/face washes (www.bradleycorp.com/keltech/). Drawing energy only when needed, these tankless
water heaters are designed to be highly efficient and precise in supplying tepid water at a seconds notice
even in the most extreme and challenging work environments.
Adding to its reputation for efficiency, installation of these units is very easy since only one electrical
connection and a cold water line are needed, saving labor time and additional costs. In addition, utility
costs are minimized because there is no need to keep a 300-gallon tank heated at all times.
In addition to its Keltech Tankless Water Tempering Systems, Bradley also manufactures a full line of
innovative emergency eye/face washes and drench showers, including Halo Eye/Face Wash, SpinTec
drench shower, and the Enclosed Safety Shower.
Bradley makes it easy to specify its full suite of commercial plumbing products through a seasoned customer
service staff and the best informational tools in the industry. For a complete listing of Bradleys product
specifications, visit http://www.bradleycorp.com/3partspec.

Phone: 1-800-BRADLEY | Email: jan.jewell@bradleycorp.com

Information
for Engineers from
Generac Industrial Power
Generac Industrial Power offers numerous
resources to engineers who visit
www.generac.com/industrial.
Product information, case studies that
demonstrate specific applications, white
papers that explore key issues in industrial
standby generator systems, and links to
industry news and articles help give
engineers insight into power generation.
Our latest case study video about a 5MW
(expandable to 11MW) Gemini modular
power system (MPS) installation at the
University of Utah, for instance, highlights
how integrated paralleling can provide
exceptional reliability, cost savings, and a
small footprint in data center applications.
When space is at a premium, Gemini
units combine the output of two 500 kW
generators packaged inside a single weather-resistant, sound-attenuated enclosure using Generacs
exclusive PowerManager control system. The case study is also available for download as a
stand-alone document.
Visitors can also learn about Generac Bi-Fuel generator solutions. The only EPA factory-compliant
bi-fuel power system, Generacs Bi-Fuel generators run on both diesel and natural gas. They cut fuel
costs and emissions, extend run-times with less onsite fuel storage, and provide the highest level of
reliability. They also comply with all regulations, meet ETL and listings, and will offer 180mph wind load
and seismic certification.
The website also offers a free download of Power Design Prothe most powerful electrical and
mechanical design and sizing tool on the market. Power Design Pro is a one stop solution center for the
consulting engineer.
Power Design Pro incorporates state-of-the-art algorithms that accurately model a loads true
characteristics, and includes full harmonic and transient analysis to ensure complete generator-to-load
compatibility. It also includes spec sheets, installation drawings, emission information, spec text library
with full inclusive design notes, and the ability to link directly to your supporting dealer for budgetary
quoting and additional support.
Finally, engineers can find a dealer near them who can help them select the right Generac Industrial
Power system for their application.

Contact us at 888-GENERAC (888-436-3722) or visit us online at www.generac.com/industrial

The Worldwide Leader


in Product Testing,
Inspection & Certification
For more than 115 years since Thomas
Edison founded the company as part of the
Edison Illuminating Company weve
been testing electrical products for safety
and performance. Today, Intertek is an
organization of 35,000 professionals with
laboratories in 100 countries around the
world. We test products across a wide
range of industries, from fire/security
equipment and IT to medical, lighting,
building materials, HVAC and much more.
Our ETL Listed Mark is a symbol of electrical safety across North America. Like other well-known
certification bodies, Intertek is recognized by OSHA as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
(NRTL) in the U.S. We are also accredited by the Standards Council of Canada as a Testing Organization
and Certification Body.
This allows us to test products within a defined scope of standards to which weve been approved,
and then issue our ETL certification for products that meet the standard and the overall rules of the
certification agreement. Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) in both the US and Canada recognize
our certification marks and accept products bearing the ETL Mark during their inspections. To view our
OSHA approved scope, visit https://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/its.html.
Interteks corporate website, www.intertek.com, is designed to provide information to a wide range of
audiences, from manufacturers to retailers to AHJ/Inspectors, architects and specifiers. In addition to
pages that describe our broad portfolio of testing services (safety, performance, environmental, etc), we
also provide resources such as our Product Directories that list a products certification information.
We also offer client portals where manufacturers can log-in and access test reports. There are also
videos that highlight our lab capabilities and case studies that further explain how we test and certify
products for compliance.
Of course, like many websites one of the most common links on our site is our Contact pages. With so
many laboratories around the world, we make it simple for anyone with a question to contact us via
online forms, regional phone numbers and addresses, and even Live Chat.

Visit www.intertek.com to learn more about Intertek and our ETL certification today.

Efficient HVAC Solutions from Mitsubishi Electric


Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating is a leader in
VRF and ductless HVAC technology for a wide variety
of commercial and residential applications. Our
HVAC systems deliver some of the highest efficiency
ratings in the industry and provide you with more
precise comfort control than traditional HVAC.
Mitsubishi Electrics INVERTER compressors ramp
up quickly, providing the energy necessary to
achieve the cooling or heating demand of a particular
zone. Then, working in tandem with system controls
and sensors, the INVERTER compressor varies its
speed to maintain the desired comfort level. Thus,
the system performs at only the minimum energy
levels necessary and does not waste electricity
when partial-load conditions are present, which is
97% of the time in most locations.
Energy savings are further increased through
precise zoning capabilities. INVERTER-driven VRF
systems can be sized and designed to adjust for a
buildings solar gain and the changing seasons.
And certain VRF systems have the ability to
simultaneously operate in cooling and heating-using
the buildings own environment to save energy.

In addition to energy savings and precise comfort


control, Mitsubishi Electric provides:

Lower total installed costs


Quiet operation
Simplified system design and installation
Building integration and control
Broad network of trained design, installation and
service professionals

Visit the Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating


(http://www.mitsubishipro.com/en/professional)
website to find information on our VRF and ductless
technologies as well as:
Detailed product information (http://www.
mitsubishipro.com/en/professional/products)
Training courses (online and live training)
(http://www.mitsubishipro.com/professionaltraining/overview-)
Application examples (http://www.mitsubishipro.
com/en/professional/commercial-applications/
building-applications)
Product documentation and brochures (http:/
www.mitsubishipro.com/en/professional
resources-and-tools)

Mitsubishpro.com | Phone: 800-433-4822

Power Control Systems For Mission-Critical Facilities


Data centers, hospitals, airports, and other mission-critical facilities rely on Russelectric high-integrity
on-site power control systems to help ensure 100% uptime. The Russelectric website, russelectric.com,
presents detailed information on these systems and the companys recently expanded line of transfer and
bypass/isolation switches.
The website also includes detailed product
information, specifications, and drawings;
press releases, case studies, technical
papers, webcasts, the companys trade
show schedule; and an impressive list of
Russelectric customers.
Systems for a Variety of
Control Schemes
Russelectric Power Control Systems can be
configured for sophisticated control schemes
including emergency/backup power, utility
paralleling, soft loading, load curtailment,
peak shaving, cogeneration, and prime power.
Custom SCADA/Simulation
Available for Russelectric Power Control Systems, Russelectric custom SCADA systems allow users to
remotely monitor system operation, acknowledge alarms, and review PLC setpoints and alarm history. Systems
include a dynamic one-line display with changing color codes to indicate real-time power switching device
status and power source connections to loads. Event and alarm logging screens are also included. An available
simulation system allows off-line training and operation testing without affecting the operating system.
Industrys Most Complete Line of UL Tested/Listed/Labeled Transfer Switches
Russelectrics new RTS-30 Series switches are the industrys most complete line of UL 1008 tested, listed,
and labeled 30-cycle close and withstand rated transfer switches and bypass/isolation switches. These
switches dramatically simplify selective coordination of overcurrent devices. The companys RTS-03 line of
3-cycle automatic transfer switches and bypass/isolation switches have the industrys highest 3-cycle close
and withstand ratings.
Powerful, Versatile Control
Russelectric automatic transfer switches come equipped with the companys new RPTCS control system,
the industrys most powerful, most versatile microprocessor-based transfer control system. An available
DTWG web server provides a gateway to the RPTCS system over the Web. In addition to a long list of standard
features, each RPTCS control is programmed at the factory to include customer-specified options.
Design Through Installation
Russelectrics single-source approach includes project engineer responsibility from system design through
installation and 24/7 service by factory-direct field service engineers.

TEL: 800-225-5250 | e-mail: info@russelectric.com | www.russelectric.com

Getting Started with


Emergency
Communication Systems
An Emergency Communication System
(ECS) is designed to keep occupants
informed of both fire and non-fire
emergencies with real time information
that will direct them to safety, whether
that means to evacuate or go to a specific
place of refuge. Help clients leverage
the robust survivability of their fire alarm
system as a resource for broadcasting
emergency alerts to building occupants.
Evolving beyond fire alarm voice
evacuation, Silent Knight has
developed a new Farenhyt ECS series
of integrated fire alarm and emergency
communication systems all in one
package. The Farenhyt ECS series from Silent Knight meets the UL 2572, NFPA72 2010, and UFC
4-021-01 standards for Emergency Communication Systems.
The tools and technical information engineers need on the latest Fire Alarm and Emergency
Communication Solutions from Silent Knights Farenhyt line are right at your fingertips:
Tools for engineers ranging from battery calculators and CAD drawings to data sheets and
specifications are available for immediate download on all Farenhyt ECS products.
Resources such as videos and brochures are online to help you learn more about the Farenhyt
line of fire alarm panels and ECS offerings.
Engineers are encouraged to visit Silent Knights library of view on-demand, educational
Webinars, covering topics on new codes and new technologies.
Learn about the Farenhyt Lunch & Learns where we will come to your facility and provide
lunch and an educational session.
Press Releases, case studies, customer wins, image gallery and events are all available in
the press room.
Social media information is available for up to the minute updates.
Get started with Fire Alarm and Emergency Communication all in one package at
www.farenhyt.com.

UponorEngineering.com
The Essential Resource for Engineering with PEX
In todays competitive market of designing structures that offer greater energy efficiency,
performance and value, engineers need a resource to research and specify products and
systems that will make their buildings great.
To support our professional partners, Uponor offers UponorEngineering.com, an online
resource that provides everything an engineer needs to create desirable, sustainable,
cost-effective designs for radiant heating and cooling and plumbing applications using
crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) piping systems.
UponorEngineering.com offers the following resources:
Specifications and Submittals
Manuals
AutoCAD and Revit Files

Technical Literature
Videos
Design and Technical Support

The site also offers links to product and system applications, case studies and factory
and online training.
So, whether its meeting specific LEED or other green-building certification standards,
UponorEngineering.com can provide all the tools and resources necessary to help
engineers get a head start on a successful design.
For more information, visit www.uponorengineering.com.

Uponor North America | 5925 148th Street West | Apple Valley, MN | 800.321.4739

Advertiser Index

1111 W. 22nd St., Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL 60523


630-571-4070 Fax 630-214-4504

PUBLICATION SERVICES
Jim Langhenry,
Co-Founder and Publisher, CFE Media
630-571-4070 x2203; JLanghenry@CFEMedia.com
Steve Rourke, Co-Founder, CFE Media
630-571-4070 x2204, SRourke@CFEMedia.com
Trudy Kelly, Executive Assistant
630-571-4070 x2205, TKelly@CFEMedia.com
Kristen Nimmo, Marketing Manager
630-571-4070 x2215; KNimmo@CFEMedia.com
Elena Moeller-Younger, Marketing Manager
773-815-3795, EMYounger@CFEMedia.com

Request more information about products and advertisers in this issue by using the
http://csemag.com/information link and reader service number located near each item.
If youre reading the digital edition, the link will be live. You may also check the circle
adjacent the page reference to indicate which companies you are interested in, then FAX
this back to CSE at 630-214-4504 for FREE information. When you contact a company
directly, please let them know you read about them in Consulting-Specifying Engineer.

Company

Page

Reader
Service #

Phone #

Web site

Send Info

ASCO Power Technologies............. 45 ....................20 ................ 800-800-2726 .............. www.ascopower.com ............................

Michael Smith, Creative Director


630-779-8910, MSmith@CFEMedia.com

Baldor Electric Company ................ C-2...................1 .................. 479-646-4711 .............. www.baldor.com ....................................

Paul Brouch, Director of Operations


630-571-4070 x2208, PBrouch@CFEMedia.com

Eaton Corp ...................................... 32, 32A-32L ....17 ................ 412-893-4052 .............. www.eaton.com .....................................

Kate Steel, Production Coordinator,


630-571-4070 x2217, KSteel@CFEMedia.com

Fike Corp.......................................... 15 ....................10 ................ 866-758-6004 .............. www.fike.com ........................................

Rick Ellis, Audience Management Director


303-246-1250, REllis@CFEMedia.com
Michael Rotz, Print Production Manager
717-766-0211 x4207, Fax 717-506-7238
mike.rotz@frycomm.com
Maria Bartell, List Rental Account Director
Infogroup Targeting Solutions
847-378-2275, maria.bartell@infogroup.com
Claude Marada, List Rental Manager
402-836-6274, claude.marada@infogroup.com

Generac Industrial Power .............. 1 ......................2 .................. 800-436-3722 .............. www.generac.com/industrial................


Hochiki America Corp..................... 18 ....................12 ................ 714-522-2246 .............. www.hochiki.com ..................................
Intertek ............................................ 21 ....................13 ................ 800-WORLDLAB .......... www.intertek.com/CS3..........................
Keltech, Inc ...................................... 23 ....................14 ................ 800-999-4320 .............. www.keltech-inc.com ............................
Lutron Electronics Co...................... C-4...................22 ................ 888-588-7671 .............. www.lutron.com ....................................
MCG Surge Protection.................... 12 ....................7 .................. 800-851-1508 .............. www.mcgsurge.com ..............................

Letters to the Editor


Please e-mail your letters to
ARozgus@CFEMedia.com
Letters should include name, company, and address,
and may be edited for space and clarity.

Metraflex......................................... 40 ....................19 ................ 312-738-3800 .............. www.Metraflex.com ..............................

Information
For a Media Kit or Editorial Calendar,
e-mail Trudy Kelly at: TKelly@CFEMedia.com.

MOVINCOOL ................................... 6 ......................5 .................. 800-264-9573 .............. www.movincool.com .............................

REPRINTS

Parker............................................... 14 ....................9 .................. 480-830-7764 .............. www.parkertransair.com .......................

For custom reprints or electronic usage, contact:


Nick Iademarco, Wrights Media
877-652-5295 x102, niademarco@wrightsmedia.com

Reliable Controls............................. 16 ....................11 ................ 250-475-2036 .............. www.reliablecontrols.com/contact ......

Mitsubishi Electric
Cooling & Heating .......................... 13 ....................8 .................. 800-433-4822 .............. www.mitsubishipro.com/new-controllers .....

MTU Onsite Energy ........................ 11 ....................6 .................. 507-625-7973 .............. www.mtu-online.com ............................

Russelectric Inc ................................ 2 ......................3 .................. 800-225-5250 .............. www.russelectric.com ............................

PUBLICATION SALES
Midwest
Matt Waddell
MWaddell@CFEMedia.com
1111 West 22nd St. Suite 250
312-961-6840
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Fax 630-214-4504
AL
Patrick Lynch
PLynch@CFEMedia.com
1111 W. 22nd St., Suite 250 630-571-4070 x2210
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Fax 630-214-4504
West, TX, OK
Tom Corcoran,
TCorcoran@CFEMedia.com
1111 W. 22nd St., Suite 250
215-275-6420
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Fax 484-631-0598
Northeast
Richard A. Groth Jr. RGroth@CFEMedia.com
12 Pine Street
774-277-7266
Franklin, MA 02038
Fax 508-590-0432
International
Stuart Smith
SSM Global Media Ltd.

stuart.smith@ssm.co.uk
+44 208 464 5577
Fax +44 208 464 5588

Siemens Building Technologies ..... 5 ......................4 .................. 847-215-1050 .............. www.usa.siemens.com ..........................
Silent Knight by Honeywell .......... 39 ....................18 ................ 800-328-0103 .............. www.farenhyt.com ................................
SimplexGrinnell ............................. 27 ....................15 ................ 800-746-7539 .............. www.simplexgrinnell.com ....................
Uponor, Inc. ..................................... 29 ....................16 ................ 800-321-4739 .............. www.uponorengineering.com..............
Yaskawa America, Inc .................... C-3...................21 ................ 800-927-5292 .............. www.yaskawa.com ................................

Need More Info? FAX this page to: 630-214-4504


or mail to Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine, 1111 W. 22nd Street, Suite 250, Oak Brook, IL 60523

Name

Title

Company

Address

City

State

Phone

Fax

Zip

e-mail

Consulting-Specifying Engineer does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors
or omissions in the Advertiser contacts regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever.
www.csemag.com

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

63

2 More Minutes
Mentor tomorrows engineers
and possibly your future boss
Set aside time to listen to the wisdom of our young engineers.

common gripe that I hear from


opportunities to develop, we set up a
senior engineers is that todays
junior engineers meeting every month.
generation feels entitled, lacks
This forum is run by the junior engicritical thinking skills, and does not take
neers; senior engineers and managers
the time necessary to perform tasks. I
are not allowed. A new person organizes
hear that this is the result of the millennial
the meeting each month, sets the agenda,
generation constantly being distracted,
and presents a technical topic. While
whether by e-mail, texts, instant messagcertainly not perfect, this is one example
ing, or some other form of electronic comof the type of action that can be taken to
munication.
mitigate a known deficit.
The sad truth is that it is pretty comRecently, writer and producer Jon
mon for one generation to think that the
Lovett was the commencement speaker
generation following in their footsteps
at Pitzer College and spoke of the wisis somehow less skilled, less qualified,
dom (and sometimes lack of wisdom) of
and, in general, less capable. I disagree
youth. There are moments when youll
BY BRIAN P. MARTIN, PE
with this assessment and instead ask,
have a different point of view because
CH2M HILL,
What are you doing to mentor and
youre a fresh set of eyes; because you
PORTLAND,
ORE.
develop junior engineers? After all, at
dont care how its been done before;
some point, one of them will most likely
because youre sharp and creative;
be your boss.
because there is another way, a better way, Lovett said.
When many of us started our careers, e-mail and cell
But there will also be moments when you have a different
phone communication did not exist. You received phone
point of view because youre wrong, because youre 23,
calls at your desk, occasionally someone would drop by
and you should shut up and listen to somebody whos been
your desk for help, and if you needed mentoring from a
around the block.
senior engineer, you sat down at his or her desk and talked.
That quote is from 2013, but it just as easily could be
In todays office environment, all of us suffer from a near
from 1970. Technology is simply moving too fast for any
constant barrage of e-mail, pop-up chat messages, and
of us to stop learning or adapting, or to become set in our
phone calls. The same thing applies to engineers starting
ways. The engineers graduating today are the generation
their career, so of course they seem distracted and unable
that will lead the way to further adoption of advanced
to concentrate. Likewise, when they want to work with
modeling, building information modeling (BIM), and other
senior staff members, many of us are too preoccupied with technologies not yet known. Listening to the ideas seen
e-mail or other responsibilities to mentor.
from a fresh set of eyes, even if occasionally nave, may
How fair is it then to dismiss the millennial generation
well be the senior engineers best way to stay relevant
without taking a long, hard look in the mirror?
and up-to-date. Im sure we all have worked with a senior
In our office, some of the best and brightest engineers
engineer in the past who refused to learn to use a computare younger than 30. However, many of them have had
er. How many of them do you see today?
little opportunity to research or present technical topics
in front of a group. This is a clear weakness and impacts
Brian P. Martin is PDX electrical discipline manager at
their future ability to meet clients and give solid technical
CH2M Hill. He is a member of the Consulting-Specifying
presentations. Recognizing that we needed to give them
Engineer editorial advisory board.

64

Consulting-Specifying Engineer AUGUST 2013

www.csemag.com

JOHNNY
ON THE
SPOT
Of course, well match Yaskawa HVAC
drives against any others for quality,
reliability and ease of use. Better yet,
compare the technical support and
customer services youll get from our
engineers and world-class distributor
network. Theres really nobody better.
Our people. They set us apart from the
competition. They listen. They react. They
solve. All day. Every day. Yaskawas associates work to give
you the drives you need, the way you need them. 24/7.
So, next time youre put on the spot by a drive challenge, call us.
Well send Johnny.

Get personal with Yaskawa.


Call our Building Automation
team today. 1-847-887-7146

YA S K A W A A M E R I C A , I N C .
DRIVES & MOTION DIVISION
1 - 8 0 0 - YA S K A W A | YA S K A W A . C O M

2013 Yaskawa America Inc.

input #21 at www.csemag.com/information

For more info:


http://Ez.com/yai512

Quantum :

The best of both worlds


Different spaces in your building have different needs.
Quantum Total Light ManagementTM handles them all.

Beautiful, dynamic
lighting environments

Motorized shading
and continuous,
flicker-free dimming
down to 1%

NEW keypad styles


and slider controls

07/2013 Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

P/N 368-3203 REV D

Architectural

Energy-Saving

Occupancy sensing,
daylight harvesting,
and scheduling

Manage, monitor,
and report on all the
lighting energy usage
in a building

Reduce energy costs


with load shed and
demand response

Contact your local Lutron sales representative to find out how you can enjoy the best
of both worlds by including Quantum on your next project.
Call 1.800.523.9466 (24/7 support) or visit www.lutron.com/quantum for more information.

input #22 at www.csemag.com/information

Anda mungkin juga menyukai