Articles

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read December’s column below: For years, the conventional VAV control sequence included the reheat valve controlling directly to space temperature. More and more often, discharge air temperature (DAT) sensors are now being installed, and the reheat valve is specified to control…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read November’s column below: Our firm recently hired a new employee. He was new to the field of commissioning. In prep for an upcoming, company-wide meeting, we were asked to each bring one piece of advice for him. I apparently thought…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read October’s column below: BAS monitoring of the differential pressure across a filter within an air system is commonplace. The differential pressure across the filter will increase as the filter gets loaded. If it gets too high, an alarm can be…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read September’s column below: The typical evolution of an HVAC system’s sequence of operation (SOO) entails the design engineer writing the narrative for inclusion in the design documents. The controls contractor will then include a SOO in their submitted shop drawings.…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read August’s column below: This is the third and final installment in the series on using makeup air unit (MAU) cooling coils as dry coolers. Part I introduced the concept and provided a case study with an air-cooled chiller and a…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read July’s column below: The previous article introduced the concept of using a chilled water cooling coil, located upstream of a heating coil within a makeup air unit (MAU), as a dry cooler. This allows for more efficient and stable operation…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read June’s column below: Cooling Coil Placement Presents Opportunity Over the past several years, I have worked in several high-rise condominiums that utilize a makeup air unit (MAU) which conditions 100% outdoor air to a neutral dry bulb temperature (~70F) and…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read May’s column below: Troubleshooting complex issues in the field is one of my favorite parts of the job. I enjoy the “ah-ha moment” when it all comes together, and the solution becomes obvious. I suspect many other commissioning providers feel…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read April’s column below: The commissioning process often includes the commissioning provider giving recommendations to various team members to address current or foreseen issues with system operation. Such recommendations are not always taken blindly, which is not a bad thing. Ideally,…

Miles Ryan, P.E., writes a monthly column in Engineered Systems Magazine on Building Commissioning. Read March’s column below: Having the ability to modulate various components of our HVAC systems (pumps, fans, valves, dampers, boilers, chillers, etc.) is a good thing. Advancements in various technologies over the years have allowed for increased levels of modulation in…