Articles
Using MAU Cooling Coils as Dry Coolers, Part I
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…
Read MoreThe Trouble with Troubleshooting During New Construction Commissioning
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…
Read MoreAddressing Cringeworthy Resistance to Problem Solving
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,…
Read MoreEnsuring Proper Airflow: Best practices for hospital air balancing planning & coordination
Molly Meyer and Miles Ryan, both Mechanical Engineers at QSEng, published this article in the March/April 2021 issue of Medical Construction Design magazine. The required sophistication of air systems in a healthcare setting and the process of working in existing hospitals present many obstacles to the testing, adjusting and balancing, or TAB, process. Healthcare is…
Read MoreCommissioning Best Practices: Electrical – Top 10 Deficiencies and Challenges
Here are the top 10 deficiencies or challenges encountered on a wide range of projects. 1. Equipment settings not available or not understood Settings for ATSs and other equipment generally are not provided by the design engineer or owner prior to functional performance testing. The commissioning professional needs to request the settings well in advance…
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