What is Test and Balance?

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What is making your building "sick"?

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Source: EPA "VOC Impact on IAQ" 11.6.17

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Air & Hydronic Balancing

To ensure your HVAC System meets design, performance and efficiency standards it is important to have it measured and adjusted by a certified technician using calibrated instruments. The testing, adjusting, and balancing procedure results will be prolonged equipment life, reduced maintenance costs, a more comfortable indoor climate, improved air quality, and increased energy efficiency resulting in lower monthly utility expenses.

Checking airway pressure

Control System Verification

A balanced system will only perform as intended with a proper control sequence of operation. Correct operation of the Building Automation Control System, as well as other associated devices for communication, are verified, tested, and calibrated to ensure the HVAC system is functioning as intended. 

Pre-Construction Document Review

Our Pre-Construction Document Review identifies any potential problems and coordination issues that will likely affect the overall balancing and performance of your systems. This allows for an overall increase in efficiency during the actual testing and balancing phase. 

Planning the test and Balance

Duct Pressure Testing (Duct Leakage Testing)

Duct Leakage Testing, also known as Duct Pressure Testing, is a procedure that allows us to identify any deficiencies in your facility’s ductwork that could be compromising energy efficiency and leading to decreased comfort levels. 

Chiller & Cooling Tower Performance Testing

Your overall HVAC system can have poor performance and increased energy consumption if there is a malfunction with your Chiller and Cooling Tower System. To prevent this, testing and adjustments are performed to ensure optimum system performance, efficiency, and safety. 

checking pipe pressure

Stairwell Pressurization

The purpose of stairwell pressurization is to ensure that, in the event of a fire, exit routes remain smoke-free. Stairwell pressurization ensures that people in a building can safely exit in the case of an emergency. When conducting this test, the most important factors that we test are door pull forces, correct pressures, and air change rates. 

System Troubleshooting

We offer complete investigative services on all Air, Exhaust, BMS Control, Heating Hydronics, and Cooling Systems. 

Fume Hood Testing

Our complete fume hood testing and certification services are utilized to ensure safe conditions in laboratory facilities as well as provide effective and economic performance. One thing commonly overlooked is the importance of getting recurring fume hood testing to ensuring proper performance and ultimately save money. 

Underfloor Plenum Testing

Raised access floor pressurized plenum systems are common in computer labs, data centers, or other similar rooms in an effort to manage all of the cables and get air distribution. Proper plenum pressurization is compromised when a system leaks air. This leads to wasted energy, poor performance, and decreased comfort levels. 

checking foot ventilation

Smoke Management Systems Testing

In an advanced effort to protect individuals, as well as valuable equipment and machinery, it is important to implement and test a smoke management system. The primary functions of these systems are to redirect, dilute, or control the movement of smoke to provide a safe, clear route. 

Existing System Surveys

Before making improvements to any existing HVAC systems, you have to establish performance data for each component. A complete existing system survey is the perfect way to determine system capacities, identify operating problems, and verify balance ability to ultimately offer our professional recommendation for corrective action. 

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Rebalancing

Once a system is balanced, it will typically need to be re-checked every 2-3 years. The exception to this is if the use of the space changes. For example, an employee break room being converted into a conference room, an office with 3 occupants now holds 6, etc. Space use adjustments alter the amount of air and air flow needed. 

Indoor Environmental Testing

Indoor Air Quality is very important. Poor air has been linked to frequent illness in employees. Excess carbon dioxide in a building can cause a number of problems. To combat this, outside air is introduced to the supply airstream. We offer outside air auditing to help bring ventilation rates up, and help keep air quality rates high. 

checking air ventilation

Health and Comfort Investigations

Many times building occupants complain of hot and cold areas, or experience health symptoms related to building ventilation. Common symptoms are those that affect eyes, nose and throat, headaches, skin disorders, Asthma-like symptoms, and nausea from unpleasant odors. COVID-19 and other viruses such as flu and colds can be present creating even more of a concern. 

Kitchen Hood Certification

All Commercial food service providers must have new kitchen hoods certified before use. We offer Kitchen hood testing to ensure the equipment is operating at its design intent. A kitchen hood that is not exhausting enough air will allow smoke from cooking equipment to migrate to other areas of the establishment. A kitchen hood that is exhausting too much can cause the building to be in a negative pressure scenario. This could lead to infiltration of outside air, and could potentially cause moisture and comfort issues, as well as waste energy.

Third Coast Planning

Contact us today to help you improve the air quality of your building.

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