2022 Winter TAB Journal Quiz

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Company Name(Required)

Are you an AABC, ACG, or EMA member? (check all that apply)(Required)

AABC

ACG

EMA

None of the above

Knowing and Understanding the Controls

Derrick Tomasa, TBE, CxA, Pacific Test and Balance, Inc.

1. What was causing the difficulty in balancing the system?(Required)

The ducts were not properly sealed, requiring extra work before TAB.

There was no controls contractor on-site to control the AHUs.

The weather was too extreme to make readings usable.

The TAB agency was told to balance the wrong system.

Knowing and Understanding the Controls

Derrick Tomasa, TBE, CxA, Pacific Test and Balance, Inc.

2. What allowed the TAB agency to complete the balancing?(Required)

A control model on hand from a different project was compatible with this project’s system.

A new controls contractor was brought on board.

The correct system was identified for TAB.

The ducts were properly sealed to allow TAB.

Fan Vibration or Air Turbulence?

Gregory Sendlak, TBE, CxA, General Air Control, Inc.

3. What symptoms was the HVAC system experiencing?(Required)

Building overpressurization

Strong vibrations and a rumble

A loud whistling sound

No airflow

Fan Vibration or Air Turbulence?

Gregory Sendlak, TBE, CxA, General Air Control, Inc.

4. Based on the symptoms, what did the TAB agency believe was the cause of the issue?(Required)

Duct leakage

Malfunctioning controls

Air turbulence

Fan vibration

Fan Vibration or Air Turbulence?

Gregory Sendlak, TBE, CxA, General Air Control, Inc.

5. What technique was used to find the solution to apply to the issue?(Required)

Contact manufacturer to get the original plans.

Use a newer fan to act as a baseline to compare functionality.

Disassemble the fan wall to find the issue.

Enter the fan inlet chamber and observe the flow.

Fan Vibration or Air Turbulence?

Gregory Sendlak, TBE, CxA, General Air Control, Inc.

6. What resolved the issue?(Required)

Installed piece of thick gauge metal across the mid-section of the upper fan inlet.

Installed piece of thick gauge metal across the bottom of the upper fan inlet.

Sealing the fan inlet chamber.

Replacing the fan bearings.

Cooling Tower Sub-Atmospheric Problem Resolved

Paul Thomas, TBE, Butler Balancing Co., Inc.

7. What issue was the TAB team called on to resolve?(Required)

Overflowing cooling tower

Insufficient water flow

Water leak issues

Noise issues

Cooling Tower Sub-Atmospheric Problem Resolved

Paul Thomas, TBE, Butler Balancing Co., Inc.

8. What did the TAB agency discover at the cooling tower that was causing issues?(Required)

A crack in the piping

The three-way bypass valve calling for the cooling tower while air was in the loop.

The uneven roof misaligned the pipes.

The lining of the piping was deteriorating and mixing with the water.

Cooling Tower Sub-Atmospheric Problem Resolved

Paul Thomas, TBE, Butler Balancing Co., Inc.

9. How was the issue resolved?(Required)

Piping was replaced

Fan rotation was reversed

The cooling tower was elevated

Hand valves were installed for to adjust during bypass modulation

Troubleshooting Controls: Excessive Building Pressurization After Power Loss

Joshua Barnhart, CxA, EMP, Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.

10. What damage was caused by the excessive building pressure?(Required)

The roof membrane around the AHU separated from the curb.

Exterior windows cracked at the top floor.

The AHUs had catastrophic failure.

Ground molding separated from the wall.

Troubleshooting Controls: Excessive Building Pressurization After Power Loss

Joshua Barnhart, CxA, EMP, Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.

11. What precautions were taken when recreating the overpressurization event to ensure there was no further damage to the building?(Required)

All exterior windows were opened

The AHUs were disconnected from the building

The building rollup door and stairwell doors were opened

The test was performed at a similar building that met all diagnostic factors.

Troubleshooting Controls: Excessive Building Pressurization After Power Loss

Joshua Barnhart, CxA, EMP, Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc.

12. What changes were made to help the building return to a safe pressurization?(Required)

The static pressure of the AHUs was decreased to minimum.

All the exterior windows were left open.

The system was left off

The rollup door and stairwell doors were left open.

Air Density Differences in Extremely Cold Weather Results in Varying Building Pressure

Tony Mohammed, TBS, Air Movement Services, Ltd.

13. What was one of the issues that the TAB agents were contacted to address?(Required)

Overflowing cooling tower

Heating issues

Cooling issues

Noisy airflows

Air Density Differences in Extremely Cold Weather Results in Varying Building Pressure

Tony Mohammed, TBS, Air Movement Services, Ltd.

14. How did the cold air impact the resolution of this project?(Required)

It caused condensation that led to a malfunction in the BAS.

It required more from the heating.

It increased the air density of the return air.

Snow was closing the air intake.

Air Density Differences in Extremely Cold Weather Results in Varying Building Pressure

Tony Mohammed, TBS, Air Movement Services, Ltd.

15. What solution was implemented on the project?(Required)

Completely closed the outside air damper and opened the return air damper all the way.

Limit the outside air damper to 60 percent and manipulate the return air damper position as staged to the outside air damper.

Close the outside air and return air dampers completely.

Reduced fan speed.

2022 Winter TAB Journal Quiz

2022 Winter TAB Journal Quiz

Suggested Drawing Specification

AIA-Format LONG-FORM SPECIFICATION

Section 230593 – TESTING, ADJUSTING AND BALANCING FOR HVAC

AIA-Format SHORT – FORM SPECIFICATION

Section 230593 – TESTING, ADJUSTING AND BALANCING FOR HVAC

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