AABC Member Gives Benefits of TAB in building HVAC for semiconductor fabrication

In a recent article featured in Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Thomas D. Prevish, PH.D., P.E., C.E.M. from NWESI, gave insight on why Testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) building HVAC systems is important for manufacturing facilities and can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line.

Semiconductor production is a hot business these days. Consumers have been experiencing this firsthand with tremendous lead times for durable goods, such as household appliances and automobiles. Repairs, including safety recalls, have been delayed for weeks or simply have not been worth waiting for, leading to premature retirement of equipment. Used automobiles are often worth more than their owner paid for them because the shortage of new vehicles has been so acute during the last few years. Large construction projects have been delayed and costs escalated as much of the equipment used in modern buildings is dependent on semiconductor availability.

In the United States, semiconductor manufacturing factories are being built as fast as companies can bring them online. One reason is supply and demand. The CHIPS and Science Act of 202 is another, promising $39 billion in manufacturing incentives.

Testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) for HVAC is critically important to energy engineers, as buildings use 40% of the energy in the United States. It’s vital for facilities engineers, who need to make sure building occupants are comfortable and have sufficient fresh air to meet ASHRAE guidelines. Hospitals have long been held to strict ventilation requirements for infection control and operating rooms. Most recently, COVID-19 brought the importance of ventilation into discussions around the coffee machine in offices and schools, leading to a heightened emphasis on the need for certified TAB contractors. This is even more so when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing.