Testing, Adjusting and Balancing of Building Systems

Solutions for Sustainable Buildings Helping Optimize Building Systems

Building owners and tenants are concerned that the environmental performance of buildings must be optimal while the operating cost should be min-imal. These goals can only be accomplished when a building’s HVAC and hydronic systems are prop-erly balanced.

ENERGY SAVINGS

To achieve optimal efficiency in mechanical sys-tems, the fundamental components must be prop-erly employed using scientific techniques of which balancing is a leading factor. HVAC and hydronic balancing insures proper operation of building sys-tems, reduces energy costs and creates an effi-cient workplace/atmosphere.

Symptoms that a building needs to be balanced:

• Complaints from tenants, employers or customers about comfort

• High energy costs

• Hot and cold areas

• Ventilation/exhaust problems

Building owners and tenants should know what system balancing is and when your building system was last balanced. An adequate building mainte-nance program should address the following: • Equipment serviced regularly

• Building is up to codes

• Written reports of maintenance performed

• Deficiencies documented and corrected in a timely manner to avoid costly breakdowns

NEBB TAB FIRM

NEBB’s TAB certification offers tangible proof of com-petent firms and professionals qualified in the proper methods and procedures for testing building systems for optimum performance. NEBB’s TAB certification program establishes industry standards, procedures and specifications for environmental systems TAB. It sets minimum educational standards and other requirements for the qualification of Certified Profes-sionals who perform this work and establishes educa-tional programs for training professionals in the proper methods and procedures for environmental systems TAB. And it serves as a clearinghouse for educational and technical materials pertinent to TAB work.

NEBB’S TAB CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS

• Develop and plan the work

• Handle report preparation

NEBB’s Testing, Adjusting and Balancing of Building Systems

• Recommend corrective action

• Set overall safety plan

• Maintain instruments and calibration program

• Have experience with control strategies, sequence of operation, control systems, equipment and software

• Review, check, sign and stamp final tab report

NEBB PROCEDURAL STANDARDS

NEBB Procedural Standards con-tain comprehensive guidance for the systematic development and imple-mentation of plans related to NEBB disciplines. When applied by a NEBB Certified Firm, the NEBB Procedural Standards provide consistently high levels of results based on state-of-the art requirements.

Optimal operation of HVAC and hydronic systems require TAB Three major steps used to achieve the proper operation of the HVAC and hydronics systems and a desirable cli-mate are testing, adjusting and balancing.

TESTINGTesting is the use of specialized instruments to measure temperature, pressure, rotational speed, electrical char-acteristics velocity, and air and water quantities for an evaluation of the equipment and system performance.

ADJUSTINGAdjusting is the final setting of the balancing device such as dampers, valves, and automatic control devic-es like thermostats, pressure controllers, and computer controls.

BALANCING Balancing is the methodical regulation of system flows, whether they be air or water, through the use of acceptable procedures to achieve the specified flow quantities, in cu-bic feet per minute (CFM) or gallons per minute (GPM). HVACHVAC is the related processes designed to regulate the ambient conditions within buildings for comfort or for in-dustrial purposed. It involves, heating an area, ventilating it to replenish oxygen to dilute CO2 levels, reduce un-pleasant odors and to augment the natural flow of air. Air conditioning controls indoor environment year round .

HYDRONIC SYSTEMSIn most hydronic systems, water, glycol or steam are used to heat or cool a specific area. A property balancing hydronic system results in an energy efficient building.

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NEBB CERTIFICATION

NEBB certifies firms and individuals that work for NEBB certified firms. For NEBB certification, a firm must designate a professional within their firm to supervise all NEBB related work. Once the desig-nated individual successfully passes the required testing, he/she is the firm’s NEBB Certified Profes-sional. Firms may have multiple Certified Profes-sionals and Certified Technicians.

NEBB RECERTIFICATION

Having met NEBB’s rigid requirements for certi-fication, the firm’s certification is reviewed and renewed every two years. Through the recertifi-cation process, the firm verifies that its NEBB Cer-tified Professional is still a full-time management employee and that it continues to own a complete set of instruments which are in current calibration. In addition, a firm’s NEBB Certified Profession-al renews his qualification by keeping abreast of developments in his discipline by attending and completing continuing education seminars.

NEBB’S QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

The NEBB Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is a commitment to project owners that the work will be done right. NEBB’s QAP applies to all projects that have been specified for completion in accor-dance with NEBB’s applicable Procedural Stan-dards by a NEBB Certified Firm. NEBB issues a Conformance Certificate when called for in speci-

fications and applied for by a NEBB Certified Firm. A certificate is not a requirement to seek assis-tance under NEBB’s QAP.

ABOUT NEBB

Established in 1971, the National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB) is an international cer-tification association for firms that optimize high performance building systems.

NEBB programs exist to assist architects, engi-neers, buildings owners, tenants, and contrac-tors in producing exceptional buildings with sys-tems that perform as they were visualized. NEBB Firms perform testing, adjusting and balancing of HVAC and hydronics systems, commissioning and retro-commissioning of building systems, execute sound and vibration measurement testing, building enclosure testing, test and certify laboratory fume hoods, and electronic and biological cleanrooms. In addition to certifying firms and individuals, NEBB is the leading source of industry information provid-ing Technical and Procedural Standards, publica-tions, study courses, and newsletters.