earshavewalls
Bronze Member
Is it allowable under California Codes (Energy, Mechanical, Building) for a 5,000 square foot office occupancy (no special uses) to have two separately controlled, separate sources of outside air, separate registers and ducting systems that serve exactly the same spaces. One system is the existing 3-story building system, which consists of a constant velocity supply air system with VAV boxes for each zone and hydronic heating and cooling coils supplied by the building boiler and chiller system. The other system is a split system with fan coils and condensing units that takes outside air from a louver cut into the existing building exterior wall.
Two sets of thermostatic controls operate each separate zone. Zones are identical with each system for this space. There are double grills for supply (one from each system) in each room and in the open areas. They have added a note to one of the mechanical plan sheets stating, "Split systems to run during off hours and weekends, to be controlled by programmable thermostats".
This is basically a 5,000 sq. ft. sales office for a tract home builder that is located on the first floor of a multiple use, 3-story office building.
What are the issues with this type of configuration? This seems extremely wasteful as to energy and construction costs and is the first such design that I have seen submitted in 8 years of performing commercial plan checks.
The tenant apparently wishes to stay open longer than the building HVAC system currently remains in operation during each day, and also on weekends. Has anyone seen this type of double system being used in California?
This just seems like it may be a way for the design/build HVAC contractor to pad their pocketbooks, but I have made incorrect assumptions before.........any input???
Two sets of thermostatic controls operate each separate zone. Zones are identical with each system for this space. There are double grills for supply (one from each system) in each room and in the open areas. They have added a note to one of the mechanical plan sheets stating, "Split systems to run during off hours and weekends, to be controlled by programmable thermostats".
This is basically a 5,000 sq. ft. sales office for a tract home builder that is located on the first floor of a multiple use, 3-story office building.
What are the issues with this type of configuration? This seems extremely wasteful as to energy and construction costs and is the first such design that I have seen submitted in 8 years of performing commercial plan checks.
The tenant apparently wishes to stay open longer than the building HVAC system currently remains in operation during each day, and also on weekends. Has anyone seen this type of double system being used in California?
This just seems like it may be a way for the design/build HVAC contractor to pad their pocketbooks, but I have made incorrect assumptions before.........any input???