Commercial Air Balancing

PROFESSIONAL TESTING, ADJUSTMENT & COMMERCIAL AIR BALANCING

An unbalanced commercial HVAC system is one with either positive or negative air-pressure issues. These problems indicate faulty or inefficient HVAC.

SEVERAL SIGNS OF AN UNBALANCED SYSTEM

• doors opening or shutting by themselves

• difficulty in closing doors of normal weight

• fogged windows in the morning

• whistling air and other odd noises

• increasing humidity

• random drafts

• hot and cold spots

• rapid hot and cold cycling

• unit leakage

• rising energy bills

In addition to creating discomfort, these symptoms can become risks to property and personal safety. More building departments, compliance-code officials and utility programs are therefore mandating certified balanced-air reports for commercial operations.

COMMERCIAL AIR BALANCING WITH TAB

1 Source Mechanical specializes in air-pressure testing, adjustment and commercial air balancing. TAB ensures optimal air delivery and quality, as well as code compliance.

Testing

Testing involves assessing your operation’s HVAC equipment and performance. Using special instruments, we measure temperatures, pressures, velocities, rotational speeds, electrical characteristics, and air and water qualities.

Adjustment

Adjustment concerns achieving the greatest system operation through final setting of balancing devices such as dampers and valves; fine-tuning fan speeds and pump-impeller sizes; and optimizing automatic-control devices (e.g. thermostats, pressure controllers).

Balancing

Air balancing is the regulation of correct air or water flows through proper procedures for achieving them according to the mechanical engineer’s designs. We locate the terminal with the least flow (the “low” terminal) and then correlate all other diffusers/grilles (air) or circuit-balancing valves (water) to match the original low terminal.

COMMON SCENARIOS THAT BENEFIT GREATLY FROM TAB

• New construction

• Equipment replacement (roof sweep)

• Facility remodels

• Rebalances (for operational maintenance)

• Investigations of comfort or air-quality problems

• Customized TAB for specific issues or goals

A properly balanced HVAC system ultimately supports a safer, healthier, more comfortable and more efficient building for your business.