Project Delivery Method: Performance contracting (PC) project delivery

Owner Team: Conference center management (CCM) administration, facility manager, human health and environment (HH&E) manager, owner representative (consultant), and third-party commissioning consultant (CxC)

Project Delivery Team: The PC firm’s project manager, an operation and maintenance (O&M) manager (subcontracted), and a building automation system (BAS) technician (subcontracted)

HVAC Project Team: An air filter manufacturer representative (filter rep.) and third-party testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) technician

Application: A 100,000-square-foot conference center in the Southwest

Project Type: A focus on the HVAC infrastructure enhancement following an IAQ facility audit

References:

• 2020 ASHRAE Handbook – HVAC Systems and Equipment:
  • Chapter 29, Air Cleaners for Particulate Contaminants
    
• 2021 ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals:
  • Chapter 9, Thermal Comfort
  • Chapter 11, Air Contaminates
  • Chapter 12, Odors
  • Chapter 16, Ventilation and Infiltration
    
• 2023 ASHRAE Handbook HVAC Applications:
  • Chapter 3, Commercial and Public Buildings

Other References:

• The codes and standards found at the back of each ASHRAE Handbook
• ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
• ASHRAE Standard 52.2-2012, Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size (regarding MERV ratings)
• ASHRAE Indoor-Air Quality Guide: Best Practice for Design, Construction, & Commissioning and ASHRAE Standard 55-2017 (Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy)

DESIGN INTENT DOCUMENT (DID)

• The CCM administration and its owner’s team members signed a contract with a PC firm to improve the building's environment by replacing existing air filters with ASHRAE-suggested MERV-13 filters for all central air systems
• An IAQ audit of the existing central air systems will access multiple space temperature, humidity, particle count samples, and other data.
• The five-year PC contract requires the firm to furnish, install, monitor, measure, and report on the MERV-13 filter performance to the CCM administration’s HH&E manager’s employee attendance records
• Central air systems will be rebalanced and recommissioned to monitor, measure, and report on the space's indoor environment (temperature, humidity, and particle count)
• The PC firm shall contract the air filter project to include BAS computers with central air system electronic magnehelic devices and space IAQ sensors every 20,000 square feet
• The program’s goal is to enhance the quality of the space for its occupants and to assist occupant attendance
• Through the PC firm, working closely with the owner’s team and the subcontractor HVAC team, the PC team will update the O&M policy and procedure (P&P) manual with lessons learned from existing operating conditions and measurement trending records
• The PC team will follow the references as well as existing condition data collection
• Existing conditions: central air system(s) supply air and/or return air cfm, general exhaust, toilet exhaust, heating systems, and air conditioning systems. Air filters include pre-filters and final filters

DESIGN CRITERIA DOCUMENT

• The HVAC design criteria shall be in sync with the project delivery method requirements
• The design criteria shall be based on building operation and proactive filter maintenance management
• A comprehensive IAQ monitoring system with remote measuring, data analysis, and reporting processes shall be furnished and installed
• Contract a five-year filter replacement contract with the filter manufacturers rep.
• The PC team will refer to ASHRAE documents noted in the “References,” including ASHRAE Indoor-Air Quality Guide: Best Practice for Design, Construction, and Commissioning
• The addition of space temperature and air particle counts will provide data collection to the BAS computer
• The PC firm shall complete an IAQ audit prior to the proposal of the five-year IAQ performance contract
• The current P&P manuals will be implemented using the aforementioned criteria
• The central air systems will be rebalanced and recommissioned after all air filters are replaced with MERV-13 units
• The PC team shall furnish, install, monitor, measure, and report monthly on the performance of the entire IAQ system
• The outsourced O&M manager shall provide IAQ and proactive maintenance training to continuously improve and achieve the project’s goals
• The PC firm’s team shall produce complete record documents, warranties, training, and a five-year reporting contract