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Every successful project starts with a framework. A vision statement. A blueprint. The staff of Engineered Systems is proud to present The Blueprint — a monthly Q&A interview with HVACR engineering’s leading voices. These one-on-one discussions examine the trade’s history, current industry trends, the factors shaping the sector’s future, and more.
In the most recent installment, Michael Driedger, CEO, Airsset, discusses how COVID-19 has spawned the digital era of IAQ, the data that matters most, and much more.
Engineered Systems: What data are facility managers truly seeking in this digital era? What matters most?
Driedger: The universal five are dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, CO2, VOCs, and PM2.5. That’s what RESET puts as its minimum for an IAQ sensor. However, we see lots of sensors now including formaldehyde and PM10 on them. In residential instances, you might also want radon sensors built into a device. At Airsset, we see warehouses very interested in NO2 sensors near the loading docks and welding facilities interested in finer particulates, like PM1.
So, the answer to this really depends on the facility being managed as to what matters most. It’s the reason we needed to be hardware agnostic, because each hardware provider is trying to meet a different market need. As the software platform on top, we can meet the needs of almost any facility manager but also the teams that support them in keeping things running at optimal levels.
Engineered Systems: One tool rising to the forefront in this digital era of IAQ is demand control ventilation (DCV). For the small population out there that isn’t aware of DCV, can you give us a brief synopsis?
Driedger: DCV has been around since the mid-1970s. The simple concept is that it uses a CO2 sensor to determine how many people are in a space (since people breathe out CO2 at a very predictable rate). The HVAC system can then respond by heating up or cooling down outside air to make sure that the people in the space aren’t feeling stuffy air without constantly heating or cooling outside air.
Before that, the easiest way to have decent CO2 levels was to just do a constant volume system of outdoor air, which is super expensive since you are constantly heating or cooling outside air. It was actually conceived as a way to save energy whilst still keeping indoor levels from getting stuffy.
Read the entire interview on Engineered Systems’ website.
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Percussive Maintenance is defined as the use of physical concussion, such as a knock or a tap, in an attempt to make a malfunctioning device (or person) work. In Engineered Systems’ Percussive Maintenance podcast, we’re poised to do much more than rattle the engineering industry’s exterior; we’re digging deeper into the subjects and topics that matter most with some of the industry’s most influential names.
In the latest episode, Barbara McCrary, president, HHB Engineers P.C, shares her career story in this 20 to Watch: Women in HVAC contest winner interview.
Click here to listen to the latest episode of the Percussive Maintenance podcast.
CampusEnergy 2022: American Universities Tackle Climate Change
Energy leaders from universities across the U.S. define their schools’ efforts to mitigate climate change during the International District Energy Association’s (IDEA’s) CampusEnergy 2022, Feb. 15-18 in Boston.
See the video on Engineered Systems’ website.
Commercial Comfort Products of the Year
Engineered Systems' Commercial Comfort Products of the Year Awards contest (CCP) was established to honor excellence in HVACR product design. The prestigious awards program showcases the most innovative products across eight categories: Commercial Controls/BAS/BIM, Cooling Towers/Chillers, Heating/Boilers, IAQ & Ventilation, Motors/Drives, Pumps/Flow Controls, Rooftop Units, and VRV/VRF.
Consumer features on many products are easily recognized and glamorized, but what about the time, effort, and expense that goes into creating a product that is actually preferred by those in the field? Engineered Systems’ staff is proud to disseminate these awards on inventive products that are designed with HVAC engineers in mind. The deadline for entries is May 11.
