You are on page 1of 7

COMMERCIAL HVAC

SYSTEMS

System
Selection

Technical Development Program

Technical Development Programs (TDP) are modules of technical training on HVAC theory,
system design, equipment selection and application topics. They are targeted at engineers and
designers who wish to develop their knowledge in this field to effectively design, specify, sell or
apply HVAC equipment in commercial applications.
Although TDP topics have been developed as stand-alone modules, there are logical groupings of topics. The modules within each group begin at an introductory level and progress to
advanced levels. The breadth of this offering allows for customization into a complete HVAC
curriculum from a complete HVAC design course at an introductory-level or to an advancedlevel design course. Advanced-level modules assume prerequisite knowledge and do not review
basic concepts.

System selection can be a simpler, more understandable, process if the designer and owner follow a
step-by-step procedure. This TDP on System Selection presents one method that can be used by designers
on most commercial projects. We will begin by assembling and documenting all available project data at
the earlier phases of the design process. After determining the delivery method, budgets and schedules, and
running rough heating and cooling loads for our zoned project, an initial list of potential HVAC systems
will be assembled. This list will be reviewed against various design criteria that were determined for the
project. The final two or three HVAC systems will be evaluated against a prioritized list of design criteria
using a rating method called the Systems Scoresheet. The system with the highest numerical rating, once
approved, will then be designed and built. Throughout the selection and design processes, job requirements
and system parameters are documented on the Design Record form presented in the TDP.

2005 Carrier Corporation. All rights reserved.


The information in this manual is offered as a general guide for the use of industry and consulting engineers in designing systems.
Judgment is required for application of this information to specific installations and design applications. Carrier is not responsible
for any uses made of this information and assumes no responsibility for the performance or desirability of any resulting system
design.
The information in this publication is subject to change without notice. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Carrier Corporation.

Printed in Syracuse, NY
CARRIER CORPORATION

Carrier Parkway
Syracuse, NY 13221, U.S.A.

Table of Contents
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1
HVAC System Selection and Design .............................................................................................. 1
HVAC System Design Process.................................................................................................... 1
Programming ........................................................................................................................... 2
Schematics ............................................................................................................................... 2
Design Development (DD) ...................................................................................................... 2
Construction Documents (CD) ................................................................................................ 3
Bidding..................................................................................................................................... 3
Construction Administration.................................................................................................... 3
Commissioning ........................................................................................................................ 3
Closeout ................................................................................................................................... 3
HVAC System Selection Flow Chart .......................................................................................... 4
Step 1: Assemble Initial Project Data ..................................................................................... 5
Step 2: Rough First Pass Selections........................................................................................ 5
Step 3: Initial Criteria and Constraints.................................................................................... 5
Step 4: Refine Selection Criteria............................................................................................. 5
Step 5: Evaluate Using the Systems Scoresheet ..................................................................... 5
Step 6: Implementation and Follow-Through......................................................................... 6
Step 1: Assemble Initial Project Data ............................................................................................. 6
Project Type................................................................................................................................. 6
New Building or Addition ....................................................................................................... 6
Remodeling, Renovation or Retrofit........................................................................................ 7
Building Occupancy and Construction ........................................................................................ 8
Building Usage (Code Occupancy) ......................................................................................... 8
Building Fire-Resistance Rating (Code Construction Type) ................................................... 9
Project Particulars ...................................................................................................................... 10
Key Design Factors................................................................................................................ 11
Process Delivery Methods ..................................................................................................... 12
Step 2: Rough First Pass Selections............................................................................................... 15
Zoning and Rough Loads........................................................................................................... 15
Zoning for Equipment Selection............................................................................................ 16
Zoning for IAQ ...................................................................................................................... 16
Load Components for System Selection.................................................................................... 17
Space Loads ........................................................................................................................... 17
System Loads......................................................................................................................... 17
Total Load (Coil Load) .......................................................................................................... 18
Load-Related Building Data .................................................................................................. 19
HVAC Design Check Figures.................................................................................................... 20
Cooling Check Figures .......................................................................................................... 20
Heating Check Figures........................................................................................................... 21
Ventilation Check Figures ..................................................................................................... 21
Comfort Conditions ............................................................................................................... 21
Practical Design Targets and Formulas ..................................................................................... 22
Load Profiles.............................................................................................................................. 22
Review the HVAC Systems List................................................................................................ 22
List of Potential Systems ........................................................................................................... 23

Step 3: Initial Criteria and Constraints..........................................................................................24


Budget and Schedule..................................................................................................................24
Comparative System Costs (Using CSQR)............................................................................25
Design and Construction Timelines .......................................................................................25
HVAC and Other Energy Consumption (Using CSQR)............................................................26
Heating Energy Usage ...........................................................................................................26
Cooling Energy Usage ...........................................................................................................27
Codes, Standards, and Guidelines..............................................................................................28
Existing Conditions....................................................................................................................30
Short List of Potential HVAC Systems......................................................................................30
Step 4: Refine the Selection Criteria.............................................................................................30
Basic Criteria .............................................................................................................................30
Comfort ..................................................................................................................................31
Capacity .................................................................................................................................31
Space ......................................................................................................................................32
Costs.......................................................................................................................................32
Schedule.................................................................................................................................32
Functional Criteria .....................................................................................................................33
Zoning ....................................................................................................................................33
Part-Load................................................................................................................................33
Redundancy............................................................................................................................33
Operation and Maintenance (O&M) ......................................................................................34
Special Criteria...........................................................................................................................34
List of Systems to Evaluate........................................................................................................34
Step 5: Evaluate Using the Systems Scoresheet ...........................................................................35
Prioritize Selection Criteria........................................................................................................35
Assemble Project Selection Criteria ......................................................................................35
Matching System Features with Selection Criteria ................................................................35
Establish Feature Priorities ....................................................................................................36
Load Systems Scoresheet.......................................................................................................36
Studying Potential Systems (using CSQR) ................................................................................36
System Descriptions and Schematics.....................................................................................38
System Strengths and Weaknesses, Design Layouts, and Comments ...................................38
System Components Spreadsheets.........................................................................................38
System and Terminal Control Schematics with Operational Mode Sequences .....................38
Priority System Features and Systems Performance..................................................................38
Fast Track Occupancy (Priority 5).........................................................................................38
System Part Load Capability (Priority 4)...............................................................................39
Number of Control Zones (Priority 3) ...................................................................................39
Few Required Points of Service (Priority 2) ..........................................................................39
Installed Cost (Priority 1).......................................................................................................39
Comfort Factors (Priority 0)...............................................................................................39
Perform Rating Evaluation.........................................................................................................40
Selected HVAC System .............................................................................................................40
Step 6: Implementation and Follow-Through ...............................................................................41
Creating System Documentation (using the Design Record).....................................................41
Develop Design Through the Phases .........................................................................................41
Maintain System Integrity During Construction........................................................................42
Verify System Compliance During Commissioning..................................................................42
Summary ........................................................................................................................................42
Work Session .................................................................................................................................43
Work Session Answers ..................................................................................................................47

Appendix A
HVAC System Selection Process Flow Chart .......................................................................... 49
Appendix B
Building Occupancy Classifications ......................................................................................... 50
Appendix C
International Building Code Fire Resistance Rating Tables ..................................................... 51
Appendix D
HVAC System Selection and Design Documentation Form .................................................... 52
Appendix E
Load Components Terms List................................................................................................... 56
Appendix F
HVAC Design Check Figures................................................................................................... 57
Appendix G
Manufacturing Offices Block and Zone Loads......................................................................... 59
Appendix H
Table of Design Conditions ...................................................................................................... 69
Appendix I
HVAC Systems List.................................................................................................................. 70
Appendix J
HVAC System Elements........................................................................................................... 71
Appendix K
Relative Installed Cost Multipliers for HVAC Systems ........................................................... 72
Appendix L
Heating Fuel Equivalents.......................................................................................................... 73
Appendix M
Average Heating Energy Consumption .................................................................................... 73
Appendix N
Cooling and Other Electric Energy Consumers........................................................................ 74
Appendix O
ASHRAE Standards................................................................................................................. 76
Appendix P
CSQR System Descriptions ...................................................................................................... 78
Appendix Q
System Strengths and Weaknesses, Design Layouts, and Comments .................................... 100
Appendix R
System Component Spreadsheets ........................................................................................... 106
Appendix S
System and Terminal Control Schematics with Operational Mode Sequences ...................... 109
Appendix T
Systems Scoresheet................................................................................................................. 115
Appendix U
Manufacturing Offices Systems Scoresheet .......................................................................... 117
References.................................................................................................................................... 119

SYSTEM SELECTION

Introduction
The HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning) system maintains desired environmental conditions within building spaces. As with many design tasks, getting started correctly is
key to successful system selection. This Technical Development Program (TDP) addresses the
many, often conflicting, needs that must be weighed during the process of selecting between two
or more HVAC systems for a building construction project.
This TDP will explore:

The four main delivery methods for achieving HVAC system design and construction: plan and
specification-bid-build (plan and spec), design-build, construction management, and performance contracting
The sequential steps for design, approvals, and implementation
System Selection
of HVAC systems
Determining project criteria that will allow selection of potenHVAC system
tial HVAC systems for evaluation
selections are done by
comparing their
Evaluation of potential systems using a mathematical scoreperformance against
sheet
the project criteria.
Developing project documentation of the selection process,
system construction and commissioning before delivery to the
client.

HVAC System Selection and Design


No matter what size the project is or how the HVAC system design is implemented, there is a
series of design phases that should guide the HVAC designers efforts. After the design phases
are explained, we will develop a step-by-step process that will begin the HVAC system selection
efforts. This will guide the designer through the iterative process of selection, approval, design,
and implementation.

HVAC System Design Process


Many times an experienced designer will quickly determine the HVAC needs of a project and
will develop an outline of the HVAC system solution. Regardless of how compressed the
selection process has been, each task will have been considered and addressed in the final results.
We will not go over each task in detail, because task details are covered in related industry publications, such as the Air-Conditioning Systems Design Manual available from the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
Engineers (ASHRAE). Figure 1 shows a breakdown of the Design Process
process phases for system selection, design, and implementation. System selection occurs
Shown next to each phase is the essence of the key tasks and early in the first 2-3
percentage of total project design effort (either hours or dollars) phases of the design
required. The line slopes down over time to represent diminishing process, maximizing the
ability to affect the design (of any building system).
benefits.

Commercial HVAC Systems

SYSTEM SELECTION

Programming
When a building project begins, the design
team is established and
work begins to determine
the needs of the client
(e.g., owner, developer,
tenant, or occupant). This
process is usually led by
an architect and includes
engineering
members,
special systems consultants, and representatives
of the client and occupants. Overall budgets
and schedules are established to guide the design Figure 1
and construction process
HVAC System Design Process
that will last until the final
punch list items are resolved, the occupants have moved in, and the building systems are performing as required. Initial systems selection, proposal, and approval make up the bulk of the HVAC
designers efforts in this phase.

Schematics
When working on schematic drawings, initial layouts of HVAC equipment and distribution
systems are not final but are representative of the final product. Detailed confirmation of initial
system selections, budgets and schedules are where the greatest efforts are directed.

Design Development (DD)


Design development involves reviewing the equipment selections and fitting the selections
into the building. This detail work requires coordination between the design team disciplines (architectural, structural, HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical) and a thorough
knowledge of the buildings enclosed spaces (above suspended ceilings, inside chases, and within
walls) for locating equipment and distribution systems. Mechanical equipment rooms (MER),
chases, plenums, and approved equipment locations on the roof or site are usually not numerous
or spacious, so this is when we lobby for good maintenance and service spaces for the HVAC
equipment and distribution/utility mains. Here too, final approvals of the system selections are
obtained from the design team members, especially the client.

Commercial HVAC Systems

You might also like