Full Description

Systems, testing, adjusting and balancing is the process of checking and adjusting all the building environmental systems to produce the design objectives, (ASHRAE Handbook, 1973 Systems Volume, Chapter 40). This statement is concise and meaningful but seldom is put into practice for a variety of reasons. Designers devote much time and thought in conceiving systems to make buildings energy efficient, but they rarely allow sufficient time to test, commission and balance them. In order to fulfill the intent and obligation, it is imperative that a group or individual, knowledgeable in application and with some construction experience, be part of the design and contracting team. For clarity, this paper will refer to the balancing group or individual as TAB.

Whether TAB is an extension of the design office, a branch of the contracting group or a totally independent agency is not important; the end result is the requirement.

If a totally independent TAB agency is to be responsible for system commissioning and balancing, they should be appointed at the beginning of the project to allow sufficient time for becoming familiar with the design intent and for observing changes during construction. It has been rumored that some Contractors wait until the final inspection before calling in TAB.

Citation: Symposium, ASHRAE Transactions, Volume 87, Part 1, Chicago, Illinois