September 5, 2008 - Maintain to sustain is the name of the game when it comes to saving energy and money in today’s building stock.
A new standard from ASHRAE and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will help ensure a consistent minimal level of HVAC&R maintenance and inspection to preserve a system’s ability to achieve acceptable thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality in commercial buildings.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180-2008, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems, is the first standard to address inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems. Robert Baker, chair of the committee that wrote the standard, noted that inconsistencies exist within the building industry when it comes to inspection and maintenance of HVAC systems, with some facilities following rigorous policies while others have adopted a run-to-failure approach.
“Consistent maintenance ensures that energy efficiency remains at design levels,” Baker said. “Where maintenance is neglected, energy costs rise significantly and equipment life drops dramatically. With HVAC&R systems responsible for about 60 percent of site electrical energy use, it’s imperative that we provide consistent maintenance and inspection to improve energy efficiency along with thermal comfort and indoor air quality. When systems are not maintained, indoor air quality, occupant comfort and energy efficiency all suffer.”
In addition, much of the information that will be required to prepare the maintenance program can be obtained from building commissioning documents, which provides a basis for identifying failures.
The cost of ANSI/ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 180-2008, Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems, is $31 ($25, ASHRAE members).
ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
