1. Smart Buildings Smarter Balancing
Andy Stadheim, PE
AiRNAB

2. Smart Buildings Smarter Balancing
COMFORT vs EFFICIENCY
Paperless TAB
BIM + TAB

3. COMFORT vs. EFFICIENCY Comfort Efficiency Cheap Energy
Building Envelope was a lower priority
BAS systems were not as sophisticated
Efficiency
Energy is expensive
Building Envelope is a major concern
BAS systems and the equipment are sophisticated

4. Paperless TAB Continuous REVIEW Transparency
Review TAB technicians work daily or weekly
Perform re-testing immediately vs. Trips back
Avoid the BATCH review at the end that delays the report turnaround and even occupancy
Transparency
Invite building owners and Cx agents to a project
Deliver issues found digitally to the GC and team
TAB work performed is user / time stamped

5. Paperless TAB Save TIME More ACCURATE Less time shuffling paperwork
Less time running into the office
More time with “Hoods in the air”
Turn around reports “immediately” after done
More ACCURATE
All readings have user and time / date stamp
Readings can be made wirelessly to hoods
Easily track issues found and items to fix

6. Paperless TAB
Project Manager
Over 20,000 projects ~ 1k/mo.

7. Paperless TAB
Equipment Tree
Over 3 million equipment tested

8. Paperless TAB
Issues Log
Over 300,000 notes and issues logged

9. Building Information Modeling and
BIM + TAB
Building Information Modeling and
Test & Balance
Andy Stadheim, PE
AiRNAB

10. BAS = Building Automation System BIM = Building Information Modeling
BIM + TAB
Where
BAS = Building Automation System
BACnet = industry communication protocol
Lonworks = industry communication protocol
N2 bus = proprietary communication protocol
Etc.
AND
BIM = Building Information Modeling
gbXML = industry communication protocol
COBIE = industry communication protocol
CUSTOM = as with BAS, also with BIM

11. Building Information Modeling
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the process of generating and managing building data during its life cycle[1]. Typically it uses three-dimensional, real-time, dynamic building modeling software to increase productivity in building design and construction.[2] The process produces the Building Information Model (also abbreviated BIM), which encompasses building geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, and
quantities and properties of building components.

12. “quantities and properties of building components.”
BIM + TAB
“quantities and properties of building components.”
Equipment - AHUs, Fans, Pumps, VAV's, Registers
Equipment names and unique ID #’s – a digital version of an equipment schedule.
Properties Make, Model, Design CFM, RPM, Volts, Amps etc.
Also,
Areas – Room #’s, names etc.

13. What does the data look like?
BIM + TAB
What does the data look like?
<AirLoopEquipment id="East6-Equip-38" equipmentType="VAVBox">
  <Name>Hot water reheat boxes</Name>
  <Description>Used for reheat on VAV systems with hot water terminal coils</Description>
  <MinFlow unit="Fraction">0.3</MinFlow>
  <Flow unit="CFM" FlowType=“RatedFlow">250</Flow>
  <Flow unit="CFM" FlowType="MinFlow">80</Flow>
  <Temp unit="C" tempType="CoolDesign">12.8</Temp>
  <Temp unit="C" tempType="HeatDesign">48.9</Temp>
  <DeltaP unit="Pascals">-50</DeltaP>
  <DeltaT unit="C">30.6</DeltaT>
  <MinRelativeHumidity unit="Fraction">0.1</MinRelativeHumidity>
  <MaxRelativeHumidity unit="Fraction">0.9</MaxRelativeHumidity>
  <Power powerType="HotWater" useType="Heating" />
  <Cost>2000</Cost>
  <HydronicLoopId hydronicLoopIdRef="HydLoop-8" hydronicLoopType="HotWater" />
  </AirLoopEquipment>
  </AirLoop>

14. What does the data look like?
BIM + TAB
What does the data look like?
NAME
<AirLoopEquipment id="East6-Equip-38" equipmentType="VAVBox">
<Flow unit="CFM“ FlowType=“RatedFlow">250</Flow>
<Flow unit="CFM" FlowType="MinFlow">80</Flow>
</AirLoopEquipment>
</AirLoop>
DESIGN
MAX
DESIGN
MIN
End of
Unit

15. How does this digital data help TAB?
BIM + TAB
How does this digital data help TAB?
Take off/Bid – Perform Bids with less data entry
Automated Project setup Record site data, tied to original design.
Audit Trail – Each recording has time/date stamp
Final Report – Ability to print the final CFM on the original print via the BIM id connection, no representative drawing required – AUTOMATIC.

16. All this sounds to good to be true...
BIM + TAB
All this sounds to good to be true...
Main Challenges:
Data source– Completeness vs. Partially complete
Ie. Engineers have to be utilizing tools that can create a BIM compliant file and know how to use it.
Detail data–
Naming / numbering of registers, right parameters
File Size– BIM files can become very large
Tools– Cost and ease of use.

17. BIM + TAB Tools Protocol BEST Autodesk – REVIT – Design projects
Bentley – Microstation – Design projects
AiRNAB – Read and build TAB projects + publish back
Protocol
gbXML – Green Building XML
COBIE – Construction Operations Building Information Exchange
BEST
OPEN > PROPRIETARY
TWO-WAY > ONE-WAY

18. BIM + TAB Basic flow of BIM data Design Construction Ownership
Engineer GC
Mech
Elec
O&M
Service
Warranty
BIM
gbXML
COBIE
BIM
TAB

19. Digital documentation milestones
BIM + TAB
Digital documentation milestones
Projects– Over 30,000 projects digitally captured
Equipment– Over 5.0 million equipment objects tested.
Notes / Issues– Over 300,000 notes and issues logged digitally.

20. Smart Buildings Smarter Balancing
QUESTIONS?
Andy Stadheim, PE
AiRNAB