Project Profile: Michigan Central Station

FST provided commissioning services from the design phase to the post-acceptance phase.

By FST Technical Services November 5, 2024

Courtesy: FST

Engineering firm: FST Technical Services
2024 Commissioning Giants rank: 11
Project: Michigan Central Station
Location: Detroit, MI, United States
Building type: Utilities/public works/transportation
Project type: Existing building retrofit
Engineering services: Commissioning, retro-commissioning
Project timeline: November 2018 to June 2023
Commissioning budget: $235,870

Challenges

FST provided commissioning services from the design phase to the post-acceptance phase, during the commissioning process FST found several deficiencies. Here are some of the examples:

Example #1: The HHW System sequence of operations called for a shutdown when the outside air temperature was above 68 deg F. The boiler system also fed heat exchangers which served domestic hot water throughout the building.
Example #2: Minimum outside airflow setpoints had not been set on air handling unit (AHU)/dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). The units were not providing appropriate ventilation to ensure the health of the building occupants.
Example 3: AHUs did not maintain the airflow offset between exhaust airflow and outside airflow per the sequence of operations. This led to a negative building pressure which directly impacts the building envelope assembly and ventilation systems.
Example #4: Critical alarms were not generating notifications on the building management system (BMS) while packaged equipment provided unnecessary alarms. Building operators did not have a clear and concise system for tracking.
Example #5: Many high static and low static safety switches had not been calibrated on AHUs based on the ductwork class rating.
Example #6: AHUs were discovered to be missing factory-installed exhaust dampers in order for the unit to be isolated from the exhaust ductwork.
Example #7: Four AHUs were designed to control to a duct static pressure setpoint but did not have variable air volume equipment downstream in the ductwork that would require a duct static pressure setpoint. AHUs were also designed to provide 55-degree supply air in heating mode even though there was no equipment downstream that would reheat the air.

Solutions

FST was able to help correct the deficiencies found throughout the building, here are the solutions for each deficiency listed above:

Solution #1: FST worked with the design engineer and contractors to revise the sequence of operations and ensure boilers and pumps would be enabled at all times to provide domestic hot water throughout the building.
Solution #2: FST worked with the design engineer and contractors to correct to minimum ventilation required by the mechanical schedule.
Solution #3: FST worked with the team to correct the sequence of operations and ensure the building maintained a positive pressure.
Solution #4: FST coordinated with both BMS contractors (system integrator and master systems integrator) to resolve notifications on the BMS.
Solution #5: FST worked with the controls contractor to assist in calibrating duct static safety switches.
Solution #6: FST escalated this observation and exhaust dampers were later field installed.
Solution #7: FST worked with the engineer of record and controls contractor to revise the sequence to ensure correct airflow and temperature based on space requirements.

Learn more about the project here.

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Project Profile: Michigan Central Station

FST provided commissioning services from the design phase to the post-acceptance phase.

Challenges

Example #1: The HHW System sequence of operations called for a shutdown when the outside air temperature was above 68 deg F. The boiler system also fed heat exchangers which served domestic hot water throughout the building.

Example #2: Minimum outside airflow setpoints had not been set on air handling unit (AHU)/dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS). The units were not providing appropriate ventilation to ensure the health of the building occupants.

Example 3: AHUs did not maintain the airflow offset between exhaust airflow and outside airflow per the sequence of operations. This led to a negative building pressure which directly impacts the building envelope assembly and ventilation systems.

Example #4: Critical alarms were not generating notifications on the building management system (BMS) while packaged equipment provided unnecessary alarms. Building operators did not have a clear and concise system for tracking.

Example #5: Many high static and low static safety switches had not been calibrated on AHUs based on the ductwork class rating.

Example #6: AHUs were discovered to be missing factory-installed exhaust dampers in order for the unit to be isolated from the exhaust ductwork.

Solutions

Solution #1: FST worked with the design engineer and contractors to revise the sequence of operations and ensure boilers and pumps would be enabled at all times to provide domestic hot water throughout the building.

Solution #2: FST worked with the design engineer and contractors to correct to minimum ventilation required by the mechanical schedule.

Solution #3: FST worked with the team to correct the sequence of operations and ensure the building maintained a positive pressure.

Solution #4: FST coordinated with both BMS contractors (system integrator and master systems integrator) to resolve notifications on the BMS.

Solution #5: FST worked with the controls contractor to assist in calibrating duct static safety switches.

Solution #6: FST escalated this observation and exhaust dampers were later field installed.

Solution #7: FST worked with the engineer of record and controls contractor to revise the sequence to ensure correct airflow and temperature based on space requirements.

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