HVAC/R and Mechanical

HVAC, BAS in office buildings

Results of the 2017 HVAC & building automation study indicate five key findings

According to the Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2017 HVAC & Building Automation Systems Study, 71% of engineers specify, design, or select products for office buildings-and 75% of these engineers are responsible for determining the requirements/writing specifications for these projects. Below are five HVAC and BAS findings as they relate to office building projects:

  1. Design value: Engineering firms are specifying $2.6 million annually, on average, in HVAC and BAS products for new and existing hospitals and health care facilities, with 25% specifying more than $5 million. The top revenue-generating systems include fans, air movement products, air handlers, and rooftop units.
  2. HVAC challenges: More than half of respondents agree that energy efficiency and an inadequate budget for a good design are affecting the future of HVAC systems in office buildings.
  3. BAS challenges: The top challenge when designing BAS for office buildings is interoperability and complementing systems, followed by insufficient budget and cybersecurity/security concerns.
  4. Products specified: Fans/air movement (73%), HVAC controls (73%), and air handlers (71%) are the top three HVAC equipment types or control systems being specified into office building projects.
  5. Specifications: For office buildings, performance or prescriptive HVAC and controls specifications are written 75% of the time, followed by open: proprietary (57%) and open: alternate or substitute (56%).

45% of engineers currently specify chemical or clean-agent fire suppression systems; 30% expect to specify these systems within the next 12 to 14 months. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2018 Fire & Life Safety Study

⅔ of engineers are responsible for researching and evaluating the options for lights, lighting equipment, and/or lighting controls. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2018 Lighting & Lighting Controls Study

$910,234: Average project size involving specification of air balancing, test-and-balance, environmental balancing systems. Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2017 HVAC & Building Automation Systems Study

Consulting-Specifying Engineer
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Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Consulting-Specifying Engineer provides engineering professionals working in nonresidential construction and retrofit applications with the most current and relevant content on topics like codes and standards, mechanical/HVAC and electrical systems, fire and life safety, building automation and other related technology.