By / Jessica Kirby
SMACNA Oregon & SW Washington has partnered with ASHRAE Oregon to host an event that will examine commissioning and testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) processes and common issues contractors may encounter during this phase of a construction project. The event will feature a panel discussion with TAB contractor Neudorfer Engineering, installing contractor Total Mechanical, SMACNA Oregon technical standards department, and ASHRAE engineers. Attendees will also have an exclusive tour of the SMACNA facility.
“This event is aimed at bringing design professionals together with the install and balancing contractors to help ease friction and avoid common pitfalls before a project gets to the testing, adjusting, and balancing phase,” says Chris Schneider, executive director of SMACNA Oregon & SW Washington.
Commissioning a new HVAC system is a critical step in bringing a new system online in a commercial or public building. It verifies that the project meets its design specifications, while making adjustments to HVAC systems so that the building can meet indoor air quality and fire-life-safety requirements.
The event content will be curated for relevance to TAB contractors, HVAC and mechanical contractors, building owners, building engineers, engineers and architects. It will identify common challenges seen during the commissioning process that could be addressed earlier in the design and construction process. Through gaining industry knowledge from various stakeholders involved throughout the design, construction, and operation processes, attendees will walk away with knowledge to proactively address problems before they have a chance to occur.
“Present day challenges facing the built environment aren’t necessarily new to the industry,” says Cassie Kuwahara, ASHRAE member and engineering sales for ACI. “While they may vary by project, some of the most common goals of the HVAC design center are improving indoor air quality, reducing energy consumption, and delivering projects at an accelerated construction schedule without compromising on the quality of the systems.
“Embracing the new technologies available to the construction industry is a key piece of the puzzle to addressing these challenges,” Kuwahara says. “Most importantly, projects require active collaboration and the understanding that each team member needs to successfully deliver successful systems.”
Connecting SMACNA contractors with ASHRAE members benefits both sides because it strengthens the link between design intent and real-world constructability, leading to better project outcomes, fewer issues in the field, and higher-performing HVAC systems.
“ASHRAE and SMACNA make strong partners because they each support different—but highly connected—parts of the HVAC industry, and together they help ensure systems are designed correctly and installed properly,” Kuwahara says. “Contractors should attend this event to connect directly with ASHRAE members, gain insight into current design and commissioning priorities, and strengthen relationships that support smoother project coordination and better system performance.”
SMACNA and ASHRAE members often see a number of problems that can be better addressed when planning the project. Those range from system accessibility issues where critical pieces cannot be accessed, incomplete control integration, and installation deviations from standards that make it difficult to achieve design CFM targets.
“Bringing the design and install and balancing professionals together allows everyone to better plan around these common issues and others,” Schneider says. “Both SMACNA and ASHRAE members will benefit by exploring these issues that can lead to cost avoidance, timeline integrity, and an overall de-risked project.”
The aim will be to help to break down silos while exploring how design assumptions impact field realities. The connections established during this event will benefit both industries as a whole.
This will also be a valuable opportunity to ask questions, share field perspective, and stay informed on trends influencing specifications and construction requirements.
Anyone interested in participating in this event should visit the QR code to register.
Contractors interested in learning more about ASHRAE can explore local chapter involvement, technical resources, and upcoming programs through ASHRAE membership and chapter events. ■
