As I discussed in a previous post, “Optimizing Air Handling Units for Energy Savings or Improved Comfort,” energy savings can be realized by adjusting the amount of outside air that is introduced to an air handling unit during normal operation. In that article I referenced ASHRAE 62.1 to determine what the correct amount of outside air an air handling unit should mix with the return air stream. This same principle applies to air handlers in healthcare, and in many cases, there is an even greater opportunity for savings in healthcare applications.
A different standard (ASHRAE Standard 170) is used to determine required air quantity in many space types associated with healthcare facilities, and there is even a different method for calculating the required outside air quantity of an air handler. This standard is commonly adopted in states nation-wide, and also by the Facility Guidelines Institute, which many states have adopted as a standard for design and construction of healthcare facilities.
Source: ASHE - http://www.ashe.org/advocacy/orgs/fgi-adoption-map.shtml
Standard 170 offers opportunities to reduce energy in a couple of different ways, which we have implemented on different projects at Cx Associates. First, this standard specifies required air quantity in spaces through Air Changes per Hour (ACH). Air changes per hour is simply how many times per hour the total volume of air in a room will be “changed.” Since air quantity is referred to in cubic feet per minute (CFM) the required air quantity to provide 1 ACH can be determined by dividing the total volume of a room in cubic feet by 60 minutes. If more than 1 ACH is needed the result of that equation is simply multiplied by the number of required air changes.
Example: A room that is 6,000 FT3 requires 3 ACH.
The standard specifies a minimum outside air ACH, which determines the minimum quantity of outside air required for a space, and a minimum total ACH, which determines the minimum quantity of total recycled air and outside air for a space. Both minimum total and outside air ACH have varied over time as shown below. If we use 1978 as an example, ACH requirements have mostly stayed the same or been reduced when compared to 2013, except for patient rooms. 1978 may sound like a long time ago, but many systems still in use at healthcare facilities today were designed at this time, and are still operating under these design specifications. Energy savings opportunities exist in fan energy savings by the total ACH value being reduced, thus AHU fan speeds can be reduced since there is no longer a need to maintain the 1978 total ACH requirement. Another opportunity exists in reduction of heating and/or cooling energy since outside air ACH requirements have been reduced. Less outside air means less energy required to condition supply air as discussed in my previous post.
Chart source: "A Brief History
Of Health-Care Ventilation," English, Travis R.; ASHRAE Journal; June 2016; pp 52; Copyright 2016 ASHRAE.
Another opportunity exists in one of the methods which ASHRAE 170-2013 allows the outside air quantity required for an air handling system to be calculated. Per ASHRAE 170-2013-7.1.a.6.i:
“System minimum outdoor air quantity for an airhandling system shall be calculated as the sum of the individual space requirements as defined by this standard.”
This varies from ASHRAE-170-2013-7.1.a.6.ii:
“System minimum outdoor air quantity shall be calculated by the Ventilation Rate Procedure (multiple zone formula) of ASHRAE Standard 62.1. The minimum outdoor air change rate listed in this standard shall be interpreted as the Voz (zone outdoor airflow) for purposes of this calculation.”
The second method will often result in a higher outside air quantity for the air handling system than simply the sum of the individual space requirements as specified in in the first method. Again, as described in my previous post, less outside air means less energy to heat and cool supply air. This outside air quantity can be monitored via an airflow station installed in the air handler outside air intake and the air handling system can be further optimized by controlling it following ASHRAE Guideline 36.
Healthcare facilities often have much higher energy use intensities (EUI) than typical commercial buildings, but by leveraging the requirements and methods of ASHRAE 170-2013, Cx Associates has successfully reduced the energy consumption of air handlers at many hospitals throughout the region.
