Mechanical load calculations require the designer to consider many sources of space heat loads including heat introduced by walls, windows, occupants, lighting, and miscellaneous equipment. In my opinion, miscellaneous equipment presents the most challenging task in quantifying load. Many loads found in a typical office space renovation are tabulated in the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals,… Read More

Humidity plays as much a part in our comfort as air in temperature. In the winter time, and for buildings not properly insulated, we start to see condensation if the humidity is not controlled properly. This not only a comfort problem, but also a potential health problem since mold likes to grow when the relative… Read More

If the electrical power went out, don’t worry! You may have an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system to back up your power. One and half years into my time at Summer, I was given the UPS project at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Maryland. Of course, this facility was huge… Read More

Working on different project assignments brings joy to me, because each project brings more opportunities and challenges that go with it.  Looking back to one of the challenging work experiences that I had is when I was assigned to work on a project that entailed a comprehensive drawing update, relay coordination, short circuit analysis, arc… Read More

Working in existing buildings is always a challenge. It is not always clear what criteria was used to design the existing HVAC systems. When it comes time to replacing existing equipment due to age or underperformance, the designer should always verify the current criteria the system needs to meet. For example, we recently designed the… Read More