CEMIRT evaluates HVAC at AF North

Jeff Fogarty, the HVAC equipment specialist for the Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, evaluates the water flow through the pumps with a hydro data meter, or HDM, at AFNORTH. Fogarty worked with a team to re-commission the AFNORTH heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, or HVAC, system, a process that ensures the system is working to the intended specifications. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Susan Lawson/Released)

CEMIRT evaluates HVAC at AF North

Published Nov. 13, 2015
By Susan Lawson
AFCEC Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Air Force Civil Engineer Center's Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team, or CEMIRT provides one-of-a-kind resources to the Air Force civil engineering community, including investigating ways to save millions of dollars.

A group from CEMIRT is currently evaluating the heating, ventilating and air conditioning, or HVAC, system at AFNORTH at Tyndall Air Force Base to determine if the installed system is performing as designed. Sometimes referred to as a "re-commissioning," the evaluation includes hands-on testing to determine if the airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute, is correct. The chilled and hot water systems that support the HVAC operation are also evaluated as part of the re-commissioning process which includes how much air should be put out in cubic feet per minute and whether the coils are free from debris.

During the initial evaluation, CEMIRT found some preliminary issues at AFNORTH. The usage planned in the original design had changed, which created an increased heat load based upon the number of personnel and equipment such as computers and cubicles. The variable air volume terminal units, or VAVTUs, were out of calibration and the minimum air flow settings were not meeting design specifications. The team also identified some issues with the chilled water piping, airflow, dirty hot water coils and circuit boards.

"It is interesting that even these six-year-old buildings are in need of CEMIRT's HVAC re-commissioning services even with state-of-the-art HVAC infrastructure," said Frank Burrier, HVAC manager at CEMIRT. "This illustrates that if a building is never commissioned properly HVAC control and operational issues can plague a new facility."

Following inspection, CEMIRT provides a report and a list of recommended repairs.

"I have been familiar with CEMIRT for over 20 years," said Richard Doran, Civil Engineer Division Chief at AFNORTH. "We are very fortunate to be located on the same base as CEMIRT. When the AFNORTH complex had multiple issues with the heating and cooling systems, I knew CEMIRT could help. Our headquarters complex is over 108,000-square feet and their work saves the Air Force a lot of money, versus hiring a contractor for that service. CEMIRT will provide a report of their findings which we use to repair and adjust the heating and cooling systems to make them work properly."