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- Four Facts You Need to Know About Leaky Roofs
A leaky roof is not something that should go unattended. Over time, that small leak can expand and end up causing severe damage, leading to costly repairs and other losses. It’s important to take precautionary measures when you see a leak in your roof, as well as do research on how and where leaks are formed. Let’s take a look at four leaky roof facts you may want to know about. Rain doesn’t always flow downward : Water can work in mysterious ways. Although it may fall from the sky, strong winds and capillary action can play a serious factor in which way the water travels. If it is raining on your roof and the wind gusts are strong enough, your roof may experience water flowing horizontally and even upward. This could allow the rain to penetrate your building in areas you wouldn’t normally expect. Leaks don’t always start with water: Yes, your leak is a result of water, but it’s not just water that can compromise your roof’s integrity. Excessive heat, UV radiation, mechanical damage and blowing debris can also create issues. Under perfect conditions, the rain will normally drain off; however, if the water is stagnant and ends up getting stuck on a particular part of your roof, it could dry up and cause the specific area to become weak. This is why you may not notice a leak until the next time it rains. Holes aren’t always the place where water comes through: Just because your ceiling is leaking, it doesn’t meant hat the leak is in that area. Water tends to travel and could make it from one section of the facility to another before actually leaking into a workspace. It’s important to hire an expert to analyze the issues and find out where the roof is initially compromised. Maintenance is less expensive than repairs: By staying up to date on your building enclosure inspections, you can save a substantial amount of money and extend the life of your roof. Roofing repairs can be expensive, so hire a trusted commissioning provider to inspect and diagnose any problems you might have. So, how much does a leaking roof really cost? Calculating the cost of a leaking roof is not always easy. There’s the cost of fixing the roof, whether it’s the flashing or the shingles. Consequently, underneath the roof, if the leak has not been identified early, there’s likely additional problems and additional costs to repair. Properly repairing a roof includes replacing any wet insulation, rotten wood or rusted metal, as well as any other moisture related deterioration or mold growth. You should be ensured that your roof is lasting and in good condition by discovering the true cost of a leaking roof. Three costs associated with a leaky roof, include: Materials: The items the roofer will need to add to the cost of the job. To fix a leaky roof, the expert will generally need high-quality materials. Labor: The man power to get the job done is generally the costliest part of the project. Roofing professionals can make between $45 and $75 per hour, and there are usually a team of roofers that work together over several days to get the job done Hidden Costs: If your roof’s leak has done extensive damage underneath the shingles and sheathing, you’ll need to include the additional costs to replace the damaged wood and upgrade the structure. The total project cost depends on the area in question and how extensive the damage is. For roofs that need flashing repair, expect to pay up to $500. For roof flashings in valleys, calculate between $15 and $25 per foot. Your building enclosure is your barrier for protecting your interior environments. At SEA, we provide the highest quality evaluations from licensed and credentialed professionals. We recommend the most sustainable and resilient supplies and methods to maximize your long-term investment. The result is reduced maintenance costs and future cost avoidance from the elimination and prevention of roof leaks, protection of interiors and increased productivity from displaced occupants during potential remediation. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you with your building enclosure needs to gain the biggest return on your investment from your greatest asset. We ensure quality building enclosure services for both new construction and existing buildings.
- Yes, Your Business Needs an Energy Solution: 5 Reasons Why
Here’s what happens to commercial buildings that do not have their energy data analyzed on a regular basis: they get less efficient over time. Efficient Equipment wears out. The staff isn’t able or motivated to keep up best practices. Proactive measures aren’t being taken to lower utility bills and drive down operational costs related to energy consumption. The truth is, up to 30 percent of the energy used by the average commercial building is waste—and the return on investment for developing an effective strategy is higher than you may think. Check out the following five ways investing more in a comprehensive solution will make you money in the long run. Your buildings will reach peak performance. At North Carolina State University in Raleigh, campus energy consumption peaked in 2008-2009 and has declined ever since, now down by 28 percent thanks in part to energy managers on staff. Electricity is generated on campus using an 11MW Combined Heat and Power system, lessening the amount of fuel needed for boilers and the amount of grid electricity purchased. HVAC audits generated nearly $200,000 in cost savings in fiscal year 2015 alone. You ’ll stay on top of government mandates and certifications. A law in New York City requires all buildings over 50,000 square feet to conduct an energy audit and retro-commissioning study every 10 years. In 2010, New Mexico established new efficiency standards that required buildings undergoing system renovations to attain Energy Star certification or an equivalent standard. Energy experts can help you build an energy solution strategy to stay up to date on local and federal decrees so you stay in compliance, as well as help you achieve Energy Star or LEED accreditations, adding value to your property. You’ll be competitive in new technologies. New best practices are emerging everyday. The right energy professionals will provide access to the latest innovations in sustainability including building automation systems, building envelope and renewables. An energy specialist working under contract with the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, helped design seven major conservation measures for the new net-zero hospital at The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The plan included renewable energy systems like a 1MW solar array system that tracks the sun for greater efficiency, saving the hospital $310,000 per year. You’ll create a corporate culture that cares about efficiency. An energy solution means having focused resources that can help revitalize culture change. University campuses are giving real face time to making sustainability appealing by engaging students, faculty and staff in new ways. At Oregon State University, anyone who participates in sustainability programs are eligible for prizes and other incentives. At NC State, energy management has worked with the University Sustainability Office to create a campaign called Change Your State, which allows students to track the impact of their choices related to travel, wellness, energy use and water consumption by way of a digital campus dashboard. You’ll make money, really. Energy professionals cite that an effective strategy can produce an annual ROI of 4:1. It is a statistic that federal agencies like the Department of Defense have enjoyed for the last decade, and commercial business owners are realizing that now is the time for them to join in the savings as well. This is money that can be reinvested into your company to create more jobs, invest in new projects, better compensate your staff, lower the price of your goods and pay off debt. Energy savings can also be used to improve cash flow and create high property values. Here’s what an energy solution will actually consist of: monitoring your energy consumption and analyzing the data; identifying and quantifying energy waste; estimating how much money the right energy savings measures could save you; looking for solutions, including rebates related to equipment replacement or energy-related upgrades; developing projects to upgrade existing facilities; tracking the progress of energy saving measures by analyzing meter data; providing staff training and creative marketing of your energy conservation program. A solution focused on energy and water conservation can establish realistic site goals and save you the most amount of money. Who can resist when your investment is so quickly covered—and surpassed by—the savings it brings to the table? Article originally posted at al.com . SHARE
- Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. Now 100% Employee-Owned
Birmingham, AL – January 11, 2021 – Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA,) an energy engineering firm, announced today that they have become 100% employee owned, effective January 1, 2021. SEA’s founder, Steve Sain, sold the remaining 60% of his ownership interest to an Employee Stock Ownership Trust, allowing current and future employees to gain complete ownership in the Company at no cost to each individual. Employee-owned companies often see greater productivity, higher profitability and increased revenue. Employee-owned companies are companies in which the staff owns stock shares, giving them a stronger voice in management decision-making. Effectively, the ESOP is a qualified retirement plan which, based on company performance, could generate significant retirement benefits for SEA’s Employee-Owners. It also inherently minimizes taxation of a company’s earnings, redirecting it toward its Employee-Owners. Commenting on the announcement, Brenda Phillips, President of SEA, said, “Today, we are a robust competitor in the energy engineering world. SEA provides building commissioning and optimization, as well as energy resilience for both private and federal government agencies. We believe our expertise drives innovation and our extraordinary service propels client success. Delivering unparalleled service requires great employees who are focused and dedicated to the business at hand and that clearly describes our team. We are thrilled to be able to provide this benefit to them.” Steve Sain, who will officially retire but serve as Chairman of the newly formed Board of Directors, also noted: “In light of the current challenges facing American workers, an ESOP is an excellent way to ensure the continuation of our world-class service model, help retain valued employees, and enhance the company’s productivity and profitability. We foster our ownership culture throughout our organization, including our staff members located all over the globe, and even our rank and file constitute the majority of voting members on our Board of Directors. I fully expect our ESOP to increase the retirement security of our Employee Owners, particularly if we continue on the growth path we have enjoyed in previous years. I’m proud of our team for achieving this pivotal moment in SEA’s 30+ year history.” Sain adds, “I believe SEA will remain relevant and focused on what makes it successful from the perspective of our clients and employees. SEA is poised with an incredible team to lead my legacy into the future with talent and dedication. I have no doubt that the leadership of SEA will ensure foundational principles for serving our clients, fulfilling our people and managing our business with relentless integrity.” ABOUT SEA Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) is a widely recognized global leader in energy engineering for federal programs with their unprecedented success of the Resource Efficiency Management (REM) program which has resulted in enhanced sustainability and increased resiliency for military installations and federal agencies throughout the globe. Today, SEA continues its mission to serve the Federal Government while expanding services into healthcare, education, commercial and manufacturing industries by providing a portfolio of comprehensive energy services with innovative building commissioning and optimization processes, alternative and renewable energy solutions and resiliency strategies, all addressing climate change with verifiable results. Our licensed professionals bring technical expertise while providing a seamless experience through relationship-building to ensure facility owners achieve their goals and objectives for optimized facility performance. Located in Birmingham, AL, SEA is a small employee owned business that has achieved world-class energy excellence for its clients for more than 30 years.
- SEA featured on Cover of ASHRAE Journal
Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) was recently featured on the front cover of the ASHRAE Journal, September 2020 Issue for innovative technology and work conducted at the ADTRAN East Tower Chiller Plant in Huntsville, Alabama. All savings in the 640,000 square feet tower were gained from modifications to existing equipment and controls that increased efficiency. Since 2005, the EUI has been reduced by 39%. The ADTRAN East Tower in Huntsville, Ala., used several optimization methods to radically reduce energy use without costly equipment replacements. The project was completed without any capital expenditures; all results were gained strictly from modifications to the existing equipment and controls to increase efficiency. These methods saved over $71,326 annually in energy costs with a simple payback of 1.86 years. SEA is very proud of our team members, Jason Brooks, P.E., Director of Engineering and Eric Mobley, Energy Engineer who took lead on this project. Special thanks to Kelley Whalen, facilities supervisor – energy management, HVAC & Electrical at ADTRAN for his appreciation and collaboration on the project.
- The Value of Carbon Mitigation in the Commercial Sector: SEA’s Impact on Efficiency and Sustainability
ADTRAN is a global electronics manufacturer headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. At over a million square feet, ADTRAN’s Huntsville campus has a sizable footprint, one further augmented by its numerous locations around the globe. Such a large facility footprint typically translates into a high energy consumption rate and high carbon footprint. In 2012, SEA was hired by ADTRAN to perform an ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit and provide subsequent commissioning services. Since that time, the partnership between SEA and ADTRAN has flourished, together identifying and implementing a vast array of energy-saving strategies for the telecommunications company. This deliberate collaboration offers a prime example of how strategic energy management can yield remarkable resource resilience and climate mitigation benefits. A standout among the many projects performed for ADTRAN is the 2023 Greenhouse Gas and Sustainability Study. This effort provided trend analysis on ADTRAN’s energy use, as well as data-driven insights into the manufacturer’s broader carbon footprint. The scope of work for this project included: A Carbon Footprint Assessment. Establishment of energy goals and decarbonization targets, starting with Scope 1 and 2 emissions controls, as part of ADTRAN’s Decarbonization Roadmap. Evaluation of facility improvement measures, development of projects, followed by implementation and integration of key energy solutions, all while keeping focus on operational success. SEA further assisted in creating Sustainability, Energy, and Load Shed Dashboards to reflect the resilience outcomes resulting from resource efficiency measures selected and implemented at the ADTRAN Huntsville facility. By the end of 2023, SEA and ADTRAN’s combined efforts resulted in a 50% reduction in energy consumption and a defined plan for decreasing the Huntsville campus’ carbon footprint. These practices have gone on to help shape resilience strategies and carbon neutralization efforts across the ADTRAN global enterprise
- Empowering Energy Resilience: The Success Story of the CRSP Yard Microgrid Project in Kuwait
For the better part of the last decade, the U.S. Army has deliberately pursued energy resilience and infrastructure sustainability under the auspices of the U.S. Army Operational Energy (OE) Program. U.S. Army Central Command (USARCENT) bases in the Middle East have focused on ways to reduce energy, fuel, and water consumption while exploring opportunities to further innovate infrastructure resilience. Since 2017, Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) has been part of USARCENT’s resource efficiency initiatives. Based in Birmingham, AL, SEA specializes in sustainable engineering and energy strategies. As Idaho National Laboratory’s lead collaborator in supporting USARCENT’s Operational Energy Program pilot demonstration projects, SEA and its expeditionary Resource Efficiency Managers (eREMs) have gone above and beyond to help identify, develop, and implement resilience strategies for facilities in Kuwait. Most notable among our successes is the recently implemented Camp Arifjan CRSP Yard microgrid project. The CRSP Yard microgrid has demonstrated remarkable success in its first year of operation, significantly reducing fuel usage and costs by 70%. Over the course of the year, there was a 5,045-gallon savings in diesel use, equating to more than a two-thirds cost reduction, from $25,100 to $7,500. Extrapolating this savings over a 20-year lifespan suggests potential savings of $352,200 in diesel costs alone. Combined with savings from GENSET lease reduction, $25,000 annually, cost avoidance projections are estimated to exceed $850,000 over a 20-year lifespan. Moreover, the microgrid’s integration of renewable energy sources with a generator has resulted in a dramatic decrease in diesel generator use from 100% to only 10%. While optimizing generator loading, this reduction extends the life of the generator and decreases maintenance costs. The optimization has not only reduced carbon emissions but also led to substantial savings, including lease-cost savings and decreased operation and maintenance expenses for the remaining GENSET. Overall, the CRSP Yard microgrid has proven to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly, ensuring a resilient power network for the future. SEA’s eREMs were key to this effort, providing “boots on the ground” energy consultation and supporting INL in the development of the concept design and construction drawings. They subsequently worked with local DPW to identify and secure the site. Our team oversaw the installation done by the local BOS contractor and coordinated with the Host Nation utility provider as well. Currently, we are monitoring the results and assisting in training the BOS personnel on the O&M of the system. A small CONEX houses the scalable microgrid control system, inverters, batteries, and communications in a conditioned space. This on-grid/off-grid system integrates multiple types of solar photovoltaic panels, including fixed carport, flexible roof, and vertical Velcro-mounted applications, with a diesel generator and transformer. All electrical lines are buried below ground. With temperatures in this region ranging from a sweltering 105-115 degrees during the day to 91-102 degrees at night, 6 months out of the year, the system is designed to withstand the temperature extremes and dusty conditions with minimal to no disruptions.
- Retro Commissioning Resolves Building Problems for All Involved
While it’s no secret that commissioning is as essential to building projects operating as successfully as possible, it’s critical to remember that commissioning services can be utilized once the building is already in existence to important ends. Retro-commissioning services like those provided by Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) is a process to optimize an existing building’s equipment and systems. It can often resolve problems that occurred during original design or construction or address problems that have developed throughout the building’s life as equipment has aged, or as building usage has changed. Retro-commissioning involves a systematic evaluation of opportunities to improve energy-consuming systems. If your building’s utility costs seem exceptionally or unreasonably high, retro-commissioning can help you to identify why the cost has spiked and put your building on a path to reduced utility costs. Here are a few other instances that may indicate it is time to utilize retro-commissioning services: Building occupant discomfort Unseasonably high utility costs Building controls not tuned Simultaneous heating and cooling When building equipment has never before been commissioned or has not been commissioned within the previous three (3) years HVAC control systems are pneumatic When a building’s use has been modified for a different purpose If these issues are plaguing your building, retro-commissioning is your best line of defense. Retro-commissioning benefits everyone in a building from owners to occupants. Building owners see reduced operating costs from the energy savings and better equipment performance, which can result in an overall increase in net operating income. Meanwhile, building occupants are more comfortable because the resulting adjustments create more consistent temperature control and improved indoor air quality. Additionally, building managers face fewer occupant complaints and are better able to manage day-to-day operations and building systems. In short, retro-commissioning results in a win for all involved. Retro-commissioning can produce significant cost savings in existing buildings. According to Jason Brooks, Senior Energy Engineer at SEA, savings vary depending on the building size, age and location, and the scope of the retro-commissioning process. For example, Brooks and his team worked with Shelton State Community College’s Martin campus to assess why the 20-year-old building’s utility costs had crept to nearly $1 million each year. “Shelton State hired SEA to investigate the facilities’ HVAC system. We implemented iterative programming changes and optimized the way these systems performed through customized energy efficient algorithms,” says Brooks. “By carefully monitoring and tuning, we enhanced performance, while not compromising occupant comfort.” These changes proved to be monumental for the overall utility costs and utility consumption. “Ultimately, they saved $387,000 annually – cutting utility cost by 40% after we implemented the system changes for better efficiency and reduced utility consumption greater than 50%,” notes Brooks. “When we reported these savings back to Shelton State, I quantified the improvements by reminding them just how many more scholarships they might be able to offer with $387,000 each year.” Sain Engineering Associates, Inc. provides retro-commissioning services for existing buildings. As an integral component of a facility’s life-cycle, SEA’s retro-commissioning process ensures that buildings operate as optimally as possible by identifying and resolving any issues that have previously plagued the facility and its occupants. Our strong commissioning expertise is founded on our unique skills and experience in system design, troubleshooting and building forensics, and ongoing facility O&M. This allows our commissioning experts to effectively identify and solve building system problems at each phase of a building’s life-cycle. Our commissioning team believes in offering measurable value for every stakeholder in the project, no matter when our services are enlisted in the process. From Continuous Commissioning® to retro-commissioning and re-commissioning, our commissioning professionals can help navigate the complicated process of designing, constructing, and operating buildings correctly.
- MCLB-Albany Achieves Net Zero Milestone with SEA’s Sustainable Engineering Expertise
Since 2015-16, the Department of Defense (DoD) has prioritized energy conservation and sustainability, aiming for Net Zero energy goals across its installations. Leading this charge, the Department of the Navy, including the Marine Corps (USMC), set ambitious targets, with the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany in Georgia emerging as a frontrunner in resilience and climate mitigation. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and fiscal constraints, MCLB Albany achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first DoD installation to attain Net Zero. To achieve this status, the base met the rigorous energy resilience and climate mitigation standards set by the DoD. This milestone signifies that over the course of 365 days, the base generated as much or more electricity than it consumed, marking a significant stride towards achieving energy resilience and promoting climate mitigation. The project incorporates landfill gas generators and a biomass steam turbine, generating over 12.5 Megawatts of electricity annually, which surpasses the base’s energy needs across seasons. Additional upgrades, such as transformer replacements and lighting enhancements, further bolster energy efficiency, with estimated savings of nearly $4 million annually for the federal government. https://deltawayenergy.com/2018/08/waste-to-energy-how-it-works/ In 2017, SEA joined the MCLB-Albany Net Zero effort at a pivotal juncture, contracted through the Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) GF Energy Support Program, to provide energy engineering support and resource management (RM). As a reliable resource in other ongoing MCLB-Albany energy projects at the time, SEA seamlessly integrated into the Net Zero efforts due to its familiarity with procedures, documentation, and leadership. Having worked with MCLB-Albany for over 10 years, SEA played a crucial role in identifying and addressing underlying concerns that had previously slowed the implementation of MCLB-Albany’s energy generation architecture. Over three years, SEA’s resource management efforts addressed critical technical challenges and significantly improved operational efficiency. This included resolving complex connectivity issues between landfill gas generators and the steam turbine, optimizing energy production levels, and successfully securing permits for electricity transfer agreements with Georgia Power. In 2019, MCLB-Albany received the SECNAV Energy Award for Small Installation, followed by the SECNAV Platinum Energy Award in 2020. SEA’s long-standing presence at the base provided crucial consistency over the course of MCLB-Albany’s energy program evolution. The MCLB-Albany Net Zero program not only ensures substantial cost savings and energy security but also reinforces the base’s capability to maintain critical operations during emergencies. It’s projected to save the federal government nearly $100 million in energy costs over 25 years while benefiting Dougherty County through a methane gas purchase agreement. For more insights into this groundbreaking achievement, watch the MCLB-Albany Net Zero video . U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jennifer Parks/Released 201014-M-OG804-006.JPG
- Fort Hunter Liggett Leads the Charge: Pioneering the DoD’s Net Zero and Mission Resilience Goals
Over a decade ago, the Department of Defense (DoD) recognized its place as the nation’s largest energy user, as well as the need to improve energy efficiency, avoid overtaxing the grid, and shift to renewable energy as a means of offsetting negative environmental effects, while meeting operational and installation needs. The military services began by finding ways to make buildings, infrastructure, and utilities more efficient. Around 2013-14, the DoD adopted the Net Zero concept to reduce consumption by installing renewable energy sources. In 2017, the Department of the Army expanded this goal to include Mission Resilience. In 2010, Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) near King City, California was chosen by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment as one of the nine pilot installations for the Net Zero Initiative. In 2017, SEA was contracted by FHL to provide Resource Efficiency Management (REM) services. With the focus on resilience, SEA REMs helped FHL conduct a groundbreaking ceremony in 2021, initiating the build of a $21.6 million electrical microgrid. This project aims to make FHL the first Army installation capable of achieving Net Zero for mission-critical operations, ensuring 14 days of energy resilience. This is a crucial step towards energy self-sufficiency across the DoD. A microgrid is a self-contained electrical distribution system that can operate independently from the utility grid. FHL has been preparing for this resilience project for several years. Initial steps included upgrading and burying the medium voltage distribution system in the cantonment area. This set the stage for expanding the solar array at the Equipment Concentration Site and adding photovoltaic generation at the O&M yard. The generated power would be stored in batteries, allowing daytime electricity to be used at night. The entire microgrid system would be managed by an automated Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which can respond to grid changes in as little as 1/30th of a second. The microgrid has successfully helped FHL achieve its Net Zero goals. Despite being an Army Reserve installation, FHL supports significant activities from the Army, Navy, and Special Warfare Groups essential for training initiatives. If successful, FHL would serve as a model for other installation resilience efforts within the Department of the Army. This innovative, fully integrated microgrid system will ultimately provide contingency electric power during power outages and persistent grid instability. Once operational, the system will generate more electricity than FHL can consume annually, achieving the Army and DoD’s electrical Net Zero goal. Although FHL will not fully disconnect from the power grid, it will have the capacity to export excess electricity in summer and import it in winter, balancing out to Net Zero. Despite including battery energy storage in the contract, FHL will generate more electricity during the day than it can use or store. The SCADA system will manage this by curtailing solar array output to avoid overloading the grid. FHL is an ideal pilot site for the Net Zero microgrid project, due to its size and scalability. Over the course of the project, SEA’s REM has identified challenges and improvements to establish best practices for other installations. Larger military bases worldwide can model their resilience efforts on FHL’s pilot work, mitigating risks and accelerating implementation based on lessons learned. The initiation of any microgrid project is the culmination of over a decade of projects, development, and planning. It requires forward-thinking to generate DoD-wide projects at the grassroots level, representing a significant achievement. FHL has developed one of the most advanced energy programs, largely due to exceptional technical and budgetary support from the Army Reserve Installation Management Directorate, Sustainment and Resiliency Division. SEA is honored to participate in this energy program and landmark pilot project, setting the stage for future resilience efforts across the DoD.
- Transforming Hospitality Education: Alabama Commissioning Services at The Rane Culinary Science Center
ABOUT THE FACILITY: The Rane Culinary Science Center is a transformative complex that provides students of hospitality and culinary sciences with a hands-on learning experience to develop commercial hospitality industry skills within an innovative, cutting-edge facility. With SEA’s expertise in Alabama commissioning services, the center ensures optimal functionality and performance. The multi-use facility includes: Luxury boutique hotel with 10 suites, 16 single-room units, and 6 private residences for long-term leasing Spa and rooftop garden 40-seat teaching restaurant for culinary science instructors 9,000 SQ FT food hall with numerous vendors Operational coffee roaster and food/beverage media studio Distilled spirits center with micro-distillery & tasting room 80-student culinary exhibition lab with atrium-style seating and non-conventional cooking stations, which require very complex systems with sophisticated operability. SCOPE OF WORK: SEA was the commissioning authority, ensuring the facility fulfilled the functional and performance requirements for the building owner and occupants. To reach this goal, the commissioning process established and documented Auburn’s criteria for system functions and performance, and verified compliance with criteria throughout the design, construction, and initial period of operation. Additionally, complete O&M manuals along with training on system operations were provided. SEA, known for its Alabama commissioning services, was involved in all phases of the project for Cx of these systems: Building automation system to include any temperature and humidity monitoring, alarming to specific critical areas (freezers, coolers, etc.) All equipment of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems, including kitchen exhaust/makeup systems Scheduled, occupancy sensor, and daylight dimming lighting controls Secondary electrical distribution system Domestic water heating systems and distribution piping Domestic and process water pumping and mixing systems CHALLENGES / IMPACT / RECOGNITION: Delays in construction caused commissioning to occur after occupancy. SEA was able to discreetly execute a successful commissioning process, working around the classroom schedule, kitchens, and distillery labs; and the occupancy schedules of the private luxury suites and spa. Exquisite cleanliness and discretion were paramount to avoid disturbance of the clientele. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Rane Culinary Science Center is LEED® certified, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
- Airbus America, Inc.
SEA Partners with Largest State Employer, Airbus for Commissioning Services SEA has provided commissioning services to five buildings covering more than 472k square feet, and continues to be a part of the expansion process as new buildings are requested for additional commissioning services. Airbus Americas, Inc. is expanding its production facility for its Commercial Airplanes division in Mobile, Alabama. The site is the major assembly and delivery site for Airbus commercial aircraft in the United States, and is one of the larger employment centers in the state. Recent construction includes two dual-bay support hangars, expansion to the existing delivery center, a canteen, and ancillary buildings to support the final phase operations of Airbus’ Single Aisle series type aircraft. At A Glance 5 Buildings Commissioned to Date 472k Square Feet of Commissioned Space Each project has been executed in a Design-Build process. The hangars and ancillary buildings will meet, at minimum LEED certified standards. The delivery center will meet LEED Silver standards. As the LEED Commissioning Provider (CxP), SEA provided all necessary services in conjunction with the LEED Fundamental Commissioning prerequisite and Enhanced Commissioning credit. This includes: Reviewing the owner’s project requirements Verifying the basis of design Developing and executing the commissioning plan through the design, construction occupancy and operational phases Performing reviews in stride with the design-build phases Evaluating proposed equipment sequences of operation Developing pre-functional checklists in coordination with the project manager and design-build contractor Developing, executing and documenting functional tests of installed equipment Producing and submitting all documentation required for the LEED Fundamental Commissioning prerequisite and Enhanced Commissioning Credit Systems commissioned, include: Building Envelope Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Electrical (Medium, Low Voltage and Lighting) Domestic Service Hot Water (DHW) Download Project Profile