This document discusses the importance of proper air balancing in buildings and facilities. It begins with defining building pressure and listing symptoms of negative pressure. Unbalanced facilities can cost thousands per year in unnecessary energy expenses. Common causes of imbalance are equipment issues and poor maintenance. Regular air balancing checks the HVAC system's performance and ensures positive pressure and proper airflow. Facility managers should schedule balancing to improve comfort, efficiency and equipment lifespan. A case study shows how balancing found many issues across 4 locations.

1. What facility managers
need to know to get the
most out of their largest
facility expense
AIR BALANCE
101
Presented by:
Melinktb.com

2. AGENDA
WHAT IS BUILDING PRESSURE? SLIDE 3
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF NEGATIVE BUILDING PRESSURE? SLIDE 4
WHAT’S AN EXAMPLE COST SCENARIO OF AN UNBALANCED FACILITY? SLIDES 5-6
WHAT CAUSES BUILDINGS TO BECOME UNBALANCED? SLIDES 7-8
WHAT IS AN AIR BALANCE? SLIDE 9
CASE STUDY
SLIDES 10-14WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF AN AIR BALANCE?
SLIDE 15
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3. STAY POSITIVE
WHAT IS BUILDING PRESSURE?
A BALANCED BUILDING
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Calculated by the amount of fresh air/makeup air
being introduced to the building through the HVAC
system verses the amount of exhaust air being
exhausted from the building through the HVAC
system. The difference in these two measurements
will determine your building pressure. The fresh
air/makeup air being introduced to the building
should be higher than the airflow being exhausted
from the building. This will help achieve a slight
positive building pressure.
Building Pressure is a large factor in Customer
Comfort, Smoke Capture, Condensation Issues,
Energy Efficiency, Door Pull Issues, Insect
Issues, and more…

4. ALL INDICATE YOUR BUILDING IS OUT OF BALANCE
SYMPTOMS OF NEGATIVE BUILDING PRESSURE
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5. MELINK T&B
“Hidden energy, O&M, and other costs can go undetected for years
until they are discovered in a retro-commissioning project. Without
retro-commissioning or a TAB check, the extra costs are never
found, and the owner pays high utility costs unnecessarily built into
an operating budget.”
-Dave McFarlane, Environmental Engineering, The High Cost of
Improperly Balanced Buildings

6. STUDY PUBLISHED IN CONSULTING-SPECIFYING ENGINEER MAGAZINE
THE COST OF IMPROPERLY BALANCED BUILDINGS
MELINK T&BMELINK CORPORATION
Issue Yearly Cost Savings 20-Yr Cost Savings
Excessive fan air flow $17,400 $350,000
Excessive reheat requirements $25,000 $500,000
Excessive fan static pressure $5,500 $110,000
Excessive exhaust makeup air
costs
$25,000 $500,000
Excessive pump static pressure $3,000 $60,000
Leaky reheat valves causing a
3 F air temp rise
$14,800 $300,000
Total $90,700 $1,820,000
• 100,000 sq. ft. building
• Design Airflow: 110,000 CFM
• Design Motor Load: 110 Horsepower
• Actual Airflow: 130,000 CFM
• Actual Motor Load: 180 Horsepower
• Operates: 16 hr/day, 5 day/week
• Energy cost: $.08/kWh

7. THE 4 COMMON EQUIPMENT CAUSES
WHAT CAUSES A BUILDING TO BECOME UNBALANCED?
Outside air dampers not properly set Exhaust fans not operating to design
Rooftop units not operating to design Make up air not operating to design
MELINK T&BMELINK CORPORATION

8. THE 6 COMMON POOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAUSES
WHAT CAUSES A BUILDING TO BECOME UNBALANCED?
Dirty Indoor Filters Dirty RTU Blower Fans Worn or broken belts
Dirty/Clogged Evaporator Coils Dirty/Damaged Grease Filters Dirty Outdoor Air Filters
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9. ALSO KNOWN AS “TEST & BALANCE”
WHAT IS AN AIR BALANCE?
An "air balance" is a process for measuring the performance of an HVAC system, and for providing the
occupants with a comfortably conditioned space according to design specifications. In other words, it is
an overall health check for your HVAC systems to make sure the equipment is mechanically sound, that
there is positive building pressure and that the thermostat and air flow are adjusted properly.
~Greg DuChane, Trane
MELINK T&BMELINK CORPORATION

10. T&B ASSURES:
WHY IS TEST & BALANCE CRUCIAL?
Return on Investment
HVAC installation and operation verification
Energy Efficiency
Setting Fan Volume for Needed Airflow
Comfort
Proper airflow and elimination of drafts to keep occupants comfortable
Health
Proper Fresh/Outside Air Volume, Air Turn-Over
Life Expectancy
Building & HVAC System Equipment
1
2
3
4
5
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11. IN BOTH EXISTING & NEW LOCATIONS
WHEN TO HAVE AN AIR BALANCE?
Investigation of HVAC comfort
issues and inefficiencies
COMFORT ISSUES
Changes in floorplans or
placement of cooking equipment
REMODELNEW CONSTRUCTION
Full system balance after start up to bring
into design specification
Installation and operation verification
for new HVAC equipment
EQUIPMENT CHANGES
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Rebalancing the existing
HVAC system every 5 years
REBALANCE

12. • Have all the HVAC maintenance items
completed BEFORE the balance
• Provide access to all areas of the restaurant
where HVAC equipment is located
• Provide mechanical prints
• Bring mechanical contractor or HVAC
contactor onsite during the balance
INFORMATION NEEDED FROM FACILITY MANAGERS
GET THE MOST OUT OF AN AIR BALANCE
MELINK T&BMELINK CORPORATION

13. THE BALANCE REPORT DELIVERABLE
Detailed Field Summary Detailed Punch List
Detailed Inspections, Airflows
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Photos of Findings

14. NO MORE GUESSWORK
BENEFITS OF A T&B REPORT
Record of
Equipment
Record of
Balanced Airflow
Reference for
Owner & Maintenance
MELINK T&BMELINK CORPORATION
Final operating data Control set points and gives
confidence that systems are
operating and installed as
designed, to maximum
efficiency
Baseline for preventative
maintenance decisions

15. MAY 2015
CASE STUDY
Sample Of What We Found:
The Challenge:
During spring 2015, Melink was hired for a pilot
service to audit the balance of a previous contractor
during the new construction phase at a fast casual
restaurant in TX. Comfort complaints were the main
cause of the suspicion that the balance was not
performed correctly.
Results:
Melink found several HVAC deficiencies and was asked to
service an additional 3 stores. Across these 4 locations, Melink
found 60 deficiencies. Melink brought each store into balance
with a positive pressure according to design and the facilities
team team received reports with punch lists for all locations.
FAST CASUAL REBALANCE PROGRAM
MELINK T&B

16. 4 Businesses,1 Energy Mission
WHAT WE DO
• Developer & EPC Contractor
• Commercial Ground Mount,
Roof Mount, & Parking
Structures
• National HVAC Test & Balance
Contractor
• 100% Self Performing NEBB
Certified Technicians
• Pioneer & DCKV Industry
Standard
• Global Installation & Project
Management
• Pre-Engineered Pump
Package
• Ground-loop Commissioning
• Ground-loop Financing
Integrity. Service Excellence. Innovation.
Since 1987
MELINK ABOUT USMELINK CORPORATION

17. 3 EASY WAYS TO CONTACT MELINK
NEED TO SCHEDULE A BALANCE?
513-965-7300
TBestimating@melinkcorp.com
MELINK T&B
Fill out a contact us form on melinkcorp.com
MELINK CORPORATION
Speaking Event:
Is your HVAC system
tuned to sing your
praises?

18. MELINK THANK YOU
TEXT “AIRBALANCE” TO
22828 TO GET THE FRESH
AIR NEWSLETTER
WANT TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT MANAGING AIRFLOW?
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19. THANK YOU
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