9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Conference Paper Session 2
How Healthcare Facilities and Infection Control are Affected by HVAC Systems
Building Life Safety Systems
101B (Long Beach Convention)
Chair:
Sonya Pouncy, Energy Sciences
Healthcare facilities have unique requirements for HVAC systems that are not found in other industries. In addition to thermal comfort, normal IAQ and similar considerations, healthcare facilities have needs due to their occupants and operation. Patients with depressed immune systems and surgical rooms, to name a couple, need extra care taken in air quality. This session illustrates elements of healthcare facility HVAC design to accommodate those needs and advances in healthcare HVAC systems.
1 Analysis of HVAC Configurations for a Hospital Operating Room (LB-17-C004)
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Kishor Khankari, Ph.D., AnSight LLC |
Airflow patterns within the hospital operating rooms (OR) determine the levels of air speed, temperature, and flow path of contaminants to and from the sterile and non-sterile zones. This paper with the help Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis analyzes the effect of various HVAC configurations on the resulting airflow pattern, temperature distribution, and importantly flow of path of contaminants between the sterile and non-sterile zones. With the help of airflow visualization this paper shows the effective flow path of the contaminants. The analysis provided in this paper is useful to practicing engineers in the healthcare industry in designing the HVAC systems for the operating rooms.
2 An Efficient Ventilation Configuration for Preventing Bioaerosol Exposures to Health Care Workers in Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (LB-17-C005)
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Deepthi Sharan Thatiparti, University of Cincinnati |
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Urmila Ghia, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati |
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Kenneth R. Mead, Ph.D., P.E., CDC- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) |
An Efficient ventilation configuration of an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) is essential for protecting Health care workers (HCW) from exposure to potentially-infectious patient aerosol. This paper presents the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) study to predict airflow distribution patterns throughout the AIIR, air velocity vectors in the HCW’s region, streamline of an air particle from patient’s infectious source and the comfort working conditions for the HCW for a range of AIIR ventilation configuration design challenge.
3 Cross Infection Due to Pathogen Transport in Indoor Environments: Investigative Study Assessing Impact of Ventilation Type, Air Changes and Furniture Layout (LB-17-C006)
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Shamia Hoque, Ph.D., University of South Carolina |
Buildings impact human health. The design and operation of an indoor environment influences occupants’ well-being. Aerosol transmission has been defined as “person to person transmission of pathogens through the air by means of inhalation of infectious particles”. The source may be an infected person such as a flu sufferer sneezing. Aerosol generation can also happen via coughing, laughing or just exhaling. This paper focuses on investigating the spread of aerosols after sneezing in a ventilated office space and the length of time they reside in the breathing zone thus estimating the possibility of infection of another occupant.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 22
What is the Prospect for Low-Cost Chemical and Biological Threat Detection and Response in Commercial Buildings?
Building Life Safety Systems
101B (Long Beach Convention)
Chair:
Russell Taylor, Ph.D., United Technologies Research Center
Technical Committee: 2.3 Gaseous Air Contaminants and Gas Contaminant Removal Equipment
CoSponsor: 2.4 Particulate Air Contaminants and Particulate Contaminant Removal Equipment
This session provides DHS and DOD perspectives on the need for biological and chemical agent threat detection in commercial buildings. Possible threat scenarios are discussed along with the potential for low cost sensors integrated with existing life safety systems to detect the presence of those threats. Building responses through the HVAC systems and the effectiveness of those responses for mitigating the threat in a specific building case study is discussed. Finally, there is a discussion of efforts to model threat detection and response scenarios in broad classes of commercial buildings.
1 Biological and Chemical Threat Detection in Commercial Buildings: A DHS Perspective
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Matthew Davenport, Department of Homeland Security |
High profile targets for biological and chemical attack are relatively easy to identify and thus provide appropriate protection. However, a low but real risk is present for many other commercial buildings, particularly those that have large numbers of occupants (so called soft targets). The low probability of such an event, combined with the high cost of sensors capable of confirming the presence of hazardous agents are problematic for widespread adoption. Consequently, DHS is studying technology that could both detect hazardous agents in buildings and improve the performance of existing life safety systems, at minimal additional cost to the building owner.
2 The Need for Low Cost Biological Agent Detection in Buildings: A DOD Perspective
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Patricia Buckley, US Army ECBC (Edgewood Chemical Biological Center) |
This presentation provides an overview of the need and prospects for low cost biological and chemical agent detection from the perspective of the DOD.
3 A Decision Support Framework for Automated Building Systems Response to Mitigate Occupant and Facility Impacts from Chemical and Biological Agents
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Angela Waterworth, Pacific Northwest National Labs |
A methodology to determine automated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and building response mitigations for bio-aerosol or chemical threats in commercial buildings is under development at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Models of indoor contaminant dispersion are used to identify and respond to threats based on distributed sensor data. Model scenario verification will be performed; however, validation will be limited to agent surrogates.
4 A Study of Hazardous Agent Propagation in an Office Building to Evaluate HVAC Threat Mitigation Strategies
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Russell Taylor, Ph.D., United Technologies Research Center |
Computer flow network models and experiment are used to create a release of a chemical/biological surrogate agent and understand its propagation in a commercial office building. Manipulation of the building HVAC system is used to mitigate the spread of the surrogate and limits its possible effects on building occupants.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Conference Paper Session 8
Considerations in Stairway Pressurization and Underground Structure’s Life Safety
Building Life Safety Systems
101A (Long Beach Convention)
Chair:
Peter McDonnell, McClure Engineering, Inc.
This session presents the latest ASHRAE research project on fire stairway tower test validation of CFD modeling, the installed fire & life safety systems installed in a modern large underground metro system and life safety considerations in Tunnel Smoke Control Systems. The real world issues associated with providing integrated Life Safety Systems that incorporate both current and potentially new Code considerations is discussed. These papers provide valuable insights into current and new standard considerations for many types of buildings.
1 Pressurized Stairwells with Open Doors and the IBC (LB-17-C026)
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John Klote, P.E., John Klote Fire and Smoke Consulting |
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Paul Turnbull, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. |
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Douglas H. Evans, Clark County Building Division |
In the past, the International Building Code (IBC) has required pressurized stairwells to maintain pressurization with all exit doors closed. Most jurisdictions in the U.S. are adopting the 2015 IBC that considers the status of exterior doors as opened or closed. A 2016 ASHRAE research project (RP-1447) has shown that a tenable environment can be maintained in stairwells with many open doors provided that the stair doors on the fire floor are closed. Smoke that leaks into the stairwell is quickly diluted resulting in a tenable environment in the stairwell. There are stairwell systems that are intended to maintain pressurization with a number of open doors, but many such systems are complex and have dangerous failure modes. This paper discusses these issues including suggested stairwell pressurization systems.
2 Fire and Life Safety Systems at Delhi Metro Underground Stations (LB-17-C027)
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Rajesh Kumar Jain, Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Limited |
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Anoop Kumar Gupta, Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Limited |
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Abdhesh Kumar Singh, Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Limited |
Delhi Metro is the world’s thirteenth largest metro system in terms of length and is India's first modern public transportation system built on state of the art technologies. The life safety systems are of paramount importance while carrying millions of passengers daily, the systems are required to be designed in such a manner that in case of any emergency situation the passengers shall be safely evacuated from transit network in minimum time. This paper discusses in detail the different life safety systems provided in the underground metro station building e.g. Smoke Management System, Fire Fighting System, Fire Alarm System, Emergency Power Supply System and Emergency Lighting System.
3 Life Safety Considerations in Tunnel Smoke Control (LB-17-C028)
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Yoon Ko, Ph.D., National Research Council Canada |
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Ahmed Kashef, P.E., National Research Council Canada |
Mechanical Emergency Ventilation Systems (EVS) have been widely used in tunnels to mitigate fire hazards. However, a number of catastrophic tunnel fires have occurred and have raised questions about the effectiveness of the current tunnel fire safety systems. This paper discusses life safety issues that need to be considered in designing different types of the EVS commonly used in tunnels including transverse and longitudinal ventilation systems. It also discusses how airflow induced by the longitudinal and transverse ventilation systems could impact on the fire development and smoke dispersion in the tunnel. Tenability along the length of the tunnel produced by each type of the ventilation systems is also examined.
8:00 AM-9:30 AM
Seminar 33
Flooding, Superstorm Sandy: Lessons Learned and Strategies Implemented
Building Life Safety Systems
202AB (Long Beach Convention)
Chair:
Scott Sherwood, Eco Care Corporation
Technical Committee: 2.5 Global Climate Change
Sponsor: 4.2 Climatic Information
CoSponsor: 2.8 Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability
An in-depth discussion regarding the issues and decisions that NYC building engineers, architects, and facility operators faced during and in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Understanding the response by a major NYC healthcare facility and the initiatives taken to increase sustainability, resilience, and an environmental friendly facility. Understanding what kind of climatic data and trending is available from ASHRAE to the ASHRAE community and the type of information sought by engineers, architects, and facility operators). Discuss the terms, people, and issues involved in understanding climatic events and the effects on life safety & HVAC&R systems.
1 Superstorm Sandy: Lessons Learned
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Chris Colasanti, P.E., Jaros Baum & Bolles |
Superstorm Sandy provided an extreme climate event to learn many lessons on how buildings were designed and how they operated during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This includes the infrastructure that is so vital to the operation of Buildings and their HVAC&R systems.
2 Superstorm Sandy: New Codes & Design Considerations
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Jessica Sheridan, Mancini Duffy |
Discuss of NYC sustainability and resilency strategies during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. New codes and design requirements to strengthen the HVAC&R and life safety systems of buildings during extreme climate events.
3 Life Safety Issues That Occurred at NYU Medical during and in the Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
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Richard Cohen, NYU Langone Medical Center |
Discuss the issues and situations that occurred at NYU Medical during Superstorm Sandy in regard to life safety and HVAC&R. Infrastructure design changes to reduce/eliminate the effects of future flooding/climatic events. Discuss how NYU achieved significant energy savings and energy reduction, while reducing its carbon footprint.
4 Climatic Information: History & Current Data & Trending
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Scott Sherwood, Eco Care Corporation |
This presentation discusses the history of climate change and the founding scientists whom developed instrumentation to measure climate change predictors and parameters, i.e., ozone depletion, global warming, CO2 levels, etc.
9:45 AM-10:45 AM
Conference Paper Session 11
CFD for Smoke Management
Building Life Safety Systems
101B (Long Beach Convention)
Chair:
Paul Turnbull, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
Technical Committee: 5.6 Control of Fire and Smoke
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling is frequently used during the design phase of smoke control projects for building spaces that are too complicated to be done with hand calculations or zone models. Due to the extensive computing resources that would be required, CFD is generally not used to model entire buildings. This session covers three topics related to CFD models for smoke control system design. One paper explains how CFD models can be simplified in order to model large spaces, up to and including entire buildings. Another paper explains the use of CFD models for evaluating tenability within the space under consideration. The third paper walks through the design process of using a CFD model for smoke and heat spread, in combination with egress calculations, to determine a design which provides safe egress for occupants within a smoke-protected assembly seating area.
1 Tenability Analysis and Atrium Smoke Control (LB-17-C036)
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John Klote, P.E., John Klote Fire and Smoke Consulting |
Tenability analysis along with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are recognized methods of atrium smoke control analysis by NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke Control Systems. Tenability analysis evaluates the following threats to life: toxic gas exposure, heat exposure, thermal radiation exposure, and reduced visibility. In dense smoke, people see poorly and often become disoriented which prolongs exposure time of the other threats. Also falls from balconies can result from reduced visibility. This paper discusses these threats as they apply to atria smoke control and how tenability analysis can be incorporated in CFD simulations of atrium smoke control systems.
2 CFD Modeling of Full-Size Highrise Fire Smoke Spread and Control (LB-17-C037)
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Liangzhu Wang, Ph.D., P.E., Concordia University |
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Dahai Qi, Concordia University |
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Shamim Mashayekh, Concordia University |
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Malek Soubra, Concordia University |
High-rise building fires often lead to disastrous and enormous losses if the fire smoke is not well controlled. This study uses the CFD model, Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to model the fire smoke spreads and control strategies in a full-size high-rise building. The building is a 302-feet (92 meter) high-rise with two 20-story towers, three-story ground level parking spaces, two stairwells and one elevator shaft. The modeled fire smoke control system is a hybrid venting system with mechanical fan installed at the top of the stairwells. Neutral plane level, smoke temperature and smoke flow inside the building were studied based on the simulation.
3 Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis of Smoke Protected Seating (LB-17-C038)
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Jennifer L. Wiley, P.E., JENSEN HUGHES Inc. |
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Michael J. Ferreira, P.E., JENSEN HUGHES Inc. |
The International Building Code and the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) recognize that smoke-protected assembly seating, which is not subjected to smoke accumulation within or under a structure, subjects occupants to a lesser hazard from the accumulation of smoke and fumes during a fire event. The codes therefore have less-stringent requirements for design and layout of the means of egress for smoke-protected assembly seating, including reduced aisle widths per seat served and greater maximum travel distances. These less-stringent requirements provide increased use of space and flexibility in the design of assembly seating. This paper provides an overview of the use of CFD models in the design of smoke control systems for smoke-protected seating. Examples of smoke-protected seating in various settings, including arena seating and large theaters, are also discussed.