A building’s mechanical systems involve control of heat, ventilation, air-conditioning,

refrigeration, plumbing, ire protection, and noise reduction, all of which must be
integrated with the architectural, structural, and electrical design.

ENERGY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

All-air Systems: Conditioned air is circulated to and from spaces by central fans that direct
it through runs of ductwork.
Air and Water Systems: Conditioned air is ducted to each space, and chilled and heated
water are piped to each space to modify the temperature of the air at each outlet.
All-water Systems: No ductwork is used, and air is circulated within each space, not from a
central source. Chilled and heated water are furnished to each space. Because water piping
is much smaller than ductwork for air, all-water systems are very compact.

Air duct: Pipe that carries warm and cold
air to rooms and back to a furnace or air-
conditioning system.
ASHRAE: American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Cavity wall: Hollow wall formed with two lay-
ers of masonry, providing an insulating
air space between.
Chase wall: Cavity wall containing electrical
runs or plumbing pipes in its cavity.
Closed loop: Evaporator side of chiller
system, closed to the atmosphere.
Dry bulb: Ambient outside temperature.
Furnace: Device that generates heated air,
and is powered by natural gas, fuel oil, or
electricity. Most often used in small commer-
cial or residential applications.
Heat pump: A device that warms or cools by
transfering thermal energy from a heat source
to a heat sink.
HVAC: Heating, ventilating, and air-condition-
ing.
IAQ: Indoor Air Quality
Louver: Opening with horizontal slats that
permit passage of air, but not rain, sunlight, or
view, into a structure.
Plenum: Chamber that serves as a distribu-
tion area for heating or cooling systems,
usually found between a false ceiling and
the actual ceiling.
Open loop: Condenser/tower side of chiller
system; open to the atmosphere.
Radiant heat: Heating system that uses
coils of electricity, hot water, or steam
pipes embedded in loors, ceilings, or
walls to heat rooms.
Shaft: Enclosed vertical space (usually with
ire-resistive walls) containing all vertical runs
of pipes, ducts, and elevators.
Variable air volume (VAV): Air-handling system
that conditions air to a constant temperature
and varies airlow to ensure thermal comfort.
Wet bulb: Combination of outside air tem-
perature and relative humidity; higher relative
humidity makes it more dificult for a cooling
tower to evaporate water into the atmosphere.
HVAC SYSTEMS
The systems for accomplishing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning of indoor spaces vary
considerably, based on factors including building type and program, cost, climate, and building
size. The basic principals and components of heating, cooling, and circulating are similar across
all systems.

Cooling tower: Open recirculating

system where heat exchange occurs
by evaporation.

COOLING TOWER
Air handling unit
(AHU): Equip-
ment including
a fan or blower,
heating and/or
cooling coils, reg-
ulator controls,
condensate
drain pans, and
air ilters.

AHU

BOILER
Boiler: Tank where the
heat produced from the
combustion of fuels (natu-
ral gas, fuel oil, wood, or
coal) generates hot water or
steam for use in heating.
CHILLER
Chiller: Heat exchanger (evaporator, condenser,
and compressor system) that uses air, a refriger-
ant, water, and evaporation to transfer heat and
produce air-conditioning.
MECHANICAL DISTRIBUTION TYPES
FAN COIL UNITS
Fan coil units (FCUs) contain cooling or heating coils and a fan. Typically, hot or chilled water is piped
to the unit from a central boiler and chiller. Air from the room is drawn into the unit (return air) and
blown over the coil by a fan. The air is then heated or cooled and discharged (supply air) to the
room. FCUs may be vertical or horizontal, mounted on walls, ceilings, or freestanding.

2-Pipe: System has one sup-

ply and one return pipe. Must
be changed over from hot to
Chiller cold with change in seasons.
Supply air 4-Pipe: System has hot
supply, hot return, cold sup-
ply, and cold return pipes,
allowing the system to change
between heating and cooling
Return air at any time.

Vertical Stack
Boiler Piping Fan Coil Unit
May be concealed within wall
system, or freestanding
Horizontal Console Vertical Stack — ducted
Floor-mounted, often May be concealed within wall
at exterior wall system, or freestanding

Horizontal FCU
Ceiling-hung, may
be within sofit or
exposed
FORCED AIR DUCT SYSTEM
A duct system distributes heated, cooled, and fresh air throughout the building, while also iltering
and dehumidifying the air.

HYDRONIC SYSTEMS
Hydronic systems provide heating, but typically not cooling. Hot water is circulated through tubing,
from the central heat source to radiators throughout the space to be heated. The radiators may be
wall-mounted or loor-mounted. Tubes may also be designed into loor systems, providing consistent
radiant heat. Heat sources may include boilers, water heaters, and solar power.

Main supply
Branch

Supply:
Return: (Register/Diffuser)
(Register/Grille)

Main return
Plenum
Heating element
Cooling element
Blower fan

Coolant lines Drain to stack

Condensor Unit Filter

Pad-mounted, outdoor
FORCED AIR FURNACE — Typical residential heating and cooling system