Barton Associates

Electrical Short Circuit and Coordination Studies for New and Existing Facilities

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The word “efficiency” is not often associated with a power distribution system; however, following the appropri­ate protocol for conducting short circuit and coordination studies can help improve efficiency and safety for your building’s power distribution system. Short circuit and coordination studies are especially important for both normal and emergency power distribution systems within healthcare facilities … Read more

Defining Owner’s Project Requirements

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There are generally three reasons to consider a construction project for your organization: Modifications to existing space to accommodate shifting business requirements, improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs Expansion of existing buildings to accommodate growth or program changes New construction to support growth plans and address market needs. No matter the reason for the … Read more

MEP Considerations for Bariatric Patient Rooms

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Hospitals and healthcare facilities are facing an increase in the number of bariatric patients. This reality has led to the need for specially-designed patient rooms that require the expertise of a professional design team. Some of the special considerations required for bariatric patient rooms include: Water closets should be floor mounted and designed to support … Read more

What is Systems Validation?

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You are probably familiar with the term commissioning, but did you know that there is a more cost-effective alternative to traditional commissioning? We call this process systems validation. Systems validation encompasses the foundation of commissioning but in a more customized, streamlined process. Systems validation can be an effective way to ensure your building’s systems function … Read more

Re-Prioritizing in a Tough Economy

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If your business is like most today, your construction and operating budgets have been drastically reduced, or maybe even eliminated. The capital equipment upgrades that you were planning for this year have been put on hold; and instead, your focus has turned to reducing operating costs and avoiding layoffs. If you are in the fortunate … Read more

Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms

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As a responsible healthcare facility, you are committed to the health and well-being of both patients and staff alike. While you may take pride in protecting your patients and employees by providing a safe and sanitary facility, there are other, less obvious, areas to consider such as airborne contaminates and the use of airborne infection … Read more

Water- and Energy-Saving Plumbing Fixtures

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The rising costs of water and energy have forced many businesses to examine ways to make their buildings more ef­ficient. One option many building owners are implementing is installing water-and energy-efficient plumbing fixtures. The recent push to go green has caused most of the major plumbing manufacturers to begin designing new fixtures that use significantly … Read more

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Part Four – Recommendations for Operation and Maintenance

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In the first three parts in our series on geothermal heat pump systems, we discussed ways to determine if this type of system is right your facility; how to get started with design by conducting a formation thermal conduc­tivity test and how to distinguish between the types of heat pumps available. Once you have decided … Read more

Contracting for Maintenance Mechanical and Electrical Services

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Service contractors can be a vital resource to anyone charged with building management. They can provide flexible labor to supplement in-house staff during peak work periods and often offer a higher level of expertise in areas where in-house staff may have limited knowledge. Once you have identified the annual maintenance tasks required for your facility and … Read more

Call 811…So You Don’t Have to Call 911!

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Before doing any excavation work on your site, you should remember three important numbers…811.   Calling 811, anywhere in the nation, will connect you to Call Before You Dig, where you can begin the process of having all of your underground public utilities marked, free of charge. Before calling 811, be prepared to give the operator … Read more

Balancing Redundancy, Reliability and Budget for Campus Primary Electrical Distribution Systems

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A power outage can have significant impacts on your healthcare facility including jeopardizing patient safety as well as facing a potential loss of revenue and limiting patient services. But, taking the necessary steps to reduce these risks can be perceived as costly. How do you balance reliability, redundancy and budget to reduce your risk of … Read more

Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Part Two – Getting Started With a Formation Thermal Conductivity Test

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After reading part one in our series on geothermal heat pump systems, you should be better prepared to decide if this type of system is right for your facility. The next step is to understand how to get started with designing the system. If you determined that a geothermal heat pump system is right for … Read more

Do You Know Your Controls Service Provider? (Part Two)

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As summarized in last month’s article, it is important to understand your technician’s level of expertise (and possible limitations) as well as to make sure a few key items are included in your service contract. In addition, your control service provider should offer certain value-added services to make sure you are receiving the best possible … Read more

Do You Know Your Controls Service Provider? (Part One)

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Your controls service provider functions as a partner with your in-house staff and mechanical contractor to meet your goals for safe, effective, reliable and cost-effective building operation. To make sure you are getting the best possible service for your investment, it is important to know your technician’s level of expertise (and possible limitations). In addition, … Read more

The Hazards of Arc-Flash

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An electrical arc-flash is a hazardous electrical explosion caused by faulty conditions or a short circuit that can reportedly generate temperatures of up to 35,000ºF — nearly four times the temperature of the surface of the sun. The dangers associated with arc-flash include severe burns and even death. In addition, a facility can also face … Read more

How a Minor Manufacturing Defect Could Cause Major Problems for Your System’s Cooling Tower

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During a recent commissioning study conducted on a cooling tower, Barton Associates found a manufacturing defect in the system’s factory panel wiring that could have caused the owner significant problems. The PLC output wiring for the high speed and low speed fan drives had been inadvertently switched by the manufacturer. This mistake would have caused … Read more

Sustainable Facility Design and Operation

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Climate change, environmental impacts and high energy costs have become significant concerns for individuals and businesses nationwide. Sustainable design can reduce these negative impacts and offer benefits such as: Improved working environment for building occupants Increased occupancy rates Decreased operating costs The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a system called Leadership in … Read more

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