One of the most common errors regarding HVAC code compliance in multifamily development projects is poor timing of inspections. This can go either way – an inspection can be timed long after the installation was complete, which means the construction process is not efficient, or an inspection process can rush the job. Neither of these are ideal.
In this post, we will discuss the proper method for preparing for HVAC inspections in multi-family development projects, and how a developer can use these methods to keep a multi-family development project on track.
Preparing for inspections
The first step in preparing for inspections in multifamily HVAC systems is in reviewing the construction documents. The manner in which the ducting is laid out, for example, affects air flow, and there are many cases in which the implementation of the plans turns out a little different from the drawings. A single bend in a duct is worth ninety feet of straight space – and more than enough to lower the efficiency. Enough unwanted bends and your systems don’t pass inspection. In other words, adding corners to make a system fit is cutting corners in the long run.
Hit all of your inspections – and make sure that nothing gets changed without everyone being on board. If there are changes, it’s very easy for the news not to make the necessary rounds.
The installation
In order for the systems to be installed correctly, the workers should be offered the correct training depending on the necessities of the site. If the plans, materials, and techniques are reviewed, then install the systems, and make sure that the supervisor does the paperwork relevant to each unit being installed as the units are being installed. If the paperwork is not covered for each of the units, then a check of every single unit will be required as opposed to a small percentage of them, and this costs time and money.
It’s all in the timing
As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, timing is key. California’s energy codes are strict, so take feedback from a mechanical engineer and an energy consultant prior to the inspection, and make changes where necessary. Time the inspections to reduce the amount of time spent doing nothing, or time spent working past a system that has yet to be checked. If the inspections are timed correctly, this reduces the possibility of error, and ultimately streamlines the whole project.