Common Work Results for Mechanical
Remade from scratch to the authoring rules: defaults asserted only where four of five projects would choose them, and scope boundaries matched to the neighboring standards
Showing changes from Rev 3
to Rev 4
in Common Work Results for Mechanical.
---
title: Common Work Results for Mechanical
category: Mechanical
−toc_depth: 3
description: >
− When to use: This umbrella mechanical common-work standard declares project-wide basis-of-design intent (governing code, fluids, design temperatures, system pressure) once and establishes the general execution standards every subsequent HVAC and mechanical section inherits. Covers common HVAC motor requirements, general-duty valves for HVAC piping, expansion fittings and loops, pipe sleeves and sleeve seals, meters and gages, equipment supports and seismic thresholds, rated penetration firestopping, common submittals, field startup and acceptance testing, and warranty for hydronic, steam, condensate, condenser-water, chilled-water, and hot-water heating systems.
− Not intended for: Pipe hangers and trapeze/bracing detail (see [[sync/hangers-and-supports]]); thermal insulation on pipe, duct, and equipment (see [[sync/mechanical-insulation]]); vibration isolation bases and seismic snubbers (see [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]]); identification labels, tags, and color-banding schedules (see [[sync/mechanical-identification]]); hydronic piping systems and specialties beyond common valves (see [[sync/hydronic-piping]]); hydronic flushing and chemical cleaning (see [[sync/hydronic-cleaning-and-flushing]]); plumbing common work (see [[sync/common-work-results-plumbing]]); fire-suppression common work (see [[sync/common-work-results-fire-suppression]]); instrument installation and impulse tubing (see [[sync/instrument-installation-and-tubing]]); heating and cooling coils as assemblies (see [[sync/heating-and-cooling-coils]]); testing, adjusting, and balancing (see [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]]); variable frequency drives (see [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]]); and electrical power wiring to mechanical equipment, which is governed by [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]] and the NEC.
+ When to use: The umbrella standard for the mechanical discipline, read together with every HVAC equipment, piping, ductwork, and controls standard on a project. Declares the governing mechanical, building, and energy code basis once; states the site conditions, submittal procedures, trade coordination, maintenance access, pipe sleeve and penetration provisions, electrical interface and division of responsibility, startup and acceptance sequence, temporary-use policy, delivery and protection, cutting and patching, warranty, and spare-parts provisions that the mechanical sections inherit rather than restate. Carries no product requirements of its own.
+ Not intended for: Ductwork, duct accessories, and duct access doors (see [[sync/hvac-ductwork]] and [[sync/duct-accessories]]); diffusers, grilles, and registers (see [[sync/hvac-air-distribution-devices]]); hydronic, steam, refrigerant, condensate, and fuel gas piping and their pressure tests (see [[sync/hydronic-piping]], [[sync/steam-and-condensate-piping]], [[sync/refrigerant-piping]], [[sync/condensate-drainage-piping]], and [[sync/fuel-gas-piping]]); general-duty valves (see [[sync/hvac-piping-valves]]); gauges, thermometers, test plugs, strainers, and balancing devices (see [[sync/hydronic-specialties]]); expansion joints, loops, anchors, and guides (see [[sync/expansion-fittings-and-loops]]); hangers, supports, and equipment anchorage (see [[sync/hangers-and-supports]]); housekeeping pads (see [[sync/concrete-pads]]); vibration isolation and seismic restraint (see [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]]); insulation (see [[sync/mechanical-insulation]]); identification (see [[sync/mechanical-identification]]); firestop systems (see [[sync/firestopping]]); motors (see [[sync/electric-motors]]); variable frequency drives (see [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]]); electrical wiring and protection (see [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]]); cleaning and flushing (see [[sync/hydronic-cleaning-and-flushing]]); testing, adjusting, and balancing (see [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]]); commissioning and operator training (see [[sync/commissioning]]); plumbing common work (see [[sync/common-work-results-plumbing]]); and fire suppression common work (see [[sync/common-work-results-fire-suppression]]).
---
# Scope {toc}
−## This specification establishes the foundational, cross-cutting mechanical requirements that apply uniformly to all HVAC and mechanical work on a project, serving as the umbrella mechanical common-work standard under which every subsequent mechanical section is written. {note}
+## This standard is the umbrella for the mechanical discipline. It states once the code basis, the site conditions, and the administrative and execution provisions that every mechanical standard on the project inherits, so that the equipment, piping, ductwork, and controls standards can confine themselves to their own products and procedures. {note}
−## It declares the project-wide governing code basis, basis-of-design fluid and temperature assumptions, common product requirements, general installation workmanship, and field execution standards that are too general to belong to any single equipment section, so they are stated once and inherited rather than restated and contradicted. {note}
+## The requirements of this standard apply to every item of mechanical work on the project whether or not the standard governing that work restates them.
−## The scope encompasses general code compliance, common motor requirements for HVAC equipment, general-duty valves for HVAC piping, expansion fittings and loops, pipe sleeves and sleeve seals, meters and gages, equipment supports and seismic restraint thresholds, rated penetration firestopping, division-wide submittals and quality assurance, field startup and acceptance testing, and warranty. {note}
+## Where a standard governing a particular item of mechanical work states a requirement on a matter this standard also addresses, the more specific standard shall govern that item unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
−## The basis-of-design framing is central to this section: it records what the mechanical Engineer of Record has assumed about the building's fluids, design supply temperatures, and system operating pressure before any equipment is purchased, so that downstream sections governing boilers, chillers, coils, and heat exchangers all work from a single declared baseline rather than each assuming its own. {note}
+## This standard carries no product requirements. The products and procedures below are governed by their own standards, and nothing here restates them. {note}
−## This standard is prescriptive but deliberately non-duplicative, and it does not cover several adjacent topics that are governed by their own standards. The following boundaries apply: pipe hangers, trapeze assemblies, and seismic bracing of piping and ductwork beyond threshold setting belong to [[sync/hangers-and-supports]]; thermal insulation belongs to [[sync/mechanical-insulation]]; vibration isolation bases, inertia pads, and snubbers belong to [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]]; identification tags and color banding belong to [[sync/mechanical-identification]]; hydronic piping systems and specialties beyond common valves belong to [[sync/hydronic-piping]] and system flushing to [[sync/hydronic-cleaning-and-flushing]]; testing, adjusting, and balancing belongs to [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]]; and variable frequency drives belong to [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]]. {note}
+- Sheet-metal and flexible ductwork, duct accessories, duct access doors, and duct penetrations of rated assemblies, including ductwork exposed in an open plenum: [[sync/hvac-ductwork]] and [[sync/duct-accessories]]
+- Diffusers, grilles, registers, and other room-side air outlets and inlets, including those hung in an open plenum: [[sync/hvac-air-distribution-devices]]
+- Hydronic piping and its pressure test: [[sync/hydronic-piping]]; central-plant chilled and condenser water mains: [[sync/chilled-and-condenser-water-piping]]; steam and condensate: [[sync/steam-and-condensate-piping]]; refrigerant piping: [[sync/refrigerant-piping]]; HVAC condensate drainage: [[sync/condensate-drainage-piping]]; fuel gas piping: [[sync/fuel-gas-piping]]
+- Isolation, shutoff, throttling, and check valves: [[sync/hvac-piping-valves]]
+- Balancing valves, strainers, pressure gauges, thermometers, thermowells, test plugs, and the other in-line hydronic devices: [[sync/hydronic-specialties]]
+- Expansion joints, loops, offsets, anchors, and guides: [[sync/expansion-fittings-and-loops]]
+- Pipe hangers, trapezes, structural attachments, and equipment anchorage: [[sync/hangers-and-supports]]; concrete housekeeping and equipment pads: [[sync/concrete-pads]]
+- Vibration isolators, inertia bases, seismic restraint design, bracing, snubbers, and special seismic certification: [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]]
+- Thermal insulation of piping, ductwork, and equipment: [[sync/mechanical-insulation]]
+- Pipe markers, valve tags, equipment nameplates, and color banding: [[sync/mechanical-identification]]
+- Through-penetration firestop systems and fire-resistive joint systems: [[sync/firestopping]]
+- Wall and ceiling access doors and panels: [[sync/access-doors-and-panels]]
+- Motors furnished with mechanical equipment: [[sync/electric-motors]]; separately procured variable frequency drives: [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]]
+- Electrical power wiring, disconnecting means, and overcurrent protection serving mechanical equipment: [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]]
+- Direct digital control systems and their sequences: [[sync/building-automation-system]]
+- Cleaning, flushing, and passivation of hydronic systems: [[sync/hydronic-cleaning-and-flushing]]; the water treatment program: [[sync/hvac-water-treatment]]
+- Testing, adjusting, and balancing: [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]]; commissioning and operator training: [[sync/commissioning]]
+- Plumbing common work: [[sync/common-work-results-plumbing]]; fire suppression common work: [[sync/common-work-results-fire-suppression]]
−## Three additional scope boundaries apply beyond the HVAC-adjacency cross-references above: sheet-metal duct construction is governed by SMACNA and belongs to the air-distribution sections; refrigerant piping is governed by ASHRAE 15 and ASME B31.5 and belongs to the refrigeration sections; and electrical power wiring to mechanical equipment, including motor branch circuits, disconnects, and overcurrent protection, is governed by [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]] and the National Electrical Code — this section governs only the mechanical equipment and its coordination interface to that wiring. {note}
−
# Referenced Standards {toc}
−## Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited or the Authority Having Jurisdiction has adopted a different edition.
+## Equipment, materials, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
−## Where the contract documents, the adopted building code, or a referenced standard conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+## Where the Contract Documents, the adopted codes, and a referenced standard differ on the same matter, the most stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
| Standard | Title |
|----------|-------|
| IMC | International Mechanical Code |
−| IBC | International Building Code (Chapter 28, Section 714) |
−| ASME B31.9 | Building Services Piping |
−| ASME B16.5 | Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings, NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 |
+| IFGC | International Fuel Gas Code |
+| IBC | International Building Code (Section 714, Penetrations; Chapter 17, Special Inspections and Tests) |
+| IECC | International Energy Conservation Code |
| ASHRAE 90.1 | Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings |
−| NFPA 70 (NEC) | National Electrical Code (Articles 430 and 440) |
−| NEMA MG 1 | Motors and Generators |
−| ASTM A53/A53M | Pipe, Steel, Black and Hot-Dipped, Zinc-Coated, Welded and Seamless |
−| ASTM B88 | Seamless Copper Water Tube |
−| MSS SP-58 | Pipe Hangers and Supports — Materials, Design, Manufacture and Product Marking |
−| SMACNA | HVAC Duct Construction Standards — Metal and Flexible |
−| ASCE 7 | Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (Chapter 13) |
−| ASTM E814 | Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop Systems |
−| ASHRAE Handbook | HVAC Systems and Equipment |
+| ASHRAE 62.1 | Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality |
+| ASHRAE 15 | Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems |
+| ASME B31.9 | Building Services Piping |
+| ASME B31.1 | Power Piping |
+| ASME B31.5 | Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components |
+| NFPA 70 | National Electrical Code (Articles 110, 430, and 440) |
+| NFPA 90A | Standard for the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems |
+| ASCE/SEI 7 | Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (Chapter 13) |
+| UL 60335-2-40 | Household and Similar Electrical Appliances, Safety, Part 2-40: Particular Requirements for Electrical Heat Pumps, Air-Conditioners and Dehumidifiers |
+| 40 CFR Part 82 | Protection of Stratospheric Ozone (Subpart F, Recycling and Emissions Reduction) |
+| ASHRAE Handbook | HVAC Applications |
−# Basis of Design {toc}
+# Governing Codes and Authority {toc}
−## This section records the fluids, design temperatures, and operating pressures the mechanical Engineer of Record has assumed for the facility. Every downstream mechanical section, equipment submittal, and pump or coil schedule depends on these values being declared once and held uniform; when they are omitted, each section silently assumes its own design conditions and the conflicts surface only at submittal review or, worse, at startup. {note}
+## Mechanical work shall comply with [[parameter: adopted-mechanical-code]] and with [[parameter: adopted-building-code]], including the amendments the Authority Having Jurisdiction has enacted to each.
−## Governing Code Edition {toc}
+## Fuel-fired equipment, its venting, and the fuel gas piping serving it shall comply with the fuel gas code the Authority Having Jurisdiction has adopted alongside [[parameter: adopted-mechanical-code]].
−### The mechanical installation shall comply with the edition of the International Mechanical Code adopted by the Authority Having Jurisdiction at the project location, together with all state and local amendments in force.
+## Mechanical equipment and systems shall meet the minimum efficiencies, control provisions, and other mandatory requirements of [[parameter: adopted-energy-code]].
−```datasheet
−label: Governing Mechanical Code Edition
−type: radio
−options:
− - "IMC 2021"
− - "IMC 2018"
− - "IMC 2015"
− - "AHJ-adopted edition to be confirmed before rough-in"
−default: "IMC 2021"
−```
+## Piping within the service limits of ASME B31.9 shall be designed, fabricated, and tested under that section.
−### Pressure piping shall comply with the edition of ASME B31.9 (Building Services Piping) adopted or referenced by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
+## Piping outside the service limits of ASME B31.9 shall be designed, fabricated, and tested under ASME B31.1, and refrigerant piping under ASME B31.5.
−```datasheet
−label: Governing Pressure Piping Code (ASME B31.9 Edition)
−type: radio
−options:
− - "ASME B31.9-2025"
− - "ASME B31.9-2020"
− - "ASME B31.9-2017"
−default: "ASME B31.9-2020"
−```
+## Before requesting the first rough-in inspection, the Contractor shall confirm the adopted code editions and amendments with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
−### The Contractor shall confirm the adopted IMC and ASME B31.9 editions and applicable amendments with the Authority Having Jurisdiction before commencing rough-in, and shall notify the Engineer of Record in writing of any amendment that conflicts with the contract documents.
+## The Contractor shall notify the Engineer of Record in writing of any adopted amendment that conflicts with the Contract Documents within seven days of identifying it.
−### The edition assumed in design shall be reconciled against the locally adopted edition before specifications are issued for construction and shall not be presumed to be the most recent publication.
+## Work affected by a reported amendment conflict shall not proceed until the Engineer of Record has responded in writing.
−### Many jurisdictions lag the published model codes by one or more cycles; confirming the adopted edition before specifications are finalized prevents code conflicts from surfacing during permit review. {note}
+## Unless the Contract Documents assign the duty to another party, the Contractor shall obtain the mechanical permits, pay the associated fees, and arrange every inspection the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires.
−## Design Fluids and Temperatures {toc}
+## The Contractor shall deliver the signed inspection records and the final mechanical approval to the Owner with the closeout submittals.
−### The basis-of-design fluid type and design supply and return temperatures of each hydronic and steam system shall be declared here and shall govern all downstream sections including boilers, chillers, coils, heat exchangers, and pumps.
+## Many jurisdictions adopt a model code one or two cycles behind the current publication, several adopt the Uniform Mechanical Code rather than the International Mechanical Code, and nearly all enact local amendments. The code basis is a fact about the project, answered once, and every mechanical standard reads the same answer; the design was prepared against that edition, and a newer edition is not a substitute for it. {note}
−```datasheet
−label: Hot Water Heating Supply / Return Temperature
−type: radio
−unit: °F
−options:
− - "180 / 160"
− - "160 / 130"
− - "140 / 120"
− - "120 / 100 (condensing / low-temperature)"
−default: "160 / 130"
−```
+# Submittals {toc}
−```datasheet
−label: Chilled Water Supply / Return Temperature
−type: radio
−unit: °F
−options:
− - "44 / 56"
− - "42 / 58"
− - "40 / 54"
−default: "44 / 56"
−```
+## Submittal Procedures {toc}
−```datasheet
−label: Hydronic System Fluid
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Water"
− - "Propylene glycol solution"
− - "Ethylene glycol solution"
−default: "Water"
−```
+### Each submittal made under a mechanical standard shall identify the equipment tag or system it covers, the governing standard, and the datasheet values of that standard on which the selection depends.
−### Where a system uses a glycol solution rather than water, the glycol type and volumetric concentration shall be declared so that downstream sections can apply the correct freeze protection, derating, and fluid properties.
+### Product data shall be marked to show the model, capacity, options, and accessories proposed, with inapplicable options struck through.
−```datasheet
−label: Glycol Concentration (where glycol is used)
−type: range
−unit: "%"
−min: 20
−max: 50
−step: 5
−drawing_ref: true
−default: deferred
−```
+### Where a submittal proposes a departure from the Contract Documents, the departure shall be identified in the transmittal, and a submittal that is silent on a departure shall not be construed as having disclosed it.
−### Declaring design supply water temperatures once prevents the common coordination failure in which the boiler section sizes for one supply temperature while the coil section selects for another, and the mismatch is not caught until equipment submittals arrive. {note}
+### Delegated-design submittals shall bear the seal of a professional engineer licensed in the project jurisdiction.
−## System Operating Pressure {toc}
+## Action Submittals {toc}
−### The design working pressure of each piping system shall be declared in the basis of design before any valve, gage, or pressure-rated component is procured, and shall govern the pressure class of all components in that system.
+### The Contractor shall submit the following for review before the related work is fabricated or installed:
+- Coordination drawings for each area where mechanical work shares space with structure, other trades, or ceiling systems, prepared under the Trade Coordination section of this standard
+- Equipment schedule reconciliation tabulating, for each scheduled item, the proposed equipment's capacity, dimensions, operating weight, service clearances, and electrical characteristics against the scheduled values
+- Sleeve and penetration layout drawings locating every sleeve, block-out, and roof or exterior wall penetration, with the sleeve size and the listed firestop system at each rated assembly
+- Access door location schedule identifying each concealed component that requires service and the access provided to it
+- Delegated-design submittals, including seismic restraint and anchorage design, where the Contract Documents delegate design
+
```datasheet
−label: Hydronic System Design Working Pressure
−type: range
−unit: PSI
−min: 60
−max: 250
−step: 5
−default: 125
+label: Required Action Submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - "Coordination drawings"
+ - "Equipment schedule reconciliation"
+ - "Sleeve and penetration layout drawings"
+ - "Access door location schedule"
+ - "Delegated-design submittals"
+default:
+ - "Coordination drawings"
+ - "Equipment schedule reconciliation"
+ - "Sleeve and penetration layout drawings"
+ - "Access door location schedule"
+ - "Delegated-design submittals"
```
−### All valves, fittings, flanges, and specialties in a system shall carry a pressure-temperature rating equal to or greater than the system design working pressure at the system design temperature.
+## Informational Submittals {toc}
−### Systems whose design pressure approaches the ASME B31.9 scope limit of 250 PSI shall be reviewed against the B31.9 applicability criteria before the code basis is fixed.
+### The Contractor shall submit the following for the record:
−### Building services piping under ASME B31.9 is limited to water systems not exceeding 250 PSI; systems near this threshold may fall outside B31.9 scope and require a different pressure piping code to govern the installation. {note}
+- Written confirmation of the adopted code editions and amendments obtained from the Authority Having Jurisdiction
+- Copies of mechanical permits and signed inspection records as they are issued
+- Installing contractor checkout and startup reports for each item of equipment, under the Startup and Acceptance section of this standard
+- Manufacturer's field service reports where factory-authorized startup is performed
+- Temporary-use log where permanent equipment is operated during construction
−# Submittals {toc}
−
−## Action Submittals {toc}
−
−### The Contractor shall submit the following for review before procurement and installation, organized by system and clearly identifying the basis-of-design values from this section that each submittal relies upon:
−
−- Product data for each HVAC motor, including horsepower, voltage and phase, enclosure type, NEMA efficiency class, service factor, insulation class, and inverter-duty rating where VFD-driven
−- Product data for each general-duty valve type, including body and trim material, end connections, and pressure-temperature rating
−- Product data for expansion fittings, loops, and anchors, including movement capacity and rated working conditions
−- Product data for pipe sleeves and sleeve seals, including modular seal model selection by sleeve and pipe size
−- Product data for meters and gages, including pressure gage range, thermometer range and stem length, thermowells, and test plugs
−- Firestop system data for each rated penetration condition, identifying the listed system number and hourly rating
−- Equipment support and seismic restraint data and, where required by the seismic design category, engineered anchorage and bracing details
−- Field startup and acceptance test plan, including pressure-test method, hold time, and motor rotation verification procedure
−
```datasheet
−label: Action Submittals Required
+label: Required Informational Submittals
type: checkbox
options:
− - "HVAC motor product data with efficiency, enclosure, and inverter-duty rating"
− - "General-duty valve product data by type and pressure rating"
− - "Expansion fitting, loop, and anchor product data"
− - "Pipe sleeve and sleeve-seal product data"
− - "Meters and gages product data including thermowells and test plugs"
− - "Firestop system data with listed system numbers"
− - "Equipment support and seismic restraint details"
− - "Field startup and acceptance test plan"
+ - "Adopted code edition and amendment confirmation"
+ - "Permits and inspection records"
+ - "Checkout and startup reports"
+ - "Manufacturer's field service reports"
+ - "Temporary-use log"
default:
− - "HVAC motor product data with efficiency, enclosure, and inverter-duty rating"
+ - "Adopted code edition and amendment confirmation"
+ - "Permits and inspection records"
+ - "Checkout and startup reports"
+ - "Manufacturer's field service reports"
```
## Closeout Submittals {toc}
−### At substantial completion and before final acceptance, the Contractor shall provide the following:
+### The Contractor shall submit the following before substantial completion:
−- Field pressure-test reports for each system, signed by the responsible person, with test medium, test pressure, hold time, measured pressure drop, ambient temperature, acceptance criteria, and pass/fail determination
−- Motor rotation and operational-check records confirming verification against equipment manufacturer rotation arrows
−- Completed firestop installation schedule confirming the listed system installed at each rated penetration
−- Operation and maintenance data for valves, meters, gages, and other serviceable common components
−- Warranty documentation for products and equipment carrying a manufacturer warranty
+- Record drawings showing the installed routing, equipment locations, valve and damper locations, sleeve and access door locations, and every deviation from the Contract Drawings
+- Operation and maintenance manuals for each item of equipment and each system, organized by system and indexed by equipment tag
+- Startup, field test, and inspection reports collected under this standard and under the governing equipment and system standards
+- Warranty documentation for each item of equipment, listing the warranty start date, the term, and the party responsible for warranty service
+- Spare parts receipt signed by the Owner's representative
+- Operator training records where training is required under [[sync/commissioning]]
```datasheet
label: Required Closeout Submittals
type: checkbox
options:
− - "Field pressure-test reports"
− - "Motor rotation and operational-check records"
− - "Firestop installation schedule"
− - "Operation and maintenance data"
+ - "Record drawings"
+ - "Operation and maintenance manuals"
+ - "Startup, field test, and inspection reports"
- "Warranty documentation"
−default: [Field pressure-test reports, Motor rotation and operational-check records, Warranty documentation]
+ - "Spare parts receipt"
+ - "Operator training records"
+default:
+ - "Record drawings"
+ - "Operation and maintenance manuals"
+ - "Startup, field test, and inspection reports"
+ - "Warranty documentation"
+ - "Spare parts receipt"
+ - "Operator training records"
```
−## Informational Submittals {toc}
+### Record drawings shall be delivered in the format indicated in the datasheet.
−### The Contractor shall submit the following for the record:
+```datasheet
+label: Record Drawing Format
+type: select
+options:
+ - "Marked-up prints of the Contract Drawings"
+ - "Revised CAD drawing files"
+ - "Revised building information model"
+```
−- Written confirmation of the AHJ-adopted IMC and ASME B31.9 editions and applicable local amendments
−- Qualification statements for welders and the welding procedure specifications where pressure piping is welded
−- Qualification statement for the seismic-restraint design professional where seismic restraint is delegated-design
+### Marked-up prints cost the least to produce and record what the field crew actually saw, but they live on paper and resist searching. Revised CAD files put the record in the Owner's drafting standard at the price of a redrafting step in which field marks are reinterpreted. A revised model carries the most information and feeds facility management software directly, and it is realistic where the project was coordinated in a model to begin with. {note}
+### Operation and maintenance manuals shall be delivered in the format indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Informational Submittals Required
−type: checkbox
+label: Operation and Maintenance Manual Format
+type: select
options:
− - "AHJ-adopted IMC and ASME B31.9 edition confirmation"
− - "Welder and welding procedure qualifications"
− - "Seismic-restraint designer qualifications"
−default: "AHJ-adopted IMC and ASME B31.9 edition confirmation"
+ - "Electronic files with one bound hard copy"
+ - "Electronic files with two or more bound hard copies"
+ - "Electronic files, no hard copy"
```
+### A bound manual in the mechanical room survives a network outage and a staff turnover; an electronic manual is searchable and does not go missing from the shelf. The number of bound copies follows the number of places the operating staff work from. {note}
+
# Quality Assurance {toc}
## Installer Qualifications {toc}
−### All mechanical work shall be performed by qualified mechanics employed by a licensed mechanical contractor with demonstrated experience on commercial, institutional, or industrial HVAC projects of comparable scope.
+### Mechanical work shall be performed by a contractor licensed for that work in the project jurisdiction.
−### Welding of pressure piping shall be performed only by welders qualified under ASME Section IX to a welding procedure specification applicable to the materials and joint configurations on the project.
+### Welding, brazing, and soldering of piping shall be performed by personnel qualified as the standard governing that piping system requires.
−### Personnel performing field pressure and acceptance testing shall be qualified in the use of the test instruments and shall follow the procedures of ASME B31.9.
+### Refrigerant shall be handled by technicians certified under 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F.
−## Listing and Code Compliance {toc}
+## Listing and Labeling {toc}
−### All mechanical equipment, valves, and components shall be listed or labeled where a listing exists for the product category and shall be rated for the service in which they are installed.
+### Mechanical equipment that contains electrical components shall be listed and labeled by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory for the equipment category and for the environment in which it is installed.
−### General-duty valves shall carry permanent markings of manufacturer, size, pressure class, and body material, cast or stamped on the body.
+### Fuel-fired equipment shall be listed to the product standard the adopted fuel gas code or mechanical code references for that appliance type.
−### Equipment and components shall not be installed where the system design pressure or temperature exceeds the component's marked pressure-temperature rating.
+### Equipment modified in the field in a way that affects its listing shall be field-evaluated and labeled by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory before it is energized.
−## Single Source and Standardization {toc}
+### An equipment listing is what the inspector and the Engineer of Record rely on in place of evaluating each product's electrical and fire safety themselves. A field modification that alters the wiring, the controls, or the enclosure voids the listing, and the field evaluation label restores the basis the Authority Having Jurisdiction accepts. {note}
−### To the greatest extent practicable, each general-duty valve type shall be furnished by a single manufacturer across the project so that trim, operators, and repair parts are interchangeable.
+## Source Limitation for Like Equipment {toc}
−### Standardizing a valve type to one manufacturer reduces the spare-parts inventory the owner must carry and avoids field confusion between visually similar valves with different internal trim.
+### The source limitation applying to equipment of the same type shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−# Common Motor Requirements {toc}
+```datasheet
+label: Source Limitation for Like Equipment
+type: radio
+options:
+ - "Single manufacturer for each equipment type across the project"
+ - "Single manufacturer for each equipment type within each system"
+ - "No source limitation"
+default: "Single manufacturer for each equipment type across the project"
+```
−## This section governs the integral HVAC motors furnished as part of mechanical equipment such as fans, pumps, and air handlers, establishing the ratings common to all of them so that each equipment section need not restate them. {note}
+### One manufacturer per equipment type gives the Owner one parts inventory, one service contact, and one set of controls conventions for every fan or every pump in the building. Limiting the source within each system instead lets a phased or multi-building project buy each system where the price is best while keeping like equipment uniform where an operator meets it. No limitation gives the Contractor the widest market and leaves the Owner to carry whatever mix of makes results. {note}
−## Electrical power wiring, branch-circuit protection, and disconnects for these motors are governed by [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]] and the NEC; this section governs only the motor as a mechanical component and its rating. {note}
+## Pre-Installation Conference {toc}
−## Motor Ratings {toc}
+### Before mechanical rough-in begins in any area, the Contractor shall convene a pre-installation conference attended by the mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression, electrical, and controls trades, the general contractor, and the Engineer of Record.
−### Motors 1/2 horsepower and smaller shall be permitted to be single-phase, 115V or 208–230V.
+### The conference agenda shall cover the coordination drawing process and schedule, the sleeve and penetration layout, the locations of rated assemblies, equipment delivery and rigging paths, the division of responsibility settled under the Electrical Interface section of this standard, and the startup sequence.
−```datasheet
−label: Single-Phase Fractional Motor Voltage (≤ 1/2 hp)
−type: radio
−options:
− - "115V, 1Φ, 60 Hz"
− - "208–230V, 1Φ, 60 Hz"
−default: "115V, 1Φ, 60 Hz"
−```
+# Site and Service Conditions {toc}
−### Motors larger than 1/2 horsepower shall be three-phase at the project basis-of-design voltage.
+## Equipment installed outdoors shall be rated for continuous operation across the range from [[parameter: site-ambient-temperature-minimum]] to [[parameter: site-ambient-temperature-maximum]].
−### Three-phase motors shall be selected for the declared building distribution voltage, and motors 5 horsepower and larger on a 480V system shall be rated 460V.
+## Equipment capacities and ratings shall be corrected for [[parameter: altitude]] in accordance with the manufacturer's published correction factors.
−```datasheet
−label: Three-Phase Motor Nameplate Voltage
−type: radio
−options:
− - "460V, 3Φ, 60 Hz"
− - "208V, 3Φ, 60 Hz"
− - "230V, 3Φ, 60 Hz"
− - "575V, 3Φ, 60 Hz (Canada)"
−default: "460V, 3Φ, 60 Hz"
−```
+## The corrected capacity at the site altitude, not the sea-level catalog rating, shall be the capacity reported in the submittal and compared against the scheduled value.
−### The motor nameplate voltage shall be a single declared value, not a slash-rated range left to the installer.
+## Indoor design temperature and humidity for each conditioned space shall be as indicated on [[drawing: the mechanical design criteria schedule]].
−### The actual system voltage shall be specified on the motor schedule so that feeders are sized for the operating voltage and not defaulted to the lowest value in a multi-voltage range.
+## Air density falls about 3% for each 1,000 ft of elevation, so a fan delivers the same volume but less mass, a cooling coil rejects less heat, and a fuel-fired appliance derates its input above the elevation its listing names. Catalog ratings are published at sea level and a standard ambient; the corrections are the manufacturer's to publish and the submittal's to apply. {note}
−### Leaving the wiring voltage unspecified on a slash-rated motor invites the contractor to default to the lowest value in the range, which can overload feeders and foreclose future voltage upgrades. {note}
+# Trade Coordination {toc}
−## Efficiency {toc}
+## Coordination Drawings {toc}
−### Polyphase motors 1 horsepower and larger shall meet the minimum nominal full-load efficiency of NEMA Premium (IE3) per NEMA MG 1, in compliance with ASHRAE 90.1.
+### The Contractor shall prepare coordination drawings for each mechanical room, shaft, ceiling plenum, and corridor, and for every other area where mechanical work shares space with structure, other trades, or ceiling systems, before any work in that area is fabricated or installed.
+### Coordination drawings shall show ductwork, piping, equipment, and their insulation at true size, together with the structure, lighting, sprinkler piping, electrical raceway and cable tray, ceiling systems, service clearances, sleeve and penetration locations, and access door locations.
+
+### Two-dimensional coordination drawings shall be drawn at a scale not smaller than 1/4 in. per ft, and not smaller than 3/8 in. per ft in mechanical rooms.
+
+### The party responsible for assembling the composite coordination drawing shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Polyphase Motor Efficiency Class (≥ 1 hp)
−type: radio
+label: Coordination Drawing Lead
+type: select
options:
− - "NEMA Premium (IE3)"
−default: "NEMA Premium (IE3)"
+ - "Mechanical trade"
+ - "General contractor or construction manager"
+ - "Coordination consultant retained by the Contractor"
```
−### Specifying standard-efficiency motors at 1 horsepower and larger is a code violation in jurisdictions that have adopted ASHRAE 90.1; NEMA Premium is the minimum for new HVAC installations. {note}
+### The mechanical trade owns the largest and least flexible components, so when it leads the ductwork is routed first and the other trades fit around it, which is the order the space priority rule produces anyway. A general contractor or construction manager lead carries neutral authority over every trade and is the usual home of a model-based process. A retained consultant brings the tooling and the neutrality where the general contractor lacks the staff, at a fee the project carries explicitly. {note}
−## Enclosure {toc}
+### The coordination method shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
−### Motors installed in clean, dry, indoor mechanical rooms with no washdown or high-humidity exposure shall be permitted to be open drip-proof.
−
−### All other motors shall be totally enclosed fan-cooled.
−
```datasheet
−label: Motor Enclosure Type
+label: Coordination Method
type: radio
options:
− - "TEFC (totally enclosed fan-cooled)"
− - "ODP (open drip-proof)"
− - "TEFC with explosion-proof rating for classified areas"
−default: "TEFC (totally enclosed fan-cooled)"
+ - "Two-dimensional composite overlay drawings"
+ - "Three-dimensional model with clash detection"
```
−### Motors in spaces classified by the mechanical Engineer as wet or damp locations shall be totally enclosed fan-cooled at minimum, and shall not be open drip-proof.
+### Overlay drawings are produced with ordinary drafting tools and are adequate where the overhead space is generous and the trades are few. A clash-detection model finds the conflicts that an overlay hides in the vertical dimension, and on a congested ceiling it is what keeps rework out of the schedule; it also requires every trade to model its work to a common standard, which small subcontractors do not always have. {note}
−### Open drip-proof enclosures are not suitable for washdown or high-humidity spaces; defaulting to ODP in any space that may be wet leads to premature motor failure, so TEFC is the minimum where the space classification is anything other than clean and dry. {note}
+### Each trade shall add its work to the coordination drawings within ten working days of receiving them.
−## Service Factor and Insulation {toc}
+### A trade that has not responded within ten working days shall be deemed to accept the routing shown for the other trades in that area.
−### General-purpose motors not driven by a variable frequency drive shall have a service factor of not less than 1.15.
+### Conflicts the trades cannot resolve among themselves shall be referred to the Engineer of Record in writing, with the proposed resolutions, before work in the affected area proceeds.
−### General-purpose motors not driven by a variable frequency drive shall have Class F insulation rated for 155°C.
+### Work installed in an area before the coordination drawings for that area are accepted shall be relocated at the Contractor's cost where it conflicts with the accepted drawings.
−```datasheet
−label: Insulation Class
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Class F (155°C)"
− - "Class H (180°C) for high-ambient or inverter-duty service"
−default: "Class F (155°C)"
−```
+## Space Priority {toc}
−### Motors intended for operation on a variable frequency drive shall be rated inverter-duty per NEMA MG 1 Part 31, with insulation system suitable for the drive switching frequency.
+### Where the coordination drawings do not resolve a routing conflict, space shall be allocated in the following order: gravity-flow drainage piping, then ductwork and its insulation, then pressure piping and its insulation, then conduit, cable tray, and lighting.
−```datasheet
−label: Inverter-Duty Rating (for VFD-driven motors)
−type: radio
−options:
− - "NEMA MG 1 Part 31 inverter-duty required"
− - "Not VFD-driven; standard general-purpose"
−default: "NEMA MG 1 Part 31 inverter-duty required"
−```
+### Gravity drainage is fixed by its slope and its invert and cannot be rerouted around anything, so it comes first. Large ductwork is the next least flexible and the costliest to offset. Pressure piping tolerates offsets at the price of fittings and air vents, and conduit is the most flexible of all. The order is a tie-break rather than a licence, and a well-made coordination drawing moves whichever element costs the least to move. {note}
−### Standard motors driven by a VFD can fail prematurely from voltage stress above certain switching frequencies; specifying NEMA MG 1 Part 31 inverter-duty rating for all VFD-driven motors prevents this failure mode. {note}
+## Information to Other Trades {toc}
−# General-Duty Valves for HVAC Piping {toc}
+### The Contractor shall furnish equipment weights, dimensions, connection sizes and locations, rough-in dimensions, and electrical characteristics to the trades that depend on them before those trades fabricate or install their work in the affected area.
−## This section governs the manual isolation, balancing, and check valves common to HVAC piping. Control valves, automatic balancing valves, and system-specific specialties are governed by their respective system sections. {note}
+### Sleeve, block-out, and anchor locations in concrete and masonry shall be furnished to the concrete and masonry trades before the formwork is closed or the masonry is laid.
−## General-duty valves are selected primarily by pipe size, service, and the function the valve performs, and the project benefits from a small, standardized set rather than a different valve at every connection. {note}
+### Where the approved equipment differs from the scheduled basis in any dimension, weight, connection, or electrical characteristic another trade relies on, the Contractor shall issue the change to that trade in writing within five working days of the approval.
−## Valve Selection by Size {toc}
+# Access for Maintenance {toc}
−### Isolation valves 2 inches and smaller shall be full-port bronze ball valves, and isolation valves 2-1/2 inches and larger shall be lug- or wafer-pattern butterfly valves with ductile-iron body, EPDM seat, and stainless disc.
+## Service Clearances {toc}
+### Equipment shall be installed with the service and working clearances the manufacturer publishes or the clearances [[parameter: adopted-mechanical-code]] requires, whichever are greater.
+
+### Working space in front of the electrical components of mechanical equipment shall comply with NFPA 70 Article 110.26.
+
+### Clear space in front of components that require periodic service shall be not less than the value indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Isolation Valve Type, 2 in. and Smaller
−type: radio
+label: Minimum Clear Space at Serviceable Components
+type: range
+unit: in.
options:
− - "Full-port bronze ball valve, 600 WOG / 150 SWP"
− - "Bronze gate valve, 125 lb"
−default: "Full-port bronze ball valve, 600 WOG / 150 SWP"
+ min: 18
+ max: 48
+ setpoints: [18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48]
```
+### Clearance shall be maintained for removal of the largest component the equipment is designed to have removed for service, including coils, tube bundles, filters, fan sections, and motors.
+
+## Concealed Components {toc}
+
+### Components that require periodic service shall be positioned so they can be reached without removing other work or ceiling construction other than a lay-in ceiling panel or an access door.
+
+### The policy for serviceable components concealed above hard ceilings or behind finished walls shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Isolation Valve Type, 2-1/2 in. and Larger
+label: Serviceable Components Behind Non-Accessible Finishes
type: radio
options:
− - "Lug-pattern butterfly, ductile iron / EPDM / stainless disc, 200 PSI"
− - "Wafer-pattern butterfly, ductile iron / EPDM / stainless disc, 200 PSI"
− - "Iron gate valve, 125 lb (steam service)"
−default: "Lug-pattern butterfly, ductile iron / EPDM / stainless disc, 200 PSI"
+ - "Permitted, with an access door at each component"
+ - "Not permitted"
+default: "Permitted, with an access door at each component"
```
−### Butterfly valves 6 inches and smaller shall be furnished with lever handles, and butterfly valves 8 inches and larger shall be furnished with gear operators.
+### Where an access door is provided, it shall be furnished under [[sync/access-doors-and-panels]] and sized for the largest component to be reached through it.
−### Cast or ductile iron shall be used for valve bodies above 2 inches; bronze bodies are not permitted at 2-1/2 inches and larger.
+### Each access door shall be located so the component it serves can be operated and removed through the opening.
−### Bronze valves are commonly stocked only through 2 inches; specifying bronze above that size results in substitution requests or long-lead special orders. {note}
+### Access doors in ductwork shall be provided under [[sync/hvac-ductwork]].
−## Valve Function {toc}
+### An access door at each device leaves the architecture free to place hard ceilings where it wants them, and every door is then a visible panel in a finished ceiling and a location a future renovation has to know about. Prohibiting concealment moves valves, dampers, and terminal units into corridors with lay-in ceilings or into mechanical spaces, which costs routing length and sometimes ceiling height. {note}
−### Throttling and balancing service shall use globe-pattern valves: bronze through 2 inches and iron 2-1/2 inches and larger.
+## Rooftop and Elevated Equipment {toc}
−### Steam and condensate isolation shall use gate valves rather than ball or butterfly valves where the gate pattern is preferred for full-bore flow and tight shutoff.
+### Equipment on roofs shall be located so it is reached by the roof access and service path shown on [[drawing: the mechanical roof plan]].
−### Check valves shall be selected for the service and orientation, with silent spring-loaded checks at pump discharge to limit water hammer on pump shutdown.
+### Permanent means of access shall be provided to equipment on roofs and elevated structures where [[parameter: adopted-mechanical-code]] requires it.
+# Pipe Sleeves, Penetrations, and Firestopping {toc}
+
+## Sleeves {toc}
+
+### A sleeve shall be provided at every point where a pipe passes through a wall, floor, roof, or foundation, set before the concrete is placed or the masonry is laid wherever the construction sequence allows.
+
+### Sleeve material shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Throttling / Balancing Valve Type
−type: radio
+label: Pipe Sleeve Material
+type: select
options:
− - "Globe valve, bronze ≤ 2 in. / iron ≥ 2-1/2 in."
− - "Calibrated balancing valve"
−default: "Globe valve, bronze ≤ 2 in. / iron ≥ 2-1/2 in."
+ - "Galvanized steel pipe"
+ - "Galvanized sheet steel"
+ - "PVC pipe"
+ - "Cast-in sleeve device with integral firestop"
+default: "Galvanized steel pipe"
```
+### Sleeves through foundation walls, below-grade walls, and floors subject to wetting shall be steel pipe.
+
+### Plastic sleeves shall not be used in fire-resistance-rated assemblies unless the listed firestop system includes the plastic sleeve.
+
+### Steel pipe sleeves take a modular seal, hold their shape under concrete placement, and stand up above a wet floor, which is why they serve floors, foundations, and anywhere a seal is needed. Sheet steel is cheaper and lighter and does well in partitions and dry slabs where nothing bears on it. PVC costs the least and resists corrosion but softens in a fire and is accepted in a rated assembly only inside a listing that was tested with it. A cast-in sleeve device sets sleeve, firestop, and often a water dam in one step at a price per penetration that pays where penetrations are many and the slab is cast once. {note}
+
+### Where the standard governing a piping system states no sleeve clearance, the sleeve shall provide not less than 1 in. of annular clearance around the pipe or its insulation and not less than the clearance the sleeve seal or firestop listing requires.
+
+### Sleeves through floors in mechanical rooms, wet areas, and other locations subject to standing water shall project above the finished floor by not less than the height indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Pump Discharge Check Valve Type
−type: radio
+label: Sleeve Projection Above Finished Floor in Wet Areas
+type: range
+unit: in.
options:
− - "Silent spring-loaded wafer check"
− - "Swing check"
−default: "Silent spring-loaded wafer check"
+ min: 1
+ max: 4
+ setpoints: [1, 2, 3, 4]
+default: 2
```
−## Valve Pressure Class {toc}
+### Sleeves through floors in dry areas shall be set flush with the finished floor.
−### Each valve shall carry a pressure-temperature rating equal to or greater than the system design working pressure declared in the basis of design at the system design temperature.
+### A sleeve that stops at the slab surface is a drain into the floor below the first time the mechanical room is washed down or a relief valve lifts. Two inches clears routine wash-down; taller projections suit rooms whose floor drains back up or whose curbs hold water. {note}
−### Where the system design pressure exceeds the standard 150 SWP / 200 CWP rating of common bronze and ductile-iron valves, the higher-class valve body and trim shall be specified and reconciled against flange ratings per ASME B16.5.
+### Penetrations exposed to view in finished spaces shall be fitted with escutcheons of the material indicated in the datasheet, sized to cover the sleeve and the annular space.
−# Expansion Fittings and Loops {toc}
+```datasheet
+label: Escutcheon Material
+type: select
+options:
+ - "Chrome-plated brass"
+ - "Stainless steel"
+ - "Painted steel"
+ - "Plastic"
+default: "Chrome-plated brass"
+```
−## Thermal growth and contraction of HVAC piping must be accommodated so that the movement is not transmitted to equipment connections, branch takeoffs, or building structure as damaging stress.
+### Escutcheons installed after the pipe is in place shall be split pattern.
−## Movement Accommodation Method {toc}
+### Chrome-plated brass is the finish that matches plumbing trim in occupied rooms. Stainless steel holds up in wet, washdown, and corrosive rooms where plating pits. Painted steel suits utility spaces that are painted anyway, and plastic costs the least and serves dry service rooms where appearance carries no weight. {note}
−### Thermal movement of straight runs shall be accommodated by expansion loops, offsets, or expansion joints sized for the calculated movement between anchors at the design temperature range.
+## Sleeve Seals {toc}
−### Expansion loops and pipe offsets shall be the preferred method where routing and space permit, and packed or bellows expansion joints shall be used where space does not permit a loop.
+### The annular space at penetrations through foundation walls, below-grade walls, slabs on grade, and other locations that must remain watertight shall be sealed by the method indicated in the datasheet.
```datasheet
−label: Primary Thermal Movement Accommodation
−type: radio
+label: Watertight Penetration Seal
+type: select
options:
− - "Expansion loops"
− - "Pipe offsets / direction changes"
− - "Packed expansion joints"
− - "Bellows expansion joints"
−default: "Expansion loops"
+ - "Modular mechanical sleeve seal"
+ - "Cast-in sleeve with waterstop collar and modular mechanical sleeve seal"
+ - "Grouted annulus with elastomeric sealant"
+default: "Modular mechanical sleeve seal"
```
−### Expansion loops have no packing or bellows to fail and require no maintenance, so they are preferred wherever the routing affords room; expansion joints are reserved for constrained locations and accept a maintenance obligation in exchange for compactness. {note}
+### Modular mechanical sleeve seals shall be selected from the manufacturer's chart for the actual sleeve inside diameter and pipe outside diameter, with the link count that fills the annulus.
−## Anchors and Guides {toc}
+### Modular mechanical sleeve seals shall be rated for not less than the hydrostatic head at the penetration, and not less than 20 psig.
−### Pipe anchors shall be provided to divide piping into segments whose thermal movement is directed into the expansion device, and pipe guides shall be provided to keep movement axial.
+### Modular seal links shall be EPDM for general service, and an elastomer compatible with the pipe contents and the surrounding soil chemistry where those are incompatible with EPDM.
−### Anchors shall be attached to building structure capable of resisting the calculated anchor loads, coordinated with the structural Engineer of Record where loads are significant.
+### A modular seal is bolted up from inside the building after the pipe is set, holds rated pressure, and can be taken apart to replace the pipe. Adding a waterstop collar to the sleeve closes the second leak path, between the sleeve and the concrete, which matters wherever the wall sees a sustained head. A grouted annulus with sealant costs the least and is adequate where the wall is above the water table and the penetration is never expected to be opened again. {note}
−### Anchor and guide locations shall be coordinated with [[sync/hangers-and-supports]] so that support points do not restrain intended thermal movement.
+### The annular space at non-rated penetrations in dry locations shall be packed and sealed with sealant at each face.
−# Pipe Sleeves and Sleeve Seals {toc}
+## Firestopping {toc}
−## Piping that passes through walls, floors, and foundations requires sleeves so the pipe can pass freely, and at waterproof and rated conditions the annular space must be sealed against water or fire. {note}
+### Penetrations of fire-resistance-rated and smoke-resistant assemblies shall be firestopped under [[sync/firestopping]] with a system listed for the assembly, the penetrant, the sleeve, and the annular dimension at that condition.
−## Sleeve Sizing {toc}
+### Sleeve size and annular dimension at each rated penetration shall be set to match a listed firestop system before the sleeve is installed.
−### Sleeves shall be sized a minimum of two pipe sizes larger than the pipe outside diameter, or sized to provide a 1-inch clearance around the insulation outside diameter, whichever is larger.
+### Firestopping of mechanical penetrations shall be performed by the party indicated in the datasheet.
−### Sleeve sizing shall account for the insulation thickness and the modular seal clearance, not the bare-pipe outside diameter shown on structural drawings.
−
```datasheet
−label: Sleeve Clearance Basis
+label: Firestopping of Mechanical Penetrations Performed By
type: radio
options:
− - "1 in. clearance around insulation OD"
− - "Two pipe sizes larger than pipe OD"
− - "Sized to selected modular seal model"
−default: "1 in. clearance around insulation OD"
+ - "The mechanical trade that made the penetration"
+ - "A single firestopping subcontractor for all trades"
```
−### Sleeve sizing shall be reconciled against the insulated pipe outside diameter plus the required seal annular clearance before sleeves are set, not against the bare-pipe size shown on structural drawings.
+### When each trade firestops its own penetrations, the work is done by the crew that knows the penetrant and is on site when the opening is made, and the result is as many product lines and installation practices as there are trades. A single firestopping subcontractor brings one manufacturer, one set of listings, and one inspection record across every trade, and it depends on the other trades leaving openings sized to the listings and on a schedule that brings the subcontractor back as each area closes. {note}
−### Structural drawings commonly show bare-pipe sleeve sizes; once insulation thickness and seal clearance are added the sleeve is undersized if not reviewed before placement. {note}
+## Roof and Exterior Wall Penetrations {toc}
−## Sleeve Seals {toc}
+### Penetrations of the roof and of exterior walls shall be flashed and sealed under the standards governing those assemblies.
−### Penetrations through below-grade walls, foundation walls, and other waterproof conditions shall be sealed with modular mechanical sleeve seals consisting of interlocking elastomer links drawn tight by bolted pressure plates.
+### The mechanical trade shall furnish the curb, sleeve, pipe portal, or flashing sleeve the flashing detail requires at each roof and exterior wall penetration.
−### Penetrations through finished surfaces in occupied spaces shall be finished with escutcheons sized to the insulated pipe.
+# Equipment Supports and Seismic Restraint {toc}
−### The modular seal model shall be selected for the actual sleeve inside diameter and pipe outside diameter, and the link count shall fill the annular space to the manufacturer's pressure rating.
+## Floor-mounted equipment shall be set on concrete housekeeping pads furnished under [[sync/concrete-pads]] and anchored under [[sync/hangers-and-supports]].
−```datasheet
−label: Waterproof Penetration Seal Type
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Modular mechanical sleeve seal (interlocking links)"
− - "Cast-in-place sleeve with hydrophilic waterstop"
−default: "Modular mechanical sleeve seal (interlocking links)"
−```
+## Suspended equipment and piping shall be supported from the building structure under [[sync/hangers-and-supports]], and ductwork under [[sync/hvac-ductwork]].
−## Rated Penetration Firestopping {toc}
+## Mechanical equipment, piping, and ductwork shall not be supported from other trades' work, from ceiling suspension systems, or from one another.
−### Penetrations of fire-resistance-rated walls, floors, and ceilings shall be firestopped with a listed firestop system tested to ASTM E814 and providing an hourly rating equal to the rating of the assembly penetrated, and not less than 1 hour.
+## Vibration isolation shall be provided under [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]] where that standard or the standard governing the equipment requires it.
−```datasheet
−label: Floor-to-Floor Penetration Firestop Rating
−type: radio
−unit: hr
−options:
− - "2"
− - "1"
− - "3"
−default: "2"
−```
+## Seismic restraint of mechanical equipment and distribution systems shall be provided under [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]] wherever ASCE/SEI 7 Chapter 13 requires it for [[parameter: seismic-design-category]].
−### The firestop system installed at each rated penetration shall be a listed assembly appropriate to the penetrant, sleeve, and annular dimensions at that condition.
+## This standard sets no restraint detail of its own. It names the threshold once so that no mechanical section can be read as exempt from it, and it leaves the exemptions, the design responsibility, and the certification to the restraint standard, which carries them in full. {note}
−### The listed firestop system shall be identified by penetration condition in the firestop submittal, including penetrant type, sleeve material and inside diameter, and annular dimension, so that the installed assembly matches the tested configuration.
+# Electrical Interface {toc}
−### Omitting firestopping from the common work section leaves firestop submittals uncoordinated across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades and invites incompatible product combinations at a shared penetration. {note}
+## Equipment Electrical Characteristics {toc}
−# Meters and Gages {toc}
+### The voltage, phase, and frequency of each item of mechanical equipment shall match the circuit serving it as shown on [[drawing: the electrical one-line diagram and panel schedules]].
−## Pressure gages, thermometers, flow indication, and test access ports allow the system to be read, balanced, and serviced; specifying them in the common work section ensures the access the balancing technicians and operators need is built in rather than added by change order. {note}
+### Before releasing any item of equipment for manufacture, the Contractor shall reconcile its full-load current, minimum circuit ampacity, maximum overcurrent protection, and control voltage against the circuit, conductors, and overcurrent device shown for it.
−## Pressure Gages {toc}
+### A discrepancy found in that reconciliation shall be reported to the Engineer of Record in writing before the equipment is released.
−### Liquid-filled pressure gages with stainless Bourdon tubes shall be installed at pump suction and discharge, at major equipment connections, and where required to read system pressure.
+### Motors furnished with mechanical equipment shall comply with [[sync/electric-motors]].
−### Gage scale range shall be approximately twice the maximum working pressure so that the normal operating pressure falls within the middle third of the scale.
+### Variable frequency drives procured separately from the equipment they serve shall comply with [[sync/hvac-variable-frequency-drives]].
−```datasheet
−label: Pressure Gage Range
−type: radio
−unit: PSI
−options:
− - "0–100"
− - "0–60"
− - "0–160"
− - "0–200"
−default: "0–100"
−```
+### Electrical power wiring, disconnecting means, and branch-circuit overcurrent protection serving mechanical equipment shall be provided under [[sync/common-work-results-electrical]] and NFPA 70.
−### A gage whose normal reading sits at the very bottom or top of its scale cannot be read accurately; selecting the range at roughly twice working pressure keeps the operating point in the legible middle third. {note}
+### Equipment is bought from a schedule and circuits are sized from the same schedule, and the two diverge the moment a substitute unit arrives with a larger compressor or a different control transformer. The reconciliation catches the divergence while a breaker is still a line item instead of a change order. {note}
−### The pressure gage dial size shall be specified for each application, sized for legibility at the installation location.
+## Division of Responsibility {toc}
+### Motor controllers and disconnect switches for mechanical equipment shall be furnished by the party indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Pressure Gage Dial Size
−type: radio
−unit: in.
+label: Motor Controllers and Disconnects Furnished By
+type: select
options:
− - "4-1/2"
− - "6"
− - "3-1/2"
−default: "4-1/2"
+ - "Electrical trade"
+ - "Mechanical equipment supplier, shipped loose"
+ - "Mechanical equipment supplier, factory-mounted"
```
−## Thermometers {toc}
+### Controllers and disconnects shipped loose shall be installed and wired by the electrical trade.
−### Adjustable-angle bimetal or digital thermometers shall be installed at equipment inlets and outlets and where required to read fluid temperature, with a scale range appropriate to the service.
+### Factory-mounted controllers and disconnects shall be covered by the equipment listing.
+### Controllers bought by the electrical trade come from the same supplier as the panelboards and match the rest of the gear, and the electrical contractor sizes them from the approved equipment submittal, which means they are ordered last. Controllers shipped with the equipment are sized by the party that knows the motor, and they arrive on the mechanical contractor's schedule to be handed across a trade boundary. Factory-mounted controllers remove the hand-off and the field wiring between controller and motor, and they tie the controller's fault-current rating and listing to the equipment it serves. Regional practice decides this more than engineering does. {note}
+
+### Line-voltage control wiring for mechanical equipment shall be installed by the party indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Thermometer Type
+label: Line-Voltage Control Wiring Installed By
type: radio
options:
− - "Adjustable-angle bimetal, separable thermowell"
− - "Digital remote-reading, separable thermowell"
−default: "Adjustable-angle bimetal, separable thermowell"
+ - "Electrical trade"
+ - "Controls trade"
+default: "Electrical trade"
```
+### Low-voltage control wiring for mechanical equipment shall be installed by the party indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Thermometer Range
+label: Low-Voltage Control Wiring Installed By
type: radio
−unit: °F
options:
− - "35–250"
− - "0–150"
− - "30–300"
−default: "35–250"
+ - "Controls trade"
+ - "Electrical trade"
+default: "Controls trade"
```
−### Every thermometer in a piping system shall be installed in a separable thermowell so that it can be removed and replaced without draining the system.
+### Control wiring, whichever party installs it, shall comply with the wiring methods of NFPA 70 and, where it serves the direct digital control system, with [[sync/building-automation-system]].
−### Thermowells shall be provided at every thermometer location so that thermometers can be removed and replaced without draining the system.
+### Line-voltage wiring is licensed electrical work in most jurisdictions and is inspected as such, which is why it lands with the electrical trade on most projects. Low-voltage control wiring is bound up with the controller it serves, and the trade that programs the controller is the one that can terminate and check out the wiring without a second mobilization. The split goes the other way where a single electrical contractor is on site for the duration and the controls scope is small. {note}
−### A thermometer installed without a thermowell cannot be serviced unless the system is drained; specifying the thermowell as part of the common instrument installation prevents this maintenance constraint. {note}
+### The division of responsibility settled under this article shall be recorded in the pre-installation conference minutes.
−## Test Plugs {toc}
+# Startup and Acceptance {toc}
−### Self-sealing test plugs rated for the system pressure and temperature shall be installed at equipment inlets and outlets and at coil connections to provide temperature and pressure access for balancing without draining the system.
+## Acceptance Sequence {toc}
−```datasheet
−label: Test Plug Service Rating
−type: range
−unit: PSI
−min: 150
−max: 500
−step: 25
−default: 200
−```
+### Each system shall be released to testing, adjusting, and balancing under [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]] only after the pressure test required by the governing piping standard, the cleaning and flushing required under [[sync/hydronic-cleaning-and-flushing]] where it applies, and the checkout and startup required by this section are complete and documented.
−### Self-sealing test plugs shall be specified at all equipment inlet and outlet connections and at all coil connections.
+### Functional performance testing under [[sync/commissioning]] shall begin on a system only after that system has been balanced and the balancing report has been issued.
−### Omitting test plugs from the common work section leaves the balancing technician without pressure and temperature access ports; adding them during balancing generates change orders. {note}
+### A system started before it has been pressure tested and flushed circulates construction debris through pumps, coils, and control valves, and a balance performed before startup checkout is a balance of equipment that is about to be adjusted. The sequence exists so that each stage hands the next a system that will stay as found. {note}
−# Equipment Supports and Seismic Restraint {toc}
+## Installing Contractor Checkout {toc}
−## Mechanical equipment must be supported and, in higher seismic design categories, restrained so that it does not shift, overturn, or break its connections under load. This section sets the thresholds; detailed restraint design and isolation belong to the supports and vibration sections. {note}
+### Before any motor-driven equipment is operated, the Contractor shall verify alignment, lubrication, belt tension, guards, bearing and coupling condition, isolator release, safety and limit devices, and clearance of the rotating element.
−## Equipment Supports {toc}
+### Rotation of every motor-driven item of equipment shall be verified against the manufacturer's rotation marking by a momentary start before the equipment is run under load.
−### Floor-mounted equipment shall be set on housekeeping pads or structural curbs and anchored to resist the operating, startup, and service loads.
+### Fuel-fired equipment shall be started and its combustion adjusted as the standard governing that equipment requires.
−### Suspended equipment shall be supported from building structure through hangers and supports coordinated with [[sync/hangers-and-supports]].
+### Each item of equipment shall be operated through its startup check and shall run with noise, vibration, temperature, flow, and pressure within the manufacturer's published limits before the system is released to balancing.
−## Seismic Restraint Thresholds {toc}
+### The Contractor shall record each checkout and startup on a report identifying the equipment tag, the date, the persons present, each item verified, the readings taken, and any deficiency found and its correction.
−### The seismic design category of the project shall be declared in the basis of design, and seismic restraint of mechanical equipment shall be provided where required by ASCE 7 Chapter 13 for that category.
+### Startup reports shall be submitted before the system is released to balancing.
+## Factory-Authorized Startup {toc}
+
+### Startup by a technician authorized by the equipment manufacturer shall be provided as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Seismic Design Category
−type: radio
+label: Factory-Authorized Startup
+type: select
options:
− - "A"
− - "B"
− - "C"
− - "D"
− - "E"
− - "F"
−drawing_ref: true
−default: deferred
+ - "Where the governing equipment standard or the equipment warranty requires it"
+ - "For every item of motor-driven or fuel-fired equipment"
+ - "Not required beyond the installing contractor's checkout"
+default: "Where the governing equipment standard or the equipment warranty requires it"
```
−### In Seismic Design Categories D, E, and F, mechanical components shall be braced and anchored per ASCE 7 Chapter 13.
+### Where factory-authorized startup is performed, the technician's field service report shall be submitted with the startup report for that equipment.
−### In Seismic Design Category C, equipment shall be anchored per the importance factor and weight thresholds of ASCE 7.
+### Chillers, boilers, and drives commonly carry warranties that are void without a factory-authorized startup, and the equipment standards that govern them say so. Requiring it for every motor-driven item adds a mobilization fee per unit, and on small fans and pumps the technician verifies the same items the installing contractor's checkout already covers. Dispensing with it altogether forfeits the warranty on every item whose warranty depends on it. {note}
+## Field Test Rules {toc}
+
+### The Contractor shall give the Engineer of Record and the Owner written notice of each field test not less than the number of days indicated in the datasheet before the test.
+
```datasheet
−label: Component Importance Factor (Ip)
−type: radio
+label: Advance Notice of Field Tests
+type: range
+unit: days
options:
− - "1.0 (standard occupancy)"
− - "1.5 (essential facility / life-safety component)"
−default: "1.0 (standard occupancy)"
+ min: 1
+ max: 7
+ setpoints: [1, 2, 3, 5, 7]
+default: 2
```
−### The contract documents shall assign responsibility for seismic restraint design, whether to the structural Engineer of Record, to delegated contractor design, or to pre-engineered listed restraint systems.
+### A test that fails shall be repeated after correction, and the cost of the repeated test, including the cost of witnessing where witnessing is required, shall be borne by the Contractor.
+### Where a standard governing a system requires a witnessed test, the test shall not be considered complete until the witness has signed the report.
+
+## Temporary Use of Permanent Equipment {toc}
+
+### Operation of permanent mechanical equipment for temporary heating, cooling, or ventilation during construction shall be as indicated in the datasheet.
+
```datasheet
−label: Seismic Restraint Design Responsibility
+label: Temporary Use of Permanent Equipment During Construction
type: radio
options:
− - "Delegated contractor design with pre-engineered listed systems"
− - "Structural Engineer of Record"
−default: "Delegated contractor design with pre-engineered listed systems"
+ - "Not permitted"
+ - "Permitted under the conditions of this article"
```
−### The assignment of seismic restraint design responsibility shall be made explicit in the contract documents and shall not be left to be resolved through RFIs in the field.
+### Where temporary use is permitted, the Contractor shall obtain the Engineer of Record's written acceptance of the equipment to be used and the duration of use before operating it.
−### Failing to assign seismic restraint design responsibility is a recurrent source of RFIs and schedule delays in Seismic Design Category C and above. {note}
+### Where temporary use is permitted, air-handling equipment shall operate with temporary filters rated MERV 8 or higher on every return and outdoor-air opening.
−### Vibration isolation bases, inertia pads, and seismic snubbers themselves are governed by [[sync/vibration-isolation-and-seismic-restraint]]; this section sets only the threshold at which restraint is required. {note}
+### Temporary filters shall be replaced when they reach the filter manufacturer's final pressure drop and again when temporary use ends.
−# Cutting and Patching {toc}
+### Where temporary use is permitted, ductwork shall not convey air from spaces in which sanding, cutting, grinding, spraying, or demolition is in progress.
−## Mechanical rough-in requires cutting and patching of building construction, which must be controlled so that structural and rated assemblies are not compromised. {note}
+### Where temporary use is permitted, the Contractor shall keep a log of run hours and filter changes for each item of equipment so used.
−## Cutting of Construction {toc}
+### The temporary-use log shall be submitted with the closeout submittals.
−### Cutting and core drilling for mechanical work shall be performed so as not to impair the strength, weather resistance, or fire rating of any assembly, and structural members shall not be cut, notched, or bored without written approval of the structural Engineer of Record.
+### Equipment used for temporary service shall be restored before substantial completion by replacing filters, belts, and lubricant and by cleaning coils, drain pans, and the ductwork it served.
−### Penetrations cut through rated assemblies shall be firestopped to restore the assembly rating per the rated-penetration firestopping requirements of this section.
+### The warranty on equipment used for temporary service shall run from the date of substantial completion rather than from first operation.
−## Patching {toc}
+### Before temporary use begins, the Contractor shall secure the manufacturer's written agreement to a warranty start date at substantial completion for each item of equipment to be used.
−### Surfaces disturbed by mechanical work shall be patched and finished to match the adjacent undisturbed construction in material, texture, and finish.
+### Temporary use dries the building out and lets finishes proceed through winter on the building's own equipment with no rental heater and no fuel contract. It consumes warranty life, loads coils and ducts with construction dust, and hands the Owner a used system on the first day of occupancy. Prohibiting it protects the equipment at the cost of rental heat and the schedule risk of a late start on finishes. {note}
−# Field Startup and Acceptance Testing {toc}
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
−## Before systems are handed to the balancing contractor and the owner, the installing contractor must prove the piping holds pressure and the rotating equipment runs correctly. This field acceptance test is distinct from formal balancing. {note}
+## Equipment and materials shall be delivered with factory openings capped or sealed, and the caps shall remain in place until the connection is made.
−## The field acceptance testing in this section is distinct from the testing, adjusting, and balancing governed by [[sync/testing-adjusting-and-balancing]]; both are required and shall not be conflated.
+## Equipment and materials shall be stored off the ground, under cover, and protected from weather, construction traffic, and physical damage.
−## Pressure Testing {toc}
+## Equipment containing motors, controls, or electronics shall be stored in a dry space protected from condensation.
−### Each piping system shall be pressure-tested before insulation is applied and before the system is concealed, at a test pressure of not less than 1.5 times the system design working pressure per ASME B31.9.
+## Equipment containing motors, controls, or electronics shall not be stored outdoors unless it is designed for outdoor installation and is protected from precipitation during storage.
−### The test pressure shall be held for not less than 2 hours with no visible leakage and no pressure drop exceeding 5 PSI.
+## Equipment shall be rigged and moved by the lifting points and methods the manufacturer designates.
−### Pressure tests shall be hydrostatic unless a pneumatic test is specifically authorized in writing for a system that cannot tolerate the test fluid, in which case the additional pneumatic-test safety precautions of ASME B31.9 shall apply.
+## Equipment damaged in delivery, storage, or handling shall be replaced, or repaired to the manufacturer's written requirements, at the Contractor's cost.
−```datasheet
−label: Pressure Test Method
−type: radio
−options:
− - "Hydrostatic"
− - "Pneumatic (only where authorized for systems intolerant of test fluid)"
−default: "Hydrostatic"
−```
+## A repair in place of replacement shall be made only with the Engineer of Record's written approval.
−```datasheet
−label: Hydrostatic Test Pressure
−type: range
−unit: PSI
−min: 100
−max: 375
−step: 5
−default: 150
−```
+# Cutting and Patching {toc}
−```datasheet
−label: Minimum Test Hold Time
−type: range
−unit: hr
−min: 2
−max: 8
−step: 1
−default: 2
−```
+## Cutting, coring, and drilling for mechanical work shall be performed so as not to impair the strength, weather resistance, or fire resistance of the construction cut.
−## Motor Rotation and Operational Check {toc}
+## Structural members shall not be cut, notched, or cored except where shown on the structural drawings or approved in writing by the structural Engineer of Record.
−### Before any motor-driven equipment is operated under load, the Contractor shall verify the rotation direction against the equipment manufacturer's rotation arrow with a momentary first-start check.
+## Openings cut through rated assemblies shall be firestopped as required under the Pipe Sleeves, Penetrations, and Firestopping section of this standard.
−### Each system shall be operated through a startup check confirming that pumps, fans, and equipment run without abnormal noise, vibration, or overheating, and that flow and pressure readings are within the expected range before the system is released to balancing.
+## Surfaces disturbed by mechanical work shall be patched to match the adjacent undisturbed construction in material, thickness, texture, and finish.
−### Verifying rotation before operating under load prevents pumps and fans from running backward, which on some equipment produces apparently normal but reduced output that is not detected until balancing fails to make setpoints. {note}
+## Where the parties disagree whether a patch matches the adjacent construction, the Architect shall make the determination.
−# Warranty {toc}
+# Cleaning and Protection {toc}
−## A defined warranty period sets the owner's recourse for defective mechanical workmanship and materials after substantial completion. {note}
+## Open ends of ductwork and piping shall be capped or covered whenever work on them is not in progress.
−## Workmanship Warranty {toc}
+## Equipment, ductwork interiors, and piping interiors shall be cleaned of construction debris, dust, and standing water before startup.
−### The Contractor shall warrant all mechanical work against defects in materials and workmanship for the warranty period declared below, measured from the date of substantial completion.
+## Equipment installed before the building is weather-tight shall be protected from moisture, dust, and physical damage until the space it occupies is enclosed.
−### During the warranty period the Contractor shall repair or replace defective work and any other work damaged by the defect or its correction at no cost to the owner.
+## Factory finishes damaged during construction shall be touched up with the manufacturer's finish before substantial completion.
−### Manufacturer warranties on equipment and components shall be assigned to the owner and shall run for their full term where that term exceeds the workmanship warranty period.
+## Where the Engineer of Record determines that touch-up does not restore a damaged factory finish, the component shall be refinished or replaced.
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall warrant the mechanical work against defects in materials and workmanship for the period indicated in the datasheet, measured from the date of substantial completion.
+
```datasheet
label: Workmanship Warranty Period
−type: radio
+type: range
+unit: years
options:
− - "1 year from substantial completion"
− - "2 years from substantial completion"
−default: "1 year from substantial completion"
+ min: 1
+ max: 5
+ setpoints: [1, 2, 3, 5]
+default: 1
```
−# Spare Parts {toc}
+## During the warranty period the Contractor shall repair or replace defective work at no cost to the Owner.
−## Furnishing a defined set of spare parts at closeout lets the owner service the common mechanical components without sourcing delay. {note}
+## The Contractor shall repair other work damaged by a warranted defect or by its correction at no cost to the Owner.
−## Furnished Spares {toc}
+## Work repaired or replaced under warranty shall be warranted for a fresh full term from the date of the repair or for the remainder of the original term, whichever is longer.
−### The Contractor shall furnish spare valve trim, gage and thermometer elements, and seal kits as required by the individual equipment sections, delivered to the owner at substantial completion.
+## Manufacturer warranties on equipment and components shall be assigned to the Owner and shall run from the date of substantial completion.
−### Spare parts shall be the products of the same manufacturers as the installed components so that they are interchangeable with the installed work.
+## Where a manufacturer's warranty runs from startup or shipment rather than from substantial completion, the Contractor shall warrant the equipment on the manufacturer's terms for the interval between the two dates.
+
+## A one-year warranty from substantial completion is the term the industry's standard general conditions carry, and most projects adopt it without discussion. Longer terms are bought by institutional owners who keep their buildings for decades, at a premium that rises with the term, because the contractor is pricing equipment failures it does not control. {note}
+
+# Spare Parts {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall furnish the spare parts each governing equipment or system standard requires, delivered to the Owner before substantial completion.
+
+## Spare parts shall be the products of the manufacturers of the installed equipment, packaged, labeled with the equipment tag they serve, and listed on a receipt signed by the Owner's representative.