A Field Perspective on Engineering Commissioning Resources
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    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building HHW System Logic Exercise
    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building Scavenger Hunt
    • Chilled Water Plant System Diagram Exercise
    • The HIjend Hotel >
      • Chilled Water Plant Scoping Exercise
      • Ballroom AHU Scoping Exercise
      • Cooling Tower Scoping Exercise
  • Tools
    • Altitude Correction Factor
    • Economizer Evaluation Checklist
    • Eikon for Educators and WindLGC
    • Effective Duct Length Tool
    • Excel Third Axis Tool
    • Excel Time Value Conversion
    • Insulation Savings Tools
    • Logic Diagram Tool
    • Mixed Air Calculations
    • Monitoring Plan Spreadsheet
    • Pipe Friction Chart
    • Plot Digitizer >
      • Plot Digitizer Pump Curve Example
    • Square Law Spreadsheet
    • System Diagram Symbols
    • Thermodynamic Diagrams Spreadsheet
    • Universal Translator Data Analysis Tool
    • y = (m * x) + b Spreadsheet
  • Useful Formulas
    • Affinity Laws
    • Circular Equivalent Duct
    • Effective Duct Length
    • FT Guide Appendix C
    • HVAC Equations and Concepts
    • Hydraulic Diameter
    • Pump Power and Energy
    • "Square Law"
  • What's That Thing?
    • Cooling Towers
    • Pumps
    • Valves
  • Resources
    • Bill Coad's Writings
    • Data Logging Resources
    • EBCx Skills Guidebook
    • Energy Design Resources
    • Fisher Controls Valve Cavitation Bulletin
    • Functional Testing Guide
    • Honeywell Gray Manual
    • MCC Powers Bulletins
    • NBCIP Reports
    • PEC Tool Lending Library
    • PID Resources
    • Pneumatic Control Resources
    • Resource List
    • Scoping Resources
    • TAB Resources
    • Vintage Carrier Design Manual
    • VRF Systems
    • Williams' Wisdom
  • Videos
    • Bureaucratic Affairs HHW Logic Answers
    • Cooling Tower Flow Variation
    • Economizer Stratification
    • Functional Testing
    • Induction Principles
    • Monitoring Plans
    • Ripple Effects
    • Testing a Pump
    • The Garden of Low Entropy
    • Variable Flow Systems
  • Training
    • Materials from Classes and Presentations >
      • ACEEE
      • ASHRAE
      • ASHRAE - Engineers Notebook
      • BCxA and NCBC
      • BEST Institute
      • Case Studies
      • ERDC 2020 RCx Academy
      • ELPNW
      • ICEBO
      • Marriott AEP
      • Magazine Articles
      • NAVFAC
      • Pacific Energy Center Design, Performance and Commissioning Issues Classes >
        • PEC Class Materials Archive
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Project Review
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Workshop Series >
        • EBCx Workshop Series 12
        • EBCx Workshop Series 13
        • EBCx Workshop Series 14
        • EBCx Workshop Series 15 >
          • Student One On One Discussions
        • EBCx Workshop Series 16
        • EBCx Workshop Series 17
      • Portland General Electric
      • U of W >
        • U of W Archive
    • On Demand Training >
      • Benchmarking UCA and Scoping
      • Loads and Psychrometrics
      • Induction Motor Principles
      • Introduction to Functional Testing
      • Scope of Work Documents
      • System Diagraming
    • Training Opportunities
  • Contact
    • Copyright and Permissions
  • Home
    • What's New
  • Blog
    • Blog Support
  • SketchUp Models
    • SketchUp Resources
    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building HHW System Logic Exercise
    • Bureaucratic Affairs Building Scavenger Hunt
    • Chilled Water Plant System Diagram Exercise
    • The HIjend Hotel >
      • Chilled Water Plant Scoping Exercise
      • Ballroom AHU Scoping Exercise
      • Cooling Tower Scoping Exercise
  • Tools
    • Altitude Correction Factor
    • Economizer Evaluation Checklist
    • Eikon for Educators and WindLGC
    • Effective Duct Length Tool
    • Excel Third Axis Tool
    • Excel Time Value Conversion
    • Insulation Savings Tools
    • Logic Diagram Tool
    • Mixed Air Calculations
    • Monitoring Plan Spreadsheet
    • Pipe Friction Chart
    • Plot Digitizer >
      • Plot Digitizer Pump Curve Example
    • Square Law Spreadsheet
    • System Diagram Symbols
    • Thermodynamic Diagrams Spreadsheet
    • Universal Translator Data Analysis Tool
    • y = (m * x) + b Spreadsheet
  • Useful Formulas
    • Affinity Laws
    • Circular Equivalent Duct
    • Effective Duct Length
    • FT Guide Appendix C
    • HVAC Equations and Concepts
    • Hydraulic Diameter
    • Pump Power and Energy
    • "Square Law"
  • What's That Thing?
    • Cooling Towers
    • Pumps
    • Valves
  • Resources
    • Bill Coad's Writings
    • Data Logging Resources
    • EBCx Skills Guidebook
    • Energy Design Resources
    • Fisher Controls Valve Cavitation Bulletin
    • Functional Testing Guide
    • Honeywell Gray Manual
    • MCC Powers Bulletins
    • NBCIP Reports
    • PEC Tool Lending Library
    • PID Resources
    • Pneumatic Control Resources
    • Resource List
    • Scoping Resources
    • TAB Resources
    • Vintage Carrier Design Manual
    • VRF Systems
    • Williams' Wisdom
  • Videos
    • Bureaucratic Affairs HHW Logic Answers
    • Cooling Tower Flow Variation
    • Economizer Stratification
    • Functional Testing
    • Induction Principles
    • Monitoring Plans
    • Ripple Effects
    • Testing a Pump
    • The Garden of Low Entropy
    • Variable Flow Systems
  • Training
    • Materials from Classes and Presentations >
      • ACEEE
      • ASHRAE
      • ASHRAE - Engineers Notebook
      • BCxA and NCBC
      • BEST Institute
      • Case Studies
      • ERDC 2020 RCx Academy
      • ELPNW
      • ICEBO
      • Marriott AEP
      • Magazine Articles
      • NAVFAC
      • Pacific Energy Center Design, Performance and Commissioning Issues Classes >
        • PEC Class Materials Archive
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Project Review
      • Pacific Energy Center EBCx Workshop Series >
        • EBCx Workshop Series 12
        • EBCx Workshop Series 13
        • EBCx Workshop Series 14
        • EBCx Workshop Series 15 >
          • Student One On One Discussions
        • EBCx Workshop Series 16
        • EBCx Workshop Series 17
      • Portland General Electric
      • U of W >
        • U of W Archive
    • On Demand Training >
      • Benchmarking UCA and Scoping
      • Loads and Psychrometrics
      • Induction Motor Principles
      • Introduction to Functional Testing
      • Scope of Work Documents
      • System Diagraming
    • Training Opportunities
  • Contact
    • Copyright and Permissions

SketchUp Models

 
​Several years ago, we came up with the idea of using Sketchup to create 3D models of mechanical rooms and central plants as a way to provide a virtual field experience in some of the classes we teach.  They turned out to be very popular and fairly effective and as a result, the folks I work with on training have encouraged me to continue developing them and applying them as training aids.
 
This page will give you access to some of the models so you can use them for self study purposes.   We plan to continually grow this resource, like many of the other resources on the website.  The first exercise we put up was a newer version of the system diagram exercise I put up on my blog several years ago.   Since then, we have been adding scoping exercises  as well as a control system logic exercise. 

The vision for the scoping exercises is that they will become little packages that let you identify an opportunity by exploring the model, then take you through the steps to assess the opportunity, develop the cost benefit relationship, develop the implementation strategy, and develop a verification plan.   We even hope to make versions of the model that show the change being put in place so you can do some construction observation and maybe even some virtual functional testing.

The packages will use a combination of the models, videos, blog posts and narrated slide sets to accomplish the mission.   So you may want to check back every once-in-a-while if that sort of thing interests you to see if we have added any content.  It's a work in progress and the amount of content is constantly evolving and growing.

Each of the links at the bottom of this page will take you to an exercise with a narrative that sets it up, the model and other resources you need to do the exercise,  and content that provides the answer for the exercise.    The idea is that you would:
​
  1. Read through the narrative that sets the scene, and then 
  2. Work with the model on your own to develop  your own answer to the exercise, and finally
  3. View the content that contains our answer and compare it to yours.

To use the models, you need to have SketchUp installed on your computer because the models are too large to upload into the current free version of SketchUp.   If you don't have the professional version of SketchUp or one of the legacy free versions that will run locally on your computer, the SketchUp Resources link below takes you to a page with a number of SketchUp options and information to get you started.

Even if you already have SketchUp,  before working with the models take a minute to review the following topics on the SketchUp Resources page:
  • A Few Details About Installing SketchUp and Using the Models 
  • Using Scenes and Scene Guides

​These topics cover several common questions that come up when folks start working with the models and also highlight some features that will make it easier to navigate through and work with the models.

Copyrights and Permissions

The models and related content are copyright protected so please take a minute to review our copyright statement and permissions before you use them.  

SketchUp   
​Resources

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This page has links to SketchUp Viewer and legacy versions of SketchUp which you can download and install on your computer so you can work with the models and do the exercises.  It also includes links to resources that will help you learn the basics you need to work with the models, primarily the navigation and camera tools.
Go There

Logic Diagram Exercise

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This model supports an exercise that allows you to develop a logic diagram for a heating hot water system.   In addition to learning about logic diagrams, the narrative used to set up the exercise will also help you learn about how finned tube radiation systems work and how the design temperature parameters are set by the designer.
Go There

CHW System Diagram Exercise

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This exercise will allow you to practice your system diagram development skills by creating a system diagram for the chilled water piping in a central chilled water plant.  It includes the models you need to do the exercise along with the "answer" in the form of a system diagram created using symbols that are drawn using PowerPoint.
Go There

Scavenger Hunt Exercise

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The Bureaucratic Affairs Building  is a good model to work with for learning how to navigate in SketchUp because it is not as complex as some of the other models.  So, as a way to prepare for a class where the models will be used, try your hand at answering the 10 Scavenger Hunt questions by working your way through the model.
Go There

The Hijend Hotel
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This page is the jumping off point for a number of exercises, all of which focus on working with the MEP systems in an imaginary high rise hotel in the San Diego area.  The concept is to provide a way to learn Existing Building Commissioning  techniques by working with SkechUp models of common building systems.
Go There

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