Hi Nikki,
Apologies for misspelling your name in my last email -- I have no excuses! Here is a reply from one of the experts I reached out to:
"The brand of equipment is not as important as the experience of the engineer who designs it, the contractor who installs it, and the control system vendor who programs it. All need to have experience with not just HVAC systems but MUSEUM HVAC systems. Check with other museums in your city or region to see who they have used and their experiences with their engineer and vendors. Most important are their service records and response times to trouble-shoot and solve problems, especially the control vendor. A good control technician who understands your HAVC system is crucial in keeping the system on-line and maintaining steady and safe environmental conditions.
I recommend paying the extra 5% of initial project cost to engage an independent commissioning agent for your new system. There are engineers who specialize in commissioning a new system, making sure that all the equipment is operating and being controlled correctly once it is installed. The system should be commissioned for winter conditions in the early winter once there is a demand for constant heating and humidification, and separately for summer conditions in early summer once the cooling and dehumidification functions are engaged. The HVAC vendor may claim that they can adequately commission the system and of course they will get it up and running, and the control vendor will do the same on their side, but the independent commissioning agent will ensure that the system is operating to your specifications and prevent the HVAC vendor form pointing fingers at the control vendor if problems arise and vice versa.
Be sure that the one-year initial equipment and maintenance warrantee does not begin until the commissioning agent has ensured that the system is operating to your satisfaction and that the different seasonal operating equipment warrantees begin only when that equipment is engaged for that season, eg. heating coils and humidifiers in the winter and cooling coils and dehumidification in the summer.
Finally, negotiate a maintenance contract for at least the first few years as part of the initial installation contract. Each year, at least one visit should be scheduled in the fall to ensure that the heating coil valves and humidifier are operating properly before the cold weather arrives, and one visit in the spring to make sure the cooling coil is fully charged and the reheat coils are operating properly before the hot weather arrives. The most problematic piece of equipment in the entire HVAC systems is usually the humidifier, so be sure to ask other museums what humidifiers they use. I recommend steam humidifiers by Nortec or similar humidifiers that have disposable cartridges, especially if your water is hard."
Another expert commented, "This is not a question that can be quickly answered as there are many variables... I would need to know a lot more about the building and its construction, the building's geographic location/climate zone, the type of museum, and the types/vulnerabilities of the collections.
I'd also want to know the following:
- Have they been monitoring the environment? What conditions are being maintained now, and what are the desired conditions they want to maintain?
- What is the configuration and condition of the building envelope? What can it tolerate?
- What systems are currently in operation? What is failing? What is the condition and service life of each component of the system?
- Are the HVAC consultants contractors or mechanical engineers?"
Best,
Saira
Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
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Saira Haqqi (she/they)
Conservator
National Archives and Records Administration
College Park, MD
saira.haqqi@nara.gov
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-16-2023 17:14
From: Nikki Gough
Subject: HVAC System
Hello Everyone,
My museum has an HVAC system that is on its last leg. We have gotten estimates from our HVAC consultants on what a new system would cost and what brands would be the best, but I wanted to see what other museums are using first.
Has anyone replaced their HVAC systems recently? Do you have any recommendations? Or are there any HVAC systems that should be avoided?
Thank you!
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Nikki Gough
Collections Manager
High Desert Museum
Bend OR
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