As we navigate the current COVID-19 situation, it may be surprising to learn that prior to the pandemic, a majority of property owners did not place a high level of importance on maintaining their HVAC systems. In fact, a brief survey of property owners would likely register a small yawn when approached with the topic, leaving all HVAC matters to be addressed only when service needs were an issue. However, as the world changed its view and began to look at the safety of indoor environments through the lens of COVID-19, the importance of HVAC maintenance is taking on an entirely different level of importance.
Almost overnight, COVID-19 infections caused our global population to care enough about air filtration to actually install an air filter over their face in order safeguard from infection. All of a sudden, the level of interest and concern about operating and maintaining HVAC systems became top of mind for millions worldwide. And, from this, we’ve expanded our interest from our personal spaces to the importance of how these often complex systems should be maintained in our shared spaces.
The dirty facts about HVAC systems is that most major manufacturers do not typically provide accessible guidance on system maintenance which can lead to premature equipment failure. And, without a sound recommendation on preventative care and routine maintenance, property owners run the risk of being denied under their warrantee coverage for insufficient maintenance.
A properly maintained system can save building owners on average15-20% of their current energy costs, yet the vast majority of systems are maintained inadequately due to the following circumstances:
Commercial systems are not being operated as the design engineer intended.
Unqualified or inexperienced HVAC contractors are not following the minimum industry consensus for standards of preventative maintenance.
Most building owners are not able to observe or verify maintenance tasks.
A majority of HVAC systems are failing to operate in accordance to building codes.
HVAC manufacturers do not offer training on proper preventative maintenance.
Filters maintained during preventative maintenance programs are being changed too early, leading to worse filter performance and increased costs.
Regular maintenance with a qualified, professional HVAC contractor has the ability to reduce the risk of a costly breakdown, premature equipment failure, and an increase in capital expenditures. Here are three things you can do today to begin this process:
In response to a community plea for personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders and front line health care workers, Thayer, LLC a local company specializing in HVAC solutions, answered the call in the typical Maine “can-do” way.
• Thayer was able to design and build a mobile PPE sterilization solution capable of processing 1000-3000 items per day.
• Two independent methods were used; oxidation and thermal remediation
• The unit was tested and ready for deployment on April 15, 2020
• Thankfully there has been no demand for the service although publicized indicating supplies of new PPE appears to be easing.
April 28th 2020, Auburn, Maine –
At the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Maine several hospitals commissioned experts at the University of Maine to investigate and recommend practical and immediate methods to sterilize PPE for reuse. Simultaneously engineers at Thayer, a thirty-nine year old design/build/maintain HVAC and building automation company, were helping several of their hospital clients explore the same need, to sterilize PPE. Using their extensive experience in precision agriculture and biomed applications the Thayer Team designed a mobile unit capable of sterilizing 1000-3000 items of PPE per day. The UMaine Team recommended Thayer’s approach after studying the means and methods of the mobile unit designed. Rapid prototypes were fabricated and tested successfully at the Advanced Manufacturing Center in Orono, Maine immediately followed by construction of the operational, full-scale mobile unit. To date there has been no demand for the service. According to President and project engineer Dan Thayer, P.E., “this was one of the most meaningful projects we have ever tackled”. Thankfully the PPE shortage in Maine has subsided and there is little demand in the State. We are so incredibly proud of our Team. Not only does the performance exceed the design parameters but the quality of the workmanship and speed of production was unparalleled in our 39-year history. It’s the best project that failed financially”, says Thayer jokingly. Other markets have expressed interest in the mobile unit but for now remains on “stand-by” in Maine.
“The unselfishness, openness and collaboration of all involved with the project is a testament to the “can do” Maine spirit that characterizes our State. We are proud to be able to make a small contribution to the many on the front line providers in this COVID-19 pandemic. We will be offering this know-how to the many thousands of buildings needing to be made safe before reopening. Senator Nate Libby and the Team at UMaine cleared many obstacles and made our work much easier” opines Thayer.
In 1981, father and son duo, Richard and Daniel Thayer started Thayer, LLC, a company specializing in refrigeration contracting. Thirty-nine years later they now have a full-scale mechanical contracting company with over 50 employees servicing both New Hampshire and Maine.
Providing top-tier customer service is at the core of Thayer’s business. On the building automation controls side, this was becoming increasingly difficult as their customers were coming to them frustrated that they were locked out of their systems or the systems were too complex to operate. Seemingly the only alternative was opting into large service contracts.
Earlier this year, the Thayers brought on Greg Marles as their new General Manager and COO with the goal of expanding their current business operations. Marles, with 35 years in the HVAC industry is well equipped to do just that.
Greg and his team quickly realized that the key to improving their customer service in their building automation department was to find a system that was simple enough to be operated by the end-user but did not require their customers to rip and replace all of their existing controllers. Computrols was that key. Their ability to host third-party controllers/protocols could put Thayer’s customers back in the driver’s seat and eliminate the pre-existing maintenance agreements.
Greg explained, “What we really wanted was to be able to build our very own systems from the ground up by providing our own line of controllers. Computrols enables us to do that. We recently made the decision to move away from the low-bid plan and spec market and focus on the design build side of the industry. It does mean higher up-front costs but the on-going costs and low or no-service requirement that the Computrols Building Automation System gives our customers, more than pays for itself in the long run.”
When Greg discovered that Computrols integrated so well with third-party systems it was a game-changer for him. It meant that Thayer wouldn’t have to worry about future lockouts on service contracts and more importantly, it meant that their customers would no longer feel hand-cuffed by their system.
Since becoming an authorized distributor for Computrols in just the last few weeks, Thayer already has several proposals with local school, hospital, industrial, commercial, and municipal buildings with high hopes that they can offer services and solutions that no one else can.
Greg added, “Our customers were complaining to us about being ‘stuck’ and ‘frustrated’ with their existing control systems. We weren’t in a position to help them before, but now we can – thanks to Computrols.”
Comment from Computrols
Mike Clayton, Manager of Strategic Partnerships said, “What Greg and his team are doing in Maine is impressive. The number of projects they have Computrols in mind for already is exciting and we look forward to a long and excellent working partnership.”
When Greg discovered that Computrols integrated so well with third-party systems it was a game-changer for him. It meant that Thayer wouldn’t have to worry about future lockouts on service contracts and more importantly, it meant that their customers would no longer feel hand-cuffed by their system.
Since becoming an authorized distributor for Computrols in just the last few weeks, Thayer already has several proposals with local school, hospital, industrial, commercial, and municipal buildings with high hopes that they can offer services and solutions that no one else can.
Greg added, “Our customers were complaining to us about being ‘stuck’ and ‘frustrated’ with their existing control systems. We weren’t in a position to help them before, but now we can – thanks to Computrols.”
Comment from Computrols
Mike Clayton, Manager of Strategic Partnerships said, “What Greg and his team are doing in Maine is impressive. The number of projects they have Computrols in mind for already is exciting and we look forward to a long and excellent working partnership.”
The human race is experiencing one of the most serious challenges of modern history. Few were able to foresee the risk of a virus like COVID-19 to the world population and the speed at which a pathogen such as this could spread around the globe. Nevertheless, here we are in the midst of a war against an invisible enemy and it is time to focus the fight.
Our Team is Ready to Serve
Over our 39-year history, we have amassed valuable experience managing indoor environments for health, safety and productivity. Our first phase in this war on COVID-19 was to assure the safety of our Team so we can continue to serve you. We have the appropriate PPE and training to minimize exposure and our Teams are ready to roll. The HVAC service industry has been deemed an “essential service” in every State that currently has “shelter in place” orders including Maine and New Hampshire.
After this phase in the battle passes and people are returning to work, we will need to prepare buildings for the risks that will persist for months. If you wish to discuss feasibility of protecting your building occupants, please contact us so we can customize a program.
Availability of much of the devices and equipment needed has started to dwindle but there are still many measures that can happen immediately while we wait out lead times.
How Thayer is Fighting Back
Over the past several weeks we have been tireless and relentlessly studying everything we can learn about this virus and put together quite an armory of weapons to fight back. We have a significant and growing knowledge of COVID-19 modalities for spreading once inside the indoor occupied environment. The list of possible changes and improvements to the safety of occupants includes, but is not limited to the following:
• Increasing “dilution ventilation” rates
• Assuring or improving the quality of outdoor air used for ventilation
• Optimizing “economizer” operation
• Raising the indoor temperature and relative humidity levels
• Utilization of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)
• Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO)
• Upgrading air filtration to trap airborne pathogens
• Controlling building pressurization
• Optimizing directional airflow
• Sanitizing HVAC systems, spaces and surfaces using powerful oxidizers
Not all of these measures are feasible or advised for all buildings, though proper maintenance of equipment, such as frequent filter changes, can go a long way in trapping pathogens removing them from the airstream.
Translating our Experience with IPM into Fighting COVID-19
Our Lifespring Microclimates division has been designing, installing and maintaining precision indoor cultivation environments for nearly six years now. Oddly enough, these skills and experience come together in fighting COVID-19.
One of the biggest challenges facing indoor organically grown crops is pest management. The comprehensive approach is called integrated pest management (IPM) . The best line of defense in a IPM program is assuring the pest cannot get to the crop in the first place through engineered systems that either kill the pest(s) or prevent it from entering the environment. The comparison to human-occupied environments during this pandemic are quite similar. Our best line of defense is to prevent or minimize human exposure to the pathogen. Social distancing, quarantines, and PPE are all tools to minimize the pathways that may connect the pathogen to the new host. With the addition of measures regarding HVAC equipment, we can further minimize exposure of the pathogen to our building environments .
I personally make two promises to you. The first is that we will remain tireless in our quest to continue learning, sharing and serving you. The second is that we will not suggest any measure that has not been fully vetted and scientifically verifiable. We can share the data and science as appropriate.
We are “in it to win it“, as the saying goes, and together we will prevail.
In late October 2015, we organized a celebration event at Maine Machine Products in South Paris, Maine. Maine Machine Products’ 65,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility contains the latest in CNC and multi-axis machines and precision equipment. They currently operate two shifts, both staffed with associates who are highly experienced and quality focused. They are a world-class manufacturer of custom components and assemblies for targeted high-tech markets, such as semi-conductor, medical, defense and aerospace, telecom and fiber optics, and oil and gas.
MMPCo’s Facility Manager, Barry Kilgore, contacted us early in 2015 looking for ways to reduce energy expenses.
Working with Bob Degruchy of Graybar Electric, we designed a lighting retrofit plan that would decrease MMPCo’s annual electricity usage over 600,000 kWh. The system they chose included fixtures manufactured in the US by Cooper Industries and Light Corporation.
We were able to address Maine Machine’s HVAC energy costs with the CATALYST system from Transformative Wave Technologies. CATALYST is a combination hardware and software platform that has consistently produced energy savings of 40% to 60% in systems exactly like MMPCo’s.
With help from Brant Small of Transformative Wave, a CATALYST system was designed that would reduce electricity usage by approximately 325,000 kWh per year. The overall savings of 925,000 kWh is enough energy to power the average home for 100 years.
With the project costs and the savings estimates calculated, we submitted the project to Efficiency Maine for pre-approval. LED lighting is a standard part of lighting retrofit projects within the industry. Energy-saving controls designed specifically for constant volume rooftop HVAC units, however, had not been done in Maine before as part of an Efficiency Maine program; The technology needed to be researched and verified.
We worked with Efficiency Maine to have the CATALYST system evaluated and the bundled project pre-approved for incentives in an amount that represented 50% of the project cost and provided Maine Machine Products with a one-year payback. The project began in July 2015, and concluded in October 2015.
I’m so tired that I’m cross eyed but please indulge me for a short story. A few years ago I volunteered to help with recording the audiobiographies of many of the millworkers that worked in Lewiston at the turn-of-the-century. A generation that was dying. Most of them were millworkers of Franco American descent. Their various stories brought both laughs and tears to those of us recording their lives. Today one particular story came to mind.
Jean and Yvonne both worked at the Bates Mill, Jean a machine operator and Yvonne a ” bobbin girl”. As a bobbin girl, Yvonne wore a long cotton dress every day and slid along the hardwood floors under the machines on her back lubricating the bearings while machines were operating. They were paid on piece-work and didn’t stop the machines for maintenance. The bobbin girls were small enough to slid under these looms while operating with only inches of clearance to the whirring and deafening looms. She was 14 years old when she started and worked 12 hours a day six days a week. After every shift she ran home five blocks away to exchange shoes with her twin sister as they shared a single pair of shoes typically making her sister late for her shift. After meeting Jean they moved back to rural Quebec and married at 17. For their honeymoon they traveled back to Lewiston to visit family and friends, it was the only vacation they could afford. Both ventured out one day while there to visit friends. Jean went nearly insane when Yvonne didn’t return after more than 24 hours. When she went back to the mill to visit with the ” girls” the supervisor indulged her to fill in for a vacant bobbin girl who was sick. She knew what a hardship this was on the other girls and agreed, working a double shift (24 hrs). She returned to the apartment the next day, her new ” travel clothes” and hair covered head to toe in cotton fibers. Her new husband cried and all was well once again…..True story as told by Yvonne.
Today I returned to our office after a very long and tiring day. Several of our team was still there after about a 12 hour day. A core group has worked these long days consecutively without break for couple weeks doing a massive software conversion that will be a huge asset to our customers. While not covered in fibers they have the same commitment Yvonne did to her “girls”. Gawd…sometimes they bring tears to my eyes. An inspiration and extraordinary bunch they all are. Thank you….
