lasalle u. – burns’ responses to elliott-lewis ... university school of business... · for the...

LaSalle U. – Burns’ Responses to Elliott-Lewis Specification Review

TO: Daniel J. Keating Company

134 N. Narberth Ave

Narberth, PA 19072

Attn: Bill Farrell

CC: Tom Broadhurst

Project: LaSalle University – New Business School

Date: 8/26/14

After a review of the specifications provided for the LaSalle University – New Business School Project,

we have compiled a list of items we feel may not be applicable to the project or add additional costs to

the project that are over and above the previous design.

1. General spec note: All of the equipment, duct and piping specs reference seismic restraints and

requirements. Please confirm that this project is not design to any Seismic Category and any

additional seismic supports and bracing will not be required.

Burns Response: Seismic supports and bracing are not required.

2. General spec note: Some of the specifications call for LEED submittals on equipment. Since this

is not a LEED certified project can these requirements be deleted?

Burns Response: Yes, these can be deleted.

3. Spec Section 220553 “Identification for Plumbing”

a. This spec section calls for stainless steel equipment nameplates for identifying

equipment. This is an added cost because we usually furnish and install Engraved

Phenolic Plastic Nameplates which are of comparable quality but less expensive.

Burns Response: Phenolic plastic nameplates are acceptable.

b. This spec section calls for stainless steel valve tags. This is an added cost because

we usually furnish and install Brass valve tags which are of comparable quality

but less expensive.

Burns Response: Brass valve tags are acceptable.

4. Spec Section 220719 “Plumbing Piping and Equipment Insulation”

a. This spec section calls for Storm Water and Overflow piping to be insulated.

Typically we would only insulate the horizontal storm water & overflow piping.

Please confirm that we only need to insulate the horizontal storm water &

overflow piping.

Burns Response: Confirmed.

b. This spec section calls for all exposed piping below 8’-0” above the finished floor to

receive a PVC jacket applied over the factory All Service Jacket (ASJ). Installing a

2nd jacket on the pipe typically isn’t done at the University. We understand why

they may want this, but it does add some cost to the project.

Burns Response: We feel the PVC jacket is required to protect exposed piping

from potential damage.

5. Spec Section 221313 “Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping” a. This spec calls for Galvanized-steel pipe, pressure fittings and threaded joints on the

aboveground sanitary-sewage forced mains. For the 2” Elevator Sump Pump we would

prefer to install DWV Copper with Soldered Fittings. For the 3” Sewage Ejector Pump

we would prefer to install Hubless Cast Iron with extra heavy couplings.

Burns Response: Type L copper is acceptable for the 2” pump discharge. Galvanized

steel should be used for the 3” pump discharge.

6. Spec Section 221413 “Facility Storm Drainage Piping”

a. This spec calls for galvanized-steel pipe with grooved fittings for the above ground storm

drainage piping 8” and larger. Can hubless cast iron with extra heavy couplings be an

acceptable alternate? We have not had a chance to run a full cost analysis on this system

but we would like to have the option to run it both ways and see which is the least

expensive.

Burns Response: Hubless is acceptable for the vertical piping, but we believe galvanized

is a much better installation for the large horizontal storm piping. Elliott-Lewis can run it

both ways to determine the difference in cost between the two options.

7. Spec Section 223300 “Electric, Domestic-Water Heaters”

a. This spec calls for a factory-authorized service representative to inspect components and

provide owner training. This typically isn’t done for electric water heaters. If LaSalle’s

maintenance staff needs any training we can perform it with our in house plumbing staff.

Burns Response: Factory-authorized training not required.

8. Spec 230501 “Mechanical Work, Materials and Methods”

a. This spec calls for all steel chilled water system piping to be painted with one coat of

rust-inhibitive primer. I don’t know if this was picked up by the painting contractor

during the budget phases of this project. I just wanted to bring it to someone’s attention.

Burns Response: Painting of just the welds is acceptable.

b. This spec calls for us to install high performance butterfly valves entering and existing

the mechanical spaces. Can we have some clarity on this statement because we didn’t

include any high performance valves in our budgets and we don’t see any valves shown

on the drawings just before or after the piping enters/leaves the mechanical rooms.

Burns Response: High performance butterfly valves are only required on the chilled

water supply & return pipes entering the building at Storage Room 023.

9. Spec 230541 “Motors and Adjustable Frequency Drives”

a. This spec says that the VFD’s shall be manufactured by Sqaure D Schneider

Electric or approved equal if submitted before the bid is submitted. Please confirm

that alternate manufacturers will still be approved for the drives.

Burns Response: Alternate approved equals will be accepted. The specification

will be revised to show approved equals.

10. Spec 230516 “Expansion Fittings and Loops for HVAC Piping”

a. This spec includes all of the requirements for the expansion joints, guides and anchors for

the project. We didn’t see any prefabricated expansion joints, guides and anchors shown

on the drawings anywhere and were wondering if there will be any required on the

Heating Hot Water System.

Burns Response: Per the specifications, the design of expansion compensation is the

responsibility of the contractor.

11. Spec 230519 “Meters and Gages for HVAC Piping

a. This spec tells us to install thermometers in the Heat Exchanger (None on Project)

and Outside, Return, Supply and Mixed Air Ducts. The Duct temperatures we

should be able to read from the Siemens control system. Please confirm that these

are not supposed to be listed in the spec and this requirement can be deleted.

Burns Response: Thermometers were specified at the unit for maintenance

convenience and should be installed in the SA, RA and OA ducts. LaSalle to confirm

if they can be removed and if reading from Siemens control system is adequate.

12. Spec 230523 “General-Duty Valves for HVAC Piping”

a. This spec doesn’t list Butterfly Valves as an acceptable shut off valve for the Heating

Hot Water System for valves 4” and larger. We would typically use full port ball

valves up to 2” and butterfly valves for all shutoff valves 2-1/2” and larger. Would

this be acceptable?

Burns Response: This is acceptable pending approval by LaSalle and the butterfly

valves are approved for use in heating systems.

13. Spec 230530 “Hangers, Supports and Seismic Control”

a. This spec section calls for a pre-construction shop drawing set which shows all

piping system hanger layouts, applicable sections, elevations and details, force

diagrams and calculations showing load reactions. This would be an added cost

and cause a pretty big delay in work because we would have to work with a

seismic Engineer to review all of our coordination drawings and develop this

additional paperwork. We only have coordination drawings included in our

original proposal. Please advise if this requirement can be removed from the spec.

Burns Response: The calculation requirement can be removed from the spec, but

hanger layouts and details should be provided for congested areas.

b. The spec section says at the request of the engineer we are to provide samples and mock-

up examples of pipe hangers we are installing on the project. Please confirm that the

Engineer will not require any of these mock-up assemblies.

Burns Response: This requirement can be removed from the spec.

c. This section also details a lot of seismic design that is put into our scope of work. As

requested in item #1 of this document. Please confirm this is not required.

Burns Response: This requirement can be removed from the spec as noted in our

response to item #1.

14. Spec 230549 “Mechanical Sound and Vibration Control”

a. This spec calls for a sound lagging material to be installed on the ductwork and on the

piping as described in spec’s 220701 for the plumbing and 230701 for the mechanical.

i. This sound lagging material is very expensive and hard to work with. This was

not figured into our original budgets. Is it really required?

Burns Response: Lagging required per acoustical consultant.

ii. We could not find a spec section 220701 to review the plumbing requirements.

Burns Response: Lagging is not required for plumbing components.

iii. In spec section 230701The spec calls for Supply Air Ductwork in Room 316 and

Laboratory Exhaust Air to receive the sound lagging material. I couldn’t find a

room 316 on the drawings and the only labs in the building are computer labs that

don’t have any exhaust systems. I am hoping this was just left in the spec for a

different project and doesn’t apply to our project.

Burns Response: Lagging is only required on ductwork running through the

Lecture Hall as shown in blue in the image below.

b. This spec calls for removable acoustical blankets to be installed directly below each FCU,

and VAV to reduce breakout noise. These were not accounted for in the original budgets

i. Since the indoor evaporators for the VRF & Ductless Split systems are wall

mounted and in electrical closets and IDF rooms, is this required?


ii. Since the VAV’s are not fan powered and are acoustically lined will this still be

required?


c. This spec described two (2) different ways the piping vibration isolation can be installed.

Please confirm that we can install the piping vibration isolation per section 3.4. This is

how we originally bid the project.

i. Also, please confirm that the piping only needs to be isolated in mechanical room

026 and 50’-0” from motor driven equipment. Since this piping is already isolated

in this mechanical room we feel it will not need to be re-isolated when installed

through mechanical room 003.


15. Spec 230553 “Identification for HVAC Piping and Valves”

a. This spec calls for all pipes with OD less than 6 inches to have full-band pipe markers

installed to identify the piping. These are three times (3X) the cost of a traditional strip

pipe markers. We figured traditional strip markers in our original bid.

Burns Response: Full-band pipe markers should be provided in the basement areas at a

minimum.

b. This spec calls for Engraved color coded laminated plastic markers for the ductwork. We

didn’t have this included in our original proposal. Please confirm if this is required.

Burns Response: What is the proposed alternate means for identifying ductwork?

16. Spec 230593 “Testing, Adjusting and Balancing”

a. This spec calls for sound-level measurements for the project. This can get expensive

and we did not include this in our original budgets. The spec calls for the sound to be

tested in multiple locations but one location Private Office 111B I could not find on

the drawings. Could this section of the spec be left in from another project?

Burns Response: We typically recommend sound testing in acoustically sensitive

projects similar to this one. Private Office 111B was left in from another project.

b. This spec also calls for Laboratory System Inspections. I don’t believe these apply to this

project. Please confirm.


c. This spec calls, at the owner’s direction, for the TAB contractor to come back to the

site 90 days of completing the project to verify that the balanced conditions are

being maintained. Please confirm the owner does not want this to occur due to the

additional costs that would be associated with it.

Burns Response: We typically recommend this for projects of this size.

d. Our original proposal assumed that we only need to complete the balancing once.

The spec says if the TAB work is not performed during near-peak summer and

winter conditions additional TAB will need to be completed. Has a detailed

project schedule been developed yet to see when we predict the TAB activities

will be completed?

Burns Response: Same as above.

17. Spec 230701 “Mechanical Insulation”

a. The spec calls for duct board on all exposed duct below 10’-0” AFF. This is all of the

duct in the basement level (approximately 7,000 SQ FT of duct). This would add a large

cost in insulation to the project. As long as the University will allow duct wrap in this

lower level it would save a lot of money.

Burns Response: Board insulation will provide a much higher quality installation in the

basement where there is greater potential for damage to insulation.

b. The spec calls for stainless steel jacketing for piping below 7’-0” in mechanical rooms

and all exterior piping. If this can be changed to aluminum for the exterior piping and

PVC for the mechanical room piping this would be a more cost effective option.

Burns Response: This is acceptable.

c. The spec calls for all ductwork in office/classrooms to be internally lined. Should this

lined ductwork include all of the ductwork from AHU-3 & AHU-4 that runs above the

lecture hall? Or should this duct be externally wrapped?

Burns Response: Internal duct lining from AHU-1 and AHU-2 can be limited to the

first 10 feet of duct downstream of all VAV boxes in addition to all transfer ducts as

noted on the drawings. The extent of internal duct lining from AHU-3 is the same as

the extent of the duct lagging shown on the sketch in response to item #14. The extent

of internal duct lining from AHU-4 and AHU-5 is indicated on drawing H-204.

18. Spec 230900 “HVAC Instrumentation and Controls”

a. The drawings and details indicate that each piece of baseboard heat receives a control

valve. This would add an exurbanite amount of money to the job. We could accomplish

the same type of control with adding just one (1) 3-way valve at the secondary pump

loops.

Burns Response: The system was designed to provide individual heating control for

each space.

b. There is no spec for the Airflow Monitoring stations in the AHU specification, Control

Specification or shown on the drawings. In the sequence of operations it does say we

need the AFMS in the new AHU’s. Do we need them on the outside air? Supply air?

Both? If so we need a spec so we can price them properly. Are these really even needed?

Burns Response: Airflow Monitoring Stations are required on the supply and return

ducts for AHU-1, 2, 4 & 5 and on the OA duct for AHU-3. These should be Ebtron or

approved equal. If required, we can provide a full AFMS specification.

c. There is no information about integrating other systems into the Siemens system. i.e.

lighting control.

Burns Response: Lighting control will not be integrated.

d. There are motorized dampers mentioned in the control sequence of operations for the

smoke exhaust fans in the Atrium. These are not shown on the drawings or listed in the

drawing equipment schedules. Are they required?

Burns Response: Yes, these are required.

e. The ATC sequence of operations points to the fire alarm spec for the control wiring of the

motorized dampers, but there is nothing in the fire alarm spec that directs the fire alarm

contractor to do anything with these dampers. Who is responsible for wiring and

controlling these dampers?

Burns Response: The mechanical contractor is responsible.

f. Metering. Are there any meters that should be tied into the BAS system? Electric?

Chilled Water? Gas? If it “yes” to any of those, who provides the meters?

Burns Response: Mechanical contractor shall furnish and install a chilled water

meter, Yaskawa or approved equal, to be tied into the BAS system by the ATC

contractor. There will be an electrical sub-meter in the switchgear. LaSalle to advise

if they want that tied into the BAS system for convenience. LaSalle to advise if they

want a gas sub-meter to be installed (by mechanical contractor) and tied into the BAS

system or if PGW gas meter and billing is adequate for tracking gas usage.

g. Will a new M401 drawing be issued? Will any ATC drawings be issued?

Burns Response: No, there are no plans to issue any ATC drawings.

h. Will there be a revised point list?

Burns Response: What revisions are required for the points list?

19. Spec 231123 “Facility Natural Gas Piping’

a. The spec calls for the interior gas piping to be painted. I don’t know if this was picked up

by the painting contractor during the budget phases of this project. I just wanted to bring

it to someone’s attention

Burns Response: Confirmed, this should be painted.

20. Spec 232113 “Hydronic Piping”

a. This spec calls for all Heating Hot & Chilled Water Piping NPS 3” and smaller shall

be Type “L” Copper with brazed joints. We originally bid the project with all HHW

& CHW piping 2” and smaller to be Type “L” Copper with soldered joints. Is this

alternate acceptable? All piping 2-1/2” & larger would be carbon steel with welded

fittings & flanged valves.

Burns Response: This is acceptable.

b. This spec calls for the chilled water system to be 30% propylene glycol. Is there any type

of glycol make-up package we should be furnishing for this system? We couldn’t find

anything on the drawings or listed in the spec.

Burns Response: Specification will be issued as part of addendum.

21. Spec 232113.13 “Underground Hydronic Piping”

a. This spec doesn’t describe the Performance requirements for the Underground Heating

Hot Water Piping that runs underground to the lecture hall. Are we to assume it is the

same material that is specified for the Chilled Water System described in the spec?

Burns Response: Yes.

b. After reviewing the underground piping layout with our rep from Perma-Pipe they

suggested we put and expansion loop in the underground heating hot water pipe that runs

to the lecture hall so we could properly seal it at the basement wall and lecture hall floor.

Please confirm we should include this expansion joint.

Burns Response: Provide as recommended and per response to item #10.

22. Spec Section 232116 “Hydronic Piping Specialties”

a. This spec directs us to install a shut-off duty valve at each branch location to supply

mains and at supply connection to each piece of equipment. Our original budgets only

included valves at each piece of equipment. If we were to include these additional valves

it would add over 300 valves to the project because of all of the finned tube radiation.

Please let me know if this is really required.

Burns Response: Provide shut-off valves at each floor branch from risers in addition to

each piece of equipment.

b. This spec directs us to install a balancing valve at each branch location to the return

mains and at supply connection to each piece of equipment. Our original budgets only

included balancing valves at each piece of equipment. If we were to include these

additional valves it would add over 130 balancing valves to the project because of all of

the finned tube radiation. Please let me know if this is really required.

Burns Response: These valves are required for system balancing.

c. This spec calls for both inline type & tangential type air separators. The flow diagram on

H-400 seems to tell us that the air separator should be the tangential type. Please confirm.

Burns Response: These should be tangential type, B&G Rolairtrol or approved equal.

d. There is no air separator shown on the chilled water flow diagram on H-400. Is one

required?

Burns Response: Yes, provide tangential type, B&G Rolairtrol or approved equal.

23. Spec Section 232123 “Hydronic Pumps”

a. Please confirm that cast-in-place concrete equipment bases will not be required for the

new vertical in-line pumps.

Burns Response: See below for pump isolation recommendations from the acoustical

consultant. Cast-in-place concrete bases are not required.

b. Please confirm alignment services will not be required for the new vertical in-line pumps

due to the design.


24. Spec Section 233114 “Metal Ducts”

a. The spec’s call for leak testing for 100% of all ductwork. We did not include any

leak testing in our original budgets.

Burns Response: We recommend leak testing on projects of this size.

b. The spec calls for 1” closed cell liner for all ductwork in classroom and offices. Our

original budget only include fiberglass liner. The closed cell insulation is more expensive.

Burns Response: 1-1/2” fiberglass wrap can be used for this ductwork. Provide internal

liner as indicated in response to item #17-c.

c. The spec also calls for perforated metal liner. This would add a lot of money to the

project.

Burns Response: Not required.

d. The drawings call for seismic restraints on the ductwork. This building is not in a seismic

required area so I don’t believe this is needed.


e. The pressure class specified for the ductwork is 4” this is excessive since the AHU’s are

only providing 2” of SP. Especially the low pressure ductwork after the VAV’s. Can this

spec be reviewed to see if it is truly required? The higher pressure class adds a lot of costs

to this project.

Burns Response: 3” pressure class can be used.

f. The spec calls for duct cleaning all new ductwork. This seems excessive since all of the

duct will be new and all duct will be sealed with plastic after it is fabricated and at the

end of each shift.


25. Section 235216 “Condensing Boilers

a. This spec calls for a special 20 year warranty on the water-tube condensing boilers.

Lochinvar only has a 10 year Heat Exchanger warranty on the specified boilers.

Lochinvar is looking to work with an outside insurance company to possibly extend this

warranty to 20 years but it will be very costly. Please confirm if this is required.


b. This spec calls for a special 8 year warranty on the leakage and materials. Lochinvar only

has a 1 year parts and labor warranty on the specified boilers. Lochinvar is looking to

work with an outside insurance company to possibly extend this warranty to 8 years but it

will be very costly. Please confirm if this is required.


c. Please confirm the setting of supply water temperature at 1300 deg F is a typo and this is

to read 130 deg F.


26. Spec 238236 “Finned Tube Radiation Heaters”

a. The drawing schedule does not show which type of enclosure is required for the Finned

Tube Radiation. The specifications lists a couple of different of options for the FTR

enclosures. Can the Engineer specify which type of enclosure is required for the project?

The type of enclosure specified will affect the pricing due to the amount of FTR required

on the job.

Burns Response: Basis of design enclosure is Slant/Fin model FS-7.

b. The spec calls for steam finned tube radiation. Please confirm this is a mistake.


27. Mechanical Drawing Clarification H-200 #1

a. By reviewing the Equipment schedule for the VRF Systems and single zone ductless

splits we have assumed the following layout is correct. Please review and advise.

i. The 3 single zone ductless splits tagged AC-1 will have condensing units that are

located on the ground level on the side of the building. See layout sketch below.

ii.

Burns Response: We are working on this design and layout with Daikin and plan to

serve all of the indoor units from two (2) condensing units located on the roof to

avoid locating any condensing units on grade. This design can’t be completed until

the design of the AV/IT systems is completed and we receive load information for

the equipment that will be located in the MDF and IDF rooms.

b. Also, please note that we feel there should be one (1) additional Floor Drain added in the

storage room 023 for the condensate drains for these AC-1 units. The floor drain that is

located in the sprinkler room will require us to run a bunch of piping along the floor and

create a tripping hazard.

Burns Response: We will add the recommended floor drain or standpipe.

c. For the two (2) VRF systems, we have figured the condensing units will be located on the

roofs. One on the roof of the 3-story building and the other on the roof of the 6-story

building. See layout below. Please review and advise if this was your design intent.

Burns Response: See response to item #27-ii above.

d. Please review our condensate piping layout per floor below for the VRF Systems. We are

figuring on running a condensate riser up the building to pick up each indoor unit and vent

the Condensate riser through the roof. Please review and advise if this is acceptable.

Burns Response: These layouts are acceptable.

e. Basement

System #1 System #2

f. 1st Floor

System #1 System #2

g. 2nd Floor

System #1 System #2

h. 3rd Floor

System #1 System #2

i. 4th Floor

System #1 – Vent Thru Roof System #2

j. 5th Floor

System #2

k. 6th Floor & Roof

System #2 – 6th Floor System #2 - Roof

Phone: 215-698-4460 Fax: 215-698-2517

28. Mechanical Drawing Clarification H-501

a. We don’t have a coil detail for the Air handling Units CHW & HHW Coils. Can you

provide a coil detail for this piping work?

Burns Response: We will provide the requested details as part of an addendum.

29. General Question #1

a. Is there any electric heat tracing required for the piping that will be installed in the

Rooftop AHU dog houses? This is something we have seen on previous projects and just

want to make sure we have proper freeze protection.

Burns Response: Coil circulation pumps will be provided for freeze protection. These

will be shown on the AHU coil piping details.

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