S U S TA I N A B L E S O L U T I O N S F O R H I G H P E R F O R M A N C E B U I L D I N G S

Temporary HVAC may also prove helpful when taking equipment offline for scheduled maintenance, tackling seasonal loads, or adding redundancy to existing systems. Just as important, though, is the need to consider your needs ahead of time to properly select the plans and partners that can help you steer clear of avoidable problems.
BY MICHAEL MCGRAW
n todays challenging business environment, organizations of all sizes are under increasing pressure to defer or eliminate capital expenses not directly related to core competencies. As a result, substantial investments such as central plant upgrades or expansions are often put on hold. Many organizations, therefore, are forced to run aging equipment for as long as possible in whats commonly referred to as run to fail mode. Sound familiar? The uncertainty of todays economy tempts many to test fate. And although the strategy may be understandable, it is not without risk. In the event of equipment failures, contingency plans must be in place if businesses are to recover without significant impact on operations. Cooling contingency plans, however, are not just for emergencies anymore. WHY RENT COOLING EQUIPMENT? As part of a proactively developed strategy, rental cooling provides a solution that benefits businesses in many ways, allowing companies to preserve capital, increase efficiency, minimize risk, and maximize peace of mind. Capital constraints. When capital budgets are threatened, renting cooling equipment provides access to the newest, most-efficient HVAC technologies without making a long-term financial commitment to purchase. Temporary cooling can bridge the gap until the economic climate stabilizes and budgeting issues can be resolved. It can also reveal opportunities to further improve the bottom line:

Energy-efficiency improvements. Replacing aging equipment or converting from a low-efficiency air cooled plant to a high-efficiency water cooled system requires substantial investment and capital. Temporary or rental equipment is often based on the latest technology and offers the same energy-savings opportunities without the capital investment. Eliminate maintenance and repair expenses. Temporary equipment contracts typically include all repairs and may also be structured to include necessary maintenance. Guaranteed uptime. Companies that cant afford to purchase a redundant machine may wish to establish a contingency plan or require a rental-insurance agreement with their service provider. Maintain control and flexibility. Investment in a chilled water plant is often based a 20-plus year economic life. Significant changes are expected in the economy, in technology, and in energy consumption in the coming years, and temporary equipment ensures operations while maintaining flexibility for the future. In addition to addressing potential capital constraints, a cooling contingency plan can provide value in a number of other situations whether the business need is planned or unplanned, short or long term. Additional cooling capacity. When additional capacity is required temporarily, perhaps as the result of seasonal heat waves, natural disasters, peaks in business, or equipment degradation, a rental chiller supplies cost-effective additional cooling. A rental chiller allows businesses to conserve capital

instead of purchasing equipment, which may be used only at certain times of the year and sit idle when not in use. Routine maintenance. When taking a chiller offline for routine maintenance, temporary equipment allows operations to continue while those procedures are performed. Because there is no need to rush getting the unit back online, planners can have peace of mind knowing maintenance is being done thoroughly and correctly the first time. Chiller replacement / System testing and proving. Installing a rental unit gives businesses an opportunity to validate system requirements before purchasing new chiller equipment. In this try before you buy scenario, companies may be able to rent the exact equipment slated for purchase. In addition, once a permanent replacement is specified, having a rental chiller in place allows operations to continue undisturbed while new equipment is ordered and installed. Redundancy. When a primary or backup system fails, portable equipment can provide cooling during restoration or in a standby mode. Redundancy cooling provides peace of mind in mission-critical environments such as hospitals, where patient care must continue uninterrupted, and data centers, where the integrity and availability of information must be preserved 24/7. Clearly, temporary cooling is not just for emergencies anymore. Chillers can be rented on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. As part of a proactively developed contingency plan, rental units provide peace of mind in a number of different situations, allowing businesses to minimize risk and downtime while channeling capital to core competencies. COMPREHENSIVE CONTINGENCY PLANNING INVOLVES MORE THAN HARDWARE The development of a contingency plan whether designed to meet planned or unplanned or short- or long-term needs must involve more than specifying temporary cooling equipment. A comprehensive plan must also include a strategy for the successful implementation of a temporary solution. What good is backup equipment if it cannot be installed seamlessly and maintained reliably? Site preparation. Site preparation is vital to the seamless installation of a temporary cooling solution. Long before a need arises, companies should identify a location for the rental equipment that will not only accommodate the chiller(s) but also provide access to required electrical and mechanical connections. By mapping the details of the installation in advance, businesses can avoid the panic and overtime costs often associated with the implementation of temporary cooling especially in an emergency situation. Top tier suppliers of temporary cooling systems will offer site preparation as part of a comprehensive contingency strategy. Service and support. A comprehensive contingency plan should also include provisions for the commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning of temporary cooling equipment. Again, top-tier suppliers will likely include a plan for service and support within a contingency strategy. Additionally, through local service offices, suppliers can make factory-trained service technicians available 24/7 to respond to their customers needs. A plan that can be put into action immediately keeps service disruptions to a minimum. SELECTING A SUPPLIER FOR CONTINGENCY PLANNING Once a decision is made to proactively draft a contingency plan, a supplier must be selected to develop and implement the plan. When making the selection, businesses should consider three factors: expertise, availability, and flexibility. Companies should identify potential suppliers that have in-depth knowledge of temporary equipment and installations and partner with those who also have resources and experience in application engineer-

FIGURE 1. Four 440-ton air cooled screw chillers were used for temporary cooling during the complete demolition and reconstruction of a churchs utility plant.

ing, project management, and service. By selecting a partner with a wide range of capabilities, businesses can rest assured the contingency plan will be comprehensive and include a needs assessment, site preparation, installation, setup, commissioning, controls integration, and ongoing maintenance of rented HVAC equipment. Some suppliers also offer a complete line of chillers, power generators, and air conditioners/AHUs, and can configure equipment to specific applications. Depending on the clients geographic particulars, partners should also have a large rental fleet strategically distributed throughout North America. When theres a need for temporary cooling, companies cant afford to be delayed by long delivery times. Top-tier suppliers typically have tens of thousands of tons of newer model, energy-efficient units available in inventory and are poised to deliver needed equipment immediately. Finally, businesses should select a rental partner that is flexible enough to consider various financial situations. Even if cash flow is limited or there is no budget for a major capital expenditure, customized rental agreements can be drafted to meet specific needs, including rent-to-own programs. CONCLUSION: DEVELOPING A CONTINGENCY PLAN Contingency planning is not just for emergencies anymore. In many cases, temporary equipment should be considered as part of the overall capital review plan. Rental solutions allow businesses to preserve capital, increase efficiency, minimize risk, and maximize peace of mind. Contingency plans can be developed to cover: Lack of available capital to purchase new chillers Emergency cooling in the wake of equipment breakdown Taking a chiller offline for routine maintenance but need operations to continue Standby cooling when a primary or back-up system fails Delays while waiting for new chiller equipment to be installed Seasonal heat waves, natural disasters, or peaks in business Whether planned or unplanned or short- or long-term, temporary cooling provides peace of mind when cooling is critical to maintaining business operations, providing comfort, or protecting temperaturesensitive manufacturing processes, and mission-critical facilities. Well-advised companies explore the potential of temporary cooling

Cooling Contingency Plans

uptime and performance squarely on the shoulders of an expert supplier, allowing businesses to concentrate on their business. ES
McGraw is director of Johnson Controls Rental and Modular Solutions. He has been with York and Johnson Controls for nine years. Johnson Controls is an OEM supplier with over 125 years of experience in the HVAC industry. Their rental inventory of new model, energy efficient chillers is located in rental depots throughout North America and serviced is provided by more than 150 branch locations across the United States. For additional information on Johnson Controls Rental Solutions visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/rental or call 888-JCI-RNTL (888-524-7685). Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 130,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide

FIGURE 2. A 60-ton A/C unit ducted for temporary cooling at a military facility.

proactively. They work with an OEM to develop a contingency plan and insist that it include provisions to specify equipment accurately, install the backup seamlessly, and maintain temporary cooling reliably. A comprehensive contingency strategy puts planned responsibility for chiller

Reprinted from Engineered Systems Magazine March 2010 P.O. Box 4270 Troy, MI 48099
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