Access Floors Commissioning Agent’s Guide for Inspecting & Testing Access Floor Air Plenums Access Floors to the Power of 1

Proper inspection and testing of the underfloor air plenum is the best way to ensure plenum integrity.

Commissioning Agent’s Guide for Inspecting & Testing Access Floor Air Plenums Plenum Integrity is one of the most important aspects of designing, constructing and maintaining an underfloor air delivery (UFAD) system. It is vital that the entire design and construction team does their part to ensure the underfloor plenum is sealed properly. As the commissioning agent, you have the responsibility to review, inspect, test, and report as outlined in the projects specifications any plenum integrity sealing deficiencies To this end, Tate Access Floors is providing the following Commissioning Agent’s...

Base Building Core and Shell Inspect the construction, seams and penetrations of these building core and shell elements before any access floor components are installed. Conduct inspections as early as possible before the scheduled start of access floor installation so that corrective measures, if necessary, will not delay schedules. Location of Seal Perimeter seam along slab and exterior wall. Enclosed column seam at slab line. Drywall partition condition at slab line. Base of stair landing. Elevator shaft below access floor line. Expansion joint in concrete deck. Remediation Required HVAC System...

Voice/Data System (Communications) Inspect the sealed annular space around cables in plenum walls before any access floor components are installed. Conduct inspections of plenum wall penetrations as early as possible before the scheduled start of access floor installation so that corrective measures, if necessary, will not interfere with floor installation. Location of Seal Cable penetrations through the plenum walls with cable sleeves. Caps on empty conduits or cable sleeves. Remediation Required Access Floor The zone partitioning inspections should be held prior to completion of the floor panel...

Air Leakage Test Procedures Access Floor Air Plenum Leakage Categories There are two basic categories of UFAD air leakage, Category 1 leakage occurs outside of the intended occupied zone, Category 2 leakage is plenum air that leaks into the occupied zone through spaces other than the designed air distribution devices such as diffusers. Category 2 leakage is unique to UFAD systems because all of this leakage goes into the occupied space whereas in a traditional ducted overhead system, all leakage and short-circuited air enters the return plenum and will not reached the intended zone. Category...

Category 2 Leakage: Category 2 air leakage allowable limit will be based on the project specifications. If category 2 leakage is beyond the specified limit, the plenum should be repaired to yield leakage of no more than the specified limit. Category 2 Air Leakage Test Procedures: Tate recommends the following procedure for testing category 2 air leakage during the mock-up and final plenum commissioning stages: Category 2 testing shall use the access floor air plenum assembled as described in category 1 testing however all cutouts, accessories, and carpeting shall be installed as per the project...

UFAD Air Leakage Testing Report General Testing Information Date of air leakage testing: Project Name: South Development Building 1 Project Number: Location of test area: 3rd Floor Southeast Wing Determine Maximum Allowable Category 1 Air Leakage (CFM) 1. Total square foot of test area………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .………… 5,000 ft2 2. Total number of diffusers designed for test area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 3. Design static pressure per project specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....

Tate’s Panel Seam Leakage Chart Average Panel Gap (inches) UFAD Air Leakage Remediation In the event that excessive category 1 leakage is discovered during plenum testing there are several techniques that have been used to help identify the location of a leak. One common method is to conduct a smoke test. A smoke test is performed by blowing smoke into the floor plenum and then looking for places where the smoke is escaping. By removing panels in this location the point of leakage is easier to find. Thermal Imaging Another option is to conduct a thermal scan of the interior spaces. Thermal imaging...

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