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Smart Labs Training Workshop August 2022

The Smart Buildings and Labs Program hosted a 4-day training event led by 3Flow with workshops, technical lecture sessions, and hands-on training for all campus stakeholders.

Recordings for the training sessions have been uploaded under the training session descriptions listed below.

 

Program Resources

Smart Labs Toolkit

3Flow Website

Previous Workshop Content

Description of all Training Sessions

The following workshop provides a high-level overview of the program and establishes the expectations for stakeholders for achieving program success and sustainability.  Even though the Smart Buildings and Labs Program (formerly Deep Energy) was initially created to reduce energy usage and increase efficiency, 3Flow’s Smart Labs approach has proven that energy savings can still be achieved by prioritizing safety as well as building systems management. 

Wendell Brase, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability at UC Irvine, will be a guest speaker during this workshop to discuss his experience and challenges with the implementation of the Smart Labs Program at UCI.

Workshop Recording

The following technical lecture session provides detailed information about the processes for assessing the ventilation risk in the space and the protective capability of the ventilation system.  The Laboratory Ventilation Risk Assessment (LVRA) provides a snapshot of occupant’s intended use of the space and determines the ventilation demands at the lab level for a safe working environment while the ASHRAE Lab Classification process identifies the ventilation system components above the ceiling and designates a rating based on its protective capability.  By comparing these two processes, the outcome will determine either the opportunity for potential savings or highlight the potential safety risks to the occupants in the spaces.

Technical Lecture Session Recording

The following technical lecture session details the Lab Environment and Fume Hood Tests conducted "below the ceiling" as well as the System Operating Mode Test conducted "above the ceiling."  The information collected during these tests will be used to compare against the design specifications and the building management system to ensure the data is all in alignment with one another.
Participants in this hands-on training session will go into a lab space to collect airflow measurements at ventilation registers and the fume hood while the system is at maximum and minimum ventilation conditions for the space.  Screenshots of the building management system will also be simultaneously taken for reference to establish the operational expectations of the lab space as well.
The following workshop provides the roadmap for converting an existing building into a Smart Building or Smart Lab.  Due to the complexity of laboratory ventilation systems, there is added emphasis on following the process to ensure the program goals and objectives are being achieved safely with sustainable workflows.  Stakeholder roles and responsibilities will be detailed and important for establishing accountability throughout the various phases of the process.

Workshop Recording
Participants in this hands-on training session will go to the penthouse/roofs to collect airflow measurements at the air handling unit and exhaust fan while the system is at maximum and minimum ventilation conditions.  Screenshots of the building management system will also be simultaneously taken for reference to establish the operational expectations of the ventilation system as well.
The following technical lecture session builds on the data gathered during the Lab Environment and System Operating Mode Tests and emphasizes the importance of the information layer as well as analytics.  Key performance indicators will be integrated into the building management system to track performance improvement measures being implemented in the building.
The following workshop emphasizes the importance of the ventilation management plan and standardizing workflows to ensure stakeholder efforts are sustainable for maintaining success in the building.  The analytics and information layer introduced in technical lecture session #3 will be the drivers for impacted stakeholders to make decisions based on key performance indicators and shift towards a proactive approach for building systems management.  The management of change process will also be detailed to ensure that any change in the use of space is properly capture and communicated to the appropriate stakeholders.

Workshop Recording
The following technical lecture session provides an overview of the variable air volume fume hood system and the expectations for ensuring the fume hood is safe for occupants to conduct research operations.  Since stakeholders are responsible for specific parts of the fume hood system, it’s important for everyone to understand how their role impacts the responsibilities of another stakeholder and having a standardized approach for addressing fume hood-related issues and/or inquiries.
Participants in this hands-on training session will go into the lab and learn new techniques for verifying the fume hood system performance and ensuring safe working conditions for the fume hood.  Due to the complexity of variable air volume fume hood systems, this session will specifically focus on performance testing of variable air volume fume hoods.
The following workshop details the implementation of performance improvement measures and the importance of stakeholder responsibilities, highlighted in the previous workshops, for safely sustaining program efforts.  3Flow will also perform a gap analysis and recommend improvements for achieving both program and organizational success.
The following workshop is for program stakeholders to discuss the current project status of the buildings/labs and have 3Flow assist with strategizing the next steps for moving the program forward.  Lessons learned will also be a key discussion topic during this workshop to understand the alignment of department and program goals necessary for achieving both program and organizational success.