Sustainable Design of Energy-Efficient Laboratory Exhaust Systems
Charles Gans, LEED® Green Associate™, P.E., MBA, Strobic Air Corporation
The design of a sustainable exhaust system for a laboratory can be very complex. The primary duty of the system is to exhaust safely while maintaining the diverse system performance requirements of the laboratory. The nature of these systems can make them a very significant portion of the building's energy consumption. Implementing certain design principles, which involve variable frequency drives, sensors, controls, staging techniques and energy recovery, can work together to minimize the energy consumption and provide a truly sustainable design. In addition, new standards are being developed for fan efficiency grades through the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) 205 and 260 for induced flow fans. These grades are being considered for integration into ASHRAE 90.1, which can impact how induced flow fans are selected for systems.
Charles Gans has worked for Strobic Air for more than 18 years, designing a variety of fan impellers and air moving systems, and currently holds the title of vice president of global sales. Mr. Gans is also listed under several patents for acoustical abatement equipment, and serves on the AMCA committee for AMCA 260, Induced Flow Fans. Mr. Gans maintains a professional engineering license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is a LEED Green Associate. Mr. Gans holds several degrees from Pennsylvania State University, including a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering technology, and a Masters in Business Administration with a concurrent Masters of Science in information science.