Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, March 2011

Most visited articles at www.csemag.com during March 2011 included content about seismic codes, electrical room design, the ASHRAE Ventilation Standard, and diesel generator noise.

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March 2011’s leading Consulting-Specifying Engineer online stories include:

Seismic codes for nonstructural engineering - Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components are not always taken into account when the thought of earthquakes comes up, but proper attachment to the structure can be just as important as proper attachment of a beam or column.

Integrated design of electrical rooms - Brian Rener, PE, LEEP AP, explains why electrical engineers should coordinate with mechanical engineers, architects, structural engineers, and other involved in the design of electrical rooms, and how the design of these rooms goes beyond electrical codes.

Guidance on ASHRAE Ventilation Standard - The newest guidance for using Standard 62.1-2010 includes a revised, user-friendly spreadsheet and examples, as well as the latest updates pertaining to the new version of the standard.

Centering on data - With the need to balance a number of complex, changing demands (such as scalability, sustainability, and shifts in codes), data center projects are among the most complex an engineer can face. Here, top experts in the data center field offer advice on getting projects to compute.

Sound advice on attenuating genset noise, vibrations - Whether they’re used for prime power, standby, or emergency service, diesel generators makes noise – lots of noise. Here’s how to lower genset noise to an acceptable level.

Specifying generators for mission-critical environments - Standby generators are a key component of any mission-critical facility, but there are many issues that need to be addressed when selecting and designing the standby generator system. Here, Keith Lane, PE, RCDD/NTS, LC, LEED AP, explains why engineers must consider size, fuel capacity, and grounding when designing these power systems.

Engineering a sustainable school - Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) engaged b2E Consulting Engineers P.C., Leesburg, Va., to design an energy-efficient HVAC replacement for its 134,000-sq-ft T.C. Williams High School Minnie Howard Campus, which serves ninth graders.

Shedding light on photovoltaic projects - The use of photovoltaic technology as a renewable energy source grew in 2010. Will this trend continue? PV projects can be challenging unless you know the ropes. Here, a group of experts shed light on PV trends and how to approach these engineering projects.