What’s so special about Clubhouses?

Ballen Isle Country Club
West Palm Beach, Florida

The Complexities of Designing HVAC Systems for Clubhouses  

Clubhouses are unique among buildings. They house restaurants, community centers, banquet halls, entertainment complexes, retail spaces, fitness and spa centers and even offices all wrapped up into one facility! 

Dripping Diffusers

The clubhouses' unique nature is one of the major reasons why faulty HVAC systems are common; especially in humid climates such as Florida.

Perhaps, one of the most frequent issues that engineers uncover during a due diligence survey is a facility operating under a severely negative air pressure condition.

Common Symptoms of Negative Air Pressurization  

•  A lack of fresh or clean air, instead a musty smell or other bad odors lingering in the air
• Condensation on the Diffusers
• Visible Mold or Mildew Growth along with Moisture on the Walls 
• Sticky or Damp Furnishings
• Varying Temperatures Throughout the Facility 
• Stagnant, Stale or Heavy Air that causes Humidity or Condensation 
• A Rush of Air or Draft when Opening an Exterior Door 

According to Bob Davenport, RGD Consulting Engineers' Principal Engineer, who has over 35 years of experience designing HVAC systems, "Operating a clubhouse with severely negative pressure can result in serious indoor air quality problems over time." 

Solutions

 If not caught before the start of microbial growth, negatively pressurized facility can be a costly issue to rectify. This is why having the proper HVAC equipment and a good maintenance program is important to preventing issues such as negative air pressure from occurring. 

Ensuring that the clubhouse building is equipped with 100% outside air pre-conditioner, runs continuously and supplies a constant and equal volume of dehumidified outside air to the building is key to maintaining the air pressure. 

There are a variety of methods for achieving this goal, and the most effective HVAC design system can be determined by a professional engineer after completing a thorough survey of the facility's systems. However, even the best designed HVAC systems can fail when they are not maintained. 

Just as important as working closely with an engineer for the design of your facility's HVAC system, is the creation of an aggressive maintenance program.   With these two factors planned well, your facility's HVAC system will stay balanced and healthy for years to come. 

This article is adapted from "Is Your Clubhouse Stuffy" written by Robert Davenport, PE, LEED AP + BC. 

Due Diligence: Why you Need it Before Buying

Buying a building can be a daunting task, but don't let a bad decision haunt you for years to come. Being a pro-active buyer and having a professional engineering firm perform due diligence to your facility prior to

your purchase can significantly decrease problems later down the road.

What is Due Diligence? 

Due Diligence is the process of systematically investigating and verifying the condition of a facility in order to audit the potential investment. If you are considering purchasing a commercial property,  due diligence can confirm that your intended use of the facility is possible.

A professional engineering team can help you evaluate whether or not there are any major issues with the building.  After the analysis of your facility, the firm will produce a report of their findings that will include:

1. Analysis of the structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems' conditions and adequacy. 
2. Estimated life span of existing equipment and structural support. 
3. Recommendations for immediate repairs and replacements.
4. Upgrades for improving existing systems' efficiency and reducing costs.
5. Building Code Violations that needed to be addressed.

Are you looking to Buy?

 Let RGD Consulting Engineers help you get the most of your investment.  While many engineering firms specialize in particular areas, RGD is a multidisciplinary engineering firm and able to evaluate all your structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems.  Contact us to see how we can help you on your next project.