Kele Blog

Kele Launches My Project Portal to Speed Up Ordering Process

Posted on by Kele Inc

New e-tool allows customers to upload full material list and quickly locate parts.

Kele recently launched My Project Portal on kele.com. My Project Portal is Kele’s latest e-tool and is designed for times when customers need to quickly source a full material list. The tool allows users to upload a complete BOM, see a price, and checkout within minutes. Customers have three options for uploading lists, including an Excel file, copied and pasted information, or entered manually.

“The goal of My Project Portal is to make our customers’ lives easier,” said Kele Director of Marketing Katie Campbell. “Many customers find themselves sourcing products on their material list from multiple resources and vendors. This results in multiple POs and invoices, disorganized shipments, and products not arriving on a desired schedule. My Project Portal streamlines the entire ordering process.”

Once material lists are entered, they can be saved as either a template, list, or project prior to ordering. Users also have the ability to search/add additional parts and collaborate with team members and Kele sales associates. Other features include: 

  • Customization by adding additional parts through predictive search and adjusting quantities
  • Sharing capabilities across a customer’s account
  • Ability to email to others on a customer account or print for internal signoff
  • Options to add descriptions and tags
  • Filtering by various tags, favorites, date created, etc.

Customers can log in and access My Project Portal directly. Kele also developed an overview and tutorial video on how to access and use the tool. Get started now or contact Kele for assistance.

Kele Product Matching Solution Expands Again

Posted on by Kele Inc

Finding alternative products and accessories easier than ever before

The product matching solution on kele.com has expanded to 119,000 pages. Finding an alternative part, related product, or accessory is easier than ever. The expansion is the latest step for the initiative that launched last year.

Kele developed the solution initially as way to help customers find direct or functional alternatives to products affected by the tariff on Chinese imports. Phase one included 50 frequently purchased products before expanding to 1,000 products a few months later. Steady progress has taken the effort to its new level.

What customers see on kele.com:

Users also see a “Customers Also Bought” section as well as a “Top Sellers” section containing products in the category of the product being viewed. Along with Kele’s new e-tool, My Project Portal, the matching solution helps customers locate the parts even faster.

Shop now and see how easy it to find the products you need.

Installation of the TDP05K Advanced Thermal Dispersion Airflow and Temperature Measuring Probe

Posted on by Kele Inc

The video above guides you through installation of the Ruskin model TDP05k.

How to install a Ruskin model TDP05K

The Ruskin model TDP05K measures and displays air flow and temperature using up to 128 sensing points per air-measuring station. The TDP05K’s surface-mounted, moisture-resistant flex sensors are designed for long life, even in the worst environments.

The TDP05K eliminates:

  • The transmitter box
  • Fixed-length proprietary cables
  • Fragile bead in-glass sensors

The complete air-measurement station has at least one primary probe. For openings that require multiple probes, additional ancillary probes are supplied. The TDP05K is the correct solution for many air measurement applications.

Check out the TDP05K, and other great Ruskin products, here.

The Belimo Energy Valve 3.0

Posted on by Kele Inc

The Belimo Energy Valve 3.0

The Belimo Energy Valve is an Internet of Things (IoT) device utilizing advanced cloud-based analytics to leverage captured system data to the full potential, providing savings and the most efficient operation. The Energy Valve is a pressure independent valve, which measures and manages coil energy by using an embedded electronic flow meter, along with supply and return water temperature sensors. Ideal for waterside control of heating and cooling coils.

Cloud Optimization

Monitors and enhances energy usage delivering optimal system performance. System analytics are also provided to show historical performance.

Delta T Management

The Belimo Delta T Manager algorithm reduces pumping and chiller/boiler operating costs by increasing plant efficiency and maintaining design Delta T.

Energy Monitoring

An integrated energy meter provides accurate coil performance data. The data is used to verify system performance during commissioning and acts as a baseline. This feature helps achieve LEED points through Energy and Atmosphere within credits 1 and 5.

Shop the Belimo EV Series on kele.com.

Questions from the Field

Posted on by Kele Inc

Damper closed with a dead motor? Faulty actuator a different brand from the smoke damper? 

Sometimes we hear from customers who find a smoke damper closed with a dead motor after spending significant time investigating why a zone has no airflow. Another scenario is a customer responding to a service call to replace “faulty actuators” to find the actuator on a smoke damper of a different brand. Typically, the question is, “What should I do first?”

These are common occurrences, and you definitely don’t want to refer the customer to another contractor, not to mention waste a trip. Read below for some helpful tips on where to start. If you are still unsure, snap a few photos with your phone and send them to our technical service team.

Where to start?

  • Familiarize yourself, and your team, with the smoke damper codes and local codes. Take a look at UL555, UL555S and research the local practices. NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 are applicable to dampers and doors; get a copy and review them.
  • Know your specific job’s control system sequence and smoke damper specifics (dimensions, torque, make, UL label, etc); estimate the scope of the repair/replace project.
  • Discuss the technical situation and the specific application with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), the local Fire Marshal, and the building inspectors. Assure them that the work will be done in accordance with local codes and “…in accordance with the damper manufacturer’s normal field servicing program.”
  • Get the model number and any available information on the actuator being replaced. You may be able to replace it with a like-for-like model or you may need to replace it with new. Actuator replacement really starts with the damper, not the actuator. The same old motor can be applied in several ways, depending on the spring, thermal disc, etc. You will come across some very old models that cannot be directly replaced with a like actuator because they are no longer made or do not meet the new UL standards.
  • If the actuator has an internal or external spring and there is a separate thermal sensor/high limit switch with reset, you should be able to replace the spring/actuator with a new model.
  • If there are dual springs—one for the fusible link and one for the actuator—you should be able to remove the actuator and its spring while leaving the fusible link and its spring in place.
  • Old dampers that use cables and pulleys generally must be replaced entirely; you can’t simply replace the actuator.

Check out the fire and smoke damper actuators Kele offers.

 

Considerations for Selecting a Duct Smoke Detector

Posted on by Kele Inc

HVAC air ducts transfer conditioned air to occupied spaces in a building. In the event of a fire, air ducts can also transfer harmful—and even deadly—smoke, toxic gases, and flames to those same occupied spaces. National and local safety codes and standards address this issue by specifying the use of duct smoke detectors to help prevent injury, panic, and property damage. To prevent the spread and recirculation of smoke and other products of combustion, duct smoke detectors are used to shut off air handling systems, fans, and blowers when necessary. Duct detectors are often connected to the building’s fire alarm system and may also be a part of a control system designed to exhaust smoke to the outside of the building. Duct smoke detectors are not to be used as a substitute for open area protection or early warning detection nor are they a substitute for a building’s regular fire detection system.

To detect smoke, detectors consisting of a sensor within an enclosure are mounted outside of the duct. Sampling tubes connected to the detector enclosure penetrate and traverse the duct to draw air into the detector, sample it, and then return it
to the air stream. When particles of smoke suspended in the air reach the alarm threshold of the detector, an alarm signal is initiated, and appropriate action can be taken to turn off equipment and alert the building’s fire alarm control panel.

Regardless of the sensing technology used, a duct smoke detector must be installed in a location that will ensure the detector monitors representative samples of
air flowing through the duct. There are several factors to be considered when selecting a detector location in a duct.

  • Dilution: Duct smoke detectors will alarm only when combustion particles make up a specified percentage of the sampled air. If circulated air mixes with fresh outside air, the combustion particle concentration can dilute and prevent a detector from sensing a fire condition. To avoid dilution, detectors should be located before fresh air intakes and before the exhaust air output.
  • Stratification: Within a duct, air and combustion particles may stratify, preventing proper air sampling. To get a representative air sample, locate the detector between six and 10 duct widths downstream from a bend or other obstruction in the duct. 
  • Excess humidity: High levels of humidity or condensation within the duct can cause false alarms. Duct smoke detectors should be located a minimum of 10 feet downstream of humidifiers. 
  • Air filters: Air filters within ducts tend to collect flammable materials
    like paper, lint, and trash. Detectors should be installed downstream of filters to detect fires occurring in the filters. Regular filter maintenance is critical since reduced air flow due to clogged filters could prevent correct operation of the duct detector. 
  • Air velocity: Duct smoke detectors are designed to be used in air handling systems having a certain range of air velocities, usually 500 to 4000 fpm. For applications down to 100 fpm, low-flow technology detectors are available.

Finally, when applying, installing, testing, and maintaining duct smoke detectors, be careful to follow the detector manufacturer’s instructions and adhere to National Fire Protection Association standards National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72) and Standard for the Installation of Air Conditioning and Ventilating Systems (NFPA 90A). Copies of the standards can be ordered from www.nfpa.org.

Kele offers a variety of duct smoke detectors and accessories.

Keep Your Systems off the “Polar Coaster” This Winter. Inspect and Replace Now!

Posted on by Kele Inc

The Farmer’s Almanac recently “branded” the upcoming winter of 2019-2020 a “Polar Coaster”  (open in separate tab) thanks to expected ups and downs in temperature. According to editor, the extended forecast will be “another freezing, frigid, and frosty winter for two-thirds of the country.” The coldest weather should run from late January through the beginning of February. While the biggest drop in temperature is expected across the northern Plains to the Great lakes, the Northeast will experience colder-than-normal temperatures.

Thank goodness it’s only September, right? You have time to inspect and replace the numerous components critical to keeping your facilities and HVAC systems—and the good folks who depend on them—fully functional. It does not matter what type of building—school, healthcare facility, or other commercial facility—the time to act is now!

Below is a list of key components to inspect. If you have questions, call Kele’s technical service team for expert advice on anything from inspection to maintenance to replacement. Kele can get your replacement parts to you fast, before the “Polar Coaster” takes off.

Inspect these components for winter season: 

  • Valves
  • Sensors
  • Pneumatics
  • Freeze stats

Other boiler peripherals: alarms and indicators and emergency shutdown devices.

Find what you need from the product categories Kele offers or shop now.

Did You Know? Fire Prevention Week is Next Week!

Posted on by Kele Inc

SAFETY REMINDER!

When was the last time your fire and smoke damper actuators were inspected?

National Fire Protection Code and Standards state the requirement for testing fire and smoke systems and dampers is one year after installation and then every four years (hospitals must inspect every six years). Now is the time to make sure your fire and smoke safety systems are up to code.

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY CODES NFPA 105 AND NFPA 80

 

FURTHER READING:

Back to Basics: Process Tips for Periodic Inspection of Fire and Smoke Dampers

Guidance for Inspecting and Maintaining Fire and Smoke Actuators and Dampers

 

 

Back to Basics: Process Tips for Periodic Inspection of Fire and Smoke Dampers

Posted on by Kele Inc
  1. Verify that there is full unobstructed access to the damper
  2. Test the damper with normal HVAC airflow and verify that it opens following either Option 1 or Option 2. There should be no interference due to rust, damaged frame or blades, or other moving parts.

OPTION 1: Dampers with position indication wired to indication lights or control panels:

  • Switches can be wired to local or remote-control panels or building automation systems (BAS) to indicate that the damper is in the fully-open position, fully-closed position, or neither.
  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm that the damper is in the fully-open position.
  • Remove electrical power or air pressure from the actuator to allow the actuator’s spring return feature to close the damper.
  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm that the damper reaches its fully- closed position.
  • Re-apply electrical power to re-open the damper.
  • Use the signal from the damper’s position indication device to confirm the damper reaches its fully-open position.

OPTION 2: Dampers without position indication:

  • Visually confirm that the damper is fully-open position.
  • Ensure that all obstructions, including hands, are out of the path of the damper blades.
  • Remove electrical power or air pressure from the actuator to allow the actuator’s spring return feature to close the damper.
  • Visually confirm that the damper closes completely.
  • Re-apply electrical power to re-open the damper.
  • Visually confirm that the damper is in the fully open position.
  1. If the damper is not operable, it must be repaired as soon as possible. If the actuator has failed, replace it with a UL-approved actuator. After these repairs, the damper should be tested again.
  1. If there is a latch, verify that it is operable.
  1. Perform any other damper manufacture-recommended maintenance such as lubrication.
  1. Following the test and any repairs, document the location of the damper, the date, the inspector, and deficiencies or repairs. Keep the record for the life of the damper and have it available as you may need to show it to an inspector.

If you need assistance, contact Kele’s technical service team. We’re here to help.

Guidance for Inspecting and Maintaining Fire and Smoke Actuators and Dampers

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contributed by Ruskin

A fire damper can be defined as “a device installed in ducts and air transfer opening of an air distribution or smoke control system designed to close automatically upon detection of heat. It also serves to interrupt migratory airflow, resist the passage of flame, and maintain the integrity of the fire rated separation.” Its primary function is to prevent the passage of flame from one side of a fire-rated separation to the other.

The significant protection capabilities of fire dampers to life and property are now widely recognized by Facility Managers throughout the United States. More and more Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) and building owners are requiring fire dampers to be operational tested and maintained on a regular basis.

AHJ’s are requiring operational tests to determine if the damper will function when needed in order to resist the spread of fire. Operational testing normally involves removing or melting the fusible link and letting the damper close. Once the damper has proven to close, it is reopened, and the fuse link replaced. All the dampers installed in a building must be tested prior to occupancy and again 1 year later under normal operating conditions. Reference NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 for more information.

Applicable Standards

NFPA 80 is the National Fire Protection Association standard that regulates the installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls, floors and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within, into, or out of buildings.

NFPA 105 is the standard which prescribes the minimum requirements for smoke door assemblies and smoke dampers that are used as a means to restrict the flow of smoke though openings to provide safety to life and protection of property

Fire Dampers must meet the UL555 Test Standard. UL (Underwriters Laboratories) states that the requirements of UL555 cover fire dampers that are intended for use where air ducts penetrate or terminate at openings in walls or partitions; in air transfer openings in partitions; and where air ducts extend through floors as specified in the standard for installation of air-conditioning and ventilating systems, NFPA 90A.

Testing and Maintenance

AMCA presents a valuable guide for commissioning and periodic performance testing of fire, smoke and other life safety related dampers. This guide provides recommendations for the proper commissioning of fire and life safety related dampers and details the appropriate intervals and methods for performing periodic performance testing of these dampers. This guide can be downloaded for free from AMCA’s website below.

AMCA Guide for Commissioning and Periodic Performance Testing of Fire, Smoke and Other Life Safety Related Dampers (PDF)

To the facility manager operational tests and regular maintenance can present a couple of challenges:

  1. Most fire dampers are installed in areas of the building that are not easily accessible. Fire dampers are installed in penetrations of fire rated walls and floors as required by the building code and access to the damper itself is normally through an improperly sized access door.
  2. Fire dampers can be extremely difficult to test and reset due to their design (all manufacturers utilize the same basic curtain type design). There are two main types of fire dampers: dynamic fire dampers and static fire dampers. Dynamic fire dampers have been UL tested and proven to close against system air pressure and velocity. Static fire dampers, on the other hand, are UL tested but have not been proven to close against system air pressure and velocity. The main difference between the two designs is dynamic dampers (in most cases) utilize springs to pull the curtain closed against the air pressure and velocity while static dampers rely solely upon gravity to pull the curtain closed (static dampers designed for floor installation utilize closure springs). The spring shape and size determine the air pressure and velocity against which the dynamic fire damper closes.

Dynamic fire dampers are becoming more popular with designers as dynamic dampers may be used in either a static system (fans off) or dynamic system (fans on) while static dampers can only be used with static systems.

Limited access and closure springs do not make dynamic fire dampers testing and maintenance friendly despite being life and property friendly as they are guaranteed to close if properly applied and installed.

A solution to the operational acceptance testing problems is to know the testing requirements beforehand. Coordinate with the AHJ and determine what they will accept for testing procedures.

Since dynamic dampers are proven to close, the solution may be a simple installation inspection to make sure the dampers are installed properly with no obstructions.

A solution to the maintenance testing is not so simple. Maintenance should be performed per NFPA80 and NFPA 105 requirements: Each damper shall be tested and inspected after the damper is installed, then one year after installation. The maintenance testing and inspection frequency shall then be every 4 years, except in hospitals, where the frequency shall be every 6 years.

More often than not, the building will be occupied and access to the damper remains a problem; however the use of a motorized fire damper that can be operated from a remote, easily accessible location and can be equipped with position indication for operation verification. A motorized fire damper can be more easily maintained compared to a standard dynamic fire damper and contributes to maintenance and insurance savings. All motorized fire dampers are dynamic rated and may be utilized in place of any static or dynamic curtain blade fire damper.

Dynamic, multiple blade fire dampers provide another solution to the access and maintenance issues posed by the dynamic curtain blade dampers. Multiple blade fire dampers are easy to both test and reset since the blades can be operated and held open via a hand lever or a pair of pliers while the fuse link is replaced. An additional solution for round ducts is the use of a true round fire damper. Round fire damper allows the fusible link to be replaced easily then the damper can be adjusted to its full-open position.