Federal Funding Available for K-12 School Air Quality Projects

Posted on by Kele Inc

Did you know that beyond the CARES Act, the federal government has approved nearly $177 billion in relief funds to improve and maintain air quality in K-12 schools? Why does this matter? Because air quality matters—now more than ever. Whether you’re a facilities manager at one school building, an entire school district, or a contractor helping keep schools in A+ shape, take advantage of allocated funds before it’s too late!

Here are some things you should know:

  • States must award the grants for relief within one year of being issued or return them for reallocation.
  • Local Education Authorities (LEAs) should be applying now for them via their state’s Department of Education website.
  • Once done, grants are obligated via contracts for projects that are reviewed and deemed as qualifying.
  • Awards must be obligated by:
    • 9/2021 (ESSER I) deadline—9/30/21
    • 9/2022 (ESSER II) deadline—9/30/2022
    • 9/2023 (ESSER III) deadline—9/30/2023
  • ESSER/GEER/HEERF funding can be used for school facility repairs and improvements, including heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system projects to improve indoor air quality.
  • Improving indoor air quality can be done through: detecting and reducing contaminants, managing air filtration, cleaning with UV-C light, managing airflow, controlling temperature, balancing humidity, controlling and changing room pressurization, and ensuring fresh air.

These allocated funds are money in your budget, and it’s time to plan your project and begin ordering parts! Working together to create a solution for each individual facility is how we’ll build better schools and help them to be healthier and safer for both students and faculty. Kele is here to help you get the most out of your allocated funds—from sensors and controllers to actuators and dampers to UV disinfection solutions and more. Whether you’re talking through projects with our sales or tech teams or shopping online with Project Portal at kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.

For more information on your school and what funds you qualify for, visit your state’s Department of Education website.

Back to Basics: Don’t Forget These Summer Maintenance Tips for Keeping Cool All Season Long

Posted on by Kele Inc

Summer heat. We wish for it all winter long and then it hits us out of nowhere and HVAC systems everywhere are put to the test. The heat, and the strain it puts on systems, make keeping up with basic maintenance a necessity. This is especially true with commercial buildings. And with many headed back into these buildings to work, the strain their HVAC systems might face just increased. So here are some basic summer maintenance tips that will keep systems in great health and beating the heat all summer long.

  • Keep up with air filters. Pollen tends to be a spring problem but is just as likely to affect a system during the summer as well. If the environment contains a large number of airborne particles such as pollen, dust, fibers, etc., then it’s better to be safe than sorry by checking filters regularly.
  • Inspect ductwork. If a system has damage, more than likely, the cool air that those in the building would appreciate on a hot day is rushing out via leaks. This can cause the system to work harder to cool the building, meaning more energy consumption which can lead to higher costs.
  • Keep units clean and clear of debris. Systems need clean and steady airflow in order to operate correctly. Help them achieve maximum operating capacity by keeping them clean from dust, dirt, and debris.
  • Inspect coils and condensate. With coils dispelling the hot air and the condensate drains keeping up with the humidity—both are vital parts that need to be in excellent condition. Both can cause leaks if not properly cared for.

Sometimes the obvious steps are overlooked, and these are not the complex, commercial BAS/HVAC that Kele techs typically help troubleshoot. That’s exactly why we’re passing them along as a friendly reminder. They are important.

Remember, by keeping up with the 3 M’s of HVAC, maintenance, monitoring, and management, not only will it keep you ahead of the many break/fixes you’re sure to encounter with your system and controls, but your customers will be getting the best service around thanks to you! And if the heat here in Memphis is anything to go by—your customers’ systems probably need a little extra TLC this season. If you do need sensors, actuators, thermostats, and more this season, call today or shop online at kele.com. Kele’s got you covered with inventory ready to ship today.

Reintroducing the RET1 NEMA 1 Enclosure

Posted on by Kele Inc

Series includes 12x12x7 option and brings back preferred features.

These days, it’s a race against the clock when it comes to technology. It’s a race to see who can innovate the quickest. Well, here at Kele, we’re always working and innovating to give you, the customer, what you want—and we’ve heard you loud and clear on what you want from enclosure. So allow us to reintroduce the new and improved RET1!

 

Features Include:

  • New Size: 12x12x7″
  • Perforated Panels That Are Now Powder Coated Steel
  • Lift-Off Hinges
  • Slot Holes That Allow For Rough-In

The RET1, formerly the RET, has long been a staple product of Kele’s. Over the past 30+ years, this economical NEMA 1 enclosure, designed to house controls and instruments for indoor use, has seen a lot. As before, it comes standard with a key lock compatible with the original RET, is available in multiple sizes, and all sizes are UL-listed. Its perforated panels are powder coated and once again ship with the enclosure so they don’t have to be ordered separately. The scratch-resistant finish is available in multiple colors, and all original colors are available, including Brown-Tan and Green! The RET1 enclosure now has welded butt hinges with removable pins, so the door can be detached for rough-in, allowing for easy panel and component installation, and can be field adapted to reverse the door hinge orientation. And if that wasn’t good enough, the RET1 now boasts a new size of 12x12x7—meaning increased options and flexibility for you on the jobsite! If you want to learn more about the RET1 and its features, click here.

We know that generating ease on the jobsite can be difficult sometimes—which is how we know you’ll love the new and improved RET1 as much as we do. With its new features and sleek design and finish, it will help make things easier when you’re trying to stay on schedule and on budget. So call today or shop now on kele.com—Kele’s got you covered.

Get to Know the Kele E-Stop ESB

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contact Blocks are Here to Stay

Emergencies happen in facilities and with equipment. It is inevitable. This is why emergency stop buttons exist within the BAS industry. They activate emergency stop sequences, thus reducing further hazards to people, systems, and the functions of those systems that are in progress.

So what emergency stop buttons should you be using? Your specific need will determine your selection. Kele offers a variety of emergency operator stations and other alarms and indication devices.

With or without a contact block?

One thing you’ll need to consider is when you order an operator station, you need to ensure that you also get a contact block(s). The Kele tech team often fields calls from customers who have a new operator station in hand but no contact block. This is a critical component because, without a contact block, you don’t have a fully functional station.

So what does a contact block do? It is a normally open contact for the purpose of monitoring its attachment to the actuator. Contacts ensure that the station is always operational and ready for an emergency situation—to shut down vents, units, etc. to contain an event and mitigate a larger disaster. A good example: if a fire breaks out in a building and the stop button is pressed, the contact closes, relaying to the actuator and controller that there is an issue and to shut things down.

This is where the Kele E-Stop ESB Series comes into play. Kele removed any “guesswork” and installation delays by including a contact block standard.

The E-Stop ESB Series also offers a highly-visible method to shut down equipment, initiate alarms, or give controller input during emergency conditions. Operation occurs with the breaking of the lens and then pushing the red push-button inside. Once the emergency is subverted, you can reset the station with a pull or twist of the button, depending on the button style

Don’t forget a cover!

And where there are emergency stop buttons, there are stopper covers. In fact, most stop buttons are required to have one. Kele carries both the Kele Universal Cover and the STI Universal Stopper Covers, which are both great options for the ESB Series. These covers are ADA compliant and protect against vandalism, accidental damage, dust and grime, and severe environments both inside and out.

The Kele E-Stop ESB is in-stock, cost-effective, and Kele has inventory on each component—including the lenses, which are made here at Kele. And you’ll get same-day shipping, expert technical support, and it will be under warranty. It’s everything your building will need to help keep it safe and prepared for emergencies. Call today or shop online at kele.com—and let Kele help keep you covered when you need to stop a BAS system emergency.

Keeping Healthcare Facilities Safe from Season to Season

Posted on by Kele Inc

Healthcare facilities have been inundated and running at full capacity for more than a year now. These facilities’ HVAC systems have also been running at “full capacity.” With guidelines frequently being updated and re-tested, it is important to stay on top of HVAC/BAS maintenance, especially in high-risk buildings like healthcare facilities.

As of April 5, 2021, ASHRAE released the following updated statement: “Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is significant and should be controlled. Changes to building operations, including the operation of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, can reduce airborne exposures.”

In addition to negative pressure in healthcare facilities, other concerns are usually ventilation and filtration. When these features fail, facilities are put in a perilous situation of not being able to safely operate and then become a risk to all who enter the building. So as buildings begin to transition from spring to summer, and older guidelines to newer, be sure to do due diligence with the building’s HVAC/BAS systems. It’s important to catch break/fix issues before they have the chance to cause building-wide problems.

In fact, here are a few ways to get you started on this season’s transitional maintenance:

  • Check refrigerant levels.
  • Inspect and monitor thermostats and humidity sensors.
  • Inspect all pressure sensors.
  • Clean all pertinent parts, such as evaporators and condenser coils, to ensure top performance.
  • Inspect and clean moving parts for wear and tear.
  • Inspect and check the ductwork and electrical connections.

HVAC/BAS systems are essential to the health of healthcare facilities. By keeping the systems healthy, you’re helping to keep the people inside safe and healthy as well. Ensure that health by keeping up with the 3 M’s of HVAC—maintenance, monitoring, and management—and critical seasonal checks. Kele’s here to help, and we have almost anything you need in stock and ready to ship today. Call or shop online at kele.com. If you need to order your full BOM or a list of products, use My Project Portal. Kele’s got you covered.

Retro Valves? Newer Ones Will Help You Fit In!

Posted on by Kele Inc

Valves. Seemingly small parts, but they make up a huge portion of school retrofit jobs. Why are valves so integral in school projects you ask? Why is it that seemingly every time you do a school project, you’re faced with old valves that need to be, at the very least, retrofitted if not replaced? Well, let’s discuss.

As one Kele

tech put it,

“Retrofitting

these valves

is (in some ways)

more art

than science.”

Reasons customers may prefer to retrofit rather than swap the whole valve:

     •   Pneumatic Actuators

These are the leading cause of valves being retrofitted. Pneumatics are an older type of control system that uses air rather than electricity. Pneumatics are still prominent, especially in schools as well as other government and municipal facilities. So as times change, facilities are upgraded, and/or customers want to add electronic actuators/controls and retire pneumatics. Some customers may prefer or even require a specific brand of valve or actuator for various reasons. Retrofitting makes sense, and the Kele team can help you find what meets your need. As one Kele tech put it, “Retrofitting these valves is (in some ways) more art than science.”

     •   Cost

Globe valves last a lot longer and can be field repaired. Swapping an actuator is much cheaper than draining the system and/or mechanical install costs.

     •   Safety Concerns

For example, some installs have you coming face to face with asbestos. It is much safer and more cost-effective to just swap the actuator than dealing with potential health concerns that will come with replacing the entire system.

     •   Location

Sometimes (okay, most times) hanging the valve is going to be a huge undertaking. In this case, the simpler option is to retrofit what you need. So swap the actuator and keep your fingers crossed the valve doesn’t leak. (At least not until you retire…just leave a note for your successor to call Kele!)

Retrofitting schools is always a rush job (or at least it seems to feel that way every year). Valves can easily be retrofitted to electronic actuators, and Kele can help you make the best choice for your specific circumstances. We know that our massive in-stock inventory can help by getting you the valves and parts you need.

Our expert technical staff and sales team can help you make your school valve retrofit project this year one for the yearbook. Call or chat with us live on kele.com today—Kele’s got you covered.

 

 

 

Questions about Where to Start on School Projects? Kele Has the Answer Key!

Posted on by Kele Inc

You asked so we delivered. Today we’re answering some of our most frequently asked questions from our customers related to getting started on school projects.

What are some things that I should investigate when starting a school project? There are many options to consider, but certain areas often present problems. Kele advises that you start by checking these areas and common issues:

  • Outside air dampers
  • Neglected maintenance on filters, belts, and condensate drainage.
  • BAS controls being wrongly programmed/modified
  • Occupancy changes and how it affects system controls

Why are these four things so prevalent in the industry? Typically, it’s due to a lack of maintenance or technician training. However, following the pandemic, new standards and recommendations may also require system adjustments. Let’s discuss each one!

  • Sometimes on a particularly warm or cold day, untrained technicians or school employees will close outside air dampers to maintain a better temperature within the building. After doing this, the damper closure is often forgotten, which can then negatively impact the HVAC/BAS system(s) and lead to system damage and failure over time.
  • Neglected maintenance is a common occurrence in schools that are underfunded. With costs cut, most schools make do with what they have and as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Unfortunately, this can lead to much more expansive projects for you and more expenses on the school’s end. Regular maintenance keeps systems healthy and will help catch problems before they turn into costly lessons.
  • Most controls are typically programmed to be exactly what the school building needs. However, needs are ever-changing—and therein lies the problem. Many times, controls and programming are changed and then never looked at again. Out-of-calibration systems eventually lead to excessive temperatures and humidity issues, which all lead to extensive and costly repairs.  Continued system monitoring is essential to not only the health of a school but also the health of its system.
  • Occupancy changes are a pain in the butt. (We know you’re thinking it too.) The number of students in any given area of the school is ever-changing. An area with an outside air supply is designed for a certain amount of people in said space. As occupancy fluctuates and shifts, so should the settings for the area. Once changed, however, they are normally forgotten about which can be dangerous if left unmonitored. With new needs and standards in place, this should be given “extra special” attention moving forward.

The three M’s of HVAC—monitoring, maintenance, and management—should be put into practice in every school to help mitigate negative impacts made by any of these common mistakes. So get ready to go back to school and educate on why the three M’s of HVAC are necessary and essential to everyday HVAC care! Call a Kele tech rep to discuss your challenges and troubleshoot or visit kele.com today and let us help prepare you so that you can ace your next school project.

It’s Time to Take Ventilation Back to School

Posted on by Kele Inc

41% of School HVAC Systems Should Be Retrofitted or Replaced

 

With stricter guidelines being created due to the impact COVID-19 has had on infrastructure, the efficacy of HVAC systems is being re-examined to ensure proper health and safety. Worries over both have led to an increase in investigations on whether or not current systems are fully operational and functioning at their intended levels. One of the largest infrastructures at risk is schools.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently published a report that shows about 41% of public-school districts needing to retrofit or replace the HVAC systems in at least half of their schools. Experts have concluded that these systems need better ventilation and filtration to function as intended. The federal government, along with multiple states, are providing the resources to do just this, which means more school bids and projects for contractors.

HVAC retrofits and general maintenance jobs for schools aren’t new. Most public schools have ventilation and IAQ problems that pre-date COVID-19 problems. Some of these issues:

  • Neglected maintenance of systems, including filters, belts, condensate drainage, etc.
  • Outside air dampers being left closed for extended periods of time.
  • Changes to BAS controls that do not comply with recommended and/or regulatory settings.
  • Occupancy changes that are never addressed.

All of these lead to or are a cause of ventilation mismanagement. A tried-and-true solution to help mitigate the dangers mentioned above are the installation of CO2 sensors. They aid in verifying proper ventilation and help quickly alert building management to unexpected malfunctions. It’s the perfect example of why the “three M’s of HVAC”—monitoring, maintenance, and management—should always be practiced.

It’s time to take correct ventilation back to school so that students and teachers are safe. The lack of regular monitoring, maintenance, and management can be detrimental to the health of a school’s HVAC system and the health of those who occupy its space. Quick fixes and shortcuts can lead to negative consequences which are oftentimes costly. A proper technician/contractor should always be called upon to properly assess the ventilation of any system so that it can be properly repaired, replaced, or retrofitted.

Call or visit kele.com today to see how we can help you take correct ventilation back to your jobsite. Let us help you with the right solutions to get the job done—we’ve got you covered.

Kele Can Help You Navigate 2021 Manufacturer Price Increases

Posted on by Kele Inc

A stocking distributor with a massive inventory from 300+ suppliers, Kele can find direct and functional product alternatives.

While annual supplier price increases are typical in most years, 2021 presents unique circumstances due to the escalation of certain raw material costs. Steel prices in particular have been on a consistent rise since last fall. According to industry trade publication The Fabricator, steel prices set a new record in January and are at their highest since 2008. Copper and other metals were also on a steady climb into January, driving other supplier price increases. (These metals have leveled off for the moment according to Metal Miner.)

It remains to be seen how factors from overall demand to the COVID-19 vaccine will affect conditions and thus pricing. In the meantime, manufacturers are passing along these increases to customers. Affected products are across the board with enclosures, dampers, and various piping- and steel-related items being the most impacted.

Kele can help you navigate these supplier price increases and keep your job on track. One benefit of partnering with Kele is our massive inventory as a stocking supplier. We carry parts across 27 product categories from more than 300 suppliers. This includes a broad range of Kele-branded parts.

Here are some tools and steps that will help:

  • Find direct and/or functional alternative product recommendations for more than 1,000 parts on kele.com. They will be on the page of the product you are viewing.
  • You can also browse accessories, related parts, top sellers, and see what customers also bought with a product on thousands of pages across kele.com
  • Use Project Portal to get pricing in seconds for a large list of items or full project BOM.
  • Get discounts on large-scale projects. Our inventory position and strong relationships with suppliers often present the opportunity to secure and pass along discounts to our customers.
  • Book it now! For large projects or projects with future ship dates, Kele can sometimes lock in the pricing with suppliers for a reasonable but extended period of time.

So call your Kele team or CHAT live on kele.com with a sales or technical service representative for immediate help. They can talk through your project and find suitable options to meet your budget.

Understanding HVAC Sensors

Posted on by Kele Inc

Contributed by Belimo

HVAC systems’ operation is a critical requirement for reopening and maintaining safe indoor air quality (IAQ). An HVAC system has so many vital components – one being sensors. Sensors verify operation and accuracy to improve system performance and ensure occupant health, safety, comfort, and productivity.

Sensors that are faulty or out of calibration can affect the ability to control temperature, humidity, air quality, and building pressure. With the new ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force guidelines, indoor air quality has become more critical.

Facility managers need to ensure sensors are running efficiently and smoothly to improve and maintain IAQ to slow the transmission of viruses through the HVAC system.

Some of the most critical sensors used in HVAC systems are:

Pressure Sensors

Pressure sensors monitor pressure levels within specific zones, and measure the pressure drop across filters and other devices, effectively alerting the system when maintenance and filter replacement is required. Accurate pressure measurement is vital for optimal HVAC system performance. Pressure sensors can measure extremely high and low pressures in air and water applications, offering precise measurement of pressure, differential pressure, and velocity for reliable monitoring. Applications include VAV (variable air volume) control, static duct pressure, clogged HVAC filter detection, HVAC transmitters, and IAQ monitoring systems. Pressure sensors from Belimo offer eight field-selectable pressure ranges in one unit. They have excellent zero-point stability and high accuracy with an auto-zero function that manually calibrates itself every ten minutes.

Temperature Sensors 

Temperature sensors measure air and water temperature and adjust the heating and air conditioning to raise or lower the air temperature based on the programmed setpoint, preventing wasted energy. You can also use the sensors’ data to learn about a room’s airflow and air quality. Using temperature sensors prevents the system from running harder than the building requires. Accurate and reliable temperature readings are essential for optimal building comfort and energy efficiency. Belimo’s outdoor air, duct, pipe, and room temperature sensors are designed for easy installation and are compatible with all BAS.

Humidity Sensors

Controlling humidity in buildings is critical for occupant comfort, safety, and protecting building infrastructure, production processes, stored goods, and museum artwork. Combined temperature and humidity sensors provide a flexible and cost-effective solution. Humidity control typically adds clean steam to the airstream to raise space humidity. If using resistive-type humidity and dew point sensors, consider changing to capacitive technology (CMOS) sensors, which are more accurate and not susceptible to drift. The updated ASHRAE 62.1 standard also

requires systems to limit the indoor humidity to a maximum dew point of 60°F (15°C) during both occupied and unoccupied hours whenever the outdoor air dew point is above 60°F (15°C). Belimo’s range of durable duct, outdoor air, and room sensors is manufactured using the highest quality materials to ensure superior reliability, accuracy, and repeatability. Belimo’s combined temperature and humidity sensors include field-selectable ranges and outputs, including relative humidity, absolute humidity, enthalpy, and dew point, helping buildings meet ASHRAE 62.1 standard. Combined sensors provide a flexible and cost-effective solution.

Indoor Air Quality Sensors

Sensors that measure IAQ are becoming increasingly important to slow the transmission of viruses via the HVAC system. With the new ASHRAE guidance codes, HVAC systems’ operation is critical for maintaining adequate and safe IAQ in reopening buildings. Strategies such as increased ventilation, improved filtration, and air cleaning aim to enhance occupant safety, comfort, and productivity. Air quality sensors provide occupant comfort and safety while helping to maximize efficiency. Belimo offers a wide range of combined multi-sensors for CO2, humidity, temperature, and VOCs designed to ensure air quality and maximize energy savings over the building’s life cycle.

Occupancy Sensors

Indoor occupancy sensors measure motion and light in spaces to optimize energy efficiency. Seamless integration to the building management system (BMS) allows energy savings by controlling the space temperature to an unoccupied setpoint. Occupancy sensors can detect ambient brightness levels, enabling the BMS to control powered light levels in the space. These sensors are typically in high-traffic or isolated areas, such as the building entrance, hallways, lavatories, floor, office rooms, etc. Belimo’s occupancy sensors are designed to be discreet. The ceiling-mounted 360° passive infrared occupancy sensor with relay output seamlessly integrates to the BMS, allowing energy savings by controlling the space temperature to the unoccupied setpoint.

Room Sensors

Room Sensors monitor motion and share data on occupancy activity patterns and environmental changes in temperature, humidity, and CO2. This data is invaluable in running an environmentally friendly office, ensuring occupant comfort and safety with increased production. Belimo room sensors in a surface-mounted, streamline design measure temperature, humidity, and CO2, providing high accuracy with a fast response rate. Integrated with Near Field Communication (NFC), room sensors allow easy data access, device configuration, commissioning, and troubleshooting when using the Belimo Assistant App installed on a smartphone.

Kele offers a wide range of Belimo sensors  you need to get your next project done. Shop now or find out more on how Kele can help you with all of your sensor needs. Call or Chat Live with us today!