VBFA - Full Service Engineering
Our firm provides clients with a full complement of MEP capabilities and a team dedicated to excellence.
Services
Our mechanical engineering expertise includes: HVAC (packaged roof tops/indoor air handlers/(CV) VAV), Medical Gas, Central Plants, Plumbing, Sanitary Systems, Water Systems, Steam Systems, Clean Rooms, Energy Analysis, Value Engineering, Energy Modeling, Air Quality, Storm Drainage and Automatic Temperature Control. We are a leader in the industry in the implementation of innovative energy systems including: Positive Displacement Air Systems, Cogeneration Systems, Passive and Active Solar Designs, 3-Stage Evaporative Cooling Systems, Ground-Source Heat Pump Systems/Geothermal, Energy Conservation Systems and Ammonia Refrigeration Systems.
Our electrical engineering expertise includes: Power Systems, Grounding and Bonding, Interior and Exterior Lighting, Lighting Controls, Utility Coordination, Photometric studies and lighting calculations, Structured Cabling, Emergency Generators and Emergency distribution Systems , Low Voltage Raceway Systems, Telecommunications, Audio/Video, Fire Alarm Systems, Security Systems (including secure card access, security camera, carbon monoxide detection and warning systems), Electrical system studies and analysis , Cost estimating, Arc Flash analysis, and renewable energy projects (photovoltaic and wind). We are licensed in 13 States.
Our civil engineering expertise includes: Site Development, Culinary/Secondary Water Storage, Distribution Systems, Sanitary/Industrial Sewer, Land Subdivision, Grading/Earthwork, Flood Control, Storm Drainage, Bridges/Small Building Structural Design and Road/Street Design.
Our team of engineers has provided independent third party commissioning and commissioning services for projects that we have provided the MEP design. In these cases an engineer, who was not involved in the design, is utilized to give “third party” objectivity. Commissioning provides the owner with verification that the energy systems (Lighting Controls, Renewable Energy Systems, Pumps, Heat Pumps, Fluid Coolers, Fans, Air Handlers, and other related equipment) installed in their building function properly and deliver the expected level of performance and energy savings.
Our fire protection expertise includes: Fire Protection Building Code Analysis, Forensic Investigation, Expert Witness, Engineered Water Supply Analysis, Building Fire Flow/Hydrant Analysis, Fire Hydrant Flow Tests, Fire Sprinkler Performance Specifications, Full Piping/Hydraulic Calculation, Wet Sprinklers (Dry Sprinklers, Pre-Action Systems, Deluge Systems), Clean Agent Suppression Systems and Fire Alarm Systems.
Our approach is to promote systems that are environmentally responsible, energy efficient and contribute to the comfort, well-being and health of the occupants. Our energy efficient systems include: Displacement Ventilation/Displacement Air Delivery Systems, Cogeneration, Passive/ Active Solar Designs – Solar Thermal Water Heating, 3-Stage Cooling, Ground Source Heat Pump, and Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. Our electrical expertise includes: Daylight Control Systems, Occupancy Controlled Lighting and Renewable Energy Systems such as Solar Photovoltaic and Wind.
We are one of the few major engineering firms with extensive experience with these innovative HVAC systems. These systems are environmentally safe, cost effective to install and require less floor space than a conventional HVAC system. Our designs carefully balance the energy exchange with the soil, resulting in negligible influence to the subterranean soil temperatures. These systems are remarkably energy efficient, saving thousands of dollars in operating costs and have very little maintenance requirements, representing another long term benefit to clients.
Our experience related to the design of ice related refrigeration and ammonia systems includes: screw and reciprocating compressors, evaporators, thermal siphon, liquid injection/glycol oil cooling systems, refrigeration pumps, evaporative condensers, condensers and cooling towers. We provide integration of the refrigeration automatic system controls into building management systems and web based access. We provide analysis of existing refrigeration systems and ice rinks to fix equipment, ice floor heaving and noise issues and improve energy efficiencies
REVIT – Our ability to use Revit effectively saves time and money for our clients by solving problems early in the design phase, resulting in a substantial decrease in RFIs and change orders. BIM / HVAC Solution® – HVAC Solution® was developed under the umbrella of VBFA. This powerful design tool interfaces with Revit allowing designs to be completed quicker and with fewer errors. We partnered with Autodesk and Revit and upgraded HVAC Solution® which brought BIM to new levels.
Our energy modeling expertise includes: Energy Code Compliance, LEED Certification, Utility Incentives and Building Energy Audits for determining the best approach for upgrades to existing buildings. A preliminary model of the proposed design is prepared during the conceptual phase. Several different Mechanical/Lighting Systems, Building Envelope Components and Energy Enhancements may be modeled. The initial construction, maintenance and operating costs of each measure can then be estimated. With these estimates a Life Cycle Cost Analysis can be performed to assist in selecting the optimum systems for the project.
Early energy analysis can greatly assist project design teams in making decisions which may impact the ultimate energy consumption of the design project.