HVAC

Owned by Rachel Burgess
Last updated: Jan 17, 2024 by Lucinda Amerman (Unlicensed)
2 min read

HVAC

Heating and Cooling at the Valley Library

This summary is intended to:

  1. Serve as an internal library building communication tool
  2. Assist when responding to occupant complaints
  3. Outline basic functions of the system

How the heating and cooling system works

  1. Mechanical systems bring in outside air, then heat and cool it to approximate temperatures. 
  2. Most smaller rooms do not have the ability to heat and cool independently of other rooms.  They are usually part of a larger “block” of rooms called zones.
  3. Due to aging systems and different components, many areas of the building respond to outside temperatures very differently.  

When to Report

Email library.maintenance@oregonstate.edu 

We will check the temp and communicate with facilities if there is an issue that seems system related.

  1. No air movement.
  2. Consistent high or low temperatures (below 64F or above 78F for more than 3 hours)
  3. Burning rubber smell from vents.

Challenges

  1. The heating and cooling system is 25 years old, installed during library expansion in 1998.  Consistent, responsive and smooth functionality is not always possible.  
    1. Although some systems have been upgraded, much of the building is served by older equipment.  
  2. Rooms have been combined and divided over time so that the heating and cooling systems and sensors don’t match current layouts (or zones).  
  3. Spaces are not being used as designed. An example is storage spaces that have been converted to offices or office spaces converted to production areas. Java II is an operation that creates a lot of heat in a space not originally designed for it.
  4. Furniture and equipment too close to temperature sensors make the sensors inaccurate.
  5. It takes time for a system in a building our size to to correct temperature. 

What these challenges mean to building occupants

  • Achieving consistent temperatures in the Valley Library is not always possible.  
  • Temperatures will vary over time and from space to space.
  • If we try and make a hot room cooler, it will likely mean a cold room will be colder. 

Additional Recommendations:

  • Use a fan, additional air movement helps. One can be requested from the Library Spaces Unit.
  • Bring a sweater, or wear layers!
  • Space heaters may offer a useful, temporary heating solution in some limited cases. But sometimes, their heat is detected by building sensors, which can introduce cold air into a space, making the space even colder than without the space heater.  Consult with Library Spaces if you think a space heater might be necessary for your space.
  • Consider talking with your manager to strategize working remotely, flexible scheduling, or even working elsewhere on campus if work space is too uncomfortable to work productively.