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Generator Sizing Pitfalls, “Avoid the Pain”
Aired November 6, 2008
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Take the CEU exam, click here.
As a system designer, identifying typical pitfalls in the design phase is critical to project success. Not knowing the common application traps can cause significant project pain. This Webcast will focus on sizing pitfalls that are easy to avoid if you just know where to step.
We will focus on the following elements:
• Limitations of traditional generator sizing programs
• Dealing with load uncertainty in new construction
• Recognizing leading power factor pitfalls
• Managing motor starting and generator transients – voltage and frequency dips
• Avoiding reduced voltage starting surprises
• Planning for harmonics – soft starters and variable frequency drives
• Handling drive regeneration
• Discovering more about some IGBT devices
• How to peel the UPS onion – not all devices are created equal
Who Should Attend?
This Webcast was developed for practicing Design, Sales and Consulting Engineers involved in supplying standby power tocommercial, industrial, municipal and healthcare facilities.
This webcast is free and AIA-accredited learning units will be available to all registered attendees. Register today! If you’re busy that day, register anyway and watch the webcast on-demand.
Speakers:
James Kerschinske, Power Solutions Manager, Generac Power Systems, Inc.
Mike Kirchner, Industrial Training Manager, Generac Power Systems, Inc.
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Sponsored by Generac Power Systems
Emergency Power Systems for Hospitals: Sweating the Small Stuff
Aired October 23, 2008
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Take CEU exam, click here.
Hospitals must operate 24/7/365, no matter what is happening-tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes. In fact, the worse the weather, the more likely it is that the hospitals nearest the areas of concern will be needed.
Many of these concerns can impact the availability of power. And everyone knows that hospitals need a lot of power all the time, and that this power must be of the highest quality because of ultra-sensitive, expensive, and life-sustaining equipment.
Given the speed at which power is needed, the numerous things that can go wrong when emergency power switches on or kicks back to primary, and the critical nature of hospital electrical power, electrical engineering teams have to be knowledgeable and experienced about the smalles details.
It’s those minute details that are the focus of this Webcast. Based on exit surveys from previous Webcasts, CSE is assembling experts in hospital electrical design to respond to requests for details on generators, ATS, UPS; and how to coordinate the power generation, switching, and quality equipment.
This Webcast is free and AIA-accredited learning units will be available to all registered attendees. Register today! If you’re busy that day, register anyway and watch the webcast on-demand.
Speakers:
Keith Lane, P.E., RCDD/NTS, TPM, LC, LEED A.P., Principal, Lane Coburn & Associates, LLC
James D. Ferris, PE, Associate and Electrical Project Manager, TLC Engineering
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Pure Power magazines
Sponsored by Eaton, Caterpillar, Russelectric, Cummins
Greening Data Centers: Practical Engineering Considerations for Efficiency, Cooling, and Modularity
Aired September 23, 2008
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There’s a lot of talk about greening data centers; a lot of ideas and concepts floating around that are interesting, but often backed with little or no data. There also is a rush to build data centers and get them online quickly, and in doing so, owners, engineers, and managers may not be planning adequately for growth, or leading them selves into problems that will surface in the future in a very expensive way.
This one-hour Webcast will have three presentations by three experienced data center design engineers who will provide practical, detailed knowledge and experience aimed a helping engineers and owners design, build, and operate data centers with energy efficiency, modularity, and reliability in mind. Register today!
Speakers:
William Kosik, PE, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, an HP company
Rudy Bergthold, Senior Vice President/Chief Technology Officer, Cupertino Electric, Inc.
Vali Sorell, PE, Associate Partner, Syska Hennessy Group
This webcast is free and AIA-accredited learning units will be available to all registered attendees.
Register today!
The Great Blackout of 2003: What have we learned?
Aired July 24, 2008
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On August 14, 2003, 50 million electrical power customers were suddenly without power in the northeastern United States, parts of the Midwest, and southeastern Canada—and it wasn’t a short-term power event. Although it didn’t affect as many people as the blackout in Italy in the same year, outage-related losses were estimated at $6 billion.
But the real significance for owners and the consulting engineers who serve them is what happens in individual facilities. How do we design and commission backup power systems to prepare for the big one?
On July 24th, 2008 Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Pure Power magazines marked the fifth anniversary of the Great Blackout by taking an in-depth look at designing and commissioning emergency power systems for long-term ride-through. During this one-hour webcast, a panel of engineering experts presented a definitive how-to on various emergency power strategies, with a discussion of cost vs. benefits.
Attendees will come away from this webcast strongly confident that they can design and install backup power systems that are right for their customers—and at the right price. This Webcast is free and CEUs are available to all registered attendees.
Speakers:
Paul Bearn, PE, Electrical Services Engineer, KlingStubbins
Kenneth L. Lovorn, PE, President and Chief Engineer, Lovorn Engineering Associates, LLC
Ed Koplin, PE, Principal, X-nth
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Pure Power
Sponsored by Eaton, Schneider Electric, Cat and Generac.
Fire Codes, Standards, and Best Practices for Hotels
Aired June 24, 2008
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The hotel construction market remains strong. And though hotel fires are few, constant vigilance is needed by engineers, owners, and public officials to keep old and new hotels safe. This Webcast will present two experienced fire-safety engineers discussing, in detail, recently update codes and standards affecting new and existing hotels. Emphasis will be on egress issues and best practices for upgrading alarm and fire panel systems in older hotels. This free, 60-minute event will qualify for 0.1 AIA learning units or 1 professional development hour (PDH).
Speakers:
Sarah A. Rice, CBO, Project Manager,Schirmer Engineering Corp.
Byron L. Briese, PE, Vice President,National Accounts,RJA
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Sponsored by Gamewell-FCI
COPS: An Arresting Look at NEC Article 708
Aired Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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Get an up close look at one of the hottest topics on on-site power. Register now for this Webcast on NEC Article 708: Critical Operations Power Systems (COPS).
NEC Article 708 adds a new dimension to designing, building and commissioning on-site power systems. It requires:
- Comprehensive facility engineering documentation
- Telecommunications and controls protection
- More security, redundancy and fire protection
- Automatic operation
- Minimum 72-hour run time
- Full-load witness testing
- Ongoing testing, maintenance and service
In 60 minutes, you will:
- Get a good grounding on Article 708
- Learn about its most significant requirements
- Gain insights into nuances that could affect your work
This webcast is free and CEUs are available for all registered attendees.
Speakers:
Michael A. Anthony, PE, Member, Panel 1 of the NEC, representing APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators)
Rudy Bergthold, Senior Vice President/Chief Technology Officer, Cupertino Electric, Inc.
Christopher M. Johnston, PE, Senior Vice President, Critical Facilities Chief Engineer, Syska Hennessy Group, Inc.
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Sponsored by ASCO Power Technologies, an Emerson Network Power company
Designing and Commissioning Protection Systems for Electrical Transients
Aired Thursday, March 20, 2008
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When disaster strikes and a building kicks over to standby power, transients are created in the electrical system that need to be controlled. Transients also occur when the building power is restored to normal. Electrical engineers need to design for these transients and specify products that can do the job of managing them. Good design and specifications covering surge protection, UPS, transfer switches, and standby power are only part of the solution, however. Commissioning is another the process of ensuring design, installation, start-up, operation, and maintenance is carefully considered in an integrated fashionfor all building stakeholders and for the entire life of a building.
This webcast is free and CEUs are available for all registered attendees.
This one-hour webcast brings experienced electrical designers and commissioning providers to the virtual table to share their knowledge in an interactive production.
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer
Sponsored by Caterpillar, Eaton
Selective Coordination for Emergency and Legally Required Power Systems
Aired February 8, 2008
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Take CEU exam.
Join CSE for a webcast discussing the issues and conflicts affecting selective coordination.
Selective coordination is a goal in any power distribution system design. It has been a requirement of the National Electric Code for years. However, it was felt necessary to include the requirement specifically in the Code Articles for Emergency and Legally Required Standby power systems in the 2005 NEC and article 708 of the 2008 NEC. Achieving selective coordination in a power distribution system served by two power sources with disparate impedances and capabilities presents a real challenge.
The practicing engineer, installer, facility manager and electrical inspector will gain an understanding of the issues and conflicts affecting selectivity from this discussion.
Log onto this web cast to hear the panel discuss the following:
- Characteristics of the utility derived source
- Generator characteristics
- Coordination selectivity, is it achievable
This Webcast is FREE and CEUs are available for all registered attendees.
Register Today!
Sponsored by ASCO
NEC Requirements for Generators
Aired December 6, 2007 11:00am PST/1:00pm CST/2:00pm ESTView the webcast on-demand
Take CEU Exam
If you are a design, sales or consulting engineer, you do not want to miss this!
On Thursday, December 6 at 1:00pm CST Consulting-Specifying Engineer and Generac Power Systems, Inc. conducted an educational 90 minute Webcast titled, National Electric Code for Generators. You will not only earn continuing education units, but also gain a greater understanding of how the NEC addresses all of the issues associated with generators. The NEC plays an integral role in your profession so register now, it will be time well spent!
Register Today! Hosted by Consulting-Specifying EngineerSponsored by Generac
Engineering and Commissioning High-Tech Green Buildings
Aired November 29, 2007
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High-tech buildings, which include data centers, research laboratories, and clean rooms are energy intensive, uptime critical, and very specialized in terms of materials that can be used for construction. These parameters present very difficult decisions regarding sustainability. How green can these buildings really go?
Only the best engineering practices can make a substantial dent toward greening these facilities, and commissioning will obviously play a key role in ensuring that good designs are followed by good construction practices and that operators will be equipped and trained for high performance.
This webcast presents design and commissioning tips covering design features of energy efficiency, fire protection, and water conservation over the life of the building.
Speakers:
Michael Kuppinger, P.E., RCDD/NTS, Principal of the Mission Critical Facility Communications Technology Group, Environmental Systems Design, Inc.
William J. Kosik, PE, CEM, LEED AP, Managing Principal, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Inc.
David Sellers, PE, Senior Engineer, Facility Dynamics Engineering
Hosted by Consulting-Specifying EngineerSponsored by APC, Kidde Fire Systems
Specifying the Right Links: Emergency Power for Data Centers
Aired September 20, 2007
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View Participant/Speaker Q&A
Whether it's the New York Stock Exchange or the local branch bank, lending institutions or casinos in fact, for any facilities that handles key financial data--100% uptime is a must. And when there is a power event, this kind of reliability depends on a seamless system of transferring power from primary to backup systems. In this Webcast, we take a close-up look at the design technical details of switching from utility to on-site standby power and coordinating all the equipment in an emergency power system to protect vital data.
Sponsored By: ASCO, Caterpillar, Eaton, GeneracHow to Address Integration and Interoperability for Campus Mass-Notification Systems
Aired June 21, 2007
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Take CEU exam.
In this webcast, CII facility system designers and managers come together to instruct on designing critical power systems for healthcare, focusing on how to strike the right balance between benefit and cost. In other words, how does the project team allocate power systems to separate life safety, patient safety and equipment loads at the right price?
Sponsored By: Gamewell-FCI, Siemens, Simplex Grinnell
Needs vs. Costs: Critical Power Systems for the Healthcare Industry
Aired April 26. 2007
View the webcast on demand, click here.
In this webcast, CII facility system designers and managers come together to instruct on designing critical power systems for healthcare, focusing on how to strike the right balance between benefit and cost. In other words, how does the project team allocate power systems to separate life safety, patient safety and equipment loads at the right price?
Our webcast on weighing needs against the costs for various critical power strategies in the healthcare setting isn't just for the consulting electrical engineers who design these systems.
How to strike the right balance
CSE will give you the information you require to control costs by determining your true critical power needs.
Panelists are:
Louis G. Irvine, P.E.,
Principal Electrical Engineer/Project Manager
Bala Consulting Engineers
Robert Danner
Associate Director/Healthcare Division
TLC Engineering for Architecture
James Ferris, P.E.
Electrical Engineer
TLC Engineering for Architecture/Healthcare Division
Beyond Generators and UPS: Delivering Reliability in Data Centers
When: December 13, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
Click here to view PDF of this webcast. Earn AIA endorsed Learning Units by watching this program.
Take CEU Exam.
Join Consulting-Specifying Engineer and their expert panelists on December 13th at 1:00 CST while they cover the latest practices in back-up power for data centers. The webcast will explore new and innovative topology strategies, with special attention on the movement of two-stage vs. single-stage power distribution to blade servers and racks. The webcast will also cover common single points of failure and good strategies for locating switchgear, transfer switches and the like.
Sponsored By: ASCO, Schneider, Square DEmergency Power and UPS Systems for Data Centers
When: September 21, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
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Click here to view PDF of this webcast.
Take CEU Exam, click here.
No series on data centers is complete without an indepth examination of the heart of the electrical system that keeps these mission critical facilities up and running.
Topics of discussion include the deployment of generators and UPS, redundant electrical feeds, other critical, but often overlooked six-sigma components, and best practices for commissioning and training staff to operate and maintain these often neglected systems.
Critical Changes to Fire Code
When: June 29, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. (CDT)
View pdf of webcast
Take AIA/LU exam for this webcast to earn continuing education credits.
Earn AIA endorsed Learning Units by watching this program.
NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm Code, will see a number of significant changes in the 2007 edition after final voting at this year's annual World Safety Conference in Orlando June 4-8. Among the changes the organization is considering include: a provision for mass notification systems; a relaxing of the requirement for the protection of the control unit if a unit is protected by a sprinkler system(chapter 4); provisions to facilitate performance-based design, particularly relating to initiation devices; the creation of Response Time Index on heat detector documentation and markings; mandatory smoke detector spacing in the absence of pfd criteria, and much more.
Our panel of experts will break down the changes, including what didn't make the cut and why; They'll also explain how all this will affect future building fire protection designs and specifications.
Keeping Data Centers Cool
Originally aired May 31, 2006
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Take AIA/LU exam for this webcast to earn continuing education credits.
Earn AIA endorsed Learning Units by watching this program.
Loss of servers from overheated computer rooms is a critical issue for mission-critical operations. Learn the latest design trends and building system solutions used to keep data centers cool.
This Webcast specifically addresses the special cooling measures required to keep critical server and intense computer environments cool. Both new construction and retrofit projects will be used as case studies.
Panelists include:
Steve Spinazzola, P.E. LEED A.P. RTKL; Don Beatty, chairman of ASHRAE TC9.9 committee; Chris Kurkjian from EYP Mission Critical
Taking on ASHRAE 90.1
Originally aired March 31, 2006
This Webcast is only available on CD-rom:
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Design and specify building systems for optimum energy efficiency!
This webcast specifically addresses what engineers can do to meet or beat the energy standard, which is a critical component of LEED and has also become the default energy code for most states. Commercial, Institutional and Industrial building projects that employ innovative energy efficient technologies are used as case studies. Engineers will be educated on what it takes to design and specify building systems that result in high performance buildings: energy; recovery; more efficient chiller plants; alternative energy sources; more efficient lighting and lighting controls; and better envelopes and fenestration.
Panelists include:
Keith Lane, Director of Engineering at SASCO; Sachin Anand, PE, LEED, Project Manager, Mechanical Team Leader with CCJM Engineers in Chicago; and Don Posson, head of Vanderweil's Washington DC office.
Sponsored by: Automated Logic
Big Box Retail Goes Sustainable Recorded June 2005
No CEUs awarded for this program.
This Webcast is only available on CD-rom:
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Earlier this year, Wal-Mart opened its first sustainable retail store in McKinney, Texas, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer was there for the ribbon cutting. We gathered the key players from the design firms to the owner representatives after the ribbon cutting for a discussion of the key elements involved in designing this one-of-a-kind building. Chief Editor, Jim Crockett, moderated a panel discussion of the sustainable mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design elements specifically implemented in this project, and how these elements were integrated into the building's HVAC, building controls, lighting, power, and plumbing systems.
Panelists include: Alisdair McGregor, PE, Principal at ARUP Electrical and Mechanical Systems designer; Daniel Millner, PE, Civil Engineer with Kimley-Horn Associates; Roderick Wille, Principal-in-Charge with Turner Construction; James McClendon, Mechanical Engineering Manager with Wal-Mart and Don Mosely, Special Projects Manager with Wal-MartThe Confluence of Fire, Security and Life Safety Technologies
Originally aired October 13, 2005
This Webcast is only available on CD-rom:
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Continuing advancements in fire and life safety, security and IT technology signal a change in historically isolated engineering specialties. Building owners look to the multi-disciplinary professional engineer who has the skill to design an integrated sytem that provides greater efficiencies for their buildings.
Chief Editor, Jim Crockett, moderates a panel discussion of industry experts who discuss how the multi-disciplinary engineer can design an integrated security and fire and life-safety system that utilizes technologies in new ways, such as using security cameras as smoke detection devices.
Panelists include:
William Sako, Executive Vice-President of The RJA Group, Inc., parent company of Rolf Jensen & Associates (RJA) and Sako & Associates (SAKO);
Arden Everhart, Jr., a Fire Alarm/Life Safety Specialist at Swanson Rink, a consulting engineering firm in Denver, Colorado; Thomas L. Munson, RCDD, Principle and Communications & Technology Director for TLC Engineering for Architecture,
an Orlando-based engineering firm.
Sponsored by: SimplexGrinnell
The Anatomy of a Hospital II- Critical Fire and Life Safety Systems
Originally aired: May 26, 2005
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Engineers designing systems for critical environments, like hospitals, will gain first-hand knowledge of: Equipment and systems that help prevent or limit the advancement of fires in critical environments; mandatory code procedures and their life-safety impact (i.e. voice evacuation, intensive strobes, and "bed shakers"); networking and control solutions; relevant or mandatory sprinkler solutions.
CSE moderates a panel of fire protection experts break down the major design and product trends and innovations in fire protection and life-safety systems for hospitals.
Panelists include: J. Patrick Banse, PE, with Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.; Thomas W. Gardner, P.E.,Managing Director of the Schirmer Engineering Corporation'z offices in Atlanta and Miami; and Michael A. Crowley, P.E., Vice President, of the Central Region, of Rolf Jensen & Associates.
Sponsored by Wheelock, SimplexGrinnell
The Anatomy of a Hospital - Electrical and Power Systems
Originally aired: March, 31, 2005
This Webcast is only available on CDrom:
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Engineers designing systems for critical environments, like hospitals, will gain first-hand knowledge of: Electrical distribution and the growing trend of using UPS to protect sophisticated medical equipment or to protect HIPAA record rooms; and generators and cogeneration, including the use of transfer switches and switchgear, for emergency and prime power generation
CSE moderates a panel of electrical experts break down the major design and product trends and innovations in electrical systems for hospitals.
Panelists include: Dan Chisholm, Motor and Generator Institute, Winter Park, Fla.;Kelly Decker, President, Primary Integration, Washington D.C.;Shariar Zaimi, former president and CEO of Engineering Design Group, Primary Integration, Washington D.C.;James H. Costley, PE, RCDD, Partner
Sponsored by ASCO, Kohler
Blackout Revisited: Reliability's Worth
Originally aired: October 7, 2004
This Webcast is only available on CDrom:
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The online exam has expired. Please contact Scott Siddens for the exam in paper format.
Major blackouts and power quality problems continue to plague the country despite last year's major wake-up that darkened much of the East Coast.
CSE moderates a panel that breaks down the basics of good power quality design and electrical redundancy.
Panelists include: Peter Gross, CEO, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Inc.; Tim Dueck, Principal/Director of Reliable Resources; Cyrus J. Izzo, P.E., Senior Vice President, Syska Hennessy Group; Thomas E. Reed, P.E., Principal/Director of Projects, Kling.
Sponsored by Kohler, Russelectric, ASCO, and Point8.
BAS at a Crossroads
Originally aired: June 2004
This Webcast is only available on CDrom:
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The online exam has expired. Please contact Scott Siddens for the exam in paper format.
There's a confluence of technologies on the horizon that is beginning to affect the way buildings will be used and controlled, allowing buildings to react to business in real time. Find out how design professionals best incorporate and respond to changing building automation systems for today's building projects.
Panelists include: A representative of the owner's perspective; representative from the OBIX organization; panelist with BACnet perspective; panelist with a LonWorks perspective; an expert on XML and wireless technology.
Sponsored by KMC Controls, Siemens, and BuilSpec.
Fire and Life Safety in the Wake of High-Profile Tragedies
Originally aired: April 2004
This Webcast is only available on CDrom:
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The online exam has expired. Please contact Scott Siddens for the exam in paper format.
High-rise fires in major cities, club tragedies with major casualties. These and other recent high-profile incidents have shifted the attention of building owners, and the attention of the nation, to fire and life-safety protection issues in today's buildings.Find out how the Professional Engineer can best respond to these heightened demands from the building community and state and local governments.
Panelists include: Carl Baldassarra, President, Schirmer Engineering Corp.; Michael F. Cornicelli, Director, Government Affairs for the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago; Rick Glenn, P.E., Principal, Gage-Babcock & Assoc.; Warde Comeaux, Global Fire Protection Consulting; Jeffrey Harper, P.E., Vice President for the Chicago office of Rolf Jensen & Assoc.; Fabio Grego, AIA, Manager, Regulatory Review with the City of Chicago's Dept. of Construction and Permits.
Sponsored by KMC Controls, Siemens, and BuilSpec.
Aired June 24 2008