Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023

HVACR NewsMagazine May 2023 State National Chapter News

Nothing Works Right Until the Mechanical is Right Bobby Parks Teaches Inspectors at CORE Bobby Parks of Healthy Homes of LA gave Arkansas inspectors a full day of Mechanical and Energy Code perspectives during the COAR, Code Officials of Arkansas, meeting. Parks likes to refer to himself as a “High-Tech Redneck with Really Cool Toys” and toys is an understatement. Bobby uses the tools of our trade to demonstrate the importance of getting the design right on construction and mechanical. These demonstrations were particularly important to those doing Manual J and Duct Tests. His doll house, name given to it because it started out life as his daughter’s doll house, is a three story demonstration of pressure changes within a home when everyday appliances are used; i.e., dryer, kitchen vent, bathroom vent, fireplace. Even duct leakage’s effect can be demonstrated. Parks spent a lot of time talking about specific products and how they change a load. For example, R8 vs R6 insulation. While builders are concerned about the cost difference of the product, the mechanical industry needs to point out the potential difference in equipment and duct sizing costs. In his study, a typical system could save over $100 even though the cost per square foot of insulation was greater. When running a load, it is also important to know the actual difference in

Bobby’s Doll House / Pressure House demonstrates the effect of exhaust, combustion appliances, and leaky duct on the safety of a home.

the windows. The solar heat gain co efficient is the most important rating on a window and can be from 1 to 0. SHGC is best described as a ratio where 1 equals the maximum amount of solar heat allowed through a window, and 0 equals the least amount possible. An SHGC rating of 0.30 means that 30% of the available solar heat can pass through the window. Since windows may be the first or second largest heat loss and gain in a home, knowing the SHGC on the window is critical to running an accurate load. The day long presentation was entertaining and informative. Some inspectors commented that it was the most informative session they had ever attended.