SECTION 23 0593 - Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing for HVAC - Section 23 0593 Part 1 General

Sep 13, 2026

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Section 23 0593 defines requirements for testing, adjusting, and balancing HVAC systems, including air systems and hydronic, steam, and refrigerating systems. It specifies measurement of final operating conditions, identifies applicable reference standards, and establishes detailed submittal deliverables such as an approved TAB plan, instrument lists, field logs, progress reports, and final test report forms. The plan must include step-by-step procedures, terminal calibration, air and water total flow determination methods, rechecking, diversity issues, verification of outside air ventilation criteria, and reporting of deficiencies and discrepancies.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

PART 1 GENERAL

1.01 SECTION INCLUDES

1.02 RELATED REQUIREMENTS

1.03 REFERENCE STANDARDS

1.04 SUBMITTALS

PART 2 PRODUCTS—NOT USED

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 23 0593 TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR HVAC PART 1 GENERAL 1.01 SECTION INCLUDES A. Testing, adjustment, and balancing of air systems. B. Testing, adjustment, and balancing of hydronic, steam, and refrigerating systems. C. Measurement of final operating condition of HVAC systems. 1.02 RELATED REQUIREMENTS A. Section 01 2100-Allowances: Inspection and testing allowances. B. Section 01 4000-Quality Requirements: Employment of testing agency and payment for services. C. Section 01 9113-General Commissioning Requirements: Commissioning requirements that apply to all types of work. D. Section 23 0800-Commissioning of HVAC. 1.03 REFERENCE STANDARDS A. AABC MN-1-AABC National Standards for Total System Balance; 2002. B. ASHRAE Std 111-Measurement, Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing of Building HVAC Systems; 2008. C. NEBB (TAB) -Procedural Standards for Testing Adjusting Balancing of Environmental Systems; 2005, Seventh Edition. D. SMACNA (TAB) -HVAC Systems Testing, Adjusting and Balancing; 2002. 1.04 SUBMITTALS A. See Section 01 3000-Administrative Requirements , for submittal procedures. B. Installer Qualifications: Submit name of adjusting and balancing agency and TAB supervisor for approval within 30 days after award of Contract. C. TAB Plan: Submit a written plan indicating the testing, adjusting, and balancing standard to be followed and the specific approach for each system and component. 1. Submit to Architect. 2. Submit to the Commissioning Authority. 3. Submit six weeks prior to starting the testing, adjusting, and balancing work. 4. Include at least the following in the plan: a. Preface: An explanation of the intended use of the control system. b. List of all air flow, water flow, sound level, system capacity and efficiency measurements to be performed and a description of specific test procedures, parameters, formulas to be used. c. Copy of field checkout sheets and logs to be used, listing each piece of equipment tobe tested, adjusted and balanced with the data cells to be gathered for each. d. Identification and types of measurement instruments to be used and their most recent calibration date. e. Discussion of what notations and markings will be made on the duct and piping drawings during the process. f. Final test report forms to be used. g. Detailed step-by-step procedures for TAB work for each system and issue, including: 1) Terminal flow calibration (for each terminal type) . 2) Diffuser proportioning. 3) Branch/submain proportioning. 4) Total flow calculations. 5) Rechecking. 23 0593-1 TESTING, ADJUSTING, AND BALANCING FOR HVAC 6) Diversity issues. h. Details of how TOTAL flow will be determined; for example: 1) Air: Sum of terminal flows via control system calibrated readings or via hood readings of all terminals, supply (SA) and return air (RA) pitot traverse, SA or RA flow stations. 2) Water: Pump curves, circuit setter, flow station, ultrasonic, etc. i. Specific procedures that will ensure that both air and water side are operating at the lowest possible pressures and methods to verify this. j. Confirmation of understanding of the outside air ventilation criteria under all conditions. k. Method of verifying and setting minimum outside air flow rate will be verified and set and for what level (total building, zone, etc. ) . l. Method of checking building static and exhaust fan and/or relief damper capacity. m. Methods for making coil or other system plant capacity measurements, if specified. n. Time schedule for TAB work to be done in phases (by floor, etc. ) . o. Description of TAB work for areas to be built out later, if any. p. Time schedule for deferred or seasonal TAB work, if specified. q. False loading of systems to complete TAB work, if specified. r. Exhaust fan balancing and capacity verifications, including any required room pressure differentials. s. Interstitial cavity differential p

FAQs

What systems does Section 23 0593 cover for testing, adjusting, and balancing?

It covers testing, adjustment, and balancing of air systems, and of hydronic, steam, and refrigerating systems. It also requires measurement of the final operating condition of the HVAC systems.

What must be included in the TAB Plan submittal?

The plan must describe the standard and approach for each system and component, include required procedures and measurement lists, and provide step-by-step TAB methods for air and water work. It must also specify how total flow is determined, rechecking steps, diversity issues, and reporting forms and logs.

Which reference standards can be used to perform total system balance under execution requirements?

Total system balance may follow AABC MN-1, ASHRAE Std 111, NEBB procedural standards, or SMACNA (TAB) standards.

Sep 13, 2026

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