A laboratory-type facility has stringent air-flow requirements to create a safe, constant, controlled environment. Additionally, laboratories have areas where air volume and temperature must be adjusted according to occupancy. In either new designs or retrofits, VAV systems can make HVAC systems operate more efficiently to meet these needs. [Atwell and McGeddy, 1989]
When a facility is only partially used or occupied during the day, the VAV system has a high, part-load operating efficiency. In order to achieve additional energy savings, the VAV system reduces the average ventilation rate in laboratories when they are unoccupied. [Neuman and Guven, 1994]
A VAV system also has other advantages: it monitors and controls pressurization in laboratories for increased safety, it readily adapts to adding or moving fume hoods around during remodeling, and it improves fume hood safety monitoring. The advantages of the VAV system make up for the fact that the system may not have the lowest first cost. [Neuman and Guven, 1994]
Constant-volume reheat comparison
