Titus Products
Titus Products
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Overview - Displacement Ventilation Systems
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES HAVE A NEW SOURCE FOR FRESH AIR
Displacement Ventilation systems use low velocity cold air to displace displacement diffusers supply air directly into the room, placement
warm room air. They are defined by ASHRAE as fully stratified systems. of the diffusers is critical to achieving a comfortable space. The
Supply air is introduced low in the occupied space and travels along ASHRAE Guideline recommends that the air velocity in the occupied
the floor until it reaches a heat source, such as a person or computer. zone not exceed 50 fpm. For a displacement diffuser, the zone where
Natural convection flows cause the supply air to rise around the heat the velocity exceeds 50 fpm is called the adjacent zone or near zone.
source. Occupants need to be placed outside of the adjacent zone for comfort.
A typical displacement diffuser can maintain comfort in a space that is
The Displacement Ventilation system is similar to an UnderFloor approximately 5-6 times the length of the adjacent zone.
Air Distribution (UFAD) system in that is uses warmer supply air and
lower pressures then a conventional overhead system. As a result, Titus has a full line of displacement ventilation diffusers to accommodate
displacement ventilation systems have many of the same benefits of any application. One unique feature of Titus displacement diffusers is
UFAD systems, such as longer economizer periods, potential energy the variable air pattern controllers located behind the perforated face.
savings from the warmer supply air and lower horsepower fans, and The pattern controllers can be adjusted to change the size and direction
quiet operation. Although many parts of North America need to cool the of the supply airflow pattern and adjacent zone area. Engineers may
supply air below 65BF for humidity reasons, all areas should benefit from not always know the final room layout or furniture location during the
the increased economizer time. design phase. Titus displacement diffusers provide the perfect solution
by offering adjustability without the need to move or change the location
An additional benefit to Displacement Ventilation systems is that ASHRAE of the diffuser. This ability to shape and customize the airflow pattern
Standard 62.1-2007 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality gives and adjacent zone to match requirements in the occupied space ensures
Displacement Ventilation Systems a Ventilation Effectiveness Factor of the highest level of thermal comfort for building occupants.
1.2. Ventilation Effectiveness is a measure of how effectively the zone
air distribution uses its supply air to maintain acceptable air quality
in the breathing zone. A Ventilation Effectiveness Factor of 1.2 means
that a lower volume of fresh air can be used to meet ASHRAE 62.1
requirements. This makes displacement ventilation systems an effective
way to achieve the LEED Increased Ventilation credit.
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Redefine your comfort zone. ™ displacement ventilation products
DVBC
DVRI
DVIR
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ displacement ventilation products
DVR1
DVR3
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ displacement ventilation products
DVC1
DVVC
DV180
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Redefine your comfort zone. ™ displacement ventilation products
DVHC
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
The Importance of Fresh Air in Schools
NEW STUDIES SHOW IMPROVED LEARNING ABILITIES WITH THE PROPER HVAC SYSTEM
CLEAN AIR - AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE COMMODITY air, or they can have a detrimental effect on the air quality by allowing
Early childhood education is a very important and vital piece for our increased particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
society. It helps to establish the basic foundation in which our children other toxic materials to exist. Moisture intrusion leads to mold problems
will grow and develop into productive members of the world we live and other toxins can then become an issue. VOCs present a variety of
in. Kids today spend the majority of their days in schools and yet many health concerns including respiratory issues, visual disorders, memory
of our nation’s school buildings are in poor conditions, with several impairment and much more. Building professionals are becoming more
systems in need of repair or replacement. Most state and local budgets aware of how many materials inside the buildings are actually unhealthy
have grown increasingly limited especially in today’s economy, so for us.
funding for new school construction and renovation are carefully and
often times scrutinized. It is important to ensure that investments are Toxins in buildings are not just limited to VOCs, but exist in other areas
going toward efforts that can best foster healthier buildings and safer too. There are several other toxins present inside the schools and they
learning environments. can have major impacts on air quality. We have just begun to be fully
comprehend the effects they have on our learning environment. Some
Administrators, designers and architects are aware that the improved are toxins such as formaldehyde, which is present in many building
quality of school buildings can have a major impact on a student’s products like furniture and casework. Other toxins that have been found
health and learning capabilites. It’s no fluke that when classrooms are are Phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA). These toxins exist in several
clean, healthy and have an abundance of daylight, that students tend plastics used in the construction process. All of these chemicals not
to be more productive, less prone to illness and are more focused on only create health problems in terms of breathing and respiration, but
their studies. can also generate other health issues for us due to proximity or skin
exposure. Additional information about specific air quality issues in
A major and sometimes hidden component that plays an important schools is publically provided by the U.S. EPA.
role in school buildings is the design of the HVAC system. A properly or
poorly designed system will have a major impact on the air quality and TODAY, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US?
ventilation available in the school. Building systems and materials used Research within this field has increased over the years as HVAC system
also contribute to the overall learning environment as well. They can technology has evolved. Knowledge of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
either have a positive impact on the air quality in a building where the and the effect that it can have on people has spread more widely. This
heating, ventilation and cooling systems filter out pollutants in ambient highly technical field consists mainly of medical researchers. A study
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Research & content for this article was compiled from “The Impact of School Buildings on Student Health and Performance: A Call for Research” -
McGraw-Hill Research Foundation
was done several years ago that investigated the effects of various air buildings (Frumkin et al, 2007). There are several sources of outdoor
pollutants on children’s health in schools. In its findings, however, it air pollution that can affect children and adults as well. The U.S. EPA
stated that there was not enough evidence available to directly link air has recently published a comprehensive guideline on school siting that
pollutants to the impact on learning. Those same researchers and others addresses these issues.
at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (LBNL) also developed an
online library called the Indoor Air Quality Scientific Findings Resource WHAT RESEARCH ON AIR POLLUTANTS STILL NEEDS TO BE
Bank. It provides thorough information on the many aspects of this field. DONE?
Public health research has clearly demonstrated that there is a strong
The lack of adequate ventilation in classrooms is clearly an area that connection between air pollutants and respiratory health. Research has
requires additional research. Because most classrooms today are primarily centered around understanding the impacts of design decisions
in need of renovations or repair, they do not have active ventilation and building materials rather than other important factors. The most
installed and rely primarily on windows and doors for the source of air. informative research in air quality considers HVAC design and materials
In one field study on real measured ventilation rates in schools, some specifications as the independent constants and examines the effects
classrooms were reported to have mechanical ventilation rates as low that these decisions have on (1) direct air pollutant measurements, (2)
as 3.4 cubic feet per minute (Turk et al., 1989). This result is less than a health impacts of students or (3) productivity impacts of students.
third of the required rate (15 cfm) provided by ASHRAE in Standard 62
for classrooms. According to the LBNL Resource Bank, “Three studies of Additionally, the following concerns related to proper ventilation need
ventilation and respiratory illness (one performed in military barracks, further consideration:
one in a nursing home and one in a jail) found an increase in respiratory
illness with very low ventilation rates compared to substantially higher • How do various HVAC system designs and
ventilation rates (2.5 versus 20 cfm per person, 8 versus 26 cfm per maintenance procedures impact our air quality?
person, 4 versus 8 cfm per person). In these studies, the percentage
increase in respiratory illness in buildings or spaces with the lower, • How does materials selection, such as those that include
compared to higher, ventilation rates ranged from approximately 50% to VOCs, affect student health and the learning environment?
370%. Similar results might be expected in other high density buildings
such as school classrooms, though no data are available.” The Resource
Bank also concluded similar details about the effect that ventilation
rates can have on SBS. Existing research has shown sufficient evidence
existed to determine that ventilation rates below 50 cfm per person can
greatly impact the health and productivity of occupants.
Another factor that sometimes goes unnoticed is that student health can
be adversely affected by poor outdoor air quality in and around school
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Introducing the Titus Solar Plexicon
THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT, SOLAR-POWERED SOLUTION FOR AIR DISTRIBUTION
Displacement ventilation is growing in popularity as engineers and diffuser that provides an optimum level of cooling and heating per
design professionals seek to use air distribution systems that are ultra ASHRAE without the need for a secondary heating system.
efficient and occupant friendly. The benefits of displacement ventilation
include energy savings, and the highest level of indoor air quality (IAQ) To power the auto-changeover action when changing to the cooling
of any HVAC system in the market. An additional factor, the cost of or heating mode, the solar Plexicon utilizes the same wireless,
the system, is also driving the decision process toward displacement. energy-harvesting platform that is found in the EOS solar diffuser. The
One reason cost has become so important is the fact that more and energy-harvesting process that drives the auto-changeover function is
more designs with displacement ventilation are also calling for a achieved by using solar light energy to power the unit. Two miniature
supplementary heating system as well. Since heating from a traditional motor/actuator assemblies are mounted internally and connected to
displacement system is not possible, providing a second HVAC system dampers. Each assembly is powered by solar panels mounted on the
to heat the occupied space presents challenges on the cost, design, and unit that gather sun and ambient room light and stores the energy on a
installation sides. capacitor. An internal circuit board houses the energy storing capacitor,
temperature sensing device, and specially programmed algorithmic logic
To provide a solution, Titus developed the DVIR-HCS Solar Plexicon dual to regulate actuation changeover time and sequence. The unit “wakes
function diffuser. The Solar Plexicon addresses the heating problem up” every 10 minutes to check the room and supply air temperature and
by incorporating two air distribution delivery methods - stratified and logs both. When an air temperature is recorded out of the pre-set dead
mixed ventilation, into one diffuser assembly with a single supply duct band, the smart logic instructs the diffuser to change the blade position
connection. The Solar Plexicon uses displacement principles to cool and for either heating or cooling. If the temperature that is recorded calls for
mixed airflow principles to heat the occupied space. The design features heating, the logic instructs the actuator to direct the airflow to the CT
two separate internal plenums that provide separate air passage ways diffuser for mixed airflow heating. If the temperature that is recorded
for cooling and heating. The front plenum is ducted to a DVRI face to calls for cooling, the logic instructs the actuator to direct the airflow to
provide displacement cooling. The rear plenum in the unit is ducted to the DVRI face for low velocity displacement cooling.
a CT diffuser located at the bottom of the diffuser to provide heating
from the floor level. Pattern controllers were added to the CT to provide The Solar Plexicon is designed to operate with all types of HVAC systems
additional spread in heating mode. The result is a unique dual function in the market (Single Duct, Dual Duct, Fan-Powered, DX, etc.). To
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Displacement Diffuser Adjustment
This unique feature provides a high level of flexibility for the end user.
They can react to changes in the space by adjusting the adjacent
zone rather than disconnecting and moving the diffuser. Illustration
3 shows a conference room with displacement diffusers and the
standard adjacent zone from the factory. Illustration 4 shows how
these adjacent zones can be changed to accomodate the needs in
the space.
accomplish this, the unit was created with a narrow temperature band
for the cooling and heating changeover actuation. The default values
for the band are 78 degree F. for heating and 71 degree F. for cooling.
In addition, the changeover set-points are adjustable. Each default
set-point can be adjusted in one 2-degree increment up or down. This
provides maximum flexibility by allowing the installing contractor to
customize the band to fit any type of HVAC system they may be using.
At the narrowest point, the band can be adjusted to 73 degrees F. for
cooling and 76 degrees F. for heating. The band can also be expanded to
11 degrees or shifted up or down in 7 degree increments depending on
system requirements.
The benefits of the Plexicon unit can be seen throughout the building
process. Design engineers don’t have to worry about designing and
integrating a secondary system for the heating requirements. This
saves valuable time and energy during the planning and design phase.
Contractors can save time and money since they don’t have to install
a secondary air delivery system that includes additional ductwork,
diffusers and controls. The building owner doesn’t have to pay for the
second system which saves money on the overall project. Finally, the
building occupants can enjoy the highest level of thermal comfort and Cutaway view of the DVIR-HCS Solar Plexicon showing the
indoor air quality delivered by low velocity displacement cooling, or adjustable pattern controllers and blade actuators
mixed airflow heating from the floor level. With the solar Plexicon, Titus
continues to provide “Clever, Creative, Comfort” in a new and innovative
way.
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ innovative design
Solar Panels
Logic with Temperature
Sensor
Actuator
Cooling Section
Pattern Controllers
Opposed Blade
Dampers
Heating Section
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Redefine your comfort zone. ™ LEED credits
“‘USGBC’ and related logo is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building
Council and is used by permission.”
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ cooling mode
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ heating mode
info
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
Round Rock ISD envisioned a sleek, modern new campus that would
foster growth and development for its students. They wanted a high
school capable of unlocking the hidden abilities of their students and
one that would aid their teachers in preparing their students for the next
chapter of their lives. Cedar Ridge High School is the result.
DVIR
Cedar Ridge High School is a unique two-story, 375,000 square-foot high
school divided into four distinct academies: Academy of International
Business and Economics, Academy of Professional Studies, Academy
of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathemathics, and the
Academy of Visual and Performing Arts. Each academy houses its own
media center, administration suites and planning areas for teachers. The
common areas for all students are the cafeteria, the athletic facility and
the outdoor courtyard which is considered the heart of campus and is
home to several multi-purpose events. DVBC
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Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
The design team and Round Rock ISD wanted this school to be an at low velocities into the occupied zone. Easily adjustable air pattern
environmentally friendly facility. This LEED Certified school has several controllers inside the units can create different airflow patterns in the
sustainable elements featured. It uses local limestone materials on the space to optimize occupant comfort.
exterior of the buildings and offers an abundance of natural light. All the
windows allow natural light to penetrate deep into the occupied spaces. THE END RESULT
THE TITUS SOLUTION There have been numerous studies on the importance of proper
ventilation in our schools. Cedar Ridge High School has a state-of-the-
The HVAC system featured in the high school also contributed toward art HVAC system that provides superior performance for its students
it achieving LEED Certification. Titus has an abundance of products and faculty. The new high school is also a beautiful campus that has
installed that provide energy savings to the school. Several areas in created the best learning environment for the students of Round Rock,
the new high school utilize displacement ventilation, which is a unique Texas. The teachers, staff and administration now have a technologically
alternative for air distribution. advanced partner that will assist them in molding the future leaders for
the next generation.
The DVIR and DVBC are rectangular displacement diffusers. The DVIR is a
unidirectional discharge diffuser designed for flush mount applications.
The DVBC has a curved face and discharges air via a three-way pattern.
Both units provide air distribution by supplying large volumes of air
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
The new Willard Elementary School, which opened its doors for the
first time this year, is a state-of-the-art building designed by the Office
of Michael Rosenfeld, Inc (OMR) Architects. This award winning, full-
service architectural firm listened to and incorporated many design
elements from the clients to create a new education facility for young
minds to grow and prosper.
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
located in the classroom. elementary school. Williard Elementary also has several other high
performance grilles and diffusers to provide a total air distribution
THE TITUS SOLUTION solution. The OMNI diffuser can be seen in various locations as well
as the FlowBar. The OMNI is an architecturally pleasing unit that
When designing and building an energy efficient facility, the HVAC delivers a uniform 360 degree horizontal air pattern. The FlowBar
systems are extremely important and cannot be overlooked. OMR architectural linear diffuser system maximizes engineering performance
not only relied on utilizing diffusers and grilles, but wanted to create without sacrificing aesthetic considerations of the designer. FlowBar’s
a unique HVAC system that would have all other elementary facilites outstanding performance allows higher air flows than conventional
green with envy. Displacement Ventilation, a unique method of air linear diffusers and produces lower noise levels.
distribution, was selected and Titus had the perfect product - the DVIR.
THE END RESULT
The DVIR is a rectangular displacement diffuser with a unidirectional
discharge designed for flush mount applications. It provides air Willard Elementary School is a remarkable achievement in Green Building
distribution by supplying a large volume of air at a low velocity to the design and cooperation. The Concord, Massachusetts community
occupied zone. Adjustable air nozzles inside the unit can create different received a unique school that has energy efficient technology both
airflow patterns in the space to optimize occupant comfort. inside and out while creating the perfect learning environment for their
children to grow and develop.
The DVIR displacement unit wasn’t the only Titus product used in the
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ case study project
spaces. The Lillian Osborne High School will only use environmentally THE END RESULT
approved or “green” cleaning products and chemicals.
Designing and building sustainable buildings that are recognized by
THE TITUS SOLUTION LEED are not limited to the United States. It is an international goal
that can definately have a positive impact on the world. By building
With their focus on IEQ and wanting a unique ventilation solution for the Lillian Osborne High School, the Edmonton Public School District
the classroom environment, Titus had the perfect product. The DVBC is has created a unique learning environment for their students to grow,
a rectangular displacement diffuser with a curved face for wall mount develop and learn about the world in which we live.
applications. It is designed to supply a large volume of air at low veloci-
ties into the occupied zone. This model can contribute toward achieving
LEED EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance; IEQc2: Increased Venti-
lation; and IEQc7.1: Thermal Comfort - Design. Displacement Ventilation
is a great alternative to conventional overhead ceiling supply systems.
Displacement Ventilation provides design flexibility, energy savings, and
the highest level of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ notes
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
Redefine your comfort zone. ™ notes
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Displacement Ventilation for Schools | www.titus-hvac.com
ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF AIR DISTRIBUTION
web: www.titus-hvac.com