Location: Greensboro, NC
Services: Mechanical
Category: Restaurant
Area: 4,530 sq. ft
Software: Auto CAD, HAP5.11, Bluebeam, McQuay duct.

3S was responsible for the design of the HVAC  system for a Klouud lounge in Greensboro, NC. Klooud Lounge is a family-owned hookah lounge. It is a single-story building with a total building footprint of 4,530 sq. ft. Given the nature of the hookah lounge where smoke and odors are prevalent, maintaining excellent indoor air quality is paramount.

The HVAC system was designed for the lounge to provide optimum indoor air quality and comfort while efficiently managing energy usage to achieve this a combination of ERV and Gas Fired Furnace was used in association with an existing RTU.   

The design involved conducting thorough load calculations and fresh air ventilation calculations as per the applicable building codes. To ensure a constant supply of fresh air while simultaneously exhausting stale air from the lounge area an ERV system was carefully chosen, The benefit of choosing the ERV was that it was able to effectively transfer the energy between the outgoing and incoming air streams, resulting in an adequate indoor air quality while minimizing the energy loss associated with the ventilation.

The furnace was selected with the cooling coil and the existing RTU was Calibrated to maintain a superior indoor environment through effective temperature control, ventilation, and air conditioning. The furnace was selected for its efficiency, reliability, and quick response time ensuring a comfortable indoor temperature during peak hours. Control of Smoke and odor mitigation was prioritized to maintain a healthy and comfortable environment. By balancing airflows and incorporating high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, it was ensured that contaminants were effectively removed, promoting a pleasant atmosphere for the occupants.

The major challenge faced during the design was the balancing of comfort and efficiency in a diverse and often variable occupancy environment. Designing an ERV system compliant with IECC and IMC posed a challenge too This included determining the right system size, ensuring compatibility with existing HVAC systems, and meeting energy efficiency standards. It was Equally important to optimize airflow rates to balance ventilation needs while minimizing energy usage.