Factors affecting Hvac system maintenance-Abu Dhabi-Uae

Abstract

While HVAC maintenance is primarily a technical service, it is provided by people who work for other people, and is performed for people who own or occupy a building. A maintenance measure is only effective if technicians have the tools, skills and training to implement it properly. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems consume the largest portion of energy used in a building. Many building faults that occur during a project life cycle hugely contribute to energy loss, including: operational faults from improper installation, poor testing and commissioning, poor integration with building management systems, equipment degradation, sensor offset failures and control logic problems. They can be grouped into several categories, including: (1) control fault, (2) sensor offset, (3) equipment performance degradation, (4) fouling fault, (5) stuck fault, and others. The present study identified seven factors affected HVAC Maintenance performance that increased the energy consumption. These factors are: building design, temperature and humidity sensors, condition of HVAC Units, rules and regulations, engagement with stakeholders and allocation of budgets. Questionnaires were distributed to 150 participants: designers, facility managers and maintenance experts working in companies in Abu Dhabi. Exploratory data analysis using descriptive statistics was used to measure which of the above factors are more important and have significant effects on HVAC maintenance performance and increased the energy consumption. The results showed that the most important factors affecting HVAC system maintenance are: the HVAC system, the building design, and the engagement with stakeholders, in that order.