r/AirBalance

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a free Excel tool I've developed called AirChange Basic.

I built it during my third-year mechanical engineering placement, where I worked as an HVAC commissioning engineer in a hospital.
I found myself repeatedly calculating air changes per hour, so I decided to make a simple tool to speed things up and reduce mistakes on site.

The goal of AirChange Basic is to make those calculations quicker and easier for any fellow engineers, technicians or interns carrying out air balancing.

I've put together a short 2.5-minute video showing how it works, and the Excel calculator is completely free to download and use.

I'd really appreciate any feedback from people working in the industry.
If you notice any bugs or have ideas for improvements, please let me know, I'd love to keep improving it.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DXwCMwLjzI&t=4s

Download: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1D1sDe00XOWzkK4ajbiLy6KfxLS1esML_

Thanks, and I hope some of you find it useful!

https://preview.redd.it/35f3q2fwrhbh1.png?width=1852&format=png&auto=webp&s=b37d3175c3736a11a8743fc8cbc9fdaefd62ab2c

Does anyone have a recommendation for a flow hood (preferably) or anemometer ? Most that I am seeing are flippin expensive.

What are some techy things you use to improve your work flow as an airbalancer? For me, I set speeds via my supply outlets and using a remote access software on my tablet from my phone to watch my meter as I adjust unit speed on the roof. I think in some cases hearing different ideas from different technicians could help us all be more efficient at what we do. So if you have an experience in this regard or a method to share please do so below. Thanks!

Edit: As I forgot to include this, I use Chrome Remote Desktop as the method for it is free to use and is compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS devices. It also assists with minor data entry if there's ever a time I need to enter information and not want to carry my tablet throughout the job site.

What is the farthest your company normally expects you to travel when it is just drive to the site, do the work, and drive back home the same day?
Do you have a set service territory or a maximum drive time/mileage before it becomes a hotel stay, per diem, or overnight job?

Also, do you get paid for driving? If so:

Do you get paid from home, from the shop, or only once you arrive at the job?

Is all windshield time paid, including the drive back home?

Is it straight time, overtime, portal-to-portal, or only paid after a certain distance?

If you are in a company vehicle, does that change how your company handles drive time?

Other things I’m curious about:

What is the farthest service call you have personally had to drive for?

Is it usually a one-day turnaround, or do you regularly stay in hotels?

For bigger TAB projects how far is too far before they put you up overnight?

Do they cover hotel, per diem, mileage, and travel time differently for overnight work?

Most of my work is drive to the site and home the same day, so I’m curious what is normal around the industry.