Sugarman Consulting

Sugarman Consulting is an HVAC systems training organization. I am an educator and administrator. We teach subjects related to HVAC, including testing-adjusting-balancing,  HVAC systems design and evaluation, energy management, commissioning,  and indoor air quality. The CTAB certification is for individual recognition of proficiency (and critical thinking) in testing-adjusting-balancing. The CTAB certification is awarded to individuals based on education, test and balance experience and passing the CTAB Exam.  The CTAB Candidate sumits an application stating education and experience. The Exam is given after the Candidate has completed “industry standard” test and balance training through Sugarman Consulting. If the Candidate passes the Exam and is qualified by education and experience as attested to by members of the CTAB Board according to eligibility requirements, the candidate is awarded the CTAB designation.  My understanding of AABC, NEBB and other similar ‘member test and balance company or agency’ organizations is that they train and certify their members. Please contact them for information. Website addresses are on my Resources page on this website.



Sugarman Consulting now administers and issues CTAB® Certifications. Your renewed CTAB Certification will be sent out next week.

The CTAB Certification is in its 11 year and will be promoted vigorously by Sugarman Consulting.

Pace, now Cleanpak, makes very good air handling equipment and the P-cone is optional air flow measuring equipment on their units. In my opinion the P-cone, as with all installed flow measuring devices should be confirmed by an air balancing technician that the device’s readings are correct on the initial air balance and then on some regular schedule. The air balance technician, where appropriate, will use the proper air balancing instruments and techniques to confirm the installed flow measuring devices reading. It is our job as air balancing technicians to confirm reliability and accuracy of equipment because any given flow measuring device may be bad from the manufacturer, installed incorrectly, have dirt and debris in it from the construction site, have a malfunction, etc.

To get certification and work in testing and balancing (TAB) follow these steps:
1: Get training in testing and balancing through books, classes and on-the-job when possible
2: Complete the training and get a certification of successful completion of training
3: Prepare a resume with your training and experience in TAB. Seek employment with a balancing company or agency or a mechanical contractor that is doing testing and balancing or wants to do TAB and continue your education

If, or when, you decide to start your own testing and balancing business:
1. Purchase TAB instruments and keep them calibrated.

2. Do marketing to get jobs by talking to mechanical contractors, engineers, and building owners. Show your resume of training and jobs. Start bidding for small testing and balancing jobs. Continue marketing and getting bigger and bigger jobs. You may need a contractor license for your area. Your mechanical contractor friends should start marketing to businesses they already do projects for while they are getting TAB training. After approximately 5-10 years in business you can apply for membership and certification with NEBB or AABC. Check with local AABC or NEBB chapter or national headquarters to get current requirements for membership.

I can provide test and balance training for you. It is the same industry standard training as done by NEBB or AABC. The CTAB Testing-Adjusting-Balancing HVAC Systems book you purchased is part of that training. You may want to purchase my CTAB Home Study Course. Let me know if you and your friends are interested in in-house classes.

The difference between Sugarman Consulting and NEBB is: My certification is educational and you do your own TAB marketing. NEBB certification is educational and they are well known and do much of the TAB marketing for a yearly membership fee. Check with the NEBB local chapter or national headquarters to get current requirements and fees for membership.

Balancing water flow at the pumps will require a water differential pressure meter. You can use either analog or digital instruments. ITT Bell and Gossett(B&G) and Shortridge Instruments are among the many providers of these types of water instruments. If the pressure gauges on the suction and discharge sides of the pumps are new and calibrated you can use them as an installed flow meter.

I can help you with training. Look on my website, www.SamSugarman.net, there you'll see that I have books, CDs, Home Study Courses, and in-house workshops on air balancing and HVAC systems. However you get the training, you'll also need to purchase instruments and you'll have to do some marketing to get balancing jobs...the factories where you already do HVAC work are a good place to start since they know your work skills, ethics, ect. As you increase the number and size of your jobs, and therefore your experience, you may want to become a member of AABC or NEBB. Contact these two international organizations for their membership requirement.

Thanks for the email. My CTAB program for individuals is the CTAB Testing-Adjusting-Balancing HVAC Air and Water Systems Self Study Course (SSC). It is composed of 15 Lessons which you can do in your own time. There is no time limit on completion. With the CTAB SSC you get my book Testing and Balancing HVAC Air and Water Systems - fourth edition. And I have just completed a new book, CTAB Testing-Adjusting-Balancing HVAC Systems, first edition eBook on CD which is more graphic (photos etc.) than my Testing and Balancing HVAC Air and Water Systems - fourth edition book. This new book on CD is now included in the CTAB SSC 2011. In each Lesson you will need to read some chapter(s) in the book and then answer questions on a quiz for that lesson. When you have finished Lesson 1 quiz email me the answers and any questions you have about the Lesson or any other air testing and balancing questions. I will grade the quiz and email you back your score along with any comments I have for you and answers to all your questions. When you have completed all 15 Lessons with a passing grade of 70 or more I will mail you a CTAB certification of completion of the course. When you finish this course you will have a well-rounded knowledge of air testing and balancing. This course takes you through the physical and mathematical aspects of testing and balancing.
Thanks again for the inquiry. Even if you don’t take the course or buy one of my books you are always welcome to email me with any testing and balancing questions.

At the end of the day we need to have confidence in our instruments (installed gauges or monitors), balancing procedures and readings.

I'm going to assume that you are taking readings across the filters with an analog or digital anemometer and getting an average 441 fpm. Tell me more how you are doing this.

As for the correction factor 0.7, what I do is measure the flow through a filter/s (or sidewall grille, or whatever device I have trouble with, for any reason) using the instrument that I have the most confidence in. Typically, this a calibrated capture hood* (Shortridge, Alnor, TSI). So my suggestion for you is to a take a cfm reading on a filter that will accommodate the capture hood. Then read the same filter with your anemometer and calculate cfm. Compare the cfm from the hood and anemometer. Example: hood reads 1300 cfm and the anemometer reads 441 fpm x 4 sf = 1764 cfm. Divide out 1300/1764 = 0.73 This is your factor when using the anemometer on these filter. Do this on as many filters as you need to have confidence in your new correction factor. Note the filters you do this test on in your report for future reference. Compare your new correction factor and new total cfm with the readings from the P-cone. If they are within 10% you can have confidence in the P-cone reading. If you need to check flow across filters at any future time go back to your test filter and take a reading to see if anything has changed and to check the P-cone.

If the readings had been reversed 1764 cfm hood and 1300 cfm anemometer then the correction factor would be 1.36 when using the anemometer of these filters.

*Another instrument that might be used in this case is a velocity grid. One brand is Shortridge's "Velgrid".

I think most companies come up with their own estimating guidelines, with occasional adjustments. The basic formula is

equipment  x 0.0 hrs/equipment x $price/hr charged x number of equipment

Hours per equipment is based on experience of how long, on average, it takes to “tab” a piece of equipment (setting up, testing, adjusting, moving to next location, etc.) and the price that can be charged in a given locale.

e.g., equipment x 0.5 hrs/equipment x $100/hr x 4 equipment = $200

Additional job costs might include general accessibility of equipment (and any specifics needed such as scaffolding, high-lifts, etc.). Travel time (especially around large metropolitan areas). Any special testing instruments or devices needed.

TAB companies may also have price lists for government (federal, state, local), military,  industry specific, and existing or former clients.

A federal project payment list  (they are in the public domain, available to all) is a good guideline to help fine tune a TAB company's cost estimating list(s).

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