As with most Facility Manager professionals I network with, its common to see hot/cold calls as our #1 complaint. Yet, it's our job to provide comfort to our occupants. We recently went through a Fire Prevention Inspection, where we ousted over 30 'Illegal" space heaters. Now we need to find a solution for these occupants. We have dated HVAC systems, so our ability to control the environment is limited, yet we want safe options for use as well.
We're just starting to evaluate space heating options. We want to get away from the large energy hogs (1500 watt), and move people toward lower energy use and safer devices. We've ordered a couple devices (Cozy Toes), and the basic stand up heat panel (approx 75 - 150 watt). But, safety being the primary concern, I'm curious how others have evaluated and ultimately settled on a given solution. Also, has anybody found and Occupancy type of switch on a heater? This would allow for greater energy efficiencies, plus assure its off when they leave their workstation? (due to fire codes, you can't use the occupancy type plug strips)
Buildings are so nice until the occupants move in. Hot/Cold calls are at the top of most lists. Sometimes they can be symptoms of larger problems that can be solved.
Is there a building pressurization problem? Air being draw from areas of high exhaust (labs) can cause air movement and infiltration in areas far away.
Was perimeter heating cut back or "value engineered" out? The skin losses through a wall should be canceled out, especially and older system that may be VAV.
Are there variances in temperature as an occupant travels though a building? Passing through a warm area into a cooler area creates issues at any time of year. It is hard to standardize temperatures, especially in the political atmosphere of a medical center.
An older constant volume system with terminal reheats can easily suffer from plugged strainers or fouled coils. It takes work to fix that. Do a little detective work and see if the mechanic assigned to areas is a schmoozer or a fixer. A good schmoozer will never be above the ceiling with a pipe wrench and a bucket of black slimy coil residue.
Bernie
I want to say "yawn". Reason is the building was designed on the cheap and probably your budget wants to "fix" it on the cheap. The problem revolves around the word cheap, or it's more politically correct form inexpensive.
Unfortunately you cannot get fixed and cheap in the same sentence properly unless cheap come first as in "cheap fix". Yes, the connotation there is less than an ideal solution.
I'll bet your biggest problem in your building is that you heat and cool large amounts of air rather than people and objects. So, no doubt the people are uncomfortable.
Consider radiant ceiling panels instead. At least with that you can get an occupancy sensor. And, if you are really thinking, maybe see about installing something like DALI protocol lighting with daylight harvesting. You can then use those same occupancy/light sensors to control your radiant occupancy and you mess with your ceiling ONE time. Payback on full lighting control is quick so this may lessen some pain to add some radiant when you are messing around above the ceiling already.
Daryl's comments and idea referring to radiant ceiling panels are very good.
If some one is not interested in oocupancy/light sensors controlling radiant panels, there s is another option.
Install radiant ceiling panels (with reflective capability so your heat does not go above the office ceiling) and a Verdant (mfg.) thermostat with occupancy sensor. Model V8-BB-7S heat only thermostat is programmable and also
provides an occupancy sensor. This control is not expensive and good for radiant heaters and electric baseboard heating devices. This control may be found at prothermostats.com. Type in Verdant in their "search" space.
Stay warm!