Project Description

An engineering review completed in 2021 confirmed that the system has reached the end of its useful life. The recommendation is a complete redesign that would provide adequate cooling for the next 20 years; replacing the RTUs with the addition of an air-cooled chiller to ensure adequate cooling. The primary benefits include cooling derived from air cooling as opposed to refrigerant which makes the system more environmentally friendly throughout its life; and the ability to control or ramp up or down depending on the cooling load.

WHY IT’S NEEDED: The Tigard Library, built in 2004, has two hot water boilers for heating and three roof top air handler units (RTUs) to cool the first and second floors and auditorium area. Several system failures in the past few years challenge the system’s reliability. These include compressor and motor failures, as well as failures of the equipment that regulates temperature and air flow during warm weather when the library is unable to provide cool, comfortable temperatures to patrons and serve as a cooling center for the Tigard community. The current system, as designed, is inadequate to handle temperatures above 85° let alone 100°.

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