Lessons in Speed, Efficiency & Comfort
Lowder Brothers Heat & Air is a leading commercial heating and air conditioning company based in Pocola, Oklahoma, in the southeast corner of the state, a few miles from the western border of Arkansas. The company’s work is divided between 80 percent commercial and 20 percent residential.
Justin and Magen Lowder started the business in 2008. They’re very ably assisted by Justin’s brother Heath and a dedicated team of technicians.
The summer of 2024 brought a major project their way, when administrators from The Northridge Elementary School expressed a need for 67 rooftop units for the 80,000 sq. ft. facility. Lowder Bros. had installed 65 rooftop units at another elementary school, so they were a logical choice.
This was a Design/Build project completed in tandem with Beshears Construction, based in Ft. Smith.
“The engineer and school district reached out to us and described some of the issues that they were facing in the school. There was a problem with high humidity, the units on the roof are old, worn out and inefficient and prone to breakdowns,” Lowder explained. Another concern was that the units be easy to service due to low manpower.
“They only have three service technicians for the entire Van Buren School District, and they wanted to make sure whatever we put on the roof was easy to access, service and maintain,” Lowder said.
Lowder Bros. is located a quick 15-minutes by car from Rheem’s Ft. Smith facility.
“We took all of those variables from the school district and complaints they had received and designed the systems based on the information they had given to us, and I worked with a Rheem engineer and a sales representative,” Lowder said. “I gave the engineer the model numbers and specifications for what we were proposing. The engineer went over everything, ran load calculations to make sure everything was in compliance with state regulations. Rheem’s engineers and support was right there in our back yard to help us,” Lowder said.
The solution was Rheem Renaissance units with hot gas reheat, to provide comfortable climate for students and teachers.
The existing systems on the roof were from Carrier, and those units had served them well. “I believe they were late 1980 models, so they had served their time and served their purpose,” Lowder said.
One of the reasons Lowder chose Rheem is due to the fact that Rheem’s new platform fits the Carrier footprint, which is kind of the industry standard footprint. We did not have to use curb adapters or install new curbs, which save the district quite a bit of money, which can be used for other schools and projects,” Lowder shared. They’ll soon start work on a new wrestling facility and music center for the Van Buren School District, which will also utilize Rheem units.
Energy savings was at the top of the list of needs. “Energy savings was something they stressed was important. I think that’s becoming important for all the school districts; anywhere they can save money helps because they can invest the savings in other facilities,” Lowder shared.
During winter, the systems’ two-stage gas firing will conserve gas consumption over the old, single-stage systems.
“We elected to upgrade to the stainless steel heat exchanger, which gives them a 20-year warranty. We also elected to use hinged access panels on all units, so a service technician or those who change filters can turn the hinge a quarter turn of a screwdriver. The quicker they can work on them and get off the roof the more economic it is.”
Two-stage gas heat is built in to the Renaissance units.
Attention to Airflow
Airflow needed some attention too.
“When you work on a building as old as this, sometimes you face challenges with the duct design. Several of these classrooms had a concentric grill that they used to distribute air. We had noticed when we first did a walk-through we noticed that some heat exchangers were failing, which is normally a sign of an airflow issue. So we elected to use a medium static drive on some of these units, which allows us to run at a higher static pressure and still achieve the air flow we need. Rheem offers a low, medium and high static pressure option, so we can overcome problems from duct that’s not sized properly. For Rheem to offer that allows the consumer to not have to spend unnecessary money going in and upgrading all the duct systems and adjust the equipment accordingly," Lowder said.
The PlusOne HumidiDry that Rheem offers on the Renaisssance units controls the humidity, which becomes brutal in Oklahoma summers. “We keep it at about 58 percent in the space which allows it to be nice and comfortable,” Lowder explained. “And with lower humidity you can raise the temperature because it will feel colder because you don’t feel the moisture on your skin as much when the humidity is lower. So naturally the space feels colder, which saves on energy from not having to keep the temperature turned down as low.”
Press Fittings Save Time Under Intense Heat
HVAC contractor Ryan Figueroa comes from a family deeply rooted in the trades. His father, uncle, and brother all have extensive experience in the industry, having worked for their family business R&K Air Conditioning in El Centro, California. Drawing on over two decades of experience and a desire to forge his own path, Figueroa founded Top Gun Mechanical, specializing in VRF installations.
In their latest project, Top Gun Mechanical was tasked with outfitting a commercial building that will soon become the Legacy MD Medical Center. This expansive, two-story, 32,000-square-foot facility will offer new medical services, including an urgent care center. The scope of the project was considerable, and if completed with traditional brazing methods, it would have taken months for the five technicians assigned to the job.
The challenge was compounded by the extreme summer heat in El Centro, where temperatures can reach up to 120°F. To keep his team safe and comfortable while maintaining efficiency, Figueroa recognized that brazing would be time-consuming and may create an uncomfortable working environment.
Fortunately, Figueroa had introduced Rapid Locking System (RLS) press fittings to his toolkit seven years ago. For this project, the Top Gun team used RLS press fittings to install 64 fan coils, each with two pipes, totaling approximately 800 press fittings and 5,000 feet of pipe throughout the facility. Figueroa also relied on other key products he’s worked with before including using Toshiba/Carrier HVAC systems and utilizing trusted Navac tools to complete the project.
“What is fascinating to not only us as contractors, but also to the customer, is how well these fittings, tools and systems operate in our extreme climate,” Ryan remarked. “Even with temperatures over 115+ degrees they never seem to skip a beat. They are truly state-of-the-art pieces of equipment.”
Figueroa also noted that along with the importance of utilizing the most efficient tools, another major focus is keeping his team safe.
“I am always very aware of taking care of my crew while working in such extreme heat. I work to do everything in my power to ensure the health and safety of my colleagues. With massive projects like this one, avoiding burnout and heat exhaustion was one of my top priorities. My crew is the backbone of my entire business, so it is essential to strategically plan out the workday to make it through the entire project in a safe and efficient manner.”
RLS press fittings provide a flameless alternative to brazing for HVAC/R applications. By eliminating a source of fire hazards, press fittings also remove the need for added fire precautions such as hot work permits and fire spotters, speeding up the HVACR installation and repair process. Press fittings also allow contractors to create reliable connections in under 10 seconds, compared to the 10 minutes required for brazing each connection, thus saving time on hot days, and providing cost savings to the customer.
The Top Gun team completed the VRF installation in just a few days by leveraging these efficient approaches, a stark contrast to the six-to-eight weeks that the project would have required using only brazing, all while staying cool despite the sweltering summer heat.
“At the end of the day, it all boils down to the numbers,” Figueroa said. “The fittings may cost more upfront, but the time, labor and sweat equity we save on jobs more than makes up for it and we are still able to deliver a top-quality install that we are known for throughout El Centro.”
- Article provided by RLS.
Harris Completes Major Building Automation Retrofit Projects at An Arizona University
by Cody Sinke
Harris’ Arizona Building Automation and Mechanical teams recently completed significant retrofit projects for a public university in Arizona, modernizing building systems to enhance efficiency and sustainability. These projects involved the demolition of outdated pneumatic control systems and the installation of advanced automation technologies designed to optimize energy use and extend the life of the university’s mechanical equipment.
The scope of work included retrofitting both a dormitory and an administration building, each with unique mechanical systems. The dormitory featured a steam-to-hot-water heat exchanger system that provided comfort heating to the student rooms, along with domestic hot water. Harris performed a comprehensive retrofit, replacing the pneumatic controls with state-of-the-art Distech IP controls. This process encompassed demolition, installation, engineering, programming, and commissioning. Harris worked closely with both the university’s facilities team and the project’s commissioning agent to ensure a seamless upgrade.
New Standards to Meet University Goals
In collaboration with the contracted mechanical engineering firm, Harris helped develop a new sequence of operations and updated specification standards aligned with the university’s energy efficiency and operational goals. Additionally, Harris partnered with the campus IT team to ensure that communication with the local servers was implemented correctly and securely, safeguarding the integrity of the building’s automation systems.
The administration building posed a different set of challenges, with existing mechanical equipment such as boilers, air handling units (AHUs), and induction boxes. The zone control system was unfamiliar to many on the project team, requiring careful coordination. Harris worked alongside the mechanical engineer and commissioning agent to implement ASHRAE Guideline 36 sequences into the existing systems. This was achieved through minor mechanical modifications and the conversion of pneumatic controls to Distech IP controls, ensuring that the new programs complied with Guideline 36 standards.
Thanks to Harris’ strategic approach, the retrofit was completed with minimal disruption to the university’s daily operations. Our regional expertise and strong local relationships allowed for meticulous preconstruction planning, which enabled our teams to execute installation and demolition efficiently. Harris’ in-house panel fabrication team and local operations staff collaborated effectively to meet tight schedules and complete night work as required, ensuring the project stayed on track without compromising quality.
Harris is currently undertaking another pneumatic-to-DDC retrofit at the same university, once again utilizing Distech IP controls. As part of our commitment to long-term support, we are also assisting the university in building self-sufficiency through the training of its staff on the newly installed systems.
IFS Completes HVAC and Controls for 20,000 sq. ft. Gym/Fine Arts Complex
IFS’s design solution included state-of-the-art packaged rooftop units (RTUs) with features such non-fused disconnects, hail guards, power economizers and hot gas reheat.
ST. LOUIS, MO - Kingston K-14 School District has completed its 19,876-square-foot high school gymnasium and fine arts complex addition in Cadet, Missouri. Integrated Facility Services (IFS) served as the mechanical and building controls contractor for the project, overseeing the design, equipment procurement and installation for the comprehensive HVAC project. IFS’ HVAC solution was designed to ensure optimal climate control, energy management, reliability and energy efficiency throughout the premises.
Integrated Facility Services (IFS) is a full-service HVAC, plumbing, piping, fire protection, and building automation firm with over 250 professional and trade employees.
"We are excited to add this beautiful high school gym to our school district. This will be a great benefit to our community for many years to come,” said Chris Clapp, Facility Director of Kingston School District. “It is reassuring to have IFS at the helm in installing our HVAC system. They are always committed to doing things right and getting the project completed in a timely manner.”
The new addition houses a new performance gymnasium with mezzanine and support spaces such as locker rooms, concessions and restrooms and also new vocal and band classrooms and practice rooms. The addition connects to the classroom portion of the original building by a 1,272-square-foot masonry addition that houses an egress stair relocated from the existing building. The project was completed for use in the 2024-2025 school year.
“Having attended this rural school when Kingston was a small K-8 school district, it was a privilege to go back and partner with the district on this project. They have been a fantastic group to work with over the last couple of years and are set up to achieve a lot of success in the future,” said Chris Snudden, Commercial Sales Manager at Integrated Facility Services.
The project represents a significant investment in the future of education, aligning seamlessly with the district's vision of excellence and innovation. Kingston initiated the project to modernize and enlarge the high school footprint and take the pressure off of the elementary and primary buildings that currently house junior high and high school athletics and events.
Established in 1966, IFS delivers integrated mechanical engineering and construction, installation, service and planned maintenance, and energy conservation solutions to ensure occupant comfort, improve efficiency, and reduce operational costs. IFS is ranked among the top 100 HVAC contractors in the country by Contractor Magazine. IFS serves clients in Missouri and Illinois, with offices in St. Louis and Columbia, MO. For more information, call (636) 680-2100 or (573) 442-6100 and visit www.intfs.com.