24B-079 (65) E
a / 2f
SPRINGFIELD ASSOCIATES , INCORPORATED
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
MEMORANDUM
To: Mr. Tony Patello, N I 0 1994
Building Inspector's Office
212 Main Street
Northhampton, Massachusetts 01 050
Mr. Pete McErlain
Board of Health
210 Main Street
Northhampton, Massachusetts, 01060
Mr. Michael Driscoll
Fire Prevention Office
60 Massimic Street
Northhampton, MA 01060
From: Springfield Associates, Inc. (S.A.I.)
P 0 Box 938
Easton, Massachusetts
508-238-0972
Re: Preservation Capital Needs Assessment
Hampton Gardens
On Tuesday, January 11, 1993, from the hours of 8:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., S.A.I. will be
conducting a site inspection of the afc mentioned property, situated at Hampton Gardens,
2000 Hampton Garden, North! ampton, Massachusetts. The purpose of this site visit is a
procedural inspection pursuant to the Owner's filing of a Notice of Intent under LIHPRA to the
Department of IHeusing and Urban Development. Your presence is requested to review and
comment on the existing condition or to advise of any improvements which your agency or
department would recommend.
Additionally, an exit conference will be held the same day at 4:00 P.M. to which your presence is
also requested. The exit conference will be held at the Communty Center situated at the property
address.
Your presence is requested to review and comment on the existing condition or to advise of any
improvements which your agency or department would recommend to the Owner. Please call
Stephen Fish at S.A.I. or the Property Manager, Mr. Gerard Hughes (413-586-1406) for
confirmation of your intent to join us that day or to advise of any questions.
PO BOX 938 • EASTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02375 • (508) 238-0972 • FAX (508) 238-0971
1 990 Washington St.,#S Suite 101
Dedham,Massachusetts
02026-6795
617•326•8320
FAX 617•326•8535
•1
Spear Management Group, Inc. September 30 , 1992
Mr. James Papillon ). l C
Plumbing Inspector
City of Northampton
Northampton, MA 01060 rei.
2 ,92
«..�
Re: Hampton Gardens ; 35
Dear Mr. Papillon:
Hampton Gardens is a 207 unit apartment community with wood-
framed construction covered with a brick veneer. These units are
on slab construction with pitched roofs . All units have individ-
ual gas-fired, forced warm air furnaces; domestic hot water and
cook ranges. The furnaces are located in the living area in a
separate heater room, which are vented top and bottom to the
living room and kitchen area. The domestic hot water heater is
located in an adjacent closet.
The general classification as defined by the 1992 Mass . State Gas
Code would be "unconfined space" (Sec. 1 . 7 definition) 53 . 3 (a)
equipment located in confined space and Figure #1 .
The 40-1 bedroom units are two story garden apartments grouped in
units of four back-to-back with individual front entrances. The
2 , 3 and 4 bedroom units are townhouse units in groups of two
back-to-back. The windows are architectural steel, 5 feet high
with 2 or 3 sliding units varying in width from 3 feet to 9 feet.
The 2 , 3 and 4 bedroom units have a total load of 170 ,000 BTU/hr.
and volume varying . from 6 , 400 cu . ft. to 10 , 400 cu . ft. are in
compliance with the ' 92 codes, Sec. 5 . 3 . 3 . , "equipment located in
confined spaces, (a) all air from inside the building" .
The present 1 bedroom apartments will need modifications or a
decrease in BTU input to comply. As these apartments are back-
to-back garden units, the lower units have only 3 exposed walls;
on slab construction; no ceiling loss; (second floor units
above) , the 80 ,000 BTU/hr. furnaces are at least 50% over-sized.
The second floor furnaces are approximately 50% over-sized, too;
following the installation of 6 inches of cellulose insulation
over the original 2} inch batting.
By changing the spuds (orifices) in the burners of the furnaces,
the manufacturer confirms the BTU input can be reduced from
80 ,000 to 60 ,000 without any reduction in efficiency or undesir-
able side effects. In fact, I believe the apartment temperature
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Papillon Letter
page 2
will be more even because the heat will be supplied at a lower
temperature with a longer cycle rather than in hot short blasts .
With this reduction the total load will be 130 ,000 BTU/hr.
The 1 BR apt. volume is 740 sq. ft. x 8 ft. high = 5 ,920 cu. ft.
5920 = 45 .5 cu. ft. /1 , 000 BTU input
130
The ' 92 code recommends 50 cu. ft. /1 ,000 BTU input.
We will have 45 .5 =91% of ' 92 recommendation
50
The layout of the one bedroom apartment is a large open area with
the kitchen, dining area and living room without doors. The
living room has a 5 ft. high x 10 ft. wide 3-panel sliding
window. The large bedroom has an undercut door and two 5 ft.
high, 2-panel siding windows . The apartment has front to back
cross ventilation.
For 20 years the present 80 ,000 BTU/hr. furnaces, hot water
tanks, and gas ranges with a combined input of 150 ,000 BTU/hr.
have performed without any indications of insufficient combustion
air. The reduction in furnace input gives an added increment of
safety.
It is my opinion there is sufficient infiltration to more than
meet the needs of the installed gas load and residents of Hampton
Gardens .
Cordially,
p.►'°°'°=°<a„ SPEAR MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.
v°D�\��OF�rr.�jy Management Agent for
e o rS�_Oy14. `�'� HAMPTON GARDENS
,( LA^ Lid `A It
sKtviECi4iuiCAL �, w l--Ae-we
���2J7/�?,'i *No.43gp
F�Gi0'044:'� Fred R. Larsen, M.E. , P.E.
►,SALE`441 Assistant Vice President
FRL/bct
, 25 '93 09:25AM RES PRODUCT ENG.
\11i UNITED Carrier Corporation
TECHNOLOGIES 7310 W.Morris Street
CARRIER Pa So:70
Indianapolis,IN 46208
317/24340as t
February 24, 1993-
Mr. King Rogers _•
Connecticut Air "
5 Connair Road 1�i1
Orange, CT 06477 14 '1'' U
Re: $A/VLFT '1 .T_-...U._.....�..
ON GARDENS FAX 2/18/93 DEFT OF BUILDINGII�J;;'F ;TIjPJS Dear King:
My understanding of this request, to derate the furnace inputs, is to meet the minimum
combustion air requirements set forth by the local code authorities. As in ail installations,
the manufacturers instructions, national codes, or local codes, which ever is more stringent,
determines the installation requirements. The local authority has final say on whether a
certain requirement is sufficient or unnecessary.
As Mr. Hughes pointed out in his letter of February 1, 1993, the requirement of 50 cu. ft.
per 1000 BTU total combined input, did not exist at the time these furnaces were installed.
If the local authority is requiring these units to be brought up to the current code, derating of
the furnaces is not an acceptable means. The current Fuel Gas Code requires the unconfined
space to be "not less than 50 cubic feet per 1000 BTtJ per hour of aggregate input ra in of
-all appliances installed in that space." This volume is to be deters,tined by rating plate
•information, not actual measured input. Also, the volume that Mr. Larsen used to base his
• •calculation is incorrect, based on the current code. The current code does not allow the
addition of space (the bedroom) to the total volume if separated with a door, even when
undercut.
The furnaces in question could have their inputs reduced by changing orifice spuds as is done
for applications at high altitudes, but a reduction of the proposed 25% could create problems.
The ability of the furnace to maintain the proper heat rise across the heat exchangers is
unlikely. Too much air would cause a loss of personal comfort and possibly cause
condensation of flue products inside of the heat exchanger.
Since the furnaces in question have operated satisfactorily for twenty (20) years at full rate, I
would not recommend this course of action. As Mr. Larsen pointed out, when the current
furnaces are replaced they could and should be replaced with units more nearly matching the
actual heat loss of the structure.
Regards, (p.e42/1.
Dana Sears
Residential Product Engineering •
DS:ils
cc: ,J. Eisberg H. Jameson J. Sodo
C. Kersten • R. Rieger
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