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The National Society of Professional Engineers Award AAON 2011 Product of the Year!

TULSA, OK June 1, 2011 � AAON, INC. (NASDAQ-AAON), a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling products, announces that its RQ Series High Efficiency Rooftop Unit has been recognized as the 2011 Product of the Year in the Large company category from the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).

"Celebrating its 28th year, the prestigious New Product Award competition recognizes companies whose pioneering vision and design bring new products to the marketplace, while highlighting the societal benefits of these new products," said Richard Buchanan, P.E., chairman of the New Product Award Committee. "Winning products were chosen for their exceptional engineering research, design, and overall impact on our national economy. New and improved products stimulate the life and growth of our country. These benefits result from research and development to which engineers make their unique contribution. This competition recognizes the results of those efforts and the foresight of the companies whose aggressive policies bring new products to the marketplace.�

The purpose of the NSPE New Product Award program is to recognize the full spectrum of benefits that come from the research and engineering of new products. These include added employment, economic development, strengthening of the nation's competitive position internationally, and contribution to the public's standard of living.

Norm Asbjornson, President and CEO of AAON, stated, �AAON products lead the market in reliability, quality, durability, serviceability and energy efficiency. The RQ Series High Efficiency Rooftop Unit, highlighted by the 2011 NSPE Product of the Year Award, offers many unique benefits including a unique fan control design for optimum energy savings, geothermal capability that works with a renewable energy source and ultra efficient cabinet construction that prevents heating and cooling dollars from being lost through unwanted heat transfer through the cabinet. There is no other product in the market today that offers the features or efficiency of the AAON RQ Series Rooftop Unit and we at AAON are honored to have it recognized by the National Society of Professional Engineers.�

The Energy Saving Standards of Tomorrow Are Available Today. Why Wait?

An option that only AAON equipment can provide in all sizes of equipment from 2-230 ton, packaged or split systems, Single Zone Variable-Air-Volume is required in two of the most prominent national energy standards, ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010 and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 189.1-2009.

Standard 90.1-2010

Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design of buildings except low-rise residential buildings.

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010. Section 6.4.3.10 Single Zone Variable-Air-Volume Controls.

HVAC systems shall have variable airflow controls as follows:

a. Air handling and fan-coil units with chilled-water cooling coils and supply fans with motors greater than or equal to 5 hp shall have their supply fans controlled by two-speed motors or variable-speed drives. At cooling demands less than or equal to 50%, the supply fan controls shall be able to reduce the airflow to no greater than the larger of the following:

1. One half of the full fans speed, or

2. The volume of outdoor air required to meet the ventilation requirements of Standard 62.1.

b. Effective January 1, 2012, all air-conditioning equipment and air-handling units with direct expansion cooling and a cooling capacity at AHRI conditions greater than or equal to 110,000 Btu/h that serve single zones shall have their supply fans controlled by two-speed motors or variable-speed drives. At cooling demands less than or equal to 50%, the supply fan controls shall be able to reduce the airflow to no greater than the larger of the following:

1. Two-thirds of the full fan speed, or

2. The volume of outdoor air required to meet the ventilation requirements of Standard 62.1

Standard 189.1-2009

Purpose: The purpose of this standard is to provide minimum requirements for the siting, design, construction, and plan for operation of high performance, green buildings to:

a. balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and well being, and community sensitivity, and

b. support the goal of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 189.1-2009. Section 7.4.3.7 Controls.

The following requirements shall apply:

a. DX systems with a capacity greater than 65,000 Btu/h (19 kW) shall have a minimum of two stages of cooling capacity.

b. Air handling and fan-coil units with chilled-water cooling coils and supply fans with motors greater than or equal to 5 hp shall have their supply fans controlled by two-speed motors or variable-speed drives. At cooling demands less than or equal to 50%, the supply fan controls shall be able to reduce the airflow to no greater than the larger of the following:

1. One half of the full fans speed, or

2. The volume of outdoor air required to meet the ventilation requirements of ANSI/AHSRAE Standard 62.1.

c. All air-conditioning equipment and air-handling units with direct expansion cooling and a cooling capacity at AHRI conditions greater than or equal to 110,000 Btu/h (32.2 kW) that serve single zones shall have their supply fans controlled by two-speed motors or variable speed drives. At cooling demands less than or equal to 50%, the supply fan controls shall be able to reduce the airflow to no greater than the larger of the following:

1. Two-thirds of the full fan speed, or

2. The volume of outdoor air required to meet the ventilation requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1.

d. All DX and chilled-water VAV units shall be equipped with variable-speed fans that result in less than 30% power at 50% flow.

Exception: When air ventilation rates or air exchange rates required constant volume fan operation.

All engineers and owners need to know that AAON is ready to meet the energy standards of tomorrow, today!

Single Zone VAV is available from AAON with:

a. Small rooftop units with efficiencies up to 19 SEER

b. Large rooftop units with efficiencies up to 14 EER

c. Small split systems with efficiencies up to 17 SEER

d. Large split systems with efficiencies up to 14 EER

e. Geothermal / WSHP units with efficiencies up to 19 EER

f. Air-source heat pumps up to 13 EER

g. Self-contained units up to 16 EER

New 540 ton AAON Chiller

AAON �High Efficiency Rooftop Unit Quick Selection Guide� insert in the October edition of the ASHRAE Journal. This is a preview of the print issues that will be distributed to over 50,000 potential AAON customers including building owners, facility managers, architects, contractors and engineers.

Of all major manufacturers, who has the highest efficiency equipment?

What do you do when you have the highest efficiency units in the market?... Tell Everyone!!!

Some considerations when designing outside air units:

Two main consideration in sizing a unit: What is the OA cfm needed & what is the unit discharge dewpoint desired?
OA Design Rule-O-Thumbs: 200cfm/ton
Relative humidity is relative! You can raise or lower the RH% by increasing or decreasing the room temperature but the moisture in the air stays the same. Ex: 86F & 50%rh has the same amount of moisture in the air as 65F & 100%rh. Design around how much moisture is allowed in the air or a dewpoint temp! Do not design around relative humidity!
Is the unit going to provide neutral air or condition air to the space? (state which type of system is desired in specs)
Neutral Air = Take OA and treat it to a set temp & humidity (ex: 72F @ 55%rh), supply sensors at discharge of unit. - PRO: consistent control/comfort, no sweating in space/duct work. CON: 2 independent systems, OA treatment & Zone comfort
Condition air to zone = Take OA and meet setpoints in zone, supply sensors in the zone - PRO: 1 system. CON: unit has to treat OA from 100F to 20F at different humilities, and provide a consistent space temp & humidity.
Look at several different OA conditions other than design: Ex: 95/75, 83/77.5, 65/65 (at this temp the suction temps tend to go below limits and the unit will either cycle on/off therefore ensure you have hot-gas bypass), 20/15.

BIOCLIMATIC

Bioclimatic Air Systems manufactures air purification units. Their web site is www.bioclimatic.com. By utilizing Bioclimatic's air purification technology and ASHRAE Standard 62 Indoor Air Quality Procedure, the outside air may be reduced to a minimum of 5 CFM per person in most applications, provided building pressurization is still achieved. The reduction in outside air reduces the refrigeration load and heating load on the building. The equipment costs associated with the reduction in the cooling and heating loads offsets the price of the Bioclimatic equipment and offers the owner capital cost savings in most applications. In addition to the first cost savings, lower operating costs and improved IAQ will be achieved.

KMC Controls

Our Featured Partner--CCSI

In the southern state of Alabama, all roads lead to Birmingham. And Birmingham is home to Climate Control Systems, Inc. (CCSI).

To refer to CCSI as a manufacturer's rep would be only partially accurate. According to the CCSI web site (www.ccsi-se.com) the company is a "manufacturer's representative and service organization that consults and works with architects, engineers, contractors and building owners."

However you describe it, this hybrid organization has stood the test of time. "Ours is certainly a story of adaptation," says Gary Frith, company Vice President.

Ed Denton, CCSI President, amplifies: "Gary and I left our respective employers (JCI for Ed; Honeywell for Gary) to form a joint venture with Barber-Colman in 1986. In those early years, however, Barber-Colman was acquired and, later, acquired again. Maintaining a relationship of trust through so many changes in leadership became challenging. So, by the early 90s we were seeking other product manufacturers to represent. By the mid-1990s, that led us to KMC Controls."

Today, CCSI represents both equipment manufacturers as well as the KMC building automation line. This "one-two" punch has created an outstanding value proposition for them. "Utilizing the tie-in between equipment and controls," says Gary, "is a great way to go to market today. We are able to package our equipment and KMC controls in a given sale, approximately 30% of the time. And, of course, we can avoid that friction that sometimes exists between equipment and controls installations as far as who has ultimate responsibility to make it work."

But CCSI doesn't stop with product representation. Another significant differentiator for their business model is their service arm. "There is great diversity in equipment and controls representation out there," Ed says. "But relatively few rep firms have integrated service departments and many that do don't do it well."

"Ours is a turnkey service and support division," Gary adds. "Whether we are utilizing our service team to execute the actual work or providing support services and ongoing training for our customers, this strategy enables us to sell solutions. In turn, we get more opportunities to sell and support mechanical contractors and business owners in all markets."

It may sound like an all-too-common refrain, but Ed and Gary are most sincere when they express the true secret to their business success. (The firm has experienced two of their best years ever even amid the recent economic turmoil and recently built a new state-of-the art headquarters building.) "Relationships," says Gary. "Relationships of trust," Ed adds.

These are more than mere words at CCSI. "Our business was built on and is maintained through relationships," says Ed. "We can influence the engineers because of our reputation of having great products and an outstanding support staff. Often times, we pick and choose our desired projects because we have built such relationships."

The Birmingham skyline provides the backdrop for CCSI projects.

"One of the unique things about being a small business is the ability to build long term relationships. Big companies often cannot do this. Being a locally owned firm, we are not going to get promoted and moved elsewhere," Gary adds. "We are active in the community and maintain relationships with so many customers throughout our 26 years in business. We're not going to do anything to violate that relationship of trust. We are in this for the long haul."

That mentality extends to their suppliers as well. "We have abandoned a product line when we could not trust the company providing it," Ed says.

Gary offers his insight into the KMC relationship: "If Wayne, or Doug, or Jim say something, we can take it to the bank." (Wayne Kehler is KMC Chairman, Doug Miller is the KMC sales professional for the CCSI account, and Jim Herdeman is KMC VP of Product Management and a long-time acquaintance.)

"We went through some gnashing of teeth early on with KMC," Ed adds. "It was related to product quality in the early digital offering you had. But the trust that these issues were being addressed was always there. Today, I think that KMC offers the best product in the business." He continues, "I see a night-and-day difference in KMC marketing. Your support has improved dramatically over those early years. The product is fantastic. We love this relationship."

"And the KMC product enables us to pursue multiple markets," Gary notes. CCSI does get involved in several vertical markets from commercial office to schools, to healthcare, to federal, state, and local public projects.

"Tight control is essential in hospitals," Gary explains. "In the past, if someone wanted tight control of temperature or humidity, we'd have to meet those needs through a chilled water system. Today, we can use DX (direct expansion) control. Through heat pumps, rooftops, or split systems, we can get the same control. And we're not just talking about on/off but modulating control in a very efficient manner. We've used such methods even where the tightest control is required, such as in surgery rooms."

Ed Denton has led the CCSI effort in terms of military and other government projects. "Public projects, especially federal government projects such as with the military, can be intimidating to would-be suppliers or contractors. It takes a year or more to get your act together so that you can effectively go after such work. Many give up during this time."

"But once you get in," Gary adds, "you can enjoy the same long-term relationships that you have in the commercial arena."

"That's right," Ed continues. "I hate to keep repeating myself, but it truly is all about relationships. The challenge is getting on the military base and getting to the right people. But once you are in, you discover that these customers want the same thing that a commercially focused engineer or facility manager wants-someone to take care of their needs; someone they can depend on. If you do a good job and follow their procedures, you build a relationship of trust and they will find a way to stick with you for their future needs. Further, they don't care about cost IF they have the budget. Budgets and payback are important to them. Show the payback and they'll use the budget."

One outward indicator of CCSI success is their new headquarters facility.

CCSI building

As the interview for this article concluded, Ed and Gary exchanged final hints for business success:

Ed: "Follow the golden rule."
Gary: "Do what you say you'll do."
Ed: "Be consistent in the message and delivery."
Gary: "Learn to laugh a lot."

Their unique business model and their adherence to such simple rules have led to long-term relationships of trust. In turn, such relationships have led to true success by any definition.

KMC FlexStat is Product of the Year Winner!

Multi V III Brochure

Marketing Bulletin #47 - Multi V III Air Source Brochure