IN FEBRUARY 2023, I described the sanctuary’s HVAC system in this post. Just recently, I have revised three aspects of my earlier understanding. The newer picture looks like this:
Below the jump, this post describes and documents the salient results of what I learned from my recent explorations.…
OUR PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANT, a mechanical engineer, has observed that our restrooms have exhaust fans yet no clear way to replace the exhausted air. He believes that in order to approve our permit for expansion restrooms, the City might well require a dedicated source for intake air. (HVAC people call it make-up air, presumably because it “makes up” for the lost air that the exhaust fan is removing from the room.)
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| A typical restroom exhaust fan |
This raises the question: What is the best way to supply make-up air to our restrooms?
This question will eventually apply also to the basement restrooms, since they are likewise slated for eventual expansion. So let’s think about a comprehensive solution that will work for them, as well.
Below the jump, I offer a couple of cautions about one option that the architect has mentioned as being fairly normal. Then I outline a custom alternative that takes advantage of our building’s unique configuration [revised 9/10].…
ON AUGUST 1, our president (Sol Ortasse) came across a double-folded document consisting of some two dozen typewritten pages. It is wrapped in blue construction paper, which is labeled in colored pencil as “Specifications for building Mishkon Tephilo congregation Venice, Calif.” Sol found it in the mezzanine’s left storage room, in a long plastic storage bin with a green lid.
In briefly looking over this document, I did not see anything to suggest that it would immediately help our architect or other projects. However, it does contain some potentially useful information if carefully evaluated. It also generates a new albeit minor historical mystery about our sanctuary building’s creation.
While waiting for the document to be digitally scanned so that it can be examined more carefully, I will share some initial observations, below the jump.…