TESTING ADJUSTING AND BALANCING: Certifying Medical-Grade HVAC Performance in a New Hospital Tower

Before it can open to the public in early 2027, the HVAC systems in the $1.3 billion UPMC Presbyterian hospital tower have to meet stringent performance specifications. 

Validating the airflow, pressure and hydronics equipment throughout its 900,000 square feet is the job of testing, adjusting and balancing contractor Northstar Environmental Ltd. The hospital-grade HVAC system is designed to meet ventilation and pressurization standards that support infection-control protocols for patients and staff.

Northstar Environmental, based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, is a member of SMACNA of Western PA and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). The company has been involved in TAB work for more than three decades. Its portfolio includes major universities, hospitals and office buildings. 

Company Vice President Donald Leishman is a Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB)-certified professional and the Co-owner of Northstar with his wife, Angela. The tower’s HVAC installation is being supervised by the MARS joint venture involving officials from two area mechanical contractors: McKamish and Ruthrauff-Sauer, both SMACNA members. 

Certified Performance
Leishman says preparing to work on the hospital tower project was a multiyear process that started before the company won the work in a competitive bid. 

 “We were working hand-in-hand with (the general contractors) to really solidify what was going to be needed from the TAB aspect of it,” Leishman says. “For a good two years, we did monthly meetings where we were trying to break down and make sure that we had discussed the specifications for this project.”

TABB Supervisor John Kukonik  calculates design pressure drops for Nexus Venturi valves while second-year Apprentice Eh Ta Mwe Paw connects the balancing valve.	Chris Burgman, a first-year Apprentice, makes adjustments to the Nexus Venturi balancing valves that are installed in the UPMC tower expansion.	The 17-story, $1.3 billion UPMC Presbyterian hospital tower expansion in Pittsburgh is scheduled to open in early 2027. SMACNA members involved in the project include mechanical contractors McKamish and Ruthrauff-Sauer and Northstar Environmental Ltd., a testing, adjusting and balancing company.

Northstar Environmental was awarded the project in January 2024. UPMC facilities are regular clients, Leishman says. 

“We do a lot of the work in the existing Presbyterian hospital,” he says, “including their yearly air changes. So, we’re very familiar with the hospital itself and their crew. And I think that played a big part in why we were awarded this project.”

As with most hospital HVAC projects, Northstar’s contract called for the company to ensure every room had the correct number of air changes per hour and was within 10% of design specifications on air and hydronic (water) flow. Northstar workers are setting up air handling units (AHUs) and pumps, checking all of the hydronic system’s Venturi values, variable-air-volume (VAV) boxes and that diffusers and grilles are within tolerances. 

“When we get to the ORs (operating rooms) and pharmacy areas, we have to make sure that we’re within design tolerances and pressurization requirements,” he adds. “And we’re doing the stairwell pressurization and fire-life safety work as well. And we have to make sure doors are operating properly — stuff like that. We are also a TABB-certified fire life safety contractor and will be responsible for work such as stairwell pressurization testing.”

As the hospital gets close to opening, a commissioning agent who works for the hospital system will inspect and certify Northstar’s work. Leishman expects his company’s work to be finished by the end of year, in time for the scheduled opening Jan. 24, 2027. 

“It’s a very large project and a lot of people have to finish their work before we get into our work. It’s been a team effort from everybody involved trying to get it ready to go,” he says. 

Leishman also credits Harold “Harry” Bolette, Northstar’s on-site supervisor, for the project’s success. Bolette brought over 40 years of testing, adjusting and balancing experience to the project. 

More than two years since starting work, the project has been smooth — “Knock on wood,” he says — with few hiccups or problems. Although he acknowledges that no matter how well an HVAC system is designed or installed, there are always tweaks that need to be made to differential set points, static pressure set points and other systems.  

But Leishman adds that he really enjoys his work. 

“It’s something new every day, something challenging,” he says of TAB work. “It’s not just installation. It’s problem solving. We do a lot with engineers and it's nice to be able to work through the problem from the standpoint of drawings to installation to finalization and make sure that everything's working properly — from the drawing table to the final product.”