Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer: 'No Delay'

May 10, 2016
Early one January morning in northeast Montana, where even moderate winter conditions result in wind chills of 50 below, Twitch Griswold, facilities manager for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection station in Big Beaver, calls his old friend Johnny Tundra in a panic—the building’s four boilers are tripping out on high temperature every time Twitch turns around. Luckily for him, Johnny has his back.
About the Author

RON WILKINSON PE LEED AP CPMP | Principal

The founding principal of Seattle-based Wilkinson Commissioning Management, Ron Wilkinson, PE, LEED AP, CPMP, is the author of the first commissioning training program for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction and Major Renovations Green Building Rating System and the founding recording secretary for ASHRAE Guideline Project Committee 0.2/1.2, The Commissioning Process for Existing Building Systems and Assemblies/The Commissioning Process for Existing HVAC&R Systems. An ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and an American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Lecturer, he has spoken on commissioning practices internationally. He is a longtime member of HPAC Engineering’s Editorial Advisory Board.

Related

Illustration by Ashley Ribblett
Johnny Tundra Issue 07 Promo

Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer: 'High-Head Chiller Trip'

June 15, 2016
It is back to school for Johnny Tundra, who returns to Rosebud County Vo-Tech. A chiller keeps tripping offline on high head pressure. How can the chiller have any load on it ...
Illustration by Ashley Ribblett
Johnny Tundra Issue 05 Promo

Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer: 'Foundering Furnaces'

March 9, 2016
Amid sub-zero temperatures and 80-mph winds, two of four furnaces serving the State Lands headquarters continually are tripping off. Could the problem be ice crystals in the fuel...
Illustration by Ashley Ribblett
Johnny Tundra Issue 04 Promo

Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer: ‘Freeze-Protection Freeze-out'

Jan. 12, 2016
At Rosebud County Vocational Technical School, the freeze-protection thermostat on a new rooftop air-handling unit is tripping continually. To Facility Manager Jonas “Wooly” Wolcott...
panel3_COLOR.jpeg

Adventures of Johnny Tundra, Cold-Weather Engineer: ‘Capitol Case’

Aug. 27, 2015
On the eve of public hearings at the state capitol, Supervisor of Facilities Maintenance and Operations Hank Hoovestahl is facing a grilling worse than that of any witness: If...