Design Temperature
Design Temperature is a key planning number that HVAC professionals use when choosing heating and cooling systems for buildings. It represents the most extreme outdoor temperature a building needs to handle while staying comfortable inside. Think of it as the "worst case scenario" temperature that helps determine how powerful a heating or cooling system needs to be. For example, if a city's winter design temperature is 0°F, the heating system must keep the building warm even when it's that cold outside. This concept is also sometimes called "outdoor design temperature" or "heating/cooling design temperature."
Examples in Resumes
Calculated heating loads using Design Temperature data for residential projects
Recommended HVAC equipment based on local Design Temperature requirements
Developed building specifications considering Design Temperatures and climate zones
Typical job title: "HVAC Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find HVAC Engineers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Online Communities
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine appropriate design temperatures for a new building project?
Expected Answer: A senior professional should explain how they consider local climate data, building codes, client requirements, and energy efficiency goals. They should mention using resources like ASHRAE weather data and discussing risk levels with clients.
Q: How would you handle a situation where the actual temperatures exceed design temperatures?
Expected Answer: Should discuss backup strategies, safety factors in calculations, and how to plan for extreme weather events. Should mention communication with clients about system limitations and potential solutions.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What factors affect design temperature selection?
Expected Answer: Should mention local climate history, building use, occupancy patterns, and energy codes. Should understand how these factors influence system sizing and equipment selection.
Q: How do design temperatures impact energy efficiency?
Expected Answer: Should explain the balance between system capacity and energy usage, discussing how conservative design temperatures might lead to oversized systems and energy waste.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a design temperature and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that design temperatures are the extreme weather conditions used to size heating and cooling systems, ensuring indoor comfort in worst-case scenarios.
Q: Where do you find design temperature data for a location?
Expected Answer: Should know about basic resources like ASHRAE weather data, local building codes, and weather history databases used for finding this information.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of design temperature concepts
- Ability to read weather data tables
- Knowledge of simple load calculations
- Familiarity with local building codes
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex load calculations
- System sizing based on design temperatures
- Energy efficiency analysis
- Equipment selection expertise
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced system design optimization
- Project management and client consultation
- Climate change impact assessment
- Team leadership and training
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to explain the relationship between design temperatures and system sizing
- No knowledge of local climate data resources
- Lack of understanding about safety factors in calculations
- No experience with load calculation software or tools
