Under Floor Air Distribution (UFAD) Issues and Problems

I am re-posting a response I gave in a message forum that I have begun to frequent recently, HVAC-Talk.com.  The original poster is the building owner’s representative for a library facility which is due for a major renovation and his concerns were with his design and engineering team.  I’m currently involved with the design phase of a multi-story, 200,000 square foot, library (I am the “building owner”) in which the design team is pushing heavily for a UFAD system throughout the building (design team is trying to accomplish LEED Platinum and is more interested in the design awards they’ll receive as a result than delivering a design that is truly sustainable, IMHO). I can totally understand that. Seems the highly paid engineers are always looking for that next project that they can frame and put on their wall and resume. The following info may sound like a rant, but really I [...]