Testing Systems Before They Become Problems
Sam Feder of Enercode Solutions
Most building systems are installed before anyone verifies how they perform together. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, ventilation — each scope handled separately, often at different stages.
Enercode Solutions works across those systems, from design through final testing.
Based in Spring Valley, New York, Sam Feder leads a firm focused on energy code compliance and building performance testing. “The HVAC guy is an installer,” he said. “He installs it. You assume that it works. We come in at the end, we test it. We make sure that this machine really performs.”
Energy codes grew out of efficiency concerns as fuel costs rose. Boilers once ran at around 80 percent efficiency, sending the rest into the atmosphere. Newer systems reach into the mid-90s — but only when they’re installed and sealed correctly.
Enercode conducts whole-building performance tests, including blower door testing that pressurizes buildings and exposes air leakage — revealing whether insulation, ductwork, and ventilation systems are sealed the way they should be.
Design coordination is central to the work. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, sprinkler, and fire alarm systems all compete for the same space. When those scopes aren’t coordinated early, conflicts surface late — after installation.
“The HVAC guy’s gonna put in his ducts. Tomorrow the sprinkler guy comes in. Where does the plumber go? Doesn’t fit,” Sam explained.
Duct runs lose efficiency with every unnecessary turn. Systems interfere with each other. Performance drops without an obvious failure point.
“If you wanna make a house that should be geshmak, you have to do it properly,” Sam said.
Enercode works primarily with mid-size contractors on multifamily buildings, small schools and yeshiva buildings, warehouses, and office buildouts. The 12-person design team divides across mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scopes.
Without a storefront, OJBA serves a practical purpose. “I don’t have a storefront, so this is my storefront,” Sam said.
This was Enercode’s second year exhibiting. After last year’s show, Sam downloaded his contacts that evening and sent an email the next day. Three new clients followed.
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