The holiday season is the busiest travelling time of the year. And when you add the cold weather into consideration, it’s important that whatever’s transporting you is built to weather the elements. Building HVAC systems that are up for this challenge is one of Brent Griffith’s main focuses.

Making sure that BCC designed HVAC systems hold up in cold weather is a huge responsibility of our engineering team. Extreme cold testing is an essential part of this, not just for the buses in Toronto, but for every bus equipped with a BCC HVAC system all over the world. That’s because it’s in these conditions that it’s most important for the systems to be operating properly and efficiently. 

There are a number of obstacles to overcome to make all this happen. But, as you’re about to learn, it’s all worth it to make sure that people are comfortable and safe while they’re travelling.

Extreme measures for extreme weather

So how do we go about making sure that BCC’s HVAC systems are ready for the coldest environments out there? Well, it starts in state of the art thermal chambers, found in Ontario and Pennsylvania. These chambers are capable of fitting a full 60 ft bus and can reach temperatures as low as -40 degrees’. Once in here, the buses are tested for 3 things:

1. Ensuring the inside of the bus stays warm while simulating operations
2. Effectiveness of clearing ice from the windshield
3. Ability to clear ice from entry rampways
   
   

Overall, these tests ensure that all components of the bus, including the BCC systems, are working together effectively to accomplish these goals.

It’s through these tests that our engineers are also able to identify problems with new mechanisms and determine solutions for them. For instance, with the switch from diesel to electric power in a large number of buses, testing found that adjustments needed to be made to ensure a consistent level of heat was being produced without compromising the range of the vehicle. This led to them innovating on the most efficient way to heat the bus, which, as they determined, is by heating from the floor up. This allowed for a more even distribution of heat, meaning less cold spots, and prevented build up of snow on the floors of the bus. All this from simply finding the most effective way to heat a bus.

Along with this, testing allows the BCC team to find parts within these vehicles that aren’t functioning well with the buses other systems, and gives them the opportunity to rework them. By collaborating directly with the manufacturers, they’re able to design systems that seamlessly integrate into the vehicles they’re being installed within, allowing them to further push the efficiency and range of these vehicles.

Safe, warm and happy on the road

Ultimately, cold testing benefits riders and transit fleets by ensuring safety through clear windscreens and ramps, and maximizing comfort by maintaining a consistent, comfortable temperature throughout the bus. We know this as well as anyone, and we encourage other transit agencies to take the same amount of care that our engineers do when preparing their vehicles for winter. Learn more about BCC’s Engineering Services and how our advanced manufacturing drives superior HVAC performance.