Air Conditioning World
The importance of routine inspections in VRF systems
To ensure the longevity of industrial air conditioning and VRF systems, many believe that product maintenance and regular servicing are imperative. Fewer, however, appear to recognise the importance of routine inspections. Marc Diaz, of Panasonic, looks at the role that scheduled inspections play in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for VRF systems.
the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has had a sub- stantial effect on industry proce- dures for routine inspections. Originally adopted in 2002 and recast in February 2012, the EPBD (which has been progressively implemented from January 2013), requires that all air conditioning systems of 12kW or above undertake an independent body inspection for the assessment of a system’s overall efficiency. In the UK separate legislation has been introduced which requires build- ing owners or managers to carry out regular inspections of their air conditioning systems. In England and Wales the regu- lations and requirements relating to air conditioning system inspections have been in place for over four years, and for a slightly shorter period for Northern Ireland and Scotland. The EPBD stipulates that a routine check should take place at a minimum of every five years and within the first five years of the original commissioning of the unit. From 6 April 2012, it became a statutory requirement to lodge all air conditioning inspection reports on the central Non Domestic Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Register.
Legislation, however, is not the only driving force when it comes to routine inspections. While the maintenance and servicing of sys- tems is commonplace (often with immediately noticeable results), for many it is hard to comprehend the cost-saving benefits of an inspection, especially when the primary advice in older properties may be to upgrade the air condi- tioning. Now an indisputable part of building ownership, HVAC inspections need to be fully understood in order to recognise what an inspector is looking for and the benefits that an inspection can bring.
Routine inspections can, in fact, prove fundamental for ensuring
improved performance, efficiency, reliability and management of your VRF single and multi-split systems. Research from the Carbon Trust, “CTV046 Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning”, indicates that through proper checks and assessments, the risk of unexpected failures and unit breakdowns are significantly reduced via early fault identifica- tion and subsequent prevention. Indeed, the guide goes further by suggesting that poorly-equipped and maintained facilities could potentially waste up to 60 per cent more energy than their well-looked-after counterparts, and thus encourages the routine clean- ing of fans, filters and air ducts
30 | March 2014 | ACW supplement to HVR
in order to improve efficiency. “There is no point in having an
efficiently running system if the conditioned air gets stopped by a solid wall before reaching the work space. Blockages in HVAC systems are common and increase running costs, so make sure that the filters are regularly checked.” These inspections therefore demonstrate the need to ensure that those in charge of VRF systems fully understand and appreciate the recommendations and advice resulting from inspec- tion reports.
When many people think of
energy efficiency, the general assumption is that it is down to the core manufactured air condi-
tioning unit itself. What some fail to understand however, is how important the set-up, routine maintenance, structural build and external environments are to the efficiency and performance. Examining the installation as a whole, an assessor may be able to provide a valuable insight into the true potential for a facility. Therefore by taking into account the control of the building and truly understanding the purpose and use of the air conditioning system it is also possible to increase efficiency.
More often than not, the impor- tance of routine inspections comes to light when the use or layout of a building requires remodelling.
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