AIR CONDITIONING
Long live routine inspections
To ensure the longevity of industrial air conditioning and VRF systems, many believe that product maintenance and regular servicing are imperative. It is also important to recognise the significance of routine inspections. Tony Nielsen – pre sales manager for Panasonic UK, looks at the role that scheduled inspections play in reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions for air conditioning systems.
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ince 2007, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has had a substantial effect on industry procedures for routine inspections. Originally adopted in 2002 and recast in February 2012, the EPBD – which has been progressively implemented since January 2013 and discussed more recently in June 2017 by the European Energy Council and the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans Package’ – 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 in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which requires building owners or managers to carry out regular inspections of air conditioning systems.
In England and Wales, the regulations and requirements relating to air conditioning system inspections have been in place for over five years, and for a slightly shorter period for Northern Ireland and Scotland. In line with international efforts, 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. There is a penalty of £300 if not inspected every five years. Inspections include the following:
■ A visual assessment of each air conditioning system. ■ An examination of all air conditioning equipment and controls.
Each assessment must be from an accredited energy assessor. To find an accredited assessment, visit the government
48 August 2017
website at:
www.ndepcregister.com/searchassessor.html. 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 systems 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 conditioning.
Now an undisputable 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 in ensuring improved performance, efficiency, reliability and management of your VRF air conditioning systems. Documentation 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 identification and subsequent prevention.
Indeed, the guide goes further by suggesting that poorly equipped and maintained facilities could potentially waste up to 60% more energy than their well-maintained counterparts, and thus encourages the routine
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