AIR CONDITIONING
piping runs the possible locations are increased further. An additional option to solve this problem is for the unit to be hidden by louvres or installed in a plant room with ducting to the exterior. However, if this approach is adopted, it is essential to ensure that the unit produces sufficient external static pressure (ESP) so that performance is not reduced. On some projects, it may be desirable to
reduce the visual impact still further. The typical colours of outdoor units mean that they will stand out when placed against many common building finishes.
It may be possible to request alternative paint colours from the manufacturer to help it blend in. In addition, some manufacturers may offer bespoke patterned wrapping of the unit. At Daikin we can create patterned vinyl wraps from a high-resolution photo of the background where it will be installed to effectively camouflage the unit.
Managing sound levels
When planning the placement of an outdoor unit, it is also essential to consider the sound impact and any regulatory requirements that may influence the decision. For example, the City of London planning regulations state that: “The level of noise emitted from any new plant shall be lower than the existing background level by at least 10 dBA” and that “Noise levels shall be determined at one metre from the window of the nearest noise sensitive premises”. Climate control systems designed for quiet
operation will allow these requirements to be met in a greater number of locations around the building. Simple details of the unit’s design, such as the shape of the fan can make a significant difference to the sound levels. Therefore, looking for solutions that have been specifically engineered for quiet operation is important. Systems with a low noise mode can also help to minimise sound levels and improve the comfort of building occupants. This mode reduces the noise by limiting the maximum fan and compressor speed. This does reduce the power of the unit slightly, so it is typically employed at night when demand is lower, to minimise disturbance. It is important to work closely with the manufacturer to ensure the required heating and cooling performance is achieved as well as the sound levels. There are also specially designed sound- insulating enclosures that can also be fitted where further reductions are required. Sourcing an acoustic solution such as this from the manufacturer of the climate control system is often simpler, more cost effective and will
ensure that performance levels are maintained. As an example, the sound-insulating enclosure designed for the VRV 5 units provides up to a 9 dBA reduction in sound levels.
Sustainability Regardless of the system chosen, it must also fulfil other requirements such as energy efficiency and environmental impact. For projects that are aiming to achieve environmental building certifications this is especially important as energy usage receives a relatively heavy weighting in assessments such as BREEAM.
It is important to look carefully at the performance data and the design of both the indoor and outdoor units to ensure minimal energy usage. Also, features that allow the system to adapt efficiently to changes in demand will mean significantly less energy is required. For example, the Daikin Variable Refrigerant Temperature (VRT) technology adjusts the amount of refrigerant flowing through the system and alters the evaporating and condensing temperatures to match demand and minimise energy usage. A further consideration, which is gaining
increased attention is embodied carbon, the emissions associated with the materials, manufacturing and installation of the system. The TM65 methodology, published by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) provides a way to assess the embodied carbon associated with building services. When selecting a climate control system, it is worth considering if the manufacturer can provide the environmental data required to make an accurate assessment.
It is estimated that building services can account for as much as much as 15% of a commercial building’s embodied carbon. For climate control systems specifically, the refrigerant used can make a significant difference to the level of embodied emissions. This is because the fluorinated gases (F-gases) used as refrigerants have a global warming potential (GWP) that is much higher than that of carbon dioxide.
This is because F-gases are much more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere and once released can remain there for centuries. Although leakage of refrigerant is minimised in modern systems, any release of the gas into the atmosphere is very harmful and is treated as such in measures of embodied carbon. Therefore, the importance of selecting a system that utilises a lower GWP refrigerant is clear. R-32 has a GWP that is one-third that of R-410A and is also more efficient, allowing a 10% smaller overall system charge. When these two factors are combined, the potential global warming impact of a R-32 system is as much as 71% that of a previous generation system. In addition, as a single component gas R-32 is also easier to reclaim and recycle. Climate control systems are becoming
increasingly important for a wide range of building types but integrating the system into the building can be challenging due to space and sound considerations. Mini VRV systems not only help to overcome these issues, but by choosing the correct solution, can help meet sustainability targets.
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